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Technology a Business Can Use to Sharpen Their Operation

Expense management is a vital element of operating any business. Without an efficient system, tracking spending, managing budgets, and ensuring policy compliance can become challenging. However, thanks to technological advancements, managing expenses has become much more manageable and streamlined. 

This blog post will explore the benefits of leveraging technology for expense management and discuss various tools and best practices for businesses to consider.

Benefits of leveraging technology for expense management

Leveraging technology for expense management is a game-changer, allowing you to save time and streamline accuracy. Manual tracking processes are tedious and may result in inaccuracies. However, with the use of technology, businesses can automate many of these tasks, reducing the risk of errors and freeing up valuable time for employees to focus on other tasks.

Another benefit of technology for expense management is improved visibility into expenses and spending patterns. With the right tools, businesses can monitor expenses in real-time, allowing for more proactive and informed decision-making. This highly visible data can help companies identify spots for cost-cutting and budget optimisation.

Technology can also provide better control over expenses and compliance with policies. With automated approval workflows and real-time expense tracking, businesses can enforce policies and ensure that all expenses are within budget and compliant with company policies.

Types of technology for expense management

There are various types of technology that businesses can use to streamline their expense management processes, including:

Expense management software: This type of software helps businesses automate the entire expense management process, from receipt tracking to reimbursement. Features can include automated approval workflows, real-time expense tracking, and customisable expense policies.

Mobile apps for expense tracking and approval: With these convenient apps, employees can capture receipts with their phones and effortlessly submit expenses while they are on the move. They can also provide real-time notifications when expenses are approved or rejected, giving employees better visibility into the status of their expenses.

Payment solutions: Payment Solutions like corporate Visa cards from Payhawk (for example) can help businesses control spending and reduce the risk of fraud. These solutions also offer greater flexibility and convenience for employees, making it easier for them to purchase on the company’s behalf.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning: These technologies can help businesses identify spending patterns and anomalies, providing valuable insights into areas where they can reduce costs and optimise spending.

Choosing the right technology for your business

Choosing technology that can seamlessly integrate with existing systems is essential to minimise disruption and reduce the employee learning curve. Businesses should look for technology that can be customised to their specific needs and policies. Different vendors may offer different pricing models, so it’s essential to evaluate these carefully to ensure that the technology is cost-effective and offers a good return on investment.

Also, businesses should ensure that the technology they select remains up to date with the most recent security and privacy standards. This will help protect any sensitive data collected by or stored on the system from potential breaches or misuse.

Best practices for implementing technology for expense management

Implementing technology for expense management demands cautious planning and implementation. Here are some best practices that businesses should follow:

  • Communicate the benefits and expectations to employees:

It’s essential to communicate the benefits of the technology to employees and set clear expectations for its use.

  • Provide training and support:

For maximum efficiency, businesses should provide both training and support to their employees. So they can utilize the technology with ease.

  • Establish clear policies and guidelines:

Clear policies and guidelines can help ensure that employees use the technology appropriately and comply with company policies.

  • Regularly review and optimise expense management processes:

To maximise the benefits of the technology, businesses should regularly review and optimise their expense management processes.

Conclusion

Using technology for expense management offers businesses benefits like efficiency, accuracy, visibility, and expense control. With proper tools and practices, businesses can streamline processes, saving time, effort, and resources for other tasks.

However, it’s significant to recognise that technology is not a silver bullet. While it can certainly help streamline expense management, it’s still essential for businesses to establish clear policies and guidelines and ensure that employees use the technology appropriately.