Whereas 96 % of world enterprise vacationers are prepared to journey for enterprise over the subsequent 12 months, addressing their calls for for flexibility might show important for firms’ long-term success.
Timed with the SAP Concur Journey Business Summit, new analysis commissioned by the SAP Concur group in April – Could 2021 highlights international enterprise traveler enthusiasm to return to the highway, whereas pointing to what firms are doing—and have to do—to make sure a productive return to accountable enterprise journey.
In 2020, enterprise vacationers discovered the journey itself to be probably the most irritating stage of journey, reflecting elevated anxiousness round protected journey throughout a worldwide pandemic. The findings from this yr’s survey counsel a return to pre-pandemic stress ranges earlier than, throughout, and after a enterprise journey.
Nonetheless, staff’ expectations of their employer to guard their well being and security whereas touring for enterprise stay. After a yr of being grounded by occasions past their management, staff are able to return to enterprise journey, however on their very own phrases. The actions that firms take within the subsequent 12 months may make or break their potential to accumulate and retain precious staff amid a aggressive marketplace for expertise.
International Enterprise Traveler Report 2021
Key findings from the survey of three,850 enterprise vacationers throughout 25 international markets and 700 journey managers in seven international markets embody:
International enterprise vacationers are passionate about returning to journey, each for skilled and private causes.
- Ninety-six % are prepared to journey for enterprise over the subsequent 12 months, together with 65 % who’re very prepared.
- The bulk—68 %— say they’re pushing for a return to enterprise journey, whereas simply 32 % really feel their firm is requiring them to take action.
- Child Boomers are probably to push their employers for the return to enterprise journey (74 %).
- 4 in 5 enterprise vacationers fear that until they improve enterprise journey this yr, their skilled (80 %) and private lives (80 %) will endure.
- Skilled issues embody the power to develop and preserve enterprise connections (45 %), making much less cash (38 %), and never advancing of their profession (33 %).
- One in 5 (18 %)—together with 29 % of Gen Z respondents—fear they may lose their job if they’re unable to extend their enterprise journey.
- Private causes for enterprise journey embody making private connections with clients and colleagues (54 %), experiencing new locations (52 %), and taking a break from their on a regular basis life (41 %).
- One in 5 international enterprise vacationers are trying ahead to being able to decorate as much as go someplace (19 %), and one in 10 say that their companion needs them out of the home (11 %)!
- Skilled issues embody the power to develop and preserve enterprise connections (45 %), making much less cash (38 %), and never advancing of their profession (33 %).
Though they’re able to hit the highway once more, international enterprise vacationers wish to achieve this on their very own phrases.
- Flexibility, equivalent to selecting transportation, lodging, and journey dates, is now probably the most urgent want for enterprise vacationers, forward of their vaccination-related calls for equivalent to wanting themselves, or the purchasers or colleagues they go to, to be totally vaccinated towards COVID-19 (72 % vs. 62 %).
- Flexibility has emerged as a prime precedence for youthful generations, notably within the U.S., the place the vast majority of Gen Z enterprise vacationers (59 %*) say they might moderately have a crying toddler within the seat behind them than haven’t any management over when and the place they journey for work.
- Heavy workloads and unused trip days additionally imply staff plan to take advantage of any upcoming enterprise journey—89 % say they’ll add private trip time to their enterprise journeys within the subsequent 12 months.
International enterprise vacationers will maintain themselves most accountable to guard their well being and security whereas touring for enterprise (42 %), adopted by their employer (22 %).
- Eighty-nine % count on their firm to guard their well being and security whereas touring by permitting them to pick out their most popular lodging (46 %), most popular mode of journey (43 %), guide journey immediately on provider web sites (39 %), and resolve the size of their journey (39 %).
- Whereas most of Gen Z (93 %) and Millennials (92 %) count on adjustments, solely 76 % of Child Boomers do.
- New advantages that enterprise vacationers count on from their employers within the wake of the pandemic embody the power to decide on direct flights (52 %), keep in four- to five-star inns (41 %), and choose premium seating, like first or enterprise class (39 %).
If their firm doesn’t meet these expectations, enterprise vacationers—particularly these from youthful generations—intend to behave.
- Nearly a 3rd of enterprise vacationers (31 %) would ask to restrict journey if their firm doesn’t implement insurance policies or measures to assist defend their well being and security. One out of 5 enterprise vacationers (20 %) would go so far as on the lookout for a unique place.
- The difficulty is much more necessary for youthful generations—greater than half (56 %) of Gen Z and Millennial respondents would ask to restrict journey or seek for new positions.
- Gen Z and Millennial staff particularly could be prepared to stroll: practically 1 / 4 (24 %) of world Gen Z and Millennials would seek for a brand new place.
- The danger is even better for the youngest era within the U.S.: a whopping 48 %* of Gen Z respondents say they might seek for a brand new place.
International Journey Supervisor Report 2021
This local weather places further strain on journey managers, who have to be additional vigilant to make sure insurance policies match worker expectations.
- Almost unanimously, international journey managers assume their job will probably be more difficult within the subsequent 12 months in comparison with final yr (99 %).
- The challenges going through international journey managers embody speaking and guaranteeing compliance with new and revised firm journey insurance policies (60 %), last-minute adjustments or cancelations to bookings (53 %), and adjustments to authorities laws (51 %).
- All surveyed journey managers (100%) count on their firm to implement some journey pointers or insurance policies within the subsequent 12 months. Nonetheless, their anticipated adjustments don’t essentially observe to enterprise traveler calls for.
Enthusiasm for returning to journey, paired with the intent to behave if their flexibility calls for aren’t met, places international enterprise vacationers in a singular energy place. Nonetheless, with a watch towards the correct adjustments, organizations can encourage a productive return to enterprise journey this yr—and assist obtain broader enterprise targets within the course of.
Knowledgeable panelists mentioned findings from the analysis on the annual SAP Concur Journey Business Summit. To entry the recorded session, register right here.
For extra info, obtain the Enterprise Traveler and Journey Supervisor whitepapers.
*Small base dimension; directional findings solely.
The survey was performed by Wakefield Analysis (www.wakefieldresearch.com), a number one unbiased supplier of quantitative, qualitative and hybrid market analysis, amongst 3,850 enterprise vacationers outlined as those that journey for enterprise three or extra instances yearly from the next markets: U.S., Canada, Brazil, Mexico, LAC (Colombia, Chile, Peru, and Argentina), UK, France, Germany, ANZ area (Australia and New Zealand), SEA area (Singapore and Malaysia), China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, India, Korea, Italy, Spain, Dubai, Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg), South Africa, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland. Moreover, Wakefield Analysis surveyed 700 journey managers from the next markets: U.S., Mexico, UK, France, Germany, SEA area (Singapore and Malaysia), and Hong Kong. Each surveys befell April – Could 2021. For the interviews performed on this research, the probabilities are 95 in 100 {that a} survey outcome doesn’t differ, plus or minus, by greater than 1.6 share factors from the outcome that might be obtained if interviews had been performed with all individuals within the universe represented by the pattern.