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Operational Efficiency Goals Extending Out to Business Travel

Joshua Hoffman
May 27, 2015

Businesses are constantly looking for new ways to improve efficiency, and data is often central to this process. How organizations gather, analyze and use data plays a key role in their ability to ensure efficient operations. The rise of the Internet of Things, for example, is enabling organizations to gather data from a variety of sources - including employee smartphones and tablets - and use that data to improve decision making. These advances make application development platforms more important than ever, as having the right apps in place can empower users to make the most of data that is available to them.

The capacity to use data in real time to improve decision making and, as such, enhance business efficiency, is becoming a major factor in how organizations handle corporate travel.

"Many businesses are turning to app customization."

Efficiency a priority in business travel

Recovery throughout the global economy has led to a renewed interestin business travel, and companies are working hard to empower their workers to take advantage of travel opportunities with greater efficiency, the Star Tribune reported.

The news source explained that leisure travelers have begun using a diverse range of apps and services to get the information they need to improve their travel experience and interact with hotels, restaurants and other organizations in more intuitive ways. This efficiency is spreading into business travel.Greeley Koch, executive director of the Association of Corporate Travel Executives, explained that organizations are putting a new focus on productivity during business travel.Mark ≠Hollyhead, the senior vice president for Egencia Americas, said that better technologies are needed moving forward.

"There is a general dissatisfaction with the corporate travel technology," Hollyhead told the Star Tribune. "In the 10 to 15 years the Internet has grown, travel management has been driven by corporations. Compliance and reporting have been the bedrock of these policies."

Business travelers shouldn't have to sacrifice efficiency when they're on the road.

Business travelers shouldn't have to sacrifice efficiency when they're on the road.

Custom apps may hold answers

Many businesses are turning to app customization to meet their specific needs. A recent Business 2 Community report explained that updating legacy applications to offer new functions is a common reason for customizing apps, but regardless of why a company will either build a new app or customize an existing one, the end goal is almost always efficiency.

Business process management technologies are emerging as application platforms that help companies create and customize apps as needed. These BPM tools can play a vital part in helping organizations to fine-tune their travel apps and services so they can help employees make the most of travel and improve operational efficiency.