Concur has launched a version of its travel and expense management tools that is compatible with certain mobile devices, allowing travelers to manage itineraries and expense reports while on the road.
Available as of March 24, Concur clients now are able to use the technology supplier's tools with a BlackBerry or a Windows Mobile phone. As Concur has melded booking and expense reporting into a single tool, through the purchase of Outtask, including its Cliqbook online booking tool
(BTNonline, Feb. 6, 2006), travelers can use those mobile devices to update itineraries—including adding hotels or rental cars or making dining reservations—as well as enter expenses as they travel. Additionally, managers will be able to review and approve expense reports through their own mobile devices.
The booking side of the mobile application also can allow travelers to create completely new itineraries if necessary, said Christopher Juneau, Concur's senior director of segment marketing. "This gives the means for travelers to procure things as they travel and stay within their company policies," he said.
On the expense side, travelers can use mobile devices to photograph taxi receipts and input those into expense reports, he said. "They can get that receipt image and throw the receipt away," Juneau said.
Mobile technology has been a focus for expense reporting suppliers for several years. CyberShift's Necho Expense, in particular, has worked with the technology, launching a version of its tool compatible with BlackBerry devices two years ago
(BTNonline, Sept. 10, 2007).Concur already had a mobile version for laptops that allowed users to work offline, but Juneau said that generated little interest from clients. "We needed to extend our paradigm further, knowing what the most common tasks are and how we can enable them on a mobile device," he said. "Travelers can do these tasks while they're waiting for a meeting to start or waiting for their laptop to boot up."
Concur plans to continue development of its mobile capabilities and eventually release a version that is compatible with Apple's iPhone, according to Juneau.