As business travel came to a standstill in early 2020, scores of road warriors stashed their well-used suitcases in closets and tucked away their passports for the time being. While the level of readiness to return to business travel varies throughout the world, businesses and their employees are now thinking about what the ‘new normal’ will look like once they receive the green light to hit the road again.
New research fielded by SAP Concur in June 2020 looks at business travellers’ concerns and expectations post-COVID-19. While the data suggests travel will continue to play an irreplaceable role in meeting critical business demands, it also shows that health and safety are top-of-mind among employees. The survey reveals that ensuring their health and safety while travelling is most important to business travellers, with 65 percent placing it in their top three considerations. Top concerns about returning to business travel also include infecting their families (55%) and getting sick themselves,
(53 %).
These concerns could be contributing to employees’ stress during the trip. Forty-five percent of business travellers said they find the actual trip the most stressful stage, a 50% increase from last year. Twenty-six% find pre-trip activities such as planning, booking and organising their trip to be the most stressful, while 29% find post-trip activities such as filing expense reports and monitoring their health after returning home to be the most stressful. Additionally, business travellers hold themselves most accountable to protect their health and safety once travel starts again (36%). However, they also are looking to their employer to protect their health and safety (18%).
This leads to the question – are travel managers prepared to meet business travellers’ expectations in light of the fluid state of business and travel during these unprecedented times?
The SAP Concur survey found that among travel manager respondents, 96% reported that their company was not fully prepared to manage evolving travel demands during the outbreak.
What were the biggest pain points experienced?
- Handling the volume of cancelled reservations (44%)
- Processing the volume of refunds, receipts, and unused tickets (43%)
- Determining if it is safe to travel in the absence of government guidelines (40%)
As business travel resumes, travel managers could face similar challenges on top of meeting employees’ expectations to ensure they feel protected and safe. If companies don’t adapt, 65% of business travellers say they intend to take some degree of action, such as asking to limit or reduce travel in their current position (455), searching for a new position within their company that does not require travel (10%), or searching for a position at a different company (8%).
Here are a few tips that can help travel managers meet business travellers’ expectations to keep them healthy and safe:
- Update travel policies. Travel managers should look at their current travel policy and make updates to fit the current situation. One important guideline to update is what the company will consider essential travel. They should work with human resources and their business leaders to determine which business functions need to be conducted in person and which ones can be done online. Thirty-nine percent of business travellers say they consider limiting business travel to only the most business-critical trips as vital for their company to implement when travel resumes. Not only will it help minimise employees’ exposure, it can also make a difference in the company’s bottom line.
- Consult the experts. National health organisations and hospitals offer free information for businesses and consumers who need to travel. Travel managers should stay up-to-date on the latest guidance and ensure employees know about these resources. The site gov.za offers helpful information on traveling within South Africa and internationally. TripIt from Concur offers a helpful Traveller Resource Centre that gathers a collection of resources to make finding information about international public health, safety advisories, and travel guidelines easy.
- Health checks and personal protective equipment (PPE). Travel managers should look into ways they can implement mandatory personal health screenings before and after travel for employees. In fact, 39% of business travellers believe this is an important measure companies should take. This can help ease business travellers’ concerns about infecting others and being infected themselves in the course of travel. In addition, 33% of business travellers want easier access to PPEs like gloves or facemasks and expect their company to provide them with this equipment.
- Implement technology that gives insight into employees’ travel plans. It’s vital for travel managers to know where employees are during business trips so they can communicate with them should an incident occur. An integrated technology solution that provides up-to-date business traveller data and the ability to reach out to employees in the event of an emergency offers peace of mind to both the business traveller and the travel manager.
While these tips won’t fully solve for all business travel challenges, they can help alleviate some of the concerns employees have when it comes to returning to travel, and help businesses adapt, stabilise, and reimagine business travel in the new normal.
For further information visit www.concur.co.za
Brandstories Disclaimer:
Brandstories is not liable for the contents of the information published on this platform. The information which subscribers publish on this website is for general information purposes only and Brandstories facilitates the ability for viewers and subscribers to access this platform. Subscribers who publish their content on Brandstories are held responsible for their own content. This includes ensuring that it is factually accurate, grammatically correct, free of spelling errors, and does not contain unsavoury content that could result in legal action. In the case of linguistic translations, the onus is on the client to ensure that the translation is accurate. In no event does Brandstories make representations or warranties of any kind, expressed or implied about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the information supplied and published. This website includes links to other websites, including third party websites. Brandstories does not recommend, endorse or support any views that are held by subscribers publishing information, and within these links provided. Furthermore, Brandstories does not have control over the nature, contents and availability of information contained on these sites. Any form of reliance readers and consumers may place on information published on Brandstories is strictly at their own risk. Brandstories makes every effort to ensure that the website is up and running smoothly at all times, however Brandstories does not take responsibility for, and will not be held liable for times when the website is temporarily unavailable due to technical glitches that are beyond our control.
You may also like
-
Steps towards sustainability must be a key part of every business’s strategy for success
-
DPD Laser and Multiserv partner to democratise parcel delivery to all South Africans
-
DPD and NSBC join hands to empower South Africa’s small businesses
-
The quest for certainty in e-commerce delivery
-
When it comes to parcel delivery, few names resonate on a global scale quite like DPD. The company’s reach, credibility, and the esteemed network it belongs to are nothing short of phenomenal. In this article, we delve into the vast expanse of DPD and its associated companies around the world, unveiling a picture of unmatched expertise and commitment. At its core, DPD South Africa is backed by Geopost, the majority shareholder. Geopost, a true multinational juggernaut, operates in 49 countries across all continents. It boasts an extensive network of expert delivery brands, each a leader in its respective domain. These include DPD, Chronopost, SEUR, BRT, Speedy, and Jadlog, collectively serving as a testament to Geopost’s global prominence. With 57,000 dedicated employees, Geopost is on a mission to make commerce more convenient, profitable, and sustainable for its customers and the communities it serves. A remarkable feat is Geopost’s commitment to becoming an international reference in sustainable delivery. It stands as the first global delivery company to have its roadmap to Net Zero by 2040 approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Geopost’s influence spans borders and is setting an industry standard that others can only aspire to reach. Local Partnerships and Powerhouses In the local arena, DPD South Africa enjoys the support of The Laser Group, a minority shareholder. The Laser Group is a proudly South African company, proudly majority black-owned, and holds the distinction of being one of the largest independent logistics businesses in the country. This local collaboration adds a uniquely South African touch to the global excellence that DPD embodies. An International Partner of Unmatched Stature Geopost, with its DPDgroup, reigns supreme as the largest international parcel delivery network in Europe. DPDgroup seamlessly blends innovative technology with local knowledge, creating a flexible and user-friendly service that benefits both shippers and shoppers. Geopost’s revolutionary Predict service, for instance, has set a new industry standard for convenience, ensuring that customers stay closely connected with their deliveries. With a colossal workforce of 122,000 delivery experts and an astonishing network of more than 58,000 Pickup points, DPDgroup achieves an awe-inspiring feat – delivering 8.4 million parcels each day, amounting to a staggering 1.9 billion parcels annually. The Global Success Story Continues The DPD business units function as the parcel delivery network of GeoPost, a holding company with sales soaring to €11 billion in 2021. Geopost is owned by Le Groupe La Poste, underlining the significance and reach of DPD’s corporate family. In sum, DPD isn’t just a parcel delivery company; it’s a global powerhouse that epitomizes excellence in logistics. Its association with Geopost and the extensive network of delivery brands it encompasses speaks volumes about its global standing. DPD isn’t just delivering parcels; it’s delivering on a promise of unparalleled service, worldwide. By the Numbers: DPD’s Global Impact Number of parcels delivered every single day: 7.5 million Annual Revenue: €11 billion Countries DPD can ship to via its network or partners: +230 Delivery Experts: 97,000 Countries in which DPD operates: 50 Number of parcels delivered per year: 1.9 billion https://www.dpd.com/za/en/