Technology has drastically changed business travel and how it is conducted. We take a look into how it has evolved since the 1980's and what it has become today.
Technology is rapidly changing the way business travel is conducted. What used to be a time consuming task involving numerous forms and a telephone call to the travel agent, can now be done at the touch of a button.
Technology is rapidly changing the way business travel is conducted. What used to be a time consuming task involving numerous forms and a telephone call to the travel agent, can now be done at the touch of a button.
Business Trips in the Old Days
Business travel has come a long way since the 1980s when typewriters and pay phones were the face of business communications. Who would have thought that in thirty years so much could change?
Travel agents and admin assistants were a major part of business travel. The admin assistants from the company would liaise closely with the travel agent to ensure the correct reservations were made. The travel agent would take care of all bookings and hire arrangements as well as finding suitable flights for the company. Assuming flights were needed, a travel agent would call all relevant airlines and enquire about flight times, fares, and seat availability. This lengthy process required a lot of planning and communication to ensure the business traveller went from A to B with as little stress as possible.
Then came the age of modern computers which enabled travel agents to use software to efficiently book tickets. This advancement meant tickets and documentation could now be mailed to the business instead of the client company having to pick up everything.
Change in Technology… Change in Experience
A lot has changed in thirty years. Since the evolution of the web in 2000, advances in software, hardware and technology have changed the way we do business. Many companies no longer employ someone whose job it is to make travel arrangements. Instead they use software platforms or the web. In addition, bricks and mortar travel agencies are becoming obsolete except for highly specialized types of travel.
Wi-Fi
Business travellers can take advantage of in-flight Wi-Fi broadband Internet service on some flights. Currently, the traveller must purchase in-flight Internet access on a per flight basis. Gogo, Inc. of Itasca, Illinois is the world leader in in-flight Internet connectivity. The company has equipped more than 6,000 business and 2,000 commercial aircraft with their broadband Internet service. Many business travellers take advantage of The National Railroad Passenger Corporation — Amtrak —Wi-Fi service on their trains.
Online Bookings
Thanks to social media, it has never been easier to access information about the place you are going to stay. Numerous sites such as Trip Advisor now offer more than just a hotel review. You can find sightseeing information and restaurant reviews, to make your decision of where to stay that bit easier.
The introduction of online booking tools have been found to save costs at an average of 7% per transaction. As a result of this the majority of business travellers are now making their own travel arrangements. A process which is much less costly than the involvement of a travel agent. Technology is certainly speeding up business travel and will continue to do so in 2014.
It is always difficult to plan business meetings around people’s busy schedules. Thanks to the introduction of Skype this dilemma is now a problem of the past. This low cost service enables the business traveller to attend important meetings with his management team from the comfort of his hotel room. Meaning he never misses a thing.
Smartphones
Smartphones and tablets have enabled business travellers to stay connected all the time. Mobile technology has made it easier and faster to do work on the move. Whilst apps are readily accessible to users, they allow travellers to keep up to date with departure times and delays, leaving them more informed than ever before.
Business travel has become less of a chore and more of an experience. Traditionally the only form of on-board entertainment was the newspaper or book you would bring to read. Now it is unlikely you will experience a long haul flight without a DVD player etched into your seat. More emphasis on the travellers experience, leads to a happier business traveller and a more refreshed one at that.
Business Trips in 2014 and Beyond
Lucrative markets
The global economy in the BRICs is expected to have positive growth from 2015 to 2017. Trips to the BRIC countries — Brazil, Russia, India, and China — will increase in 2014 and beyond. The four countries, which account for more than 40% of the world’s population and 25% of the world’s land mass, are in stages of advanced economic development, greatly helped by the widespread use of mobile phones and Internet service.
Innovative Technology
Virgin Atlantic are embracing innovation by using technology to improve their customer’s experiences. In their recent study passengers of the Upper Class were the first to experience the benefits of Google Glass, with Virgin Atlantic staff using this straight from check in to access passenger’s flight information. Google Glass has the capability of changing the way we experience business travel.
Travel arrangements that formerly relied heavily on the postal service, landline telephone calls, and specialized travel software only used in travel agencies are now a thing of the past. Business travellers now have greater involvement in planning their trips and can do so easily using various apps and travel sites. They are no longer incommunicado during the actual travel phase, and can remain instantaneously up-to-date on events and changes affecting their itinerary. Information technology and communications advances have made the world into an accessible global marketplace and will continue to do so in the future.
The future looks bright for business travel which will be geared towards connectivity and mobile technology as time moves on. Watch out for members of the Millennial Generation, who are more accustomed to spur of the moment plans than others, they will look to book trips on websites catering to last-minute travellers.
Culled from: https://exploreb2b.com
Business travel has come a long way since the 1980s when typewriters and pay phones were the face of business communications. Who would have thought that in thirty years so much could change?
Travel agents and admin assistants were a major part of business travel. The admin assistants from the company would liaise closely with the travel agent to ensure the correct reservations were made. The travel agent would take care of all bookings and hire arrangements as well as finding suitable flights for the company. Assuming flights were needed, a travel agent would call all relevant airlines and enquire about flight times, fares, and seat availability. This lengthy process required a lot of planning and communication to ensure the business traveller went from A to B with as little stress as possible.
Then came the age of modern computers which enabled travel agents to use software to efficiently book tickets. This advancement meant tickets and documentation could now be mailed to the business instead of the client company having to pick up everything.
Change in Technology… Change in Experience
A lot has changed in thirty years. Since the evolution of the web in 2000, advances in software, hardware and technology have changed the way we do business. Many companies no longer employ someone whose job it is to make travel arrangements. Instead they use software platforms or the web. In addition, bricks and mortar travel agencies are becoming obsolete except for highly specialized types of travel.
Wi-Fi
Business travellers can take advantage of in-flight Wi-Fi broadband Internet service on some flights. Currently, the traveller must purchase in-flight Internet access on a per flight basis. Gogo, Inc. of Itasca, Illinois is the world leader in in-flight Internet connectivity. The company has equipped more than 6,000 business and 2,000 commercial aircraft with their broadband Internet service. Many business travellers take advantage of The National Railroad Passenger Corporation — Amtrak —Wi-Fi service on their trains.
Online Bookings
Thanks to social media, it has never been easier to access information about the place you are going to stay. Numerous sites such as Trip Advisor now offer more than just a hotel review. You can find sightseeing information and restaurant reviews, to make your decision of where to stay that bit easier.
The introduction of online booking tools have been found to save costs at an average of 7% per transaction. As a result of this the majority of business travellers are now making their own travel arrangements. A process which is much less costly than the involvement of a travel agent. Technology is certainly speeding up business travel and will continue to do so in 2014.
It is always difficult to plan business meetings around people’s busy schedules. Thanks to the introduction of Skype this dilemma is now a problem of the past. This low cost service enables the business traveller to attend important meetings with his management team from the comfort of his hotel room. Meaning he never misses a thing.
Smartphones
Smartphones and tablets have enabled business travellers to stay connected all the time. Mobile technology has made it easier and faster to do work on the move. Whilst apps are readily accessible to users, they allow travellers to keep up to date with departure times and delays, leaving them more informed than ever before.
Business travel has become less of a chore and more of an experience. Traditionally the only form of on-board entertainment was the newspaper or book you would bring to read. Now it is unlikely you will experience a long haul flight without a DVD player etched into your seat. More emphasis on the travellers experience, leads to a happier business traveller and a more refreshed one at that.
Business Trips in 2014 and Beyond
Lucrative markets
The global economy in the BRICs is expected to have positive growth from 2015 to 2017. Trips to the BRIC countries — Brazil, Russia, India, and China — will increase in 2014 and beyond. The four countries, which account for more than 40% of the world’s population and 25% of the world’s land mass, are in stages of advanced economic development, greatly helped by the widespread use of mobile phones and Internet service.
Innovative Technology
Virgin Atlantic are embracing innovation by using technology to improve their customer’s experiences. In their recent study passengers of the Upper Class were the first to experience the benefits of Google Glass, with Virgin Atlantic staff using this straight from check in to access passenger’s flight information. Google Glass has the capability of changing the way we experience business travel.
Travel arrangements that formerly relied heavily on the postal service, landline telephone calls, and specialized travel software only used in travel agencies are now a thing of the past. Business travellers now have greater involvement in planning their trips and can do so easily using various apps and travel sites. They are no longer incommunicado during the actual travel phase, and can remain instantaneously up-to-date on events and changes affecting their itinerary. Information technology and communications advances have made the world into an accessible global marketplace and will continue to do so in the future.
The future looks bright for business travel which will be geared towards connectivity and mobile technology as time moves on. Watch out for members of the Millennial Generation, who are more accustomed to spur of the moment plans than others, they will look to book trips on websites catering to last-minute travellers.
Culled from: https://exploreb2b.com
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