KPI (Key Performance Indicator)
A key metric of travel-programme performance — for example budget savings or in-policy booking share. KPIs give travel managers a consistent way to track whether the programme is meeting its goals over time, rather than relying on anecdotal impressions. Common travel KPIs include policy compliance rate, average ticket price and online adoption rate.
Travel KPIs usually fall into several groups. Financial indicators include total spend, average ticket price, average hotel rate per night and realised savings. Compliance indicators include the share of trips booked within policy, the share booked in advance and the use of preferred suppliers. Process indicators include online adoption rate, approval times and the time needed to process expense reports. Increasingly, companies also track traveller satisfaction and CO2 emissions per trip.
KPIs are most useful when they are few, clearly defined and linked to the goals of the travel programme. Tracking them regularly — monthly or quarterly — shows trends and helps identify problems early. Targets should be realistic and balanced: pushing only for lower costs can harm traveller wellbeing and productivity, while focusing only on convenience can lead to overspending. Reliable KPI tracking also depends on having most travel booked through one channel.
Tumodo provides the data needed to track travel KPIs. Real-time analytics show spend by trip, team, cost centre, route and service type, the travel policy flags every deviation, and the Reports section includes carbon footprint analytics for any selected period. Custom reports can be exported in the required format, and the dedicated key account manager reviews the company's travel activity every six months, suggesting ways to improve results.