For companies to stay successful perennially, corporate travel is a potent tool. Corporate travel forms an important part of every company’s employee experience activities. Businesses need to collaborate with travel management companies (TMC) who handle the process of coming up with destinations, streamlining the travel process, and suggesting ideas for improving employee travel experience and saving on travel spending. Here are some factors to consider when searching for a travel management partner:

The products or services not provided by the TMC
Travel management companies need to have a well-defined range of products and services to offer their client partners. Businesses need to verify whether these services and features cover the complete set of solutions they need. This can be done by checking out all the services the management company does not provide. Usually, some of the gap areas include corporate deal coverage of auxiliary travel requirements like car rental, train tickets, and travel insurance policies. Additionally, the absence (or availability) of value-added services such as data security, travel risk management, and analytics are also certain factors to check and consider before finalizing a travel management company to become a partner of any business.

Compliance with travel guidelines
Compliance with certain set travel guidelines is more critical than many businesses believe. In fact, travel guideline compliance is a major challenge companies face when executing corporate travel arrangements. A lack of proper guidelines can drive the travel budget and wreck an organization’s balance sheets and bottom lines. Therefore, one thing to consider for businesses is whether a travel management partner is willing to let a dedicated account manager work closely with them to keep travel expenses reined in no matter what the circumstance or destination is.

Clear data reporting
The dedicated account manager is responsible for compliance with more than travel guidelines. In fact, travel management companies must have a clear and utterly transparent relationship with their clients. Every cost, every term and condition, and every peculiar policy must be disclosed, and information must constantly be relayed regarding any developments surrounding a corporate travel booking or schedule. Businesses will need to check with other companies or users of a travel management company to know how clear their reporting is and how efficiently they deliver their promised services.

Easy travel arrangements
Travel management companies are responsible for making travel arrangements simple for a company’s employees and executives. That is a major requirement while selecting a management company and sticking with it through thick and thin. Travel management companies should not leave companies and their employees struggling to navigate the paperwork connected to a corporate travel plan. Companies must consider things like how easy or difficult it is to use the travel management company’s online booking platform custom-made for their client’s travel operations. A simple process benefits employees more and makes their experience with their employer more rewarding over the long term.