Bridging Silos in TRM: 5 Key Steps to Keep Employees Safe

Bridging Silos in Travel Risk Management: 5 Key Steps to Keep Employees Safe

As companies expand globally, the need for a solid travel risk management programme becomes more critical. Yet, establishing this programme can be challenging, especially when departments like People Management, Vendor Management, Corporate Mobility, and Security have their own goals and responsibilities. These silos can lead to communication gaps, misaligned priorities, and missed opportunities to keep employees safe and supported.

Now more than ever, leaders are seeking ways to foster collaboration for more effective travel risk management. Without aligned strategies and open communication, essential travel safety initiatives can face delays or even be compromised. Bridging silos is crucial to keeping travel risk management efficient, responsive, and proactive. 

 

Why Silos Are Hard to Bridge — and Why They Matter in Travel Risk Management

Silos naturally form as organisations grow and teams have specialised goals. By bridging these silos, companies can create an organised, effective travel risk management programme. Here are five key steps to help teams work together seamlessly. 

5 Steps to Bridge Silos in Travel Risk Management 

 

  1. Align Leadership Across Departments 
    Effective travel risk management programme needs a unified approach driven from the top. Leaders from People Management, Vendor Management, Corporate Mobility, and Security should regularly meet to create a shared vision and align on travel risk priorities. Forming a cross-departmental leadership team or steering committee helps ensure that each department understands its role in keeping travellers safe and how it fits into the company’s larger goals.

  2. Build Cross-Functional Travel Risk Teams 
    Combining insights is essential for a comprehensive travel risk strategy. These cross-functional teams allow each department to share expertise. This collaborative approach results in travel programmes and policies that are both safer and more effective for everyone involved.

  3. Define Clear Roles and Responsibilities 
    When multiple departments work together, roles can overlap. Define each team’s responsibilities within a travel risk management programme to ensure clarity. Clear roles help teams stay organised and focused on their unique responsibilities.

  4. Appoint Co-Leaders from Each Department For travel risk projects that require deep collaboration, appointing co-leaders from different departments helps balance priorities. For example, co-leaders from People Management and Vendor Management can ensure employee wellbeing and cost-efficiency, while a Security co-leader ensures that thorough risk assessments are factored in. This co-leadership model supports a balanced approach to decision-making.
     
  5. Prioritise Travel Risk Training Across Departments 
    Travel risk training is essential for equipping teams to support and protect employees effectively. Training ensures that each department understands travel risk protocols, their specific responsibilities, and the resources available for travellers. When employees are trained to work together across departments, they’re better prepared to act swiftly, manage emergencies, and collaborate effectively in high-stakes situations. This unified approach to training also builds a stronger, more informed travel risk management culture across the organisation. 

The Path to a Strong, Unified Travel Risk Management Programme 

Building a strong travel risk management programme is essential for ensuring employee safety in an unpredictable world. By adopting these five strategies and prioritising training, organisations can create a cohesive programme that is flexible, responsive, and prepared to tackle the challenges of a constantly changing environment. This approach will help companies to stay resilient and ensure the safety of employees, no matter where they travel. 

Leave a Comment

Shopping Basket
Scroll to Top