Why business travellers need more than just a safety app
South African travellers just got safer when they travel abroad. That’s thanks to a new state institute travel app. It's a shiny new toy for South Africans trotting the globe, aimed at keeping you in the loop and out of trouble. With a few taps, you can log trips, get live tracking, and hear all about the local hustle and bustle. Pretty smart, right?
The app's a good start for leisure travellers, but it might not be the Swiss army knife you need for business traveller tracking and duty of care. For example? Location sharing which the state institute travel app is offering is helpful, but corporate travel management solutions can take it a step further with geo-threat coordinates providing a real-time look at your proximity to potential incidents. “It's the difference between feeling lost and being in control, knowing exactly how close you are to potential issues,” says GM of FCM Bonnie Smith.
How can a business travel tracking app help you?
When you travel for work, you're not just hopping from point A to point B; you're jumping through hoops, dodging curveballs, and making deals. Smith says that business travellers are often in the thick of critical negotiations where timing is everything, and the ripple effect of travel delays can be far-reaching for team members and the business objectives. “Business travellers require assurance that their well-being and travel safety is not just monitored but actively supported throughout their journey,” says Smith.
That's where FCM sweeps in. FCM’s travel management software and support isn’t just about avoiding the potholes on the road. It's about giving you the full lowdown your company needs to meet its duty of care responsibilities. From real-time notifications like warning you about potential baggage strikes (so you might consider sticking with carry-on luggage) to keeping you in the loop about things that could affect your travel plans, like security issues. Plus, we cover critical and crisis alerts that get the message to business travellers within just 15 minutes of the info being verified.
Let’s take a look at what’s on the table for business traveller tracking and safety.
Key Features |
State Institute Travel App |
FCM Safety Offering |
|
Trip Logging |
✅ Log your travel details |
✅ Comprehensive travel itineraries |
|
Live Tracking |
✅ Activate live tracking for updates |
✅ Advanced geo-tracking with real-time updates |
|
Local Hazard Updates |
✅ Receive immediate local updates |
✅ In-depth risk assessments and alerts |
|
Cost |
Free |
Part of FCM travel management contract |
|
Specialised Alerts |
❌ General updates |
✅ Tailored alerts for strikes, security, health, and more |
|
Crisis Management |
✅ Consulate intervention in emergencies |
✅ Crisis alerts and rapid response support |
|
AI-Driven Insights |
❌ Not specified |
✅ AI-powered risk reports and analytics |
|
Proactive Monitoring |
❌ Not specified |
✅ Real-time dashboards and proactive issue alerts |
|
Personalised Support |
❌ Not specified |
✅ 24/7 support and personalised travel assistance |
|
Predictive Analytics |
❌ Not specified |
✅ Predictive analytics for smarter travel planning |
The verdict: travel smart, then travel smarter
So, while the state institute travel app gives SA travellers a taste of tech-savvy security, FCM is the bespoke suit to your off-the-rack options – designed for the intricate needs of the business traveller.
Need to relook your duty of care policy and procedures? Check out our demo.