Project Examples   Entertainment Company: With a global air travel spend of more than $150 million, the client contracted R.D. Brown to benchmark global airline contracts with similar sized multinational companies with global travel programs. The project objectives included developing recommendations for improvement on the current travel management program and travel agency operation.  R.D. Brown was able to assemble eight (8) multinational companies with over $100 million in air spend to participate in the project.  Participants provided information regarding their travel programs, policies, agency operation, and airline contracts.  The project was completed in four months with the end product deliverable presented to senior management.  The results of the project provided direction for improvement in key areas of travel management including: policies for online booking, agency operation and staffing, and airline contract strategy.    Aerospace Company:  With a global air travel spend of more than $450 million, the client contracted R.D. Brown to evaluate their T&E expense reporting system and determine the viability and benefits or establishing an “end-to-end” solution for their global program integrating the corporate card, online tool, and T&E system with the ERP. Project objectives included benchmarking of the current T&E system functionality compared to marketplace alternatives. Operational data was gathered from Lockheed’s accounting department, and a Request for Information (RFI) was sent to alternative suppliers. R.D. Brown conducted interviews with accounting staff, management, and supplier representatives to gather additional data and understanding of functionality.  Demonstrations of alternative systems were completed and comparisons were made to validate project conclusions. R.D. Brown completed the project in five months and presented a final report that was used to establish direction for changes that would allow integration of new T&E functionality and improved integration with the payment system, online tool, and agency operation.   Professional Services Company: With over $75 million in global travel spend, the client contracted with R.D. Brown to complete a full reengineering of their travel program for all 34 worldwide office locations. The project included a Phase One evaluation of the current travel program. Based on the recommendations of Phase One, objectives were established to complete the following: 1) Select a global travel agency, corporate card, and online booking tool; 2) conduct global airline and hotel sourcing, and; 3) revise travel policies. R.D. Brown also provided assistance in the selection of a global T&E expense system supplier for integration with the ERP, payment system, and online tool. R.D. Brown created all Requests for Proposals and managed each bid process by leading an international client team form North America, Asia Pacific, and Europe. All project objectives were completed in a six month timeframe with implementation of the global initiatives in 2009. Results of the project are expected to produce savings of 10% to 15% of the T&E expense.