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“Qorbis minimizes any points of friction - changeovers are streamlined and disbursement happens without delay.”

Tom Witton, Head of Sales and Co-Founder of Qorbis.

WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, UNITED STATES, 06/26/24 – Qorbis, an industry leader in financial technology solutions, is proud to announce the launch of its spend management platform designed specifically to overcome the financial challenges faced by the yacht charter industry. 

The Qorbis platform delivers unparalleled time and cost savings through high levels of spend control, the rapid movement of funds and competitive foreign exchange (FX) rates, all while offering the unique ability to brand Visa debit cards with a business's own branding.

Developed in consultation with industry specialists, the Qorbis platform allows each charter’s finances to be siloed, with the ability to instantly transfer funds and reconcile expenses against APAs with unlimited sub-accounts and bespoke reporting.

“The yachting industry, known for its luxurious experiences and elite clientele, demands precision and efficiency in financial management,” says Tom Witton, Head of Sales and Co-Founder of Qorbis. “Qorbis minimizes any points of friction - changeovers are streamlined and disbursement happens without delay.”

Qorbis gives charter management complete real-time visibility and control over operational bank accounts and unlimited segregated sub-accounts and Visa debit cards via the platform's dashboard. Each yacht under management is allocated a dedicated bank account, with three APA cards per vessel. 

Card spend limits and categories can be set and adjusted instantly, with real-time visibility of transactions and funds instantly sent and recalled between accounts. Integration with popular accounting software via APIs facilitates direct reporting and the creation of bespoke end-of-charter statements. 

“The Qorbis solution delivers efficient purchasing, minimized expense fraud, and seamless reporting at a more cost-effective price-point than competitor offerings,” adds Tom. “We know how important it is that changeover days and crew rotations run smoothly, which is why we’ve designed our platform with this in mind.”

Cards and the platform's dashboard can also be branded entirely as the business's own, boosting brand visibility and engagement and delivering actionable spend data. 

"Our goal is to empower yacht charter businesses with the tools they need to control costs, save time, and enhance their brand image,” says Stephen Williams, CEO, Qorbis. “The Qorbis  platform is designed to meet the unique financial challenges of the industry, providing a comprehensive solution that drives efficiency and profitability."

Key Features and Benefits include:

With Qorbis's spend management platform, yacht charter companies can now navigate the complexities of financial management with ease, while making time and cost savings.

FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Brooke Dallow

[email protected]

FOR SALES ENQUIRIES

Tom Witton

[email protected]

This partnership addresses some of the biggest challenges in touring, putting artists in control of spending, payments and T&E and saving them time and money.

"Qorbis understands the unique needs of the music industry. Its technology empowers artists and their crews, allowing them to easily manage spending on the road, and to save money on T&E.”

Andy Vargas

WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, UNITED STATES, June 11, 2024 -- Qorbis, a leader in innovative fintech solutions, is excited to announce a deal to provide banking, lifestyle, and spend management solutions to Andy Vargas, lead singer of Santana, his company Vargas Entertainment Inc, and Malaspalabras Records (MPR), a company founded by Vargas and acclaimed comedian George Lopez. The deal will see Andy and his MRP artists using the Qorbis platform for their spending, foreign exchange, and touring expenses, overcoming some of the biggest challenges facing the music touring industry.

Managing budgets and crew expenses on the road at any hour of the day or night, the tedious process of spend management, and limited visibility of spending versus budgets – life on the road can be tough. Qorbis solutions are designed to remove these pain-points, so that artists can focus on what really matters – the music and the tour.

Andy and MRP have a long-standing reputation for protecting and elevating artists and Qorbis is proud to deliver solutions that support this.
Andy Vargas, musician, and CEO says: “Qorbis understands the unique needs of the music industry. Its technology empowers artists and their crews, allowing them to easily manage spending on the road, and to save money on T&E, whether that's hotels, car hire, or even an after-party bill."

Qorbis solutions are designed to streamline the business of touring, with seamless digital banking, 24/7 real-time visibility and control, smart money management tools, and exclusive benefits with preferred rates on travel, hotels, and more via the QStyle lifestyle concierge. International mobility is managed simply and cost-effectively, with segregated, multi-currency accounts and a foreign exchange rate set at 0.5% on all transactions.

Tom Witton Head of Sales of Qorbis says: “We’re excited to be supporting musicians of Andy’s caliber as well as all the hugely talented MPR artists. Qorbis cards, money management tools, and the QStyle lifestyle concierge are the ultimate combination of support that Andy and the music industry need to facilitate their busy schedule of recording and touring both domestically and internationally."

The Qorbis all-in-one corporate card, payment, and spend management platform features real-time visibility plus advanced reporting, accounting, T&E, and business services integrations. Delivering significant savings in time and money, the platform is designed to scale as an artist grows, with brand enhancement opportunities also available via Qorbis’s embedded finance solutions.

Adds Andy: “The Qorbis platform has the potential to revolutionize music touring and payments to artists. Giving artists and their crews unprecedented efficiency and control over their finances and giving them access to rates that will keep touring costs down giving new artists a chance to succeed.”

ABOUT QORBIS
Qorbis helps businesses across the US take control of spending and provides discounted benefits via our embedded products. Qorbis’s platform is user-friendly, secure, and scalable and embeds customized financial and concierge solutions into a business's own product and services, creating new revenue streams, and enhancing its brand, to help save time and money. Through partnerships with best-in-class providers of banking and technology, our model allows any size business to offer a range of branded and licensed services to their customers, including corporate cards, accounts, P2P payments, and QStyle, a global travel and lifestyle concierge. Qorbis is a financial technology company with banking services provided by Evolve Bank & Trust, Member FDIC. The Qorbis Visa® Debit Cards are issued by Evolve Bank & Trust pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. www.qorbis.com

ABOUT MALASPALABRAS RECORDS
Acclaimed comedian George Lopez and the lead singer of Santana, Andy Vargas, have been at the forefront of new ideas surrounding artists' rights, promotion, and brand development. When Lopez sought Vargas’ assistance in managing the music arm of his brand, they knew it was time to introduce an entirely new label concept. In collaboration with distribution powerhouse Steve Stoute’s United Masters and A&R lead Cesar Sanchez, they've launched Malaspalabras Records (MPR), which is now entering its "release phase". MPR defines artists' brands and their attitudes, thereby strengthening their vision and empowering them to unleash the spirit of music.

Through MPR, artists have collaborated with industry experts to develop and execute the business aspects of their careers while maintaining ownership of their masters. The label boasts successful releases from a roster of talented artists, including Chris Perez, Alexis Grullon of MDO, Andy Vargas of Santana, Krystal Ortega, Heber, and Baby Lorez, positioning MPR as a vanguard in the music industry.

The support of MPR enables artists to focus on their art while simultaneously enhancing their branding, PR, and digital marketing efforts. Advancing their innovative edge, MPR is excited to welcome Phillip Coleman, known artistically as Godcloud, as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for their Web3 division. Coleman, a pioneering Web3 artist and musician, brings a wealth of expertise that is set to propel MPR into the future by harnessing blockchain technology and NFTs to revolutionize the way artists interact with the digital realm.

Strengthening their marketing and creative management, MPR is thrilled to introduce Adrian Cisneros and Chris Morris to the family. Cisneros's fresh marketing strategies and Morris's keen A&R insights are anticipated to provide unparalleled support for our artists, boosting their promotional and creative opportunities to new heights.

Stay tuned and follow us for our latest drops on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok at @malaspalabrasrecords.

FOR MORE INFO:

Brooke Dallow
[email protected]

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In the rapidly evolving business landscape, the construction industry stands out for its reluctance to adopt digital practices. Despite the clear advantages of technological integration, many construction firms remain anchored to traditional methods. However, with the right digital tools, construction companies can overcome industry-specific challenges and achieve significant improvements in efficiency, cost management, and overall project success – and ultimately, a competitive advantage. 

Industry Challenges: Navigating the Financial Complexity of Construction 

The construction industry faces several unique financial challenges that hinder efficiency and profitability: 

  1. Lack of Spend Visibility and Historical Data: Without clear visibility into spending and historical financial data, companies struggle with accurate cost allocation, particularly indirect costs or overhead. Many firms rely on direct labor hours to allocate expenses, often leading to inaccurate estimations that can erode profits. 
  1. Limited Sub-Accounts: The inability to create separate financial accounts for individual projects complicates financial management, making it time-consuming and prone to errors. Each project’s costs should be meticulously accounted for to achieve a more reliable analysis of profitably - this is much harder if costs for multiple projects are grouped into a single account.
  1. Budget Management: Managing cash flow is a perennial challenge in construction. Projects often operate on long payment terms (30, 60, or even 90 days), while immediate expenses like wages and materials require prompt payment. Effective cash flow management and real-time visibility are crucial to maintaining project stability. 
  1. Slow Adoption of Digital Practices: Despite the known benefits of digital technology, the construction sector is notoriously slow to embrace new solutions. Concerns over implementation costs and the user-friendliness of digital tools contribute to this hesitation. 
  1. Expense Fraud: Rising instances of staff expense fraud drain resources and time, highlighting the need for more robust expense management systems. 

Qorbis: Revolutionizing Construction Financial Management 

Qorbis offers a comprehensive financial management platform tailored to the construction industry’s needs. By addressing the specific challenges faced by construction companies, Qorbis enhances efficiency, control, and profitability. 

  1. Unlimited Sub-Accounts: Qorbis allows businesses to segregate each project or build into separate sub-accounts, treating each as an individual profit and loss center. This capability streamlines accounting processes, saving time and reducing errors. 
  1. Real-Time Control and Spend Visibility: With a central administration portal, Qorbis provides total transparency of every dollar spent in real-time. Funds can be moved by allocated team members - whether that's a project manager or superintendent - instantly, 24/7, 365 days a year, ensuring better cash flow management, financial oversight, and no delays. 
  1. Improved Budgeting and Planning: Qorbis enables instant access to historical spend data, facilitating better planning and decision-making. This historical insight allows businesses to predict future costs more accurately and allocate resources more effectively. 

READ MORE:

Streamline Your Expense Management: A Guide to Digitization
  1. Simple and Cost-Effective Implementation: The Qorbis platform is designed for ease of use, requiring minimal resource investment from end users. Its plug-and-play nature and subscription model eliminate the need for large upfront financial outlays, allowing firms to start saving time and money immediately. 
  1. Reducing Expense Fraud and Boosting Compliance: Qorbis enhances expense policy compliance and provides a robust layer of protection against fraud. The platform offers real-time expense visibility, complete control over every dollar spent, easy receipt capturing, auto-categorization, and a digital audit trail. 

The Opportunity: Gaining a Competitive Edge through Digital Transformation 

Companies that leverage digital business solutions like Qorbis can gain a competitive advantage through greater efficiency, better decision-making, and substantial time and cost savings. 

Real-World Benefits for Construction Leaders 

For CEOs the adoption of Qorbis means enhanced strategic oversight and the ability to drive company-wide financial discipline. With real-time visibility into spending and project-specific financials, management can make informed decisions that steer the company towards greater profitability and efficiency. 

For CFOs, Qorbis offers a streamlined, transparent financial management system that simplifies the allocation of indirect costs and overheads. The platform’s robust reporting capabilities enable CFOs to maintain accurate financial records, improve budget forecasts, and ensure regulatory compliance with ease. 

Project Managers benefit from Qorbis’s real-time expense tracking and budget management tools, which help them keep projects on track and within budget. The ability to segregate project finances into individual sub-accounts ensures precise tracking of costs and revenues, aiding in better project planning and execution. 

Project Superintendents gain from the reduced administrative burden and enhanced oversight provided by Qorbis. The platform’s ease of use and real-time data access mean superintendents can focus more on project execution rather than financial paperwork. 

The construction industry’s traditional reluctance to adopt digital practices is being challenged by innovative solutions like Qorbis. By addressing critical pain points such as spend visibility, budget management, and expense fraud, Qorbis empowers construction companies to streamline their financial operations, enhance efficiency, and improve profitability. Embracing digital transformation through Qorbis is not just a technological upgrade; it’s a strategic move towards a more competitive and successful future in the construction industry. 

Find out how our solutions can work for your business – talk to us today. 

In the world of filmmaking, budgeting is more than just numbers. It’s an art – and a high-risk one at that. There’s a hero in the midst though – a new breed of digital platforms designed to deliver the ultimate in spending control and financial efficiency... 

Ask anyone in the business and they’ll tell you that mastering the art of film financing is akin to winning a coveted Best Picture Oscar. A steep increase in average production costs and a persistent decline in traditional income sources from cinematic distribution only compound what was already a challenging budgeting balance act.  

Film production is a complex endeavor that involves coordinating various resources, from talent and equipment to post-production facilities. Each of these elements incurs costs, and without careful management, expenses can spiral out of control, jeopardizing the entire project. This is before considering these elements will often occur in different locations across the globe, adding the challenge of cross-border payments and foreign exchange rates to the mix.  

In this post, we look at the most important considerations in managing film production costs, the biggest challenges, and the best practices that digital solutions like those offered by Qorbis enable.   

Spend management encompasses the processes and strategies employed by companies to control and optimize their spending. In the film industry, where budgets can soar into the millions, effective spend management is essential for several reasons: 

READ MORE:

How to Easily Manage Employee Expenses

Managing spend in the film industry comes with its own unique set of challenges: 

To overcome these challenges and maximize efficiency, film production companies can adopt several best practices: 

Qorbis understands the unique challenges faced by the film and television production industry. We’ve designed our specialized spend management solutions to meet these needs and deliver time and cost savings so that you can get your project completed on time and on budget.  

Inefficient expense management leaves businesses in the dark, costing them thousands in errors, wasted time, fraud, and frustration. New digital expense management solutions overcome these challenges, giving back control and visibility over every dollar spent. Here’s how to make the transition 

In today's digital landscape, optimizing your operations for efficiency and cost-effectiveness is a priority. One element of this that has long been overlooked is expense management. Traditional methods of tracking expenses using paper receipts and manual data entry are time-consuming, prone to errors and fraudulent claims, and make implementing company policies around T&E seriously challenging.  

Fortunately, digitizing your expense management processes can offer a solution to these challenges, providing a streamlined and efficient way to track, monitor, and analyze expenses and giving businesses complete real-time transparency over every dollar spent. In this article, we'll explore the benefits of digitizing expense management and provide practical tips on how to make the transition smoothly. 

The Benefits of Digitizing Expense Management for Seamless T&E 

1. Enhanced Efficiency: 

Digitizing expense management eliminates the need for manual tasks such as collecting paper receipts and entering data into spreadsheets. With digital tools and platforms, employees can quickly capture receipts using their smartphones, automatically categorize expenses, and submit reimbursement requests with just a few clicks. This streamlined process saves time for both employees and finance teams, allowing them to focus on more strategic tasks. 

2. Improved Accuracy: 

Manual data entry is prone to errors, leading to discrepancies and inaccuracies in expense reports. By digitizing expense management, you can minimize the risk of human error and ensure the accuracy of your financial data. Automated systems can flag potential errors and discrepancies, reducing the need for manual review and reconciliation. 

3. Real-time Visibility: 

With digital expense management tools, finance teams have real-time visibility into spending across the organization. They can track expenses as they occur, monitor budget adherence, and identify areas of overspending or potential cost savings. This real-time insight enables proactive decision-making and better financial management – and avoids month-end surprises.  

4. Compliance and Audit Trail: 

Digitized expense management systems provide a comprehensive audit trail, documenting every step of the expense approval and reimbursement process. This level of transparency helps ensure compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements. In the event of an audit, organizations can easily provide evidence of compliance and demonstrate control over expenses. 

5. Empowered Staff: 

Empowered staff are happy, productive staff. Employees with access to digital expense management tools and access to company cards can now focus on their work instead of wasting time on expense reports, and not have to bear the financial burden of pay-and-claim reimbursements. Spend and category limits on cards set by management also empower staff to stick to expense policies so that they can spend on T&E confidently and cost-effectively. 

Tips for Digitizing Expense Management 

1. Choose the Right Software: 

Invest in a cloud-based expense management software that aligns with your organization's needs and requirements. Look for features such as mobile receipt capture, automated expense categorization, integration with accounting systems, and robust reporting capabilities. 

2. Look for Company Cards: 

Digital expense management solutions that include corporate cards are the ultimate in delivering the immediacy, efficiency, and transparency businesses need in this digital age. Ideally, those that offer global acceptance via a partner like Visa will be most valuable for staff on the move. Look for corporate cards that can be assigned and controlled in one single place, with the ability to issue virtual company cards at least, instantly. The bigger your organization the more important card controls are – choosing a solution that allows company card management in bulk, as well as the ability to set and apply rules with minimal clicks could save significant chunks of time. 

3. Implement Policy Guidelines: 

Establish clear expense management policies and guidelines to ensure consistency and compliance across the organization. Communicate these policies to employees and provide training on how to use the new digital tools effectively. 

3. Encourage Adoption: 

Encourage employee adoption of the new digital expense management system by emphasizing the benefits and ease of use. Provide support and guidance throughout the transition process and address any concerns or challenges that may arise. 

4. Monitor and Refine: 

Regularly monitor the performance of your digitized expense management system and solicit feedback from your teams. Identify areas for improvement and refinement, and adjust as needed to optimize efficiency and user experience. 

Why Choose Qorbis? 

Digitizing your expense management processes offers numerous benefits, including enhanced efficiency, improved accuracy, real-time visibility, and compliance. Leveraging Qorbis solutions – from our corporate card to our spend management dashboard – means you can streamline your expense management workflows, save time and resources, and empower your organization to make more informed financial decisions.

Book in a demo to find out how we can transform your expense management today. 

READ MORE:

How to Easily Manage Employee Expenses

A Qorbis report

Households across the U.S are facing increasing pressure as the cost of living crisis threatens to give way to a full-blown recession. It’s a worrying time for individuals and businesses, but Americans are known for their ingenuity and resilience, so much so that historically, economic downturns are often periods of significant innovation.

One such innovation that’s trending globally is the digitization of business processes, and expenses in particular. Expenses are a notoriously tricky but essential part of most businesses and digitizing them is a way to lower costs, improve cash flow, and importantly, keep workers happy.

We believe every business should have access to better digital expense management, which is why our as-a-service, cloud-based approach is such a game-changer. Our clients benefit from all the advantages of a digital solution but avoid the significant investments that are associated with traditional IT-based versions.

Please feel free to reach out to discuss how we can help you and your staff benefit from the latest in corporate spending and expense management.

Stephen Williams
CEO & Co-Founder of Qorbis
Successfully navigating the challenge of employee expenses

Soaring costs for businesses and individuals are highlighting the shortcomings of traditional pay-and-claim reimbursement models, with a new breed of digital expense management systems stepping in to fill the gap.

Expense management is a notoriously challenging aspect of business operations. Add in the current cost of living crisis and finding a solution that effectively balances the interests of both employer and employee becomes more of a priority than ever.

20%

The predicted increase in the cost of the same basket of groceries compared with 2021

Businesses are facing the fallout from rising costs and supply chain issues, further challenging finance teams to not only balance costs and expenses against profits effectively but also maintain proper records in case of audits or inquiries from tax authorities. All this before considering the month-end shock of a flurry of higher-than-predicted expense claims awaiting reimbursement in times of lower-than-predicted cash flow.

50%

The predicted increase in business travel airfares in 2023 since 2021.

Inflationary pressure has significantly affected costs across the board, with the U.S. rates reaching a 40-year record high in 2023. Food prices, transportation expenses, and healthcare costs are putting a squeeze on the standard of living for many - making lengthy waits to be reimbursed for payments made on behalf of their employer a stress point for even the most conscientious employees.

$697b

The value of the business travel market worldwide, with the United States being the country with the highest rate of business travel spending, with each costing an average of almost $1300.

It’s clear that in these difficult times, it’s more imperative than ever for organizations to find ways to support their workforce that are not only innovative and compassionate - but efficient enough to be cost-effective.

The age of expense reimbursement is over

Gone are the days of traditional reimbursements being an accepted and functional method of expense management.

Seventy-two percent of employees between the ages of 18 and 34 are expected to pay work-related expenses out-of-pocket and submit for reimbursement. For an entry-level employee making $35,000 a year, a $1,000 airline ticket is more than a third of their monthly salary before taxes. That’s a burden no one should be asked to take on. This style of reimbursement also negatively impacts businesses. It it hinders the type of real-time cash flow visibility that is required for effective decision-making and growth.

The problems with a pay-and-claim reimbursement model are numerous:

Digital expense management solutions: A win for employers and employees

Digitization is changing the way we communicate, how we bank - and now, how businesses can effectively manage expenses. Digital money management models with corporate spending cards like those offered by Qorbis offer significant advantages to both employers and employees, including improved cash flow, efficient expense processing, and complete control over spending.

Talk to us today and book a demo to see how Qorbis expense management solutions can benefit both your business and your workforce.
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