The authorisation tool works by automatically cross-matching trip details against the dynamic risk data provided through Anvil’s Threat and Risk Intelligence Service (TRIS).
Global travel and operational risk company, Anvil, announced the launch of its new travel booking authorisation tool. Part of Riskmatics, Anvil’s award-winning risk management system, the new authorisation tool now enables corporate travel managers to automatically factor traveller safety into their standard travel approval process.
Although organisations may already have travel approval systems in place, these predominantly focus on the budgetary factors rather than the risk or security aspects of corporate travel. Anvil’s travel authorisation tool allows travel managers to now include this all important risk dimension without adding any unnecessary administrative burden to their (or their travellers’) already heavy workloads.
“It’s so important that risk mitigation is seen as a key part of any pre-travel authorisation process,” says Matthew Judge, Anvil’s Group Managing Director. “You need to understand the risks you could be exposing your travellers to and be able to properly assess those risks prior to any trip. You then need to ensure that the appropriate risk mitigation measures are in place and are adhered to. This hasn’t always been easy but with our new authorisation tool, we’re helping to simplify this process significantly.”
The authorisation tool works by automatically cross-matching trip details against the dynamic risk data provided through Anvil’s Threat and Risk Intelligence Service (TRIS). Should a traveller schedule a trip to an area deemed higher risk, an alert will be automatically forwarded to the relevant manager. Managers can then approve, reject or request changes based on the organisation’s existing policies and/or any other mitigating factors. Should a trip be approved, the traveller can be briefed on additional precautions that they may need to take during their trip or directed to undertake pre-travel training as appropriate. Trips booked to lower risk areas pass through the approval system automatically, thus allowing the travel managers to focus their attention on the higher risk, freeing up more of their valuable time.
Peter Davies, Anvil’s Head of Research and Technical Development states, “When developing the authorisation tool it was important that it could become an integral part of organisations’ existing travel approval processes. We therefore created the tool following the ‘user centred design’ principles. Driving travel approval via policy is often difficult, to say the least. The beauty of Anvil’s authorisation tool is that it requires no change to existing business processes, systems or cultural behaviours. By connecting directly with the Global Distribution Systems (GDSs), the authorisation tool picks up the traveller data without them having to submit any additional forms or requests. This removes the burden of manually entering all of the trip details and ensures that the approval decision process is based on actual booking data, ensuring greater accuracy”.
Survey results reported by ABTA earlier this year reveal that managers’ number one concern for travelling staff is safety, with over half of respondents (59%) worried about security and terrorism when staff travel abroad. Yet despite this, many travel managers are finding much of their own time spent on the cost containment element of travel. Anvil’s booking authorisation tool now allows the all-important risk element to be automatically factored in whilst keeping the end-to-end process simple for travel managers, approvers and travellers alike.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
