When is Business Travel a Necessity?
A shift to a hybrid world of work has been a boon for businesses in many ways. The emergence of new collaborative technology has enabled businesses to conduct many types of meetings online that were once reserved for conference rooms. As such, companies can be more selective and budget conscious about when and why their employees travel. Now, small trips or low-priority conferences can shift to virtual environments more often.
Even with the convenience and efficacy of hybrid solutions there are still ample situations in which business travel is important – if not essential – for company culture and client connection.
1. For Conferences and Industry Events
Historically, one of the top reasons for business travel has been to send employees to conferences and industry events. During the past few years, many conferences switched to virtual setups, enabling attendees to partake safely from their homes. However, the conference industry is experiencing a bounce back: people are returning to industry events in person, when possible, even if virtual attendance is an option.
This is because there’s so much more to conferences than the speakers and panels. The opportunity to make connections, network and check in with industry colleagues are all critical components of the conference experience that can’t be replicated online. Outside of actual formal events, many conferences also have unstructured, informal gatherings — in both the hallways and after hours — that aren't possible online but can be critical for networking.
As a result, it can be worth it to invest in business travel in some cases. Business leaders may want to consider identifying the most important annual conferences, expos and industry gatherings. Also, by leaders dedicating a business travel budget, they can ensure that they can reap the benefits of gaining in-person connections that are often difficult to reproduce virtually.
2. For Physical Products or Product Demonstrations
For companies that sell physical products, there are a host of reasons why business travel is vital. To begin, key stakeholders will need to check in with manufacturers, warehouses and other elements of their supply chain, both to ensure quality as well as negotiate contracts and keep relationships strong.
The client side is important, too. It can be important for businesses to check in with major accounts to solicit feedback, plus ensure that clients are selling or servicing them the right way. Companies may also want to go on the road to introduce new products, and even provide training or information sessions to make sure next-generation offerings are a hit.
Even for companies that don't have physical products, and instead sell services, it can still be important to travel to key accounts to make sure clients are using features correctly and unlocking the full potential of their services.
3. For Client Relationships
Forging and nurturing meaningful client relationships is something that’s often difficult to do without getting together in person. To encourage new connections as well as bolster existing ones, business travel can make a big difference.
Businesses may want to consider traveling for large meetings and negotiations, to make conversations more engaging, productive and even human — it can make a difference during key moments to be together in person, rather than behind a screen.
4. Off-Sites and Team Building
Work travel doesn’t just have to be for lead generation, networking or client satisfaction — it can be essential for growing internal teams, too. This is especially the case for companies with entirely distributed workforces, or hybrid teams that aren't consistently together.
Even if employees are comfortable working on their own, off-sites, all-staff meetings or other scenarios in which businesses can gather employees together can be crucial for maintaining company culture and shared values. Plus, it can raise employee morale as well as build company culture.
5. The New Role of Necessary Business Travel
With better online collaboration technology, and smaller business travel budgets in some cases, businesses need to think critically about when they decide to travel. However, even if trips are less frequent, there are still major moments during which business travel is necessary. After all, even though many things have changed in the new world of work, the importance of human connection is a constant.
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or an opinion on any issue. It should not be regarded as comprehensive or a substitute for professional advice.