Businesses today need to be able to run as smoothly as possible in order to stand a chance at succeeding in the modern world. After all, it’s incredibly competitive out there and anything that can help a company run more efficiently is worth paying attention to. Using software to help manage employee expenses is something that can have a tremendous influence on any company’s success, and in particular the use of online expense reporting deserves more attention.

There are plenty of obvious reasons that it’s something worth investing in, too. The ability to simplify expense reporting, the chance to digitally scan receipts and upload them through receipt imaging, and the fact that you and your employees can log, approve, and track expenses anywhere an internet connection exists are all key reasons that online expense reporting is worth looking at. But there are also some overlooked reasons that help these programs stand out, and reviewing them could help show you just why it’s an investment you won’t’ regret making.

• First, online expense reporting cuts overall operating costs drastically. When you consider the investment into hardware, IT time spent maintaining servers, and other factors related to managing a major software solution, it becomes clear that just paying for online reporting programs and letting them handle the hard work is something that can save a company thousands.
• Most online programs also handle automatic conversions – not just of currencies, but for taxes as well. If your company is located in Canada, for example, and operates in the US as well, what steps do you go through to properly manage sales tax and other taxes related to expenses? Online programs handle this for you, along with converting currencies automatically. This cuts down on hassle and mistakes, increasing productivity and your bottom line.
• The data reports that online programs can generate offer a wealth of information that business leaders can use. By reviewing the different reports you can modify policies, see which locations are netting the best returns, notice which employees are earning the most for you or spending the most, and more. These data reports are powerful tools that are often overlooked – but that shouldn’t be.
• Finally, in the end, online expense reporting helps by improving productivity within a business. While most will invest in it to reduce errors and simplify processes, the improved productivity that comes from freeing up employees’’ time translates to improved profits at the end of the year.

There are numerous reasons that online expense reporting deserves your attention – some obvious, some more hidden. But in the end, the main thing is simply that these systems can help improve the way any company does business.