Navigating travel and expense: How procurement can drive cost efficiency and prove ROI

Odds are, you’re feeling more pressure than ever—from belt-tightening to policy-policing. And if you’re like your procurement-leading peers, your role is becoming increasingly strategic.

So what’s one more massive thing to manage?

In today’s fast-moving, cost-conscious environment, travel and expense management (T&E) is emerging as a critical area of procurement focus. And you’re likely going to be dealing with more and more of it.

In many companies, T&E has often been outside procurement’s domain—with finance or travel managers largely in charge of managing this big segment of spend. But as fragmented systems, hidden expenses, and compliance gaps make T&E an increasingly risky category, procurement leaders like you are stepping in.

Remember, this isn’t about sourcing travel or negotiating contracts. It’s about reshaping how your business manages costs, enforces controls, and drives visibility deeper into spend.