Trainline has launched business profiles in its app allowing travellers to separate their business and leisure travel accounts.
The rail ticket retailer, which earlier this year launched Trainline for Business, said by creating a business profile in the app, travellers can bill trips to a corporate account or company credit card and send digital receipts direct to a work email.
Trainline’s newly appointed general manager for business and ancillaries, Sophie Krishnan (pictured), told BBT that because of innovations in the leisure sector the “bar has been set high” for what business travellers expect.
“If you look at the industry going forward business travellers have a high standard, which is largely driven by the need for efficiency and to raise levels of productivity,” said Krishnan. “Historically this industry has not done enough but is now catching up... the travellers want hassle free solutions they are used to using every day.”
In last month’s Autumn Statement the government announced it would invest £80 million in smart ticketing, which aims to give every traveller the choice of using mobile ticketless travel.
It was a move welcomed by Trainline and one Krishnan said will be embraced by everyone in the industry. “50% of UK routes are now enabled on mobile tickets and is something we have worked with the industry on. Neither Trainline or the rail industry can do it on their own so it’s about joining forces to increase that percentage.”
She added: “Being ticketless has had a massive impact on travellers as you don’t have to scramble to get your ticket anymore, no queues – so from that efficiency and productivity stand point it’s a significant improvement.”
As well as mobile ticketing through the app, Trainline also offers ‘one click refunds’, which is something Trainline said was “overwhelmingly” wanted by travellers and buyers.
Krishnan also said the app was built with the travel buyer in mind as well as the traveller and they tried to incorporate many of their demands, with a major one being visibility around spend. “Buyers want to know where and when money is being spent, and when it comes to overall spend the next question is how I can manage that spend better or what are the specific steps I can take as company that will help me save.”
In addition to the app is a new SME web portal aimed at employers who can set up an account, invite employees and manage all business travel in one place.
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