7 Tips to peak productivity during your business travel

While going on business trips may sound very glamorous, the reality is that they can often be stressful. Travelling can take up a lot of time and your day-to-day work doesn’t take a holiday while you’re away from the office.

Add the logistics of getting around a place you’re not as familiar with and what seemed like a dream job can quickly turn into a nightmare.

Seasoned business travellers have usually learned how to maximise their time and minimise their efforts, making it look like a breeze. So, if you’ve been letting your business trips get the better of you, here are our top 7 business travel tips to help you relax and enjoy the ride.

1. Plan and prioritise your itinerary and meetings

As Benjamin Franklin famously said, ‘failing to prepare, is preparing to fail’.

Spending time carefully planning your schedule before you set off on your business trip will give you the time to relax and make the most of it. If you have several locations to visit, work out the best order to visit them and avoid having to double-back on yourself.

Having a clear, well-prepared business travel itinerary will also help you to identify your priorities and plan for possible delays. So, have these in mind when you’re planning and allow sufficient time to get from one location to another.

2. Work on tasks while travelling

Travelling time doesn’t need to be dead time. With a little planning, you can use your journey times to prepare for your meetings or deal with daily tasks.

Think about working on the go when arranging your transportation. Trains often have seats with tables and carriages geared towards working with plug sockets and Wi-Fi. Airports have lounges that provide comfortable working areas.

Make sure your laptop and phone are fully charged before you set off and that you have access to the information and documentation you may need. Think ahead, too, about internet access in your destination. Does your mobile plan provide internet access where you’re going? If not, consider buying a local SIM card.

3. Digitalise documents using cloud services

It may seem obvious these days, but make a habit of backing up all your documents in the cloud. That way, you’ll have access to them wherever you are, which can be extremely useful when you’re travelling.

Unforeseen situations can always arise and you may find you need access to documents you hadn’t planned for. There’s always the possibility of a breakdown or loss of your devices, making it necessary to access documents from another computer.

Effective digital document management is, therefore, very important for business travellers, as well as being a useful tool for companies in general.

4. Pack efficiently and only take essential items

Efficient and streamlined business travel packing can make getting from one place to another so much simpler.

Avoiding having too many bags or carrying lots of weight reduces the stress and tiredness factor on business trips. It also cuts the need for time-consuming checked luggage or being tied to dropping luggage off at your hotel before going to your meetings.

Think carefully about what you really need on your trip. It is, perhaps, useful to have a change of clothes, but keep this to the minimum. Remember, too, that most hotels provide basic toiletries and essential personal care accessories.

5. Use apps to stay organised

The market is flooded with apps providing useful travel management tools, so do your advance research and find the ones that work for you. Here are some suggestions:

• TripIt: a comprehensive travel organisation app that helps users keep all their travel plans in one place. It automatically creates detailed itineraries by scanning confirmation emails for flights, hotels, rental cars and more.

• Expensify: primarily an expense management app but integrates seamlessly with various travel booking platforms. It allows users to capture receipts, track expenses, and create expense reports on the go.

• Google Trips: a travel planning app that helps users discover destinations, find attractions and organise trip itineraries.

• TripAdvisor: a popular travel app that provides user-generated reviews and ratings for hotels, restaurants, attractions and activities worldwide.

• FLIO: is amongst the most popular airport application around the globe, offering over 3000 aviation tips and advice. It also functions as a flight tracking application.

• FREENOW: a super mobility app that allows you to instantly book a variety of ground transportation means and track them in real-time, as well as centralising payment methods and keeping track of receipts.

6. Adjust your schedule in line with different time zones

If you’re travelling further afield, think ahead about time zone differences and make sure you factor these in when planning your schedule. Poor time zone management can leave you tired and stressed out—not how you want to be when going into that important meeting!

Adding time to your schedule for resting and coping with jet lag will have been time well-spent when you’re focused and able to give your best to those you’ve travelled so far to meet.

7. Use communication tools to stay connected and informed

We live in a globally connected society, so it’s not difficult to stay in touch with your colleagues at home and abroad.

A lot can happen in the hours it takes to get from one location to another, so make sure you’re able to keep in contact with both your home office and those you’re travelling to see. Making a habit of regularly touching base while you’re travelling can help you avoid potentially counterproductive situations.

So, there you have it—keep these 7 business tech and travel tips in mind when you’re preparing for your business trips. Happy travels!

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