All published updates

U.S. State Department: North Macedonia Travel Advisory at Level 1, Exercise Normal Precautions

The U.S. Department of State issued a travel advisory for North Macedonia at Level 1, Exercise Normal Precautions. It advises reading the country information page; if deciding to travel, enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts and make it easier to be located in an emergency; reviewing the Country Security Report for North Macedonia; visiting the CDC page for the latest travel health information; preparing a contingency plan for emergencies; and reviewing the Traveler's Checklist.

Impact and considerations

A Level 1 advisory means the State Department does not flag above-normal risk, but STEP enrollment and contingency planning remain practically relevant for business travelers on the ground.

Looking Under the Hood at Traditional Vehicle Programs

A SAP Concur series article analyzes vehicle program risks for high-mileage drivers. Drivers logging more than 5,000 reimbursable miles annually create exposures including vicarious liability, tax issues, mileage fraud, volatile fuel prices and employee dissatisfaction. It compares three common approaches: flat car allowance (predictable but taxable and unrelated to actual mileage), cents-per-mile reimbursement (insufficient for low-mileage drivers, excessive for high-mileage drivers, with fraud potential), and fleet vehicles (company assumes 24-hour risk, with accident rates as high as three times the U.S. national average). A follow-up will cover the fixed and variable rate (FAVR) approac…

Manual AP Processes: The Perfect Recipe for Higher Ed Disaster

The article highlights challenges faced by higher education institutions during the pandemic in invoice and expense management: 44% of finance and admin leaders struggle with invoice volume, 42% with new spending categories, and 41% with unexpected expenses. Manual processes lead to fraud risk, errors, and delays; automation is the solution.

Technology Keeps You Ahead of Business Travel Trends

SAP Concur and The Wall Street Journal podcast explores how emerging technologies like AI are transforming corporate travel management. The article highlights trends like direct booking and user experience, and the risks of employees booking outside the corporate booking tool, such as cost overruns and compliance issues.