2016 U.S.-Booked Air Volume: $135 million
Principal Car Rental Suppliers: Hertz, Europcar
Consolidated U.S. TMC: BCD Travel
German industrial manufacturing conglomerate Siemens
increased air spending from the U.S. point of sale in its 2016 fiscal year, which
ended Sept. 30, 2016, according to a BTN estimate. In September 2016, it rolled
out a new global travel policy framework to all locations and required the
development of country-specific policies that both fit the framework and
included adjustments to fit local regulations. For example, the global policy
framework eliminates pre-trip approval requirements. Local regulations in the
U.S. have additionally allowed Siemens to eliminate expense receipt
requirements for airfare, car rental, any charge under $25 and, if the
corporate card is used, any item between $25 and $75. Receipt requirements will
differ in other regions.
The policy framework also encourages the concept of "best
practice" booking, enabling travelers and managers to consider bookings based on
specific travel patterns, preferred partners and the business purpose of the
trip. A monthly scorecard in the U.S. shows how often an individual traveler or
a business has deviated from best practice and reports that information up to
senior executives. As part of its E2E Travel@Siemens technology platform,
Siemens plans to standardize and integrate travel booking and expense
reimbursement on the Concur platform in fiscal year 2018.
Siemens reported that its fiscal year 2016 air and rail
travel and rental car use generated 380,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide
equivalent emissions, up from 378,000 in 2015. The company's fiscal year 2016
revenue increased 5.2 percent to €79.6 billion. On Sept. 30, 2016, Siemens had
about 351,000 employees, up from 348,000 one year prior.