For today’s business travellers, spending an average of 424 hours in the air and on the road per year, having the right technology is key to maximising on-the-go productivity and ensuring work trips are wholly beneficial. The typical frequent flyer needs devices and apps to help them stay charged, connected and comfortable as they crisscross the globe between meetings, conferences and client sites.
The most essential gear includes noise-cancelling devices, global SIM cards, language translators, Bluetooth trackers and more. With the right tech toolkit, business trips don’t have to mean losing productivity or suffering unnecessary hassles. So here’s Traveltrust’s rundown on the best tech to keep your trips efficient and effective.
Noise-Cancelling Headphones
When you’re spending over 17 full days in transit per year, noise-cancelling headphones quickly become a must-have. Top options like the Sony WH-1000XM5, Bose QuietComfort 45 or Apple AirPods Max might not come cheap but allowing busy travellers to mute noisy plane engines, crying babies and other distractions to focus on getting work done or resting in flight, can be absolutely priceless in terms of the value it will add to your trips.
Portable Chargers
Running out of power is a non-starter for the on-the-go business traveller who logs an average of 35 nights in hotels per year. A high-capacity portable charger like the Anker PowerCore Slim 10000 PD can charge a smartphone multiple times over to stay powered up in airports, taxis, and client meetings. Some chargers even juice laptops now such as the Omnicharge Omni 20+ with a slim and portable profile, taking the stress away from being away from a power outlet.
Global SIM Card
If you’re spending extended time overseas for business annually, you could soon find that your phone bills become quite hefty. An international SIM card provides seamless connectivity in over 150 countries, crucially offering data so that you can access maps, emails and web browsing no matter where business takes you, without hunting for local SIMs in each destination you visit or racking up the spend on primary phone contract. Paired with a dual-SIM mobile device and this is a globe-trotter’s essential.
Universal Travel Adapter
Are you even a frequent traveller unless you have a drawer full of travel adapters bought last minute in airports upon realising you can’t plug your devices into the local wall sockets? Do away with the confusion by investing in a universal travel adapter like the Mu One which handles different electrical outlets and provides USB charging capability for all devices – something every business traveller needs on international trips where outlets vary. Built-in surge protectors and universal sockets ensure it works pretty much everywhere you could ever end up.
Language Translation Device
An estimated 43% of business travellers are travelling overseas each year. Yes you can fire up Google Translate on your phone if you’ve got a data connection but a handheld language translator such as those from Pocketalk enables real-time translation of conversations in over 70 languages. The AI-powered two-way translation capability helps bridge communication barriers for all circumstances abroad, whether in important client meetings or dealing with local hotel or restaurant staff.
Bluetooth Tracker
The more times you go away the more the chances of devices or luggage going astray sadly increase. A Bluetooth tracker helps keep tabs on your bags and prevents critical items like laptops and passports from being lost or left behind. Long range options like the simple Tile tracker can locate lost items anywhere via a smartphone app.
Travel Scanner
Business travellers who file an average of 6 expense reports per year know the headache of collecting paper receipts and business cards on the road. Whilst there are various smartphone apps designed to help capture and catalogue this data, sometimes there’s no substitute for a dedicated device. A portable scanner like the Epson RapidReceipt RR-70W simplifies digitising everything to keep financial records organised and share contacts after your trips.
Noise-Cancelling Earbuds
In addition to over-ear noise-cancelling headphones as we covered earlier, compact noise-cancelling earbuds like Bose’s excellent QuietComfort Earbuds may be a better option for shorter trips where you’re travelling light. Allowing travellers to focus during calls and conferences, their small size takes up little room in a carry-on when packing for an overnight stay. The compromise of course is their shorter battery life when compared to over ear headphones so make sure you’ve packed your portable charger!
RFID-Blocking Passport Wallet
Identity theft is a huge concern for business travellers, who are away from home an average of 3 weeks per year. An RFID-blocking passport wallet such as the Zoppen Multipurpose protects passports and credit or debit cards by preventing scanning of personal RFID chips.
With all of the above in your luggage the only other thing you’re going to need when travelling for work is the number of your Traveltrust personal concierge who can take care of all your travel arrangements before, during and after your trip. Get in touch with a member of the team today to find out more about the Traveltrust difference.