How Corporate Travel Services Streamline Business Travel

The business travel industry used to be stuck in the past, with legacy players offering tired solutions. Today, corporate travel services enable companies to leverage technology in making informed decisions, controlling costs, and boosting productivity.

From simplified booking experiences and 24/7 support to automated expense tracking, here’s what you need to know about how modern corporate travel services can help your business save time and money.

What are Corporate Travel Services

Corporate travel services refers to a suite of solutions designed to manage business travel’s logistical, financial, and safety needs. These solutions help businesses focus on their growth strategies while leaving the complexities of travel to experts.

A well-organized corporate travel system helps companies reduce costs, enforce policy compliance, and help ensure traveler satisfaction. They offer crucial services for optimal corporate travel management.

Modern Corporate Travel Services

1. User-Friendly Booking Tools

Today’s employees demand a consumer-like experience when booking travel, and modern online booking tools (OBTs) deliver just that. These intuitive platforms provide the same user-friendly interfaces that travelers are accustomed to on popular consumer travel sites. Employees can search a travel inventory that’s ideally on par with consumer sites to find the supplier and schedule they need. 

2. Comprehensive Travel Management Services

Beyond booking travel and accommodation through travel management companies (TMCs), modern corporate travel services may offer some advanced functionalities. TMCs may provide travel policy enforcement, 24/7 support, travel expense tracking, and reporting and analysis. TMCs often work with multiple OBTs and other inventory sources to negotiate special corporate rates, which can offer significant savings to businesses. 

3. Seamless Expense Management Integration

Tracking travel expenses can be time-consuming, especially when managing many traveling employees. Fortunately, modern TMCs offer platforms that seamlessly integrate travel and expense management tools. This lets employees track costs in real time, submit receipts digitally or at the point of swipe, and automatically comply with corporate spending policies. Automating these tasks minimizes errors and provides financial transparency — and bookings stay within budget and adhere to company guidelines.

4. Built-In Travel Policy Enforcement

Enabling companies to proactively enforce corporate travel policies is a game-changing corporate travel service. With automated platforms, companies can customize their travel policies and set parameters for employee travel. Whether it’s limiting travel to certain airlines, requiring manager approval for specific bookings, or restricting accommodations to a price range, these policies help control costs and streamline processes.

5. AI-Powered Personalization and Support

AI and machine learning enable businesses to automate processes, predict travel needs, and personalize itineraries. These tools analyze trends, budgets, and traveler history to streamline bookings and secure the best rates.

This technology is also key for efficient traveler support. After all, business travel can be unpredictable, making 24/7 customer support essential for handling emergencies like flight cancellations or lost luggage. Great support helps keep trips on track and offers travelers peace of mind. And when AI chatbots power these support systems, their instant responses make service even more efficient. (Plus, live support should be available for more complex issues.)

6. Mobile Availability

Mobile applications improve the user experience by providing real-time flight updates, security alerts, and expense reporting so employees can manage their travel from anywhere. These platforms also streamline the approval process, with managers receiving notifications to approve or adjust travel bookings as needed.

7. Corporate Travel Discounts and Negotiated Rates

TMCs leverage their relationships with airlines, hotels, and other travel providers to secure exclusive rates for corporate clients. These negotiated rates are often more competitive than what’s available to the public, resulting in cost savings for companies. Additional perks like free parking, late checkout, complimentary breakfast, flexible or last-minute cancellations, and free Wi-Fi can boost the travel experience.

Read more: How Small Businesses Can Get Big Corporate Hotel Discounts with Navan.

8. Sustainability and Carbon Offsetting

As more companies commit to sustainability, some TMCs have incorporated carbon offset programs into their solutions, enabling businesses to reduce their environmental footprint by offsetting the emissions generated by business travel. Some platforms also provide reports on the ecological effect of travel, helping companies meet their corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals.

Business Spotlight: How Navan Helps Lime On the Road to Net-Zero Emissions

The micro-mobility company Lime aimed to reach a net-zero carbon footprint by 2023 and partnered with Navan to achieve this goal.

Before Navan, Lime had no real-time visibility into its carbon emissions. With a substantial 81% platform adoption, the company can now enjoy actionable visibility into sustainability metrics.

Ideal Tech Solutions for Corporate Travel Services

Businesses can adopt a comprehensive corporate travel solution to address these challenges and maximize efficiency. With real-time data insights, AI-powered tools, and 24/7 customer support, Navan has developed a travel management platform that integrates booking, expense tracking, and policy enforcement into one seamless system.

And thanks to customizable travel policies plus access to exclusive rates, Navan helps businesses of all sizes optimize their travel operations while reducing costs.

Ready to get ahead and stay ahead with an all-in-one corporate travel service offering? Book a demo.