CoTrav CTO Vinod Kumar Sah shares insights on how SMEs, automation, and domestic travel are reshaping India’s corporate travel sector.

Vinod Kumar Sah, the CTO and Co-founder of CoTrav discussed the major changes that are now occurring in India's corporate travel industry.  Vinod Kumar Sah and Neeraj Tayal founded CoTrav in 2015 to solve problems with corporate travel management. Through a digital system intended to minimize manual processes, the platform allows organizations to manage bookings, approvals, and billing.

According to CoTrav's operational data, almost 90% of business travel in India is domestic. Additionally, the research shows that SMEs and mid-market businesses account for more than 80% of demand, with large corporations contributing a lesser portion.

This change is a reflection of shifting corporate priorities. Smaller businesses are adopting structured travel systems, growing into new markets, and making more frequent trips. Bigger companies, on the other hand, are focusing on efficiency and cost reduction when it comes to travel expenditures.

According to Vinod Kumar Sah the way companies are using technology to control expenses and manage expansion is directly related to the change in corporate travel demand. He points out that although larger organizations are concentrating on optimizing current travel programs through improved data visibility and regulatory compliance, smaller and mid-market businesses are investing more in structured travel systems as they increase operations.

Sah also emphasizes how automation is contributing to more than just reservations. These days, travel platforms are utilized to predict needs, accelerate approvals, and offer insights that help organizations better manage travel.

Sah stated that they give SMEs access to organized travel management without adding to their operational load by combining procedures for policy compliance, cost visibility, and approval with human-led execution. Simultaneously, the platform standardizes procedures, enabling the model to grow without corresponding increases in manual labor. The platform, which has about 400 clients and a significant SME presence, is made to help expanding businesses that require flexibility and control as they grow.