Business Traveler

More documents

Recommendations

Info

FEATURE – TMCs clients consistent and reliable data, and offering them access to all our proprietary products,” says Khan. “Wings ® boasts a reporting tool which is accessible via URL and includes live data with many enhanced features, offering clients a snapshot view of their travel spend, travel patterns and detailed insights into traveller behaviour, allowing a proactive approach in terms of managing their spend.” Another area where Wings has focused its technological efforts is the increasingly important duty of care space. It recently launched goSecure, a risk management solution for their clientele that allows them to track and communicate directly with their travellers via a mobile application, coupled with the Wings24 emergency contact centre, which manages risk and traveller safety on behalf of Wings’ clients. For McNeil, the technology has to be complementary, and he believes a lot more thought needs to be given to this area before a TMC rolls out the latest tech. Specifically, he believes there almost needs to be a ‘division of labour’ between what the technology can offer and what the TMC and its staff are best equipped to focus on. “To remain relevant and viable, it is essential that we use technology to drive automation and improve service for our mutual benefit,” he says. “Noncomplex bookings should be automated, freeing up skilled travel professionals to focus on areas in which they can truly add value beyond the transaction, for example in the areas of data analysis, duty of care and supplier negotiations.” To this end, FCM has developed a chatbot (see sidebar) in the United States. It’s called ‘Sam’ and promises the expertise of a skilled FCM consultant available at all times: pre, during, and post-trip. Sam is a travel-savvy chatbot that can assist with all aspects of travel – itineraries, gate changes, driving directions, weather, restaurant recommendations and reservations. There’s also ‘call or SMS my consultant’ functionality, which gives travellers access to a live FCM consultant 24 hours a day for live assistance on the go. “Every travel programme should have technology that clearly focuses on improving the traveller, travel booker and travel manager's experience,” says McNeil. “That’s whether it be by improving the booking experience through mobile apps, improving security through better duty of care tools, or maximising spend visibility through enhanced data analytics. As we look to the future, the discussion around artificial intelligence (chat bots, virtual assistants, etc.) is beginning to become common-place internationally – once again to fulfil a certain type of transaction through technology. This in turn helps to improve the level of efficiency for our clients, but also help to enhance the TMC’s ability to leverage their expertise and personalise the customer’s experience through technology.” While it’s interesting that FCM has delved into the chatbot space with Sam, Humphries of Harvey World Travel makes a telling observation regarding the uptake of technology, as it relates to this group’s clients. “ Every travel programme should have technology that clearly focuses on improving the traveller, travel booker and travel manager's experience. ” 26 | SEPTEMBER2017 Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za
AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER OF THE XL TRAVEL GROUP TRAVEL GROUP O UR M EM BERS ABSOLUT TRAVEL ALGOA BAY TRAVEL ALOE TRAVEL ASTRA TRAVEL BAY TRAVEL BOLAND TRAVEL BUNDU BASHERS TRAVEL DESTINATIONS TRAVEL EMBASSY TRAVEL FLYWELL TRAVEL HOWICK TRAVEL FLYNOW TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL TRAVELS MILLENNIUM TRAVEL NEXUS TRAVEL NOVO MUNDO TRAVEL PROTEA TRAVEL ROSEBANK TRAVEL R&M GLOBAL TRAVEL SANDOWN TRAVEL SKYWAYS TRAVEL TAMARIN BAY TRAVEL THE TRAVEL COMPANY THE TRAVEL PROFESSIONALS TRAVEL TODAY TURBO TRAVEL TURNERS TRAVEL WILD TRAVEL MODERN BUSINESS TRAVEL MANAGEMENT Industry leading technology providing best end-to-end experience FAST ACTING Fast identification of out of policy behaviour EXCEPTIONAL CLIENT EXPERIENCE From before time of travel requisition to well after purchase and travel DUTY OF CARE Risk management, Automated travel advisories and Travel Alerts MONITORING MADE EASY Better tracking of performance through email alerts, scheduled reporting and dynamic reporting MAXIMISING RETURNS By best serving our customers' needs GLOBAL TRAVEL MANAGEMENT Affiliated to Egencia FLIGHT SPECIALS BEYOND THE ORDINARY AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER OF THE XL TRAVEL GROUP BEYOND TRAVEL MANAGEMENT O UR A SSO CIATES g www.xltravel.co.za
Page 1: THE TMC SPACE Embracing technology
Page 4 and 5: John Smith @ModernBusinessTraveller
Page 6 and 7: ED’S LETTER Nigeria continues to
Page 8 and 9: NEWS Radisson Red Coming to Cape To
Page 10 and 11: NEWS Four-Star Grading for Mayfair
Page 12 and 13: NEWS Lufthansa Takes A350 to Hong K
Page 14 and 15: NEWS British Airways Invests in Fir
Page 16 and 17: NEWS Airlink Starts Using New E190
Page 18 and 19: COMMENT An Eye on West Africa Trevo
Page 20 and 21: ADVERTORIAL Do you want to save mon
Page 22 and 23: FEATURE - TMCs Embracing Technology
Page 24 and 25: FEATURE - TMCs It’s a different w
Page 26 and 27: FEATURE - TMCs TECHNOLOGY “Corpor
Page 30 and 31: FEATURE - TMCs ABTA SURVEY Almost 6
Page 32 and 33: FEATURE - TMCs transaction fee,”
Page 35 and 36: ‘Local Leisure at its Best’ cam
Page 37 and 38: Eastern Cape South Africa’s ‘wi
Page 39 and 40: Free State The Free State’s appea
Page 41 and 42: Limpopo Limpopo has become a sought
Page 43 and 44: North West The North West province
Page 45 and 46: Western Cape The scenic splendour o
Page 47 and 48: KWAZULU-NATAL MIDLANDS BREAK AND BE
Page 49 and 50: EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS AND EXPLORE TH
Page 51 and 52: Zimbabwe has endured sanctions, an
Page 53 and 54: Your AfricA, our LegAcY... Business
Page 55 and 56: Welcome to Zimbabwe for the warmest
Page 57 and 58: CRESTA CHURCHILL REFURBISHMENT In M
Page 59 and 60: and and British pound are also acce
Page 61 and 62: TRIED & TESTED/Flight SEATTLE-LONDO
Page 63 and 64: Q & A Tech savvy Andy Hedley Genera
Page 66: BITE WITH THE EDITOR Strong Growth

Business Traveler

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?