“Travel buyers should approach this new
era with open arms and an open mind – solutions that meet a current need or enhance a current process or workflow, that are easy to use and intuitive will always rise to the top,” says Jon Smiles, European product manager at Corporate Travel Management.
CONNECTING THE DOTS We already know that your average ex- ecutive traveller is connected, but what about everything the road warrior comes into contact with, from the hire car to the hotel room fridge? This is where the ‘Internet of Things’ comes in. It is a big disruptive trend that is only starting to appear on people’s horizons. This uses wireless technology in products not usually associated with internet con- nectivity to connect them and manage what they do. There could be 50 billion connected
devices by 2020, according to tech- nology giant Cisco. This could allow smart devices, systems, processes and business travellers to be connected in new ways. “Travel managers, es- pecially those who run larger multi- national programmes, must continue to be open to pockets of innovation,” says BCD’s Kriedt.
58 BBT JULY/AUGUST 2016
“Travel buyers should approach this new era with open arms and an open mind”
Not only will web-enabled everyday objects streamline the back-end op- erations of airlines, hotels and rental car fleets, they could mean better safety for hire cars, better tracking for travellers, a hotel room that mirrors the heating in your home or a customised hotel stay based on your smart-phone preferences. Tie this in with big data and you have some very powerful tools. Kriedt explains: “It is all about keeping
travellers engaged. We all need to embrace and encourage others to embrace a culture of innovation. Don’t be afraid to try things; accept that some will fail and when that happens, move on to the next thing. However, the treatment of security and privacy concerns will determine the speed with which the Internet of Things rolls out.” In this environment, a number of travel
buyers are concerned about sharing data and the amount of information we hand over, with fears of a dark Orwellian future. As Rawlings points out this is really an issue for an older generation. “‘Millenni- als’ – those who reached young adulthood
KEY TAKEAWAYS
— Those that are agile enough will be able to react quickly to disruptive technologies and provide solutions that meet the needs of their travellers.
— Don’t think lineally – think exponentially about the changes that are coming. That way you will stay ahead of the game.
— Keep a close eye on the consumer market and where Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, big data and other mega-trends in this area are heading. These are sure to filter down from the consumer market to business travel.
— They are called disruptive technologies for a reason – because they disrupt. So keep abreast of these and think how they could affect your business.
— Whatever concerns the older generation have for a sector of technological development, the younger generation will see a clear benefit and use for. The barriers to uptake are going down.
BUYINGBUSINESSTRAVEL.COM
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