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Digital Integration for Corporate Ground Transportation | Gem

  • Writer: Joe Gulino Jr.
    Joe Gulino Jr.
  • Jul 27, 2016
  • 3 min read

Updated: Apr 25

Original Post Details

  • ID: 5db149eb-042a-40ea-83b5-5684d43723f9

  • Slug: 2016/07/27/corporate-connectivity-an-asset-in-ground-transportation

  • Original Title: Corporate Connectivity: An Asset in Ground Transportation

  • Original Categories: General

NEW POST CONTENT

New Title

Digital Integration for Corporate Ground Transportation | Gem

New Meta Description

Mobile app, Concur integration, real-time tracking, digital tools for business travel efficiency.

New Category

Travel Manager Resources (41151037-c613-41e6-be4c-b66105a23e7e)

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Digital Integration: The Foundation of Modern Ground Transportation

Ground transportation today isn't about just moving people from point A to point B. It's about integration—connecting transportation into the broader travel ecosystem, providing transparency, automating expense handling, and delivering a seamless experience alongside flights, hotels, and corporate systems.

Gem Worldwide built its modern platform on digital integration because that's what Fortune 100 travel programs require.

Integration Points in Gem's Platform

Concur Integration

When you book Gem transportation through Concur:

  • Reservation flows directly into Gem's system (no duplicate data entry)

  • Trip appears in your Concur itinerary alongside flights and hotels

  • Post-trip, the ground transportation cost flows back into Concur

  • Expense reconciliation is automatic (no receipt matching)

Sabre Integration

For TMCs and larger programs using Sabre:

  • Ground transportation bookings integrate with Sabre booking flow

  • Travel agents can book ground transportation alongside air and hotel

  • Inventory is real-time; availability reflects actual fleet capacity

Groundspan Integration

For ground transportation programs specifically:

  • Groundspan users book Gem directly within their GDS environment

  • Billing and reconciliation happen within Groundspan

  • Reports reflect Gem transportation within the Groundspan ecosystem

Mobile App Ecosystem

Beyond integration, Gem's app connects you to your transportation:

  • Book, modify, and cancel trips on your phone

  • Track your driver in real time (like tracking a flight)

  • Send messages to your driver (immediate communication)

  • Access digital receipts instantly (no paper handling)

  • View trip history and past receipts (searchable archive)

Why Integration Matters

For the Executive: A Fortune 500 executive travels 20+ times annually. Via Concur integration:

  • Books ground transportation in the same system as flights

  • Sees all trip costs in one place (flight, hotel, ground)

  • Expense is submitted without gathering separate receipts

  • Travel history is complete in one database

For the Travel Manager: A corporate travel manager oversees 500+ employee trips annually. Integration means:

  • No separate ground transportation vendor management

  • Volume consolidation drives costs down

  • Reports show complete travel program spend (flights + ground)

  • Integrations eliminate manual work (data entry, reconciliation)

For the Finance Team: Finance reconciliation for corporate travel becomes simpler:

  • All travel costs (flight, hotel, ground) flow through Concur

  • Expense appears automatically (no receipt hunting)

  • Reports show travel trends and cost per department

  • Auditing becomes systematic (all data in one system)

The Real Impact: Time and Cost Savings

Manual Process (Without Integration):

  • Executive books flight in Concur

  • Executive calls Gem separately, requests ground transportation

  • Gem emails confirmation with receipt

  • Executive receives receipt post-trip

  • Executive manually enters ground transportation into expense report

  • Finance reconciles receipt to trip

  • Time spent: 15 minutes per trip; 5,000 trips = 1,250 hours annually

Integrated Process (With Gem in Concur):

  • Executive books flight in Concur

  • Executive clicks "Ground Transportation" and books Gem within Concur

  • Gem trip automatically appears in trip itinerary

  • Post-trip, expense flows into Concur automatically

  • Finance sees complete trip cost in Concur (no separate handling)

  • Time spent: 2 minutes per trip; 5,000 trips = 170 hours annually

  • Time savings: 1,080 hours annually (equivalent to 27 full-time weeks)

The Cost of Non-Integration

Companies without integration pay the "fragmentation tax":

  • Admin time chasing receipts and reconciling invoices

  • Finance time entering data manually

  • Risk of duplicate payment or missed entries

  • No visibility into total ground transportation spend

  • Volume leverage is lost across disconnected vendors

Integration eliminates all of this.

FAQs

Q: How do I activate Concur integration with Gem? A: Contact our business development team. Activation typically takes 2-4 weeks and involves Gem's IT team coordinating with your Concur environment.

Q: Can I book Gem through Sabre? A: Yes. TMCs and larger programs use Sabre integration. Availability and booking depend on your travel agency's setup.

Q: What if I prefer to book through the app instead of Concur? A: Either method works. The app is standalone; Concur is for those already using Concur for travel bookings.

Q: Does integration work with other corporate systems (SAP, Coupa)? A: Gem integrates with Concur Expense for downstream expense reconciliation. If you use other systems, discuss your requirements with our team.

How to Book

Via Concur:

  • Book ground transportation within your Concur itinerary (if integrated)

Via App:

Direct:

Mobile Apps:

Integration is what separates modern ground transportation from outdated vendor management. Gem's integrations eliminate friction and deliver real time savings at scale.

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