Op-Ed: Corp. Travel Needs Data Standards

Standardization is required to deliver added value to clients and streamline the provision of corporate travel services for the benefit of everyone in the industry.

We commend the achievements of such organizations as the Open Travel Alliance and the Travel Technology Initiative, which have made significant inroads toward common standards for the travel industry. However, existing guidelines are directed primarily at the leisure travel market and, in the complex world of corporate travel, their wide scope can lead to different interpretations, with the risk that individual systems are not compatible.

Businesses often work with a number of different corporate travel service providers and suppliers and it is in everyone's interest to ensure that they can do so as efficiently as possible. Currently, the industry has to adapt to disparate systems and processes. What's more, costs incurred through duplication, integration and development processes are inevitably passed on to the end user. This is simply not acceptable.

With a growing trend toward online booking in corporate travel, systems must adapt to the distinct needs of this sector. Business travelers alter plans at any moment, so they require quick and simple solutions to amend, cancel and extend journeys and book onward travel, all of which should be fully integrated. Common standards will enable the same information and services to be made available to users regardless of how a booking is made—whether through direct access or global distribution system, phone or online.

We are not asking companies to compromise their intellectual property or competitive advantage. They can, and should, continue to develop their own proprietary systems. We are calling for a standardization of the data layer—to agree on a common language and level of information that is input into all systems to facilitate the sharing of information. This is not about selling software. It is about working together to benefit our industry.

In the past, information flow was relatively straightforward as GDS-standard passenger name records identified names, flights, etc. in much the same format. As corporate travel becomes more complex and more travel providers' services are used, an ever-increasing amount of information is required to help companies retain control and visibility over their policies, programs and expenditures.

The challenge now is that, as services fragment and the number and type of identifiers increase, there is a growing risk of each service being interpreted and mapped differently. As a result, mapping takes even longer and systems fragment, making it impossible for them to interpret data from one to another.

HRG's recent New Opportunities technology forum marked an important first step to begin the necessary dialogue. We have been rallied by the level of interest and support among our peers, travel suppliers and clients and will continue to build on the momentum initiated. We have already established an online forum to encourage others to share views and ideas and also expect to host regular workshops, every six to nine months, to make real progress toward the achievement of common standards.

Ultimately, our vision is for the corporate travel industry to agree on a robust set of standards that will strip out unnecessary costs and inefficiencies in the sector. A corporate travel technology standards body should then be established to monitor, maintain and develop the standards to ensure the future success of the industry.