BTN's survey of travel managers on their organizations' deployment of AI in their travel programs showed that approaches thus far have varied significantly, as buyers take different paths on their technological journey based on their goals, corporate culture and comfort level, among other factors. Here are three accounts of AI implementation in corporate travel programs, each with a different approach but each with demonstrable success, along with the buyers' plans for the next steps.
• Donna Rufo, head of travel at EPAM Systems, has embedded AI tools into employee workflows to guide travelers' choices, surface policy requirements and reduce reliance on manual intervention. "The goal is to use AI to create a better experience for our employees and at the same time deliver measurable value and efficiencies for our business," she said.
• JBT Marel Asia-Pacific travel manager Mina Salim has used AI to standardize and consolidate data from three travel management companies that provide services to JBT Marel.
• Pete Crow, global travel and expense manager for Paccar Inc., shares that the firm has a roadmap for deeper AI integration across its travel, expense and payment processes. He currently uses Microsoft Copilot to analyze daily booking reports from Paccar's travel management company and identify bookings at preferred hotels at rates other than the company's negotiated rate.