Planes, Trains and Automobiles: Ride Sharing Ushers in a New Era of Disruption for Corporate Travel Policies
Every industry experiences periods of disruption from time to time. And from the first train to roll across the USA to passenger airplanes, business travel is no exception. With the rise of the sharing economy—think Airbnb, Uber, Lyft, and others—we’re in the midst of another shake-up.
Ride sharing is hardly a new phenomenon, but determining how it fits in with business travel policies is an ongoing discussion. Duty of care and safety is the ultimate goal of any policy. Which is part of what makes it difficult for organizations and travel management companies to give the okay to using these unregulated services.
However, companies like Uber are working hard to make it easy for businesses to include them in their business travel policies. But is it really the right choice for your organization? Let’s dig a little deeper.
Business Travel Vehicle Options
Personal & Rental Vehicles
Depending on the industry and type of travel happening, usage of personal vehicles seems to be dwindling in favor of rental vehicles or ride-sharing. Mileage reimbursement and other programs seem to come out as more expensive than rentals, not to mention that with a rental vehicle:
- The vehicle undergoes regular maintenance every time it is returned. This ensures fewer breakdowns and inconveniences for the driver (and less wear and tear on a personal vehicle).
- Many rental agencies make the process incredibly simple, including bringing a rental to the user at their home or business. And all major airports have easy access to rentals as
However, this option doesn’t always make sense in scenarios where a business traveler might prefer not having to deal with a vehicle. This is where the attraction and appeal of ride- sharing fits into travel policies.
Integrating Ride Sharing Into Business Travel Policies
Using trusted transportation providers is a pillar of any duty of care strategy. And it’s also what makes organizations leery of ride-sharing.
As more and more business travelers prefer the convenience of ordering a car via their phone to licensed cabs and vanpools, it’s up to each individual organization or travel management company to determine what’s appropriate for their employees. Consider 30 Seconds to Fly travel policy checklist of considerations when it comes to including sharing economy businesses in a corporate travel policy.
Plan for Your Organization Health
Chances are, if your employees have smartphones, they also have a ride-sharing app. And while your business travel management policies might not explicitly allow them to use it while out of town for work, there’s a good chance they will.
No policy can be created to be 100% future-proof; however, while there are still concerns about safety in the industry, it might not make sense to add ride sharing to your policies quite yet. The best approach is to talk with employees to get a sense of the services that will suit them best as they travel. Continue the conversation with a Carrousel Travel representative to learn more.