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Expense Management for Remote Workforces: Navigating Challenges with Smart Solutions

Expense Management for Remote Workforces: Navigating Challenges with Smart Solutions

 

In the ever-evolving landscape of work, remote teams have become the norm rather than the exception. While this shift offers unprecedented flexibility, it also brings a unique set of challenges, especially when it comes to expense management. From tracking coffee runs to monitoring digital subscriptions, keeping a tight grip on expenses in a remote work environment requires a bit of creativity and a lot of innovation.

 

The Challenge of Visibility

One of the key challenges in managing expenses for remote workforces is maintaining visibility. In a traditional office setting, it’s relatively easy to keep tabs on expenses, whether it’s office supplies or team lunches. However, when everyone is working from different locations, getting a clear picture of where money is being spent becomes complicated.

Enter digital expense tracking tools. These nifty software solutions allow team members to log their expenses in real-time, attaching receipts and categorising purchases with a few clicks. This not only keeps everyone accountable but also provides managers with a centralised dashboard to monitor expenses effortlessly.

The Scattered Approval Process

In an office, expense approvals might involve a quick chat with a supervisor or a signature on a physical form. But in a remote setup, the approval process can become a bit scattered. Delays in approvals can lead to frustration among employees and hinder timely reimbursements.

To tackle this, companies are adopting streamlined approval workflows. These workflows leverage automation to route expense requests to the right approver, reducing bottlenecks and ensuring quick responses. With clear visibility into the approval process, employees can feel confident that their expenses are being handled promptly.

Balancing Personal and Professional Expenses

Remote work blurs the lines between personal and professional spaces. This can lead to confusion when it comes to expense reimbursement. Are those headphones for work-related calls or personal use? What about the upgraded internet plan?

Setting clear expense policies and guidelines is crucial. These documents outline what expenses are eligible for reimbursement and provide clarity on any grey areas. Regular communication about these policies help remote employees make informed decisions about what can be expensed and what should be considered personal.

The Isolation Effect

Working remotely can sometimes lead to a feeling of isolation. In a traditional office setting, employees might bond during lunch breaks or team outings. But in a remote environment, these interactions can be limited, impacting team cohesion.

While not a direct expense management solution, investing in virtual team-building activities can indirectly address the isolation challenge. When employees feel connected and engaged, they are more likely to be responsible with their expense management efforts.

Embracing Change for Better Expense Management

Navigating the expense management challenges of a remote workforce requires a mix of technological solutions and a shift in mindset. Embracing digital tools, implementing streamlines workflows, and fostering clear communication can transform these challenges into opportunities for growth. As the world of work continues to evolve, so too must our approach to expense management. With the right strategies in place, remote work can be a seamless and efficient endeavour for both employees and employers alike.

Automation and Security: Unlocking the True Potential of Expense Management Systems

In today’s fast-paced and data-driven business landscape, managing expenses efficiently an securely has become a securely has become a cornerstone of financial success. As organisations grow and expenses multiply, the adoption of automated expense management systems is no longer just an option – it’s a strategic imperative. This article delves into the vital role of automation and security in expense management systems and how their synergy unlocks the true potential of modern business.

The Power of Automation

Automation is revolutionising the way businesses handle their expenses, streamlining processes, and optimising resource allocation.

But how?

  • Time and cost savings: Manual expense management is labour-intensive and prone to errors. Automation reduces human intervention, saving valuable time for employees and finance teams. It also curs down administrative costs, making expense management more efficient and cost effective.
  • Eliminate bottlenecks and delays: An automated expense management system offers end-to-end automation, from receipt capture to reimbursement. It automates data entry, categorisation and approval workflows, eliminating bottlenecks and delays. With automation, managers can swiftly approve or reject them, leading to faster reimbursement cycles.
  • Improved visibility: Automation provides real-time insights into expense data. Managers can monitor expenses as they occur, gaining a better understanding od spending patterns and making data-driven decisions. This visibility enables proactive financial management, helping businesses stay agile and responsive.
  • Consistency: As businesses grow, manually managing expenses becomes more challenging. Automated systems scale effortlessly, accommodating a higher volume of expenses without sacrificing accuracy or consistency. This scalability ensures a seamless experience across different teams and departments.
  • Integrations with Financial Systems: Automation allows seamless integration with other financial systems, such as accounting software or ERP solutions. This integration ensures data consistency and eliminates the need for duplicate data entry, reducing the risk of errors.

The Critical Role of Security

Expense management involves sensitive financial data and personal information, making security a paramount concern.

Here’s why robust security measures are essential:

  • Data Protection: Automated systems must comply with data protection regulations to safeguard sensitive financial data and employee information. Robust security measures, like encryption and access controls, ensure compliance with GDPR, CCPA, and other data privacy laws.
  • Fraud Prevention: Expense management systems are vulnerable to fraudulent activities, such as inflated expenses or duplicate claims. Advanced security features, such as inflated expenses or duplicate claims. Advanced security features, such as AI-powered fraud detection algorithms, can flag suspicious expenses and prevent financial losses.
  • Role-based Access Controls: Implementing role-based access controls ensures that only authorised personnel can access sensitive data. This mitigates the risk of unauthorised data exposure and internal data breaches.
  • Secure Receipt Handling: Automating receipt capture and storage must be coupled with secure cloud storage and data encryption. This protects against data loss and ensures that receipts are accessible only to authorised personnel.

The Synergy of Automation and Security

The true potential of expense management systems is realised when automation and security are united. By combining streamlined processes with robust security measures, businesses can:

  • Maximise Efficiency: Automated systems accelerate expense management workflows, reducing processing times and costs.
  • Enhance Accuracy: Automation minimises human errors, leading to accurate financial reporting and decision making.
  • Ensure Compliance: Strong security measures protect against data breaches, safeguarding both financial and personal information.
  • Empower Innovation: With manual tasks offloaded to automation, employees can focus on strategic initiatives, driving business innovation.

In Summary

In conclusion, adopting an automated expense management system fortified with robust security measures is no longer a luxury but a necessity for modern businesses. By leveraging the synergy of automation and security, organisations can unlock their true potential, driving growth, and staying ahead in today’s competitive landscape.

Embrace the power of automation and security today, and witness the transformative impact on your expense management processes. Get in touch. 

Tracking CO2 Emissions and Mileage Rates for Sustainable Business Operations

business expense app, expense tracking app, expenses app

As businesses strive to adopt sustainable practices and reduce their environmental footprint, tracking and managing CO2 emissions and mileage rates have become an essential aspect of expense management. Traditional expense tracking methods often lacked visibility into carbon emissions and vehicle mileage, making it challenging for organisations to accurately assess their environmental impact. However, with the advent of advanced expense management systems, companies can now gain valuable insights into their carbon footprint and optimise their transportation practices for a greener approach.

 

Why should my organisation factor CO2 and mileage rates into our expense reports?

1. Environmental Responsibility

Including CO2 and mileage rates in company expenses represents a commitment to environmental responsibility. By tracking and accounting for the carbon footprint generated by business operations, organisations can identify areas where they can reduce emissions. This transparency helps to set realistic targets for sustainability initiatives and encourages employees to adopt greener practices in their day-to-day activities.

2. Enhanced Public Perception and Brand Image

Incorporating CO2 and mileage rates in expenses sends a strong message to customers, investors and other stakeholders. Demonstrating that the company values sustainable practices and is actively working to reduce its environmental impact. Such actions enhance the brands image, attract environmentally conscious consumers and can even sway investors towards supporting a more eco-friendly business.

Moreover, companies that take sustainability seriously are often more attractive to potential partners and collaborators. Including CO2 and mileage rates in expenses can create common ground when seeking partnership opportunities.

3. Legal Compliance and Reporting

As governments continue to implement stricter environmental regulations, businesses face increasing pressure to comply with sustainability reporting requirements. By integrating CO2 and mileage rates into their expense tracking systems, companies can easily gather the data needed for accurate and timely reporting. This proactive approach not only ensures legal compliance but also establishes a culture of transparency and accountability within the organsiation.

4. Cost Savings and Efficiency

Implementing CO2 and mileage rates in expense tracking can lead to long-term cost savings. By monitoring and optimising travel and transportation expenses, companies can identify opportunities to reduce fuel consumption, streamline routes, and minimise overall mileage.

So, how can I track CO2 emissions?

Using Integrated Data Collection expense management systems, like Capture Expense, seamlessly integrate with various sources and company vehicle data. This integration enables the capture of essential data, including fuel consumption, transportation modes and distances travelled.

Sophisticated Emission Calculation Algorithms accurately calculate CO2 emissions based on the collected data. These algorithms consider factors such as vehicle type, fuel efficiency, distance travelled and transportation mode (air, road, rail, etc.) providing precise emissions data.

From there, the expense management system generates comprehensive reports and analyses, breaking down emissions data across different departments, projects or individuals. This data empowers organisations to identify areas where emission reduction efforts can be most effective.

And mileage rates?

By integrating with organisations like Google Maps, Capture Expense automatically tracks the distances travelled by employees using company vehicles or personal cars for work-related purposes. This eliminates the need for manual input, reducing the likelihood of errors.

With mileage data at their disposal, the system calculates reimbursement amounts based on pre-defined mileage rates or government-set-tax-deductible rates. This automation streamlines the reimbursement process for employees and simplifies compliance for businesses. Capture Expense deploys this by automatically updating the approved mileage rates in accordance with the HMRC.

What are the benefits?

Environmental Impact Awareness: By accurately tracking CO2 emissions, businesses gain a comprehensive understanding of their carbon footprint. Allowing emission reduction targets to be set as part of their sustainability initiatives.

Cost Savings: Efficient mileage tracking ensures businesses comply with tax regulations and claim eligible tax deductions for employee travel expenses.

Data-Driven Decision Making: The data obtained from expense management systems empowers organisations to make informed decisions, such as promoting carpooling or investing in eco-friendly vehicles.

In Summary

Expense management systems have evolved into indispensable tools for businesses seeking sustainability. By tracking CO2 emissions and mileage rates, organisations can reduce their carbon footprint, optimise travel expenses, and contribute to a greener future.

Embracing these systems not only benefits the environment but also enhance operational efficiency and demonstrates a commitment to corporate social responsibility. In the pursuit of a sustainable future, expense management systems offer a powerful ally for businesses to drive positive change.

Open Banking and Expense Management

Open Banking Graphic

Managing expenses efficiently is a crucial aspect of any business, be it small start ups or large corporations. In recent years, advancements in financial technology have paved the way for more streamlined and innovative solutions, such as Expense Management Systems (EMS) integrated with Open Banking.

In this blog post, we will explore the benefits that an expense management system using Open Banking can offer.

So let’s dive in!

Companies using data analytics for expense management experienced a 25% increase in bottom-line savings

A primary advantage of using an expense management system with Open Banking integration is access to real-time data and insight. By connecting directly to users’ bank accounts, transactions are updated instantly, providing users with up-to-date information on their financial position.

Expense management systems utilising Open Banking not only provide real-time data but also offer advanced analytics capabilities. These analytics help businesses gain valuable insights into spending patterns, identify cost-saving opportunities, and make informed financial decisions. According to a study by Deloitte, companies using data analytics for expense management experience a 25% increase in their bottom-line savings.

 

Say goodbye to discrepancies

Traditional expense reporting methods involve manual data entry, leading to errors and discrepancies. Open Banking-powered expense management systems automate data synchronisation, significantly reducing the chance of human error. The Aberdeen Group found that businesses who adopted an automated expense management system experienced a 65% reduction in the number of errors and discrepancies in expense reporting.

 

Save up to 68% in processing costs

Implementing an expense management system with an Open Banking integration can save businesses valuable time and resources. The time-consuming manual tasks, such as collecting and organising receipts, can be minimised through automatic receipt scanning and categorisation. A report by PayStream Advisors found that companies adopting automated expense management systems saved up to 68% in processing costs.

Fraud? Thing of the past

Expense fraud is a common problem faced by many businesses, leading to financial losses. Open Banking’s API enables secure and direct access to transaction data, enhancing the security of expense management systems. As shown by Javelin Strategy & Research, companies using open Banking saw a 40% reduction in fraud-related expenses.

Seamless integration and scalability

Expense Management systems integrated with Open Banking offer seamless integration with accounting software and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. This integration streamlines expense data flow, making it easier to manage and analyse. Let’s not forget, such systems are easily scalable to accommodate the growing needs of a business.

And of course… there’s compliance

When it comes to financial management, regulatory compliance is crucial. An expense management system using Open Banking helps businesses adhere to relevant financial regulations and tax laws. By automating expense tracking and categorisation, companies can generate accurate and detailed financial reports effortlessly, which is especially valuable during audits.

To summarise

The Benefits of an expense management system using Open Banking is undeniable. The integration of real-time data, enhanced accuracy, time and cost savings, fraud prevention, seamless integration, improved compliance, and powerful analytics empower businesses to optimise their expense management processes.

As the financial landscape continues to evolve, adopting cutting-edge technologies like Open Banking becomes essential for businesses to stay competitive and efficient in their financial operations.

Boosting Company ROI: The Power of Expense Management Solutions

In today’s dynamic business environment, companies of all sizes are constantly seeking ways to optimise their operations and improve their bottom line. One often overlooked aspect that can significantly impact a company’s ROI is expense management. Traditional manual expense processes are not only time-consuming but also prone to errors.

However, with the advent of expense management solutions like Capture Expense, companies can revolutionize their expense management practices and unlock numerous benefits that directly impact their return on investment (ROI).

In this blog post, we will explore how expense management solutions can boost a company’s ROI, backed by facts and figures.

1. Time Efficiency and Productivity:

According to a study by the Aberdeen Group, companies using automated expense management solutions reduced the time spent on processing expenses by an average of 67%. This time-saving translates into increased productivity for employees, including finance teams and other stakeholders involved in expense management. By streamlining and automating the entire expense process, from capturing receipts to reimbursement, companies can focus their valuable resources on core business activities, driving productivity and ultimately boosting ROI.

   2. Cost Savings:

Expense management solutions offer significant cost savings potential. For instance, a report by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) found that companies can save an average of 10-12% on their travel and entertainment expenses by implementing an automated expense management system. This cost reduction is primarily driven by eliminating manual processes, reducing errors, and enabling better expense control and policy compliance. Moreover, expense management solutions help identify areas of excessive spending and highlight cost-saving opportunities, further contributing to increased ROI.

  3. Fraud Prevention and Compliance:

Expense fraud can have a substantial negative impact on a company’s financial health. According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), expense reimbursement fraud accounts for approximately 14% of all fraud cases reported. Expense management solutions play a crucial role in combating fraud by implementing robust controls and automated approval workflows. By leveraging AI-powered algorithms and machine learning, these solutions can detect suspicious patterns and flag potential fraudulent activities, ultimately safeguarding company assets and enhancing compliance. Mitigating expense fraud not only protects the company’s bottom line but also enhances its reputation and trustworthiness, positively impacting ROI.

  4. Data Analytics and Insights:

Expense management solutions provide companies with access to a wealth of data that can be leveraged to gain valuable insights. These solutions offer comprehensive reporting capabilities, allowing companies to analyse spending patterns, identify cost-saving opportunities, and optimize their expense policies. According to a report by Certify, companies that utilize expense management solutions with advanced analytics features can achieve an average of 46% greater compliance with their travel and expense policies.

These insights enable companies to make data-driven decisions, allocate resources effectively, negotiate better vendor contracts, and drive overall financial performance, leading to improved ROI.

  5. Integration and Scalability:

Modern expense management solutions seamlessly integrate with other business systems like accounting software, HR systems, and ERP platforms. This integration eliminates manual data entry, reduces errors, and ensures data consistency across different departments. Moreover, as companies grow, expense management solutions can easily scale to accommodate increasing expense volumes and support expanding teams, resulting in improved operational efficiency and a higher ROI.

 

In Summary:

Expense management solutions, such as Capture Expense, have proven to be invaluable tools for companies seeking to boost their ROI. By automating and streamlining expense processes, these solutions save time, reduce costs, prevent fraud, provide valuable insights, and seamlessly integrate with existing systems.

 The facts and figures presented highlight the tangible benefits that companies can achieve by adopting such solutions. Embracing expense management solutions is not only a strategic move but also a smart investment that can yield significant returns, enhancing the overall financial health and success of an organization.

If you’d like to have a chat and see how we can take the hassle out of Expense Management, just get in touch. Book a Capture Expense demo and see how it can work for you.

The Power of Control: Why Spend Management Needs Control

business expense tracker, automated expense reporting, company expense tracking, expense reporting software

Effective spend management is crucial for any business looking to optimise its financial resources and drive sustainable growth. While it may be tempting to adopt a more relaxed approach to spending, establishing robust controls is actually a vital component of successful spend management. In this blog post, we will explore why control is a good thing when it comes to spend management and how it can benefit your business in the long run.

1. Preventing Overspending:

One of the key advantages of implementing control in spend management is the ability to prevent overspending. Without proper controls in place, organizations may experience a lack of visibility and accountability, leading to unchecked expenses that can quickly spiral out of control.

By establishing spending thresholds, expense policies, and approval processes, businesses can ensure that expenditures remain within predefined limits. This enables better cost control, prevents unnecessary spending, and promotes a culture of fiscal responsibility among employees. With control mechanisms in place, businesses can proactively manage their budgets, avoid surprises, and allocate resources strategically.

2. Enhancing Compliance and Policy Adherence:

Control in spend management also plays a crucial role in promoting compliance and policy adherence. By defining clear spending policies and enforcing them through robust controls, businesses can ensure that all expenses align with company guidelines, legal requirements, and industry regulations.

Establishing control mechanisms such as pre-approvals, expense categorizations, and audit trails helps identify potential compliance issues and flag any non-compliant expenses. This not only reduces the risk of financial irregularities and fraud but also strengthens the overall governance framework of the organization. Control ensures that employees are aware of spending guidelines and are more likely to make informed decisions within established boundaries.

3. Streamlining Approval Processes:

Controlled spend management facilitates efficient approval processes, saving time and enhancing productivity. Manual and ad-hoc approval methods can lead to delays, miscommunications, and bottlenecks, slowing down the entire expenditure cycle.

By implementing a structured approval workflow with defined roles, responsibilities, and escalation paths, businesses can streamline the approval process. Automated approval routing through spend management tools ensures that requests reach the right approvers in a timely manner, accelerating the decision-making process.

Moreover, control mechanisms enable better tracking and visibility of pending approvals, reducing the chances of expenses falling through the cracks. Employees can track the status of their requests, allowing them to plan accordingly and avoid unnecessary follow-ups. The result is a more efficient spend management process with reduced administrative overhead.

4. Data-driven Decision Making:

Controlled spend management provides businesses with accurate and reliable data, empowering them to make data-driven decisions. With well-defined controls and robust tracking mechanisms in place, organizations can gather comprehensive expense data and gain insights into their spending patterns, trends, and opportunities.

By analysing this data, businesses can identify areas of excessive spending, negotiate better vendor contracts, optimize budgets, and uncover cost-saving opportunities. Data-driven decision making enables businesses to allocate resources strategically, prioritize investments, and drive operational efficiency.

While some may perceive control as restrictive, when it comes to spend management, control is an essential element for success. By establishing control mechanisms, businesses can prevent overspending, promote compliance and policy adherence, streamline approval processes, and make data-driven decisions.

Controlled spend management not only ensures financial discipline but also helps businesses achieve better cost control, improve operational efficiency, and drive sustainable growth. It’s time to embrace the power of control in spend management and unlock the full potential of your organization’s financial resources.

What is open banking and how does it make expense management easier?

In today’s world, businesses of all sizes are looking for more efficient ways to manage their expenses. One of the latest and most significant developments in financial technology is open banking, which can revolutionize the way companies manage their expenses.

So what is open banking, and how does it make expense management easier?

Open banking is a regulatory framework that allows financial institutions to share customer data with third-party providers through APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). This framework enables banks and other financial institutions to share transaction data and other relevant financial information with authorized third-party providers such as expense management platforms.

With open banking, businesses can connect their bank accounts directly to their expense management platform, giving them access to real-time transaction data. This makes expense management more efficient, accurate and reduces the risk of errors.

Expense management platforms that support open banking can also automate the process of categorizing transactions, making it easier for businesses to track their expenses. This helps businesses to identify areas where they can reduce costs and improve their financial management.

Open banking also enhances security by using tokenization technology, which enables secure access to financial data without requiring the actual account details to be shared. This protects businesses from the risk of fraud or data breaches.

The benefits of open banking are not limited to expense management. It also enables businesses to access a wide range of financial services, including loans, savings accounts, and insurance. This makes it easier for businesses to manage their finances and make more informed decisions about their financial needs.

Open banking is a game-changer for businesses of all sizes. By integrating their expense management platform with open banking, companies can streamline their expense management, improve financial efficiency, and reduce the risk of errors or fraud. As more businesses adopt open banking, we can expect to see significant improvements in financial management and security across industries.

At Capture Expense, we offer an expense management platform that supports open banking, enabling businesses to take advantage of the benefits of this new technology. Book a demo today to learn more about how our platform can help your business manage its expenses more efficiently and securely.

Why Manual Expense Tracking is Holding Your Business Back (And How to Fix It)

Spreadsheet expense tracking can be a significant hindrance to a business’s success.

As a business owner or finance manager, you know that tracking expenses is a necessary part of running a successful business. However, manually tracking expenses can be a time-consuming and error-prone process that can hold your business back in several ways.

Here are some reasons why manual expense tracking is holding your business back, and how to fix it with a modern expense management platform.

Manual Expense Tracking is Time-Consuming

Manually tracking expenses involves collecting receipts, entering data into spreadsheets, and cross-checking information to ensure accuracy. This process is not only time-consuming, but it can also be tedious and prone to errors. For businesses with a high volume of expenses, this can become an overwhelming task that diverts time and resources from other important business functions.

Solution: A modern expense management platform automates the expense tracking process, allowing employees to quickly and easily enter expense data into a central system. This system can then automatically process and categorise expenses, saving time and improving accuracy.

Manual Expense Tracking is Prone to Errors

Manual expense tracking is inherently prone to errors, whether from mistakes in data entry or lost receipts. This can result in inaccurate expense reports and cause delays in reimbursement or approval processes. Additionally, manual tracking makes it difficult to identify fraudulent or erroneous expenses, leaving your business vulnerable to financial losses.

Solution: A modern expense management platform can help minimise errors by automating the data entry process and validating expense information against pre-defined rules. This system can make flagging suspicious expenses much easier, alerting administrators to potential issues and thus improving accuracy and reducing the risk of fraud.

Manual Expense Tracking Limits Visibility

Manually tracking expenses in spreadsheets or paper forms makes it difficult to gain a complete and accurate picture of your business’s spending patterns. Without real-time visibility into expense data, it can be challenging to identify trends, track spending, and make informed decisions about budgeting and forecasting.

Solution: A modern expense management platform provides real-time visibility into expense data, allowing businesses to make informed decisions about spending. With customizable reporting and analytics, businesses can gain insights into spending habits, identify cost-saving opportunities, and optimise their overall financial performance.

Manual Expense Tracking Delays Reimbursement and Approval Processes

Manually tracking expenses can cause significant delays in reimbursement and approval processes, leading to frustration and dissatisfaction among employees. With a manual process, employees may need to wait several days or even weeks to receive reimbursement, which can negatively impact morale and productivity.

Solution: A modern expense management platform streamlines the reimbursement and approval process, allowing employees to submit expenses quickly and easily, and administrators to approve or reject expenses with just a few clicks. This can significantly reduce the time and resources required for expense reimbursement and improve employee satisfaction.

In conclusion, manual expense tracking can be a significant hindrance to a business’s success, resulting in time-consuming processes, errors, limited visibility, and delays in reimbursement and approval. By implementing a modern expense management platform, businesses can automate the expense tracking process, improve accuracy, gain real-time visibility, and streamline the reimbursement and approval process, ultimately leading to improved financial performance and overall business success.

See the solution in action by signing up for our webinar, taking place on 23rd March 2023. In this live product demo, we’ll show you how Capture Expense allows your people to raise, submit and approve expenses at any time, from any location and streamlines the way your organisation manages spend. Sign up here.

The Importance of Mobile Expense Management for Remote Teams

By streamlining the expense reporting process, remote-first businesses can save time, money, and improve their bottom line.

As more and more businesses adopt remote work, mobile expense management has become increasingly crucial for companies to keep track of their finances. With employees working from various locations, it’s essential that expense reporting is streamlined and easily accessible from any device. In this blog post, we’ll explore why mobile expense management is vital for remote teams and how it can help businesses save time, money, and improve their bottom line.

Ease of Access

One of the primary advantages of mobile expense management is its ease of access. With employees working from various locations, it’s important that they can submit expenses quickly and easily, no matter where they are. Mobile expense management allows employees to easily submit expenses through their smartphones, eliminating the need to wait until they return to the office to submit expenses. This not only saves time, but it also helps ensure that expenses are reported in a timely manner, which is crucial for accurate financial reporting.

Reduced Costs

Another advantage of mobile expense management is that it helps reduce costs. Traditional expense reporting methods, such as paper-based expense reports or manual spreadsheets, can be time-consuming and prone to errors. Mobile expense management eliminates the need for manual processes, reducing the time and costs associated with manual data entry. Additionally, mobile expense management allows for real-time tracking of expenses, reducing the risk of duplicate or incorrect expenses being submitted.

Improved Accuracy

Accurate expense reporting is essential for businesses to stay financially accountable. With mobile expense management, employees can easily attach receipts and other relevant documentation to their expense reports, ensuring that all expenses are accurately documented and recorded. This eliminates the need for manual data entry, reducing the risk of human error and ensuring that expenses are accurately reported.

Improved Workflow

Mobile expense management can also improve the workflow of remote teams. By automating the approval process, expenses can be approved quickly, reducing the time it takes for employees to receive reimbursement. Additionally, mobile expense management provides real-time visibility into expenses, allowing managers to see the status of expenses in real-time and make any necessary adjustments.

 

Increased Productivity

Finally, mobile expense management can increase the productivity of remote teams. With the ability to easily submit expenses from anywhere, employees can spend less time on manual expense reporting and more time on their core responsibilities. This not only saves time, but it also helps improve the overall productivity of remote teams.

In conclusion, mobile expense management is essential for remote teams. Its ease of access, reduced costs, improved accuracy, improved workflow, and increased productivity make it a valuable tool for businesses of all sizes. By streamlining the expense reporting process, businesses can save time, money, and improve their bottom line. To learn more about mobile expense management, contact us today to schedule a demo.

HMRC Mileage Rates for 2022

Did you know you can reduce your tax bill by knowing the most up to day HMRC mileage claim rates? Even if you have a company car, you can still save on taxes through the HMRC fuel rates.

You can use this guide to help you on your business travel finances.

What are the HMRC mileage rates and what should I know about them?

These mileage rates allow employees of a business to claim travel expenses when using a vehicle. This doesn’t just include fuel costs, it includes wear, road tax and insurance. Obviously it’s a little difficult to work out the general wear on someone’s car, even more so if you have to keep track of more than a couple employees. So HMRC uses a system which uses pence per mile instead of just fuel rates (known as Mileage Approved Payments (MAPs)).

As you don’t usually have to pay taxes on business expenses MAPs make it so you can make sure you’re paying the right amount of taxes. Even when you incur business vehicle expenses from a personal account, this mileage allowance also makes sure these expenses are exempt from tax.

Cars and Vans – UK Business mileage rates for 2022

The current mileage rate is the same as previous years, except there are different expense policy rates for cars and vans vs motorbikes and bicycles.

For cars/vans, the business mileage rate in 2022 is 45 pence per mile before you hit 10k miles. After 10k miles you can only claim 25 pence per mile.

Hybrid cards use the standard rate of 45p per mile, whereas electric car mileage rates are 4p per mile as electricity is not seen as fuel. This rate stays consistent for electric cars, even about 10k miles.

 

For example, if you’ve driven 12,000 miles for work in the last year you could claim:

10,000 x 45p = £4,500

2,000 x 25p = £500

£4,500 + £500 = £5,000 total tax free reimbursement

 

Motorcycle rates in 2022

For motorbikes, you can claim back 24p per mile when you use your bike for business travel. This remains the same no matter how many miles you travel.

For example, you drive 6,000 miles on your motorbike for business:

6,000 x 24p = £1,440 total tax free reimbursement

 

 

Bicycle rates this year

If you ride a push bike for work, perhaps delivering food or just to do local trips, you can have 20p per mile award for tax free reimbursement to cover insurance and general bike wear. This has no cap and can be claimed for an unlimited amount.

 

 

What trips count under the HMRC Mileage Allowance?

 

Examples of valid trips:

  • Travelling between offices
  • Travelling to a different location such as a conference or exhibition to conduct business
  • When you can’t get a job done without travelling to this place, for example a colleague has broken down
  • Driving to a client
  • Driving to anywhere outside of your usual office space in order to do your job

 

Examples of invalid trips:

  • Your daily commute to your fixed office
  • Travelling less than 10 miles to another location for work (seen as too close)
  • Toll payments
  • A trip where you primarily do personal errands and not work errands

 

There are lots of others, so make sure to check out HMRCs website for the full list to make sure you are compliant.

 

 

How are mileage tax rates calculated?

As most companies reimburse employees monthly on their expenses, companies must keep track of total mileage over the tax year. At the end of the tax year you need to compare the actual amount paid to the number of miles driven. Once you’ve used a mileage calculator, the HMRC does not require any information or reporting as long as you do not go over the approved MAP amount.

 

 

 

 

How can I increase my mileage allowance?

 

If you drive a colleague to work, you can actually get a further mileage allowance. Mileage rates increase by 5p per mile when another employee travels with you in your car.

 

For example say you drive your college a total of 70 miles a month in carpooling (840 miles per year):

840 x 5p = £42

That’s £42 extra you can receive tax free.

 

Ready to Revolutionise Your Business?

Unlock the power of hmrc approved mileage rates, streamline your expense report reminders, and experience firsthand how our integrated expense solutions can simplify your expense audit. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to shape your future.

Book Your Demo and step into the world of hmrc mileage rates.