Making the Change
At Travel Leaders Group, we have decades of
experience helping clients successfully manage
the transition to our company. Our dedicated
implementation managers work one-on-one with
clients to develop a program tailored to their
needs. From a robust discovery phase through
implementation and post-transition support, we guide
clients every step of the way with expert knowledge,
insight and advice. With Travel Leaders Group, you’ll
have the support and service you need to create a
travel program that exceeds your expectations.
In our experience, all successful transitions have
two primary factors in common: engaged clients who
work in partnership with their TMC and clients who
have allocated the appropriate time and resources to
support the effort. What can you do to ensure your
travel program is a success? We’ve compiled seven
steps that will help make your transition as smooth
as possible.
“The secret of
change is to focus
all of your energy
not on fighting
the old, but on
building the new.”
SOCRATES
Seven Steps to a Seamless Transition
1. Establish Goals and Stick to Them
As with any project, you can only succeed if you know where you
are going. Set clear, achievable goals from the outset. Do you
have specific cost-savings targets? Are you looking to increase
efficiency? Have recent events gotten you worried about Duty
of Care? Make one or two a priority and adopt measurable
benchmarks to ensure they get met. Repeat as necessary.
2. Assemble Your Dream Team
Transitioning to a new TMC is no different from any other company-wide
initiative. You need to assemble a team of dependable stakeholders
and assign them clearly defined roles. Make sure the team includes
at least one frequent traveler and listen closely to what they have
to say. Future compliance depends on their insider knowledge.
3. Set Timelines You Can Meet
Once you have your team in place, set feasible timelines for what needs
to be accomplished. Be sure to take into account other projects that might
be happening at the same time and what kind of internal review process
your company requires. Set regular check-in times to keep your team
focused and schedule your launch so that it doesn’t coincide with a busy
travel period, giving yourself leeway to work out any kinks that might arise.
4. Start a New Relationship
No one knows your business better than you do, that’s why open
and honest communication with your travel management company
is essential. The better your new TMC understands your business,
the better they can serve you. Consider organizing an in-person
meeting with key stakeholders from both sides. After all, you’re
laying the foundation for a healthy long-term relationship.
5. Get Those Above On Board
Senior management support is essential for the success of any
travel management program. If the people at the top don’t take
the program seriously, neither will anyone else. Include the higher-
ups early on, take their advice seriously and broadly communicate
their support. If possible, have an executive sponsor the initiative.
6. Gather the Troops
That fear about your road warriors not getting on board with the
program? It’s legitimate. But it also has a solution: communication.
Include them in the discussion from the beginning and make sure they
understand why this transition is good for them and the company.
Remember, no one likes surprises; make sure employees know about
changes, and the rationale behind them, well before they go into effect.
7. Have the Right Training in Place
Give your travelers the training they need to make the program
a success. Consider your corporate culture when deciding on the
best method, whether it be face-to-face meetings, recorded videos
or WebEx sessions. Make information accessible via searchable
PDFs and enlist a few road warriors to receive early training so
that they can share what they know with those around them.