With travel costs rising, it only makes sense that businesses are interested in saving money. However, a recent study conducted by GBTA suggests that businesses are concerned with more than just cost savings when it comes to booking and managing business travel.
The study, which surveyed a variety of traveling professionals, found that data analysis (55%) and improving the traveler experience (48%) were among the top three concerns amongst travel managers in 2016.
To help account for your traveling employees, it’s important to partner with companies that prioritize their needs. Below, five ways that short-term housing providers can show love for the customer.
1) Personalized, customized experiences.
One of the biggest perks of temporary housing is that units come fully furnished. But far too often, this is where things end.
No matter the length or location of your stay, where you live is personal. And total customization goes beyond furniture needs.
Whether a trip involves relocation or corporate extended stays, it’s important that both company and employee requests are met. Temporary housing should account for specific budgets, needs, and preferences.
2) Automated, streamlined processes.
Sure, searching for housing can be a headache when you go it alone. What’s equally frustrating? The tedious management work that follows once you find lodging.
Self-driving, 100% back-end management software ensures your employee’s needs are managed from start to finish. Automated technology provides your business with invaluable insight into trends, reporting, housing requests, current orders, and monthly billing—so you can focus on things that matter.
Like your actual job.
3) Reliable security and safety features.
Moving to a new city can be daunting—especially if you have limited-to-zero knowledge about surrounding streets and neighborhoods. No matter where your employees are planning to move, their safety and security are primary concerns for your company.
Lucky for travelers and business alike, technology can alleviate this stress. In addition to pre-move-in and QA calls, automated software can provide address verification and safety checks.
Apps such as WalkScore provide businesses with an idea of what to expect. In addition to delivering an analysis of personal and property crime rates in specific neighborhoods, the tool provides reliable commuting and walkability scores.
Why risk your safety when you can rely on proven services?
4) Comprehensive savings & extensive coverage.
Whether you have a team of traveling nurses on assignment in a major metropolis, or a group of construction workers involved on a major build in a rural area, having flexible housing options and extensive network coverage is critical.
While many short-term housing providers have access to major cities, far too often, small municipalities and rural areas get overlooked. In addition to providing comprehensive savings, the best companies offer extensive coverage—no matter where your employees need to travel.
5) Strategic support.
Although intuitive technology is a must for the modern business, superior customer service can turn a good temporary housing experience into a great one. While it’s certainly recommended to consider self-driving software solutions, sometimes you need to talk to somebody.
Consider partnering with a short-term housing company that offers live, U.S.-based, 24/7 liaison support to manage setup and simplify processes. Consider Travelers Haven. We prioritize the needs of our customers—so much that we build our products around them. Learn more here.
