What is a business travel app?
A business travel app is a smartphone application that can ease the challenges of business travel by assisting with many processes including tracking your expenses and finding you a hotel room. Although leisure travellers can also use these apps, they are more popular within the business crowd, as they help facilitate some aspects of their trip.
The perfect combination of business travel apps can take all the stress out by streamlining work and travel plans.
9 apps that will help with your business travel
Every business traveller and their travel are different, and so are business travel apps.
This is why we have rounded up the best apps, each catering to a different type of traveller. Here are nine of the top aspects that business travel apps can help you with:
1. Planning apps
The TripIt app allows you to keep your entire travel itinerary in one place. Whatever information you need for your trip – flight schedules, hotel bookings, meeting information – apps can keep all your information easily accessible and also organised in a calendar. The best part is that, with some apps, you can simply forward all the confirmation emails to your account and the application will sort and store the information for you.
Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows and Blackberry
Price: Basic for free, download premium for $49
2. Navigation apps
Avoid getting lost on the route with a navigation app. Try CityMapper, available in big cities across Europe, Asia and North America. The app provides reliable and accurate routes – great for business days filled with meetings, hotels and restaurants.
Google Maps is the top navigation app globally. The app allows you to navigate online and offline, pin places in advance, compare transportation options, and share locations. The app offers a wide range of search options from establishments with Wi-Fi, to restaurants with specific dietary considerations.
Platforms: iOS, Android and Windows
Price: Free
3. Expense tracking apps
No need to keep a hold of your receipts anymore. With Expensify, you track your expense by simply taking a photo, and importing it into the app. Their on-the-spot submission saves hours of sorting through old receipts and invoices. Expensify is simple, it’s free, and it’s designed for business travellers.
Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows and Blackberry
Price: Free
4. Document sharing
Google Drive allows for you to continue working on docs from wherever you are. You’re able to make changes to live documents, spreadsheets and presentations. Access any file you need from your laptop or mobile device. You can also work offline in these docs with the latest version updating when you connect back to the internet. These apps are invaluable for business travellers.
Platforms: iOS, Android and Windows
Price: Free
5. Airport lounge guides
If you find yourself in an unfamiliar or large airport, Flio can provide detailed information to get you to your plane on time. It features information on thousands of airports – including interactive maps that depict gates, baggage claims, lounges, restaurants and shops, and the best ways to get there using public transportation.
You can also book access to lounges or a parking spot through the app, as well as receive updates on your flight status.
Platforms: iOS and Android
Price: Basic is free
Lounge buddy allows you to access all of the airport lounges in the app’s network — no memberships, elite statuses, or business-class tickets required. Starting from $25 you can purchase lounge access using the app and get instant access to the space you need to work, relax, freshen up, and get ready for your next flight.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Blackberry
Price: Free
6. Online/offline translation
iTranslate is an app that will help you break down the language barrier in any situation, be it during a business meeting or while on the road getting where you need to be.
Platforms: Android, iOS, OSX and Windows
Price: Free
The Google Translate app displays the translated words onto your phone or tablet, or speaks them aloud. Additionally, if you snap a picture of a sign, the application will translate its meaning into verbiage.
Download up to 5 languages offline for generating translations without eating up your cellular data while you’re abroad for business.
Platforms: Android and iOS
Price: Free
7. Currency converter
Valuta+ is a simple, user-friendly currency converter app. The app allows you to mark your favourite currencies to save time and automate the process. It works offline, which is useful if you’re out with no internet connection between cities, doing some local shopping, and can’t quite remember the exchange rate.
Platforms: iOS, Android and Windows
Price: Free
8. Taxi and transportation apps
Many of the best taxi and ridesharing apps change by the city, region and country. There is a long-standing debate as to which of these is the ‘best’. It typically comes down to personal preference but location may come into play.
FreeNow is a leading taxi app in many European cities, and where Uber used to be considered the top app, it is now not available or is considered illegal in some countries.
Platforms: iOS, Android and Windows
Price: Free
9. Wallet apps
Apple Wallet allows you to never lose your wallet again. Safely tuck your physical wallet and belongings away in your bag while storing your boarding passes, train tickets and cards in the wallet app. For iOS users, the most convenient part is that a click of a few buttons can display your boarding pass or payment cards ready for use with Face or Touch ID.
Platforms: iOS devices
Price: Free
Google Pay lets you transform your phone into a digital wallet. As an Android user, you can safely pay using your mobile device, check in for flights and other travel bookings, or even check in to a hotel with nothing more than your Google Wallet. You can even store and use certain types of ID cards.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Blackberry
Price: Free
