Perception vs. Reality: 5 Misconceptions About SAP Concur

If you’re like most people,  you probably think of us as the expense reporting tool. A faster way to take a picture of a receipt. An app that makes finance teams’ lives easier. A travel booking tool for business. And while that’s true — it’s just scratching the surface.

SAP Concur is more than T&E. It’s a scalable and robust platform that connects travel, expense, and invoice into one single tool, giving businesses visibility and control across every monetary decision. Whether it’s pounds, dollars, euros, or another currency or language, the misconceptions about Concur are exactly where we shine.

Perception 1: “It’s just for expense reports.”

Reality: Concur helps finance teams tackle bigger problems than automating expenses.

• Fraud detection: AI and machine learning flag out-of-policy spend in real time.
• Tax compliance: Tools ensure global tax and benefits compliance.
• VAT reclaim: Automates processes to maximize recoveries across markets.
• Invoice automation: AP teams cut invoice cycle times from weeks to days.

Want a snapshot of the top benefits? Download our one-pager for quick proof points you can share with stakeholders.

Perception 2: “It only benefits finance.”

Reality: A connected platform drives value across the business. Every function benefits from workflows that are integrated and connected with ERP, HR, and finance systems.

• Travel managers ensure compliance and duty of care.
• IT leaders get customizable, secure workflows without heavy lift.
• HR teams boost employee engagement and wellbeing.
• Procurement improves supplier relationships and efficiency.

See this in action with our infographic that follows a finance manager using Concur across departments.

Perception 3: “It’s just another way to book travel.”

Reality: New Concur Travel gives employees consumer-grade booking experience while ensuring policy compliance. And because it’s part of a single platform, all travel data flows directly into your reporting, audits, and budgets.

Perception 4: “Employees don’t care which T&E platform they use.”

Reality: Experience matters. With a 4.8-star mobile app, OCR-powered automation, and secure and stable infrastructure backed by SAP, Concur delivers both usability and trust that employees want to make life easier:

• Mobile-first design with OCR technology makes claims nearly effortless.
• 24/7 support desk and WalkMe in-app guidance keep people moving.
• Duty of care integrations protect traveling employees

Perception 5: “It’s just a back-office admin tool.”

Reality: Concur is a strategic engine for smarter decisions and growth. Persona-based dashboards, intelligent reporting, and AI-driven insights help leaders act on spend data, not just log it. This is where being scalable and robust matters, so your spend management tools grow with your business, not against it.

• Persona-based dashboards give leaders visibility across spend.
• AI-powered reporting helps forecast, budget, and plan with confidence.
• Proactive budgeting tools keep businesses agile even in uncertain markets.

The Next Step in the Journey

If you’ve only known Concur as “the expense tool,” it’s time to think again.

For the full story, read our eBook.

Concur isn’t just about tracking spend. It’s about delivering a secure, scalable, integrated platform that helps businesses see further, adapt faster, and spend smarter.