Optimize SmartPay® 2 Card Programs to Manage Programs and Cash Strategically

Today’s economic conditions are having a direct impact on the choices government agencies make in procurement and travel. With the need to realize more value for money spent, now is the time to explore how card programs can be used strategically to improve cash management. Federal agencies can use SmartPay 2 solutions to optimize travel and purchasing card programs with best practices customized to meet specific needs. Whether the need is expanded card use to reduce expenses and increase rebates, or programs that go beyond plastic to include supplier finance and logistics solutions, or program tools that deliver real-time intelligence, Citi can help agencies implement targeted solutions to maximize financial advantage.

Using its Working Capital Analytics tool, Citi can analyze an agency’s payables process to identify solutions that will automate its procure-to-pay process — from purchase order to supplier finance — to improve operational efficiencies, increase savings and manage cash strategically. A supplier finance solution can be used to better manage days payables outstanding while providing suppliers with the early payment they need and want.

When a logistics tool is needed, Citi solutions streamline the approval and payment of freight expenses by putting everything online and automating the supply chain process to reduce costs, increase efficiencies and simplify reconciliation. Providing logistics and financial data in real-time increases visibility and gives agencies more control over freight spend.

Agencies with Citi travel or purchase card programs also have access to the Program Dashboard, a strategic management tool that provides program intelligence through an interactive, graphical display of card program data. Government agencies can use the Dashboard to measure program performance against their strategic objectives with tools that analyze spending patterns, monitor activity in real-time, and provide the data needed to negotiate better discounts with key suppliers.

These are a few of the many purchasing and cash management tools agencies can use today to implement a stronger program that achieves more strategic value by reducing costs and increasing savings to optimize budgets.

Daniel Ragheb
Director, NA Public Sector
Citigroup Global Transaction Services