Bill Brindle, business technology and distribution director at Hogg Robinson Group (HRG), says there is still much to do in terms of standardisation across the industry, and commitment to investment in research and development is crucial as the travel industry is shaped by demand for new technologies.
"There is a pressing need to find common solutions as the travel industry becomes ever more complex and companies are eager to contain costs and increase value. The process should be looked at as a whole, from itinerary planning, trip authorisation, actual transportation and accommodation to expense management. Technology is paramount in the quest to add value and streamline the provision of corporate travel services.
"The business travel marketplace is increasingly complex and there is now technology infrastructure that can manage an incredibly large number of people and transactions. In the corporate travel sector, it is essential to remain ahead of the curve and adapt to changing travel requirements, policies and budgets. At HRG, we are continually developing opportunities through technology to overcome the complications in the booking process and make life easier for both business travellers and procurement teams.
"In this rapidly changing marketplace, we recognise there is an increasing burden on booking systems as more and more transactions need to be seamlessly incorporated. More so than ever before, people search to be presented with all the available options before they book, so they can choose the most appropriate decision based on convenience and best value.
Call to the industry for technology standards
"Corporate bookings require more robust systems than those in the leisure sector because corporate travellers typically make more complex bookings, as service level agreements and negotiated deals often require specific booking practices.
"At HRG, we have looked at the existing industry guidelines, which can be extremely broad and invite different interpretations. HRG has continuously appealed to the corporate travel industry to work together to develop a robust and common set of technology standards in corporate travel for the benefit of the whole sector. Common standards amongst those involved in developing business travel technology solutions will help improve compatibility and enable companies to work together more effectively.
"We want to pave the way for a new generation of integrated systems that would add real value to the corporate travel industry. Some steps would be relatively easy to implement; measures such as standardisation of terminology would help multinational companies using different suppliers around the world to synchronise their global data for the purpose of improved analysis and reporting.
"Rail travel, for example, highlights an opportunity for increased savings. Rail has been one of the fastest areas of growth in corporate travel in recent months, with companies switching from air to rail to reduce costs and minimise their carbon footprint. At HRG we have been working with the Trainline in the UK to build a new solution to integrate rail bookings, but there is still no common approach in the industry.
A commitment to Research & Development
"There is no doubt that the recession has affected most corporations' development budgets. The focus has inevitably shifted to return on investment, reducing risk and driving value. HRG has remained committed to continued investment in technology: it is a vital part of our culture and crucial to successful business practice. Research helps a company not only to survive economic turmoil, but also to thrive once the market stabilises. There is no better way to generate cost savings in the long run; technological developments will generate efficiencies and savings which can be passed on to the clients.
"Businesses want more services from a Travel Management Company (TMC) these days, including content that is not necessarily available on the GDS. HRG is adding qualitative information such as seat comfort or the experience within a hotel, as well as the quantitative cost figures so that clients can have as much information as possible when they make their travel choices.
"As travel accounts for a significant proportion of any company's controllable cost, the work of TMCs is more important. In the current economic climate, clients are still focused on generating efficiencies and making budgets go further. New technology will enable the industry to implement effective travel expenditure that can generate significant savings for businesses. It is vital that we work together to find the best solutions."