What should manufacturing companies look for when choosing a TMC?

A travel management company (TMC) is a strategic partner just like a trusted vendor or supplier. And just as you’d vet other partners to ensure they’re the right fit, you’ll want to exercise due diligence when choosing a TMC, too.

Read and use this manufacturing travel checklist as a guide in your considerations:

Considering time is money in manufacturing, does the TMC you’re considering help you save money (without any extra effort on your part)?

Do they offer Preferred Extras?

• Your TMC should be able to leverage their volume to bring you additional savings on business trips, along with added amenities like free wi-fi. A good benchmark is at least 30% savings on air routes, hotels, and car rentals.¹

Do they have actionable analytics based on deep data?

• One of the benefits of centralizing your travel planning is having useful data to act on. Look for a TMC that turns consolidated data from travel itineraries and credit card usage into visual reports, dashboards, and benchmarking statistics to use in supplier negotiations.

Do they use advanced technology to save you money behind the scenes?

• Opportunities to save shouldn’t end after a business trip is booked. TMCs employing smart travel technology use advanced algorithms to search for lower prices after booking, resulting in significant incremental savings for hotel rooms, flights, and more.

Does the TMC you’re considering have what it takes to make your travelers happy?

Is the booking tool intuitive and easy to use?

• Nobody wants to use clunky tools when booking their travel itineraries. The best proof that a TMC’s booking tool can be easy to use is the online adoption rate (the higher the rate, the more travelers are using it).

Does the booking tool use smart technology to personalize search results for each traveler?

• Having travelers scroll through pages and pages of irrelevant options is a waste of their time. Double-check your TMC is using advanced technology to customize search results based on useful factors like historical search and booking preferences, hotel features, company policy, and more, which means the best choices for each travel itinerary show up at the top of the page.

Do they have a robust mobile app?

• In today’s world, more and more travelers rely on their smartphones while on the go. Make sure your TMC’s mobile app meets your requirements, allowing travelers to effortlessly handle their travel itineraries, receive timely travel alerts when there’s a wrinkle in plans, conveniently track and submit expenses, and access real-time support with a simple tap.

Do they have a history of satisfied customers?

• Dig into the track record of the TMC you’re considering – how many customers do they have and how happy are they?

Do they innovate in ways that save your travel arrangers time?

• As someone in the manufacturing field, you know that automation is everything nowadays. It’s also a powerful way to save significant time for your employees who book travel. Look for a TMC that’s using smart technology to improve efficiencies beyond the booking, with tools like streamlined approval workflows and proactive suggestions to navigate travel disruptions.

Is there support to help you grow?

• If you aim to stay ahead of the curve and enhance your travel program throughout every growth phase, opt for a TMC that provides you with a dedicated account manager and travel tips. This professional can assist in shaping and fine-tuning a long-term strategy tailored to your unique needs and objectives.

Will their tech grow with you?

• What’s effective for your current needs might not be suitable in just six months’ time. Make sure your chosen TMC offers a flexible platform with adaptable functionality that can swiftly adjust to accommodate your evolving requirements as they unfold.

Will the TMC you’re considering help you care for your people and reflect your company’s values?

Does the booking tool have features that help your travelers help themselves?

• Whether a full-time employee or a contractor, travelers are often seeking speedy responses to straightforward inquiries such as, “What time is hotel check-in?” “Can I bring a carry-on?” or “Can I get my boarding pass?” Look for a TMC that offers chat using plain language to provide travelers with tailored trip-planning responses pertaining to their itinerary for both international travel and domestic trips.

Will your travelers be able to talk to an actual person (without waiting forever)?

• Make sure your TMC comes backed with real people support. You want a team of experienced travel counselors available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year that travelers can access within minutes from any device — including their cell phone — with the touch of a button.

Will the TMC help keep your travelers safe?

• Make sure your booking tool has the capability to quickly pinpoint who is where at any given time to reach travelers and their emergency contacts in case of a crisis.

Will the booking tool help you enforce policy compliance?

• The most effective approach to aligning travelers’ choices with your company objectives is to incorporate your travel policies directly into the travel planning process. Seek out a TMC with a booking tool that reinforces your travel policy guidelines with visual cues and alerts, to naturally guide travelers towards making smarter choices.

Do they have tools to help you reach your sustainability goals?

• With the manufacturing industry moving swiftly towards sustainable practices, you need tools that make the impact of your travel choices transparent. Look for features like carbon impact equivalents right on the booking screens and diagnostics to suggest how to make your travel program greener.

You put a lot of thought into choosing partners for various aspects of your business, whether supply chain partners, equipment vendors, or shipping. Don’t overlook the fact that business travel is a big part of your business. When it comes to choosing your corporate travel partner, be sure to choose one that’s agile enough to keep up with your needs and established enough that you can trust they’ll have the resources and support to serve you over the long haul.

¹ Based on American Express Global Business Travel contractual agreements and availability. Program content is subject to change without notice. All discounts depend on route and class. Air savings reflect the average gross fare difference expressed as a percentage from booking a Preferred Extras fare rather than the equivalent published fare for 2023. Equivalent refers to the same or better for fare terms and conditions.