Business travel is one of the most frequent expenses in telephony: roaming bills arriving without warning, employees buying local SIMs at their destination, or executives simply turning off data to avoid spending. eSIM offers a structured and economical solution for companies of any size.
Real savings for the company
| Company size | Traveling employees/year | Potential annual savings with eSIM |
|---|---|---|
| Startup (5–20 people) | 3–5 employees | €2,000–5,000 |
| SME (20–100) | 10–20 employees | €10,000–25,000 |
| Medium-sized company (100–500) | 30–80 employees | €40,000–120,000 |
Travel communications policy with eSIM
The most advanced companies are adopting formal policies:
- Before the trip (48 h): the employee purchases the destination's eSIM from the corporate provider
- Authorized cost: a maximum per day/GB per destination is defined
- Simplified reimbursement: digital invoice, reimbursable as a communications expense
- Backup: always with the Spanish operator's SIM active for emergency calls
Recommended configuration for traveling employees
| Type of trip | Recommended plan | Duration | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 day meeting in Europe | Regional plan 2–3 GB | 1–2 days | €3–6 |
| Event/fair 3–5 days Europe | Regional plan 10 GB | 5 days | €8–12 |
| Trip to USA/LatAm 1 week | America plan 15 GB | 7 days | €15–25 |
| Asia tour 2 weeks | Asia plan 20 GB | 14 days | €20–35 |
| Expat 1+ month | Unlimited monthly plan | 30 days | €40–60 |
Centralized management for the IT/Finance department
- Digital invoicing: all eSIMs with an invoice for tax deduction
- Expense control: prior approval of the plan before the employee activates it
- No lost SIMs: being digital, there's no need to manage card returns
- Usage reports: some providers offer dashboards for Finance
Security for business travel with eSIM
- Always combine the eSIM with a corporate VPN to encrypt traffic
- In China or countries with restrictions, install the VPN BEFORE entering the country
- Deactivate roaming on the Spanish SIM to avoid accidental charges
- Use the mobile's WiFi hotspot instead of public hotel WiFi
Conclusion
A corporate eSIM policy can save a medium-sized company tens of thousands of euros a year on roaming. The process is simpler for employees (no need to look for a SIM at the airport, no complicated setup) and financial control for the Finance department is better. The ROI is immediate.
Frequently asked questions
Can the company purchase eSIMs in bulk for employees?
Some providers offer corporate plans or multi-user accounts. At PuraSIM, they are currently purchased per device — centralized management is done with the digital invoice for reimbursement.
Is eSIM compatible with company phones (MDM)?
It depends on the company's MDM policy. Phones managed with MDM (Mobile Device Management) may have restrictions on installing new eSIMs. Consult with IT before the trip.
What happens if the employee changes destination during the trip?
They can install another eSIM for the new destination. Devices allow multiple eSIMs to be installed (although only one is active at a time), so eSIMs for different destinations on the trip can be pre-installed.
Are travel eSIM expenses deductible?
Yes, in Spain. They are communication expenses related to professional activity, deductible for both self-employed individuals' personal income tax and companies' corporate tax. You need the invoice.
Does eSIM work in all destinations where our employees travel?
PuraSIM covers more than 190 countries. For specific destinations like China, Korea, or some African countries, verify coverage before the trip on the PuraSIM dashboard.
