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Need A Business Travel Assistant? There's An App For That

United

By Jordan Forrest

It can be difficult to stay productive and organized away from the office, especially when you're busy rushing to catch a flight or navigating a strange city, but hiring a full-time travel agent is often too pricey for a small business budget. Instead of adding to your headcount, turn to your smartphone. While an iPhone may not be able to solve every challenge of business travel, the right app can make all the difference between a successful business trip and one that's stressful and scattered. With the latest mobile innovations, apps have become the go-to helpers of a new era of travel.

Few entrepreneurs or executives have time to shuffle receipts and prepare complicated expense reports on the road. Expensify makes it easier to stay organized by recording transactions, storing receipts, and tracking mileage. Expensify works offline, too, making it easy to whip up an expense report even when WiFi is unavailable. It also spares your bottom line, since it’s free for iOS, Android, Blackberry, and Windows Phone.

For small business, every connection is vital, but with no one to manage your contacts list for you, it’s easy to lose track of these important connections. If you've ever found yourself sifting through a stack of business cards, CardMunch is essential. Just snap a photo of your cards with your smartphone, and CardMunch will convert them into mobile contacts. The app also locates a person's LinkedIn profile automatically and displays shared connections and bio highlights. CardMunch is also free for iOS.

Inspiration can strike anywhere: while waiting at an airport gate, hailing a cab, or grabbing a coffee. If you aren’t Miranda Priestley from “The Devil Wears Prada” with eager minions following you around, you’re likely scrambling for a notebook or napkin. When your next big idea comes along, instead of reaching for a pen, reach for Evernote. Evernote makes it easy to capture important details at a moment's notice by storing notes, files, audio, and web clips, and making them available on every device you use. And unlike an eager minion, Evernote is free (for iOS, Android, Blackberry, and Windows Phone).

In business, time is money; and when you’re on the road, getting a crucial signature on a contract used to mean faxing or overnighting documents which took precious time. With SignEasy, you don’t have to do either to finalize important contracts and documents. The app allows you to import and sign documents in a variety of formats, which can then be shared via email, Dropbox, Google Drive, or other file storage and sharing apps. It even allows multiple people to sign a single document. SignEasy is free for iOS and Android users.

It can be challenging to navigate an unfamiliar city when you're already on a tight schedule and a tight budget. If you don’t have the funds for a personal guide, AroundMe could be your mobile solution. It uses your current location to help you find whatever you're looking for, whether it's a nearby restaurant, a car service, or just the closest ATM. An additional bonus is there’s no haggling with AroundMe. It’s free for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone.

Even the most seasoned business traveler can benefit from a little help. While apps are a long way from replacing humans, they demand much lower salaries. They only need a moment to download, and the time they can save is priceless.

Jordan Forrest is a freelance writer based in New York City.