Fact vs fiction: The truth about booking offshore travel in 2021
Fact vs fiction: The truth about booking offshore travel in 2021
The truth about booking offshore travel in 2021
Anyone who has worked within the marine and energy sectors for some time will know that traditional methods of booking offshore travel have been slow and cumbersome.
Relying on manual administrative processes are susceptible to human error, these outmoded processes have at times led many people to view the offshore sectors
as being the same - old-fashioned and slow to adapt.
However, over the past year we have seen offshore organisations around the world continue to move quickly and purposefully, with much of their workforce carrying out essential operations throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
ATPI Marine & Energy’s work with global offshore organisations has shown us time and time again that the sector is capable of and willing to change.
With that in mind, we thought it was time to dispel the commonly-held myths about booking offshore travel so that your organisation can stay informed and book in a way that works for them.
Fiction:
Offshore fares and NDC content can only be accessed through a specialist travel agent
Fiction:
Offshore fares and NDC content can only be accessed through a specialist travel agent
Fact:
It is now possible for organisations that require offshore travel to access specialist fares themselves, directly through their booking tool - provided they’re working with the right one.
Historically marine and energy organisations have only been able to access the benefits of offshore fares by working with a specialist travel agent or TMC who can negotiate these fares with suppliers.
However, innovative technology companies and offshore travel specialists have worked together to develop solutions that allow those working within the offshore sectors to no longer have to go through slow and complicated processes in order to access cost-effective and flexible rates.
As a result, there are now self-service booking tools that provide marine and energy organisations with direct access to offshore fares, as well as a wide range of NDC content. Not only does this boost booking efficiency and give organisations more control over how they travel, but it also offers the opportunity for direct travel spend reduction.
Find out more about accessing offshore fares and NDC content via a self-service booking tool here
Fiction:
Offshore and corporate travel require different booking tools to be managed effectively
Fiction:
Offshore and corporate travel require different booking tools to be managed effectively
Fact:
Travel for offshore workers can be booked using a booking tool that also caters to corporate requirements, without needing to compromise on the travel options available or post-trip reporting.
With a lot of attention paid to the movement of offshore workers (and understandably so - it’s an important and complex operation), the corporate travel requirements of marine and energy organisations can sometimes be overlooked.
It’s often the case that the corporate travel of offshore organisations is managed separately to other travel, with a whole new set of processes and booking methods being implemented.
However, this doesn’t have to be so - particularly as most offshore organisations are keen to achieve efficiency across all business operations.
It is now possible for marine and energy organisations to book offshore travel and corporate travel within one easy-to-use, self-service booking tool, negating the need for differing processes and disjointed reporting. You can find out more about this here.
Fiction:
Using a self-service booking tool means no support from an agent
Fiction:
Using a self-service booking tool means no support from an agent
Fact:
It’s possible, and often preferable, to combine the ease and efficiency of self-service booking with the experience and guidance of an agent that specialises in booking offshore travel.
With self-service style booking being relatively new to the marine and energy sectors, there are many myths and uncertainties about what self-booking actually means on a practical level.
However, with the right booking tool marine and energy organisations really can enjoy the best of both worlds when it comes to managing offshore and corporate travel.
In an ideal world, all offshore journeys would go to plan. Flights would never be delayed and last minute itinerary changes would never occur, meaning that it would be quick and easy for marine and energy organisations to book all travel online using the right booking tool. However, we don’t like in an ideal world and so being able to rely on the support of an offshore travel specialist is essential if marine and energy organisations are to manage travel successfully.
