eSIM for Business Travel: A Guide for Companies and Office Managers
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Short answer: an eSIM for business travel gives employees data from the moment they land and gives the company a known cost up front, with no surprise roaming bills. With a business account, you can buy eSIMs for any number of employees, send each person their own QR code by email, and see everyone's remaining data in one dashboard.
Every company that sends employees abroad knows the scenario: an employee lands for an important meeting and has no internet. Or they come back from a trade show with a roaming bill nobody expected. An eSIM for employees on business trips solves both problems: data from the moment you land, and a cost you know in advance. In this guide we explain the difference between an eSIM and a regular international plan, and how to manage eSIMs for several employees in an organized way.
Why this is the company's problem
In small and medium-sized companies, data abroad often falls through the cracks. The employee sorts it out on their own and then claims it as an expense. Or the company adds an international plan to the business line for each trip. Either way, it's hard to know in advance what it will cost, and there's no single view of what's happening with all the employees who are abroad at the same time.
Office managers, HR and finance need a solution that covers three things: the employee is connected on landing, the cost is known in advance, and there's control and tracking.
eSIM vs. your mobile carrier's international plan
These are the two common ways to give an employee data abroad. The main differences:
Cost
- eSIM: you pay up front for a defined plan, with a known data allowance and validity. There's no extra charge if the employee goes over; the plan simply ends.
- Carrier's international plan: the price depends on the plan chosen, and sometimes there are extra charges when the employee goes beyond the plan or travels to a destination it doesn't include. It's worth checking the terms on your business lines.
Networks and connection
- eSIM: connects to local mobile networks at the destination. Each destination page on our site lists the networks the plan works with, so you know in advance what you're connecting to.
- International plan: works through your home carrier's roaming agreements at the destination. The network and speed depend on those agreements.
The employee's regular number
- eSIM: added alongside the employee's existing SIM. They keep receiving WhatsApp and stay reachable on their own number, while data runs through the eSIM. More detail in eSIM with two numbers at the same time.
- International plan: everything is on the same line. Regular calls and texts are available according to the plan's terms.
Management and tracking
- eSIM with a business dashboard: see all your employees in one place, how much data each has left and when it expires.
- International plan: tracking depends on the carrier's interface, and you often only see the full picture on the invoice.
| eSIM with a business account | Carrier's international plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Fixed, paid up front | Depends on plan and usage |
| Overage | No extra charge; the plan ends | Possible extra charges |
| Regular number | Stays active alongside the eSIM | Same line |
| Tracking | One dashboard for all employees | Usually via the invoice |
Bottom line: if your employees mainly need data (email, WhatsApp, Zoom, navigation, company apps), an eSIM is usually the more predictable and easier-to-manage solution. If an employee needs a lot of regular calls on their own number, an international plan or a combination of the two may suit better.
How to manage employee eSIMs with FlySim
Companies and teams get a business dashboard where everything is in one place.
1. Open a business account
Leave your details on our business page, and we'll open an account for your company. You can set up several managers, for example the office manager and whoever handles travel. Each one signs in with their own email and a one-time code, with no passwords to manage.
2. Buy as you need
When a manager is signed in to the account and buys on the site, the order is added to the company's account automatically. So you can buy an eSIM for one employee on a two-day trip, or for ten employees flying to a trade show. For large or recurring orders, we're happy to give you a quote.
3. Send each employee their own eSIM
In the dashboard, enter the employee's name and email next to each eSIM and click Send QR to traveler. The employee receives an email with their QR code and installation instructions. No need to forward emails with dozens of codes, and no risk of someone scanning someone else's code.
4. Track during the trip
For each eSIM you can see its status (in use, not activated, out of data), how much data is left and when it expires. You can filter to see who's Running low, and deal with it before an employee gets stuck in the middle of a working day.
What to check before you start
- Device compatibility: most recent smartphones support eSIM. Company phones, especially older or budget models, are worth checking in advance with our compatibility checker.
- Carrier-locked phones: a phone locked to a specific carrier won't accept another provider's eSIM. Make sure company phones are unlocked.
- IT policy: in companies with device management (MDM), adding an eSIM sometimes needs approval. Coordinate with whoever manages the devices.
- Multiple destinations: an employee flying to several European countries on one trip? A regional eSIM for Europe saves buying a separate plan for each country.
Tips for traveling employees
It's worth adding a few short lines to the employee's travel briefing:
- Install the eSIM before leaving, while on Wi-Fi. The steps are in our installation guide.
- On landing: turn on data roaming for the eSIM line only, and select it as the cellular data line. Leave roaming off on the regular line.
- Don't delete the eSIM from the phone until the end of the trip.
- If a laptop needs connecting, share data from the phone via hotspot. This uses more data, so choose a plan with some headroom.
Frequently asked questions
Will the employee stay reachable on their regular number?
Yes. The eSIM is added alongside their existing SIM, so WhatsApp and their number keep working. Data goes through the eSIM.
Can I see how much data each employee has left?
Yes. In the business dashboard you can see how much data each eSIM has left and when it expires. The figures come from the mobile network and may update with a delay of a few hours.
What happens if an employee runs out of data mid-trip?
There's no extra charge; the plan simply ends. You can buy them another eSIM and email them the code from the dashboard. The dashboard shows in advance who's running low, so you can deal with it in time.
How many managers can access the business account?
You can set up several managers on one account. Each signs in with their own email and a one-time code.
Do we get a document for each purchase?
Yes. A digital receipt is issued for every order and sent by email.
Ready to get started?
Tell us how many employees travel, where and how often, and we'll get back to you with a quote and a business account. Request a quote for your company.