A SAP Concur blog post advises small and medium-sized businesses to create or update expense policies to streamline reporting, reviewing, and approval processes. It emphasizes that policies should be clear, easy to find, and highlight benefits, and recommends supplementing policies with automation tools like Concur Expense.
A SAP Concur blog post notes that according to Aberdeen Group, SMBs spend an average of $35.02 to process one expense report. Manual expense reports involve employees sorting receipts, entering data, making copies, following up on missing documentation, and obtaining approvals, which is time-consuming and error-prone. Finance teams also review and reconcile. The article provides a formula: annual hours spent on expense reports multiplied by average hourly rate divided by number of expense reports per year equals cost per report. It recommends automated cloud solutions like Concur Expense, which allows mobile receipt capture, reduces human error, provides near real-time visibility, and scale…
SAP Concur blog post discusses workplace stress, citing American Psychological Association data: 61% of Americans cite work as a significant stressor. It notes 44% of working adults say their job affects overall health, and 36% of workers suffer from work-related stress costing U.S. businesses $30 billion a year in lost workdays. The article suggests assessing stressors, managing health, creating a positive work environment, and mentions automating expense processes to reduce finance team stress.
SAP Concur published an article discussing how city governments can improve efficiency through automated expense and accounts payable management. The article notes that remote work and paper invoice backlogs increase management challenges, and recommends integrated expense and AP systems to control costs, track employee spending, and simplify budget management. Automation can increase productivity, reduce errors, improve cash flow, enhance compliance, and reduce fraud risk.
SAP Concur published a blog post discussing how technology can help businesses prevent fraud and save money. The article cites a report from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) estimating $7.1 billion in annual losses due to internal fraud, with the average organization losing 5% of its annual revenue. It notes that small and mid-size businesses face higher risks of duplicate invoices and recommends preventing fraud through automated expense management, mobile solutions, and clear policies.
SAP Concur published an article on how companies can strengthen T&E spend oversight without adding headcount. T&E can account for as much as 10% of a company's budget, and greater employee spending power raises risks of fraud, compliance breaches and traveler safety. SAP Concur offers mobile tools that help write expense reports, automatically applies spending controls and targeted audit rules, and Concur Audit uses objective experts to review reports against internal policies and regulatory requirements. An IDC infographic shows that after implementing SAP Concur, 62% more employees followed T&E policies, lost receipts fell 67%, auditing staff was 28% more efficient, and businesses saw ave…
In an AP Recognition Week post, SAP Concur notes that accounts payable (AP) is often the last line of defense for small and midsize businesses (SMBs) managing cash flow. Many AP teams still handle paper invoices with convoluted workflows and non-disaster-proof storage. The post states that most SMBs it works with process around 600 invoices per month, at least half arriving as paper, causing heavy manual data entry, approvals, and reconciliation. SAP Concur recommends cloud-based AP tools such as Concur Invoice to automate invoice receipt, processing, payment management, and settlement, enabling faster audits, better cash flow management, and increased spend visibility.
A SAP Concur blog post argues that many corporate expense and invoice processes were originally quick fixes and may no longer be fit for purpose as businesses grow. It recommends automation, cloud-based tools, and customizable integrated solutions to improve scalability. A customer case notes invoice approvals taking days and high paper and storage costs. A study cited found finance teams using automated T&E solutions saw a 15% reduction in time spent processing expense reports, while invoice management users saw a 16% reduction.
SAP Concur's blog notes that finance departments often scramble to account for employee expenses during year-end reporting. It recommends reviewing the end-to-end expense process, clarifying responsibilities, and adopting automation to increase visibility. An automated system can track expenses in real time and support mobile receipt submission, speeding up reimbursement and reducing non-compliance and fraud risks.
SAP Concur suggests finance managers improve team efficiency with three steps: ensure members understand team and corporate goals, provide tools like automated AP and expense software, and play to members' strengths. Automation streamlines processes, increases spend visibility, and supports remote work.
A SAP Concur blog post opens with the idea that doing the same thing repeatedly while expecting different results is futile, arguing that companies relying on manual processes and outdated systems will not see unexpected spend, poor productivity and employee dissatisfaction resolve themselves. It says travel and expense is often the second-largest spend for businesses, and that Concur Expense and Concur Travel help review consolidated reliable data, spot cost-saving opportunities, and improve policy compliance, productivity and employee satisfaction.
This SAP Concur blog post emphasizes that moving from manual expense management to automated, cloud-based solutions saves time and improves competitiveness. Automation allows teams to spend less time on expense reports and invoice reconciliation, focusing on strategic matters. Mobile capabilities further boost productivity, with 57% of SMBs reporting over 50% of employees using mobile devices for business.
A SAP Concur podcast features TCG Consulting experts discussing three priorities for organizations preparing for financial disruption: spend category management, mobile adoption and new employee spend behaviors. The discussion covers gift card spend auditing, mobile-first strategies, receipt thresholds and travel policy automation.
The pandemic has caused state and local governments to face unexpected expenses and new spending categories, with 68% of decision makers citing this as a major challenge. CARES Act funding comes with compliance requirements; automating expense and invoice management provides real-time visibility, ensures compliance, and adapts to change.
A SAP Concur blog post argues that small businesses still tracking expenses manually may miss opportunities due to poor visibility and inefficient processes. It recommends cloud-based automated spend management so employees can file expenses on the road and managers can see up-to-date data in real time. The post suggests estimating manual-process cost as hours spent multiplied by employee hourly wage, and stresses that automation enhances existing processes, so companies should first fix or create an expense policy before automating.
SAP Concur blog notes that travel managers are spending 60% more time on data analysis, technology evaluation, and traveler safety. However, a 2018 GBTA Foundation survey shows 80% of travel programs don't use technology to capture outside bookings, and 86% don't use tools for suppliers to send reservations directly to TMCs. Automated connected travel solutions can help simplify processes.
SAP Concur published an article emphasizing the importance of a supplier invoice policy. An effective policy can reduce time spent approving and processing invoices, handling exceptions, and storing and retrieving documents. The article suggests the policy should include a statement of purpose, company expectations and compliance, areas of ambiguity, and consider purchase orders, invoice coding, approvals, retention periods, and payment terms. Automated invoicing software can further improve efficiency and control spend.
SAP Concur introduces Concur Drive, a feature within the SAP Concur mobile app that uses phone GPS to automatically and accurately calculate mileage and create logs. Users can turn logs into expense line items with a button-press, and Concur Drive notifies them of missed entries to avoid losing reimbursements. Integrated with Concur Expense, it simplifies and speeds up the reimbursement process.
A SAP Concur blog post emphasizes that amid rising employee turnover, companies should enhance employee experience by automating travel and expense management. It suggests finance and IT leaders collaborate, listen to employee feedback, adopt cloud solutions to streamline processes, and offer flexible work arrangements. Automation enables employees to submit and approve expenses from anywhere, reducing manual work and increasing efficiency. Additionally, companies should show care through gifts, events, and updating policies.
SAP Concur published a customer case study on Logoplaste implementing SAP Concur travel and expense solutions across 18 countries with Accenture's help, achieving a user rating of 4.3 out of 5 within weeks. Logoplaste shared nine lessons, including engaging credit card companies early, reviewing travel policies, outsourcing tax and VAT requirements, taking reporting seriously, considering integration needs, involving all departments, prioritizing master data, simplifying processes to tackle change resistance, and looking to the future.
SAP Concur blog outlines four best practices for higher education institutions returning to travel: 1) Create a cross-campus travel working group including risk management, finance, and academic stakeholders; 2) Consider mandating TMC use for itinerary transparency, supplier discounts, and compliance visibility; 3) Develop new travel approval guidelines including pre-trip approval and COVID-19 risk considerations; 4) Improve back-office efficiency using Concur Invoice to automate invoice processing and eliminate data silos.
SAP Concur published a blog post discussing how the public sector can control employee spend and combat fraud. The article notes that managing taxpayer dollars comes with heightened responsibility and public scrutiny, and the shift to remote work requires re-evaluating spend processes. Decentralized spending, manual processes, and poor data integration are key factors leading to errors or fraud. Automating spend processes helps agencies create built-in policies that flag inappropriate expenses before reimbursement, reducing mistakes and potential fraud.
Comdata has unveiled a native integration with Concur Invoice, offering businesses a streamlined, paperless way to receive supplier invoices and execute secure electronic payments. Through Comdata's integration with the Mastercard network, clients earn rebates on invoice payments. The solution works with a client's ERP or accounting system, allowing existing approvals and workflows to be retained.
SAP Concur blog discusses how AI can automate accounts payable processes to reduce costs, errors, and improve compliance. It notes the average cost to manually process a single supplier invoice is £9, while AI can automatically capture invoices, provide dashboard views, and flag issues. Businesses using Concur Invoice reported an 18% increase in policy compliance and a 46% improvement in staff productivity.
SAP Concur blog notes that SMBs waste millions annually on travel and expenses due to hidden spend, inconsistent booking processes, and manual expense reports. Adopting managed travel solutions that are integrated, ecosystem-based, secure, and workflow-automated can save an average of 122 hours per week and $40,000 per year.
SAP Concur cites a Kelton Global survey of 162 financial decision-makers in state, city, and local government, highlighting transparency and compliance challenges in government expense management. The survey found that one in three respondents frequently spot errors in expense reports and invoice processing, and three in ten say the problem has worsened over the past 12 months. 73% of decision-makers admit maintaining compliance is a regular struggle. The article states automation can improve efficiency, citing data that full automation can reduce fraud, waste, and abuse by 38% and increase budget management efficiency by 40%.
SAP Concur blog emphasizes that small businesses need year-round financial visibility, not just at year-end. It highlights common pitfalls: neglecting cash flow, not chasing late payments, assuming data accuracy, failing to review prices, and compliance risks. Automating financial processes reduces errors, improves compliance, and enhances cash flow management.
A SAP Concur blog post discusses how to maximize visibility of low-level (tail) spend and travel spend by focusing on spend channels. It notes that travel and expense spend is often one of the largest for organizations, typically second behind payroll. Tail spend generally accounts for 20% of a company's total spend but is spread across 80% of suppliers. By using digital technologies to track across all spend channels, companies can create a complete map of committed spend, improving forecasting, cost savings, and compliance.
A SAP Concur blog post notes that business travel decisions are typically optimized for cost and time efficiency, not environmental sustainability, and many organizations still use paper-based booking and expense processes. IOFM found the average business receives 63% of invoices as paper, and 62% manually handle over 75% of paper invoices. APQC research shows finance workers spend 49% of their time processing transactions. The article recommends digitalization and automation to reduce environmental impact, citing NEC's case: reduced T&E management time by 40% and saved about $1.8 million annually with SAP Concur.
This SAP Concur blog post argues that innovation is often hindered by manual expense and travel processes. It recommends leveraging automation, gaining full financial visibility, and fostering a supportive environment to free employees for creative work. It cites a PwC survey where 93% of executives believe innovation drives revenue growth, and notes that 55% of small business owners see current tech as a hindrance to adopting new technologies.
A SAP Concur blog post notes that while organizations want to review 100% of expense reports to catch mistakes and fraud, auditing is time-consuming and expensive, so many avoid it. The article argues that skipping audits risks compliance fines, costs from human error and greed, and falling behind amid continuous change. It recommends combining intelligent technology with expert review and embedding intelligent spending reviews into expense processes to improve efficiency and support continuous improvement.
SAP Concur published a blog post emphasizing the importance of digitalizing travel and expense (T&E) processes. The article notes that the financial services industry still relies on paper processes and manual expense reports, leading to delayed data, poor budget visibility, and negative impacts on employee satisfaction and talent recruitment. By automating T&E processes, companies can collect and connect spending data in real time, improve compliance, and enhance the employee experience. The article also covers digital features like mobile experience, e-receipts, and brand choice.
A SAP Concur blog post discusses the value of employee experience amid the Great Resignation. It cites U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data that upwards of 3 million people have been quitting their jobs every month since April 2021, with the highest quit rates among mid-career employees and in the health care and tech industries according to Harvard Business Review. It cites a 2019 Gartner employee survey showing employees happy with their experience at work are 69% more likely to be high performers. It also notes a Work Trend Index survey finding 70% of employees want to continue working remotely, 65% want more in-person time with co-workers, and 66% of decision-makers plan to support hybr…
SAP Concur states that managing cash flow is about clear visibility into where money goes. By automating expense and invoice processes, organizations can reduce manual errors, improve accuracy, and make more informed spending decisions. The post recommends automating expense management for near real-time spend visibility, eliminating manual entry, human error, and compliance blind spots; and automating expense audits and invoice-to-PO validation to control spend before money leaves accounts. SAP Concur says its cloud solutions connect spending data from suppliers and credit providers, automatically audit transactions, apply spending controls, check for duplicate invoices, and provide detail…
SAP Concur and Brex have launched an integration that automatically flows Brex card transactions into Concur Expense expense reports within 24 hours, reducing data entry errors, providing more granular spend reporting, and enabling automatic reconciliation across multiple systems.
IDC survey shows 85% of SMBs prioritize digital transformation, but only 26% have the capabilities. The article discusses challenges for IT leaders, including executive buy-in, cloud migration, workforce changes, and remote work security, and suggests automation as a solution.
A SAP Concur blog post offers four expense-compliance tips for the highly regulated life sciences industry: monitor and audit expense reports, use automated controls to catch errors and fight fraud, use accumulated data to drive policy changes, and move away from manual spend processes. It cites figures including almost 20% of travel and expense spending falling outside policy, 89% of fraud cases involving asset misappropriation, and 42% of respondents still spending about 76 hours or more per month auditing expense reports. It also notes civil monetary penalties of up to $1 million for failing to report Open Payments in a timely manner.
SAP Concur published an article explaining the Value Added Tax (VAT) reclaim process. It notes that due to complex and country-specific rules, companies often do not claim entitled VAT refunds, with 54% of VAT going unclaimed. The article recommends solutions that automatically identify eligible transactions, enrich transaction data, and confirm recoverable amounts, while warning that manual processes can lead to significant regulatory and financial penalties.
SAP Concur notes that paper-, email-, and spreadsheet-based travel and expense (T&E) management processes have always been inefficient, time-consuming, and error-prone, and are unworkable with offices closed. The article recommends automating T&E processes to save time and lower costs. IDC recently conducted a study of worldwide SaaS cloud-enabled T&E management solutions and provided a vendor selection guide. SAP Concur was named a leader in SMB global T&E management by IDC MarketScape.
A SAP Concur blog post notes that as more employees travel for business, expense reports are vulnerable to fake claims. It offers three tips: know common fraud schemes (such as profitable per-diems, mileage padding, and double dipping); institute a corporate credit card program to improve monitoring; and use automated expense reporting systems like Concur Expense and Concur Detect, which use AI to analyze receipts, credit card transactions, and travel bookings to identify fraud, compliance issues, and errors.