Managed Travel and AI Boost Startup and SME Expansion

Some SMEs are happy in their niche. Others have set their sights much higher, perhaps with multi-national locations in mind. A great many of those will achieve their goals thanks to strategic partnerships in their desired destinations. The best way to build these partnerships is through face-to-face meetings and networking, and that includes international travel. 

Consider that, according to a Forbes Insight study, 85% of people, including SME owners and managers, prefer face-to-face meetings because they believe they create more meaningful business relationships

It’s no wonder that business travel is recognised as a key driver of growth and expansion for SMEs, but limited budgets limit options. Dedicated travel managers have the expertise necessary to help SMEs save travel costs while increasing their capacity for travel.  

Managed Travel is More than Flights and Accommodation

The key word is “dedicated”. Ideally, you want someone who focuses solely on your travel arrangements. SMEs don’t usually have the capacity for a full-time hire, but they can invest in outsourced travel management. The key word here is “invest”. Travel management is an investment in your future and starts saving you costs immediately.

For example: 

• Travel management agencies take control of ad hoc travel arrangements and unify them into a comprehensive, easy-to-manage whole. 
• They work with you to develop a travel policy that’s tailored to your company’s needs, including cost management, risk assessment, and regulatory compliance. 
• They provide analytics and reports that can drill down into employee-specific data or the best lead time for booking international flights.
• Agencies also ensure you meet your duty of care obligations, which places employee health, safety, and well-being front and centre of your travel policy.

It’s evident that travel managers do much more than book flights and accommodation. There’s a strategic element to their services that can have knock-on effects for your company’s operations, for instance, less time spent on travel arrangements and more time spent on core tasks to drive your startup or small business forward. 

AI Boosts Efficiency and Tightens Cost Control

AI technology is making its presence felt across all industries, with the adoption of new technology rising rapidly. For example, according to McKinsey research (January 2025) 92% of companies plan on investing more in next-Gen AI over the next three years. The aims include increased employee satisfaction and workflow automation.  

• Improved efficiency is a natural by-product as AI tools not only take over routine manual tasks but also enhance current processes, resulting in even further time- and cost-savings. 
• Dynamic pricing tools aid cost control by monitoring pricing trends in the market and delivering the most cost-effective options in real time. Your decisions are always based on the latest, most accurate data. 
• AI-driven expense tracking tools can identify spending patterns, including rogue or maverick spending and fraud. Travel policies can be adjusted based on this information to curb overspending and keep a closer eye on budget management.   

There’s another benefit AI technology provides, and it has to do with support. Travel managers can use data collected by AI tech to improve traveller safety and well-being. For instance, AI identifies airlines with high cancellation rates and suggests more reliable alternatives.   

Hybrid Solutions: The Ultimate in Efficiency

The title gives it away. A combination of travel management (human) and AI technology is the best solution for SMEs on the fast track for expansion. AI takes care of all the technical, number-crunching stuff. 

• Predictive analytics for strategic growth planning.
• Automated cost management with dynamic pricing and expense tracking.
• Traveller behaviour tracking to personalise individual travel plans according to tastes and preferences.

Human travel managers take care of the intangible or unquantifiable.

• Interpret AI-generated and other data to keep on top of travel trends and patterns and inform tailored travel programmes and policies.
• Provide support, guidance, and even comfort in emergency situations, while coming up with and implementing solutions. 
• Develop relationships with clients and assorted travel service providers (airline officials, hotel managers, drivers) that generate mutually beneficial business opportunities. 

Hybrid solutions that combine the best of both human and machine provide startups and growing SMEs with the same benefits that used to belong to larger enterprises with extensive travel budgets. Travel managers use their expertise, partnerships, and cold, hard data to help SMEs access some first-class or 5-star perks that don’t just secure your employees’ physical, mental, and emotional health but also increase performance, productivity, satisfaction, and loyalty.

And that’s why partnering with corporate travel agencies is an investment in your company’s future.

Posted on 13 February 2026 by VMR Travel