Business Travel News - January 28, 2008 - (Page 26)

PAYMENT & EXPENSE SYSTEMS Concur Drives Integration UATP Managing your travel costs Universal Air Travel PlanThe only global travel payment system issued and managed by airlines • Low Merchant Service Fees • New Revenue Source • Increase corporate market share • Detailed Level III data pliers are driving innovation, because it forces them to be accountable to the customer.” Business Travel News’ Fourth Annual ExContinued from page 24 pense Managers’ Survey indicated that while a tion of Outtask (BTN, Feb. 6, 2006), and further small percentage of companies have integrated movement toward true end-to-end T&E report- online booking and expense tools, about twoing is the continued focus and draw for clients. So thirds said they prefer a single supplier for both far, Concur and Paris-based technology firms (BTN, Oct. 22, 2007). Still, Concur’s major comKDS are the only players in the ex- Visit the BTN Archive petitors, including CyberShift’s Nepense reporting field to release sincho and Databasics, are sticking to see btnonline.com/archive gle-company consolidated booking a flexible consolidation route, forgand expense tools. ing alliances with online booking suppliers and “The technology industry in general has failed, other elements of the supply chain, with claims so it’s about time we got it right,” Singh said. that expense managers prefer to have a choice “We’re innovation-starved, so we have the oppor- in putting together the components of their extunity to drive the innovation curve for the next pense management process. couple of quarters. Customers benefit when sup■ mbaker@btnonline.com ■ RAYMOND JAMES REAPS REWARDS FROM INFOR’S EXPENSE TOOL Investment firm Raymond James & Associates the Infor pre-trip approval tool it purchased in 2001. in the past seven years has transformed its travel It had garnered little use—only about 30 docuand expense reporting methods into an automat- ments had been submitted since its purchase— ed, nearly paperless process for its travelers using because Raymond James employees “don’t always Alpharetta, Ga.-based software provider Infor’s fi- have that opportunity,” Eriksen said, “because if an nancial management system. Through continual investment banker needs to go to a meeting, then adjustment of Infor’s modules, St. Petersburg, Fla.- he needs to go to a meeting.” based Raymond James realized Instead, Raymond James now the financial benefits to automauses the approval tool for brokers tion quickly, said Elizabeth Erikto request an upfront amount of sen, the firm’s assistant vice presmoney for business purposes, ident of accounting. Eriksen said. “It ties into the ex“We had anticipated an ROI pense side, but it’s money that is that would have us break even bapre-tax,” she said. “The system has sically in two years,” Eriksen said. really strong compliance tools, so “With the compliance tools that it follows the same approval flows we’ve been able to take advanand all the policies are validated.” tage of, we’ve been able to do so Overall, using Infor’s expense much more rapidly than that.” tools has decreased processing Raymond James, which time, particularly because Rayspends more than $12 million anmond James has many branch lonually on air travel, first switched cations, Eriksen said, and manELIZABETH ERIKSEN to Infor’s expense reporting modagers save time formerly spent Raymond James approving expense reports. ule in 2001, replacing a cumberassistant vice president “They still have to look at every some, mail-based reporting exception, but the system does process, Eriksen said. The firm added Infor’s payment module to tie in the compa- so much compliance checking, they no longer have ny’s American Express corporate card. “Because of to be aware of travel and expense reimbursement the success of those, we’ve attempted to become rules in the company,” she said. “The same applies even more best-practice-oriented,” she said. for the auditing area in accounts payable.” One such step was the implementation of an The payment module also has cut travelers’ imaging module in April 2007, she said. Receipt data entry, and, along with the imaging tool, reimaging has become prevalent among companies duced the need for receipts. Eriksen said the next with automated expense reporting systems in the version of the expense tool would have electronpast few years, particularly to comply with the 2002 ic hotel folio data processing capabilities, which Sarbanes-Oxley Act (BTN, Aug. 15, 2005). the firm would explore through American Express. Raymond James also has revved up the use of —Michael B. Baker For more information contact: marketing@uatp.com UATP accounts are issued by these airlines: Aer Lingus, Air New Zealand, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Japan Airlines, Qantas Airways, Ltd., United Airlines, and US Airways. AirPlus International issues the UATP-based company account for: British Airways, Continental Airlines and Lufthansa German Airlines. uatp.com 26 Monday, January 28, 2008 www.BTNonline.com Business Travel News http://btnonline.com/archive http://uatp.com http://uatp.com http://www.BTNonline.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Business Travel News - January 28, 2008

2008 Hotel Rate Hikes Appear On Par With 2007
Business Travel News - January 26, 2008
Buyers Air Merger Concerns
Contents
GSA Deploys End-To-End Travel Technology
Marriott Adopts Regional, Account-Based Sales Focus
BTN Delivers New Look, Keeps Focus
Carlson Taps Joly as CEO
BA To Launch Transatlantic Carrier
Amex Europe’s Herrick Augurs Growth
Savings Smorgasbord
Fuel Costs Fire Up Domestic Fare Hikes
Extended Stay CEO DeLapp Gives Recap
Fine-Tuned Expense Tool

Business Travel News - January 28, 2008