The Hidden Tool That’s Saving South African Companies & SMEs Big on Travel

From weekly red-eye flights to Cape Town, Joburg or Durban to international trade expos, corporate travel is essential to doing business in South Africa today. 

But as every business — especially budget-conscious Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) — knows, every Rand counts when it comes to corporate travel management. That’s where travel data becomes a game-changer…

Why Travel Data Matters

Many South African companies, particularly SMEs,  lack the in-house resources to monitor spending across multiple departments, teams and trips. 

When left unmanaged, corporate travel can quickly become a leaky bucket, full of unclaimed savings and policy blind spots. That’s where travel data steps in. With access to real-time and historic data, businesses can:

• Track spend by team, destination, or even individual
• Identify trends, like frequent overspending on specific routes or hotel categories
• Spot non-compliance with corporate travel policy
• Benchmark pricing to ensure fair rates
• Identify wasteful expenditure, such as unused tickets, duplicate bookings and costly booking habits

The good news is that your business doesn’t have to invest in the costly software used to gather and analyse all this data. A professional corporate travel agent will have big data software specifically designed for travel management and, importantly, know how to best use these tools to track and optimise your travel spend.

Optimizing Travel Spend: Real-World Impact

Cost optimisation can mean the difference between sustainable growth and financial strain, especially for SMEs. 

Corporate travel agents use data to ensure your company stays on the right side of this thin line by:

• Negotiating better rates with preferred suppliers based on actual usage
• Refining travel policies, for example setting clear per day limits or minimum advance booking windows
• Improving approval workflows, so bookings stay within budget
• Spotting outliers early, like rogue bookings or unapproved upgrades
• Reducing travel-related admin and reimbursements by switching to prepaid, policy-compliant options

Beyond Bookings: How Travel Agents Use Data to Your Benefit

Professional corporate travel agencies work with smart back-end systems, all backed by real data, that give you access to consolidated reporting dashboards. 

This can be customised according to your needs, but in general includes data on:

• Top-spending departments or top-spending travellers
• Airfare class usage (economy vs. business)
• Advance booking behaviour
• Preferred supplier usage (i.e. hotels or airlines under contract)
• Carbon footprint data (for ESG reporting)

Crucially, a seasoned corporate travel agent is able to translate this data into practical advice that can be incorporated into your corporate travel policies.

A Smarter, Scalable Approach to Growth

As your business grows, so too does your need to travel — and the need to track it properly. 

Partnering with a data-driven travel management provider allows SMEs to scale their operations smartly, without losing financial oversight. When you partner with a professional corporate travel agency, you get:

• Full visibility and control over your travel costs
• Guidance on shaping policy for growing teams
• Assurance that every trip aligns with budget and broader business goals

Better Data = Better Business Travel

In today’s economy, South African companies of all sizes — but especially SMEs — can’t afford to fly blind. The right corporate travel partner doesn’t just get your team from A to B — they help you see the bigger picture, with a laser focus on improving your return on investment.

When you have the data, you have the power to travel smarter, spend wiser and grow stronger.

Ready to cut costs and optimise your corporate travel spend? Speak to a Sure Corporate Travel Agent today.