Consumer travelers have long been a priority among those in the travel industry, while corporate travelers have been forced to either fend for themselves or coordinate travel details through their companies’ travel departments. The latter option kept corporate travelers in the dark without much control over the way their plans were handled, which airlines they flew on, or even where they should pick up their rental cars. A survey conducted by MMGY Global indicated that about 69 percent of business travelers are responsible for making their own travel arrangements. This is much different than in the past, when the majority of business travelers utilized a corporate travel department for all of their business travel needs. There was a clear demand for a platform that employees could easily access on their own. Recently, the travel industry has begun to recognize the need for more personalized travel services for business travelers. Up until then, corporate travelers had been all but ignored. However, the same people who travel for work have become accustomed to a much more robust experience when booking leisure travel. Companies looking to expand their customer base have gotten the memo and have begun tapping into the corporate travel market. Digital BookingBusy professionals are rarely stationary and are likely to conduct a majority of their business on laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Given the tech-driven nature of corporate professionals’ jobs, digital booking is in high demand. Frequent business travelers value real-time updates, standalone travel apps, and social media integration. Ensuring that travel details are easily accessible without having to go through antiquated corporate channels not only saves time, but also gives corporate travelers a high level of control over their travel itineraries. This way, should their plans need to be adjusted based on clients’ needs, they can make changes almost instantaneously without the typical formalities. Corporate Travel Platforms Up until recently, many companies used Concur for their corporate travel needs. While the interface served its purpose, it was typically restricted to certain individuals within a company. If a traveler had issues or questions pertaining to their itinerary, accommodations, or anything else, they had to go through someone else to find answers. Recently, Concur acquired Hipmunk, a metadata-focused website, with the goal of creating a better corporate user experience fueled by innovative technology. In keeping with this same idea, American Express recently acquired the booking platform KDS. American Express hopes this move will help create a richer user experience for its corporate travel partners. Through a dedicated platform for corporate bookings, employees can adhere to various company travel policies automatically, since policies and procedures are built right into the software. For instance, if an employee attempts to book an unauthorized trip or exceeds budgetary restrictions, the travel platform would automatically prevent him or her from continuing. TripActions Offers Helpful ToolsOne such platform is TripActions, which offers a variety of helpful corporate travel booking tools, including a global inventory of flights, rental vehicles, as well as hotel accommodations. TripActions promises to deliver a flawless and modern Internet-based travel booking experience for corporate executives. While the majority of the booking process is self-directed, TripActions also offers high-level support to help travelers should they encounter any issues in the process. Much like leisure travel booking sites, TripActions also offers exclusive deals, corporate discounts, and even a savings dashboard that gives travelers an inside look at the latest savings in real-time. For finance or travel administrators, TripActions also helps to monitor business travel expenses while allowing business partners to enjoy a stress-free method of booking. For companies that still utilize travel managers, TripActions allows these users to view corporate travel at a glance and to keep track of corporate bookings without having to personally book each trip. Business travelers also can take advantage of TripActions’ rewards points, high-tech booking technology, as well as dedicated customer support should they need it. Catering to Corporate TravelersCorporate travel has come a long way in recent decades, and it is expected to become even more streamlined as time goes on. What many travel platforms are finding is that business travelers expect the same level of service they experience when booking their leisure travel, and several companies want to meet their needs. Corporate travelers place a high premium on being able to customize every trip they take, even if it’s for work.
Travel companies understand that if a business traveler has a positive experience with their booking platform, this represents a prime opportunity for repeat business. The scenario presents a win-win situation for both the traveler, who will earn valuable miles and points, as well as the travel booking companies that will earn lucrative and repeat corporate business. Artificial intelligence (AI) is much more than what we have seen in movies and television. This sophisticated technology has been used by a variety of industries for decades (often reluctantly). Find out how the travel industry has adapted to the widespread popularity of AI and what it could mean for the future of travel. What is artificial intelligence? Artificial intelligence is a programmatic system designed to analyze and interpret specific types of inputs (in the form of raw data) and provide outputs that resemble intelligent, or at least reasonable, conclusions. AI is sometimes mentioned along with big data or machine learning—both of which are similar concepts. Software that uses artificial intelligence performs complex tasks that previously required human intervention, but at a much faster rate. How does AI relate to travel?Artificial intelligence was once seen as a threat to the travel industry, but in recent years, the industry has begun to embrace this technology. Instead of fighting against technology that once threated to take travel agents’ jobs, industry insiders are recognizing how AI can positively impact their interactions with customers. One of the best uses of artificial intelligence in the travel industry has to do with its ability to predict travel-related occurrences, such as security threats and weather incidents. GeoSure CEO Michael Becker—who is responsible for developing an AI app—asserts that artificial intelligence has the capability to predict security threats in nearly every major city worldwide. He believes this technology will ultimately help travelers feel safer, which will therefore increase travel industry revenue. In addition to predicting security and other threats, artificial intelligence is also used for narrowing down the best travel deals, identifying optimal times to plan a trip, optimizing itineraries, and providing detailed information about popular travel destinations. Who benefits most from AI?Artificial intelligence is somewhat impractical for analyzing patterns of the average traveler (as it is best for identifying more frequent occurrences), but for those who travel a lot, AI could prove to be very valuable. For instance, business travelers typically travel more often than leisure vacationers, and they usually repeat the same set of activities. Additionally, business travelers are less restricted by travel prices, since their presence in a specific destination is not flexible. This means that if a businessperson needs to be in Tokyo next week, there is no time to wait for a price drop. Artificial intelligence can also help to create a high-quality experience, and surveys have consistently shown that is what business travelers value most. What are the challenges?According to critics, artificial intelligence currently poses a threat to travel agents. However, these threats can be minimized if travel companies use AI to their advantage by, for example, identifying customer patterns in order to provide better customer service. Major companies such as Expedia, Google, and Apple have already begun to develop AI systems to better understand customer behavior. These companies understand how detrimental it would be to ignore AI, and they are forging ahead in development to avoid a major industry disruption.
While many in the travel industry can see the inherent value in artificial intelligence technology, it still hasn’t been totally embraced. Travel agents in particular have been burned by the technology in the past (they have not fully recovered from the way the Internet revolutionized booking travel, essentially allowing consumers to cut them out of the process). According to Trisept Solutions CEO John Ische, travel agents need to prepare for change by working hard to communicate with their customer base in order to gain a deeper understanding of what customers want and value, which will inevitably leader to higher sales in the long run. As long as leisure travelers dominate the travel industry, artificial intelligence will still have its limitations. With this in mind, the use of AI on a large scale is still impractical because the data simply isn’t there. Even with the slow progress of AI, many companies in the travel industry are incorporating AI into their operations. Industry Forecast predicts that 2017 will usher in more use of artificial intelligence, particularly in the form of apps, software, and bots that will augment travel agent functions. As it stands now, AI is still new and its full potential has yet to be tapped. It will be interesting to see how far AI can expand beyond simply analyzing the data of business travelers and deliver more personalized experiences for all consumers. Traveling can be fun and exciting, but it sometimes comes with a few annoyances. From lost items to safety in unfamiliar territory, sometimes the smallest detail will be the difference between a great trip and one filled with unexpected problems. Here, we’ll discuss the best tech innovations designed to make traveling a little bit easier. Micro Luggage Frequent business and leisure travelers may find themselves in a hurry as they make their way through the airport, which is why you often see people sprinting in order to board their flights. The 3-wheeled luggage scooter by Micro Luggage is a TSA-approved carry-on that features an integrated kickboard. This kickboard enables the user to easily fold it for storage in overhead bins, then flip it down for immediate use as a scooter in the airport. Designed by iconic luggage manufacturer Samsonite, the Micro Luggage scooter is sturdy, lightweight, and features enough compartments to hold all of your essentials. Micro Luggage retails for $299 and can be purchased on the microkickboard.com website. Similar items by other manufacturers include the Modobag, which allows users to sit atop their luggage and ride it through the airport. LifeStraw Go Water Purifying BottleFor those who travel internationally or who enjoy nature-focused excursions, finding sufficient amounts of safe drinking water can be a challenge. The LifeStraw Purifying bottle solves this issue with its refillable water bottle that is designed to remove 99.9 percent of harmful bacteria. The two-stage filtration technology can purify water from multiple sources, including streams, tap water, and even puddles. To use, simply fill the bottle with water, tighten the lid, and sip through the included straw. The LifeStraw Go Water Purifying Bottle meets EPA standards for drinking water and is lightweight and BPA-free. The bottle holds 22 ounces and can filter about 264 gallons of water before needing a filter replacement. The LifeStraw Go Water Purifying Bottle retails for $35. Pacsafe Venturesafe 25L GII Anti-Theft BackpackTraveling into unfamiliar territory with backpacks and other items that identify you as a tourist may jeopardize your safety. Locals may see you as vulnerable, making you more likely to be a target for theft or other forms of victimization. The Pacsafe Venturesafe 25L GII Anti-Theft Backpack is a lightweight, yet sturdy backpack that has built-in wire mesh, which helps avoid rips and tears that could give a thief access to your belongings. The Carrysafe® Slashguard Straps prevent thieves from cutting your straps and running off with your valuables. Additionally, this backpack features radio frequency identification (RFID) blocking technology. This blocks signals from credit card scanners, keeping your personal information safe. The Pacsafe Venturesafe 25L GII Anti-Theft Backpack is large enough to carry a 15-inch laptop and has ample space for hiking gear, yet is small enough to be used as a carry-on during flight. The Pacsafe Venturesafe 25L GII Anti-Theft Backpack retails for $120. The Tile Theft is not the only worry when going on a trip; losing items is also a huge issue as well. From luggage to keys to electronics, Americans lose an average of $5,591 worth of items in their lifetimes. Those who travel often may lose even more and should seriously consider using a Bluetooth tracking device such as The Tile. This handy little device can be placed practically anywhere and can be tracked through a smartphone app to determine its exact location within a 100-foot radius. Not only is this helpful when at home for finding keys, it can be a lifesaver when traveling. The Tile app runs in the background and constantly updates the location of your item, so if it goes missing, you will have some idea of where to start looking. The Tile will emit a sound as well, which will ring loudly until you locate the lost item. So far, The Tile has sold 6 million units and retails for $25. Sandless Beach MatFor those who frequent tropical destinations and enjoy spending time on the beach, sand can be a major issue. Towels are often inadequate beach mats, as they aren’t very effective at keeping sand at bay.
The Sandless Beach Mat solves this problem with revolutionary technology that was born out of material used by the military to keep debris off helipads. Makers of the Sandless Beach Mat assert that it is impossible to cover the mat with sand, thus making for a great day at the beach. Vacationers can enjoy sunbathing, reading, and a host of other activities without being interrupted by sand, water, or wind. The mat even comes with D-rings on each corner that can be used with ground stakes to minimize movement. The Sandless Beach Mat retails for $70. Technology has revolutionized how we travel, and these items continue that trend. Whether you travel out of necessity or for fun, having items that make life easier and give you peace of mind will make your next trip even more memorable. TSA PreCheck is a program created by the Department of Homeland Security with the goal of getting low-risk travelers through airport security checkpoints faster. The program has been in existence since 2011 and currently has more than 3 million members. The TSA PreCheck program hopes to have 25 million travelers enrolled by the year 2019. To enroll, you must submit an application, complete an in-person appointment, pass a background check, and submit fingerprints. PreCheck accepts US citizens and permanent residents. A similar program, Global Entry, allows for expedited customs clearance for low-risk travelers when they arrive in the US. Besides US citizens and permanent residents, citizens of the UK, Germany, South Korea, and a few other countries may apply for Global Entry clearance. Previously, PreCheck was completely free, but its popularity has expanded and there’s now a fee. For domestic travel, PreCheck applicants are required to pay an $85 fee. Applicants who plan to travel internationally can opt for the Global Entry program for an additional $15, bringing the total to $100. Both PreCheck and Global Entry are valid for five years. One reason PreCheck is no longer free is due to the sheer volume of travelers considered “low risk.” When the program first began, about 45 percent of travelers fit into the low-risk category, which resulted in congestion and processing times that weren’t much different than standard security lines. The $85 application fee also covers the expense of processing applicants’ background and clearance checks, operating and staffing enrollment centers, and maintaining the technology required to make the PreCheck program run smoothly. TSA PreCheck is a great option for frequent travelers, and business travelers can benefit greatly from the program. Benefits of PreCheck The biggest advantage of the PreCheck program is the speed with which travelers can pass through airport security checkpoints. In July 2016, for example, 97% of PreCheck passengers waited 5 minutes or less in security, according to the program’s website. Additionally, PreCheck passengers can keep on their shoes, jackets, and belts when passing through security, and laptops can remain in their cases. Being a member of the PreCheck program will give you a little more wiggle room when getting to the airport, which can be invaluable in times of heavy traffic or other circumstances that may delay your arrival. If you opt for the Global Entry program, you’ll also be able to make it through customs much quicker when flying internationally. If you’ve ever flown internationally, you understand what a pain the process can be. With Global Entry, passengers simply check in at automated kiosks, rather than waiting in line to fill out paperwork or speak with a customs agent. Many Ways to Sign UpMorphoTrust, a private company, has partnered with TSA to market the PreCheck program and get more people to sign up for it, in order to meet the agency’s aggressive goal of having 25 million PreCheck passengers by 2019. The company set up PreCheck enrollment centers at H&R Block locations across the country. These enrollment centers were set up in nearly 30 states, and MorphoTrust plans to expand locations in the coming tax season. Additionally, PreCheck enrollment sites have popped up in Virginia at various Department of Motor Vehicle offices. MorphoTrust has also established temporary PreCheck enrollment centers at conferences and conventions—which is fitting, as many attendees likely have to fly to reach these events. The company also reached an agreement with concert promoter Live Nation to sign up travelers at music festivals. Those who apply for PreCheck at Live Nation events and pass the required checks will receive fast passes to breeze through security lines at concerts, in addition to PreCheck enrollment. What Do You Need to Apply?Applying for the PreCheck program is relatively simple. For domestic travel, applicants must present photo identification as well as the necessary documentation outlined on the TSA PreCheck website. For the Global Entry program, applicants must present a US passport or permanent resident card, and the applicant cannot be in violation of any customs and immigration laws. The PreCheck website goes into great detail about eligibility requirements so that applicants can know their chances of approval prior to visiting a PreCheck enrollment center. In the event you are not approved for the program, the application fee is nonrefundable. That’s why it is important to understand the requirements prior to applying and paying the fee.
Though it may seem as if you get special treatment with PreCheck, acceptance to the program does not guarantee that you will be able to use a PreCheck line at an airport. PreCheck is available at 180 airports and 19 airlines participate in the program, including major US carriers American Airlines, Delta, United, Southwest, and Alaska. However, not every airport and airline is a PreCheck participant, including many large international carriers. Before traveling, be sure to check the TSA website to ensure that the airport you’re using is indeed part of the program. |
AuthorBruce Eaton is the president and chief executive officer of i2 Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a hit discovery and lead optimization technology provider serving clients in the pharmaceutical industry. Categories
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