Going over budget

It should come as no surprise that if your business travel transformation strategy fails, you've squandered money on an unsuccessful endeavor. However, the added expenses of having to go back and correct the errors and inefficiencies of a failed strategy are something that change leaders frequently overlook. Underestimating the funds, time, and resources needed for change management leaves executives unprepared for unanticipated delays, roadblocks, or setbacks, which is one of the main reasons change initiatives fail.

It's critical to realize that change is a continuous process, particularly in a sector as dynamic as business travel, where solutions that are effective today might not be viable tomorrow. You could have squandered the initial budget, which was intended to cover the entire project, due to inadequate change management, necessitating the addition of funds in order to finish the project successfully. Furthermore, you could have to wait till the next quarter, the following year, or worse, eternally, if your department lacks the luxury of giving these additional monies right now.

Future adjustments falter or stop working.

Sometimes a single unfavorable grade may ruin a whole record. A legacy of failed change creates a substantial and persistent environment against which all subsequent changes will run the risk of stalling or failing altogether. This is particularly true if the people implementing the change don't trust one another. Because they have seen too many failed changes in the past, important decision makers like investors or corporate executives might not be prepared to commit the extra time and/or resources required to support the change in this situation.

An increase in opposition to change

Employee resistance can occur when changes that impact their job are not well communicated to them, particularly when the advantages of the changes take time to become apparent. Even while this behavior is typical and anticipated, if the "people side" of change is neglected, there is a higher chance that the affected personnel won't accept the new system or method of working, especially if they have witnessed similar change plans fail in the past. Workers who are unaware of what is expected of them are more inclined to oppose change because they believe their time isn't being used effectively or wisely, or because they fear that their job security will be compromised.



Lose important workers

Although the entire cost of change can be hard to calculate, we do know how expensive it is to replace valuable employees who grow unhappy or even hostile toward change if the process is not explained well. Employee stress, misunderstanding, and exhaustion rise when change management goals are not properly stated, and differences between “us” and “them” start to show. It is reasonable to expect some friction when major operational changes are made. But elite talent might sometimes go unexpectedly and uninvitedly.




Traveling sales representatives, for instance, might have grown too accustomed to the previous booking process. As a result, if you abruptly alter your OBT without providing them with much context or explanation, they might feel that their time and efforts are being wasted, which could make them wonder about their place in your company. Such ineffective change management for travel programs leads to more expenses, less productivity, and a decline in the caliber of work. According to a Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) survey, replacing an employee costs six to nine months' worth of pay.

This affects your clients.

It's crucial to make sure that any changes a business implements don't negatively affect the customer experience. However, if you're not cautious, the adjustment can harm them. Prosci, a pioneer in global change management solutions, claims that poorly executed change plans result in lower quality work, less productivity, and a general drop in morale, all of which have an impact on your organization's capacity to communicate with and serve your clients. Additionally, if they aren't getting the same information or services from your company that they anticipate, this might be the start of a number of issues, such as churn and unhappy customers.