Big Cos. Report Record High Card Use

<H1> Big Cos. Report Record High Card Use</H1>Corporate card use is at its highest level-89 percent-for large companies, but at its lowest level-57 percent-for small companies, according to the latest American Express Survey of Business Travel Management.

Overall, card use decreased since 1994. Only 67 percent of companies issued cards in 1996, down from 74 percent in 1994. The volume drop was one of the most surprising results in the payment system section of this biannual study.

In addition, large firms are more inclined to require or strongly recommend that travelers use the card, with 93 percent having such policies in place. In contrast, only 17 percent of companies that spend less than $1 million a year have such policies in place.

Large companies also appear to be more serious about automating the reconciliation process. While 18 percent of companies surveyed have automated T&E reconciliation to date, more than one-third of those spending more than $5 million a year on T&E and 43 percent of those with T&E over $25 million have done so.

Of those using central billing, 77 percent now reconcile the bills, versus 71 percent in 1994. The survey showed a marked rise-to 84 percent this year from 60 percent two years ago-in the number of companies that reconcile central billings against approved expense reports. Far fewer firms-29 percent in 1996 versus 45 percent in 1994-reconcile against travel agency reservation reports.