Fraedom Takes Travel, Expense Management Digital

Travel managers are demanding easier ways to book corporate travel and manage expense. Corporate travel and expense management solution provider Fraedom revealed a free tool, which the company describes as “out of the box,” that aims to meet the demand of corporations.

The new product is called Fraedom Travel & Expense, and is offered for free to companies seeking a simple, streamlined travel expense management tool. According to the company, corporate users can set up the service in just 48 hours.

“Giving companies a better way to manage their business spending is what we’re all about,” Fraedom CEO Bill Brindle said. “Taking our advanced technology and creating a standard, packaged solution gives companies the perfect option for managing their corporate travel and expense with the minimum effort and investment.”

Fraedom Travel & Expense offers resources for company travel booking, accommodation reservations, and will showcase exclusive deals with travel partners. Travelers receive confirmation and itineraries via email, and corporations can add an approval feature.

If companies want to upgrade for a small fee, they can negotiate their own booking rates and will have access to customer specialists to aid with more complex travel planning, the company said.

All travel booked through the system is automatically managed and organized in an expense solution, the company added, and additional costs procured on the trip can be managed on the same platform.

The product is currently only available in the U.K., but Fraedom said that it will expand to other regions in the future.

A recent study by TSYS and the Global Business Travel Association, released last month, revealed certain common qualities that corporations require in a T&E management program. According to the research, travel managers seek more rebate and incentive programs tied to T&E management, as well as more effective ways to control compliance in the area.

Fraedom’s newest offering may be a way to offer travel managers what they want, but also kick the reputation among T&E solutions providers of shying away from innovation.

Last July, research found that while travel managers are aware of innovation in the space, they do not necessarily see how it could benefit their operations.