A featured contribution from Leadership Perspectives: a curated forum reserved for leaders nominated by our subscribers and vetted by the Construction Tech Review Advisory Board.
Corporate Travel Management
Meeting Business Travel Demands with Intelligent Platforms
Zamil Murji
Zamil Murji is the Chief Technology Officer, at Corporate Travel Management (CTM) Asia, where he leads the strategic development of innovative travel technology solutions. With a strong focus on digital transformation, he oversees platforms that streamline operations and enhance personalised travel experiences. Zamil also drives tech innovation by aligning CTM’s roadmap with emerging digital trends and evolving customer needs.
Driving Digital Change at Corporate Travel Management
As the Chief Technology Officer, Asia, at CTM, my primary focus is on leveraging technology to enhance the travel experience for our customers. I oversee the strategic direction, development and implementation of innovative technology solutions that streamline operations and create seamless, efficient and personalised customer journeys.
My responsibilities also include leading a talented team of technology professionals, identifying emerging trends in the digital space and aligning our technology roadmap with the evolving needs of our customers and industry. Ultimately, my role revolves around driving digital transformation to ensure CTM remains a leader in corporate travel services, delivering exceptional value and experiences to our customers.
Personalisation, Privacy, and the Rise of Self-Service Travel
Self-service platforms are not new to the corporate travel landscape; online booking tools (OBTs) and mobile apps have supported business travellers for years. What is evolving is the demand for true omnichannel service. Today’s business travellers expect to manage and book travel when, where, and how they want, whether it’s through phone, email, mobile apps, OBTs, personal service from a consultant, or AIpowered virtual travel assistants.
At the same time, delivering a highly personalised travel experience depends on effective data usage and that brings challenges. Because we invest in and own our proprietary technology at CTM, we also own our customer data, which gives us greater control over how it's managed, secured, and leveraged. This direct ownership enables us to prioritise data privacy and regulatory compliance while still meeting the growing expectations of business travellers for tailored, responsive solutions across every touchpoint.
We’re designing smarter, more predictive travel platforms that adapt in real time, meeting individual needs and elevating every journey. By listening to our customers and embracing innovation, we ensure our tech evolves with them.
Digital-First Workforce Reshaping Travel Tech Platforms
We're seeing a real shift in traveller expectations, largely driven by changing workforce demographics. Millennials now make up around 75 percent of the workforce, with Gen Z not far behind and these generations have grown up in a digital-first world. It’s no surprise they’re shaping the future of corporate travel technology.
At CTM, our recent global market research shows that these travellers are already highly comfortable managing their business travel through mobile apps and self-service platforms. Today, 71 percent are using online booking tools (OBTs) as their preferred channel, with 52 percent booking via mobile apps. Over the next two years, mobile app usage is expected to grow, while OBT usage, although still the top channel is projected to dip slightly.
Importantly, this cohort also has a positive outlook on the role of AI in business travel, expecting that it will deliver benefits to booking speed, more choice in travel products and the price of travel products. They're looking for intuitive, personalised solutions that mirror the seamless consumer experiences they’re used to.
As a result, we're seeing corporate travel platforms evolve to become smarter, more predictive and highly flexible, designed to meet individual needs in real time and enhance every step of the traveller journey.
Advice for Future Leaders in Travel Technology
Customer feedback makes up the foundation of any successful travel tech innovation. At CTM, we have built strong feedback loops into our technology development process to ensure that our products are always evolving in line with customer needs.
Listening to our customers allows us to design solutions that truly deliver value. For upcoming tech leaders, staying close to the customer voice and continuously validating your roadmap against it will be key to driving meaningful impact in this dynamic industry.
