You’ve heard the saying: there’s an app for that.
That goes for your business trips, too! With the right downloads you can turn your phone into a multi-tool for any situation. Not only have developments in the app field made day-to-day activities easier, but they’ve also streamlined a number of professional practices. If you’re a business traveler, you know that things can sometimes get complicated. With these convenient smartphone apps, you can literally manage your entire trip from the palm of your hand.
TripIt
TripIt is an itinerary supertool. From flights to meetings, this app is perfect for keeping a handle on what you have to do and when. It automatically puts everything you enter into a calendar format for an accessible visual guide to your schedule. You can forward confirmation emails to your TripIt account and it will parse through everything for you, taking half the headache out of maintaining your calendar. If you can’t afford a personal assistant to handle your travel itinerary, this is a pretty good substitute.
AroundMe
Corporate travel often means visiting unfamiliar cities. With AroundMe, being in an unfamiliar setting doesn’t have to be an impediment. The app uses your GPS location to display nearby points of interest, from restaurants to museums to ATMs. Contact information and a website are also provided. Having all this information in one phone app removes a lot of headache from finding what you need, wherever you are. You’ll feel like a local.
Google Translate
While you hopefully share a language with whomever you’re meeting on an international trip, dealing with a language barrier throughout the rest of your trip is a hassle. Ditch the pocket dictionary and try out Google Translate (for iPhone / for Android). This app scans text and translates it for you with a few touches of the screen, making menus and roadsigns palatable. Google Translate also handles the oral side of translation, converting your words to one language and the other language to yours as you speak. Communication is key, and this cutting-edge app allows savvy travelers to transcend the language barrier with ease.
WiFi Finder
While in a similar vein as AroundMe, WiFi Finder alleviates an issue dreaded by chronic business travelers: consistent internet. Staying connected through the web is invaluable to modern business practices. Being cut off from internet access for even an hour mean important emails slip through the cracks. WiFi finder uses a phone’s GPS signal to detect nearby WiFi hotspots, from coffee shops to libraries to hotels, and say whether they’re free or paid. Say goodbye to moments of Wi-Fi-less panic minutes before a Skype meeting with your boss.
Scannable
Fax machines may be a dying breed, but when you take photos of documents with your phone camera, quality is lacking. Between lighting, shadows, and weird angles, paper-to-electronic documents look unprofessional. Scannable uses contrast levels and other nifty factors to take make clear document images on the go, straightening and whitening them as it does. You can email the resulting PDF to yourself or clients without worrying about the presentation.
Uber
While everyone is likely to have the Uber app by this point, it certainly deserves a mention — this taxi-slaying service isn’t going anywhere. While cabs have their appeal, using Uber means you’ll never have to wait long for someone to pick you up (unless you’re in the middle of nowhere). Being able to pay directly from the app is hugely convenient as well, saving you the hassle of digging out money and fretting about a tip. If you’ve yet to try Uber on a business trip, 2016 is the year to start. You’ll thank us when you see the line for taxis at the airport.
Concur
Keeping track of expenditures on a business trip is a pain, but it’s necessary if you want to be reimbursed by your company. Instead of stuffing receipts in a suitcase pocket, try out Concur. You can snap a picture of a receipt and upload the image directly to an expense report, saving a number of intermediary steps. It also has integrated mileage tracking and the ability to track itineraries, making it an invaluable tool for road warriors.
With this arsenal of convenient apps at your disposal, your next business trip will seem almost leisurely. If you want to improve your entire travel experience, stay in a luxury rental instead of a hotel room. PC Housing can take your corporate travel experience to a whole new level. Contact us today to find out more!