Technology Travel Risk People & Progress It comes as no shock that technology is evolving, changing, and becoming more common in our daily and professional lives. We now have devices for devices, and they talk! What is not so visible and unknown to most is the uneven rate of change and how it is already impacting on travel, people, progress, and ultimately risk? Some technology elements have made spectacular advances and are changing at a rate of months, whereas some technology systems have barely altered in years. If you look at this rate of change in both the retail and professional arenas, you have spectacular division and concerning gaps appearing, with untold amounts of risk growing behind the scenes. Take travel as an example.
SECURE OR OUT OF DATE TECHNOLOGY?
Many travel agents, airlines and hotels are using software systems that have remained unchanged since the 1980s. Even those that have more contemporary systems don’t update the systems as often as they should or replace them entirely when new, more versatile offerings as they come along. The result is complex combinations of old and new, fast and slow, secure and open systems or networks all trying to communicate and move people and money. Everyday consumers are realising these gaps when they can pay for a coffee at their local café with their iPhone in seconds, without cards or ID but can’t book a hotel or airline ticket as expediently. On the other hand, if they try to do a simple task via business travel systems and providers there are countless forms, websites, information and time such requests. “Secure” has been a false front for “out of date” and less competitive.
DEMAND AND RISK MANAGEMENT
Travel, of any kind, is cheaper, faster, more accessible than it has been in the history of mankind. It is no wonder numbers are up and everyone can’t wait for their next trip or adventure. The cheaper, easier and sped up access to travel choices and decisions has now outpaced a person and businesses ability to consider “risk”. Not risk like kidnapping, natural disasters or horrible, rare events like terrorism but everyday threats and risk such as being delayed at an airport with no money, the quality of your driver and vehicle in a foreign location or if your crowd sourced accommodation has smoke detectors or hidden cameras in the bathroom. Business travel, mobility and relocations often operate in a “bubble” outside of enterprise and holistic risk models used within organisations. Being drawn further-and-further into these uneven and secretive technology traps, travel services and changing risks have been overshadowed by the “success” or “progress” stories internal and external to the business. The bill will come due soon. Stolen data, financial exploitation, hidden cost, increased harm resulting in lost time, revenue and even talent. It is time everyone slows down the speed of progress and pays greater attention to the rate of change and just how far ahead or behind each of these essential services are today. Safe travels.
