CASE STUDY
SKF: Business travel cost management and compliance
Key Highlights
About SKF
SKF is a leading global technology provider in over 40 industries for bearings and units, seals, mechatronics, services and lubrication systems since 1907. Headquartered in Sweden and employing more than 45,000 employees globally, SKF prides itself in continuous development of new technologies to create products that offer competitive advantages to their customers. With 140 sites in 32 countries and another 18 technical centres around the world, SKF runs one of the most robust travel programmes that’s critical to the success of their business.
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As their corporate travel management partner in Australia, China, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore and the U.K, FCM worked with SKF to drive technology adoption with the aim of improving their internal booking processes, productivity and reducing travel spend while enhancing their traveller experience.
For their travellers to receive real-time flight and pricing information to minimise lost-savings opportunities, the SKF management team agreed to implement a customised online booking tool (OBT) in 2019 that ensures all SKF travellers book their travel within policy, which in turn helped to manage their travel cost more effectively.
At the same time, FCM understands the importance of adequate training and support for both travellers and management team to drive high adoption of the OBT. Through a comprehensive change management programme, FCM conducted regular trainings and updates to the SKF team to drive travel policy compliance.
Results
Using the OBT has helped SKF to strike a fine balance between providing mobility and flexibility to their travellers while keeping business travel costs low. Their travellers are also able to enjoy a seamless travel experience – from pre-trip search, booking and seat selection to online check-in.
With the strong support from the SKF management team and the close collaboration between FCM and SKF travel team, the OBT adoption rate has grown from 5% to 80% and this translates into 5.5% reduction in their air spend. Using the OBT has also improved their overall productivity and created a positive reflection of their travel programme management.
Continuing relationship with SKF amid the pandemic
When the COVID-19 challenge started in early 2020, FCM continued to support SKF by providing regular industry updates and information on repatriation requests. Until today, FCM continues to get SKF ready and resilient for their return to business travel, so they can get back to business as usual as soon as borders open up again.