The results of the CWT Connected Traveller Study, released by Carlson Wagonlit Travel, have revealed that business travellers are bringing more devices, and feel more productive as they are on the road conducting business.
The survey of more than 1,900 business travellers shows that travellers on average carry four different types of technology, such as a mobile phone, tablet, and laptop, with the smartphone being the most important one, as more than 80 percent of travellers across the globe rely on their phone to conduct business.
With technology, most travellers (88%) believe travel is easier to navigate today. This has led a significant majority of travellers (78%) to seek opportunities to travel for work and nearly as many (72%) find business travel to be stimulating. More than half (55%) of travellers rely on prior travel experience while planning trips, in addition to hotel websites (54%) and airline websites (50%). Airline and hotel apps make up the bulk of app usage for travellers (45%), while map apps also see heavy use (41%).
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According to the study, work-based relationships and productivity are strengthened through business travel. Nearly nine in 10 business travellers (86%) said travel helped them build new knowledge and perspective, while 80 percent said business travel boosted their productivity. Additionally, more than nine in 10 (93%) said that travel positives outweighed negatives when it comes to building and maintaining relationships at work, while nearly eight in 10 (77%) said the same about their home lives.
In terms of communication, travellers often connect with co-workers or family using different methods. With family or friends, travellers chose calling (44%), Skype (24%) and text (17%) as their preferred communication methods. However, they connect with co-workers differently, through email (44%), calling (24%) and texting (14%).
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The research results also reflect business travellers’ two key areas of concern: two-thirds (67%) of travellers said they believed travel is safer today; and nearly half (46%) remained concerned about their safety, which has led more travellers (68%) to sometimes or always purchase travel insurance. Business travellers also have difficulties maintaining routines and wellness, as more than half of travellers (54%) said that their exercise and wellness habits were disrupted when they travelled.
“The business traveller can be so much more productive than even five years ago thanks to technology,” says Simon Nowroz, chief marketing officer, Carlson Wagonlit Travel. “Think about the advances where a business traveller used to have so much downtime between a flight, taxi and hotel. Now, they can login and work while on the plane or wherever they happen to be. With the continued emergence of the tablet, as well as numerous apps, travellers don’t feel out of touch as they carry out business.”
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