Advito's latest update to its 2016 Industry Forecast brings traveller tracking and in-app messaging to the fore, with the corporate travel consultancy suggesting that active tracking should be limited to only when you really need it.
Arguments in the corporate travel world over tracking have existed ever since corporations and travel management companies realised that GPSs in smartphones could be used to know where individuals are, in real-time.
The conversation has progressed, taking in privacy laws, corporate social responsibility and battery life. What Advito is saying is that active or on-demand tracking is "not the best way" for businesses to track their travellers and that tracking should exist as part of a wider duty of care remit rather then become the default option.
In-app messaging is a newer concept than tracking within the business travel world. High-profile consumer-facing launches such as Facebook Messenger (to say nothing of Google's planned Allo platform) are bringing this channel to roadwarriors' attention.
In-app messaging will allow TMCs and corporates to talk to their clients in real-time, before, during and after the trip.
There are three benefits of using in-app messaging - it improves traveller confidence in the program, promotes safe travel, and encourages better buying decisions. The latter is important, as compliance has always been an issue in corporate travel and, reading between the lines, in-app messaging between TMCs and the travellers could be a way to keep them in policy.
And although Advito doesn't say as much, there is a possible correlation here between the two concepts - in-app messaging could be a way to make sure you can immediately get in touch with an employee on the road without the need for tracking.
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NB: Image vectorfusionart/BigStock.com
Related reading from Tnooz:KLM on Messenger and being a speck in a galaxy of digital giants (June 2016)
Why mobile travel chat will revolutionize online travel bookings (Feb 2016)
Looking back and ahead – the corporate travel (r)evolution (Dec 2015)