Exploring your options: The benefits of procuring corporate travel solutions directly
Corporate travel platforms have been something of a hot topic in the travel industry over the past few months, with a wave of consolidation leaving many corporations reevaluating their procurement strategies and relationships with suppliers. Here at Amadeus Cytric, we’ve pointed to the value of open platforms in this evolving landscape — an ecosystem approach that empowers corporations with flexibility.
In that spirit, it’s important to recognize that corporations can procure their corporate travel management platform in different ways. Some prefer to work through a travel management company (TMC), others choose to work with the travel management technology provider directly from an SaaS provider like Cytric, and many take a hybrid-sourcing approach—partnering directly with the travel management solution provider while outsourcing travel consulting, services, and fulfillment support to the company’s preferred TMC. All models are valid. What matters most is selecting a model that best aligns with business goals, objectives, culture, operational structure, and travel program maturity.
Here I will take a closer look at the potential benefits of engaging directly with the travel management technology supplier to help add clarity for corporations exploring the full range of options available to them.
What are the advantages of working directly with a travel management platform?
Corporations exploring a direct relationship with their travel management technology provider often highlight three areas where they may see added value:
strengthen program governance,
provide full access to innovation,
and enable a transparent and efficient working relationship.
Let’s take a look at each in turn.
Strengthening program governance
A direct relationship can help corporations simplify how their travel program is governed, particularly when paired with continued collaboration with their TMC. Rather than adding complexity, this model can clarify responsibilities, streamline processes, and support more informed decision‑making. Key advantages may include:
Clear ownership, alignment, and decision‑making efficiency: With clearer roles across the corporation, TMC, and travel management solution provider, prioritization, review cycles, and escalations can progress smoothly and efficiently.
Consistent, data‑driven performance monitoring: Direct access to expertise supports setting KPIs/OKRs, tracking program outcomes, and implementing improvements.
Closer alignment with corporate strategy: Technology choices can be tightly connected to organizational goals and stakeholder needs.
Enhanced oversight of risk, compliance, and security: Direct engagement helps ensure adherence to internal policies and regulatory requirements.
Providing full access to innovation
Working directly with a travel management technology provider may help corporations stay closer to product evolution and market developments. For the corporations what choose to go direct, the relationship can offer:
Greater influence on the product roadmap: Direct feedback can inform feature development, prioritization, and customization.
Closer collaboration with experts: Corporate travel managers can work directly with product and engineering teams to support program digitalization.
Fast access to updates and insights: New capabilities, upcoming releases, and best practices may be communicated more quickly when the corporation is an active participant rather than a downstream recipient.
Enable a transparent and efficient working relationship
For corporations with complex travel needs, the visibility and control gained through direct engagement may offer additional clarity. This model—used alongside TMC services—can support:
Transparency over costs and configuration: Licensing, implementation, services, and support may be easier to understand and manage.
Efficient collaboration: When conversations between the corporation, TMC, and travel management technology provider are fully transparent, decision‑making becomes more balanced and efficient.
Specialized support: Teams focused exclusively on their own travel management platform can often offer deep expertise and faster escalation.
Flexibility in fulfillment partners: Corporations can work with the TMC of their choice and change providers with minimal disruption.
Building a travel management solution that works for your corporation
In today’s evolving travel landscape, corporations have more choice than ever in how they structure and manage travel programs. Some may value the convenience of working exclusively through a TMC. Others may prefer a direct relationship with their technology provider. Many will find a hybrid model delivers the right balance of service, control, and flexibility.
There is no single "best" approach - only the best approach for your organization.
At Amadeus Cytric, our goal is to support corporations however they choose to procure their travel management technology.
Whether working through a trusted TMC partner, engaging with us directly, or leveraging a blended approach, we aim to offer a seamless, intuitive, and reliable experience for business travelers and travel managers alike.
FAQs
What are the benefits of directly engaging with corporate travel technology providers for enterprise travel programs?
Directly procuring a travel management software solution can help enterprises unlock better rates, access exclusive NDC or loyalty-based content, strengthen supplier relationships, and improve cost transparency while maintaining flexibility across global markets.
How do I know which approach is right for my travel program?
Deciding whether to procure travel management solutions directly from vendors or indirectly (via resellers) or adopt a hybrid model is a strategic choice. Ultimately, it depends on a corporations’ specific need for control versus speed, cost efficiency versus operational ease, and customization versus standardization.
What is a hybrid approach?
Instead of relying solely on a direct or indirect approach for procurement of travel management technology, the hybrid model combines both approaches to balance control, cost efficiency, while providing the flexibility and agility needed for modern travel management programs.
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