Sustainability has been overtaken by cost saving as the top business travel priority for travel policy decision makers, according to research commissioned by Uber for Business.
The survey of 1,000 UK participants found that two thirds (67%) put cost saving in their top three priorities over the next 12 months, with 39% ranking it number one. This is in contrast to the last five years, which saw greater emphasis placed on sustainability.
Cost saving now the top business travel priority
Since 2020, 28% of participants said the main area of increased focus was sustainability โ which is marginally higher than the 25% who said the bigger focus was on cost saving. Under half of participants (46%) now say sustainability is a top three priority. Although, more than half (56%) say they are already actively tracking and aiming to reduce carbon emissions.
Despite there now being greater emphasis on cost savings, only 28% say they are planning to reduce spending on business travel over the next year, however. While 21% say they will increase expenditure.
Jenna Brown, Director of Uber for Business UK, said: โGiven the economic uncertainty affecting businesses around the world, itโs unsurprising to see the cost of travel being at the forefront of peopleโs thinking. Whenever there is turbulence in global markets, decision makers will naturally become more cautious and they will want to evaluate how to best spend their budget. We are always working hard to reduce ground transportation costs for travel managers and appreciate this will be an area of renewed focus over the next year.โ
Besides costs, what else drives
The research identified โease of use for employeesโ as the third most important business travel priority, with more than a third (34%) ranking this in their top three. More than a third (37%) of travel policy decision makers also said they thought โease of bookingโ was the most important factor for employees โ followed by simple expensing (22%), sustainable travel options (19%) and premium travel options (9%).
Those priorities do vary, however, from the findings of another survey carried out directly with 250 business travellers in Q4 2024. This research, also commissioned by Uber for Business, found that the comfort provided by premium travel options was the top priority for business travellers, alongside short wait times.
Jenna Brown added: โOur data shows that comfort and convenience are what matters most to travellers. So it may be that policy makers are slightly underestimating their employeesโ preferences for those premium travel options that can make all the difference when it comes to reducing fatigue and increasing productivity. Thereโs no doubt that ease of booking is important though. Shorter wait times and easier expensing will help significantly when it comes to employee satisfaction.โ
Expensing receipts a main issue for ground transport management
When asked about challenges they face regarding ground travel, almost half (49%) of policy makers said expensing receipts was their main issue. With Uber for Business, it is possible to automate the expensing process, and track carbon emissions, when an employeeโs business profile is linked to the company account. Policy makers can also provide employees with the option to select Green vehicles and access preapproved premium vehicles, such as Uber Business Comfort, Business Exec and Lux, through the Uber app.
About Uber for Business
Uber for Business brings the best of Uber to organisations around the globe with a seamless platform built to help them better support and engage those they employ and serve.
With global scale, integrated solutions and exceptional service, Uber for Business empowers organisations to streamline business travel, reimagine employee wellbeing, and elevate the customer experience โ all while enabling employees to effortlessly leverage the Uber they love and trust in their professional lives.
Since launching in 2014, Uber for Business has scaled to 70+ countries and 10,000 cities and helped 200,000 organisations bring flexibility and efficiency into their operations.
PA Life is delighted to have Uber for Business as a Recommended Supplier.
