Leakage / Out-of-programme spend

Bookings made outside the managed channel, which the programme aims to minimise. This spend typically happens when travellers book directly with a supplier, through a personal account, or via an unapproved website, bypassing the company's negotiated rates and reporting. High leakage reduces the value of negotiated rates and makes it harder to track duty of care.

Leakage has several common causes. Employees may believe they can find cheaper prices on consumer websites, prefer to collect personal loyalty points, find the corporate tool inconvenient or simply not know the policy. In some cases, bookings are made through the correct supplier but outside the corporate channel, so negotiated rates are not applied. Leakage is usually identified by comparing expense reports and card statements with bookings made through the managed channel.

The cost of leakage goes beyond the price of individual bookings. The company loses data needed for negotiations and budget planning, volumes promised to suppliers may not be met, and finance teams have to process more expense claims. In an emergency, the company may not know that an employee is travelling. Reducing leakage usually requires both carrots and sticks: a convenient booking tool with competitive prices, and clear rules about which bookings will be reimbursed. Most programmes aim to reduce it steadily rather than eliminate it completely.

Tumodo addresses the main reasons for leakage. The platform shows prices direct from suppliers — the same as on airline and hotel websites — so employees have no reason to search elsewhere. Travellers can add their personal loyalty numbers to earn miles and points on business trips, and the interface is designed to make booking as easy as planning a personal trip. The mobile app, 24/7 support and automatic documents make the managed channel the most convenient option.