American Express Business Travel will launch its Intelligent Online Marketplace (AXIOM) - where travellers can find, purchase and manage approved corporate travel and related business services - in the UK later this year.
The web-based marketplace brings together inventory from more than 135,000 suppliers to provide a one-stop-shop where employees can purchase and manage flights, hotel stays, car rentals and other services such as airport parking, dining, ground transportation, package shipping and audio/web conferencing.
The launch of the service in the UK follows the successful 2007 release in the US ” where more than 1,300 corporate customers are now using it.
”Web 2.0 technology has opened up the opportunity of ”mashup” solutions ” two or more diverse sources culminating in an integrated experience,” said American Express global travel services president Charles Petruccelli.
”An example of this is our AXIOM solution ” [with this] we are putting on the corporate desktop of travellers full-access to content well beyond air, hotel and car in a dynamic way.”
The service lets companies gain visibility and control over unmanaged expenses which, according to American Express, can account for nearly half (49%) of all travel and entertainment costs.
Aggregating thousands of suppliers in one online shopping environment, the service helps travel managers and procurement managers strategically source secondary corporate services in addition to flights, room nights and rentals.
It also helps companies set travel policies and makes it possible for managers to show employees preferred suppliers and therefore maximise negotiated savings.
”It will bring a new level of servicing and vital visibility of the broader costs of travel and its associated expense to UK clients,” said American Express Business senior vice president and general manager David Herrick.
”We are confident that clients and travellers alike in the UK will be as keen to take advantage of the savings and simplicity offered by the solution as our US clients have been. AXIOM not only offers greater control for companies, but with its unique online personal assistant, schedule management is simplified and employees have peace of mind while being able to remain productive while on the road.”