Going Global: The Traveler Experience in a Global Travel Program

This guest post is by World Travel Inc. Will you be at SAP Concur Fusion in Orlando? Be sure to stop by booth 501 to chat with the team.

When implementing and maintaining a global travel program, it is important to understand the traveler experience in each of your key segmented business markets. Do I know what is important to my travelers in Australia? How will the decisions I make impact travelers in Singapore? As a global travel manager, it’s not always easy to understand the unique nuances of your global travelers, but that is where SAP Concur tools can help. In 2019, the SAP Concur organization published a whitepaper in conjunction with Wakefield Research featuring several essential insights into business travel trends and innovation useful to managers and travelers alike. A few of the report's key takeaways highlight the following similarities across all travelers in all markets, with the focus being that better travel solutions create happier and more dedicated employees.  These employees are more productive and more likely to stay with the company long term.

Technology is driving employees’ desire for both flexibility and convenience.  They want to book their business travel however they want, with many pointing to a single integrated tool as the best way to meet their needs.  Let’s look at some of the key areas of technology and how SAP Concur solutions and World Travel can assist further with them.

Safety remains the top priority of business travelers worldwide. Therefore, a comprehensive global travel program will maintain a focus on traveler safety, security, and Duty of Care.

That’s why World Travel, Inc. not only partners with proven risk management specialists but is also investing in a new platform that keeps watch over world events. Coming in Q2 2020, look for WorldWatch to identify and manage trip disruption with real time messaging and features like a Global 360° view of travelers anywhere and current travel conditions based on airport, flight route, and location.

Even with an online booking tool, business travelers like to have options when it comes to finalizing their itineraries. Travelers want to take advantage of every tool available to maximize the benefits they receive.  When using Concur Travel as your online booking tool, your company will use a singular SAP Concur site. But based on your travel program needs there can be multiple configurations of the site, including subsites for specific markets. Multiple configurations have different use cases in Concur Travel and will always be used in a multi-agency service set-up. Each travel management company will have a configuration off the main site, while HR data feeds can be configured globally. These sites also provide region specific air, rail, hotel, and ground content and global data management.

Safety and variety are combined in the form of travel technology.  A single, integrated platform like World Travel's propriety WorldHub system, can morph to meet travelers’ needs by market. Having one technology that can be taken anywhere on any device creates a consistent experience while providing access to the most relevant policy information and market specific content.  

As a global reseller of SAP Concur solutions, World Travel, Inc. works with our international partners and fulfillment agencies to provide localized service while maintaining best practices for data security, risk management, consolidated reporting, and maximized site configurations. To learn more about our global travel service or SAP Concur solutions, visit us at booth 501 at SAP Concur Fusion 2020 in Orlando and join us at Siro Urban Italian Kitchen for a post-show party on March 11.