TripActions has rolled out its first-ever set of APIs in a bid to enable corporate clients to more easily import travel and spending data into other business systems. Calling the capability "one of the most requested" from its customers, TripActions cited potential uses for the integration of such data including duty of care, budget management, unused ticket administration and emissions tracking.
The need for businesses to be able to integrate data has become more pressing as companies have adopted a wider range of systems, TripActions noted, citing a study by Okta that found the average company uses 88 separate business applications, while larger enterprises average 175. The increase in remote work stemming from Covid-19 is expected to further drive that trend as corporate operations become more decentralized, the company noted.
TripActions already enabled data from its platform to flow into other systems via secure flat file transfer (SFFT), but the API-based method enables clients to integrate data on a self-service basis and build more customized integrations and reporting frameworks, according to TripActions.
As TripActions continues adding functionalities—and raising capital—one of its emerging competitors in the corporate travel space this week made a significant move to bolster its own capabilities, with Coupa acquiringguest travel specialist Pana.
The deal was the latest in a string of recent moves to enhance Coupa's corporate travel offerings, following the company's early 2020 acquisition of hotel price assurance provider Yapta and its purchase of corporate travel app developer ETA in June.