You know what they say, “It’s easier to do things right the first time than to explain why you messed up!” The same goes for following travel policies – it’s much quicker and simpler to understand and stick to the guidelines from the get-go than spending ages sorting out mistakes later.
Believe it or not, research shows that 60% of business travelers need help understanding their company’s travel policy. As for those who do, only half follow the guidelines.
Traveling can be an exciting and rewarding experience, whether it’s for business or pleasure. However, it’s important to remember that certain policies and regulations are in place to ensure travelers’ safety and security. Failure to comply with these policies and regulations can result in consequences such as fines, legal action, and even jeopardizing your safety.
Consequences of Not Complying With Travel Policies
Failing to comply with travel policies and regulations can have serious consequences for employees as well as the company. Here are some of the potential risks of a lack of corporate travel management:
- Financial loss
If employees fail to comply with travel policies, it can result in unexpected expenses or unauthorized purchases, leading to financial loss for the company.
- Reputational damage
Non-compliance can also result in reputational damage for the company. For example, if employees book travel outside of approved vendors and something goes wrong, it can reflect poorly on the company’s decision-making and brand image.
- Legal penalties
Failure to comply with certain regulations, such as those related to visas, can result in legal penalties and even fines.
- Employee dissatisfaction
If employees are not properly reimbursed or experience other difficulties related to business travel, it can result in low morale and decreased job satisfaction.
- Security risks
Non-compliance with travel policies can also create security risks for the company. For example, if employees are not using approved vendors or staying in approved hotels, it can make it harder to ensure their safety while traveling.
To help you avoid these consequences, we’ve compiled a list of tips on ensuring compliance with travel policies and regulations.
Know the policies and regulations
In corporate travel management, the first step to making sure you follow travel policies and rules is to learn about them. This means you need to know the rules and laws of the country you’re going to as well as any policies or rules set by your employer or travel agency. Take the time to read all of the important information and write down any important details, like what you can’t bring or what you can’t do.
When it comes to travel policies, they usually cover a few key things.
- First, you’ll find information about the company that plans your trips. This will usually include their name, how to reach them, and any other important information.
- The system for recovering funds is another important part of travel policies. This will tell you how to send in your expense reports, how long it will take to get your money back, and anything else you need to know.
- In the policy, there will also be limits on how much you can spend on business expenses. This includes how much you can spend on flights, trains, hotels, restaurants, taxis, and any other costs that may come up during your trip.
- Lastly, the policy will usually include information about the organization’s approval hierarchy. This will tell you who is in charge of approving your costs or trip extensions and how the process works.
Plan ahead
Planning is key to ensuring compliance with travel policies and regulations in corporate travel management. This includes making sure you have all of the necessary travel documents, such as passports and visas, and researching any local customs or cultural practices you should be aware of. You should also plan your itinerary carefully, considering any restrictions or limitations that may be in place.
Use a travel management software
Using travel management software can be a real game-changer in corporate travel management if you’re looking for a way to ensure compliance with your company’s travel policies and regulations. This is especially true for small and medium-sized companies that may not have a dedicated travel management team in place.
By implementing travel management software, you can provide a better framework for travel and take the burden off of people whose primary responsibilities don’t include managing business trips.
Follow the rules for safety
Security rules are in place to keep travelers safe, and it is important to follow them carefully. This means going through security checkpoints without any items that aren’t allowed, listening to and following the instructions of security staff, and not doing anything unusual that could set off alarms. Also, it’s important to report any strange behavior or actions you see.
Update your travel plans
Having an up-to-date travel plan is important for more than one reason. First of all, it lets your employer or travel agency know where you are and make sure you are safe. It also lets them make any changes to your travel plans in case of an emergency or something else that comes up out of the blue.
Use approved vendors
Using approved vendors, like airlines and hotels, is a big part of following travel rules and policies. This ensures you work with reputable companies that your employer or travel agency has already checked out. It also makes sure that you get the best service possible and that any problems or worries can be dealt with quickly and effectively.
Report any incidents or issues
Lastly, it’s important to report any problems or problems that come up while you’re traveling. This includes items that get lost or stolen, flight delays or cancellations, and any other unplanned events that could change your plans. If you report these things right away, your employer or travel agency can take care of them quickly and limit any negative effects.
Travel Management Software for Corporate Travel Policy Compliance
Any business needs to make sure that travel rules and policies are followed. By using a travel management tool, companies can make it easier to handle business travel, make it easier for employees to follow company policies, and avoid the risks that come with not doing so.
A travel management software that has all the features necessary to help organizations maximize the efficiency of their corporate travel program. With its user-friendly interface and self-booking capabilities, a powerful tool can simplify travel management and help businesses ensure compliance with their travel policies.
With the right software in place, you can streamline your travel processes and ensure that your employees can travel safely, efficiently, and in compliance with your company’s policies and regulations.
