Tumodo, Tabby ink deal to boost business travel efficiency by 80%

Under the proposed deal, Tumodo’s travel services are to be integrated into Tabby’s business processes, in what is also seen as a major step in the digital transformation of the region’s travel market.

Industry experts said the integration move, besides aiming to help businesses manage their travel expenses more effectively, is also expected to boost sustainability movement in the region, with both ventures being in the forefront of championing eco-friendly and sustainable practices to their clients.

Tumodo’s solutions offer businesses improved visibility and control over travel expenses, ensuring transparency and accountability, while Tabby’s shopping and financial services app helps millions of people in MENA stay in control of their finances with payment flexibility.

Transforming business travel

The integration move by the two companies is expected to bring about a major digital transformation in MENA’s travel market – estimated to enhance business travel efficiency by a whopping 80 percent – and lead to developing the region`s businesses and strengthening the UAE as a business hub.

“The collaboration with Tabby signifies a major step forward in our mission to digitalise business travel in the UAE and GCC, including the use of AI technologies,” Vladimir Kokorin, founder of Tumodo, told Arabian Business.

“Now, we can extend the brands’ reach to a wider audience and lead to a sustainable future,” he said.

The deal also adds to the UAE’s efforts to double the contribution of the digital economy to the country’s non-oil GDP from an estimated 11.7 in 2022 to over 20 percent within the next 10 years.

It could also add to the country’s sustainability drive, as business travel companies such as Tumodo highlight sustainability as a key priority to large businesses which are their clients.

Senior executives at Tumado told Arabian Business that the company’s internal research shows that, overall, more than 80 percent of employees from a range of companies started complying with their internal travel policies.

“By following the travel policy, businesses reduce their harmful impact on the environment, which follows the UAE’s agenda on sustainability,” they said.

Interestingly, the beginning on this front will be made with Tabby itself, as their team members make about 100 business trips to Riyadh, Cairo, and Yerevan every month.

Collaboration with Tumodo can now simplify this process, enabling Tabby’s HR to easily plan and manage business trips of their executives.

Eco-friendly travel practices

Tumodo executives said as the company expands in the MENA region, it also continues to champion environmental responsibility by partnering with sustainability-conscious companies.

“The company advises customers and partners on eco-friendly travel practices,” they said, adding that use of public transport and train wherever possible, not over packing for short business trips and opting for hotels that use energy-efficient practices are among the practices it advocates to large companies to minimise ecological impact while travelling.

An analysis by Global Business Travel Association showed significant improvement in sustainability drive among travel companies, with 89 percent of business travel companies highlighting sustainability as a key priority for their company.

Global business travel market spending, which is expected to surpass its pre-pandemic $1.4 trillion this year, is projected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2027, despite some companies’ continued preferences for online meetings.

Industry insiders said the move on integration of Tumodo’s services into Tabby’s travel management, coming amidst the surge in business travel, will add to the current momentum in the sector, besides focusing on eco-conscious practices.