It’s official—business spending across Australia and New Zealand in 2024 is on the rise again, but hold onto your spreadsheets, because it’s not the freewheeling, let’s order champagne with the starters kind of spending we once knew. This time, corporate wallets are opening cautiously, with the measured finesse of a veteran accountant scanning a tax return.
According to SAP Concur’s latest data, companies across the region are embracing a new normal that looks refreshingly familiar—face-to-face meetings, client lunches and kilometres travelled—but with an accountant’s calculator ticking away quietly in the background.
From client dinners to train tickets, ANZ businesses are spending more. Total expense transactions rose by 14 per cent in 2024 compared to 2023, and much of that growth came from categories like meals (up 19%), mileage (up 21%), and good old ground transport (up 13%). The corporate road warrior seems to be back in business with better compliance software and a slightly more modest tab at the bar.
The Rise of the Measured Traveller
While the volume of spending has climbed, the actual cost per transaction hasn’t gone off the rails. Meals dipped ever so slightly (from $47 to $46), office supplies fell a smidge (from $133 to $132), and even parking gave us a breather (down from $40 to $39). Airfare costs did rise—from $388 to $405 per flight—but considering the chaos of global aviation these days, one might call that a bargain.
“The data reveals thoughtful investment into client interaction, travel, and mobility, with a much higher level of financial oversight,” said Jonathan Beeby, SAP Concur’s managing director for Australia and New Zealand, sounding more like a responsible parent handing over the keys to the family car than a tech executive.
The Bots Are Watching—and That’s a Good Thing
Of course, keeping expenses on a leash isn’t easy in today’s mobile, decentralised work environment. Enter the robots. Not the tin-can kind, but AI-powered auditing systems that can comb through millions of transactions faster than you can say “duplicate Uber receipt.”
SAP Concur estimates that 15 to 20 per cent of expense reports include non-compliant spending. That’s a lot of mystery receipts and enthusiastic coffee runs. But thanks to automation, over 80 million compliance checks are executed each month, like having a small army of diligent bean counters working around the clock, minus the bean consumption.
“Company leaders are supporting employees who travel more frequently or work from various locations; however, every transaction must align with policy and remain fully traceable,” said Beeby. “That’s only possible through an automated system that works at scale, without adding friction to the employee experience.”
Translation? We trust you, but we’re also watching. And not just to catch dodgy dinners, but to understand how travel supports growth and what’s genuinely worth spending.
A Broader Mobility Footprint
Digging deeper into the travel patterns, it appears business travellers are now venturing further afield—literally. Fuel expenses rose 10 per cent, parking by 15 per cent, and train travel saw a 12 per cent bump. Meanwhile, car rentals remained steady with a modest 2 per cent rise, which might mean Aussie and Kiwi business folks are skipping the airport shuttle and jumping behind the wheel themselves.
There’s also a renewed interest in regional travel, suggesting that not all business gets done in boardrooms or capital cities anymore. Perhaps there’s something to be said for sealing a deal over a pie in Dubbo or a flat white in Invercargill.
Non-Core Spending? Not So Flash
While big-ticket items rose with renewed activity, non-core expenses like entertainment, telecom, and office supplies were more subdued—up just 10, seven, and 6 percent, respectively. Perhaps this is a sign that companies are trimming the fat while still feeding the muscle.
Beeby says, “This data isn’t just about spend patterns. It reflects how organisations are reshaping their business models around travel, employee mobility, and operational transparency. Decisions are being made with more confidence because the data helps leaders anticipate outcomes, not react to them.”
How significantly grown up.
From Pandemic Panic to Strategic Spending
It’s hard to ignore just how far the corporate world has come since the chaos of 2020. Gone are the panicked budget freezes and the complete abandonment of hotel loyalty programs. Today’s expense strategies are—dare we say it—mature.
SAP Concur’s figures show companies are no longer crawling back to pre-pandemic rhythms. They’re reimagining them. Spending isn’t about returning to business as usual—it’s about progressing to business as better.
“As 2025 progresses, the focus for many companies has shifted from recovery to long-term optimisation,” Beeby noted. “The organisations best equipped for what comes next are those that have already embedded control, visibility, and flexibility into their expense management systems.”
The Final Word
In other words, while business spending is most certainly back, the days of the rubber-stamped corporate junket are long gone. Replacing them is a finely-tuned, data-led approach to travel and expense that rewards results, not receipts. It’s not flashy, but it’s effective—and in this modern age of accountability, that’s the ticket.
Now, if only someone could invent a compliance tool that detects questionable tie choices at the annual conference.
