A move to online rail bookings is helping the government to save money on travel, according to one of the UK’s leading TMCs.
Carlson Wagonlit (CWT) has seen the use of online booking systems rise, as public sector clients try to achieve the savings targets set by the new government.
The number of rail tickets bought online has increased by 43% between June and September, which has meant savings in bookings fees and lower ticket prices, said CWT.
Nigel Turner, CWT’s director of programme management, said: “We have been working even more closely with our government customers since the election to help them buy travel more effectively.”
He said the use of online tools has been highlighted as a “major opportunity area” in achieving this.
“In light of the recent budget cuts, CWT expects this trend to continue,” he added.
Some CWT UK public sector clients have achieved adoption levels of more than 90% for online rail bookings.
The use of online booking tools forms part of a company’s best practice as it enables better enforcement of travel policy, and CWT predicts “a further acceleration of best practices in travel procurement across central government departments,” said Turner.
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