New analysis commissioned by SAP Concur in Might-June 2020 offers essential insights which are shaping a brand new regular for enterprise journey. The information suggests journey will proceed to play an irreplaceable function in assembly crucial enterprise wants. Nonetheless, travellers’ well being and security, and a brand new period of journey preparation and insurance policies, can be entrance and centre as journey resumes.
Notable highlights of the responding 4,850 enterprise travellers in 23 world markets, which characteristic 1,750 respondents in Asia Pacific (APAC) embrace the next.
Well being and security issues add stress
Practically half of APAC enterprise travellers (48%, in comparison with 45% globally) now say they expertise probably the most stress in the course of the journey, relatively than earlier than (21%) or after the journey (31%). When the identical examine was performed in July – Aug final yr, solely 31% of APAC travellers cited the journey itself as probably the most hectic stage of journey.
With the pandemic dominating information headlines, greater than 2 in 5 say their well being and security is their prime precedence whereas travelling for enterprise (42%, in comparison with 38% globally). That is greater than twice the variety of respondents who regard enterprise wants (17%) as their prime precedence. The priority for private well being and security is much more pronounced in markets like in China (57%), Malaysia (55%), and Taiwan (53%), the place greater than half the respondents ranked well being and security as their prime precedence this yr. Given such stress ranges, it stands to cause that 91% of APAC enterprise travellers really feel involved about resuming journey. They’re particularly apprehensive getting sick themselves (55%) or infecting their household (51%). Moreover, the journey itself is prone to be anxiety-inducing: amongst these with issues, 54% are involved about being on a aircraft, 48% about utilizing public transportation, and 41% about staying in a resort.
Must resume in-person conferences
Though 43% of APAC enterprise travellers say they’re apprehensive about resuming journey as soon as restrictions are lifted, over 1 / 4 (29%) really feel excited as properly. This sentiment is especially sturdy in India, the place half of enterprise travellers (50%) say they’re enthusiastic about their subsequent journey. Practically 3 in 5 (58%) APAC enterprise travellers have constructive emotions about travelling once more.
This eagerness to return to the highway is probably going as a result of most APAC enterprise travellers (60%, in comparison with 52% globally) anticipate a decreased variety of offers or contracts signed with out face-to-face conferences. Fifty % of APAC enterprise travellers count on declines in new enterprise because of an absence of in-person conferences. Insurance policies and reserving instruments additionally play a job in how travellers really feel about getting again on the highway: greater than a 3rd (34%) who use their firm’s on-line reserving instrument really feel excited, in comparison with simply 23% of travellers who don’t use such instruments.
Meet rising traveller expectations
When enterprise journey resumes, nearly all (97%) APAC enterprise travellers will think about some measures crucial for safely returning to the highway. These embrace necessary private well being screenings for travelling workers (45%), limiting journey to solely probably the most crucial journeys (39%), and simpler entry to non-public protecting tools (37%).
Workers will more and more require steerage from organisations on how you can keep secure once they journey. Some 96% of APAC enterprise travellers say firm trainings can be useful, particularly trainings on how you can shield their well being and security whereas travelling (61%, in comparison with 54% globally) and how you can preserve wholesome habits whereas travelling (51%, in comparison with 44% globally).This exhibits a better curiosity in sustaining wholesome habits from final yr (38%), probably a results of elevated consideration on safeguarding well being on the highway.
Organisations that aren’t proactively defending worker well-being on enterprise journeys may danger penalties – 51% of APAC enterprise travellers say they might ask to restrict journey if their firm doesn’t implement the measures they need (in comparison with 45% globally), 14% would search for a place that doesn’t require journey – together with 5% who would think about a place at a special firm.
“On this new regular, rising expectations round well being and security requires the journey business to adapt, innovate and remodel, mentioned Dr Carl Jones, vice chairman and head of journey for APAC and Higher China at SAP Concur.
When a visit does have to happen, corporations ought to have a method to make sure that workers solely use permitted and secure airways and motels; that they’ll obtain data on altering floor conditions that influence their well being and security; and that the corporate can attain out to them and render help 24/7. “We consider that solely with such help can workers confidently resume journey, proceed to ship on work commitments and repair prospects as they did earlier than COVID-19.”
