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Welcome to the SAP Concur Conversations podcast, where we deconstruct and deliver all the strategy, innovation, and best practices from the world of business travel, expense, and invoice processing. Each episode, you’ll hear exclusive interviews with industry experts, visionaries, and leaders as they share what it takes to build forward-thinking spend programs. Our goal? To get you thinking differently about how your organization spends money. So, if you're ready to challenge your thinking and discover creative solutions to common business challenges from the best and brightest minds, then you're in the right place. Enjoy the conversation! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Who’s Working Harder: You or Your T&E System?
Your travel and expense (T&E) system is more than just a tool—it’s a strategic lever that can drive efficiency, improve compliance, and create a seamless experience for employees across your organization. Whether you're starting fresh, refining your processes, or reimagining the way your system operates, the opportunity to innovate and improve is right at your fingertips. But where do you begin, and how do you ensure your efforts deliver lasting value?In this episode of the SAP Concur Conversations podcast, Jeanne Dion, Vice President of the Value Experience team at SAP Concur, sits down with Carolyn Crawford Moras, founder of Carolyn Crawford Consulting, to discuss actionable strategies for elevating your T&E system. From fostering cross-department collaboration to leveraging automation and analytics, they’ll share insights that will help your organization run more efficiently, ensure compliance, and enhance the user experience for everyone—from travelers to backend teams.Join the conversation and discover how to turn your T&E system into a powerhouse for productivity and innovation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
42:4220/11/2024
From Exceptions to Efficiency: How Carleton University Made Expense Management Easy
What does it take to streamline expense management in a university setting where every research project has its own unique demands? In this episode of the SAP Concur Conversations podcast, Amanda Langton, a Financial System Support Specialist for Carleton University, shares how her team tackled the complexities of higher ed finances head-on. From quirky exceptions (think tampons in cricket aquariums) to leveraging automation and cross-department collaboration, Amanda shares her secrets for transforming Carleton University's financial systems. Joined by Jeanne Dion from SAP Concur, they explore how smart strategies and a strong support network can empower finance teams to adapt, innovate, and stay ahead of every expense. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
37:2613/11/2024
From Reports to Results: How Burlington Stores Built a Best-in-Class T&E Program
In today’s business landscape, efficiency isn’t just a goal; it’s a mandate. For Burlington Stores, optimizing travel and expense (T&E) reporting was a must to keep up with growth and strategic goals. But where do you start transforming a basic reporting system into a best-in-class analytics powerhouse? In this episode of SAP Concur Conversations, Christine Makai, Senior Credit Card Analyst at Burlington, joins Jeanne Dion, Vice President of the Value Experience team at SAP Concur, to share the inside story of Burlington’s T&E transformation.Christine details how her team leveraged SAP Concur’s Consultative Intelligence to go beyond standard reports, developing customized insights that impact everything from accruals to compliance checks. The result? A massive reduction in outstanding accruals and a data-informed T&E program that aligns seamlessly with Burlington’s operational priorities. From unlocking hidden insights to fostering innovation, Christine’s journey reveals how data-driven strategies can fuel continuous improvement and guide smarter decisions at every step. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
33:2430/10/2024
Risky Business: What Every Employer Needs to Know About Driver Liability
Every time your employees get behind the wheel for work—whether in their own car or a company vehicle—your business is exposed to risk. With vehicle insurance rates surging 22% year-over-year and 1 in 7 drivers now opting to forego insurance entirely, the stakes for companies have never been higher. Many employees who do have insurance are turning to low-cost policies that leave them dangerously underinsured, and in the event of an accident, their employer could be left footing the bill—an average of $75,000 for non-fatal incidents.Are your drivers among those at risk? And more importantly, would you even know if they were?In this episode of SAP Concur Conversations, join host Jeanne Dion and Jonathan Steele, Director of Product Management at Motus, as they explore the hidden dangers of driver risk. They’ll discuss real-life stories where businesses learned the hard way about the cost of overlooking compliance, driver safety, and insurance verification. Jonathan will also share actionable strategies that can help you get ahead of these risks, from building a seamless mileage reimbursement program to deploying proactive monitoring tools that protect both your employees and your bottom line. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
29:1826/09/2024
Travel Tug-of-War: Balancing Cost-Cutting with Employee Needs
In today’s business travel landscape, companies are caught in a tug-of-war between cutting costs and meeting the needs of their employees. The sixth annual SAP Concur Global Business Travel Survey highlights the critical challenges facing business travelers and travel managers as they navigate this complex terrain.In this episode of the SAP Concur Conversations podcast, Nathan Richter, Senior Partner at Wakefield Research, and Jeanne Dion, Vice President of the Value Experience team at SAP Concur, unpack the survey’s key findings. They explore the growing tension between employers and their traveling employees, as businesses increasingly tighten budgets while employees push for more flexibility. The discussion also touches on the role of artificial intelligence in shaping the future of business travel, offering actionable advice for companies striving to better support both their travelers and travel managers.Join us for an eye-opening conversation that tackles the real challenges facing today’s business travelers and the managers who support them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
39:2520/08/2024
The Black Box Problem: Why Finance Isn't All In On AI Yet
Despite the growing buzz around AI's ability to boost efficiency and drive innovation, finance and accounting teams remain wary. Their roles require high levels of transparency and stringent data controls, which makes them hesitant to fully adopt AI technologies. Although AI could greatly streamline business processes, concerns about transparency and data integrity continue to limit its application in finance.In this episode of the SAP Concur Conversations podcast, Yoni Lavi, co-CEO of Blue dot, joins host Jeanne Dion to explore the cautious approach finance teams take towards AI. Together, they discuss how AI can be effectively integrated into financial functions while upholding rigorous controls. Listen in for practical insights and real-world examples that showcase how finance can benefit from AI without compromising its core principles. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
33:1813/08/2024
Smart Spend Management: Why Your Success Depends on Your IT Strategy with ESTEVE
Often, your company’s IT department is most visible in its tactical role — helping employees use technology to get their jobs done. But it is IT’s strategic role that directly affects how well your organization uses technology to support your business goals. IT strategists look forward, addressing questions like: What’s next? How can new technology help our business? And how can it improve the daily lives of employees?In this episode of the SAP Concur Conversations podcast, Jeanne Dion, Vice President of the Value Experience team at SAP Concur, chats with Joaquín Buscarons, IT enterprise architect at ESTEVE, about the strategic role of IT in enhancing Travel & Expense (T&E) management. Together, they explore how IT’s strategic vision integrates emerging technologies like AI and cloud computing into T&E systems, boosting efficiency and compliance. They discuss the importance of choosing technologies that align with a company’s growth strategy and how the right IT strategy can support transformation and expansion goals, and enhance efficiency, safety, and performance while being scalable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
32:4928/06/2024
Building Stronger Businesses: Lessons in Mergers, Acquisitions, & Divestitures with Deloitte
Planning and executing mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures can present a business with a big opportunity to explore new markets or technologies, but they also expose the business to a wide range of challenges. Plagued with nuance, it’s hard to foresee all potential problems until you start diving into the details of a deal. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to prepare to ensure everyone involved comes out on the other side with systems, processes, and a culture that’s even better than how they started. In this podcast, Jeanne Dion, Vice President of the Value Experience team at SAP Concur, sits down with Oren Geshuri, T&E Practice Leader at Deloitte, and Rick Aviles, M&A Practice Partner at Deloitte, about the keys to a successful merger, acquisition, or divestiture. Together, they explore the intricate details and critical factors that contribute to the success of mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. From understanding the nuanced differences between these business transitions to emphasizing the importance of culture, communication, and strategic planning, this episode provides valuable insights for businesses looking to navigate the complexities of M&As and divestitures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
39:1726/06/2024
Meeting Face-to-Face: Optimizing Internal Meeting Management with Groupize
Face-to-face meetings have regained prominence in today’s workplace, and with this resurgence comes a growing demand for efficient event management solutions. But while companies are increasingly organizing multiday in-person gatherings to foster collaboration and connection among employees, many are still manually managing the process. Relying on manual management of internal meetings and travel logistics instead of an automated solution can prove cumbersome and costly, burdening organizations with unnecessary complexities. Join Jeanne Dion, Vice President of the Value Experience team at SAP Concur, and Alisa de Gaspe Beaubien, cofounder and CEO of Groupize, as they explore the intersection of internal meetings, travel management, and technology. Together, they discuss the rising popularity of internal company meetings, the impact on travel, and the pivotal role that technology plays in simplifying the process. From identifying potential cost savings to gaining visibility into spend, Jeanne and Alisa share insights into how automated event management solutions can revolutionize internal meeting planning. Listen in to learn how the right technology can help organizations save both time and money and streamline travel management, enhance productivity, and optimize the face-to-face meeting experience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
27:5423/04/2024
Fraud-Free Culture: The Power of People in Fraud Prevention
Technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), can be powerful anti-fraud tools. So can clear policies and rules. But the savviest organizations also recognize the crucial role that people play in the anti-fraud equation. That’s because “fraud is a human problem. It’s not an accounting or a financial or a transactional problem,” says Andi McNeal, the Vice President of Education at the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). In fact, in her experience, an ethical and compliant corporate culture “may be the most critical component of an entire anti-fraud program.” In this episode of the SAP Concur Conversations podcast, Andi joins Jeanne Dion, Vice President of the Value Experience team at SAP Concur, to discuss how to protect your organization from fraud. Together, they explain how cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and robust policies serve as formidable defenses, and underscore that the true linchpin in fraud prevention is an ethical corporate culture built on trust. Listen in for research-backed strategies for safeguarding your organization against fraud. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
31:1613/03/2024
Finance Forward: How AI is Shaping the Future of Financial Professionals
Artificial intelligence (AI) is having a transformative impact on the finance industry, and with rapid advancement on the horizon, financial professionals are faced with both excitement and uncertainty about how this technology will reshape their roles and organizations.In this episode of the SAP Concur Conversations podcast, Nathanael L’Heureux, Chief Solutions Ambassador at Oversight, joins host Jeanne Dion to explore the pivotal role of AI in revolutionizing financial functions and empowering professionals to excel in their roles. They discuss key questions surrounding AI's impact on finance, including how AI is transforming financial functions, how professionals can become AI champions, and how individuals and organizations can embrace AI to elevate their contributions and drive business success. Drawing on Nathanael's deep expertise, they highlight practical strategies for leveraging AI to elevate financial performance and mitigate risk. Listen in as they share actionable advice and thought-provoking perspectives on the future of finance in the age of AI and discuss how to navigate this paradigm shift to tap into new opportunities for innovation and growth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
29:3028/02/2024
Ahead of the Curve: Top Trends in Travel and Spend Management (Part 2)
In this two-part episode of the SAP Concur Conversations podcast, host Jeanne Dion and executive producer Kelly Moorman reflect on the transformative trends that emerged in 2023 and look ahead to how they're shaping the future of travel and spend management in 2024. From future-proofing organizations to embracing digital adoption, change management, and sustainability, we dive deep into the key themes powering businesses to stay ahead in an ever-evolving landscape. Plus, get a sneak peek into what's in store for 2024, including discussions on AI innovation, fraud prevention, IT strategy, and more. Tune in for valuable insights and actionable strategies to elevate your organization's travel and spend management practices.(Note: this is Part Two of a two-part episode) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
35:1627/02/2024
Ahead of the Curve: Top Trends in Travel and Spend Management (Part 1)
In this two-part episode of the SAP Concur Conversations podcast, host Jeanne Dion and executive producer Kelly Moorman reflect on the transformative trends that emerged in 2023 and look ahead to how they're shaping the future of travel and spend management in 2024. From future-proofing organizations to embracing digital adoption, change management, and sustainability, we dive deep into the key themes powering businesses to stay ahead in an ever-evolving landscape. Plus, get a sneak peek into what's in store for 2024, including discussions on AI innovation, fraud prevention, IT strategy, and more. Tune in for valuable insights and actionable strategies to elevate your organization's travel and spend management practices.(Note: this is Part One of a two-part episode) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
42:1227/02/2024
Health Beyond Home: Cultivating Employee Well-Being in the Era of Global Business Travel
As organizations amplify their travel initiatives, a pressing need arises to redefine employee health support beyond conventional wellness programs. This imperative particularly targets the distinctive health challenges faced by business travelers.By exploring innovative avenues, organizations are uncovering evidence-based strategies to confront this multifaceted issue. From fortifying workforce resilience to reengineering core business processes and modernizing travel policies, these strategies not only alleviate employee stress but also yield tangible benefits by enhancing satisfaction and bolstering the bottom line.In this episode of the SAP Concur Conversations podcast, Dr. Myles Druckman, Senior Vice President and Global Medical Director for International SOS — and a leading expert in international employee and traveler health management — joins Jeanne Dion, Vice President of the Value Experience Team at SAP Concur, to explore the not-so-perfect storm of overwhelm today’s business travelers face. Together, they delve into the ways organizations can proactively cultivate a robust culture of health tailored to meet the unique needs of travelers and share strategies for navigating the complex landscape of employee well-being in an era of global business travel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
38:2307/12/2023
From Chaos to Control: How Travel Managers Can Meet the Multi-Channel Challenge
In the ever-evolving world of corporate travel, significant changes are reshaping the landscape. As business travel suppliers distribute an explosion of content across a growing number of channels, the days of booking through a single or limited channels are quickly becoming a thing of the past. At the same time, employees want access to multiple channels and the flexibility to book travel directly. While some organizations are steadfastly resisting these changes, others are embracing the fundamental shift that is underway and smartly adapting their travel strategies to keep up with this multi-channel reality.In this episode of the SAP Concur Conversations podcast, Paul Tilstone shares independent insights provided by FESTIVE ROAD alongside Charlie Sultan, President of Concur Travel, as they explore today’s multi-channel reality and its impact on travel managers. Together, they share how organizations are navigating the complex world of multi-channel travel while maintaining program control, ensuring their adaptability and success in this dynamic and highly complex landscape. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
36:1908/11/2023
Procurement’s Gone Digital: The Smart Business Buying Journey with Amazon Business
There’s a fascinating transformation happening within procurement. For decades, procurement teams have been a tactical cornerstone of their organizations. But with the growth of digital technologies, their role has evolved into something far more strategic. Today's procurement leaders are at the forefront of digital transformation, enabling smart business buying. In this episode of the SAP Concur Conversations podcast, Satya Mishra, Director of Product Management at Amazon Business, sits down with Jeanne Dion, Vice President of the Value Experience Team at SAP Concur, to explore how procurement teams are transcending their tactical origins to become true digital transformation evangelists, and leveraging the power of procurement and expense management integrations to make their organizations more efficient, agile, and competitive than ever before. About Amazon BusinessAmazon Business combines the selection, convenience and value customers have come to know and love from Amazon, with unique benefits and integrations designed for businesses of all sizes. From purchasing professionals to occasional buyers, Amazon Business has hundreds of millions of items to help meet the needs of your organization. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
32:1401/11/2023
The ROI of Digital Adoption: Maximizing the Value of Automated Spend Management
The average employee uses 29 applications a week to accomplish their job. Meanwhile, the average company has 1,900 unique business processes — many digitally-driven — that need to be followed. Our work lives are dominated by technology and technological processes, and yet organizations grapple with a fundamental question: Are these digital investments truly delivering on their promises, and are they user-friendly enough to be embraced across the workforce?That’s where digital adoption technology comes into play. In this episode of the SAP Concur Conversations podcast, Keith Bendy, the Vice President of ISV and Technology Alliances at WalkMe — a pioneering digital adoption platform — unravels the complexities of the return on investment (ROI) of digital adoption and shares how digital adoption transforms the way we work, learn, and thrive in the digital era. Join us as we explore how digital adoption transcends functionality, offering key advantages such as heightened visibility into software usage patterns, elevated user engagement, and strengthened compliance — all of which empower organizations to run at their best. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
39:0419/10/2023
Beyond the Buzzword: How to Drive Digital Adoption in T&E Programs
Developing a high-performing travel and expense (T&E) program and getting employees to adopt the technology that comes with it can be challenging. That’s because most companies must design their program for a wide variety of employees whose needs are always changing, and whose familiarity and comfort with business travel and technology varies. It’s a tall order for sure, but fortunately, one that can be filled.In this episode of the SAP Concur Conversations podcast, Lisa Simpson, Travel and Card Services Specialist at JM Huber, shares the strategic approach JM Huber took to driving digital adoption of their T&E program and how the company was able to build and maintain a 95–97% adoption rate for more than 10 years (and counting). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
34:0928/09/2023
Start Smart, Scale Fast: How Startups Are Navigating Today's Digital Landscape
The Digital Revolution is transforming today’s business landscape at an accelerated pace, forcing businesses to embrace new technologies to gain a competitive edge, or risk falling behind. This is driving a move away from digital innovation solutions with long implementation timelines towards short-term digitalization wins, especially for companies in the early stages of growth. While CEOs and CFOs are left with the challenge of identifying quick-to-value technologies that make the most sense for their business and navigating intricate relationships with vendors whose solutions can help them scale smartly, venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE) firms similarly navigating the startup space — and vendor relations — are pressured to add value while reducing complexity and costs.In this episode of the SAP Concur Conversations podcast, Bailey Dickey of GGV Capital and Phil McNamara of Proven explore the challenges and opportunities within the startup space and detail various aspects of the startup journey, diving deep into vendor relationships, cost management, digital transformation, and the role of technology in scaling businesses. They highlight the importance of trust and collaboration with vendors, the need for real-time reporting to monitor spending, and the potential of AI and digital tools to streamline operations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
31:3621/09/2023
Scaling Success: A Roadmap to T&E Program Efficiency
In the fast-paced world of business, success often hinges on the ability to adapt, innovate, and optimize. Yet, many organizations find themselves stuck in the rut of conventional travel and expense (T&E) programs, oblivious to the untapped potential to streamline and optimize their T&E systems and processes.In this episode of the SAP Concur Conversations podcast, Meysam Foroughi, Senior Travel & Expense specialist at Roku, shares how he simplified and optimized Roku’s T&E program by harnessing a growth mindset, and why he believes “we’ve always done it this way” is the single most dangerous phrase for organizations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
34:4920/09/2023
Data Trails: The Power of Data Storytelling in T&E Management
Data is one of the most powerful tools your organization has to monitor its health, plan for its future, and effect real change. But data is nothing more than rows of numbers unless you can interpret what those numbers mean and see the stories the data tells. To do this, data must be accurate, available, and actionable — and beyond that, it’s up to you to know the right questions to ask to extract meaningful answers.In this episode of the SAP Concur Conversations podcast, CJ Cohick, a Product Manager (and recovering math major) at Motus explores the important role data plays in storytelling, how to provide data so it can be leveraged in strategic ways, and how automation and AI are shifting the roles of data in the industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
28:2023/08/2023
Sustainable Growth: Leveraging ESG for Business Success
Most companies today know they can decarbonize and become more sustainable. But they don’t know the best way for their company to become more sustainable — or how to balance their sustainability initiatives against other business priorities. That’s because sustainability isn’t just about a company’s carbon footprint. It’s also about diversity, equality, inclusion, biodiversity, circularity, plastic packaging, and so much more.In this episode of the SAP Concur Conversations podcast, Sammy Lakshmanan, Principle, ESG at PwC, and John McCormick, a Partner at PwC, explore how businesses can report on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards with a high level of trust. They delve into the use of sustainability data for growth, recent shifts in the world of corporate sustainability and the impact of those changes, and how businesses can leverage data and reporting to make sustainability decisions and deliver on those commitments.Learn more about how to leverage technology to better track, manage, and analyze your ESG data. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
35:2309/08/2023
Grounded Horizons: The Realities and Opportunities of Business Travel Today
92% of business travelers believe the future of their careers depends on successful business travel. And yet nearly two-thirds (62%) feel they haven’t had equal opportunity to travel for business compared to their coworkers, and they attribute this primarily to their age, accent, or gender. These are some of the staggering findings from the SAP Concur Global Business Travel Survey, which serves as an annual touchpoint to lay bare the realities of today's business travel landscape. Now in its fifth year, the survey explores some of the most pressing challenges facing business travelers and travel managers today, such as the lack of equal opportunity for travel among marginalized travelers, how that denial of opportunity can stunt professional growth, and how this impacts travel managers and informs their decisions. Nathan Richter of Wakefield Research joins us in this episode of the SAP Concur Conversations podcast to explore key findings from the 2023 Global Business Travelers Report and 2023 Global Business Travel Managers Report, and to share data-backed insights into the current state of business travel and what the next year will bring. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
35:1102/08/2023
Breaking Barriers: How Digital Transformation is Reshaping Spend Management
Change management is hard. And digital transformation can be overwhelming. So being tasked with the job of guiding employees through the changes digital transformation brings might feel nothing short of intimidating. But with a commitment to meeting your employees where they are and a game plan that considers the current state of your T&E systems and processes and maps to the desired end state, the change can be seamless.In this episode of the SAP Concur Conversations podcast, Jenny Chen, Senior Accountant at Dermalogica, and Jeanne Dion, Vice President of the Value Experience Team at SAP Concur, discuss Dermalogica’s recent digital transformation, the smart approach the company took to change management, and why intentionally taking a long-term view in creating scalable systems and processes was crucial to Dermalogica’s success. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
36:5219/07/2023
The Automated Advantage: Unlocking Business Benefits Through AP Automation
Only 10% of businesses have fully automated their accounts payable (AP) processes, which means most businesses aren’t fully taking advantage of the visibility, control, and savings that AP automation affords. And while it’s not uncommon for most AP processes to be heavily manual, it’s certainly a major organizational disadvantage. Between better visibility into spend, more time back in the workday, fewer errors and costly mistakes, and empowered employees, the benefits of AP automation far outweigh the time and monetary costs to automate processes and effectively drive change across your organization. In this episode of the SAP Concur Conversations podcast, Grace Swain, Senior Consultant at TCG Consulting, shares how, where, and why to start automating your AP processes, what the journey to full automation entails, tips for driving change across your organization, and the benefits AP automation brings to your business. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
22:1212/07/2023
The Great Balancing Act: How to Incorporate Sustainability Into Your Business Strategy
Organizations with an eye towards tomorrow are increasingly incorporating sustainability not just into their travel practices, but into their broader business strategy. But any business leader working towards sustainability goals will tell you it’s a balancing act. After all, sustainability and other business priorities such as cost containment don’t always go hand in hand.How can organizations appropriately prioritize their sustainability initiatives? How can they best understand their sustainability baseline and make the decisions that make the most sense for their organization? And as business travel regains momentum, how can organizations take action to reduce the inevitable carbon footprint of their business travelers?In this episode of the SAP Concur Conversations podcast, Nina Birger, Vice President of Climate Solutions for CHOOOSE, answers these questions and more as she explores how leaders can balance sustainability goals against other competing demands to build a more sustainable business, and how they can effectively promote sustainable business travel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
30:4706/07/2023
Traveler Personas and the Traveler Experience: The Next Big Thing in Business Travel
The traveler journey, traveler personas, and providing an optimized traveler experience…these haven’t historically been areas of focus for many businesses — especially during times of economic hardship where cost containment is often priority number one — but according to Hansini Sharma, who leads the Travel Practice at Acquis Consulting Group, they certainly should be.“When I think about these personas and how we build programs, I think we want to think about how to build them without creating additional friction. How can we be creative in leveraging the tools that we have? How can we leverage our online booking tool solution to provide the maximum number of options to our travelers? When you give someone just a little bit of wiggle room, the likelihood of them adhering to the new policy or the new update is exponentially higher.”In this episode of the SAP Concur Conversations podcast, Hansini discusses how and why travel managers and business leaders should change the way they approach their travel programs and policies to reflect the expectations of their travelers and explains why she believes the traveler experience is “the next big thing” in corporate business travel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
36:2314/06/2023
More Productivity, Less Paperwork: How AP Automation Revolutionizes Business Operations
Change is hard. But what if the pain of the same was greater than the pain of change? When it comes to accounts payable (AP) automation, this is the question businesses should be asking.Automation is arguably one of the more controversial topics of recent times, evoking visceral reactions and strong opinions alike. Perhaps that’s why although AP automation has the power to increase operational efficiency, visibility, and control, all while reducing complexity, fewer than 20% of businesses have fully automated AP processes, and 70% of all invoice processing globally is still paper based. So, what’s stopping businesses from going all in on AP automation, or at the very least taking the first step towards automating their time-consuming AP processes?In this episode of the SAP Concur Conversations podcast, Chris Elmore, Chief Evangelist of AvidXchange, explores this question, and provides colorful commentary about how the AP profession has evolved, the optimization opportunities AP automation opens for organizations, and how automation forces organizations to be more strategic and intentional with where and how they spend their time and resources. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
29:4512/04/2023
'Year in Review' with SAP Concur - Episode 3
Listen to the third episode of our 'Year in Review' series and hear from an award-winning psychologist & HR expert to learn how process automation can boost employee experience in the current cost-of-living crisis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
15:0630/03/2023
'Year in Review' with SAP Concur - Episode 2
Listen to our second episode of 'Year in Review' this time we are chatting to the Head of Product at SAP Concur, where we learn more about the products and solutions SAP Concur has in store for 2023 and how they can help your organisation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
13:4502/03/2023
'Year in Review' with SAP Concur - Episode 1
Join us for a series of 4 short podcasts to learn about our achievements in 2022, discover what is coming on the product roadmap, and hear from our customers and industry experts! Listen to the first episode with the EMEA Managing Director at SAP Concur, sharing his reflections on the achievements and learnings of 2022. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
09:3215/02/2023
Policy with Purpose: How to Create a Travel Program that Meets Both Employer and Employee Needs with Fox World Travel
As the role of corporate travel managers has evolved from gatekeepers of travel policy to crafters of value-rich, culture-aligned business travel experiences, there is a growing need to shift the mentality around travel policies and programs to meet these new expectations. The “set it and forget it” mentality of years past is not only outdated, but inadequate. Today’s travel policies — and the policies of tomorrow —must be agile, regularly reviewed and adjusted, and created in support of company goals and in alignment with company culture.In this episode of the SAP Concur Conversations podcast, Ben Claxton, Online Technology Manager for Fox World Travel, and Jeff Saydah, Director of Global Client Solutions for Fox World Travel, share the “secret sauce” for building a world-class travel program (spoiler: your travel program is NOT a rotisserie chicken), detail how to leverage data to inform travel policy and program decisions, break down how to measure the success of your travel policy and program, and discuss how the best programs both shape and are shaped by company culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
22:0531/01/2023
From Historian to Soothsayer: How CFOs Can Future-Ready Their Organizations in the Age of Complexity
In recent years, the role of financial leaders has evolved from historian to soothsayer, and yet CFOs don’t have a crystal ball to predict the future. Whether it’s optimizing operations and upping productivity or accelerating growth and addressing sustainability, today’s CFOs are being asked to drive enterprise reinvention and navigate an overwhelming number of complex decisions. It’s “to the point where 68% of CFOs are driving three or more enterprise-wide transformation initiatives in parallel,” says Aneel Delawalla, who leads Accenture’s CFO and enterprise value strategy practice. With the increasing weight of large-scale organizational decisions resting on their shoulders, how can CFOs rethink the ways they approach business challenges and productively and proactively guide their organizations through transformation? How should they reassess and reimagine their decision-making to activate change more effectively? And how can they maximize the effectiveness of their strategic decision-making to better navigate today’s fast-paced and complex business environment, and better ready their organizations for the challenges ahead? In this episode of the SAP Concur Conversations podcast, Aneel Delawalla, Managing Director of Accenture Strategy, CFO & Enterprise Value, and Paul Carr, Accenture’s HXM Ecosystem Lead for Solutions, explore how CFOs can make better, faster, and more strategic decisions that will future-ready their organizations and set the stage for success. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
31:1011/01/2023
Duty of Care: Protecting Your Travelers Protects Your Bottom Line with Deloitte
Over the past few years, employee wellness has taken center stage as leaders are increasingly expected to weave wellness into the fabric of their companies. And that’s exactly why duty of care — an organization’s legal obligation to protect employees from harm — matters. When business leaders create a safe environment for their employees, it establishes employee trust and loyalty. Beyond that, predicting risk, taking preventative measures, and responding quickly to crises help maintain business continuity. The bottom line? Businesses are beginning to view duty of care as a strategic tool to protect their workers while strengthening and sustaining their organization. In this episode of the SAP Concur Conversations podcast, Oren Geshuri of Deloitte explores what it means to keep employees safe in a complex world and how top business leaders embed employee wellness into their travel programs and incorporate duty of care into their company culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
35:2515/12/2022
Rewriting the Rules: How the Next Generation Is Shaping the Future of Business Travel
A new era of business travelers is upon us, and they don’t play by the same rules as the generations before them. With Gen Z on track to comprise roughly 30% of the workforce by 2030, bringing with them an entirely different set of expectations, organizations must be prepared to evolve the employee experience to meet these new expectations that aren’t just anticipated — they’re inevitable. How can organizations evolve their travel and expense (T&E) program from a recovery state to one of resilience and adaptability for these next generations as they enter, and will soon dominate, the workforce? Find out in this episode of the SAP Concur Conversations podcast as thirty-year travel industry expert and resident thought leader, Ralph Colunga, breaks down how organizations can ready themselves for the next era of business travelers — and why they should.Transcript | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
28:4902/12/2022
The Magic of Keeping It Simple: Implementing Travel, Expense, and Invoice Automation
As an implementation partner and reseller, Flexso has had great success in helping customers integrate Concur, SuccessFactors, and other SAP systems. The secret to that success? “It's in the small things,” said Roeland Vanbeselaere, Project Manager at Flexso, as he described the importance of being able to log in smoothly and swiftly to back-office, finance systems – especially as a first-time employee on the job. Join us for this episode as we dive into the importance of system integration and how project management experts at Flexso help put the customer in the driver’s seat. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
31:3008/09/2022
Anywhere, Any Currency, Any Time: Transforming International Payments for Businesses with TransferMate
Paying international vendors and employees in multiple currencies is a significant challenge for most businesses and was made even more challenging during the 2020 pandemic. Join us for this episode on SAP Concur Conversations as we sit down with Michael Cullen, Vice President of Sales at TransferMate, to discuss how the company became instrumental in the international payments space, providing businesses with the ability to make and receive payments anywhere in the world, in any currency, at any time – with utmost security and cost efficiency. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
22:3130/08/2022
Redefining the Meaning of Paper Trail: An SAP Concur Conversation with George Washington University
In 2012, George Washington University revolutionized their spend management system from outdated and clunky to streamlined and efficient by implementing SAP Concur solutions. In this compelling podcast, you will hear from the Director of University Payables and the Associate Vice President of Supply Chain at GWU about their 10-year transformation story with SAP Concur. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
19:3321/07/2022
Viable for VAT? Verifying the Ins and Outs of Domestic and Foreign Tax Compliance with Blue dot
Employees are back to traveling for business, and with it, the requirement to report both domestic and foreign expenses for tax compliance initiatives abroad. But businesses often experience roadblocks, especially when there are hundreds of global tax regulations that vary from country to country and frequently change over the course of a year. Listen in as we navigate the world of tax compliance – everything from understanding complex regulations, eligibility, and disqualification to managing bleisure travel. Blue dot helps solve for the manual lift of tracking and reporting, a risk that could forfeit it all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
36:4315/07/2022
Zoom into SaaS Management for Lower Cost and Compliance with Zylo
Employees are using company funds to buy necessities for work, such as tools, applications, office supplies, and subscriptions. “People feel that they have the ability to pay for something, or to buy something, and they use many different spend channels to do it,” shares Jeanne Dion, Vice President of the Value teams at SAP Concur. It was a growing problem that many organizations felt: “There was a growing and escalating issue around the number of applications and the amount of money that companies were spending on SaaS applications, and so we went out to solve that problem,” said Ben Pippenger, Co-Found of Zylo. The average company spends $65 million annually on SaaS and has an average number of 323 applications - nearly 40% of it going to waste. Join us for this episode as we zoom into SaaS management with Ben Pippenger. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
29:5813/07/2022
Taking Experience Data Seriously Amidst the Great Reset
Resetting employee and manager expectations around the best ways to collect and leverage experience data is now a need to have rather than a nice to have. Listen to a Principal Value Experience Architect of SAP Concur and a People Advisory manager from EY on how SAP Concur solutions users can build an outstanding employee experience based upon regularly collected data, feedback, and actions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
29:5326/05/2022
Effortless Sustainability: Manage What You Can Measure
Learn about how you can measure the carbon impact of your travel and spending to easily set baseline sustainability goals for your organization. Listen to the Co-founder and Head of Product for Thrust Carbon explain what a carbon emission is, how we measure it, and what an SAP Concur solutions user can do to reduce their carbon footprint and reach the global net-zero goal by 2050 or sooner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
40:5920/05/2022
Slashing Budgets or Biggest Bang for Your Buck? Zero-Based Budgeting Demystified by Accenture
Getting teams to think critically about what they need to spend to achieve their goals is no simple feat. Defining the outcomes to be achieved places value realization on any change for an organization. If overall growth and profitability are key metrics for your organization, zero-based budgeting, or ZBB, might be something to consider. Listen in for immediate tips for how to combat the Great Resignation, harness the power of spend technology, and disambiguate the financial priorities for your organization today.Transcript | Key Points Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
44:1714/02/2022
A Blueprint for a Better Event: Democratizing Meeting Planning with Groupize
In a time when, “self-serve is the new full-service,” event essentials now include things like instant communication, event ROI reporting, and seamless event experiences for all stakeholders. Having deep levels of database and platform integration not only keeps things running smoothly, but also dynamically optimizes programs real-time and into the future. Roles and responsibilities are also changing greatly in the event management space. “Every single industry has meetings, and they all have different problems to solve. And that's the beauty of an all-in-one platform that's configured to meet their needs,” shared the co-founder of Groupize. Listen to her vibrant conversation with a Principal Solutions Consultant for SAP Concur as they discuss how to plan and conduct better events in a post-pandemic world. Transcript | Key Points Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
31:1717/01/2022
Futureproofing for Financial Disruption: 3 Things to do Right Now
Having a plan for financial recovery, without sacrificing employee productivity or risk, is paramount for your organization to prepare for the next disruption. We asked a Senior Value Consultant for the Value Experience Group at SAP Concur to explore the top three financial considerations that organizations should be evaluating right now with a Senior Principal and Advisor and an Associate Director of TCG Consulting. Listen to this podcast for tips on how to help your organization both prepare for recovery, as well as be ready to tackle the next disruption. Transcript | Key Points Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
26:3904/01/2022
Automating the AP Process with Arup
In this episode of SAP Concur Conversations Alistair Kent is joined by Victoria Amis, Global AP Systems Manager at Arup and Sonia Blaudez, EMEA Solutions Consultant at SAP Concur and they discuss how Arup has benefited from automating their AP and expense process with SAP Concur. Victoria explains how Arup revolutionised their fully paper-based manual system into a completely automated global solution, servicing 20 countries and Sonia shares her experience of working with our customers to understand their exact requirements and how easy implementation and expansion is for our AP solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
29:3207/12/2021
Flexibility on the Fly: American Airlines Introduces Friction-Less Business Travel
The need for organizations to shift corporate online interactions to a consumer-like digital experience exploded amidst the global pandemic. American Airlines prioritized friction-less business travel in what was (hopefully) the most complicated time to book travel of our generation’s history. The Director of Digital Product Management and Experience at American Airlines shares how they offered their business travel customers a smoother and safer online booking experience amidst the global pandemic with the Director of the Value Experience Delivery team at SAP Concur.Transcript | Key Points Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
35:3915/11/2021
Consistency is King for a Globalized Travel Experience with Award-Winning American Express Global Business Travel
Clients of American Express Global Business Travel were clamoring for a consistent online booking experience in all markets-not just in the primary markets, like France or London, but in secondary markets, like Peru and Saudi Arabia. "When you have an inconsistent experience across your employee pool, the doubt around bookings, and payments, and use, and support of yourself as an employee within the company starts to grow. And it actually starts to color everything that you do when you are traveling," the Director of Value Experience at SAP Concur solutions shares. Control, savings, and support are all fundamental deliverables to create a satisfying online booking experience for business travelers. The Director of Online Strategy at American Express Global Business Travel, shares how they grew this offering. Transcript | Key Points Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
27:3303/11/2021
Bye-bye paper, Hello Automation with an Innovation Award-Winning Partner, neylux
“We don't like the paper processes, which we have, we even hate approval workflow. So, please, set up the system in an innovative way,” was the challenge a customer shared with the neylux team. A Director of the Value Experience Group at SAP Concur, and the Co-Founder of neylux, share how they solved it not just for one customer but for numerous organizations to shift from hating the approval workflow to loving the insights and experience. After listening to how neylux approaches this touchy topic, it’s likely you’ll find ways to transform your own process.Transcript | Key Points Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
30:4514/10/2021
Finance is Central to the Digital Revolution
From the original graphical user interface (GUI) and using a mouse to manage business expenses, to leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to create context for spending and identify patterns, finance has always been central to the digital revolution. Join us as some of the original members of the SaaS and ERP landscape and former SAP Concur senior executives have a conversation with the Director of the Value Delivery Group at SAP Concur, to share their insights on the ‘then and now’ of how technology impacts finance and accounting for a perspective on how to manage your organization today. Transcript | Key Points Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
33:1412/10/2021