Concur Labs, the innovation arm of the travel and expense management tech company, has been exploring virtual reality and possible applications for business travel.

The labs team came up with a prototype that could help travel managers deal with a traveller security incident.

The demo puts travel and security managers in a life-life situation such as an earthquake and uses virtual reality to help them find and communicate with employees affected by the incident.

Concur says the 3D simulation is “inspired” by its Risk Messaging service and enables travel managers and security specialists to access the latest news as well as social media on the incident.

It also provides them with an instant view of where their travellers are, who might be headed to a region impacted by an incident and enables them to find contact details for the relevant travellers.

The demo then enables managers to communicate with travellers, provide them with updates and enable them to get immediate help.

The virtual reality demo is not something available to customers but Concur Labs is continuing to explore ideas around VR technology and how they might help in corporate travel management.

VR is beginning to creep into other areas of the business travel segment with Marriott International using the technology for its meetings and events customers.

The hotel company is enabling organisers to view meeting rooms in 3D virtual reality using a headset and VPViewer app. The app is used in conjunction with Virtual Planner, an interactive meetings app developed by Zebra Design.

Related reading:

Marriott lets guests borrow VR headsets at two hotels in London and New York