The world around us is changing all the time. As an employer, how can you stay informed about all the risks in order to give your employees the best possible protection? And how can you integrate new trends and technology into your insurance solutions?
New trends regularly emerge that can help shape your company policy on business travel, such as:
- Digitisation: Telemedicine and digital health tools are on the rise, making medical care more accessible wherever your employees are.
- New forms of work:
Digital nomads or ‘bleisure’ (business plus leisure) travellers are no longer an exception. Solutions are also available for these specific forms of work.
- Well-being and mental health: The growing focus on looking after your employees’ well-being and mental health includes business trips.
- Rising medical costs: The cost of healthcare is rising, making efficient and cost-effective solutions more important.
Do you want to integrate new trends into your travel policy? Check what is your insurance package already provides for, examine your employees’ individual situations and go further with adapting your insurance solutions.
In the past, travel assistance insurance was seen primarily as a safety net for emergencies. It tended to be used in the event of lost luggage, flight cancellation or medical incidents. The Covid pandemic brought the world to an abrupt standstill, including for business travel. Since then, business travel behaviour has changed considerably.
Today, a more considered approach is being taken to the necessity and importance of business trips. Travel is generally less frequent. This is partly due to the emergence of digital tools for online meetings. In the past, you would invariably travel out to visit your international colleague, customer or supplier; these days, alternatives such as hybrid working and video conferencing are being used more frequently. By contrast, we are also seeing an increase in the combination of business with private travel (‘bleisure’).
If your employees’ travel behaviour or your company’s travel policy changes, it makes sense to adjust the associated insurance too. Current examples of this at many companies include:
- A greater demand for flexibility, including flexible insurance cover and cancellation options
- More attention being paid to health insurance, including repatriation and pandemic-related risks (such as quarantine costs, vaccinations and medical repatriation)
- Insurance for longer or combined trips
- More sustainable travel policies and the application of sustainability criteria when choosing insurance
While professional advice on international mobility remains important, technology is increasingly creating opportunities to support your employees at their destination. Your employees’ travel insurance will give them the following:
- An emergency help button in your insurer’s app: a direct connection to the assistance centre and emergency services
- Digital assistance ID card
- Security and travel alerts: real-time information about political situations, natural disasters and health crises
- Country and city reports: advice on safety, culture and health for different cities, countries, regions, etc.
- Health and medical support services: explanation of medical terms, local medicine equivalents, etc.
- Check-in function: let contacts know that you’re safe in the event of a serious situation such as a bomb threat or earthquake
- Training and safety videos
Digital tools are now indispensable for business travel. They are no longer an add-on, but an integral part of today’s insurance solutions. As a result, services and medical care are tailored to the individual traveller. And that means that international employment is even better adapted to the traveller’s individual needs.
International employment also requires independent and specialised advice in the area of insurance. We take a 360° approach, assessing all risks and helping your company to develop the right insurance for your employees abroad, regardless of the duration and destination and of the number of insured persons.
