How 500 Businesses Shaped the Way We Developed Our Corporate Travel Platform (part 1)

In travel-tech, tactics for increasing adoption rates of corporate travel platforms vary, the primary reasons being the complexity of corporate travel management processes and ever-evolving nature of technology solutions. The market is saturated, and each and every customer (and their trip) is different. So to offer something of true value for our clients, Trevolution Group , the 4th largest travel consolidator in the US, went ahead and conducted a survey among 500 of its corporate travelers before developing the newest addition to its ecosystem – a corporate travel platform Triplicity. The survey results revealed 7 predominant painpoints, and selection of a suitable corporate travel platform was solely influenced by who could solve these painpoints best.?

Here’s what the survey revealed and how it affected the development of the platform:?

No.1 Lack of Multi-Access ?

Corporate travel is an intricate process with many stakeholders involved, where each party - management team, accountants, office manager, travel suppliers and travelers themselves - have a specific role in the decision-making process. Lack of multi-access platform for most teams implies bottlenecks in travel procedures, which is why 55% of surveyed businesses prioritize the flexibility to empower an office administrator, internal travel manager, or the travelers themselves to seamlessly book and manage travel arrangements.?

Since corporate travel involves multiple stakeholders with distinct roles in the decision-making process, the ability to access the platform for different stakeholders seems to be one of the most crucial aspects behind the choice of a Travel Management Company (TMC). ?

No.2?Insufficient availability of multimodal travel ?

If you need to get from point A to point B using several means of transportation, booking management becomes a mess, and it’ll translate into an even larger mess for the accounting and legal teams post-travel, too.?

Multimodal travel, or in other words - the concept of using multiple different means of transportation into one trip via a sole vendor provides an unmatched ease of use and is rightfully becoming a growing trend in the travel sector. Providing a seamless multimodal travel experience ensures that travelers have access to a wide array of transport options tailored to their unique needs - it enhances connectivity and improves overall logistical efficiency. ?

Data doesn’t lie - nearly 62% of businesses want to take care of their travellers and make sure they are getting reliable transportation to their hotels, conferences, venues etc. via a convenient one-stop-shop saving time and providing maximum convenience for all stakeholders involved. ?

No.3 Absence of Trustworthy Concierge?

A corporate travel concierge is a specialist who is experienced and knowledgeable in discounted air carrier deals, business travel, accommodation, and is familiar with the latest travel bargains. In other words, such a person can assist and help a traveler in planning a smooth and efficient business trip where all the needs for different types of amenities are met. ?

Concierge services are no longer something for the rich and famous - according to Cognitive Market Research, The Global Concierge Services market size was $784.9 million in 20221 and is projected to reach 1,2B by 20302. 78% of businesses rightfully expect that service extends beyond merely booking the air ticket, and that their travelers will not be left stranded if something goes the wrong way.?

No.4 Human Support Unavailability ?

While technological advancements have indeed revolutionized travel management processes, it looks like corporate travelers are rightfully willing to say goodbye to the bots -?real-life human support is still a prerequisite for over 71% of corporate travelers. ?

Behind-the scenes, real-life human agents navigate intricate travel challenges operating specialized routes and a number of travel arrangements instantaneously. In other words, specialized travel agents are able to provide information and book complicated, special routes that might not be available elsewhere, plus they are accessible 24/7, 365 days a year.?

Having a readily accessible touchpoint that offers information and guidance is essential to corporate travelers. Additionally, the ability to access the platform for multiple stakeholders, availability of multimodal travel options, and the presence of a trustworthy concierge service are frequently cited prerequisites when choosing a suitable Travel Management Company (TMC) to partner with. ?

Discover how these, along with three additional pain points, influenced the development of our new product, Triplicity.?

Stay tuned for these insights in an upcoming article!