Concur aims to help firms streamline travel expenses

A shimmering satin dress, matching Chanel jewelry, a radiant smile on a lovely face... Elena Donio looks like a fashion icon at first glance. Only, she isn't - she is, in fact, president of Concur, a Bellevue, Washington-based firm that specializes in travel and expense management solutions, and is part of SAP, the software multinational.


When Donio holds forth on her passion - it is, of course, technology, not fashion - you begin to comprehend the impact it makes on the business world. Your inner focus shifts away from her external glamorous looks to the substance of her incisive views on technology.


Donio believes transparency and efficiency are key advantages that Concur's solutions offer to clients. Those are, incidentally, key to her leadership style as well.


Over the past 18 years, Donio has served in various leadership roles at Concur. She helped Concur grow and evolve into one of the world's largest providers of integrated travel and expense management solutions.


"Currently, employees in China might spend much time each month manually creating expense reports and pasting receipts. Our goal is to expand into China so we can make the experience better - enhancing productivity while managing travel and expenses with higher compliance and accuracy.


"At Concur, we want to make things effortless for our clients with the entire process of travel management, from booking to reimbursement. It will be worry-free so they can focus on the most important things during travels," said Donio.


Despite being raised in California, where businesses have always been aware of the importance of technology, Donio is familiar with China's shifting economic growth patterns, national initiatives, the 13th Five Year Plan and other policies.


All these, she believes, will bring more opportunities to Concur.


The article transsshipment from China Daily