The travel industry has been at the hard hit by the pandemic. But with markets around the region and globally beginning to re-open to travellers, perhaps we are nearing the light at the end of the tunnel for the industry.

According to Deloitte’s 2022 travel outlook, corporate travel demand should improve significantly when workers return to offices in greater numbers, enabling more client visits. Even assuming the best possible COVID-19 outcomes, not all road warriors will be eager to return to their pre-pandemic frequency. At the same time, CEOs and CFOs will likely continue to closely scrutinize travel spending and return on investment after operating successfully with so few trips.

One of the topics we’ve been covering with finance leaders around Asia during the pandemic has been the issue of transformation – both the whole of business transformation and the digital transformation of finance itself. Joining us today to shed light on how finance is Timothy Williams, CFO, FCM Travel in Asia.

1. Do you need to transform finance to enable (facilitate) a more holistic business transformation?

2. Do you believe that continuous process optimisation is the foundation for sustained competitive advantage?

3. Reviewing your process and technology direction, what one area would you like to see improved/changed upon?

4. How would you rate your finance team’s competency to drive successful transformation? Which one area do you think the team struggles with the most?

5. If the overarching goal is to create a sustainable transformation of finance, what more needs to happen?

6. Where do you expect your focus will be in 2022?

7. What is your advice to other CFOs in their respective transformation journeys in 2022 and beyond?