Business travel management is a strategic challenge for companies. It directly impacts costs, employee productivity, compliance and safety.
At SD Global Consulting, we see that when certain key figures start to rise, they reveal poorly calibrated travel management. Here are 5 concrete indicators to keep a close eye on.
- Non-compliance rate
In many companies, up to 20 to 30% of travel bookings fall outside the internal policy (source: GBTA, Travel Policy Benchmarking, 2023).
This lack of compliance generates additional costs as well as risks in terms of safety and reporting.
Regularly monitoring the non-compliance rate helps identify weaknesses such as poorly configured tools, lack of communication or overly rigid procedures.
- Volume of bookings outside the tool
According to an Egencia study (source: Business Travel Report, 2023), up to 40% of bookings are still made outside official platforms.
This behavior, often linked to a poor user experience, leads to loss of cost visibility and an inability to negotiate effectively with suppliers.
A high-performing and regularly updated booking tool significantly reduces this issue.
- Hidden cost of expense reports
Processing an expense report manually costs an average of €58 per transaction (source: GBTA, Expense Management Report, 2023).
This figure quickly adds up when employees submit dozens or even hundreds of reports per month.
Automating the process with integrated management solutions not only reduces these costs but also speeds up reimbursements and improves the traveler experience.
- Impact of late bookings
Booking a flight less than 7 days before departure increases the price by an average of 44% (source: Airlines Reporting Corporation, Travel Insights Report, 2023).
This is a simple indicator to track but it often reveals a lack of anticipation or overly long approval workflows.
Better management of booking lead times generates immediate and measurable savings.
- Share of travel in the company’s budget
Business travel is often the second largest operational expense after salaries and can account for 10 to 12% of the overall budget (source: GBTA, Business Travel Index Outlook, 2023).
Even a slight increase in this ratio should be a warning sign as it signals lack of control, poor visibility or badly negotiated supplier contracts.
These five numbers are more than just data. They are real indicators of maturity in business travel management.
At SD Global Consulting, we help our clients identify and track these warning signs then turn their travel policy into a true performance driver.
If you have any questions about Travel and Expense, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team of specialists. We’ll be happy to help you strengthen your travel policy. You can contact us directly via our website form.
Follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date with our latest insights and Travel & Expense best practices.
If you found this article helpful, explore other key topics for your business on our blog, such as:
0 Comments