American Express Global Business Travel is working with technology firm Traxo to pilot a new solution with a “top corporate client” to automatically capture data for out-of-channel travel bookings.
The TMC will use technology patented by Texas-based Traxo to track down this booking data and bring it back into its systems. The client involved in the pilot has not been revealed.
Traxo's Filter technology automatically detects travel confirmation emails along with any changes or cancellations through the company's email server. Once detected, the bookings are integrated into Amex GBT’s travel profile system.
Additionally, travellers without company email addresses, such as contractors or job candidates, can manually forward email confirmations to get them into the system, according to Traxo.
Traxo CEO and founder Andres Fabris said: “When bookings are made off-channel, they are invisible to the reporting tools and systems typically used by corporate travel managers.
“Traxo’s solution automatically aggregates and parses travel bookings from any source and is the antidote to this longstanding challenge of invisible bookings for managed travel across the globe.”
Mark McSpadden, Amex GBT’s VP of product strategy and UX (user experience), added: “Booking within managed channels means travellers are fully supported before, during and after a trip, while travel managers can fulfil their duty of care obligations.
“By bringing out-of-policy bookings back into the Amex GBT marketplace, travel managers can better understand what travellers are booking and improve visibility into total travel spend.”