Business Functionality

As an end-to-end solution for simplifying and automating the management of expenses, mileage expenses, and per diem expenses, Continia Expense Management offers considerable benefits to virtually any business.

Built on a modular basis, it can be customized to suit your particular business needs. Each of the modules that it’s divided into represents an area of functionality, and you can choose to add any modules you want. You add these using the initial setup guide, which you can access straight from your Role Center.

Important

Not all features will be available in all versions of Expense Management. Refer to Comparison of Features by Expense Management Version to see features available by version of Expense Management.

Below you’ll find a description of each of the modules, along with an overview of their respective features.

Essential

With the mandatory Essential module, you get all the basic features you need to submit, process, and approve expenses. Your employees can submit expenses in either the mobile Continia Expense App or the browser-based Continia Expense Portal, and admin users get a complete, real-time overview of company expenses in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. Approvers can approve expenses either directly in Business Central or using the Continia Web Approval Portal.

With the Essential module, you get the following key features:

FeatureIncluded
Access to the mobile Continia Expense App for iOS and Android devicesCheckmark
Access to the Continia Expense PortalCheckmark
Access to the Continia Web Approval PortalCheckmark
Full approval workflow, enabling you to add comments or attachments, accept or reject expenses, put them on hold, or forward them to other approversCheckmark
The ability to attach photos of receipts and similarCheckmark
The ability to attach PDF documents to both new and existing expensesCheckmark
Expense report creation, enabling approvers to group multiple (types of) expenses and then view/approve these in bulkCheckmark
Configurable app fields, managed directly in Business CentralCheckmark
Automatic archive, enabling you to easily retrieve original documents using standard Business Central functionalityCheckmark
The ability to create templates (for recurring expenses)Checkmark
Simplified field creationCheckmark
Expanded payment options with payment typesCheckmark
Resizing the document attachment pageCheckmark
Saved receipts improvementsCheckmark
Payment types for user groupsCheckmark
Merge expenses in the Expense Mobile AppCheckmark
VAT/Sales tax input from expense usersCheckmark
Autofill in the Expense App and Expense PortalCheckmark
Configurable messagesCheckmark
Autozoom in Business Central add-inCheckmark
Support for GST/GST free in AustraliaCheckmark
Support for automatic allocation using distribution codesCheckmark
Support for OData V4 for the Continia Web Approval PortalCheckmark
Automatic creation of digital vouchersCheckmark
Changed user ID visibility for document log entriesCheckmark
Easier migration from on-premises to online for older versionsCheckmark
Figures indicating the number of documents for approval per type in the Web Approval PortalCheckmark
Data maintenance using a job queue for Continia Expense Management tablesCheckmark
Deletion, GDPR, and the Secure ArchiveCheckmark
Improved visibility of comments in expense reportsCheckmark
Demo machines with local data and setup filesCheckmark
Expense attachments visible on allocation pages in the Mobile Expense AppCheckmark
Enhanced handling of purchase documents processed by other solutionsCheckmark
Expanded job queue setup optionsCheckmark
Integration with Continia SustainabilityCheckmark
Enhanced support for tax differences when posting with general journalCheckmark
Enhanced Microsoft 365 sign-in managementCheckmark

Document approval is part of the Essential module. With document approval, you get a full approval workflow that allows you to approve business documents, assign approvers, and set approval limits. You can force the approval of documents, put them on hold, or have them approved automatically, and it’s also possible to forward documents and delegate approvals if, for example, you’re out of office for a period of time.

Document approval

The document approval part of the Essential module gives you access to the following key features:

FeatureIncluded
Enhancement on a range of common workflow and approval scenarios not supported by standard NAVCheckmark
Built-in image viewer as part of the approval processCheckmark
Ability to view document image in external window for manual resizing purposes and similarCheckmark
Ability to send out one combined email with all documents for approvalCheckmark
Support for approval sharing when Out-of-Office is on (for holiday, leave, etc.)Checkmark
Approval sharing that allows one or multiple users to manage approvals for other usersCheckmark
Free online hosting with Continia Software1Checkmark
Direct connection to NAV/Business Central using Web Services (full data consistency)1Checkmark
An intuitive UI for users to approve documents1Checkmark
Functionality that enables users to easily change lines, approve and reject documents, put documents on hold, forward documents to other users, and add attachments and commentsCheckmark
Ability to have approvals carried out by NAV/Business Central limited usersCheckmark
Fully functional cross-company dashboard listing all pending approvalsCheckmark


  1. Note that you also need the Continia Web Approval Portal in order to use this feature.

Purchase contracts

The purchase contract part of the Essential module gives you access to the following key features:

FeatureIncluded
Centralized management and storage of all purchase contracts, subscriptions, and other recurring costsCheckmark
Creation of contracts with all relevant information, such as vendor, pricing, contract start and end dates, and detailed contract linesCheckmark
Comprehensive archive containing all contract-related documents and files from the contract cardCheckmark
Ability to create contracts directly from a recurring expenseCheckmark
Autofilling of contract details from the information on an expenseCheckmark
A straightforward and structured periodic contract review process, ensuring that you only pay for what you needCheckmark
Option to have the contract review process started automatically at regular intervals based on company policiesCheckmark
Ability to review all contracts before the beginning of a new fiscal yearCheckmark
Easy overview of contracts that need to be sent for reviewCheckmark
Email notifications to contract reviewers when contracts are due for reviewCheckmark
An intuitive user interface that makes it easy to review contracts from either Business Central or the Continia Web Approval PortalCheckmark
Functionality that enables contract reviewers to easily change lines, review and cancel contracts, and add attachments and commentsCheckmark
Automatic approval of recurring expenses within allowed tolerances, based on reviewed contractsCheckmark

Credit Card Transactions

The Credit Card Transactions module enables you to have employee credit card transactions automatically imported into Business Central and then linked to and matched against registered receipts. If an imported transaction doesn't have a matching receipt, the employee who incurred the expense is notified and asked to attach the relevant receipt.

The Credit Card Transactions module includes the following key features:

FeatureIncluded
Corporate credit card integration – card transactions are automatically imported into Business Central and linked with registered expensesCheckmark
Automatic matching of imported credit card transactions with submitted expensesCheckmark
Generation of expenses based on credit card transaction detailsCheckmark
Reminders sent to expense users whenever receipts are missingCheckmark
Bank transaction descriptions follow expensesCheckmark

Mileage

The Mileage module makes it easy for you to submit mileage expenses, either in the mobile Expense App or in the browser-based Expense Portal. The smooth integration of Google Maps in the mobile app ensures that you always get the mileage right and get reimbursed accordingly, and the app even displays an image of the chosen route. This image can also be viewed in Business Central, along with all other relevant mileage details.

With the Mileage module, you get access to the following key features:

FeatureIncluded
The ability to submit mileages from a smartphone or the Expense PortalCheckmark
Mileage registration with Google Maps integration, ensuring consistently accurate mileages and correct reimbursementCheckmark
The option of adding via points to any route, for optimum mileage accuracyCheckmark
Mileage details in Business Central, including route imageCheckmark
GPS location capture, making it easier to create accurate mileagesCheckmark
The ability to create templates (for recurring routes)Checkmark
UK mileage receipt VAT calculationCheckmark
Enhanced attachment control on mileage expensesCheckmark

Per Diem

With the Per Diem module, your employees can easily submit travel-related expense reports, using either the Expense App or the Expense Portal, in which they specify a given travel period, the overall purpose of the travel, and any other relevant details relating to accommodation and/or daily meals. When an employee has submitted a per diem report, the entered details are used to calculate the daily allowance for this employee and for this particular purpose. All configuration, including rates and rules, takes place in Business Central.

The Per Diem module gives you access to the following key features:

FeatureIncluded
Calculation of days and meals (spending), including special country-specific requirementsCheckmark
Rate setup, amount calculation, and numerous other relevant actions directly in Business CentralCheckmark
The ability to submit per diem requests (daily allowance) from either a smartphone or the Expense PortalCheckmark
The ability to easily create templates and custom fields in Business Central, if necessaryCheckmark
Support for the Norwegian per diem rulesCheckmark
Support for the German 3-months ruleCheckmark

See also

New and Planned
Feature Management