At the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Convention 2025 in Denver, SAP Concur revealed its latest breakthrough innovations designed to redefine the future of business travel. These new features, powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and consumer-grade technology, aim to streamline travel planning, booking, and expense management for businesses and their employees. With the constant pressure on business travelers to meet company policies while still having an efficient travel experience, SAP Concur is addressing these challenges head-on by creating intuitive, easy-to-use solutions that bring both convenience and compliance together.

Introducing the Game-Changing Booking Agent

SAP Concur’s new Booking Agent solution marks a major step forward in simplifying business travel bookings. Traditionally, booking travel within company policies has been a cumbersome and time-consuming task. With the new Booking Agent, travelers can now easily plan and book policy-compliant trips without needing to memorize the intricate details of corporate travel guidelines. This solution empowers business travelers to use natural language queries, such as “book me a flight to Paris on Tuesday morning,” and the agent will instantly generate several policy-compliant itineraries. This streamlined, conversational interface reduces the effort required for travelers, allowing them to focus more on their work rather than the logistics of travel planning.

The new Booking Agent doesn’t just focus on ease of use but also integrates essential details like real-time pricing breakdowns, class justifications, and expense estimates. By bringing these aspects together, SAP Concur ensures that travelers are well-prepared for the financial implications of their trips before they even begin. This personalized experience allows travelers to choose the best options that meet both their personal preferences and company policies, making the booking process as seamless as possible.

AI Adoption in Business Travel

As businesses continue to explore AI’s potential, SAP Concur is leading the charge in integrating AI into business travel management. According to the latest SAP Concur Global Business Travel Survey, 88% of global business travelers are open to using AI-powered tools for booking, re-booking, or completing expense reports. The flexibility of AI allows for dynamic solutions like curating travel options and making changes to bookings, enhancing the overall traveler experience.

For companies, these innovations help to manage business travel more effectively, offering a balance between personalization and adherence to travel policies. This AI-powered approach not only increases operational efficiency but also supports employees in making better, informed travel choices. SAP Concur’s rapid innovation cycle ensures that customers can stay ahead of industry trends, with the ultimate goal of simplifying the travel and expense management process.

New Concur Request Features Revolutionize Trip Planning

In addition to the Booking Agent, SAP Concur is launching significant enhancements to Concur Request, aimed at improving the way employees and managers plan and approve travel budgets. The new budget authorization feature allows for more flexibility by enabling employees to request budget allocations for multiple trips within a defined period. This eliminates the need to submit separate requests for each individual trip, making the process far more efficient for both employees and managers.

The new capability also extends beyond individual trips to accommodate teams or departments traveling together, further simplifying the budgeting process. With this enhancement, SAP Concur continues to make business travel planning easier by reducing administrative burden and improving visibility into budget allocation.

Trip Extras: Enhancing Travel with Third-Party Services

To further improve the business travel experience, SAP Concur is introducing Trip Extras, a feature that allows travelers to easily add third-party services during the booking process. This feature simplifies the decision-making process by providing curated options that are fully vetted and aligned with company travel policies. Whether it’s ground transportation or other essential services, Trip Extras makes it easier for employees to manage all aspects of their business trips.

In addition to offering essential services, Trip Extras also integrates sustainability goals and company policies into the decision-making process. Features like real-time monitoring and customizable controls reduce the risk of fraud while ensuring that travelers make responsible and compliant decisions. SAP Concur plans to expand Trip Extras to cover more categories, including airport parking and visa processing, making it an even more valuable resource for business travelers.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Business Travel

SAP Concur’s focus on innovation, personalization, and AI-driven solutions is shaping the future of business travel. The company’s efforts to merge consumer-grade experiences with corporate compliance are making business travel simpler, safer, and more efficient. The introduction of the Booking Agent, along with new features in Concur Request and Trip Extras, demonstrates SAP Concur’s commitment to meeting the evolving needs of travelers and businesses alike. As the company moves forward, the integration of AI will continue to play a pivotal role in transforming the travel experience, ensuring that travel and expense management are streamlined, effortless, and aligned with business goals.

For companies looking to stay ahead in the ever-evolving landscape of business travel, these innovations provide a glimpse into the future. With SAP Concur’s tools, businesses can reduce administrative burdens, improve policy compliance, and enhance the overall traveler experience. The future of business travel is not only more efficient but also more adaptable to the unique needs of modern workforces.