FUNKE media group moves from leisure travel agency to BCD

After 10 years of using a leisure travel company for its travel management needs, FUNKE Mediengruppe, Germany’s third largest newspaper and magazine publisher, started searching for a new global business travel partner. BCD Travel’s digital and innovative solution and services met the publishing company’s requirements and expectations for a modern provider who could guide their travel program to the future.

In the tender, FUNKE travel manager Lena Wieland indicated she wanted to offer their travel arranger and travelers a state-of-the-art online booking tool for a user-friendly digital experience. BCD proposed a service offering and strategy to drive savings, data insights, and traveler satisfaction and engagement, together with 24/7 support.

FUNKE benefits from simple bookings and low travel costs with Cytric Travel & Expense

BCD implemented Cytric, a powerful and user-friendly digital booking experience, which guarantees correct bookings and dramatically drops travel costs. Through the integration of a wide range of sales and booking channels and maximum price transparency, savings can be as high as 12% on direct travel costs, and even higher on indirect travel costs through self-service and consistent process and data integration. FUNKE travelers benefit from being able to quickly and easily book flights, hotels, train journeys and hire cars via a single web-based system or on mobile devices. They can see all quotes at a glance, regardless of where they’re from: a global distribution system, airline, low-cost carrier, hotel portal or other channel. Travelers can compare availability and prices from different providers, see if a quote is in line with FUNKE’s travel policy and directly book the cheapest offer.

Virtual payment automation

The team also implemented Virtual Payment Automation (VPA), which makes it easier for FUNKE to centrally pay for hotel bookings. By automatically generating a new virtual card number for each transaction, the risk of fraud is greatly reduced. When it’s time to reconcile, all charges on the virtual card account are automatically matched to bookings, saving time and resources.

BCD delivers actionable insights with DecisionSource®

FUNKE is also using DecisionSource®, BCD’s proprietary business intelligence platform. This provides them with proactive notifications and actionable insights into traveler behavior, program compliance and supplier negotiations. It also provides access to real-time traveler and risk data so they can make smart decisions to keep their travelers safe.

BCD’s offering provides a modern digital experience and is exactly what we need to further drive our digital transformation. Together, we’re the perfect team.

Lena Wieland Travel Manager at FUNKE Mediengruppe

About FUNKE Mediengruppe

Information, entertainment and services – that’s what FUNKE offers its readers. The media company focuses on three main areas: Regional media; Women’s magazines and TV guides; and digital services. More than 1,500 journalists and 4,500 media makers across six states work for FUNKE Mediengruppe.

Ask your BCD Travel program manager how to do more with DecisionSource. For more ideas and examples of what BCD can do, read other success stories and testimonials here.

Not a BCD client? Contact us.

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We’ve identified a short list of trends which we think will come to resonate with both travel managers and travelers during 2022.

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