I often hear that if it ain’t broken don’t
fix it when it comes to many travel management programs. The issue is that many
of the people who respond this way wear many hats - one of them being travel -
and for the most part they focus on trip planning versus the management of this
line item and the opportunities that go along with it. Many of you who read my
blog have an idea that things may be broken that could impact the line time of
T&E significant and know enough to enough that they need to know more.
So my question is often “why do so many
organizations stay with the same way of working, often for many years, when
it’s really not delivering optimum results?” From my experience, I would say
the schools of thought likely fall into at least one of the following four
camps:
1. I am way too busy! We live in a busy world with hectic jobs and high expectations. If you
think that travel is under control because no one is complaining, I recommend
that you ask yourself why. Is it because they are getting whatever they want,
and then you have to ask at what cost does that come at? Can you place a value
on the missed opportunities before you decide it’s not broken? You may uncover
a whole host of improvements that can be made. And if time really is stopping
you, send your data to handful of travel management companies, who will be more
than willing to do this for and share their recommendations.
2. Lack of Travel Procurement knowledge.
For most of our customers, travel is one of
those things that seems to get added on to an existing job role or is a small
part. As a result, sometimes the person responsible doesn’t know where to
start. If this sounds familiar, reach out to a few TMCs, consider joining the
Global business Travel Association, or even grab my book The Secrets of
Effective Business Travel Procurement for tips on how to get started. You can get your free copy here. There are also
consultants who can help identify opportunities and determine the right
partners.
3. Buy-in. Making a change isn’t going to be successful without the support for your
executives and other stakeholders, regardless of how much work you put in. Put
together a travel team and ensure senior management endorses the project. Keep
this group engaged throughout the entire process, you’ll be grateful for their
support when you come to implement a new solution.
4. Lack of resources. Changing systems or even suppliers can be daunting, especially when travel
is such a personal subject! Worries over resources and the cost of change can
lead people to think ‘the grass isn’t
always greener’. But if you choose the right travel management company, the
change should be well managed by your new provider every step of the way. Their
knowledge and expertise should make things as seamless and as smooth as
possible - and, if you’re doubting their abilities to make this change pain
free, they’re probably not right for you.
What are your challenges and questions? I
would be happy to answer some question here and use this forum for you to
secure advice from others like you. It’s always great to start a year safe in
the knowledge that your travel management is in good hands. If not, check out
the resources mentioned above, consider getting some second opinions on your business
travel and when you’re ready to take the plunge, check out a webinar we are
hosting next week on the A Travel Insiders Guide to Getting the Best T&EValue in 2015.
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