When it comes to expense management applications, not all companies want to be treated equally. That was the guidance for American Express Co., based on feedback from its midsize corporate card customer base. The companies wanted many of the sophisticated expense management features available to larger customers, but in an easier-to-use format that could allow executives at midsize companies to run analytics of spend data and trends without having to wade through many of the options and reports they don't need. So, American Express introduced Information@Work, a Web-based solution for companies looking to gain greater control over spending on travel and entertainment (T&E) and purchasing cards, and develop more valuable vendor relationships.

Each month, Information@Work, which builds on an earlier, more static version, sends users an e-mail alert telling them that updated expense reports are ready for review. It then offers the reports in both pdf and spreadsheet formats, allowing easy transmission to other employees or data analytics. Reports include summary-level data, as well as more detailed transaction specifics that can be organized by employee, account number, cost-center number or merchant. "We're trying to put the power of information and insight into more digestible pieces for incredibly busy people at midsize companies," says Shelle Santana, vice president of global

corporate card marketing at American Express.