Summary of the conference in Madrid on technology for travel agencies
Forum Business Travel held a special training session for corporate travel agencies at the Innside Suecia hotel in Madrid, with technology and innovation as its motto. The great transformations that business travel management is undergoing were analyzed by active travel managers in front of almost a hundred attendees.
The founding partner of Forum Business Travel, Óscar García, began the day with the presentation of the report “The 10+1 faces of the technological business traveler”, prepared by FBT in collaboration with Amadeus. Among the main conclusions, it is worth highlighting:
-The concept of open booking is gaining ground in corporate travel. It is the flexibility for employees to book their own travel.
-Travel friction. There are companies that are beginning to calculate the impact on staff due to the conditions under which travel takes place. The stress caused by this has a direct impact on productivity.
-One-stop shop. The traveler needs a single environment to manage all his travel needs. You have to make it easy, because travel is a means, not an end.
-Tailor's hand. Big Data from multiple channels makes it possible to personalize the offer to the frequent traveler automatically.
-Paperless and cashless. Cash is in disuse. The digitization of economic transactions increases security and control.
-All for one. The collaborative economy is gradually penetrating business travel. Platforms such as Uber or Airbnb already have many corporate clients.
-Leisure and Business. Apps allow the business traveler to take advantage of free time for leisure activities.
-Digital Detox. Too much technology can saturate and generate stress. It is necessary to seek a balance and disconnect sometimes.
THE EXPERIENCE OF TRAVEL MANAGERS
The results of the study were analyzed by Raquel Vaquero, travel manager at Gestamp Servicios, and Josep Mª Guasch, director of Cost Auditía at Nortia Business Corporation.
Some of Vaquero's comments:
“We must take into account the human factor, put ourselves in their shoes and translate their needs into the companies”.
“The appearance of the GDS was one of the great milestones. Apps and social networks are the latest revolution. They help travel management to focus on the purpose of the trip”.
“Airlines have to improve onboard connectivity”.
“The app phenomenon has to be regulated in travel policies. It is a trend. We have to take advantage of it. There has to be a bidirectional channel between agencies and companies”.
“Payment with mobile devices is a trend, but also in the medium term. But it is a slow and costly process, with an important technological investment by the companies”.
Guasch's considerations:
“You have to bet on technologies, but the developments have to work. Companies demand comprehensive services: parking, restaurant, train, taxi…”
“The self-booking tool would be more widely used if it were through an app. It is a challenge for developers”.
“We must reach a collaboration between agencies and companies to develop integrative technologies”
The day was completed with several presentations in which attendees were able to have a current view of the úThe latest innovations from travel providers, including those from Amadeus, London City Airport, Icarous, Diners Club, Executive Airlines and Mice in the Cloud.