Business travel is any journey that involves traveling for work. It can be for a variety of reasons, but the primary purpose is usually to disseminate knowledge between employees.
While it may not sound fun, business travel can be a great opportunity to grow your career and learn more about your industry. But it can also be a lot of work.
Expense Reporting
Business travel is one of the biggest expenses for any company. Tracking and managing this spend can be time consuming, but it’s important to do it correctly.
It’s also important to know what can and can’t be deducted as business travel expenses. This depends on whether or not the expense is “ordinary and necessary” for the work you’re doing on the trip.
Doing this properly ensures that you get all the deductions you deserve, which means less stress at tax time!
Expense reporting in 2021 and beyond should be digital, integrated with your business travel software, and include receipt scanning. OCR technology extracts receipt data to automatically forward essential details into your solution, reducing the risk of missing reimbursement requests and providing an easy-to-read report for tax preparation.
Streamlining your business travel expense management process with a modern platform will save you time and money, and provide the visibility and oversight your team needs. Employees will be able to access their own personal budgets from any device, and managers will have the ability to identify cost optimization opportunities.
Packing Light
When traveling for business, a smarter approach to packing can help avoid unnecessary baggage fees and delays. It also ensures you are refreshed and ready for work.
When deciding on what to pack for your trip, focus on bringing a versatile wardrobe that works well for multiple occasions. This means pants and a jacket for day and night events, and several shirts that can be worn together or separately to create outfit variations.
Another tip is to economize on accessories, which can take up valuable space in your suitcase. If you must bring makeup and jewelry, pack only the basics that will go with your professional attire.
A common mistake is to pack gym gear, which is not really necessary for a few nights away from home. A better choice is to borrow gym equipment from your hotel.
Getting Around
Traveling for business can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. The best way to make the most of your trip is to focus on the important stuff – namely your job duties – and let everything else fall into place. If you can do this, you will come away from the experience feeling refreshed and rejuvenated for the return trip.
The best way to accomplish this is to use the latest technology to your advantage. This can be done in a number of ways, from the smartest use of your company’s travel and expense management software to apps for booking taxis or coworking spaces. If you are planning to rent a car while traveling, then make sure that you are part of a loyalty program, which can save you time and money in the long run. For those on the road for longer than a week, consider getting a serviced apartment or two if possible. These will allow you to unwind at the end of a long day and still enjoy all the amenities your hotel has to offer.
Taking Time Off
Business travel is a great way to take time off and see new places. It can also help you build your network and make important connections that can help you grow your career.
The downside to business travel is that it can be stressful. It may involve a lot of planning and will often require travelers to think on their feet when things don’t go as planned.
But there are a few ways to ensure that business travel doesn’t turn into a stressor and help keep employees happy.
One way to avoid stress is to make sure that all responsibilities have been covered before leaving. This can help to eliminate any last-minute issues when you are away and make your trip run more smoothly, said Frana.
Another way to make sure that business travel doesn’t take a toll on your well-being is to bookend trips with leisure time. This can be especially helpful for frequent road warriors and people who want to keep their travel fatigue at bay.
