{"id":146595,"date":"2023-09-12T07:08:43","date_gmt":"2023-09-12T07:08:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.sap.com\/africa\/?p=146595"},"modified":"2023-09-27T20:06:46","modified_gmt":"2023-09-27T20:06:46","slug":"work-travel-now-means-more-work-than-ever","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.sap.com\/africa\/2023\/09\/work-travel-now-means-more-work-than-ever\/","title":{"rendered":"Work Travel Now Means More Work Than Ever"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Inflation has not only shaken global economies but has fundamentally altered the landscape of\u00a0business\u00a0travel. Remember the good old days of lounging in comfy\u00a0business\u00a0lounges and enjoying lavish dinners on the company without batting an eye? Well, times have changed.<\/p>\n

Those on the ground say sky-high ticket prices and tighter company wallets can sometimes make\u00a0business\u00a0trips feel more like boot camp than a perk.\u00a0Business\u00a0travellers are pinching pennies and facing more pressure to make the trip worth every cent. The fluctuating Rand hasn\u2019t helped \u2013 daily travel allowances barely cover the basics. And you know what they say about all work and no play \u2013 it’s making these trips much less glamorous and more grind.<\/p>\n

The change is palpable, according to the 51风流Concur Global\u00a0Business\u00a0Travel Survey<\/a>.\u00a0Business\u00a0travellers have reported significant budget cuts (40 percent), a surge in reduced overnight trips (32 percent), and a noticeable dip in the quality of accommodations (31 percent). Moreover, the relentless hunt for cheaper fares has been felt by 31 percent of those surveyed.<\/p>\n

Understandably, flights were some of the first to come under budget scrutiny. The Global\u00a0Business\u00a0Travel Association (GBTA)<\/a> reported that the average ticket price for\u00a0business-related airfares rose 72% in 2022. The numbers give a sense of the situation, but what’s the reality for a\u00a0business\u00a0traveller trying to balance\u00a0business\u00a0goals with personal comfort?<\/p>\n

Any frequent flyer will agree that\u00a0business\u00a0trips can be a hectic whirlwind of meetings and deadlines. But when you have to pick a cheaper, less convenient flight? Crazy early mornings or late nights, long layovers, or having to bounce between multiple airports get added to your workload.<\/p>\n

Instead of saving\u00a0energy\u00a0for the big meeting, you’re left dealing with jet lag and travel fatigue. And the time you could’ve spent prepping or chilling? Wasted on navigating the extra travel hassle. Add to this – the discomfort of spending layovers on an airport bench because you\u2019ve dropped from silver to bronze, and the benefits that took some of the heavy\u00a0lifting\u00a0out of travel have vanished.<\/p>\n

Companies are also making sure they get a bang for their buck. Instead of a one-day\u00a0business\u00a0trip with a single meeting, travellers now find their itineraries packed. Multiple appointments, visits, reviews, and the odd networking dinner thrown in. The rationale? If we’re spending so much to get you there, we might as well make the most of it. The result? The Q2 2023 Quarterly Trends Report shows corporations are travelling, on average, 20% less than 2019. \u00a0The unintended benefit – it’s better for the\u00a0environment\u00a0to batch meetings.<\/p>\n

It’s a brave new world out there for the\u00a0business\u00a0traveller \u2013 and it\u2019s forcing many who hold the purse strings to reconsider and revise their travel strategies and policies. Bonnie Smith, GM Corporate Traveller, says that now is the right time to take a strategic rather than reactive approach to\u00a0business\u00a0travel budgeting.<\/p>\n

“TMCs are on the pulse of the travel industry,” says Smith. By joining forces with a company\u2019s administrative team, a TMC can devise a monthly travel budget perfectly suited to an organisation’s specific needs. “Their extensive network and know-how can unlock global deals, allowing travellers to enjoy perks without the premium of\u00a0business\u00a0class flights,” Smith adds.<\/p>\n

The expertise TMCs bring to the table can also help recalibrate the company\u2019s travel policy \u2013 and help to set some ground rules. \u201cIt’s all about letting the team enjoy their trips without blowing the budget,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n

Smith explains there are simple and easy ways to take some of the \u2018grunt work\u2019 out of\u00a0business\u00a0travel:<\/p>\n