2020 U.S.-Booked Air Volume: $41 million
Primary Global Payment Supplier: American Express
Primary U.S. Expense Supplier: SAP Concur
Consolidated U.S. TMC: BCD
U.S.-booked air volume for Munich-based pharmaceutical giant
Siemens dropped by more than two-thirds in 2020, coming in at $41 million for
the year, compared to $135 million in 2019. Sixty-five percent of U.S.-booked
volume was for domestic travel. While Covid-19 didn’t result in any general
policy changes beyond temporary travel restrictions imposed at the height of
the global outbreak, the pandemic did drive a strategic shift to supplier and
financial risk mitigation. The company in 2020 switched to a management fee
structure with its consolidated U.S. travel management provider, BCD Travel.
As travel ramps back up post-pandemic, Siemens has no plans
to implement pre-trip approval, and will continue to favor in-person meetings
for client- and partner-facing interactions. The company’s other priorities
moving forward including working to implement a single global online booking
tool, enhancing its service and technology platforms and renewing its focus on
sustainability in the context of corporate travel.