It’s Time to Close the Gap Between Corporate and Leisure Travel Tools

This sponsored content was created in collaboration with a Skift partner.

It’s no secret that the pace of change within corporate travel technology has been sluggish, especially compared with the innovations that have taken place in leisure travel over the last few years. Travel management companies and travel managers are increasingly incorporating mobile travel strategies into their programs, but many travel managers and travelers alike remain frustrated at the lack of user-friendly, all-encompassing tools out there.

A survey conducted in 2016 by the GBTA Foundation in partnership with Sabre found that more than seven in 10 business travelers in the United States, Italy, Canada, and Spain prefer using self-service technology to have greater control of their own travel. However, the survey also found that travelers who use such tools often have to use multiple apps and services to manage the various aspects of their trip. Despite the move toward mobile technology tools, the landscape still remains fragmented.

Whether a traveler is booking a flight or hotel, keeping track of an itinerary, making a mobile payment, reporting expenses, or looking for assistance when something goes wrong, he or she should be able to turn to a single tool to be able to do so. Incorporating the full range of technologies that travelers need into a single mobile platform, no matter where they are on the travel journey, can provide a holistic experience for the traveler and help alleviate traveler friction.

But it’s not just about the traveler—the travel manager should also be able to manage their programs as efficiently as possible. A 2015 survey of travel managers by the GBTA Foundation in partnership with Sabre found that this group is constantly looking to identify new technology-driven solutions to better manage their travelers––and mobile is an increasing focus. Eight out of 10 travel managers expect mobility, such as mobile booking and itinerary management, to become a “higher” or “much higher” priority over the next few years.

A complete pre-trip to expense reporting solution also drives compliance with company policy. A study from the Aberdeen Group found that such a solution leads to a 44 percent increase in company policy compliance. Beyond compliance, using a single integrated mobile tool to streamline procurement operations, update policies, manage reservations, and keep tabs on their travelers can help the travel manager drive savings, safety, and traveler satisfaction.

“Travel is a strategic investment for corporations that can bring significant returns while providing a great traveler experience. Using a platform that provides scalable innovation fuels experience and efficiency,” said Rodolfo Silva, vice president of corporate sales and account management at Sabre. “In the past, you had to give up one to have the other. That’s no longer the case.”   

Helping to close the gap, the Sabre Traveler Experience integrated solution provides a seamless mobile experience from pre-trip to expense reporting while addressing key in-transit travel needs and cost-saving opportunities. It integrates a suite of products into one mobile experience which includes booking, itinerary management and messaging, virtual payments, expense reporting, and travel risk management.

This content was created collaboratively by Sabre and Skift’s branded content studio, SkiftX.