Egencia Develops AI-Powered Tool for Trip-Approval Policies

Egencia has launched a new AI recommendation tool designed to help companies set up and manage trip-approval processes.

The tool uses data from 65,000 approval workflow combinations used by Egencia clients to build a travel approval policy recommendation based on a company’s profile, considering such metrics as the company’s vertical, size, geographical location, number of travelers and annual travel spend. Policy recommendations are generated instantly and can be implemented with a few clicks, according to Egencia.

“Our customers expect us to provide data insights to help improve their travel programs,” according to Egencia VP of data and analytics Francisca Zanoguera. “We are going one step further to make it even easier to use those insights to quickly create personalized, effective approval policies.”

Later this year, Egencia also plans to integrate the approval tool into business messaging app Slack, enabling approvals through that channel.

Egencia, which was acquired by American Express Global Business Travel last year, has intensified its focus on its technology platform, including a recruitment drive to hire about 100 new full-time, tech-focused employees. AI-powered technology has been a particular area of focus, including a dynamic hotel rate cap feature launched last year.

Michael B. Baker  www.businesstravelnews.com