You track your expenses but what are you missing?
Most UAE businesses have some form of expense tracking. But many don’t realize that even with tools and policies in place, money is leaking through blind spots they haven’t accounted for.
From lagging reports to missed VAT reclaims, these small cracks can lead to thousands lost every year.
Here are 7 hidden problems ; and how Pemo’s all-in-one expense management platform helps solve them.
Blind spot 1: the “lag time” leak
Late expense submissions can make budgets look healthier than they really are. When employees submit receipts weeks after a business trip or team outing, you're planning based on outdated information.
Example: A manager travels to Dubai for a client meeting but only submits the hotel invoice two weeks later. By then, the monthly report is already closed ; and the finance team now has to manually adjust.
How Pemo helps: With Pemo’s smart corporate cards, every transaction appears instantly in the platform. Team members get a push notification to upload their receipt right away, so nothing is left behind. Budget owners can monitor spending in real-time, ensuring accurate tracking from day one.
Blind spot 2: the manual reconciliation black hole
Matching card statements with spreadsheets, digging for receipts in inboxes, and chasing team members to submit proof of spend is exhausting and time-consuming.
Example: A finance associate spends three full days at month-end manually reconciling meals, flights, and vendor payments from across departments.
How Pemo helps: Pemo eliminates the manual matching. Receipts are uploaded through the app and automatically linked to transactions. The finance team saves hours every month ; no more paper trails, and no more Excel overload.
Blind spot 3: out-of-policy "gray" spending
Not every questionable expense is outright misuse ; some are just untracked preferences. Think upgraded flights, luxury hotel stays, or duplicate software purchases that don’t align with company standards.
Example: A team member books a five-star hotel for a conference, even though the policy caps hotel spend at 3 stars. It goes unnoticed until weeks later.
How Pemo helps: You can set spend limits by category, vendor, or team. Pemo automatically flags out-of-policy transactions in real-time. Managers can approve or reject spend before it becomes a surprise. No more “I didn’t know” excuses.
Blind spot 4: lost VAT reclaims
In the UAE, VAT can be reclaimed ; but only if the documentation is accurate and complete. Missing or non-compliant receipts mean that money is gone for good.
Example: Your team dines with a client but forgets to collect a compliant tax invoice. That meal expense is now a loss ; and not reclaimable from the FTA.
How Pemo helps: With Pemo, every transaction is matched to a receipt that’s compliant and properly categorized. The platform helps ensure that receipts are FTA-ready, increasing the amount you can reclaim each month. It’s like having a built-in compliance assistant.
Blind spot 5: the subscription zombie apocalypse
SaaS tools and online subscriptions often stay active long after they’re needed ; especially when team members leave or projects end.
Example: You discover your company has been paying AED 400/month for a project management tool no one has used in 6 months.
How Pemo helps: Recurring payments are clearly visible in Pemo’s dashboard. You can easily review and cancel forgotten subscriptions before they drain your budget. Admins get notified of recurring charges across departments ; no more zombie costs.
Blind spot 6: the reimbursement float
Reimbursing employees after they spend their own money creates delays, ties up cash, and makes it harder to track spending as it happens.
Example: A sales rep pays AED 3,000 out of pocket during a client visit. The reimbursement takes 2 weeks, causing frustration ; and unclear financial reporting.
How Pemo helps: With Pemo, you can issue corporate cards to employees with pre-approved limits. They spend company funds directly, no reimbursement needed. Finance teams retain full control, while employees no longer have to wait for payback.
Blind spot 7: lack of real-time data for decision-making
If you rely on month-end reports to understand spend, you’re reacting too late. Today’s decision-makers need real-time insights to respond quickly.
Example: Your marketing team has already overspent their event budget, but you don’t notice until two weeks after the event wraps.
How Pemo helps: With real-time dashboards, notifications, and integrations, Pemo gives you live visibility over every dirham spent. Budget owners can track limits in real time, helping teams stay agile and proactive.
The solution: complete control with Pemo
Every blind spot above results in lost money, lost time, or lost clarity. Pemo’s all-in-one platform ; combining smart corporate cards, real-time tracking, automated receipt capture, and integrated accounting ; closes the gaps.
You get:
- Instant expense visibility
- Automated receipt matching
- Spend control by team or vendor
- Clear tracking of subscriptions and recurring payments
- Compliance-ready data for VAT reclaims
- Real-time dashboards, not end-of-month guesswork
Your business deserves better visibility
You don’t have to work harder to manage expenses ; you just need the right tools.
✨ Pemo helps UAE businesses stop the leaks, automate the manual work, and gain real control over every dirham spent.
👉 Book a demo today to see how Pemo can transform the way your team spends.
