p78 summary of all new features
SAP Concur Release Notes
August 2024
SAP Concur is constantly evolving its products with minor adjustments to ensure stability and improve the applications.
Sign In to SAP Concur With an Email Link
Since August 14, 2024, Users are enabled to sign in to SAP Concur with an email link. A user who does not want to enter a password during sign in can send a one-time link to the email address associated with their Concur personal profile
Additional Details:
- The link expires after one hour
- The one-hour expiration limit is not configurable
- The link can only be used to sign in once
- Sign in with the link does not require two-factor authentication
- Sign in with an email link is not available through the mobile app
- If a user forwards the email link to another email address, the link will work if it is used within the one-hour expiration window
- Sign in with an email link is available on all entities. On entities where SSO sign-in is required, sign in with an email link is disabled by default. On all other entities, sign in with an email link is enabled by default
- At any time, a company administrator or p78 can enable or disable this feature on the Sign In Settings page
Expense Integration with Microsoft Teams
Concur Expense is integrating with Microsoft (MS) Teams, which allows users to collaborate on Concur Expense tasks without leaving MS Teams.
- Once MS Teams is enabled for an organization, the SAP Concur app can be added to the user’s MS Teams
- Once within the SAP Concur app within MS Teams, the user uses search terms such as “Expense” or “Expense Approvals” to retrieve entire reports. A list with the latest five active reports appears
- Expense reports can be viewed in MS Teams or to be shared with an approver in a chat
- Approvers can search expense reports from their approval queue
- Approvers can approve or reject reports within MS Teams
Planned changes (September 2024): Customizing Expense Types Descriptions and Quick Tips
SAP Concur will enhance the Expense Configuration Administrator (Restricted) role with the ability to customize descriptions for an expense type.
End-User Experience:
Descriptions
Users will be able to view the descriptions when selecting an expense type for an expense report. Using the search box, you will be able to search for an expense type using the expense categories and expense type descriptions too.
The expense types descriptions will also display on the Expense Source screen.
Quick Tips
The quick tips will also display on the screen when adding an expense to a report.
Configuration:
The configuration can be done by an Expense Configuration Administrator (Restricted) role or by p78. If you want to add descriptions or quick tips, the following explanation will help you or you get directly in contact with your p78 Concur contact.
Explanation
Navigate to the Expense > Administration > Expense Types > Expense Types Description and Quick Tips
EXPENSE TYPE DESCRIPTION
- To modify an expense type, select a language (1) from the drop-down list and a policy (2) from the policy drop-down list
2. Enter an appropriate description for the expense type in the Default Description text box. Click Save and Next to move to another expense type or to go back to the previous screen.
Expense type descriptions will be limited to 270 characters and only text is allowed. Hyperlinks will not be supported in descriptions.
3. You can also add policy specific descriptions to one or more policies simultaneously. Click Add policy specific description and select the policies from the drop-down list. Add a description on the text box and click Save.
NOTE: Ensure you add descriptions to only expense types that require a brief explanation to avoid overcrowding the user interface.
QUICK TIPS
- To modify the quick tips for an expense type, navigate to the Quick Tips tab after you complete filling in the description for the expense type
The text in the Quick Tips field will be limited to 530 characters only. Hyperlinks will be supported.
2. You can also add policy specific quick tips to one or more policies simultaneously. Click Add policy specific quick tips and select the policies from the drop-down list. Add a description on the text box and click Save.
These descriptions and quick tips can be modified or deleted later if required.
Travel Allowance Options When Creating Expense Reports
It is now possible to change the travel allowance options when creating expense reports.
Four options are possible:
- Default Travel Allowance options to Yes (Standard setting)
- Default Travel Allowance options to No
- Hide Travel Allowance options and proceed to Expenses
- Hide Travel Allowance options and proceed to Travel Allowance
In addition it is possible now to change the description for the Travel Allowance.
July 2024
SAP Concur is constantly evolving its products with minor adjustments to ensure stability and improve the applications.
Redesign of the SAP Concur homepage
Concur is planning a redesign of the SAP Concur homepage, which will be available from the end of August.
The functionalities will remain the same, only the design will change.
This will result in the following advantages:
- New, modern design
- Simplified navigation
- Optimised user workflows for faster processing of tasks
- Improved scaling, performance and responsiveness
- Standardised user experience across all SAP products
From the end of August, employees will have the option of activating or deactivating the new start page at the top of the screen
From the end of October, the new start page will become standard, but employees will have the option to return to the old start page.
From January 2025, the new start page will be the only option available.
The new start page could look like this (the elements on the screenshot may still change before the new design is implemented):
Depending on the modules used, the elements are not displayed.
Adding Attendees in Bulk
- Employees can now import participants from the company via a button
- To do this, the email addresses must be entered via copy and paste
- Concur only allows this for email addresses that exist in the system as employees
Recurring Itemizations in Expenses
- There is now a user-friendly drop-down menu for the itemization.
- Here you can select whether there is a recurrence of the expenses to simplify the entry of the amounts.
Travel Allowance
Release only for Request User
When creating the travel allowance, the start and end location is automatically filled in from the address that the user has entered in the home address fields in the user profile.
Release only for Travel user and TripLink user
In Concur Expense, when the user creates a travel allowance itinerary for an expense report based on a travel booking linked to the expense report, the expense type and travel details such as travel dates and destinations, are automatically populated from the travel booking.
When the user creates an expense report from a travel booking done in Concur Travel, an expense type with booking information is included automatically into the expense report.
May 2024
SAP Concur is constantly evolving its products with minor adjustments to ensure stability and improve the applications.
Retention Period of Credit Card Data Files
Overview
Targeted on or before May 24, SAP Concur will be implementing a process for compliance reasons, where the card data files received from external sources (issuing banks, card associations) will be deleted from the system after 90 days.
Normally, the practice is to automatically import and load the data contained in the data files within 24 hours of receipt. If the raw data is required after the 90-day window, clients can work with their issuing bank to have these files re-sent.
This update is meant for offering data protection and privacy compliance.
Configuration / Feature Activation
The change occurs automatically; there are no additional configuration steps
Expense Integration with Microsoft Teams
Overview
Targeted for a future release, Concur Expense will integrate with Microsoft (MS) Teams. This integration will allow users to collaborate on Concur Expense tasks without leaving MS Teams.
End-User Experience
Once MS Teams is enabled for an organization, the SAP Concur app can be added to the user’s MS Teams. Once within the SAP Concur app within MS Teams, the user can type search terms such as “Expense” or “Expense Approvals” to retrieve entire reports. A list with the latest five active reports will appear.
Expense reports will be available to view in MS Teams or to be shared with an approver in a chat.
Approvers will be able to search expense reports from their approval queue. A list with the latest five active reports will appear. Approvers will be able to approve or reject reports from within MS Teams.
Configuration / Feature Activation
This feature is enabled by default. There are no configuration steps.
Recurring Itemizations in Expenses
Overview
In an upcoming release, the multiple itemization recurrence options in Concur Expense will be combined into a single, user-friendly drop-down menu, from which the user can select the recurrence frequency.
This change is applicable to all expense types where there is a possibility for recurrence of itemizations.
For example, when the user has entered all details pertaining to the hotel, the user will need to itemize their hotel expenses. The user will now see this user friendly drop-down within the nightly lodging wizard for hotel expenses.
This feature will allow the user to create multiple expense entries during the itemization process, as well as provide the same amount per day, or different amounts each day.
This change will make the recurrence checkbox more discoverable and will reduce complexity in creating itemization for expenses. The users will be able to efficiently manage their itemized expenses in a shorter time with a better streamlined process.
End-User Experience
On the Itemizations tab in Concur Expense, the field Entry Type > Recurring Itemization will be replaced with a new Recurrence drop-down list. After the Expense Type is selected, such as Hotel, the user will now choose an option from the Recurrence drop-down list.
This change applies to all expense types where there is a Recurrence checkbox.
For the Hotel expense type, the current UI contains the options The Same Every Night and Not the Same. This will be updated to display the selections Same Daily Amount and Different Daily Amount as follows:
Example: Same Daily Amount Screen
Example: Same Daily Amount Screen
Configuration / Feature Activation
The change occurs automatically; there are no additional configuration steps.
Update to the Report Status Indicator
Overview
Currently, end users can view the updated rectangular indicator that shows the status of an expense report. This indicator used to display in bold colors. Now, this rectangular indicator displays in more pleasing, mild colors.
With this change, this indicator is easier on the eyes than the prior version.
End-User Experience
The end-user can now see, in selected screens, a solid color background and white text in the tiles that display the status of the expense report.
Configuration / Feature Activation
These changes are automatically available; there are no configuration or activation steps.
April 2024
SAP Concur is constantly evolving its products with minor adjustments to ensure stability and improve the applications.
Sign In To SAP Concur Without a Password
Overview
In Q2 2024, SAP Concur plans to enable users who sign in to SAP Concur solutions with a username and password to sign in without a password. When the feature is enabled, a user who does not want to enter a password during sign in can send a one-time link to the email address associated with their SAP Concur personal profile.
Business Purpose / Client Benefit
For users who do not want to enter a password during sign in, this feature enables the user to sign in quickly and efficiently through a one-time link.
End-User Experience
After they enter their username, users have the option to sign in with an email link.
If they click Sign in with an Email Link, a sign-in link is sent to the Email 1 and/or Email 2 email address configured in the Email Addresses section of the My Profile – Personal Information page in SAP Concur solutions.
The email address associated with their account can be confirmed by the company’s Concur administrator.
Configuration / Feature Activation
This change will occur automatically.
Two-Factor Authentication Enhancements
Overview
In Q2 2024, SAP Concur plans to implement enhancements to the instruction for the Two-Factor Authentication setup process.
Business Purpose / Client Benefit
These changes improve the on-screen instructions when setting up Two-Factor Authentication.
End-User Experience
Users will be presented with clearer and concise instructions when setting up Two-Factor Authentication. For example, the setup screen will be updated to provide step-by-step instructions.
Before Example
After Example
Configuration / Feature Activation
This change will occur automatically.
Enhancements to the Report Timeline
Overview
The user interface for the Report Timeline feature in an expense report will be enhanced and will display updated icons and layout. Some additional details will also be displayed when compared to what is currently displayed.
This feature will provide users with improved usability and will ensure report timeline user interface is easily accessible
Phases
This feature will be released to specific verticals, vendors, and data centers in April 2024:
| Phase | Date of Release |
| Phase 1: All customers test entities | April 16, 2024 |
| Phase 2 All production entities | April 23, 2024 |
End-User Experience
Open an expense report and click Report Details > Report Timeline to see the new enhancements in the Report Timeline screen. You will see more information than was previously available, along with the status of the report and names of the approvers.
In the Approval Workflow section, the UI will be improved to display updated icons, approver names along with time and date of approval.
Example:
The view in the Report Summary section will also be enhanced to show updated icons and layout. New buttons Sort and Filter will be included in the UI. The comment section will no longer be hidden and will now be displayed to all.
Example:
Configuration / Feature Activation
These changes will be automatically available; there are no configuration or activation steps.