OBT (Online Booking Tool)

A self-service online tool for booking flights, hotels and other services within the corporate travel policy. Employees search, compare and book trips directly, with in-policy options highlighted and out-of-policy ones flagged or requiring approval. Most OBTs also capture the booking data needed for expense management and reporting.

A typical OBT journey looks like this: the employee enters dates and destinations, the tool returns fares and room rates from multiple suppliers, and filters narrow the results by price, schedule, fare conditions or hotel location. Because the company's rules are built into the search, the traveller can see at a glance which options are allowed. If a trip requires sign-off, it is sent to the right approver automatically, and once approved, tickets and vouchers are issued and stored in the traveller's account.

The main benefits are speed and consistency. Employees no longer wait for an agent or a coordinator to handle routine trips, and the company gets bookings that follow the same rules every time. Adoption depends heavily on usability: if the tool is slower or shows worse prices than consumer websites, employees tend to book elsewhere, which leads to unmanaged travel and lost data. The best OBTs therefore combine a consumer-style interface with corporate controls.

Tumodo's online booking tool follows this model. Employees choose flights, trains, accommodation and car transfers on their own, the platform shows only options that comply with the travel policy, and trips can be sent for approval in one click. Prices are the same as on airline and hotel websites, and all booking data flows straight into reports and closing documents — so self-service booking does not come at the cost of control.