What surprising trends in travel and corporate expense management software are revealed by SAP Concur ?

Why is this report valuable? Because it provides actionable insights for building stronger travel programs, aligning budgets, and enhancing the use of corporate expense management software to support employees and organizations globally.

To explore all five key insights in detail, download the full report.

Are travel budgets increasing or holding steady?

Despite a more virtual business landscape, ongoing economic uncertainty, and geopolitical challenges, the report shows that:

• 89% of business travelers,
• 93% of travel managers, and
• 90% of CFOs

plan no cuts to travel budgets.

Why do Travelers pay out of pocket for comfort and convenience?

Even with larger travel budgets, companies are still trimming some premium options to fight inflation, such as direct flights or overnight stays that reduce fatigue.

However, 93% of Gen Z and 88% of Millennials are willing to use their own money to ensure comfort, compared to just 62% of baby boomers.

How can companies balance travel needs with rising traveler anxieties?

Employee safety remains a top priority, as concerns about air safety, geopolitical risks, and health risks grow.

• 97% of business travelers are still willing to travel for work.
• Yet, 90% would refuse a trip if safety or social concerns arise.

How is automation improving corporate expense management?

“Automation is driving process efficiencies, helping us save time and helping our travelers in terms of focusing on doing their job and not expenses.”— Physititia Grant GTP, GLP, Global Head of Travel &  Expense at Uber

Uber, leveraging SAP Concur APIs and its own automation, created a chatbot to streamline expense reporting and help desk automation. Results include:

• 5,000+ employee hours saved,
• 70% of expense-related help desk tickets resolved automatically, and
• corporate card adoption above 90%.

Why is cybersecurity a growing concern for business travelers?

Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT problem—48% of travelers report increased anxiety about cyber threats while traveling. Concerns include phishing attacks, compromised networks, and data breaches.

Why do travel managers feel undervalued as traveler expectations rise?

There’s a gap between what travelers expect and how travel managers feel:

• 67% of travel managers say their role is undervalued (26% feel this strongly).
• 86% of travelers believe their travel manager could do more.

• Nathan Richter, Senior Partner of Wakefield Research,
• Stuart Maclean, CFO of Brother UK Limited, and
• Ivan Herrera, Supervisor of Corporate Credit Card Expense Reporting and Travel at ONEOK.