Technology 'can't beat meetings'

1 June 2008 12:07pm

More than one in three executives believes technology has reduced the need for business travel but most feel IT cannot beat the face-to-face meeting.

Of 3,000 business travellers, 36% said that their travel had reduced, a survey by Barclaycard Business Travel found.

But 88% of male executives and 75% of female ones believed that technology was less effective than face-to-face meetings.

And more than four in five of all those questioned preferred proper meetings to video conferencing.

But despite the findings, the survey also showed that business travel actually increased in 2007 and that 46% of those questioned wanted the technology to allow them to use their mobile phones for more than voice communications.

The survey also showed that the number of executives using self-service or on-line check-in for airline flights had increased, while the number checking in at airport desks had fallen.

Barclaycard Business commercial cards director Denise Leleux said: "As business travel continues to rise, so too does the need for technological advancements designed to save travellers' time and money. Travel technology is constantly evolving, enabling them to do the things they want regardless of location.

"The future growth of business travel is inextricably linked to the advancement of technology - be that technology to book travel, in-flight technology or payment technology.

"The next few years will be exciting as we see advancements across a range of devices and services."

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