QuickXpense Targets Corps.

<FONT SIZE="+3"><B> QuickXpense Targets Corps.</B>

By Cheryl Rosen

<I>

Redmond, Wash. </I>- Despite selling 100,000 copies of its QuickXpense automated expense reporting software, Portable Software will turn its focus from individual travelers to the corporate market and devote its full attention to the new corporate version, Xpense Management Solution. Included in the XMS system, which begins shipping this month, are modules that will allow travelers to follow up on where in the pipeline their expense report lies; travel managers to produce ad hoc reports of expenses that are not in compliance with corporate policy; and accounting staffers to set maximum per diem rates.

Portable Software president Steve Singh said company research predicts that corporations will spend $40 to $50 million on automated T&E systems in 1997, and $425 million over the next five years. Expense Management Solutions will have a "per-seat pricing model" under which, for example, the software will cost $140,000 for a corporation with 1,000 travelers.

But Singh pointed out that automating the system can cut the internal cost of expense report processing in half-and, done right, can offer a full return on investment in 6 to 12 months.