In much the same way that travel managers don't always need to know the detail of how a travel booking is made, travellers don't need (or want) to delve too far into the details of travel processes for work.
We're always questioning how many travellers really read the travel policy and are paying attention to its changes, especially when the topic of 'rogue travellers' never seems to go away.
Things can get more complicated if a new supplier or policy comes in especially as the travel industry changes so often and working life becomes more varied.
FCM's global managing director Marcus Ekland told me he envisions a time where instead of an implementation and communication strategy the only message to travellers will simply be "use this app" and the rest will follow. His comment came amid a raft of updates to the TMC's SAM app including more destination information, duty of care functions and plans for express check-in and in-app bookings. Travellers can also customise their notifications…hopefully not choosing to ignore information from their travel manager.
NDC will change this business-to-business-to-consumer dynamic too. Eckland revealed personalised NDC options will be tested via SAM to test whether there is an appetite from travellers. The same can be said of Travel and Transport which was named alongside Reed & Mackay and AERTiCKET as new partners of the Sabres Beyond NDC program this week.
"We see Sabre investing to enable personalized offers within NDC with an approach that ensures the necessary workflows and addresses complexities of managed travel programs," said Mike Kubasik, executive vice president and CIO with Travel and Transport. "The potential to contribute to the technology that will create customized, bundled offerings for our customers is a significant draw and will keep us at the forefront of delivering exceptional travel experiences."
Where do policies sit when these traveller-by-traveller offers come in? The industry often proclaims that not 'one size fits all' but is yet to have the answer to a more customised experience — these advancements may help take a step forward.