Business Travel Executive, October 2017

26Business Travel Executive OCTOBER 2017 COVER STORY Taking on the World to offer core services is consistent and flexible enough to adapt to their specific global program In reality many corporations need to operate globally Mahoney says So answering these questions is important in determining whether a TMC can meet your corporate travel needs To determine the kind of TMC to partner with Mahoney advises companies to start with a clear understanding of their global organization and what corporate objectives the travel program needs to deliver Determining what products and service options are offered is critical so is the capability to provide clean timely and When considering the selection of a travel management company with which to partner Questions to Ask Amdocs GOs David Smith suggests taking the following approach Determine what your major volume is and where its coming from and prioritize he says Smith suggests asking questions such as these Do the proposed TMCs own and operate in those countries If not what is the relationship From a technology perspective can these various points of sale deliver the same and consistent traveler experience If there are differences or limitations what will it actually look like to the end user and for the travel manager Can each POS deliver reporting with the same frequency or in the same manner If not what will the consolidated reporting look like After weighing out these and many more questions one should be able to narrow down to a model you can work with Smith says actionable data Another question to pose Does the candidate have the ability to consolidate your global travel program to a single TMC Once that information is obtained travel managers can then conduct a meaningful request for information RFI or hold workshops to identify the TMC that offers the best match Mahoney says Additionally there may be other factors that take on increased importance for your program Mahoney suggests evaluating just how well a TMC fits your companys culture and shared strategic vision to help achieve common goals The same holds true when it comes to shared values regarding sustainability and corporate social responsibility Transcending Transactions Creating an optimal relationship with a global TMC begins first with the understanding that a successful global travel program involves much more than just processing transactions Relevant experience should be a primary factor in identifying the right TMC for the companys travel program according to Neil