Say Bon Voyage To Oversized Travel Baggage with Technology

By Ralph Colunga

Sometimes we pine for the glamorous days of business travel, when people dressed up before a flight, we didnt have to worry about TSA or long lines, or deal with travelers trying to stuff oversized luggage into overhead bins! But thats when we also remember: They also had to do without streaming in-flight entertainment options or many of the other luxuries we enjoy today. And heres the great news: technology is absolutely improving the ways we travel for business. Safer jets, smoother check-ins, and in-flight Wi-Fi keep us connected and productive everywhere we go.

But one problem still persists: burdensome, ever expanding, and increasingly costly luggage. And with increased business travel projections for 2015, the problem looks like its just going to keep growing. So how can you travel lighter? A few smart pieces of technology could be all you need to leave bulky baggage behind forever.   

Here are some ways you can keep your luggage manageable, affordable, and small enough to fit in the overhead bin.  

Get comfortable

Business trips are serious but you still have to take care of yourself and feel relaxed while youre away from home. You cant take all the comforts youre used to, but there are some apps and services that can make your life on the road a little easier.

While youre at the airport, fow example, download the Loungebuddy app to find a place where you can work or relax in style. And if you really dread dragging a suitcase behind you, services like Lugless will ship your luggage to your destination so you can skip the headache of checking bags altogether.

Stay focused

With all the unfamiliar sights, sounds, and movements that you encounter during travel, its easy to get distracted and lose focus. Bringing everything you need to be productive can take up space you simply cant spare. Fortunately, some tech-savvy apps and accessories can help.

Portable phone chargers from Skiva can keep your phone, tablet, and laptop powered up, so you dont have to stuff bulky cords and cables in your carry-on. Apps like Boingo can help you find the nearest Wi-Fi hotspot, while Evernotes business card scanner lets you save colleagues contact info digitally so you dont have to stash a stack of business cards in your bag.

When it comes to tracking business expenditures, Concurs expense management solution will keep you organized digitally so you dont have to keep track of paper receipts or invoices. Busy meeting and event planners find immense value when using the Cvent app with Concur, which lets attendees book ground, air, and hotel accommodations as a part of their event registration process, while giving the planner an overview of attendee reports and visibility into previously unknown areas of meeting spend.

Have fun

Even the most dedicated business traveler needs some time to unwind while theyre away from home. Planning leisure activities can give you something to look forward to, as well as deepen your understanding and awareness of your destinations culture.

GateGuru can make your time at the airport more pleasant with maps, reviews, and restaurant suggestions. Once you arrive, CityMaps2Go can help you plan activities and sightsee, while its offline feature ensures youll always have the information you need, even if you dont have access to Wi-Fi. You can even save your favorite spots and make notes for next time. Yelp and Groupon can also help you find the hidden gems in any city at the best possible price. 

Stay optimistic

Technology is making huge advancements in improving the way we live, work, travel and play, and its just going to keep getting better. From booking a hotel to planning your trip home, technology can change the way you travel for the better. Learning and using innovative apps and tools can make your next business trip more enjoyable  and the most successful one yet.

What apps help you travel smarter?

Ralph Colunga is the Sr. Director of Global Travel at Concur. His responsibilities include management of the Concur Global Travel program and Global Marketing support of Concur Travel's products and services. He is a seasoned travel industry subject matter expert having established and managed global travel and expense programs at Salesforce.com, Oracle, Cisco Systems and AMD. Ralph and his past teams are the recipients of numerous travel and expense industry awards to include: 2002 Best Global Vision Assn of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) 2004 Best Practitioner - Corporate Travel /Single Global GDS Business Travel News 2007 International Travel Manager of the Year Business Travel News 2011 WW Excellence Award- Management of Corp Travel & Expense ACTE 2013 Spotlight on Transformation GBTA Inaugural Award

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