Australian mining sector bucks the trend on business travel in 2015
Whether you own, manage or work within a mining company, there are certain things that you come to expect from your role – a dispersed workforce, being based in remote sites or even considering a plane journey as a commute to work.
However, in an industry synonymous with travel, a new study released last month is predicting that the Australian mining workforce are set to see a reduction in business travel – while it’s predicted that by 2015, business travel spending will increase by 5.4% in Australia*, the mining sector along with the wider resource industry is set to tightened its purse strings on expenses.
With these shifts on the horizon, managers must now look to new collaborative technologies in order to find ways of conducting business nationally and internationally, without compromising employee time and company budget.
Employees are now working across multiple devices and time zones and businesses must now look towards enabling a more mobile workforce as the solution to enable cost reduction and maintaining employee satisfaction. By providing access to connected applications, professional video conferencing and secure methods of sharing information, organisations can achieve the same lever of business productivity with having to book that last minute flight.
These days, collaborative technologies are a must for businesses looking to offer flexible and productive environments for their employees, especially as the average size of a corporate meeting continues to grow. By next year in Australia, the average meeting size is expected to grow by 0.75%, the cost of each person in that meeting rising by 2.5%. The average cross-country meeting has shifted from needing only the senior executive present, to needing the team in each region present – meaning businesses can either foot larger travel expenses, or find another way to collaborate. Cloud based video collaboration technologies such as GoToMeeting or GoToMeetingFree provides a professional and secure forum allowing for additional follow-up, idea generation and relationship building anytime, anywhere with anyone.
Given the nature of the mining sector, it’s not only teleconferencing which can be useful to manage disparate and remote workforces. For example, in an industry such as mining which requires consistent and stringent training and compliance, virtual training solutions allow managers to reach over 200 employees at once, without compromising on the face to face, interactive environment. This allows businesses to deliver consistent and controlled training for employees, no matter where they’re based.
As many mining companies also handle sensitive and private information, secure online sharing tools such as ShareFile provide a private portal for documents to be shared, edited and reviewed internally, regardless of remote locations providing peace of mind for both employers and employees.
While the mining sector is perhaps feeling the pinch more than other industries in 2015, future predictions reveal that if the industry embraces a more virtual workforce, it is in fact ahead of key changes to the way business will be conducted in Australia. By 2030, 40% of the Australian workforce will be engaging in a mobile work structure, allowing for communication across national borders.** This doesn’t come as a surprise given the rising cost of business travel, with the average price of elements such as hotel rooms set to rise by 3.6% next year.
It’s not just about the cost either, as business travel can be affected by an array unavoidable interruptions such as a geopolitical crisis and or natural disaster.
At the end of the day, businesses are always looking for ways to reduce costs and boost productivity, and the mining industry is no exception. Through harnessing collaborative technologies, businesses can achieve both desired outcomes. The remote nature of mining sector is a perfect fit for embracing this approach, so now it’s just a matter of accessing the tools to enable it. The wide range of companies already accessing these tools show the potential of this future way of work now it’s time for our mining companies to find more ways of ensuring their business is running faster, thinner and more productively in 2015 and beyond.
*2015 Global Travel Price Outlook – Prepared by the Global Business Travel Association 2014
**How Work Will Work in 2030 report – prepared by Citrix with contributions from Australian industry experts
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
Latest News
Sydney gets excited for Vivid at the city’s favourite entertainment venues
Get lit! Well maybe not the kiddies, but there is a heap of bright and colourful events on at Vivid Sydney 2024.
Novotel Cabramatta launch reveals the start of new hotel and F&B partnership
Brothers will offer hotels bang for their buck in Sydney's booming southwest.
Getting married? W Melbourne has three new packages perfect for the special day
The 'W' themed lights and settings are optional, we hope!
SKYE Suites gets behind Australian Fashion Week, partners with Shark Beauty
SKYE Suites has partnered with IMG, the owner and operator of Australian Fashion Week (AFW) as the official accommodation partner for the fourth year in a row. This year SKYE Suites will again host international fashion buyers, designers, and models and are delighted to have Shark Beauty, an innovator in the personal care industry with their […]
Western Sydney Tourism unveils fresh board ahead of ’26 airport opening
'Connect-Stay-Experience', that's the Western Sydney's tourism taskforce's motto. We sort of prefer 'West Is Best'!
From Olympians to mindset coaches, Helloworld’s OMC conference wraps in style
Say hello to a good time and make sure you're at 2025's edition!
2024 Green Revolution Summit brings travel heavyweights into green fuel discussion
It's almost like the organisers read our article on sustainable fuel this week.
Aussies a hit on the conference floor for IPW 2024
Diana Ross on opening night, Keanu's Dogstar band and a dozen lobster rolls. All in a week's work at IPW 2024.
Premium hotel operator ERDI launches it’s own academy in heart of Melbourne
ERDI expects to be shaken not stirred with the launch of its ERDI Academy in its Melbourne hotels.
Tropical North Queensland action-packed events calendar for adventure enthusiasts
Hanging out for that next dose of adrenaline? It's time for you to head north!
Fiji Tourism Exchange 2024 opens with a vibrant ceremony at Sofitel Fiji Resort, Denarau
Two days in Fiji! If you didn't attend this conference we're sure you've got FOMO.
$230m joint Novotel & ibis Styles Melbourne Airport hotel prepares to open
Dear all business travellers, you're Melbourne experience just got a whole lot better.
IPW 2024: 960,000 Aussies took the trek to the Land of the Free last year
Nearly 6,000 travel industry reps descend on LA. Thankfully for all of their bosses, it's not in Vegas.
Travel DAZE Exec Agenda REVEALED: top execs to speak on airline competition
As the industry reels from Bonza's implosion, it is more important than ever to ask the big questions.
Skroo says Rex will need deep pockets to fill lost Bonza slots
The door is open for Rex, and anyone else who wants to launch a regional Aussie airline...
Hilton Expands Presence in North Queensland with the signing of Hilton Garden Inn Townsville
Heading to a North Queensland Cowboys clash? Hilton Garden Inn Townsville is set to open, but not until 2026.
Amy Poehler joins Vivid Sydney event
Oh Joy! Hit comedian Amy Poehler will make an emotional appearance at the Sydney Opera House for Vivid.
Emirates unveils future plans with new hub at Al Maktoum International Airport
We've also been looking into our future. It involves plenty of famils, we hope.
Two thirds of Australians support introduction of tourism tax, survey reveals
Can you guess which generation was the most outraged at the news? Hint: It is exactly who you think!
“The consumer really just wanted more classic reward availability” – customers underwhelmed by Qantas FF shakeup
All this consumer wants is to sit behind someone that doesn't push their seat back to near-horizontal levels.
Aussie travellers warned of ‘significant’ visa shifts in destinations including Chile, US and Vietnam
To be honest are biggest advice for having a layover in the US, is just don't.
Profile: Delta CEO Ed Bastian
Bastian says the airline business isn't for the faint hearted. We're sure Alan Joyce would agree!
Final Call: Travel DAZE Exec early birds are about to expire
Much like the auctioneer at the hottest sale of the year, we're giving you one more chance to jump at this deal!
Forget the weekend! Experience Gold Coast launches mid-week travel campaign
Your boss might be a bit bothered if you jet off mid-week, but you'll be the envy of all of your Instagram followers.
Victorian Tourism Industry Council warns of losing tourism dollars to NSW & QLD
Trendy cafe's hidden in CBD laneways can only get so many tourism dollars, clearly!
AIME 2024 rustles up $330m for APAC economy
This figure is a 65 per cent increase on 2023, much alike The Nibbler staff's alcohol consumption.
Amex GBT to purchase CWT for $871m
It's big deals like this that get a firm handshake - hence the sore hands over at the CWT and Amex GBT offices.
Boeing cleanout: CEO, chair to go as safety crisis plagues the manufacturer
CEOs are falling thick and fast these days. We should have started up a bingo game with their headshots in the office.
Star boss resigns, admits retaining NSW casino licence unlikely under his leadership
The CEO resigned after 18 months in the role. 'Another one bites the dust' rumoured to be heard playing in Pyrmont.
Corporate Traveller swings amateur golfers around the globe for World Golf Competition
How're your golf skills? Consider yourself a Tiger Woods or often get quadruple bogeys? We take after the latter.
Corporate travellers to spend big on Melbourne F1 despite financial pressures
Part of the attraction is sick days after the event as corporate travellers suffer creaked necks and blown eardrums.
Bonza officially kicks off Gold Coast-Darwin route
The Flying Purple Thumb is back at it with another route. We swear, we're going to make this nickname stick!
South West Sydney Tourism launches Western Sydney Tourism Awards
Penrith's 3 consecutive NRL premierships wasn't enough? The people of Western Sydney could fill the trophy cabinet more!
Hotels vs. Airbnb: Industry leaders at odds over who should pay accommodation levy
There's not as much gore in the Hotels vs. Airbnb saga as there is in Alien vs. Predator, but it's just as thrilling!
Singapore Airlines revamps premium economy with new menu, amenity kit
Felt Singapore Airlines was lacking "the sauce" (as the kids say). Bolster belief in the carrier's je na sais quoi here.
Business Events Adelaide set for 20th Destination SA event
Destination SA turns 20! Hopefully it's not celebrated with vodka cruisers and vapes like most 20th birthdays.