Chad Lemon:
Hey everyone. It's Chad Lemon. Connections Success Stories highlight how our clients use BCD technology to optimize their travel program. These quick stories highlight what BCD has done for clients and what we could potentially do for yours. On this episode, I'm connecting with Tim Colby who oversees this success story's global group air program about how they recently optimized their meetings and events travel while using data from another TMC. Hey, Tim. So our story today centers around our client who is a top global healthcare brand that works with BCD for healthcare professional and group travel, but a different TMC for transient travel, right?
Tim Colby:
Yeah. That's right, Chad. And they needed a solution so that they could use their preferred online booking tool, Concur, for both their group bookings with BCD and their transient bookings with another TMC. And of course, they wanted to do this without having to manage multiple profiles and multiple single sign-ons. They also needed an online access for their third party meeting planners to book travel on behalf of HCPs.
Chad Lemon:
Well this sounds like it was a pretty big challenge, but also a challenge that I would assume is kind of rare, right?
Tim Colby:
Well that was the tricky part, but we delivered 100%. So we created a connection between Cvent, which is a meeting event platform, and Concur. Once the attendees register for a meeting in Cvent, they move into Concur as a non-profiled guest. Upon submitting their booking, the transient traveler data from the other TMC is added to BCD's system via an API. On top of that, as I mentioned before, we also created an online access portal allowing meeting planners to book on behalf of an HCP in Concur.
Chad Lemon:
Well, I mean, that all sounds just super simple.
Tim Colby:
Yeah. It took some effort and skill, that's for sure. But truly, this result has been groundbreaking. Within eight weeks, BCD implemented two configurations for group bookings through the Cvent integration into Concur and HCP bookings through online access for third party meeting planners. The great thing is that this is the first customer using an API with another TMC to extract traveler data into BCD's profile system.
Chad Lemon:
Oh, wow. Okay. And I mean, just to be clear here, we aren't talking about just a couple of reservations. This is a large global travel program, right?
Tim Colby:
Yeah. Yeah, exactly. That's right. They operate in about 60 countries with over 150,000 employees worldwide. So as you can imagine, this job was no small feat.
Chad Lemon:
Yeah. For sure. I want to get your opinion on why it was so important that we solved this particular challenge.
Tim Colby:
Well first, we're always happy to listen to travel programs, think outside of the box, and deliver technology and solutions when we can. But solving this challenge had many benefits including improving traveler experience, giving users 24/7 booking access, saving money on transaction costs. It reduces the burden on BCD's agent desk, which gives them more time to focus on healthcare professionals and other group bookings.
Chad Lemon:
Well last question for you then. For travel managers listening to this podcast right now, why should they care about this success story?
Tim Colby:
Well I think our Senior Vice President of Operations Tanya Green, said it best a few months ago, "Thanks to our vast global experience in healthcare meetings and events, we understand the importance of a positive experience for employees traveling for events." Our innovative solution and planning expertise went beyond fulfillment. It further enhanced our customer's travel program." And look, I mean, at the end of the day, this story illustrates the power of BCD's technologies can make any program, including the ones listening to this podcast, travel smart and achieve more.
Chad Lemon:
Love that. All right. Tim Colby, thank you so much for joining us and highlighting this wonderful success story.
Tim Colby:
You're welcome.
