Organisations are pouring investment into AI. But new data from the SAP Concur annual Global Business Travel Survey reveals that nearly three-quarters (70%) of Canadian business travellers have or would make use of unapproved AI tools, also known as ‘shadow AI’ for business travel.
The survey’s findings provide insight into how business travellers are using AI, where a lack of official tools leaves companies missing out, and what employers can learn from this disconnect.
Which business travellers are using shadow AI
Why do travellers turn to shadow AI? For 38% of respondents, it’s a matter of preference. They favour different tools over their company’s approved options. For another 32%, it’s about availability: their employers do not offer any AI tools for planning or booking travel.
Demographics and work arrangements play a big role in who relies on unauthorised tools. Consideration steadily declines by generation: while more than three-quarters of Gen Z (79%) and Millennial (76%) travellers are open to using shadow AI, this falls 62% for Gen X and 49% for Boomers.
Workplace flexibility is another key differentiator, with remote workers (81%) saying they would turn to unapproved AI tools significantly more often than fully on-site employees (71%).
Whether employees travel for business internationally seems to make a difference, too. 75% of those who travel internationally have or would use shadow AI tools, compared to 63% of domestic travellers.
The main ways travellers use AI-powered tools
Three-quarters of travellers (70%) say they have used AI-powered tools to support elements of business travel. The most popular use cases they report include planning their trip agenda (29%), tracking expenses during the trip (24%), and assessing the risks of the trip (20%).
Around a fifth (18%) use AI tools to rebook or make changes to their trip, as well as curate travel options during booking. A similar percentage (18%) use them to complete their expense report after the trip.
The shadow AI risk
These findings tell a cautionary tale: if there’s a gap between the AI tools employees want to use and what’s on offer, they’re likely to source their own alternatives.
“It’s a huge worry for business leaders. 96% of CFOs say they’re concerned by shadow AI in business travel”, says Brian Veloso, Managing Director at SAP Concur Canada. “As consumer AI tools proliferate, they open the door for employees to use unsanctioned systems for booking or planning business travel. Unfortunately, this shadow AI can create security risks, particularly when employees input sensitive data or connect business systems to unauthorised software. Leaders must educate workers on the risks and provide T&E tools that deliver the desired level of AI support.”
The AI features travellers really want
One way for businesses to keep AI usage on track is to understand how employees want to use AI in travel – and provide tools that suit those needs.
When asked, 38% of employees said they want AI integrations in other parts of the workflow (e.g. PowerPoint and their calendar). One in three employees (26%) said they would like AI embedded specifically into communication software (e.g. Teams, Slack), and another 26% want proactive AI that notifies them to book through push alerts or reminders.
Around a quarter of employees (22%) want chatbot interfaces within current booking tools, while 23% would like integrations in role-specific tools (e.g. CRM).
AI is already out on the road with business travellers. Now, it’s up to leaders to ensure corporate governance by offering approved, AI-powered tools that deliver what travellers actually want.
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This entry was posted on July 29, 2026 at 1:02 pm and is filed under Commentary with tags SAP. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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Guest Post – The great AI disconnect: New data reveals friction between AI policy and employee reality
Organisations are pouring investment into AI. But new data from the SAP Concur annual Global Business Travel Survey reveals that nearly three-quarters (70%) of Canadian business travellers have or would make use of unapproved AI tools, also known as ‘shadow AI’ for business travel.
The survey’s findings provide insight into how business travellers are using AI, where a lack of official tools leaves companies missing out, and what employers can learn from this disconnect.
Which business travellers are using shadow AI
Why do travellers turn to shadow AI? For 38% of respondents, it’s a matter of preference. They favour different tools over their company’s approved options. For another 32%, it’s about availability: their employers do not offer any AI tools for planning or booking travel.
Demographics and work arrangements play a big role in who relies on unauthorised tools. Consideration steadily declines by generation: while more than three-quarters of Gen Z (79%) and Millennial (76%) travellers are open to using shadow AI, this falls 62% for Gen X and 49% for Boomers.
Workplace flexibility is another key differentiator, with remote workers (81%) saying they would turn to unapproved AI tools significantly more often than fully on-site employees (71%).
Whether employees travel for business internationally seems to make a difference, too. 75% of those who travel internationally have or would use shadow AI tools, compared to 63% of domestic travellers.
The main ways travellers use AI-powered tools
Three-quarters of travellers (70%) say they have used AI-powered tools to support elements of business travel. The most popular use cases they report include planning their trip agenda (29%), tracking expenses during the trip (24%), and assessing the risks of the trip (20%).
Around a fifth (18%) use AI tools to rebook or make changes to their trip, as well as curate travel options during booking. A similar percentage (18%) use them to complete their expense report after the trip.
The shadow AI risk
These findings tell a cautionary tale: if there’s a gap between the AI tools employees want to use and what’s on offer, they’re likely to source their own alternatives.
“It’s a huge worry for business leaders. 96% of CFOs say they’re concerned by shadow AI in business travel”, says Brian Veloso, Managing Director at SAP Concur Canada. “As consumer AI tools proliferate, they open the door for employees to use unsanctioned systems for booking or planning business travel. Unfortunately, this shadow AI can create security risks, particularly when employees input sensitive data or connect business systems to unauthorised software. Leaders must educate workers on the risks and provide T&E tools that deliver the desired level of AI support.”
The AI features travellers really want
One way for businesses to keep AI usage on track is to understand how employees want to use AI in travel – and provide tools that suit those needs.
When asked, 38% of employees said they want AI integrations in other parts of the workflow (e.g. PowerPoint and their calendar). One in three employees (26%) said they would like AI embedded specifically into communication software (e.g. Teams, Slack), and another 26% want proactive AI that notifies them to book through push alerts or reminders.
Around a quarter of employees (22%) want chatbot interfaces within current booking tools, while 23% would like integrations in role-specific tools (e.g. CRM).
AI is already out on the road with business travellers. Now, it’s up to leaders to ensure corporate governance by offering approved, AI-powered tools that deliver what travellers actually want.
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This entry was posted on July 29, 2026 at 1:02 pm and is filed under Commentary with tags SAP. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.