We live in exciting times. These days, when you travel for work, you can keep in touch with your family via FaceTime, charge your devices from your backpack and even place a digital tag on your luggage to track it as you make your way from one destination to the next. However, our reliance on tech to streamline our journeys is not without its pitfalls.
If you travel for business frequently, you may have encountered the full gamut of travel-related tech issues - exorbitant coverage charges, blocked apps in certain territories, having to work over unsecured networks and more. When these issues crop up, it can quickly toss a spanner in the works of otherwise seamless travel plans. Fortunately, there are ways to safeguard yourself against a few common disruptions.
Here are a few top tips for dealing with tech issues on business trips from the expert travel planners at TravelManor:
Roaming data charges can be a headache when you are trying to do business on the go. This is why public Wi-Fi is so popular! Plus, these days you don’t even have to struggle to find an access point. You can simply download an app that finds public connectivity zones (such as this one, or this one). However, always remember to play it safe when you connect to an open network. Make sure the software you use is updated to the latest version, only visit secure websites (look out for the https prefix), use a VPN to encrypt your traffic and switch off your sharing settings immediately once you're done.
It pays to plan ahead. You don’t always have to be connected to the internet to navigate from one place to another, access entertainment or even search websites - if you take the time to download it all for offline access before you leave, that is. Google Maps allows for the download of entire geographical areas; you can download series and movies from Netflix to watch offline, and there is even an app that allows you to download entire web pages for offline perusal.
Countries like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are known for blocking access to certain basic services. It can be quite inconvenient to find that you cannot access Skype, Facebook or even certain G Suite services upon arrival. The simplest solution is to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to encrypt your web traffic so you are able to bypass these firewalls. Ask your IT provider to suggest a suitable option.
These are a few of the best ways to stay connected while you travel for work. Keep an eye on the blog in coming weeks and months to get more insider tips on streamlining your work travels. In the meantime, contact our team of expert corporate travel planners if you would like to learn more about our services and how we can assist you to craft cost-effective itineraries that yield exceptional ROI.
