FCM launches Bulk Travel Automation tool to simplify high-volume bookings
Corporate travel has always had many layers, but for some industries, those layers become even deeper. For organisations that are regularly moving hundreds of travellers at any given time, even the most seasoned travel team can feel a little pressure.
That’s why FCM Travel Australia has launched Bulk Travel Automation. A purpose-built tool designed to remove the stress, inefficiency, and manual work out of high-volume corporate travel bookings. Renos Rologas, General Manager, FCM Australia & New Zealand explains how we got here.
A single solution for hundreds of bookings
Bulk Travel Automation changes the way businesses book large amounts of people. What was once a tedious, manual process is now reduced to a few simple clicks. After a simple file upload—or direct integration with your workforce management system—the tool automatically cleans and validates traveller data, sources the best fares, holds seats, and confirms bookings.
We wanted to take the admin load off people’s plates,” Renos Rologas, General Manager, FCM Australia & New Zealand. “This tool gives arrangers and bookers time back in their day and gives managers confidence that the data’s right and their people are where they should be.
With live seat-availability indicators, teams can see what’s filling fast and secure the right seats before they disappear. Workflows that used to take days now take minutes, errors are dramatically reduced, and people get where they need to be.
From client intel to innovation
The genesis of Bulk Travel Automation came from regular discussions with a major FCM Travel client, about their pain points. This organisation moves hundreds of FIFO workers each month, and the travel team was swamped. Cross-checking traveller details, chasing missing data, and racing the clock to lock in seats on high-demand routes.
Together, we thought, ‘There has to be a better way,’” Renos recalls. “The team was constantly under pressure, concerned around mismatched data across systems, and always having to chase their tail looking for availability across multiple airlines. We took that feedback and committed to building a solution.
Within months, a prototype was in the hands of select clients, ready for pilot testing. This early feedback drove enhancements and helped shape the final product that is today.
It started with one client’s industry challenge, but as soon as we started building it, we realised the use case is incredibly broad,” says Renos. “Any organisation that moves people at scale regularly—resources, construction, healthcare, education, government etc—can benefit. We’re already seeing strong interest from multiple different companies that move large amounts of people regularly and want more control.
Solving the big-ticket challenges
Rather than bolting automation onto existing corporate travel booking systems, FCM designed Bulk Travel Automation from the ground up to address the four biggest blockers in bulk travel (as told by our clients):
- Admin overload is replaced by a touchless workflow that handles data validation and booking in one continuous cycle.
- Seat scarcity becomes manageable with real-time traffic-light indicators that flag at-risk flights before they sell out.
- Data errors drop to near zero as the system enforces consistent file formats and policy checks, eliminating typos and compliance slips.
- Scalability is available, whatever your industry or size of travellers. 100 people or 2,000, no extra modules or add-ons required.
Building advancements with purpose
At FCM, innovation doesn’t revolve around flashy or trending tech. We build solutions to address real problems that hinder business travel management.
We’re not in the business of chasing every new tech movement,” Renos adds. “We listen to our clients. Come up with solutions and if that solution doesn’t solve their day-to-day challenges, we go back to the drawing board.”
“Bulk Travel Automation is a perfect example of FCM’s continuous improvement approach,” he adds. “What started as a clear client pain-point, is now out there as a turnkey solution that integrates with existing travel and workforce systems.” Said Renos.
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