11 Aug 2014 | By Sun International
Invaluable Apps for the Business Traveller
Travelling for pleasure conjures thoughts of sipping cocktails and lounging in the sun. On the other hand when thinking about business trips, images of stress-filled commutes, dull meals and lost itineraries also spring to mind. If only there was a way to navigate the business-related obstacles and mitigate the stresses of travel… Well, there is!
Armed with these useful apps and the business-focused facilities on offer at The Maslow, you can breeze through your business trip and make the most of your free time, with ease.
1. Uber
Available on Android, Blackberry, Windows and iOS.
Uber is the revolutionary cab service that's available around the globe. Just download the app, fill in your personal and credit details and you're ready to Uber it. With this nifty app there's no need to book in advance and you don't even have to know your exact address (don't all conference centres look the same?), just Uber it and find the Uber driver that's the nearest, and they'll find you via GPS. You also have the ability to track the location of your driver, meaning no more frantic "I will be there in five minutes" phone calls, when your ride is already an hour late.
Uber is also great for business travellers, as users don't need to worry about foreign currency - all Uber transactions are cashless (via credit card) and your fare receipt is automatically emailed to you. It is safe to say that once you have experienced the convenience and reliability of Uber, you'll never use another cab service again.
Insider tip: if you're staying at The Maslow, you won't need this app. Take advantage of a private chauffeur service and complimentary shuttles to the Gautrain.
2. Gautrain App
Available on Android, Blackberry, Windows and iOS.
For business travellers in Johannesburg, the Gautrain is convenient, reliable and most importantly, fast. With the unpredictability of Joburg traffic, the speedy Gautrain and its handy app will ensure that you get to the airport on time. The Gautrain also stops at Park Station, Rhodesfield, Marlboro, Sandton, Rosebank, Midrand and Hatfield. Once you're at the station you can use the app to help you find Gautrain buses and bus stops. The app also helps you plan your trip to the minute with its up-to-date timetables.
3. CardMunch
Only available on iOS.
So you have travelled halfway across the world to network with the bigwigs, only to return home a week later without all of their business cards because you misplaced them in your briefcase… Sound painfully familiar? With CardMunch, all you have to do is take a picture of the business card and upload it; the app then captures the relevant information, which is verified by a team of human transcribers. The app is exclusively designed for LinkedIn members, and so it works with the website to import information from the cardholder's account, including potentially useful details like work history and common connections.
4. TripAdvisor
Available on Android, Blackberry, Windows and iOS.
When you are travelling for business it is important to make the most of your downtime, and if you are a busy businessperson with only a few free hours to spare, you only want the best that the city has to offer. This is where the TripAdvisor app comes in. Like a friend who has been just about everywhere, the TripAdvisor app includes millions of user-uploaded reviews of hotels, restaurants, attractions and activities. A bonus feature includes: the "Near Me Now" button which helps you make the most of wherever you are by showing you options nearby. Simply put, with the TripAdvisor app you have a tour guide in any city.
5. Evernote
Available on Android, Blackberry, Windows and iOS.
If your handwriting is more illegible than a doctor's and you don't want to lug around your laptop, trust the Evernote app to take care of your notes. Whether you like to take lengthy, detailed notes or only jot down a few keywords, Evernote has countless useful features to keep you inspired. Capture your handwritten notes, take clips from the web and even file photos on this handy app. One of the most notable features of the app is that Evernote stores everything in the cloud, meaning that you can easily access your notes from anywhere and on any device, including your PC, as long as the Evernote app has been downloaded. If you haven't worked it out already, this is a great app to store your travel itineraries and important information. Bonus features include: an audio recorder and a presentation tool that effortlessly converts your notes into screen-friendly slides.
Tell us: what are your favourite sanity-saving business apps?