Travel managers can use a travel management system to plan, track, and analyse corporate trips. A travel management system, in most cases, refers to a platform that provides travel inventory, policy, and reporting, but it can also refer to the entire process of managing corporate travel.
It's crucial to know which characteristics are the most important to have in an efficient travel management software. The features listed below can assist you in managing travel in a safe, efficient, and cost-effective manner. So, it must be a deliberate effort of the travel managers to essentially look for these features:
Reporting tools
The capacity to report on business travel is one of the most crucial functions of any travel management system. You'll want to be able to track the following items: Spending on travel time-wise, spending on travel per department or team, Amount of out-of-pocket travel expenses, spending on travel is broken down by project, client, and occasion., Amount of time spent travelling for the purpose of hiring. Of course, this means that, in addition to reporting, your travel management system should allow you to name and classify your excursions.
Mobile application
Some travel management systems don't have their own mobile applications or have bulky and difficult-to-use ones. Before implementing a new travel management system for your entire workforce, you should download the app and try it out for yourself.

Your travellers should be able to know if anything is outside of policy before they ever click on it, whether they're at a hotel, on a plane, or on a train.
Expense Integration System
Your spending system and your travel management system should work together. If there isn't an existing integration, make sure the travel management system can accomplish at least one of the following: It comes with an external API that your development team may use to connect it to your expense tool; Custom integration services are available.
Expedient booking
It doesn't have to take two hours to book business travel. It can take much less time—even minutes—if you keep every traveller’s information in your travel management system (including legal name, travel document country and number, birthdate, and so on).
Non-imposing lock-in periods
You should not be obliged to use your travel management system if you dislike it. When evaluating a travel management software, be sure you're not locked in. The system you use to schedule and manage travel may have a significant influence on your experience as a travel manager and on the experience of every person who travels for business.
Bill Aggregator
Booking all of your business travel in one location is the most convenient method to keep track of it. However, certain travel management systems do not function as a single vendor, resulting in a plethora of bills. Choose a solution that consolidates all of your monthly travel into a single vendor invoice to save time and effort on business travel. You'll be adored by the financial department.
User Control
You should be able to enter into your travel management software as the travel manager and view; Who has successfully booked a vacation within the policy parameters? Who is making the request for an out-of-policy reservation, and why? Who has a vacation in the works (they've saved an itinerary but haven't booked it yet)? Who hasn't planned a vacation yet? You need to know what's going on whether you're in charge of booking travel or assisting passengers with arranging their own trip. You need to gain a quick perspective so you can take action.
Free Support
Paying a charge for each support call is both outdated and too costly. Support should be included in your travel management system at no additional cost to you. You'll know precisely what you're paying for, and there will be no unpleasant surprises at the end of the month. Travelers may also obtain the help they need when they need it without having to worry about disturbing finance with a slew of support calls.
Economic Inventory
Your policy and approval routines, as well as your inventory access, are crucial in helping you manage travel compliance around the clock. If you're using a travel management system that doesn't include low-cost hotels and airlines, you're missing out on significant cost savings. Given that millennials like to book cheap choices, it's a good idea to make these available to them.
No redirections
It's inconvenient to be redirected while planning a holiday. It can also be nerve-wracking since you're not sure if you can trust the new vendor to which you've been routed. Redirects are not only inconvenient when it comes to business travel; they also make tracking your business trip nearly difficult. You'll be scanning the internet towards the end of the month, attempting to collect all of your bills. This should be avoided at all costs.