SAP Concur Conversations

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.