In the untamed jungle of corporate travel management, where expenses loom large and compliance lurks in every policy clause, one weapon slices through the undergrowth with precision and flair—data. Yes, good old-fashioned, meticulously polished, brilliantly interpreted data. And according to BCD Travel’s 2025 Global Travel Buyer Survey, it’s no longer a backstage player—it’s taken centre stage, strutting its stats in full spotlight.
When Data Becomes Your Co-Pilot
Surveying nearly 200 travel buyers—from sectors like manufacturing, life sciences and financial services—the findings are enough to make any CFO raise an eyebrow in admiration. A whopping 94% of respondents placed cost control squarely in the “extremely important” column, while 90% ticked policy compliance and 86% flagged duty of care.
But here’s where it gets juicier than a seat upgrade on a budget fare—82% believe data analytics is critical. Not “useful.” Not “a bonus.” No—critical. As in: if you don’t have it, you might as well try tracking spend with a napkin and a biro.
The Data Dance: Who’s Leading?
Almost half of travel buyers (48%) are crying out for tighter collaboration with TMCs and suppliers over data wrangling, while 47% are yearning for cleaner, more trustworthy information because nothing’s worse than basing million-dollar decisions on figures messier than a red-eye breakfast.
Heather Wright, BCD’s vice president, Digital Strategy & Advancement.
Add in a yearning for data consolidation (44%), enhanced analysis (42%), actionable insights (36%), and streamlined collection methods (33%), and you’ve got a hit list that reads like a dream brief to any self-respecting procurement officer.
Negotiating With Numbers
Data, it turns out, is the new diplomat.
Want to twist a hotel chain’s arm for better rates? Present them with the cold, hard stats. Looking to rein in a free-spirited sales exec who thinks policy compliance is optional? Let the analytics speak louder than HR ever could.
As Heather Wright, BCD’s own Vice President of Digital Strategy & Advancement—whose title alone could qualify for excess baggage—puts it:
“We’re capturing more data from more sources than ever before. And we’re not just hoarding it—we’re refining it, enriching it, and putting it back into the hands of clients, so they can actually do something with it.”
And that “something” includes decision-making in real time, powered by APIs that allow clients to build bespoke solutions for travel security, sustainability and cost control—all. At the same time, the business trip is still mid-air.
Not Everyone’s a Data Whisperer
Despite the enthusiasm, not everyone’s leaping into dashboards like they’re Disneyland. Approximately 50% of buyers continue to struggle with using data proactively. Many wait until problems escalate before diving into their reports—reactively, rather than proactively.
Then there’s the time crunch. Some 44% admit they don’t have enough of it. And while 74% say they’ve got the skills to tango with Tableau or Google Data Studio, more than half still prefer to leave the heavy lifting to the data professionals.
In other words, everyone wants the insights, but not everyone’s ready to become a part-time analyst.
Tech That Talks Back
Enter BCD’s tech platform. Like a good concierge, it begins tracking the moment a traveller clicks “book” and doesn’t stop until they’re home and expense-free. The system consolidates, cleans and enriches the data—and even throws in a few friendly nudges:
“Hey mate, skip the car hire insurance. It’s already covered.”
Who says machines don’t have manners?
With API access galore, customers can customise to their heart’s content, adding layers of real-time security, emissions tracking or even post-trip ROI evaluations. It’s data, with optional extras.
Artificial Intelligence: Late to the Party
Despite AI dominating dinner party conversations and boardroom slide decks, only 10% of buyers are using AI to crunch travel numbers. And most of those do it to shave a few hours off reporting.
Still, there’s hope. Real-time analytics is now considered the most valuable feature by 64% of respondents. Built-in dashboards that do the thinking for you come a close second at 57%. As user interfaces go, anything that makes finance look fun deserves applause.
So, What’s the Verdict?
Data is no longer a background player or an occasional helper. It’s front and centre—the key to controlling costs, enhancing compliance, and making sure corporate travel doesn’t spiral into a budgetary Bermuda Triangle.
Those who master it? They’ll be the ones navigating strike disruptions, supplier negotiations and spontaneous route changes with the poise of a seasoned pilot.
The laggards? Well, they’ll still be scouring Excel spreadsheets like it’s 1999.
So yes, in the grand scheme of business travel for 2025, data doesn’t just whisper—it roars.
