This SAP Concur blog post provides best practices for identifying high-risk expense types and reducing non-compliant spending. It lists 14 high-risk expense types and recommends clear policies, technology enforcement, and ongoing training to mitigate risks.
A SAP Concur blog post discusses how to improve the efficiency of corporate expense report auditing. Citing an IDC report, it states that automating the audit process can make expense report intake and handling 36% more efficient, reduce report completion time by 43%, and result in 65% more policy-compliant expense reports. The article recommends best practices such as reducing internal auditor effort, increasing data entry accuracy, using data to identify improvement opportunities, employing pre-authorized requests, reducing exceptions, improving first-pass ratio, increasing card adoption, and providing ongoing training.
A SAP Concur blog post offers 24 tips to optimize airfare spending and lower travel costs. It notes that airfares continue to rise due to soaring jet fuel prices, high travel demand, and pilot shortages, with ancillary fees also increasing. Recommendations include tracking ancillary fees, booking at least 8 days in advance, considering one-way or refundable tickets, rewarding policy-compliant booking behavior, using data to identify behavior and target areas with the most financial impact, and using mobile apps and self-service check-in. The article also cites U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data showing that airline fare inflation has climbed back into positive territory, rising far above…
A SAP Concur blog post predicts a marked shift in how workplace tools connect and integrate from 2023 into 2024. Citing an early 2022 SAP Concur pulse survey, it notes that 57% of U.S. finance managers use multiple applications, and 17% use multiple applications with no integration. Additionally, 86% of business travelers reported their company had been delayed in reimbursing expenses at least once in 2021, and 89% said delays impact their personal finances. The article argues that more integrated travel and expense solutions will provide better spending visibility, more efficient finance processes, and ultimately faster reimbursements.
A SAP Concur blog post provides a guide to assess accounts payable (AP) automation levels. Citing survey data, it notes that the average company processes 252 vendor invoices per month, spends 13 hours per week processing them, and takes 11 days to get sign-off approval for payment from receipt. The article categorizes AP automation into four levels: little to no automation, some automation, fully automated, and AI-enhanced automation, and provides characteristics and upgrade suggestions for each. It also mentions that after implementing an automated invoice management solution, 36% of businesses cited finance/accounting employee time savings as a top benefit, 46% cited increased employee s…
A SAP Concur blog post discusses how utilities and energy companies can improve employee experience. It cites Gartner's prediction that employee turnover will be 50% to 75% higher than companies have previously experienced; Gallup data showing it costs up to two times an employee's annual salary to replace them; 78% of employees strongly believe their employer is responsible for helping them increase job satisfaction and well-being; and 34% of employees expect a seamless technology experience but feel they don't have one. The article recommends improving satisfaction with enterprise applications, automating expense reporting and approval processes, and automating mileage capture to enhance…
IDP Education, a global international education services provider, deployed SAP Concur Expense and Travel solutions to address inconsistent purchase-to-pay processes across multiple platforms. It became the launch customer to integrate SAP Ariba purchasing with Concur Invoice for payment processing. The nine-month project was completed in three phases, with the final phase managed remotely due to COVID-19. Within a year, user feedback was positive: purchase orders created in Ariba map to Concur Invoice, Invoice Capture uses AI to eliminate manual entry, and mobile access plus audit trails improve accuracy and timeliness of payments.
Christopher Juneau returns to SAP Concur as Head of Market Strategy, his second stint after first working at Concur in 2001. He notes SAP is ranked #1 in T&E technology with 49% market share and Concur Travel is the largest OBT. He cites survey data: 94% of business travelers plan to reduce environmental impact in the next 12 months, and 92% want sustainability info in booking tools. SAP Concur is making a significant platform modernization investment, with Concur Travel evolution through 2023 to deliver consumer-grade UX, sustainable travel options, improved policy compliance, and intelligent integrations.
Many county governments still use manual or paper-based expense reimbursement processes, leading to inefficiencies and lack of transparency. Manual systems are slow, error-prone, and more susceptible to fraud. Automating expense processes can speed up cycle times, eliminate human error, reduce fraud, and provide clear visibility into expenses. The article outlines benefits in spend management, control and compliance, and employee experience, and recommends SAP Concur solutions to help counties modernize their expense systems.
The article notes that policy violations for excessive personal expenses rose 21.8% from 2020 to 2021. It recommends four steps to improve expense policy compliance: review and refine expense categories (the 'Other' and 'Miscellaneous' categories ballooned to over 60% of spending from 2019 to 2021); write a more effective reimbursement policy; automate expense reports and reimbursements (SAP Concur customers reported 43% less time to submit, 65% more compliant claims, 50% less time to reimburse); and analyze expense data to inform business growth.
The article notes business travelers face geopolitical developments, extreme weather, cybersecurity, flight disruptions, labor shortages, and inflation. It recommends a mobile-first approach, equipping travelers with apps and tools. Recommended apps include TripIt, Google Maps, rideshare apps, Xe Currency Converter, TripLingo, Travelex insurance, and ExpenseIt. It also highlights in-flight Wi-Fi, VPN, public Wi-Fi safety, and digital health passes/vaccine passports (e.g., IATA Travel Pass, VeriFLY, CommonPass). Next-gen technologies (AR, ML, AI) will continue to reshape business travel.
This article rounds up five spend management automation resources: a 3.5-minute video on building a business case for expense management automation; an updated expense policy guide and template; a KPI scorecard to measure spending program success; an expense automation solutions buyer's guide; and an accounts payable automation buyer's guide. These resources aim to help busy finance professionals quickly learn about automation and improve efficiency.
The article introduces two mileage tracking solutions integrated with Concur Expense: Drive and Motus FAVR. Drive, part of the Concur mobile app, uses phone sensors and GPS to measure distance, suitable for drivers reimbursed on a fixed per-mile rate; it can automatically or manually track trips and adds them to a draft expense claim in Concur Expense. Motus FAVR, an SAP Concur-endorsed app, is for U.S. employees driving over 5,000 miles annually, using a fixed and variable rate (FAVR) model that accounts for location, vehicle type, and other factors, tracking miles in real time and automatically generating expense reports.
The article notes governments are seeking new tax revenue, exposing businesses to compliance risks including fines and penalties. Global potential VAT reclamation is $74.9 billion, but 54% of VAT goes unclaimed annually. Compliance requirements span over 150 countries, challenging finance teams. SAP Concur offers Concur Benefits Assurance and Concur Tax Assurance by Blue dot, using AI and machine learning to automatically track, report, and calculate taxable benefits, optimize tax data integrity, help companies keep up with regulatory changes, avoid audits and penalties, and ensure VAT-eligible expenses are not left unclaimed.
TripIt introduced a Lock Screen widget for iOS, among the first to offer this feature. The widget displays upcoming trip details without unlocking the phone, including flight number, departure time, arrival countdown, gate number, and post-landing details like rental car or hotel bookings. Tapping the widget opens the TripIt app for the full itinerary. TripIt also offers medium and small Home Screen widgets.
SAP Concur and Flexso discuss key planning areas for automation tool implementation, emphasizing change management and systems integration. Flexso, as an implementation partner, helps customers integrate SAP solutions.
SAP Concur and Flexso discuss key aspects of implementing travel, expense, and invoice automation, emphasizing change management and systems integration. Flexso, as an implementation partner, helps customers integrate SAP systems to improve efficiency.
SAP Concur and TransferMate discuss the challenges of cross-border payments, including manual processes, high fees, and compliance issues. TransferMate's automation solution reduces labor and improves efficiency, supporting 162 countries and 134 currencies.
SAP Concur and TransferMate discuss cross-border payment challenges, including manual processes, high fees, and compliance issues. TransferMate's automation solution reduces labor and improves efficiency, supporting 162 countries and 134 currencies. Transaction volumes rose over 800% in 2021.
An SAP Concur blog post notes that utility and energy companies must comply with municipal, state, and federal regulations, including those of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), yet many still rely on multiple outdated, on-premises legacy financial systems to maintain and audit employee spend data. This makes it hard to see how money is spent and by whom, review and control spend before it happens, enforce compliance with spend policies and financial regulations, spot data patterns hidden across channels or systems, and actively identify and mitigate spend fraud, waste, and abuse. The post recommends modernizing and automating systems to insert controls at the point of purchas…
An SAP Concur blog post argues that the key to an effective travel and expense (T&E) policy is not getting people to read it but getting them to actually do it. It notes that cramming in all the rules, regulations, and restrictions senior executives want does not guarantee anyone will follow, understand, or even read them. The post suggests organizations ask whether current policies are flexible enough to meet ever-changing governmental requirements and fast-moving health restrictions, whether they adequately address traveler safety and wellness, and whether sustainability is included. SAP Concur also released an eBook on writing effective T&E policy, covering how to get C-suite buy-in, est…
An SAP Concur blog post notes that higher education institutions and K12 schools must comply with a variety of government laws, regulations, and oversight, yet many have multiple outdated, on-premises legacy finance systems containing faculty, staff, and sometimes student spending data. Before this data can be used, it often must be manually combined in a spreadsheet, making it hard for schools to see how money is spent and by whom, review and control spend before it happens, enforce spend policy compliance, spot data patterns hidden across channels or systems, and actively identify and mitigate spend fraud, abuse, and waste. The post recommends modernizing and automating systems to insert…
An SAP Concur blog post notes that city and county finance teams must comply with various government laws and regulations, yet many state and local government organizations have multiple outdated, on-premises legacy finance systems containing employee spend data. Before this data can be used, it often must be manually combined in a spreadsheet, making it hard for organizations to see how money is spent and by whom, review and control spend before it happens, enforce spend policy compliance, spot data patterns hidden across channels or systems, and actively identify and mitigate spend fraud, abuse, and waste. The post recommends that state and local government organizations modernize and aut…
SAP Concur published spend management guidance for aerospace, defense, and government contractors, noting they must achieve and maintain DCAA compliance but outdated legacy financial systems make spend visibility, pre-spend control, and compliance enforcement difficult. It recommends modernizing and automating systems, inserting controls at the point of purchase, using AI and machine learning to review expense data, and adopting best practices such as clear T&E policies, ongoing training, pre-spend authorization, policy-built-in online booking tools, and mobile receipt capture.
SAP Concur published spend management guidance for the energy and utilities sector, noting the pandemic forced rapid digitization and organizations should now assess those rushed fixes. The T&E spend violation rate skyrocketed 292% from 2019 to 2020. Fraud remains a serious problem, with utilities seeing a median fraud loss of $200K. It recommends finance and IT collaboration and digital spend management tools for near real-time spend and cash flow visibility. An IDC report found 90% of decision-makers see room to improve spend control.
SAP Concur published spend management guidance for state and local government organizations, noting the pandemic forced rapid digitization and organizations should now assess those rushed fixes. The T&E spend violation rate skyrocketed 292% from 2019 to 2020. Government fraud varies by level: national government 46% affected ($200,000 median loss), state government 27% ($56,000), local government 25% ($125,000). It recommends finance and IT collaboration and digital spend management tools. An IDC report found 90% of decision-makers see room to improve spend control.
SAP Concur article discusses how aerospace, defense, and government contracting organizations can improve transparency and accountability through digital spend management. Post-pandemic, organizations should evaluate temporary fixes. Spend management platforms provide real-time visibility, budget control, and reduce fraud risk. Data shows T&E violation rates rose 292%. Integrated platforms save costs and improve efficiency.
SAP Concur article discusses how remote and hybrid work have expanded employee benefits, requiring businesses to manage tax compliance for taxable benefits. Travel spending dropped from 65% in 2019 to 33%, while miscellaneous spending rose. Blue dot analysis found 10-20% of transactions may include taxable benefits. Businesses need automated systems to accurately report taxable benefits and avoid audits and penalties. SAP Concur partners with Blue dot for Concur Benefits Assurance.
SAP Concur podcast discusses SaaS management with Zylo co-founder. Average mid-size organizations use over 300 SaaS apps, large enterprises thousands. 37% of SaaS apps are purchased by employees online, leading to over $65 million in stealth spending annually, 40% wasted. Zylo helps organizations discover and manage SaaS apps, reducing security and compliance risks.
SAP Concur article advises businesses to start digital transformation with finance automation. Evaluate current processes, identify paper and email use, and examine ERP systems. Travel and expense is a good starting point. Digital spend management saves finance staff 12-13 hours per week, and 72% of leaders say automation provides better spend visibility.
TripIt partners with AirHelp to help passengers claim compensation for delayed, canceled, or overbooked flights to/from/within the EU and Brazil. If a disruption is eligible, TripIt automatically emails and helps file a claim. AirHelp handles paperwork and communication, charging only on success. Past three years' disruptions can also be claimed.
SAP Concur article emphasizes the importance of accounts payable (AP) automation. Businesses spend an average of 13 hours per week processing invoices; automation can reduce misplaced invoices by 22%, save 12 hours weekly, and save approximately $44,000 annually. It recommends cloud solutions integrated with ERP and mobile access.
SAP Concur article notes that manual invoice management leads to duplicate payments, missed deadlines, and other issues. Nearly a third of companies see duplicate invoices as a top financial challenge, and 43% lack cash flow visibility. Automated invoice management can save 122 hours per week and $44,000 annually.
SAP Concur article emphasizes integrating travel, expense, and invoice management. Through automated compliance checks, mobile access, and comprehensive reporting, businesses can improve efficiency, reduce costs, enhance compliance, and leverage data-driven decisions.
SAP Concur announced that Concur Travel & Expense has again been named a Top-Rated Expense Management Software in both the Expense Management and Travel Management categories by TrustRadius, and earned the 2022 Most Loved Award. The awards are based entirely on customer feedback, drawing on 800+ verified user reviews that highlight budget visibility, mobile receipt capture, time savings, and integration with productivity tools.
A SAP Concur blog post examines how companies handle invoices that fall outside their procurement system, such as those from utility providers, marketing, catering, and events. It recommends capabilities including pre-spend authorization, automated invoice scanning, automated early payment to capture supplier discounts, and mobile approval to control costs, ensure compliance, and improve cash flow.
A SAP Concur blog post notes that remote work and disrupted travel led companies to shift spending policies, while supply-chain chaos and inflation further clouded the policy picture. SAP Concur research shows the spending violation rate increased last year and excessive personal expenses jumped nearly 22%. The post recommends automation, AI, and machine learning to strengthen auditing, guide employee compliance, and adapt to policy changes.
A SAP Concur blog post notes that remote work and the return to travel shifted spending patterns and made policy compliance more difficult. SAP Concur's Spend Insights Report found excessive personal expenses jumped 21.8% in 2021, and its Pulse Survey revealed the average questionable travel expense ran $3,397. The post offers five tips, including bringing travel, expense, and invoice data together and using real-time information to improve spend visibility.
A SAP Concur blog post argues that employee spending decisions are both moments of risk and moments of opportunity. It identifies four key moments: turning confusing processes into moments of clarity with intelligent tech, turning regulatory shifts into moments of certainty with spend management solutions, turning spending decisions into moments of accuracy with precise data, and turning frustrating invoices into moments of confidence by simplifying invoice management.
A SAP Concur blog post notes that invoices from outside the procurement system and supplier network, such as catering and marketing printing, are hard to capture and bring into compliance. It recommends technology that includes pre-spend authorizations, automatically captures invoices, matches purchase orders, receipts, and invoices, and flows data into accounting systems. The post also states that organizations running SAP Concur Invoice earn a 505% ROI over five years.