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Friday, November 28, 2014

The Big Advantage in Using Online Expense Management



A business which is not managed in a proper manner will find it very difficult to survive. There is so much competition in almost every business now days that it is very important for every business to manage its activities in the best possible manner. The threats and opportunities which come from the external environment of a business can be dealt with in a perfect manner only if the internal environment of the business is managed in the best manner. It is very important for all business firms to manage their finances in such a manner that they make highest profit.

Every business wants to cut its costs because more costs will bring down the profits. However, there are many expenses which cannot be avoided by organizations. Certain expenses have to be made by all organizations otherwise they will not be able to grow their business. You might have seen many people who keep on traveling to various countries or cities on the expense of their companies. Companies send their employees to other places so that they can find new markets and make new customers for their products.

When we go on a trip then we make various kinds of expenses like eating out, traveling, staying in hotels etc. All these expenses are paid by companies when they send their employees to places for their business. Now, it is very important to maintain a record of all the expenses which have been incurred by various employees on their business trips. The expense software helps companies in maintaining a clear record of the expenses which are made by employees while they travel for their organization's business. The expense software is considered as a very important tool for recording employee expenses.

You might be thinking that purchasing the expense report software will only add to the expenditure of an organization. You are right to some extent but you should know that this software does not come at a very high price. Also, the benefits which are offered by the expense software are many. Companies which are using this software have found that they have become able to discipline their employees for making reasonable expenses on their trips after using such software. There are numerous organizations all over the world which are using this software.

There was a time when employees used to give reports about their expenses to their companies after coming from their business trips. However, with the online expenses management system, employees are able to update the information about their expenses in detail online and this can be seen by concerned department employees from any corner of the world.

The online expenses management has made the lives of companies easier. This system lets companies know how much their employees are spending when they are on their business trips. Useful comparisons of records maintained can be made to know whether the expenditure on business trips is increasing with time or it is constant.

The Kick Off of AFP Annual Conference 2014

Certify kicked off November exhibiting at the 2014 AFP Annual Conference (Association for Financial Professionals) in Washington, D.C. With nearly 7,000 attendees, the conference fostered countless relationships and conversations, learning opportunities, and of course a chance to stock up on exhibitor swag and knows more about how to manage your expense reports.

From an exhibitor standpoint, we had an idyllic location at Booth 2011. Adjacent to Bank of America’s larger-than-life flat screen and endless lattes, the dining hall, and the educational sessions, we had a steady flow of traffic throughout the conference. Read more click here.

Monday, November 24, 2014

Company Travel Expenses Management Software Makes Sense



Managing company travel expenses is no easy task. For those companies whose key team members travel the country or the globe to visit clients, network with colleagues and prospects, or visit work sites, making wise travel spending decisions is vital. As a matter of fact, if your staff travels frequently, this type of expenditure may eat up a large chunk of the company's outgoing cash.

It is always a balance for traveling executives to procure what they need for successful business trips, while keeping the firm's expenses to an absolute minimum. By choosing to implement company travel expenses management software smart business owners are able to manage these expenses with ease.

Company Travel Expenses management software provides a comprehensive expense reporting tool no business should be without. Thorough tracking of submitted travel expenses helps reduce unnecessary spending, curbs careless reimbursement requests and helps in planning future company travel spending plans.

This Internet-based tool offers you complete control of exactly how cash is being spent. Traveling staff members can effortlessly use the software on any web-connected device to create expense reports and submit them anytime from anywhere in the world. Approve instantly have access to these submitted travel expense reports, at which point they can decide whether or not to authorize the expense.

The time and hassle that is cut out of the company travel expenses management process is valuable to your company in multiple ways. Time-sensitive decisions regarding the way travel funds are distributed throughout the company can be made faster than ever. As well, Company travel expenses management software facilitates a new level of visibility into your company's spending habits. Areas of abuse can be examined and addressed with ease.

As expense data is captured, comprehensive reports can be developed to show how company money is being spent. For example, you can see which vendors you spend the most money with, which may help you negotiate better rates and set up policy to use these specific vendors. Or, you might want to see which of your employees spend the most when traveling on business. This kind of reporting can help you control and reduce spending company wide.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

The Real Reason Business Travelers Love Fast-Food



Today, business travelers are less likely to dine on steak and wine and more likely to grab a Big Mac and a Pumpkin Spice Latte, a new study shows.

According to the latest Certify SpendSmart Report, the three restaurants business travelers expense the most are Starbucks, McDonald's and Panera Bread. Starbucks dominates breakfast, with a whopping 12.9 percent of meals expensed during breakfast hours eaten at the coffee chain. Meanwhile, McDonald's meals make up 3.3 percent of lunches expensed and 1.7 percent of dinners.

How did these chains end up on the top of the corporate credit card stack? Certify CEO Bob Neveu revealed three things these chains that others lacked.

They have Wi-Fi. Stuck in an airport or a foreign city for a few hours? Most likely, all you want is some food and a place to catch up on work or check Facebook. Chains at the top of the most expensed list, especially Starbucks and McDonald's, have made names for themselves as providers of free Wi-Fi.

"You think about Subway… it generally doesn’t have Wi-Fi," says Neveu. Even when individual locations offer Wi-Fi, the fact that some chains are widely known for the service boosts their popularity. McDonald's realizes the power of this reputation, as it builds its McCafe line as lower-priced take on Starbuck's refuge for individuals who want a cup of coffee and a place to work on their computer.

They're reliable. Whether you're in Tokyo or London, you're sure to be able to find a Starbucks to grab a coffee. Mega-chains like Starbucks and McDonald's, as well as Panera to a lesser degree, rely on the assurance that wherever you go, your meal will be reliable and familiar.

"You specifically see companies saying, let's use the same hotels, the same rental car companies, the same airfare plans, even the same restaurants – it's predictable, not only in terms of quality, but in terms of price," says Neveu. If you're planning to take a client out to lunch in a foreign city, better to stop by Panera, where you know the menu and you're sure you won't go over your budget, than get food poisoning at an unknown local restaurant.