Traveler experience rises up the travel managers' priority list
While finding innovative ways to generate savings will remain the top priority for travel managers this year, traveler experience figures prominently as technology and data offer new opportunities to provide tailored services, according to a Carlson Wagonlit Travel survey of 970 travel managers globally.
In the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, 66% of travel managers surveyed said that finding innovative ways to generate savings will be their top priority this year. This is followed by driving the growth of online adoption, with 53%, and optimizing end-to-end processes
“In addition to reducing costs, we are seeing that companies are implementing online booking to benefit travelers who, in an increasingly self-service environment, are looking for self-service tools to help them make the right decisions;
We are seeing companies implementing online booking to benefit travelers who, in an increasingly self-service environment, are looking for convenient and easy-to-use tools,
David Moracute;n, executive vice president, global marketing and business strategy, CWT.
On the other hand, developing the móvile strategyremains an area of high growth. Some 21% of travel managers in the EMEA region rank it as their top priority.
In Spain, travel managers' top priority for 2014 is to find innovative ways to generate savings, with 92% of respondents placing it in first place. It is followed by optimizing travel-related end-to-end processes, with 74%, and redesigning travel policy, with 54%.
Increased collaboration, more powerful data and a greater focus on travelers are the main themes emerging from the survey findings. As technology continues to transform travelers' expectations, it also reveals new opportunities for travel managers, such as the increased availability of data, the proliferation of mobile apps and the potential for social media to provide an invaluable service to business travelers.
At the same time, security needs continue to be a focus to protect not only employees on the go, but also the content they store on their devices.
The seven priorities identified in the report “Travel Management Priorities for 2014” are:
- Find innovative ways to generate savings.
- Drive growth in online adoption.
- Optimize travel-related end-to-end processes.
- Further promote the travel program.
- Redesign travel policy.
- Develop mobile strategy.
- Enhance corporate social responsibility.