糖心Vlog

In the not too distant past, when a business traveler needed to take a trip, interaction with whoever handled their travel arrangements was minimal. Someone in the human resources department or a representative from the corporate travel agency would schedule their flights, book a hotel stay, and help them get their travel expenses reimbursed. But today, business leaders count on their corporate travel manager for more than handling trip-related transactions.

Travel management professionals are becoming strategic partners, their skill set growing to encompass supplier relations, data analytics, corporate communications, and more. Today鈥檚 corporate travel manager (even if they鈥檙e working in a third-party capacity through a travel agency) is a part of the global executive team鈥攊mpacting their company鈥檚 success in reaching financial goals, achieving employee satisfaction, and maintaining a productive workforce.

Becoming Part of the Strategic Dialogue

As their role becomes less tactical and more strategic, travel managers are learning how to connect the dots between the company鈥檚 goals and the objectives of its travel program. They鈥檙e expected to answer this call in 5 important ways:

1. Support the Bottom Line. C-suite decision-makers are careful to make certain that investments in their travel program result in revenue. Travel managers are the first in line to understand and control their company鈥檚 travel costs鈥攆rom the big picture to the minutiae. Building and maintaining winning relationships with suppliers and other business partners is critical to helping travel managers reap savings, as is optimizing every step of the travel management process, from expense pre-approval through program evaluation.

2. Make Sense of Metrics. Travel managers use analytics to help them make the most of their resources and demonstrate the travel program鈥檚 value to company stakeholders. Working with other company leaders to identify goals and benchmarks鈥攁nd the type of data needed to answer key program performance questions鈥攖he travel manager needs comfort with 鈥淏ig Data鈥� concepts and applications to support informed decision-making. A command of metrics also helps them effectively reconcile expense reports and boost their negotiating power.

3. Manage Travel Policies. Travel managers are called upon to create, communicate, enforce, and continually adjust their corporate travel policies. They鈥檙e at the helm of ensuring their business travel policy is understood by employees, reinforced by leaders across the company, and aligned with sourcing initiatives. The consequences of non-compliance can be costly鈥攕o travel managers have to stay ahead and on top of all policy issues.

4. Drive Technological Innovation. Technology stands behind just about every process and system innovation in the travel management industry. And travel managers stand behind every travel program-related tech decision. They鈥檙e in charge of choosing, using, and evaluating their company鈥檚 travel technology solutions, which might include online booking tools, mobile apps, and expense management software. Like their counterparts in other areas of the company, travel managers need to show how their tech tools add value (and a good ROI) to the big picture, and keep up with the market for what鈥檚 new.

5. Keep Travelers Productive.聽 One of the primary ways travel managers leverage technology is for employee productivity鈥攕o they don鈥檛 miss a beat while they鈥檙e on the road. A Virgin Atlantic study revealed that 1 in 4 business travelers get their best ideas while traveling. Their travel manager can make sure they have the devices and resources work, connect, and collaborate, whether they鈥檙e at a business lunch, sitting on an airplane, or relaxing in their hotel room.

What are other ways the corporate travel manager鈥檚 role has changed to become more strategic? Let us know in the comments.