After the pandemic hit in 2020, business trip cost down 52% compared with pre-pandemic levels. Now that business travel is on the rise again in 2023, corporate travelers expect more from their travel experiences — more convenience, less headaches, and more efficient ways to organize transit.
Fortunately, business travel technology continues to improve the safety, convenience, and cost of business travel. Specifically, mobile apps like Google Maps, CityMapper and Expensify help business travelers plan and navigate their business trips.
Business travel technology
Other apps, such as TripIt or Apple Wallet, ease the burden of carrying luggage and help travelers consolidate travel documents. Additionally, contactless hotel check-ins reduce the number of surfaces that others touch, which is especially important in light of recent events.
By leveraging today’s technological tools, travelers as well as companies can enhance the business travel experience in many ways.
The ultimate travel experience
As the travel industry continues recovering from the pandemic, a perfect travel day seems a bit elusive. However, we can probably all agree that first-class seats, high-speed internet, safety and dietary requirements make for a positive travel experience.
It’s important to understand that business travel is a privilege that not everyone enjoys; These experiences can make or break your retention rate. For example, as many as 62% of business travelers are based in the UK are not satisfied with their business travel expectations and 28% admit they will quit if the pace continues. In this context, relying on online travel technology is essential to keeping your travel employers as happy as possible.
Strategies to simplify business travel
Business leaders are changing the way their companies plan business travel by implementing new protocols related to online travel tools. Using these tools will allow corporate executives to travel without unnecessary stress.
While there may not be a perfect business travel experience, there are technology tools that can make business travel easier and better. Here are a few ways business leaders can improve the travel experience:
1. Use online travel technology to book in bulk.
Gone are the days of forcing employees to find flights and book accommodation on their own with their own credit cards (with the company offering refunds upon return). Your HR director or hired travel agent can easily plan with technology that streamlines bookings, accommodations and itineraries.
Apps like Airbnb for Work can be linked to your company profile and will make it easier for your finance team to get all the information they need. If you decide to hire a travel agent, many have 24/7 help centers available for urgent travel requests and some even partner with currency exchange services to help you. navigate that. Whether it’s your in-house HR team or an outsourced agency, travel planning technology is worth the investment.
2. Consider technology that saves time and money.
One of the biggest headaches when traveling for business involves having a destination-specific currency for international travel. However, you can use tools to provide destination-specific currency Get to the office before traveling so your employees don’t have to queue at airport kiosks or pay fees at ATMs — which will ultimately save your company money, too.
Some companies even give free cash back afterwards, complete with reusable envelopes and no unnecessary bank trips. Help your employees save business time to maximize their trips (and maybe even leisure time!).
3. Use technology that prioritizes safety.
Safe travel should always be a priority, especially when booking transfers and cars in major cities with crowded airports and long wait times. To save money on operator services and find safe transportation, use a ride-hailing service instead of a private car in the city. For example, Uber has option “black car” that ensures executives have access to professional drivers with newer luxury cars.
Your team can also use various safety apps, such as Sitata Travel Safe, to monitor safety hazards globally. In addition, the app can warn your team about natural disasters, epidemics, violence, etc.
Make it easy
For me personally, being concerned with safety in the first place has given me an overwhelming sense of peace — especially when traveling to countries for the first time where languages and customs have created barriers.
With going back to work, Now is the time to innovate. With the right business travel technology, the business travel experience can be safer and easier for you and your team members. Make the most of your business trip with the right tools so your team members can feel happy and safe knowing they’re being cared for.
Featured image credit: Photo by Briana Tozour; no trace; Thank you!
