B2B travel app: Corporate travel management at its best

Your sales executives are moving across the country, hopping from one high-stakes meeting to another, piling up high travel bills. Meanwhile, your finance team is drowning in a sea of expense reports, struggling to keep track of every airline ticket and hotel stay. Sound familiar? 

Businesses simply can't afford to have their corporate travel management operating in a fragmented manner. That's where a B2B travel solution might be of use. 

In this article, you’ll explore the market and discover compelling reasons to invest in a comprehensive B2B travel platform. We'll unpack the key benefits and help you advance your corporate travel strategy.

‍

Why do you need a B2B travel solution?

Let's talk about something exciting happening in the business travel world. The B2B travel industry is booming right now. Would you believe it hit $30.7 billion in 2023? Experts think it'll reach $73.5 billion by 2032!

Why such massive growth? Well, more businesses see the value of meeting clients and partners face-to-face, but realize they need better ways to handle corporate travel. That’s why travel management solutions and corporate travel tools are in high demand. 

Companies search for software to make their lives easier. At the same time, 87% of travelers and travel managers get frustrated with complicated booking processes. Who wants to deal with clunky, outdated travel management systems when there are so many modern business travel apps available? Whether it's online business travel booking systems or comprehensive travel management platforms, everyone wants technology that just works.

What are the benefits of travel management platforms?

We are sure your business needs a sophisticated B2B travel portal that can streamline travel management processes, from booking and expense tracking to compliance and risk management. A well-designed B2B travel platform can offer a range of benefits, such as:

• Centralized travel management. 

Whether you're booking flights, planning trips, or handling expenses for voyage B2B, it's all right at your fingertips. It's amazing how much time and money this saves.

• Compliance and policy enforcement. 

Modern travel management booking software does more than just handle reservations. It's smart enough to know your company's rules and keeps everyone in line — automatically. 

• Improved traveler experience.

Using a good corporate travel management app can actually make business trips enjoyable. With instant updates, backup options when things go wrong, and easy expense tracking, your team can focus on what matters — getting business done.

• Data-driven insights. 

Here's where corporate travel expense management software really shines — it tracks spending patterns, spots saving opportunities, and helps you make smarter decisions about your travel budget.

• Enhanced risk management.

When you manage corporate travel properly, safety comes first. The best business travel management software includes features that keep your team safe — from real-time alerts about travel risks to instant access to emergency support. It's like having a security team in your pocket.

Investing in the right travel management solution isn't just about keeping up with the times — it's about making your business run smoother, keeping your employees happy, and staying ahead of the competition.

‍

What's the difference between a B2C and B2B travel system?

Let's break down how travel booking works in the business world versus personal travel — they're actually pretty different. While consumers use regular travel websites, companies need a specialized business travel booking system to keep everything running smoothly.

Here's what makes business travel unique:

• Booking policies and compliance: Corporate travel booking solutions are like having a built-in rulebook. They make sure employees follow company guidelines — no accidental luxury suite bookings here! Compare that to regular travel sites where you can book whatever catches your eye.
• Volume and negotiated rates: Here's where having a proper travel booking platform really pays off. How does it work? Companies score good deals because they're booking lots of trips. Your average vacation traveler just doesn't have that kind of buying power.
• Duty of care: When you're using a corporate travel booking system, it's like having a safety net for your employees. These systems can track where everyone is and help out if there's an emergency. Regular travel websites? They pretty much wave goodbye once you've booked!
• Expense management: With a good business travel booking platform, expense reports practically write themselves! Everything's connected and automated, unlike personal travel, where you're stuck keeping track of all those receipts yourself.

The main difference between these solutions is standardization. For B2C travel software, it’s all about tailoring to the unique whims and desires of a traveler. On the flip side, a business tripper should have everything in check, with limited options and stricter rules but easier tracking and reporting.

Why are regular travel platforms not great for B2B travel companies?

So, in what case is it better to use B2B corporate travel management software, and where B2C would suffice? Let’s look at the typical use cases.

B2C travel platforms are best suited for leisure trips, where the focus is on meeting the individual's travel needs and preferences. Regular travel platforms usually have:

• Simple booking tools for flights, hotels, and cars
• User reviews and ratings
• Personal travel history tracking
• Vacation package deals
• Flexible cancellation options
• Individual loyalty programs
• Basic price comparisons

But here's where it gets interesting — business travel solutions and travel management systems are way more sophisticated. Let’s see why they are so much different from the B2C tools.

How solutions for B2B travel are different from B2C 

B2B travel management platforms are well-suited for organizations seeking to streamline their corporate travel programs, enhance employee productivity, and achieve greater cost efficiencies. Let's break down their key features and possible components:

• Centralized travel management portal with a dashboard for travel managers, real-time visibility of all travel activities, quick access to all critical travel data, and a unified booking and management experience.
• Comprehensive travel booking engine featuring multi-passenger and group booking capabilities, real-time availability across flights, hotels, and car rentals, emergency rebooking options, preferred vendor management, automated approval workflows, and policy violation alerts with alternative suggestions.
• Integrated corporate travel expense management system offering automated receipt capture, real-time budget tracking across multiple currencies, automated expense report generation, cost center allocation, customizable spending limits, and digital payment integration.
• Advanced risk management suite providing real-time traveler location tracking, global risk assessment alerts, emergency notification system, health and safety protocol updates, automated travel insurance management, and 24/7 emergency support access.
• Analytics featuring real-time spending dashboards, travel pattern analysis, vendor performance metrics, environmental impact tracking, policy compliance monitoring, cost-saving opportunity identification, and customizable report generation with automated scheduling.
• Mobile-first corporate travel management app with on-the-go booking abilities, digital travel document storage, real-time updates, expense receipt scanning, offline access to travel details, push notifications, in-app emergency assistance, mobile check-in, and location-based services.
• Enterprise-grade integration framework supporting connections with HR systems, accounting software, expense management tools, calendar applications, CRM systems, and custom APIs, along with Single Sign-On capabilities and automated email notifications.
• Comprehensive administration console enabling role-based access control, policy management, approval workflow configuration, user permissions, audit trail tracking, compliance reporting, and centralized document management with training materials.

Ultimately, the choice between a B2C and B2B travel system depends on the unique needs and priorities of your organization. Businesses seeking to optimize their corporate travel management will find a B2B solution more suitable, while individual travelers may prefer the flexibility and personalization offered by B2C platforms.

‍

How does a B2B travel portal work?

We have already broken down the main features of corporate travel management tools. But how does it typically work in day-to-day workflows? Let's follow Sarah, a sales manager, and Tom, her company's travel manager, as they use their travel management system to plan a business trip.

Getting started: B2B travel portal in action

Anna needs to visit three clients next month. She logs into her company's travel management system, instantly seeing a smart dashboard with flights, hotels, and budget info. The business travel software knows her preferences and automatically shows policy-compliant options.

Meanwhile, Tom, the travel manager, has set everything up in the travel management portal — from preferred vendors to corporate rates and travel policies. Their corporate all-in-one travel system seamlessly connects to channel managers that update ticket pricing and hotel rates, so there is no chance of a mistake for an important last-minute business trip.

Smart booking via travel management platform

Using the corporate travel booking system, Anna quickly finds and selects her travel options. When she needs a pricier flight for an important meeting, the automated travel booking system routes it to Tom while instantly confirming her policy-compliant hotel bookings.

Tom gets an alert through his travel management tools, reviews Anna's request, and approves it with one click. Anna gets instant confirmation, and all her travel documents are automatically stored in her mobile app. 

Real-time travel updates

The business travel management software keeps both informed — Anna gets instant flight updates while Tom tracks her location through the travel management technology. When weather issues threaten, the system proactively suggests alternatives. 

It's all enabled by the API, which fuels the AI-powered engine behind the scenes. By analyzing vast amounts of data, the system learns travel patterns, predicts potential disruptions, and offers personalized recommendations.

Managing expenses made easy

Anna uses her corporate travel management app to snap receipt photos, while the travel expense management software automatically categorizes and processes everything. 

The system automatically categorizes her expenses, matches them to the right cost centers, and flags any out-of-policy spending. No more keeping paper receipts or filling out lengthy expense reports.

Seeing the bigger picture

While Anna handles business, Tom uses the travel management system analytics to optimize spending and negotiate better rates. When Anna returns, expenses are processed automatically, and Tom has valuable data for future travel planning.

This modern B2B travel app transforms corporate travel into a seamless experience, keeping everything efficient, compliant, and cost-effective.

‍

Best travel management software: Top 6 B2B travel apps

Before diving into the best corporate travel platforms, it's essential to understand what makes a travel management platform effective. Modern travel management technology has evolved far beyond simple booking systems, incorporating everything from expense tracking to duty of care features. The best business travel management companies create software that integrates these elements while remaining user-friendly and cost-effective.

1. TravelPerk

If you're looking for top-notch corporate travel management software, TravelPerk is crushing it with one of the best corporate travel programs. They've changed the game when it comes to business travel software. This platform stands out for its modern approach to business travel operations and comprehensive feature set. What's cool about them? Here are their features:

• They compare prices in real-time
• Super flexible cancellation policies (we all learned how important that is!)
• They help you go green with carbon offsetting
• Works great with other business tools you're already using
• Handles all your expense tracking automatically

Pricing: TravelPerk offers four tiers: a free Starter plan for basic booking (5 free trips/month), Premium ($99/m + 3%) for mid-size teams with more controls, Pro ($299/m + 3%) for advanced features and unlimited workflows, and Enterprise (custom pricing) for large organizations with specific needs — all including 24/7 support and unlimited users.

What sets TravelPerk apart is its intuitive travel management portal design, making it especially attractive for companies transitioning from traditional booking methods to a digital-first approach. If your company's still doing things the old-school way, TravelPerk makes it super easy to go digital.

2. WegoPro

As a leading B2B travel company, WegoPro is all about using AI to make travel booking smarter and combining it with traditional corporate travel management capabilities. They're perfect for companies that want to stay ahead of the curve.

Their business travel booking system includes:

• AI-driven booking recommendations that learn from company preferences
• Sophisticated price tracking algorithms
• Dynamic policy compliance tools
• Comprehensive mobile capabilities
• Round-the-clock support infrastructure

‍Pricing: Two travel tiers (Standard at $10/booking with basic features and Premium with custom pricing for enhanced support) plus an optional Expenses plan at $3/month for expense management, with the ability to bundle travel and expenses together.

The platform's innovative approach to B2B travel technology makes it particularly valuable if you want to modernize your travel programs while maintaining strict control over costs and compliance.

3. SAP Concur

When it comes to the best corporate travel management software, SAP Concur is the heavyweight champion for big companies. It established itself as the go-to solution for enterprise-level organizations. Their platform is packed with features like:

• Cloud-based service
• Deep integration capabilities with existing enterprise systems
• Comprehensive expense management features
• Sophisticated approval workflows
• Advanced analytics and reporting
• Global 24/7 support 

Pricing is custom and allows you to receive a custom quote on your email, based on the product features you need, the size of your company, report volume, and your industry. 

What distinguishes SAP Concur is its ability to handle complex business travel booking system requirements while maintaining user-friendly interfaces. The platform's extensive experience in corporate travel management makes it particularly valuable for large organizations with diverse travel needs.

4. Egencia

As a trusted name among B2B travel companies, Egencia bridges old-school reliability with new-school features. The company successfully positioned itself as a bridge between traditional travel management solutions and modern requirements. As a B2B travel portal software company, they offer:

• Extensive global supplier networks
• Advanced duty of care capabilities
• Personalized travel recommendations
• Comprehensive support systems
• Innovative mobile solutions

Pricing is by request, the company doesn’t disclose their plans for any products.

The platform particularly excels in providing solutions that cater to any B2B travel agency requiring both traditional travel management capabilities and modern features.

5. Deem

Looking for cutting-edge corporate travel tools? Deem is making waves with its cloud platform that makes travel booking a breeze. Their travel business management software is all about making your life easier.

Key features include:

• Sophisticated B2B ticketing system automation
• Integrated expense management capabilities
• Advanced travel analytics dashboard
• Corporate carbon emissions tracking
• Mobile-first trip management

Pricing: Simple single-tier pricing starting at $20.00 with a free trial available but no free version.

What really makes Deem shine is how they've built their business travel booking system — it's super efficient but also really easy to use and caters to the needs for carbon reporting and showcasing your sustainable efforts.

6. Navan

Navan (you might remember them as TripActions) is shaking things up. They've taken traditional travel management technology and added some serious spend management muscle. This travel management platform has gained recognition for its fresh approach to corporate travel.

Standout capabilities include:

• Real-time pricing intelligence
• Integrated corporate card solutions
• Automated expense management
• Seamless accounting system integration
• User-friendly mobile interface

Pricing: Navan offers two pricing plans — Navan Business for companies up to 200 employees with a free option, and Navan Enterprise for large organizations with custom pricing, both providing comprehensive travel booking and expense management features.

What makes them stand out in the best business travel apps crowd is how they handle everything about business travel spending. If you're looking to modernize your company's travel program while keeping a tight grip on expenses, Navan's business travel management app might be just what you need.

‍

Custom B2B travel solutions that transform your business

Rigid off-the-shelf travel platforms often fall short in accommodating the unique workflows, policies, and integration needs of complex businesses. A custom solution excels where ready-made tools fail.

For example, a large enterprise with global operations and a rigid expense-tracking policy struggles to fit its processes into a generic booking system. Or a travel agency serving niche markets finds its offerings limited by existing tools. In these cases, a custom platform is essential for delivering a seamless experience and competitive edge.

Think of custom B2B travel portal development as crafting your perfect business tool. Instead of forcing your unique processes into a pre-made box, you get exactly what your team needs to excel. Here's what makes custom travel platform technology development a game-changer:

• Fits your workflow like a glove — no more adapting to rigid systems
• Grows smoothly as your business expands
• Connects effortlessly with your favorite travel tools
• Keeps payments secure and simple
• Makes booking a breeze with smart automation
• Shows you exactly how your business is performing
• Helps you stand out in a crowded market
• Cuts costs by working smarter

By investing in a custom B2B travel platform, you gain a powerful tool that elevates your business operations and strengthens your market position. A skilled B2B travel portal development company gets you all the power of customization.

Our travel tech expertise 

Stuck in the vastness of ready-made solutions that don’t really cover your needs? Our travel software development company will assist you in everything from deep and thorough research to implementation and support. When it comes to building powerful B2B travel systems, we've been there, done that, and learned all the tricks. 

As experts in seamless travel API integrations, we connect your solutions to global distribution systems, OTAs, and other providers for constant updates and precise data. 

We help transportation companies as well – just like we did for our client, Driven Connect. The platform simplifies operations for transport providers and their customers, which are typically organizaions that need B2B travel. Over 400 coach and minibus operators have signed up, and more than 30 organizations use the platform for corporate travel.

Buyer-side features:

• Effortless quote requests from multiple carriers
• Wide selection of vehicles for all group sizes
• Clear pricing and easy comparison
• Emissions tracking and reporting

Carrier-side features:

• Full management system for quotes, bookings, and fleet details
• Direct payment of annual vehicle emission taxes
• Data-driven analytics for smarter decisions
• Subscription-based access to premium features

Our custom B2B travel solutions empower companies to stand out, cut costs, and capitalize on growth opportunities. Whether you're a small agency or a large corporate travel management company, we're here to build the perfect platform to push your business forward.

‍

FAQ

How can I effectively manage corporate travel for my business?

Investing in a robust B2B travel management platform is key to streamlining corporate travel. These solutions offer features like centralized booking, automated expense tracking, risk management, and data-driven insights to help you optimize your travel program.

What are the largest corporate travel management companies?

Some of the leading providers of B2B travel solutions include SAP Concur, Egencia, Deem, and TravelPerk. These enterprise-grade platforms offer extensive global supplier networks, advanced duty-of-care capabilities, and powerful analytics to serve the needs of large organizations.

How can a small business book corporate travel effectively?

Smaller companies can benefit from modern B2B travel booking tools like WegoPro and Navan. These platforms leverage AI-powered recommendations, flexible policies, and intuitive mobile experiences to make travel management easier for teams of any size.

Where can I find the best B2B hotel rates for my company?

B2B travel management solutions often include access to negotiated hotel rates and inventory that businesses can leverage to secure better deals compared to individual leisure bookings. The centralized booking capabilities of these platforms help companies consolidate their travel spend for greater buying power.

What are the advantages of using a travel B2B platform?

Key benefits of B2B travel management platforms include centralized travel booking, enhanced policy compliance, automated expense reporting, improved risk management, and data-driven insights to optimize your corporate travel program.

How can I streamline booking corporate travel for my organization?

B2B travel booking systems provide a centralized hub for managing all aspects of corporate travel, from trip planning and approvals to expense reconciliation. These platforms integrate with your existing workflows and systems to create a seamless, efficient travel management experience.