8 advantages of managed business travel for growing companies
It's no secret that the way you approach necessary business activities changes as you grow. This is particularly true for business travel. Allowing employees to find their own travel options on the internet — sometimes at the last minute — comes with increased cost, added risk, and inefficiency as your business levels up.
This is the perfect time to build a managed corporate travel programme. An experienced travel management company (TMC) that specialises in growing Malaysia companies like yours can help you streamline travel processes, manage risk, and help you stay on budget.
Here are just 8 of the transformative business travel solutions a travel management company can bring to your organisation
1. Save time booking business travel
Imagine eliminating the hours spent comparing flight prices, hotel deals, car rentals, and rail fares across countless websites. With a dedicated business travel agent, or typically called a TMC, all your travel needs can be centralised through an approved company travel portal and booking tool. This one-stop-shop for booking and itinerary management not only saves time for travellers and travel arrangers, but also reduces costs by promoting the most economical options.
2. Round-the-clock support for business travellers
Travel disruptions don't adhere to regular business hours. Your support shouldn't either. A good TMC provides 24/7 assistance, making sure that an experienced travel advisor is always a call away to address any concerns or changes in travel plans, whenever they occur.
3. Enhanced traveller safety
In today's world, knowing the whereabouts of your travellers is crucial, particularly in regions with elevated risks. Managing and mitigating traveller risk is of utmost importance as businesses grow. A good TMC can pinpoint the location of your travellers and help you to make contact, ensuring their safety, and enabling swift action when needed.
4. Shorter wait times
Travel disruptions are a part of business travel. With an experienced TMC at your side, your employees won't be left queueing at the airline counter when things happen. They'll have immediate support from expert travel advisors who can rebook flights and make new arrangements, significantly reducing downtime and stress, and making your travellers happier.
5. Consolidated and accurate business travel reporting
A centralised booking system means all of your travel data is in one place. That means that your reporting can be in one place too, enabling you to swiftly pull reports for expense tracking, budget analysis, and quick action. This comprehensive view of travel spend is invaluable for making informed decisions and identifying cost-saving opportunities.
6. Simplified payment and travel expense management
Managed business travel lets you say goodbye to the headache of reconciling travel-related expenses from personal credit cards. The best TMCs enable Malaysia businesses to opt for centralised payments, reducing the need for employees to front costs on personal payment cards. Powerful expense management technology in the hands of travellers helps to better track expenses and streamlines the expense claim process.
7. Keeping watch over your travel budget
Maintaining control over travel spend is easier when you can set spending caps or preferences within your travel programme. Centralised booking and reporting helps you to share budget parameters with your travel partners and technology providers, ensuring compliance and preventing budget overruns.
8. Staying ahead of business travel trends
The travel industry is constantly evolving, and staying abreast of the latest developments and trends can be a full-time job. Your TMC will become your go-to source for business travel in Malaysia and your key travel destinations, providing you direct access to knowledgeable professionals that keep you up to date with new trends and best practices. They'll also provide expert advice on new strategies to save you time and money — something that every growing business needs as it scales.
More than convenience
Managed business travel isn't just a luxury for businesses like yours. It's a strategic tool for companies of any size that seek to grow efficiently. The benefits of using a TMC extend far beyond mere convenience. They encompass cost savings, enhanced efficiency, risk reduction, employee satisfaction, and improved compliance.
Embrace the future of business travel with a trusted travel management partner at your side. Contact our team today to find out more about how FCM's strategic and personalised approach to business travel can yield significant dividends for your company and help you to free up resources that let you focus on your business.