Finding the right SaaS tools for corporate travel booking feels a bit like dating: you want something reliable, cost-effective, and that actually understands your needs. Business travel is messy—policies, approvals, expenses, and last-minute changes. This guide highlights five top platforms that help companies book smarter, enforce policy, and sync travel with expenses and analytics. I’ll share what I’ve seen work in real teams, where each tool shines, and quick tips to pick the best match for your company.
Why SaaS for corporate travel booking makes sense
SaaS travel platforms centralize booking, approvals, and reporting. They reduce manual work, increase compliance, and often lower costs through negotiated rates or automated policy enforcement. If your company still uses email and spreadsheets, switching to SaaS can shave hours off every traveler’s admin time.
How I evaluated these tools
From my experience, the key criteria are:
- Policy enforcement and approvals
- Integration with expense management and calendar tools
- User experience for travelers and admins
- Pricing transparency and ROI
- Reporting and travel analytics
I tested demos, reviewed documentation, and looked at customer case studies to shortlist platforms that consistently deliver value.
Top 5 SaaS tools for corporate travel booking
1. SAP Concur — Best for enterprise integration
Best for: Large enterprises needing deep expense and ERP integration.
SAP Concur is a mature platform that ties booking to expense workflows and ERP systems. What I’ve noticed: Concur is rock-solid on compliance and auditing, and it supports complicated corporate policies. It can be heavyweight to set up, though.
Real-world example: a 2,000-employee company I know cut reconciliation time by 40% after routing bookings through Concur and automating receipt capture.
Official info: SAP Concur official site
2. Navan (formerly TripActions) — Best for traveler experience
Best for: Fast-growing teams that want a modern UX and dynamic rates.
Navan blends a consumer-style booking flow with corporate controls. I like its real-time rate optimization and mobile-first design—travelers actually use it. It also offers duty-of-care features and 24/7 support.
Real-world example: a marketing agency reported fewer booking errors and higher employee satisfaction after switching to Navan.
3. TravelPerk — Best for European teams and flexibility
Best for: Companies that need flexible cancellations and a global inventory, especially in EMEA.
TravelPerk markets flexible fares and refunds—handy when plans change. It integrates well with Slack, G Suite, and major expense tools, and their UI is approachable.
Official info: TravelPerk official site
4. Egencia — Best for TMC-backed corporate travel
Best for: Organizations wanting a travel-management-company (TMC) model backed by Expedia Group.
Egencia brings a large inventory and global support network. It’s strong on managed travel programs and combines self-booking with managed services for complex itineraries.
5. Serko (Zeno) — Best for AP/finance alignment
Best for: Finance-led travel programs that need tight expense and AP controls.
Serko focuses on reconciliation and finance workflows. If expense policy alignment is your priority, Serko makes approvals and supplier reconciliation straightforward.
How these platforms compare
Quick snapshot to guide first cuts.
| Tool | Best for | Policy & approvals | Expense integration | Price indicator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAP Concur | Enterprise integration | Very strong | Native | Premium |
| Navan | Traveler experience | Strong | Good | Mid to premium |
| TravelPerk | Flexibility, EMEA | Strong | Good | Mid |
| Egencia | TMC model | Strong | Good | Mid to premium |
| Serko | Finance & AP | Very strong | Excellent for reconciliation | Mid |
Choosing the right tool — quick checklist
- Start small: Pilot with one department before company-wide rollout.
- Match integrations: calendar, HRIS, and expense tools matter for adoption.
- Prioritize traveler UX if uptake is a risk—people avoid clunky systems.
- Measure ROI: track booking time saved, policy compliance, and travel spend.
Trends to watch in corporate travel tech
Expect heavier use of AI for price forecasting, stronger consolidation between travel and expense platforms, and growing demand for flexible fares and duty-of-care tools. For background on the business travel landscape, see business travel on Wikipedia.
Final thoughts and next steps
Picking a travel SaaS is about fit, not buzz. If your priority is expense control, favor platforms with tight AP integration. If traveler adoption is the blocker, prioritize UX and mobile apps. My suggestion: run a 60–90 day pilot with clear KPIs—adoption rate, time saved, and % bookings within policy. That will tell you more than demo slides ever will.
Further reading and resources
- Vendor docs and case studies (use the official product pages linked above for specifics).
- Industry coverage and trends from major outlets and analyst reports.
Frequently Asked Questions
For small businesses, platforms with easy setup and predictable pricing—like TravelPerk or Navan—are often the best starting point because they combine usability with useful policy controls.
Yes. Most modern travel SaaS platforms integrate with major expense tools to sync bookings and receipts, which simplifies reconciliation and enforces policy.
Implementation can range from a few weeks for small pilots to several months for enterprise deployments that require custom integrations and policy setup.
They can—by enforcing policy, surfacing preferred rates, and reducing manual booking errors. Measuring savings requires tracking pre- and post-implementation spend and compliance metrics.
Track adoption rate, percent of bookings within policy, time saved on admin tasks, and impact on travel spend to evaluate ROI.