PROCURECON TRAVEL A QUESTION OF COMPLIANCE

ensuring travellers stick to the policy was one of the big discussion points at this year’s Procurecon Travel, held in henderson, Nevada, in May. hoskins reports

Company culture plays a significant role in gaining traveller compliance – or not – according to several procurement managers taking to the stage at the two-day event.

“I’ve been in organisations with strict travel policies,” said Kim Mcglinn of Workday, “but here it’s very simplistic and built around traveller preferences. Having seen both structures, I can say there are a lot more efficiencies in a simplified structure.”

Mcglinn continued: “Historically our policy has been a guideline line and still is, but people stick to it. The only thing that is required – and it truly is required – is that you book through our system.

“If you have your travellers only making decisions within the booking tool then you have them in the right place. We have our preferred suppliers up top within the tool and that’s who they’re choosing.”

Another procurement manager noted that as machine learning streamlined their company’s travel programme and reduced choice within its booking tool, compliance was increasingly difficult to achieve.

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“As we got more efficient, we actually ended up with more rogue behaviour. With the internet, everyone thinks they’re the smartest booker around,” they said.

The role of travel policy in staff retention and attrition was debated as part of a wider focus on traveller experience on day two.

One travel manager, Cheryl Benjamin, said traveller experience can be used to woo prospective employees as well as keep them onboard further down the line. “When we bring in candidates for interview we want to make it as easy as possible for them,” she said. “It’s the little things that from the start show we look after our staff.”

Positive travel experiences are also key to retention, said Benjamin, adding that questions about travel policy are included in staff exit interviews.

Meanwhile, Linkedin’s Global Travel Manager, Leslie Hadden, explained how the company's traveller surveys seek feedback on its preferred suppliers, TMC performance and top travel-related stress factors.