Data silos and inefficiencies in your corporate travel program can create a ripple effect throughout your organization. The secret to streamlined operations lies in integrating your corporate travel booking software with your company’s existing systems.
In this step-by-step guide, you’ll discover best practices for connecting your travel software with tools you already use. Get ready to unlock real-time data flow and keep your teams perfectly in sync.
Identify which business systems your corporate travel booking software should work with.
Common data integrations include the following software and tools:
Pro Tip: Partnering with an all-in-one travel and expense management system minimizes complexity and provides a cohesive user experience, making it easier to manage all aspects of corporate travel and expenses.
Above: Navan integrates with accounting and finance systems in just a few clicks.
Many corporate travel booking software solutions come with pre-built integrations for popular tools. If not, they might offer Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), which allow your IT team to create custom integrations.
Case Study: Unlocking Efficiency Seamless Integrations
Aircall was using three separate tools to manage travel, corporate cards, and expenses. “The biggest pain point we faced was that none of the tools integrated with our accounting provider, NetSuite,” said Christelle Valdivia, accounts payable manager.
To streamline operations, Aircall partnered with Navan for all-in-one travel and expense management. With direct integrations, all transactions are now centralized and synched to Netsuite, and employee data is automatically kept up-to-date in BambooHR. Discover how this transformation saved Aircall time and money.
Successful integration often depends on seamless communication between your travel booking software and your other business systems. Involve your IT team early on to manage technical requirements like API connections, data mapping, and system security.
Pro Tip: Ask your IT team to set up automatic alerts in case any integrations experience downtime or errors.
Before going live, run a series of tests to confirm that the systems talk to each other as expected. Double-check that data is being synced properly and that bookings, expenses, and employee data flow seamlessly.
Pro Tip: Involve road warriors and key stakeholders during the testing phase. Their perspectives can highlight potential issues and improve the user experience.
Once your integration is live, train your employees on the new, unified system. This will support them in using the features effectively, from booking trips to submitting expenses.
Pro Tip: Opt for software with an intuitive interface to minimize the learning curve. A user-friendly system reduces the need for extensive training, allowing your teams to quickly adapt and utilize the software effectively.
After the integration is live, keep an eye on its performance. Regularly monitor the data flow between systems and optimize the setup as needed.
Pro Tip: Mandating the use of your travel management software is the best way to increase control, visibility, and savings.
Integrating corporate travel booking software with other business systems is a game-changer for improving efficiency and transparency. By following these steps, you’ll make sure your company’s travel processes are connected, automated, and future-proof.
Ready to get started? Every integration listed in this article — and more — is available via the Navan platform. Request a demo to see how it works.