The article describes how companies using Mesh to manage trip expenses can offer different types of cards to manage trip budgets and how using those cards results in convenience for both travelers and travel agents.
Cards are payment methods that 'consume' budgets. Travelers get a trip budget according to their company’s travel policy, and it’s up to the company to decide what is included in the budget (e.g., flights, hotels, transportation, per diem, etc.). Companies can offer travelers multiple ways to 'consume' trip budgets, for example, a single-traveler trip card, a multi-trip traveler card, a single-agent trip card, a multi-trip agent card, or reimbursements.Â
The traveler's experience with a single-trip or a multi-trip card is the same. The advantage of a multi-trip card is convenience. Travelers do not need to re-enter information about a new payment method into apps used during trips (e.g., Apple Pay, Google Pay, Uber, Lyft, Airbnb, etc.) every time they are assigned a new trip budget. In addition, to streamline reservation services, travel agents can keep a single card on file for each traveler.Â
To set up the default type of travel card to be issued to Travelers and Travel Agents, log into the Mesh platform as a user with an Admin or Pro profile, navigate to the 'Travel' section within 'Company Settings', click the 'Manage travel cards' button, select a relevant card type for the traveler, the travel manager or the travel agent, and click save.Â
Note: The options presented depend on the features enabled on the Mesh backend for your company. For example :Â
1. 'Book on your own' (aka Direct) Enabled & Multi-Trip Card Disabled
2. 'Book on your own' (aka Direct) Enabled & Multi-Trip Card Enabled
Â
3. 'Contact travel agent' (aka Travel Management company) or Online Booking Tool (OBT) Disabled & Multi-Trip Card Disabled
4. 'Contact travel agent' (aka Travel Management company) or Online Booking Tool (OBT) Enabled & Multi-Trip Card Enabled
Â
Important: Power users (i.e., Admin and Pro profile) and Travel Managers can change the card type settings when completing a trip request form.Â
The multi-trip card is created for the first trip you assign such a card to a traveler or a travel agent.Â
When a multi-trip card has already been created on the platform, it is possible to assign it to future trips.
Even if you choose not to create a dedicated card, a trip budget will still be established. Travelers can 'consume' this budget by submitting expenses or using an existing Mesh card and associating the charges with the trip's budget.
Â
Important: The option to assign a traveler card must be enabled in the Mesh backend. If you need to enable this feature please email our team at support@meshpayments.com. Â
Comments
0 comments
Please sign in to leave a comment.