80%. That’s the percentage of business travelers who said in a recent survey that they sometimes book their business trips off-platform. 80%! It’s no wonder travel and finance managers are frustrated with their T&E solutions.
The finding comes from The State of Corporate Travel and Expense 2026 — an annual industry survey and report we’ve been publishing with Skift for the past 7 years. And it mirrors what I’ve heard from prospective customers: Compliance remains an obstacle to travel program success.
And that’s just the tip of the opinion iceberg.
The Good, the Bad, and the Broken
Today’s road warriors have plenty of thoughts on the travel experience because they’re traveling more: 48% of respondents said they had taken 6 or more trips over the previous 12 months, vs. 40% a year ago. And more also recognize the value of in-person meetings: This year’s survey saw a YoY jump of 8 percentage points in business travelers who said travel was an essential investment or necessary cost.
But their experience isn’t always smooth sailing. Sure, some factors are out of their control: Flight disruptions, for example, are the No. 1 travel concern for road warriors this year (they’ve also been on the rise). What matters is how travel platforms handle inevitable incidents like these. And almost 60% of the respondents expressed at least some dissatisfaction with their solution’s support.
That’s a real problem: Being stuck on hold when competitors are automatically and immediately rebooked can be disastrous in a world where every deal counts.
Finance managers have their own set of frustrations. Even in today's increasingly AI-driven workplace, there was a jump of 6 percentage points for finance managers who have to process travel expenses manually.
Getting on Track
Tapping into insights like these is why we conduct this survey with Skift every year. Our goal is to understand the wants and needs of both current and prospective customers; it helps us envision and prioritize ways to make our product even more efficient and effective.
That effort has paid off: Legions of Navan customers have saved time and money. Ziff Davis, for example, has saved 21% on travel with Navan. But many other companies continue to live with frustration over their T&E tools — and the reasons survey respondents gave for not switching may surprise you.
In fact, a lot of findings in this report may surprise you — or perhaps even inspire you to make this the year to transform your T&E program and maximize the value that travel can create for your business.
This content is for informational purposes only. It doesn't necessarily reflect the views of Navan and should not be construed as legal, tax, benefits, financial, accounting, or other advice. If you need specific advice for your business, please consult with an expert, as rules and regulations change regularly.
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