By Christopher Elliott

Reliable information can help or hurt your next trip, whether it's the ability to cultivate a business contact or ensure accurate company records.

In other words, you just can't afford to be without your PC data. Consider that 25% of all business travellers miss having access to their internal company systems, according to British market research firm Continental Research. It's not hard to guess why: having the latest information keeps them productive.

Because information is the thing that powers your business trip, I have outlined the steps below to help you avoid losing one of your most precious assets when travelling. Take it from someone who has left his office without synching his laptop and PC, who has wiped out days worth of work because he neglected to install a backup system and who even has lost clients because he ignored the importance of good, reliable information.

	TIP: Whether you're in the office or travelling, you can take advantage of the Remote Assistance feature in Windows XP Professional when computer troubles arise. Remote Assistance allows another person to connect to your computer and correct any problems directly. To use Remote Assistance, go to the Start menu, choose Help and Support. Click on Invite a friend to connect to your computer with Remote Assistance and follow the instructions on screen.

Don't make the same mistakes I have. Here's what a career on the road has taught me about computer data:

1. Start every trip with "a synch." Making sure your personal digital assistant (PDA) and PC are on the same page is pretty easy. Generally, you just slip the handheld into its cradle and the computer synchronises the data between the two devices, so that both have all the same information. Synching one PC to another isn't as straightforward. I've tested every conceivable synching tool, including the one that came with my computer operating system, and they can be tricky. But they're definitely worth learning, because once you leave the office, I guarantee you'll be glad you updated your laptop.

2. Carry a memory stick with all your data. Memory sticks that plug into your laptop are absolutely essential to the integrity of your data. And with some units now carrying up to 5 gigabytes of capacity, you can easily fit your essential files on it. Andrew Steele, a media consultant to charities and nonprofits, routinely backs up to a memory stick. It recently saved his trip. "I had a laptop power supply fail," Steele recalls. "So even when the laptop battery was finally exhausted, I could carry on without embarrassment on borrowed machines."

3. Stay in touch with the office. There are several useful remote connectivity applications that let you connect to your computer or network from afar, including GoToMyPc, PCAnywhere and the Remote Desktop tool built into the Windows XP Professional operating system. I like these options because they allow you to "catch up" on any information that you may have forgotten to synch up before you left on your trip. My biggest gripe with these programs is that they tend to be slow — particularly with a dial-up connection — making large data downloads impractical. But if you couldn't synch up before your trip, they can be a real lifesaver.

4. Collect information — and back it up. Normally, those who travel on business are good at collecting business cards, sales leads and receipts. But do these items always make it from their folders to their PDA or laptop, and back to the office? Not necessarily. Believe me, I know. My record-keeping was so inadequate when I started travelling on business that I missed numerous charge-card payments, and I ended up losing money because I couldn't get reimbursed. Fortunately, there are products that allow you to create expense reports as you incur the expenses.

5. Be ready to switch to paper. This is an obvious piece of advice, but it's so obvious that we sometimes forget it's even an option. We've become so dependent on our PCs, phones and PDAs that we don't remember: "Hey, wait a second, I could still write this information down." My partner used to make fun of me when I printed out the names and addresses of people I was visiting when I left on a business trip. Why do that when everything was on the computer (and backed up on a memory stick)? Well, there are still some things paper can do that a PC can't. Like operate without batteries. So when my laptop ran out of juice and I switched to paper, I didn't look like a dummy anymore. Not entirely, at least.

When I was a rookie business traveller, I wish one of the more experienced employees in my company had offered me these simple tips about information. They would have saved me time and money and maybe helped me do my job better. But alas, it took many years on the road — and a few clients lost — before I could come up with these five tips. Here's hoping they'll save you a few headaches on your next business trip.