In a recent interview with CanadianSME Small Business Magazine, Kristen Hrycoy, Senior Global Partner Business Manager for SAP Concur, highlighted the crucial role of business travel in career advancement. The 6th Annual SAP Concur Global Business Travel Survey revealed that 66% of Canadian business travelers see travel as essential for their career growth, emphasizing the importance of face-to-face interactions. Kristen discussed the challenges posed by reduced travel flexibility due to cost-cutting measures, which can hinder critical career connections. She also underscored the need for equitable travel policies and comprehensive support for business travelers, especially in dealing with travel disruptions. Moreover, Kristen elaborated on the potential benefits of AI and Generative AI in enhancing business travel experiences and mentioned the recent SAP Concur and Mastercard partnership to streamline corporate expense management.
Kristen Hyrcoy is the Senior Global Partner Business Manager for SAP Concur, and is responsible for managing the relationship with the organization’s most strategic Travel Management Company partners across the Globe.
With a lifetime of experience in the Canadian travel industry, Kristen has been with SAP Concur for 9 years.
What makes business travel essential for many professionals in advancing their careers, and how do you see this reflected in the Canadian results from the 6th Annual SAP Concur Global Business Travel Survey?
As you know, business travel is essential for many professionals because it offers unique opportunities for networking, collaboration, and personal and professional development that cannot be fully replicated through virtual means. Face-to-face interactions foster stronger relationships, trust, and understanding between colleagues, clients, and partners. These interactions are often crucial for closing deals, managing projects, and driving business growth.
In the Canadian results from the 6th Annual SAP Concur Global Business Travel Survey, it was found that a significant 66% of Canadian business travelers believe that business travel is critical for their career advancement. This sentiment underscores the importance of in-person meetings and the role they play in professional growth. Additionally, the survey revealed that two-thirds of Canadian business travelers feel they haven’t received equal opportunity to travel compared to their colleagues. Factors such as seniority (25%), age (19%), and gender (11%) were cited as reasons for unequal access to travel opportunities, highlighting the need for more equitable travel policies within organizations.
How do changes in travel flexibility impact critical career connections for business travelers, and what are some ways companies are cutting travel options?
Changes in travel flexibility significantly impact business travelers’ ability to maintain and build critical career connections. Flexible travel options allow employees to accommodate personal and professional commitments, making it easier to manage work-life balance and maximize productivity during trips. However, recent cost-cutting measures by companies have led to reduced travel flexibility, which can hinder these connections.
The survey data indicates that 46% of Canadian business travelers report that their company prioritizes meeting employees’ needs for flexible travel options. However, around 30% of respondents noted that their companies are more focused on cutting travel costs. Specific measures include reducing the ability for employees to work remotely while traveling for pleasure or combining personal travel with business trips.
Given the issues with travel interruptions, how can employers better support business travelers when problems arise?
Today, employers can better support business travelers by implementing comprehensive travel policies and providing the necessary resources to handle interruptions efficiently. This includes offering flexible booking options, real-time travel assistance, and ensuring clear communication channels for support.
The survey found that 91% of Canadian business travelers have been forced to make last-minute changes in the past year due to unexpected delays, cancellations, or re-routing. To mitigate the impact of these disruptions, companies can introduce measures such as allowing greater travel flexibility, incorporating ‘booking buffers,’ and providing access to private connecting transport options. Additionally, offering learning and development opportunities for travel managers is crucial. According to the survey, 100% of travel managers anticipate their jobs becoming more challenging in the next 12 months, and 35% feel they are expected to take on a more strategic role without additional training.
In what areas do you see AI or Generative AI (GenAI) benefiting business travelers, and can you share some examples of how SAP Concur is integrating these technologies?
AI can significantly benefit business travelers by enhancing automation, personalization, and efficiency. For instance, AI can simplify the booking process, offer real-time travel assistance, and make personalized recommendations based on a traveler’s preferences and past behaviors.
AI-enabled tools can automate expense reporting, suggest cancellation and rebooking options, and provide predictive analytics to anticipate and address potential travel disruptions. Our survey indicates that 96% of Canadian business travelers are open to using AI-enabled options when arranging travel, though fewer than one in ten are currently comfortable using these options.
To support the successful adoption of AI, comprehensive training for AI systems and integrating safeguards into travel policies is emphasized to address concerns such as data protection and bias. This approach helps build traveler confidence in using AI tools and maximizes the benefits these technologies can offer.
Can you discuss the recent partnership between SAP Concur and Mastercard and how this collaboration enhances the corporate expense management process for both employees and businesses?
Absolutely! Our recent partnership with Mastercard will significantly enhance the corporate expense management process. Purchases made on Mastercard corporate cards will be automatically captured and populated in Concur Expense, eliminating manual entry and ensuring real-time compliance. This integration provides businesses with greater control and visibility over expenses while allowing employees to focus on their core responsibilities. Travel and finance managers can set spending controls to enforce expense policies. This partnership sets a new standard for efficient and accurate expense reporting, benefiting customers globally.
