The hidden cost of AI that works in silos

BTS 2026 Event - Sam Launch - Courtney van Schalkwyk

Imagine this: You’re at the airport, and the flight gets cancelled. 

Do you call your travel management company (TMC)? Chat with a bot with no context, or wait on hold while the last seat disappears? Your travel partner promised AI at every step. But it’s working in silos. 

Meet Sam, your virtual AI travel companion. We didn't bolt Sam on; we built it from the ground up as an intelligence layer embedded across your entire journey, proactively supporting travellers, travel managers and bookers alike. 

In that airport scenario, Sam would have:  

  • Sent you a notification the moment your flight was cancelled
  • Suggested three alternative flights to compare
  • Booked your choice (policy compliant)

Courtney van Schalkwyk, Director of Sales FCM, revealed how Sam, our AI travel companion embedded into FCM Platform, can empower every persona with instant answers, proactive analytics, and enforce travel policy, at BTS APAC 2026.

Contents

AI at every step of your business trip 

We didn’t just add AI to our platform. We built it into the foundations.

Sam sits at the centre of everything: every booking, policy decision, and insight. Whether you're planning a business trip, booking for someone else, or fixing your business travel strategy, Sam is there for you. You can manage your entire trip with one conversation.

Elevate your online booking experience

When you're managing corporate travel across multiple markets, juggling different online booking tools creates complexity and chaos.

Sam cuts through it. Tell Sam what you need to book- any mode, any channel. It'll handle the rest and show you options with your trip details already filled in.

Sam gets to know your preferences, within policy

Think of Sam as your personalised and efficient travel companion that knows you beyond your profile. 

It learns individual preferences, whether it’s a preferred airline or hotel booking, and shares policy compliant options with business travellers at the time of booking.

Guardrails to check AI hallucination

We've built guardrails. Structured playbooks that tie Sam to verified sources only. Your company's travel policies, traveller profiles, past trip data.

Sam combines knowledge layers including company travel and expense policy, FCM product, and specialised knowledge while proactively answering your queries.

AI that works for everyone

Siloed AI creates friction and loses context. 

Sam is different because it's embedded everywhere, working for everyone. Travellers get instant, proactive support. Bookers get simplified processes. Travel managers get better compliance and data.

Discover how Sam can transform your travel programme.

 

 

 

Book a demo today!

Loading...