Traveling for business can be frustrating. Can tech step in to the rescue?
There so many things to take care of: when and where your meetings will be, which hotel you’ll be staying in and keeping track of your expenses can be a daunting task.
Fortunately, there are apps and gadgets out there can help any business trip go smoothly. Developers and inventors alike have worked to take as much difficulty out of traveling as they can, and here are some of the coolest things you can use next time you’re on a business trip.
Stay Ahead of the Weather With This App
Depending on what you’re traveling for — and if you’ll find some personal time to do some sightseeing — you probably want to stay up to date on the weather conditions, and this weather app can help you do just that.
Weather Live Free displays the current temperature as well as a “feels like” temperature that takes wind chill and humidity into account so you know what to wear to your meetings or when you want to relax. It also has an accurate weather radar so you can know instantly whether a front will be moving into your area, or if you’re home free. The app also has a widget that displays on your home screen, so you don’t even have to open the app to get the information you need.
You can check the weather conditions anywhere in the world, so if you’re travelling internationally, you’ll be able to plan ahead as well.
Clean Your Clothes on the Go
Sometimes, it’s difficult to keep up with your laundry on extended business trips, even with the help of the hotel staff. This bag from Scrubba can help you get your clothes cleaned no matter where you are.
The plastic bag is lined with hundreds of tiny rubber nubs on the inside that, when the instructions are followed, will clean your clothes in a matter of minutes. The bag itself only weighs five ounces and doubles as a drying bag as well, so you can wash and dry on the go.
It’s a modern take on the classic washboard that will save you time and money.
Track Your Expenses
When you’re traveling for business, the last thing you want to do is remember to save all of your receipts for expense tracking. An app like this one can help.
Rather than save your receipts, you can just take a picture of them and the app will save it. This will help you track credit card expenses, dinners, hotel stays and travel expenses from airplanes, trains and taxis. It will also track mileage and gas expenses if you use your own car for travel and you can even write, print and email checks for payment if you need to.
There’s also a built-in calendar that allows you to project and look back on past expenses so you can budget accordingly.
Next time you travel work, try one of these accessories.
This guest post is by Elizabeth Ward. Elizabeth, or Liz as she prefers, writes about various business topics. From start-up business ideas to business travel, marketing and more.
