Harnessing technology to enhance corporate travel experiences

Our dependence on technology and the rising preference for doing everything from a distance and within our comfort zone has revolutionised corporate travel experiences. 

Undoubtedly, technology has played a pivotal role in shaping corporate travel in recent years. Especially now, more than ever, when business travel expenditure is peaking in APAC, and the overall travel spending is expected to be $1.48 trillion in 2024, its intervention is easing traveller’s lives across the globe.

Relying on travel agents and other manual planning and booking methods for your team’s travel is a dated and time-consuming concept that does not yield the most efficient results. 

Therefore, to keep pace with emerging technologies and their impact on the future of business travel, your company must employ technology to plan optimally and ensure corporate travellers have an enhanced travel experience! 

Technology’s increasing role in business travel

Utilising the assistance and innovation that technology offers, many businesses have shifted from doing things manually to leveraging the ease of automation. As demonstrated by a recent survey, over 50% of all businesses have expressed interest in using technology.

With the awareness of ESG in business travel and transitioning business traveller preferences where 91% of travellers would prefer to opt for greener travelling options, incorporating technology in streamlining your company’s travel trips is necessary. This is to ensure employee satisfaction and that your expenses are managed better. 

Considering that corporate travellers spend at least 63% of their out-of-pocket money per trip on dining, a better system is needed by businesses to account for this spending. 

Therefore, assuming that businesses only use technology for online booking adoption and data-gathering purposes, you are highly mistaken and extremely behind on your progress updates. 

Now, technology is sought for several tasks in corporate travel, such as reducing administrative burdens, providing real-time access to bookings or itinerary updates, and optimising travel spending because of its efficiency and accuracy.

Ways to leverage technology in your corporate travel 

Track tipping better

Traditionally, tipping has been an out-of-pocket expense for most business travellers, and specifically, with the lack of documentation, it is difficult for companies to reimburse. However, with digital tipping, you can track tipping better and adjust your company’s travel policies and budgets accordingly. 

Digital tipping apps like Grazzy are one of the many platforms that have made tipping cashless and contactless. Not only does it provide an opportunity for the employees to tip through convenience and without a strain on their savings, but it also makes it simple for companies to track expenses more accurately and keep digital records for budgeting. 

Easier land support 

Typical mechanisms of hailing taxis, booking rides, or providing business travellers with a budget for transportation are not always the most cost-effective method, nor are they the most efficient. Nonetheless, new and more advanced ride-hailing apps like Uber for Business have made land support much more manageable for corporate travel.

Ride-hailing apps are the new trend. Uber for Business alone reported their quarterly trips to be nearly 2.8 billion, 21% more than in 2023, while having 156 million active platform consumers, 14% more than last year. 

Using Uber for Business or similar ride-hailing apps is advantageous for businesses because they can use their corporate cards to pay directly to the company and avail of special discounts. Simultaneously, ride-hailing apps are also an eco-friendly commute because they offer ride-sharing and other sustainable options, resulting in reduced spending and a minimised carbon footprint. 

Better access to ESG data 

91% of business travellers today are conscious of how they travel, and their priority is to travel sustainably so they do not impact the environment negatively. To better comply with your employee’s demands and ensure they are all satisfied, including ESG in business travel is integral. 

However, with greenwashing, it is often difficult to verify whether the airline or hotel you are booking has any environmentally friendly policies or operates sustainably. Thanks to technological advancements, you now have better and more transparent access to ESG data. 

Most online travel management or booking platforms show sustainability ratings and certifications for airlines, hotels, and restaurants, making it easier to make an informed choice. Alternatively, if this information is lacking, you can always directly visit a particular entity’s website and scrutinise its content and reviews to evaluate its stance on sustainability. 

Solusi manajemen perjalanan 

If you are looking for a straightforward way to avoid the hassle of booking and planning your corporate travel on multiple websites, advanced and innovative travel management systems have simplified it all for you.

Many travel management companies offer systems integrating multiple aspects of trip booking and planning within a single platform. For example, such systems allow you to adopt online booking, access real-time booking and request management and get detailed reports and insights into your travel spending and trends. 

Overall, the convenience of a travel management system is favourable for your company because, by analysing past trends, you can plan future trips more optimally and economically. 

Better corporate travel experiences with TruTrip

Including technology in your corporate travel planning is no longer just the better alternative; at this point, it is a must. As business travel continues to grow, leveraging technology in your planning mechanisms is crucial for your company to enhance its efficiency, minimise its cost, and, most importantly, meet the varying needs of its business travellers. 

Are you ready to harness technology to enhance your business traveller’s experience? Jadwalkan demo with us, or sign up for a free trial on TruTrip, and let’s discuss how our tech-savvy services can benefit you!