Dutch innovator Roadmap has put safety information, wellbeing and teamwork at the heart of a corporate travel solution that won first prize in a recent global hackathon. Organized by non-profit body TravelScrum, the competition drew 84 teams from 64 countries to work on new products that could aid the recovery of the travel and tourism industries in wake of Covid-19.
Explaining the thinking behind the winning solution, Head of Product Gaby Verwegen says: “As the crisis unfolded, we saw quickly that there was a problem with getting information about corporate travel policies and government restrictions to the traveler. At the same, the wellbeing of valued employees on the road is vital.”
Like many companies, Roadmap is committed to getting the travel industry back on track. This is more pressing than ever given the latest worst-case scenario from the World Travel & Tourism Council which estimates that over 197-million jobs could be at risk in an industry that contributed 10% of global GDP in 2019.
“One way to achieve this is through innovative, impactful and easy to implement solutions, which is the brief we were given for the global travel hackathon,” says Verwegen.
Drawing on Roadmap’s broad skills base, which includes everything from visual design techniques, API utilization and data science the team designed a tool that put the user experience first. Verwegen, who led Roadmap to success, stresses that in this technically challenging environment “teamwork proved to be our most valuable asset”.
So far, feedback on the new corporate travel solution has been extremely positive. Next steps will involve validating it with existing and prospective customers and interviewing travellers in order to perfect the product. Among Roadmap’s blue-chip clients are Microsoft, Nike, Pfizer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and KPMG LLC, ITW and Estee Lauder.
“We have seen first-hand the impact that the Covid-19 crisis has had on our industry and we are more passionate than ever to deliver a user friendly, highly relevant travel experience as the industry begins to recover,” Verwegen says.
About Roadmap
Roadmap is a well-designed, more compliant, truly traveler-centric support system that leads to higher value for travelers and travel managers, powered by a digital travel assistant. The solution is fully customizable and branded to the corporate.
Roadmap simplifies complex business travel processes by integrating all information about policies, supplier benefits, health and safety as well as tips and tricks from colleagues into one single overview.
The platform works will major corporate travel suppliers and is being used by Fortone500 customers like Nike, Microsoft, Pfizer, KPMG LLC, Merck MSD, McDonalds, Estee Lauder and many more.
Roadmap HQ: Phoenixstraat 49,
2611 AL Delft, The Netherlands
www.getroadmap.com
