I am interested in what others have used for low-end web-based corporate travel solutions. One of our portfolio companies doesn't want to make much of an investment in a solution (time or expense) but has asked how we might set up corporate travel where the 'corporate travel policy' can be embodied into a web-based service without the major setup commitment to something like Concur or Rearden.
I have used Concur Technologies and find it very effective and I also understand that Rearden Commerce is great as well (but there may be a political conflict there with a Board member...)
SO far the ideas have run from "Make everybody use Expedia or Travelocity", to finding an agency that uses Cliqbook (which I have not used in a few years), to engaging a large outside agency such as Casto or Carlson-Wagonlit (which are seen as too big for the small 40-person company to want to engage in.)
What have others used with success, and where the fees tacked on to the travel are all that you have to pay?
Keith
Web-based Corporate travel services
Answers
There are other solutions in the market in addition to Rearden such as Egencia (Expedia Business). Both of these feed into expense solutions such as SutiExpense. They seem to provide more flexibility for small to
medium sized companies than a Cliqbook/Concur solution.
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I'll start with I am both a service provider who consults on procurement for PE Groups in indirect expenses catagories (www.ServCoLLC.net) and a user as a
Feel free to reach out to me if you desire more information.
Bill
In agreement with William above. We use a mid-tier travel agency that OEM's the Rearden platform at a per-use fee to us. Set up was free. Cheaper than calling the travel agency directly to book and not so high a per-use fee that us finance guys cringe. Happy to disclose our east coast agency if you wish.
Good luck
One of the last projects I worked on at my previous company was the selection and installation of a TMC for just the reasons you indicated. We narrowed it to Egencia and American Express Corporate Travel (Rearden platform). Travel budget was about 3M for about 150 travlers, spanning airfare, car rental and lodging. The company chose AMEX because of its credit card relationship, and internal commitment in building the site was about 6-8 weeks, and that is where the bulk of the policy decisions can be established (and some NEW ones implemented) to gain increased control. In the selection process we were treated well by both finalists. I can provide further insight and contact names for both if interested, and they certainly can direct you depending on where you are located, and the nature of your travel needs.
Most medium-sized travel agencies will have re-seller relationships for Rearden, GetThere, etc., so you can have access to online tools and a high(er) touch local agency. A simple solution is Travelocity Business or Egencia, where they have the online tools, touchless processing, low fees, call center service and reporting. These iTMCs are great easy to implement solutions if you want ease of set-up and solid technology (including mobile capabilities) and integrate with any expense