So, what are the most common pitfalls that arise during corporate travel, and how can they be navigated to enhance the experience? Here are a few vital insights drawn from industry experts.

The credit card conundrum

Imagine landing in a new country after three exhausting flights, only to discover that your corporate credit card has been declined at the hotel check-in. This scenario is all too familiar for travellers who face unexpected holds on their cards from car rental companies or accommodations. In South Africa, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) often expect their employees to cover substantial costs upfront, leading to further complications.

Herman Heunes, General Manager at Corporate Traveller, highlights the solution: 鈥淐redit facilities with your travel management company alleviate the burden of direct payments for each transaction.鈥� With consolidated invoicing and a billback facility, travellers can focus on their work, not on playing 鈥渃redit card roulette.鈥�

The cash-only reality check

Despite the widespread acceptance of credit cards, many destinations, particularly in Africa, still favour cash transactions. 鈥淐ard acceptance can be limited, especially among smaller vendors or taxi services,鈥� explains Rategang Moroke, Operations Manager at Corporate Traveller. When cash is necessary, travellers might be forced to use international electronic transfers, which can take days to clear.听This requires travellers to be aware of backup plans to prevent cash flow issues during their trips.

Currency fluctuations disrupt budgets

Arriving at your destination to find your carefully planned budget impacted by sudden exchange rate changes can be disheartening. One day, your planned R500 dinner morphs into R700 thanks to a volatile currency market. While travel management companies like Corporate Traveller typically book flights and stays in South African rands to mitigate this risk, unexpected expenses can still arise.

Moroke emphasises the necessity of incorporating realistic currency buffers of at least 10-15% into trip budgets to accommodate these fluctuations, especially for SMEs operating on tight margins.

Death by a thousand receipts

Ask any frequent flyer about their most dreaded post-trip task, and the answer will likely be: sorting through a jumble of crumpled receipts. Manual reconciliation is a time-consuming process and, for many, it raises anxiety levels. 鈥淔or clients using expense management systems, receipt management is largely automated, allowing for immediate upload via mobile apps,鈥� says Moroke. Unfortunately, many still manually submit their costs, leading to delays and increased frustration.

Bridging the 鈥榓pproved budget鈥� gap

Frequent travellers are all too familiar with the conversation that follows unplanned expenses, like opting for the last available hotel suite or an unexpected menu upgrade at a client dinner. Instantly, your R800 meal turns into a R1,200 bill, leading to sticky conversations upon return. To address out-of-policy spending, travel policies, pre-trip approvals, and transparent reporting are essential. 鈥淓xceptions are flagged and discussed with clients,鈥� explains Heunes, adding that persistent non-compliance can lead to disciplinary measures from compliance teams.

How to prepare for seamless travel

Before embarking on your next business trip, consider the following tips to navigate financial hurdles effectively:

While on the road:

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According to recent research from SAP, over 50% of global business travellers have had to switch their accommodation because they felt unsafe. If you think about it, that鈥檚 a significant number of people forced to make last-minute changes due to personal safety fears.

So, if you鈥檙e preparing for a business trip, whether it鈥檚 in a local city or halfway around the world, addressing safety should be a top priority. It goes beyond just locking the door behind you once you鈥檙e inside鈥攕afety starts the moment you think about hitting 鈥榖ook鈥� on that hotel, says Rategang Moroke, Operations Manager of Corporate Traveller.

Here are five questions Moroke suggests you ask听 to ensure you accommodation is safe.

1. What hotel security measures are in place?

鈥淚t鈥檚 important that companies vet the security protocols of the hotels they choose, especially in regions where crime may be more prevalent. The right set of security measures can help ensure travellers feel safe and focused while they鈥檙e away for work,鈥� says Moroke.

These basics should now be non-negotiable: keycard access for both your room and the lifts, CCTV throughout public areas, and alert, well-trained staff. Additional measures, like 24-hour on-site security, are definite bonuses.

2. How does the hotel safeguard my privacy?

Many hotel safety issues involve not just physical security but also privacy failures. One obvious concern for many travellers is hotel staff inadvertently disclosing room numbers or handing over keys to the wrong person. According to International SOS, four in ten business travellers are worried about hotel staff unintentionally giving away confidential information.

When you check into a hotel, your room number shouldn鈥檛 be announced aloud. And as a guest, you should also be able to trust that your personal data 鈥� whether it鈥檚 payment information or your identity 鈥� is handled securely and with discretion.

3. Is the hotel located in a safe area?

Physical security measures inside the hotel are important, but location matters too. You could be staying at the most secure hotel imaginable, but if it鈥檚 in a rough part of town, you鈥檙e exposing yourself to unnecessary risks every time you step out.

This isn鈥檛 just about personal preference鈥攊t鈥檚 a critical part of any company鈥檚 travel risk management plan, says Moroke. 鈥淯nderstanding local crime rates, recent disruptions, or even the neighbourhood鈥檚 geography can give you a better sense of whether it feels right for you,鈥� she says.

4. What emergency protocols does the hotel have in place if something goes wrong?

While planning your trip and focusing on business, it鈥檚 easy to overlook potential emergencies. Yet knowing what a hotel has in place for different types of crises鈥攚hether it鈥檚 a medical emergency, fire, or criminal activity鈥攃an make all the difference.

Does the hotel have a clear emergency response plan? Do they have security personnel trained in first aid? Are staff readily available to liaise with local emergency services if needed? These may seem like 鈥榳orst-case scenario鈥� things to worry about, but they can quickly become serious matters if a problem occurs during your stay, says Moroke.

5. Does the hotel use any technology for guest safety?

Technology changes fast, and hotels are adapting. Today, you鈥檒l find more options when it comes to mobile check-ins, which allow you to bypass the front desk altogether. This reduces the need for unnecessary interactions and gives you more control over your check-in process. Some hotels now also offer keyless entry using mobile apps, which is another great feature for those who want additional layers of security.

Moroke concludes, 鈥淭he hotels that offer tech solutions鈥攚hether it鈥檚 mobile check-in or smart locks鈥攁re taking additional steps towards enhancing their guests鈥� safety. But safety doesn鈥檛 end there. Your TMC should also offer services like real-time location tracking, which helps businesses keep a two-way line of communication open with attendees. If there鈥檚 any sort of safety risk, we know where travellers are and can get help to them quickly.鈥�

This article first appeared on Inside Travel:

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闯翱贬础狈狈贰厂叠鲍搁骋听鈥� Business travel is bouncing back, but not everyone鈥檚 getting a seat on the plane. A new 51风流Concur survey reveals a growing divide in who gets to pack their bags for work, with Gen X often dominating the field. This disparity threatens to leave younger generations, particularly the rising Gen Z workforce, at a significant disadvantage.

While two-thirds of employees see business travel as crucial for climbing the corporate ladder, an equal number feel they鈥檙e not getting the same opportunities as their colleagues. This gap has actually widened over the past year, jumping from 62% to 66%.

Bonnie Smith, GM of FCM, sees this as a wake-up call for companies. 鈥淲e鈥檙e seeing a generational divide in business travel, with Gen X taking the bulk of the business trips. But in today鈥檚 global market, that鈥檚 a missed opportunity for businesses and younger employees alike.鈥�

The benefits of a more equitable approach extend beyond just having a well-rounded workforce. It brings fresh perspectives to client meetings, aids in succession planning, and boosts employee engagement across generations, she says.

The reasons behind this travel inequality are varied. Seniority, age, and parental status all play a role. But so do factors like office attendance and even physical appearance. Women and LGBTQ+ travellers report facing additional hurdles.

The Gen Z Challenge

As Gen Z enters the workforce, there is a clear need for more inclusive travel policies. Recent insights from the Global Business Travel Association Convention highlight the unique perspectives and needs of this generation.

Emese Graham, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager at Flight Centre Travel Group, emphasises the 鈥楧ITTO鈥� system for Gen Z travellers, which encapsulates specific recommendations for organisations on diversity, individualism and teamwork, technology, and organisational supports. She says: 鈥淕en Z has different considerations than previous generations with 28 per cent now identifying as LGBQT+, only 15 per cent believing they have 鈥榚xcellent鈥� mental health, and the fact they鈥檝e grown up around crises 鈥� meaning their travel behaviours are different.鈥�

This generational shift demands a re-evaluation of current travel policies that may inadvertently favour Gen X travellers.

Making travel more inclusive

To address the Gen X dominance and create more equitable opportunities, Smith offers several strategies:

鈥淔irst, review your travel policies. Are they inadvertently excluding certain groups? For example, policies that require extensive travel might disadvantage parents or caregivers. Consider offering flexible options that allow for work-life balance.鈥�

鈥淪econd, implement a fair rotation system for travel opportunities. This ensures that all eligible employees get a chance, regardless of their position or background.鈥�

鈥淭hird, create mentorship programmes where less experienced employees can shadow senior staff on trips. This provides valuable exposure without full responsibility.鈥�

Smith also highlights the role that Travel Management Companies (TMCs) can play in this process. 鈥淵our TMC can be a valuable partner in creating a more inclusive travel programme. At FCM, we offer data analytics that can help identify disparities in travel opportunities. We can also assist in developing policies that promote inclusivity and ensure duty of care for all travellers.鈥�

She adds, 鈥淭MCs can provide cultural briefings and safety information tailored to diverse traveller needs. For instance, we can offer specific guidance for LGBTQ+ travellers heading to countries with less progressive laws, or accessibility information for travellers with disabilities.鈥�

So, companies face a choice. Will they stick with the Gen X-dominated model, or embrace a more inclusive approach?

鈥淭he future of business travel is diverse and flexible,鈥� Smith concludes. 鈥淥rganisations that recognise this will be better positioned to thrive in the global market. It鈥檚 not just about who鈥檚 travelling; it鈥檚 about cultivating a global mindset across your entire organisation.鈥�

This article first appeared on .

The post Why Gen X Dominates Business Travel appeared first on 51风流Africa News Center.

Although the travel industry is increasingly addressing inclusivity, research shows that business travel听is lagging.

鈥淭he lack of inclusivity in business travel is troubling. It creates uneven playing fields for LGBTQ+ employees, limiting their career opportunities if they feel unsafe travelling. This hurts both individuals and organisations. Plus, it undermines a company鈥檚 diversity efforts and reputation,鈥� says听, GM of .

Smith adds that addressing the safety of LGBTQ+ business travellers can be difficult due to the rapid changes to LGBTQ+ rights and safety concerns worldwide.

According to the 鈥檚听, Africa is the most risky continent to travel to for LGBTQ+ travellers, basing this on rights, laws, freedoms and public perspectives. Thirty-one countries in Africa have criminalised听homosexuality,听and听many more display anti-queer sentiments. Other dangerous regions for听queer听travellers include the Middle East, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, North Asia and East Asia.

Even in countries that are considered LGBTQ+ friendly, travellers can still face challenges, as 90% of business travellers reported that they still hid their sexual orientation during their trips.

However, this strategy听does not always guarantee听their safety.

Smith recommends training staff and using TMCs that will understand the unique risks and cultural sensitivities to accommodate and assist employees who do not conceal their sexuality. TMCs can do this by communicating with local tour operators and DMCs who are aware of establishments and accommodations that are queer-friendly or by consulting online guides for options such as听. IGLTA offers lists of tour operators and accommodations that are tolerant of LGBTQ+ travellers.

TMCs can also offer pre-trip assessments that examine local laws and customs, the degree of social and cultural acceptance as well as outlying practices. An example of an outlier is when homosexuality is not illegal in a country, but specific ideas of public indecency that correlate with queerness can result in arrest.

Smith emphasises the importance听by corporates听to train staff on how rights vary in different countries,听and who to contact in medical emergencies and for legal support if faced with assault, detention, imprisonment, or deportation.

Furthermore, by creating inclusive policies that adapt to destination-specific laws, sociopolitical changes, safety considerations and language usage, diversity, equity and inclusivity policies are validated. Additionally, it safeguards employees鈥� mental and physical health, improving work ethic and retention.

鈥淎n inclusive travel culture can improve morale and make staff feel valued by their employer,鈥� concludes Smith.

This article first appeared on .

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Those on the ground say sky-high ticket prices and tighter company wallets can sometimes make听business听trips feel more like boot camp than a perk.听Business听travellers are pinching pennies and facing more pressure to make the trip worth every cent. The fluctuating Rand hasn鈥檛 helped 鈥� daily travel allowances barely cover the basics. And you know what they say about all work and no play 鈥� it’s making these trips much less glamorous and more grind.

The change is palpable, according to the .听Business听travellers have reported significant budget cuts (40 percent), a surge in reduced overnight trips (32 percent), and a noticeable dip in the quality of accommodations (31 percent). Moreover, the relentless hunt for cheaper fares has been felt by 31 percent of those surveyed.

Understandably, flights were some of the first to come under budget scrutiny. The reported that the average ticket price for听business-related airfares rose 72% in 2022. The numbers give a sense of the situation, but what’s the reality for a听business听traveller trying to balance听business听goals with personal comfort?

Any frequent flyer will agree that听business听trips can be a hectic whirlwind of meetings and deadlines. But when you have to pick a cheaper, less convenient flight? Crazy early mornings or late nights, long layovers, or having to bounce between multiple airports get added to your workload.

Instead of saving听energy听for the big meeting, you’re left dealing with jet lag and travel fatigue. And the time you could’ve spent prepping or chilling? Wasted on navigating the extra travel hassle. Add to this – the discomfort of spending layovers on an airport bench because you鈥檝e dropped from silver to bronze, and the benefits that took some of the heavy听lifting听out of travel have vanished.

Companies are also making sure they get a bang for their buck. Instead of a one-day听business听trip with a single meeting, travellers now find their itineraries packed. Multiple appointments, visits, reviews, and the odd networking dinner thrown in. The rationale? If we’re spending so much to get you there, we might as well make the most of it. The result? The Q2 2023 Quarterly Trends Report shows corporations are travelling, on average, 20% less than 2019. 听The unintended benefit – it’s better for the听environment听to batch meetings.

It’s a brave new world out there for the听business听traveller 鈥� and it鈥檚 forcing many who hold the purse strings to reconsider and revise their travel strategies and policies. Bonnie Smith, GM Corporate Traveller, says that now is the right time to take a strategic rather than reactive approach to听business听travel budgeting.

“TMCs are on the pulse of the travel industry,” says Smith. By joining forces with a company鈥檚 administrative team, a TMC can devise a monthly travel budget perfectly suited to an organisation’s specific needs. “Their extensive network and know-how can unlock global deals, allowing travellers to enjoy perks without the premium of听business听class flights,” Smith adds.

The expertise TMCs bring to the table can also help recalibrate the company鈥檚 travel policy 鈥� and help to set some ground rules. 鈥淚t’s all about letting the team enjoy their trips without blowing the budget,鈥� she explains.

Smith explains there are simple and easy ways to take some of the 鈥榞runt work鈥� out of听business听travel:

• Special rates and perks: With global industry ties from a TMC like Corporate Traveller, travellers don’t need to hunt for the best deals. They automatically get competitive rates, plus perks like lounge access or upgrades.
• 24/7 support and听safety: Travellers can skip the stress of problem-solving during hiccups. With round-the-clock support, any issue, big or small, gets addressed without the traveller having to handle it all.
• Feedback and updates: A TMC will keep the company鈥檚 travel policy fresh so travellers always have a streamlined experience. Regular tweaks based on feedback mean travellers spend less time voicing concerns and more time enjoying seamless journeys.
• Easy expense management: Thanks to tech and tools, travellers don’t have to dread the post-trip paperwork. Simplified expense tracking means less time documenting and more time focusing on the trip’s purpose.

鈥淲hile all businesses need to have an eye on expenses, it’s equally important to provide teams with the necessary听resources听and flexibility when they’re on the听road. After all, their success during these trips is directly linked to our overall success as an organisation,鈥� adds Smith.

“Overly tight travel rules can demotivate top performers. They need both freedom and the right tools to excel. Balancing costs with travellers’ genuine needs is the key to reaping the full return on investment of听business听travel,鈥� Smith concludes.

The post Work Travel Now Means More Work Than Ever appeared first on 51风流Africa News Center.

However, considering the turbulent economy, Gabriele Indrieri, VP & Managing Director for 51风流Concur EMEA South, points out that it is vital for businesses to make efficient choices, especially when it comes to resources. 鈥淚t鈥檚 for this reason more decision-makers are weighing up the cost-benefit of corporate travel and looking for saving potential.鈥�

To assist businesses in reaping the benefits of business travel while protecting the bottom line, he outlines five tips to consider:

1. Minimize errors to reduce overspending: If employees manually enter and itemize expenses, they are more at risk of making costly mistakes. Therefore, investing in smart technologies, although initially can be costly, will mitigate this and instil long-term cost and time efficiencies. For example, tech can pull individual charges from credit card providers automatically or integrate charges and receipts directly from hotels, airlines, and rental car companies, or uploaded them as photographs by travellers 鈥� ultimately eradicating the room for error.
2. 听Enforce practical policies: Only one in three employees believe that their company鈥檚 travel and expense policy is well-fitted and fair, according to . Not only do expense policies need to streamline processes, but they also need to align with the company鈥檚 culture. Therefore, finance teams must consider how policies will work in practice, as it鈥檚 unlikely that they will suit every employee, meaning that flexibility will need to be built into their approach.
   This could be implemented through platforms that enable administrators to flex policies by creating multiple versions within the system that can be applied to different employees based on individual factors, departments, and offices. It is then essential to continually check whether the policies remain suitable for the workforce as time goes on. Regular automated audits are the best way to do this for overall, accurate visibility and to prevent finance teams from manually sifting through every single transaction.
3. Communicate policies regularly: Often when employees overspend, it鈥檚 because they are not aware of the budget allowance. This can be mitigated by ensuring a clear budget and that all employees are working within the expense policies laid out.
   However, only a third of employees say that their company鈥檚 travel expense policies are easy to understand with another only another third of employees taking action to avoid unconscious fraud. 听By frequently checking their policy for updates, employees will know the importance of facilitating travel bookings. In addition, professional travel booking solutions that make travellers aware of the bookings being covered by the company鈥檚 policies or not will reduce the number of potentially costly out-of-policy bookings and allow for peace-of-mind.
4. Streamline VAT reclaim: Many companies still fail to reclaim VAT, even though they lose a large amount of money as a result. This can be attributed to the use of inefficient tools and the fact that processing VAT claims and ensuring compliance can be complex. Using a solution that removes the need for businesses to manage their VAT reclaim manually can lead to significant time and cash savings while minimizing compliance issues.
5. 听Rely on data when negotiating rates: Discounted prices add up to real savings. But, to negotiate rates, you need to track spending with each supplier. This can be challenging without the right tools to sort through inconsistent spending data that is captured from credit card feeds and other sources. Plus, when employees book outside of the approved system, those expenses may not even be captured. As such, if businesses harmonize their spending data from all booking sources, they will be positioned to demand the best prices.

听鈥淭he pandemic has transformed the way we work, with virtual communication and digital tools to collaborate becoming the norm. However, it’s clear that there’s no substitute for the kind of in-person connections that business travel enables,鈥� says Indrieri. 鈥淏y adopting a strategic approach that takes into account the cost-benefit of each trip, businesses can take advantage of this by creating a cost-efficient travel program that allows employees to build valuable relationships and maximize productivity.鈥�

鈥淣ow is the time to take action and plan for the future, with a focus on sustainable, cost-effective travel that enables businesses to thrive,鈥� he concludes.

The post Strategic Business Travel: 5 Tips for Boosting Productivity and Savings appeared first on 51风流Africa News Center.

Perhaps what we鈥檙e experiencing is something business leaders have known for years: uncertainty and disruption are the constant. It鈥檚 how we deal with them that sets us apart.

As we approach 2023, the same questions linger: How long will inflation continue? Will there be a recession?

Unfortunately, it鈥檚 difficult to find clear answers. For example, The Wall Street Journal recently reported , which should eventually lead to lower prices. But on the same day, it also reported — more ominously — that the globalized supply chain continues to .

With global supply chains remaining dynamic and perpetually susceptible to disruption, where does this leave us? If the past few years were focused on responding and surviving, 2023 looks to be the year when business leaders leverage proven technology to build long-term resilience for their organizations.

We asked our leaders for their perspective on this as well as what they expect in 2023. Here鈥檚 what they had to say.

鈥淒uring the last two years of continuous disruptions, companies were forced to realize the necessity of supply chain visibility. As companies shift to building more proactive strategies, they will make plans to adopt new technology to achieve such visibility, helping them build resiliency within their organization. User experience will also remain a top priority for companies, allowing employees to accomplish the tasks they need across their spend management applications. As we look ahead, data insights and intelligence will also play a significant role in helping end users do their jobs more effectively to deliver more value to an organization. Skill shortages will remain a concern among many industries; however, finding, onboarding, developing, and retaining talent are what will differentiate the successful organizations from the ones that aren鈥檛.鈥�

– , President and Chief Product Officer,
Intelligent Spend and Business Network, SAP

鈥淕iven the supply chain challenges we continue to experience, businesses will most certainly continue to digitalize spend management processes and leverage business networks to increase supply chain collaboration, to improve organizational agility, and to gain real-time business insights. The other side of this coin is people. Thinking about how to avoid the ongoing talent crisis and build a workforce of longevity, we will see more businesses focus on nurturing their employees to retain good talent. They will enhance the workforce by upskilling existing talent to meet employees鈥� desire for career growth while also meeting evolving business expectations. Businesses will attract early talent to the workforce by enticing them to make a difference in the world by helping to solve the next generation of problems. This will require businesses to continue to drive clarity on their mission and purpose. Last, but certainly not least, businesses will maintain focus on including diverse perspectives to ensure they are delivering the strongest strategic decisions that can only come from diversity and inclusion. If an organization cannot deliver on the above expectations, they will inevitably be less competitive in the market for top talent and a resilient workforce.鈥�

– , Chief Marketing and Solutions Officer,
Intelligent Spend and Business Network, SAP

鈥淎s we approach 2023, it鈥檚 clear that the world鈥檚 business leaders will continue to grapple with economic, political, and environmental uncertainty. The good news is that dealing with uncertainty does not mean operating our businesses blindly. Digitalized procurement processes, data visualization, and business networks have ushered in a new era of visibility, collaboration, and strategic decision-making. With the right technology, procurement and supply chain professionals have access to an integrated view of total spend across their enterprise and deep visibility into their supply chain. This enables improved inventory management, predictable lead times, more efficient sourcing of supply, and cost savings. It also helps them tackle some of their most complex challenges, like achieving sustainability compliance and building long-term resilience for their business.鈥�

– , Chief Revenue Officer,
Intelligent Spend and Business Network, SAP

“Over the last few years, workers and employers alike have come to see the huge upside of leveraging a flex workforce. Even pre-pandemic, workers were looking for a different experience, one that offered flexibility and the opportunity to try new things. Temporary workers have proven they offer an effective way to address staffing and skill gaps, control costs, and manage the overall workforce more effectively. This year an found that 50% of organizations surveyed plan to increase their use of external workers. My prediction for 2023 is that businesses will continue to build on the efficiencies of the temporary workforce. They鈥檒l leverage coupled with freelance management systems and direct sourcing providers to find, engage, and manage external workers — both contract and contingent — enabling them to streamline recruiting, contracting, onboarding/offboarding, and security.”

– , Chief Technology Officer,
, SAP

鈥淚n 2023, the 51风流Business Network team will strengthen its commitment and partnership with customers to achieve supply chain transparency, resiliency, and sustainability. We will continue to modernize and innovate our network to drive vibrancy, infuse the trading partner experience with enhanced one-to-many supplier integration and intelligent insights, and improve platform performance and scalability. In addition, we will accelerate the transformation to our federated next-generation 51风流Business Network, enhancing value for all trading partners within the world鈥檚 largest B2B marketplace.鈥�

– , Senior Vice President, Chief Product
Officer, and Head of 51风流Business Network, SAP

鈥淚n 2023, market conditions and inflation will remain volatile as a new paradigm impacts interrelated supply chains. This is driving businesses to focus on fundamentals like controlling costs and finding new revenue. Meanwhile, governments, employees, and consumers are elevating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors to a higher priority. These factors are driving buyers to diversify their supply chains, creating opportunities for suppliers to 鈥榮hine brighter鈥� by highlighting their presence and value and their ESG credentials. Interestingly, inbound and outbound logistics continue to emerge as key competitive differentiators to drive efficiency, control cost, and earn customer loyalty. Business networks offer transparency, access to working capital, and connection that enable buyers and suppliers to address disruption collaboratively and build supply chain resilience. In 2023, organizations should look to leverage robust business networks adapted to their industry — not just generic solutions.鈥�

– , Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing and
Solutions Officer, 51风流Business Network

鈥淎s we head into 2023, I expect businesses to act on the need for agility and instantaneous collaboration with trading partners, no longer relying on manual processes to connect buyers and suppliers. As we have been reminded countless times in recent years, supply chain volatility is all but guaranteed. I anticipate a shift in how companies prepare for disruption; while 2020 to 2022 has largely consisted of supply chain shortages, many companies could also start to face supply and inventory overages, given the current macroeconomic state. Having visibility to manage both ends of the spectrum and creating supply chain transparency is critical. Companies will look to evolve their business network into one with real-time collaboration capabilities and unobstructed inter-company visibility across trading partner networks. Collecting and acting on intelligent insights will be key to developing networked enterprises beyond the siloed, disconnected nature of previous years.鈥�

– , Global Head, 51风流Business Network
Customer Success and Go-to-Market, SAP

鈥淭he year ahead will be a test of leaders鈥� abilities to do more with less, including weighing the costs and benefits of their corporate travel program in maintaining key business relationships. The pandemic taught us a lot about the value of business travel. According to from early 2022, most U.S. finance managers said their company experienced a revenue loss in 2021 as a direct result of employees鈥� inability to travel at pre-pandemic levels. It鈥檚 important that leaders keep these learnings in mind as they prepare for uncertainty in 2023. They鈥檒l have to balance saving money where it counts, continuing progress on priority initiatives like sustainability, and positioning their company for growth when the economy stabilizes.鈥�

– , President,
Concur Travel, 51风流Concur

鈥淲ith the role of procurement continuing to become increasingly more strategic, we are seeing a greater need to digitalize category management. This is confirmed by a conducted by Economist Impact and sponsored by SAP, which found that more than 40% of respondents said category management is a top priority in driving digital transformation in procurement. Additionally, businesses are looking to create buying experiences that are more predictive, personalized and sustainable for their employees as well as buyers of strategic categories across all types of spend — direct and indirect materials, maintenance, repair, and operations and service. In 2023 and beyond, we expect the demand for procurement technologies such as these to continue to grow as they enable businesses to make the data-driven decisions needed to better inform their indirect and direct spend channels.鈥�

– , Senior Vice President and
Chief Product Officer, Procurement Solutions, SAP

To hear more perspectives from supply chain leaders, tune into the featuring Bryan Rawson, senior manager of Software Development at T-Mobile, and Sudy Bharadwaj, vice president of Strategic Engagements for Intelligent Spend and Business Networks at SAP, as they discuss how organizations can make more agile, informed business decisions to help prepare for what lies ahead in 2023 and beyond.

This article first appeared on the 51风流News Center.

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In 2022, the global community will continue to see significant changes in nearly every sector. Here, our EMEA team of experts will share their predictions for the new year ahead.

While it still seems like there may be some challenging times ahead, often this helps us to create new ideas and set up new processes that can help improve and benefit the world well into the future.

Here are the predictions from our team for 2022:

G枚tz Reinhardt, Managing Director at 51风流Concur MEE (Middle & Eastern Europe): Employees will have more choice and flexibility over their travel movements

鈥淢any employees have become accustomed to flexible, remote working hours over the past year. When we can meet and talk with clients via Zoom and other virtual platforms, employees would arguably now be more reluctant to travel across the world to do so, as they can perform a conference call from the comfort of their own home or office space.

Post-pandemic travel is demanding that greater employee flexibility is afforded, to encourage them to take more sensible trips. Additionally, the growing number of SDBs (Supplier Direct Bookings) we are seeing highlights travellers鈥� desires for more freedom of choice and the flexibility to choose the travel supplier they feel most comfortable with from a health & safety standpoint.

As a result, we predict that in 2022, businesses will allow employees greater flexibility when it comes to asking them to travel. Travel communities have become emboldened for their greater good and not just that of the company. So, travel will need to be done on the employee鈥檚 schedule and they need to be allowed to decide which hotels or flights they would like to purchase. Additionally, businesses will also need to evaluate in more detail whether travelling so much is worth the cost and sustainability risks 鈥� especially if alternative arrangements can be made to help reduce this.

Overall, travellers鈥� personalisation will now need to be considered first and foremost over cost鈥� as this will help improve compliance and the well-being and productivity of happier employees.鈥�

Pierre-Emmanuel Tetaz, EMEA SVP and General Manager: Businesses will need to become more honest and transparent about their carbon footprint

鈥淟ast year the Covid-related travel drop resulted in a significant reduction of CO2 emissions which the world environment has benefitted from 鈥� and this helped businesses with improving their sustainability movements. In recent years, sustainability has taken a lead position in the hiring and retention of employees. Many job seekers are evaluating a potential company鈥檚 commitment to environmental and social sustainability as well as the benefits the company offers. Companies that can adapt quickly to this new trend are more likely to attract and retain top talents.

However, with governments across the globe also setting new CO2 emission goals and criteria to meet, sustainable movements are not only critical for an organisation鈥檚 success, but also a top board priority.

Therefore, with business travel expected to start increasing next year, businesses in 2022 will need to provide their employees with greater visibility and informed choices about their sustainability movements and inform them re: how much of an impact their travel will have before booking any trips.

Business travellers will need to be more aware than ever of the carbon footprint they are creating, and if they are not aware, then they are simply not informed enough to make proper and responsible travel decisions. Employee movements need to be justified with travel options being chosen that are the most eco-friendly. To do this, we expect many companies to turn to technology tools which can help them manage their budgets and carbon footprints accordingly and plan the most eco-friendly and efficient routes to travel by.鈥�

Mark Cullen, Managing Director, EMEA South: Businesses will need to adapt technological processes to help solve regulation issues

听鈥淚 expect we will see companies embrace new corporate policies to help facilitate business travel while avoiding issues that could arise due to the complexity of today鈥檚 travel landscape. Unfortunately, there is no global standardisation when it comes to international travel –听 rules and regulations vary immensely by country. The policies will range from outright travel restrictions to ensuring employees have done their due diligence on what is required to travel to their destination before making arrangement and incurring expenses.

While corporate travel will continue to pick up in 2022 the landscape will remain complex, uneven, and confusing for both business and individual travellers; both will be in need of support and guidance to ensure they are aware and adhering to the various regulations to ensure smooth travel. 听We expect to see more organisations turn to technology providers to help address these complications.

Luckily, there are tools, resources, and vendors available today to provide the needed support. We are already seeing corporate leaders re-evaluate what they are doing today and considering how to re-engineer their organisations not only for the immediate future but for what may be waiting around the corner. To complement new policies and ways of managing business processes, we are seeing more interest from organisations in the broader eco-system and how new partnerships can add value and support听 鈥� providers that are best of breed in niche areas such as 鈥楧uty of Care鈥�. The beauty of the cloud is that it affords interoperability between providers, bringing unique sets of data together in new ways for companies and/or individuals to make better informed decisions.

In summary, COVID is not going away but we will continue to learn how to live with it and companies will continue to learn for themselves in 2022鈥�

听Ryan Demaray, Managing Director SMB EMEA at 51风流Concur: Virtual card payments will be used more to empower and manage employee spending

鈥淓ver since the development of cashless payments accelerated, particularly in the hospitality and retail sectors, finance teams across the board are looking for new ways to manage individual and company budgets鈥痮n the go.

With this in mind, we expect to see virtual cards used as a key solution in 2022 to help empower and manage employee spending. For B2B companies, where few payments are made face-to-face, this could potentially be game-changing.

Virtual cards offer significant benefits for travel managers and finance departments. They can be configured for spending limits, department codes, merchant category controls, and date specifications. They deliver this information to an organisation鈥檚 back-end accounting system in real time, making it easier to spot unusual activity, and because the numbers are unique for each transaction, it鈥檚 a more secure way to pay. Businesses can control how much is spent and what it鈥檚 spent on, so it鈥檚 easier to ensure compliance with the company听听and expense policy. It鈥檚 also ideal for employees who don鈥檛 travel often, and for vendors who will be incurring expenses over a limited period for the company in question.

This solution will also help smaller businesses who don鈥檛 want to invest too much and would prefer a simple solution instead. With virtual cards, multiple employees can use different card details, without any extra costs 鈥� and they can easily access the card through a mobile app, where they can also upload receipts for claims. We expect to see this technology take off for businesses in the next year ahead.鈥�

听Rob Harrison, MD EMEA North at 51风流Concur: Additional challenges will arise around data privacy

鈥�With the world slowing opening for business, and more people feeling confident about travelling, we can expect to see an increase around duty of care regulations for 2022 and the future. With individuals now expected to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test, or confirmation of their vaccine status, businesses will want to make sure that everyone is compliant and travelling with caution and care.

Having said this, while these regulations are still being adopted by many businesses and governments, there are still some concerns around the data privacy of these new procedures 鈥� which we expect to see as a key talking point in 2022.

For instance, the 鈥榲accine passport鈥� will hold sensitive information on health data 鈥� which is crucial to keep secure. There are several challenges and additional obligations that will apply under GDPR and UK GDPR 鈥� including obtaining the correct consent to any transfer and providing the right privacy notice. Any privacy notice must be specific to the processing in question.

Therefore, for vaccine passports and other data and regulation requirements, businesses will need to be responsible for keeping on top of this with travelling employees. Therefore, we would advise that they work with trusted travel providers, who can take on the heavy workload of making sure their travel actions and documentations are compliant, so they can be confident they are travelling securely.鈥�

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In a webinar sponsored by听51风流Concur听Marco Dal Moro, lead of 51风流Concur centre of excellence,听Greg Cubitt,听senior regional solutions consultant and regional sales manager,听Ntokozo Mtshali听unpacked why employee experience matters.

Marco started his presentation by saying that today it is more important than ever for businesses to attract and retain the best talent; mainly because mobility has never been so high as it is today.

He explained that people in HR know better than anyone that one of the most important points of human capital management is processes like employee hiring and employee safety.

鈥淪o, when you have the ability to drive productivity from the very beginning of the employee journey, you are making an impression that lasts. And what we鈥檙e trying to say here is that there is a way to transform your business by increasing efficiency through delivering duty of care, promoting user satisfaction, and boosting employee engagement 鈥� revolutionising, therefore, the travel and expense process right off the gate.鈥�

The challenges of CHROs

Marco shared some of the challenges CHROs face constantly. 鈥淐HROs face a lot of pressure to manage the workforce from recruiting to onboarding, to retirement and attrition,鈥� he said, adding that these are just broad strokes.

These challenges also include:

• Satisfying of duty of care compliance:
• 听Low satisfaction with travel and expense tools
• 听Not having a mobile app-based solution
• 听Manual and paper-based travel and expense processes
• 听Lengthy reimbursement cycle
• 听Minimal flexibility in booking and purchasing

Solutions organisations need

Marco said the question is how organisations provide guidance and oversight during purchase. And how do they gain the visibility they need across spending without having timely integrated analytics to keep track of them?

鈥淵ou need a solution that first of all will improve employee experience and does so by leveraging top-rated mobile apps, intuitive tools, and easy-to-navigate spend policies to improve employee satisfaction with your travel and expense processes,鈥� he said.

鈥淭he second pillar is employee engagement, to improve employees鈥� productivity and keep them focused on their job by eliminating unnecessary paperwork and automating manual tasks.

鈥淎nd the third pillar is to help you fulfill the duty of care, this reduces risk and increases the wellbeing of your employee by locating, communicating, and assisting them during emergencies, which is something that 10 years ago, would have been reserved for CEOs.鈥�

Creating positive employee experiences

Marco highlighted that 64 percent of organisations say employee experience is one of the most important factors considered when purchasing technology.

He shared the challenges and solutions to creating an employee experience: 鈥淚n creating a positive employee experience, the challenges include the fact that we are all on the go, in work and in life, and you can’t really afford to be tied to your desk.鈥�

The other challenges are:
1. Enabling mobile experience
2. Navigating policies is hard
3. Limited choice of brands to book
4. Time-consuming reimbursement processes
5. Complex tools
6. No visibility into claim status

He shared that the solutions to these challenges are quite clear. 鈥淵ou need a solution that gives the employee one of the most liked and top-rated applications in the industry, that has policy guidance built-in, and gives employees the flexibility to book brands they already like.鈥�

Greg also highlighted that the integration with 51风流Concur SuccessFactors, which is its HCM solution system, helps to improve the employee experience by being able to leverage top-rated mobile applications that are easy to navigate, and also increase employee engagement.

鈥淐oncur integrates with SuccessFactors, which are your master data source for all your employee information. As changes happen on your employee master data system, these changes propagate automatically and seamlessly to the concur system,鈥� he said.

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Despite this, companies continue to struggle with compliance challenges as employees submit expenses and invoices that may not adhere to corporate policies. According to听the ACFE鈥檚听2020听鈥淩eport to the Nations鈥�[1], the median loss to a听company听from expense report fraud is $33,000 per year, and a lack of internal controls contribute to nearly one in three frauds.

With many businesses operating on tighter budgets, there鈥檚 more pressure to increase spend compliance and reduce errors, fraud, and waste than ever. Timing is also of the essence as businesses expect the situation to become even more complex in the future. According to recent 51风流Concur research, almost half of finance and business leaders expect more frequent audit and punitive penalties in a post-COVID world.

To tackle this challenge, businesses need solutions to easily manage employees鈥� expense and invoice submissions, as well as mitigate compliance risks early. To help companies big and small ensure they are ready to address this, 51风流Concur 鈥� together with spend management and risk mitigation partner Oversight 鈥� launched . The solution powered by AI (artificial intelligence) is designed to simplify an organisation鈥檚 expense audit and compliance programme through embedded intelligence and automation. Concur Detect by Oversight uses AI to automate an enormous quantity of data, enabling it to identify errors early and using predictive analytics to empower finance and compliance teams to take proactive action. The solution provides a range of critical features, including:

• Simplified processes: Integrated with the Concur Expense workflow, Concur Detect by Oversight鈥檚 AI automatically identifies potential mistakes, fraud, and patterns of misuse both before and after reimbursement.
• Mitigated risks: The solution can reimburse employees faster with auto-approval of low-risk items while providing a focus for at-risk items.
• Greater visibility and control: Concur Detect by Oversight uses intelligent technologies to detect fraud and anomalies humans can鈥檛. Through its use of AI, it can leverage multiple data points for improved confidence, and validation on financial amounts, dates, vendors, and more.
• Ability to improve employee behaviour: The solution helps identify accidental misuse vs. fraud, to help auditors focus on developing and improving policies and best practices.Additionally, Concur Detect also tracks incidents against the employee base. This allows businesses to isolate repeat offenders from users who made innocent mistakes.

Mark Cullen, 听 EMEA MD, explains:

鈥淐hanging expense needs and unclear policies due to working from home scenarios have further complicated an often slow and error-prone audit process. Concur Detect by Oversight addresses our customers鈥� audit needs so they can improve compliance, identify fraud, and focus more on what matters to their business. With this solution, businesses can do a solid data analysis and focus on making tailored policy adjustments that address the real causes of expense fraud 鈥� rather than making potentially unsuitable policy changes based on mere assumptions.鈥�

听For more information on Concur Detect by Oversight, please .

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