What is Purchase Optimizer?
The MasterCard Purchase Optimizer is an interactive survey and diagnostic tool that translates your company profile data and card program statistics into benchmarks and a savings calculation designed to increase program value.
 
How long does it take to complete the Purchase Optimizer survey?
Initial profiling is intuitive and can be completed in less than 10 minutes. Additional data about your program deployment per card type will also be requested.  

What data is required?
The Purchase Optimizer requires basic profile information about your organization’s size and scope, as well as its current procure-to-pay approach. You will need to know certain aspects of deployment for each card type your organization uses, which are then used to compare your performance with industry benchmarks.

How were the various stakeholder groups chosen?
The stakeholder groups in the Value Framework and Gap Analysis represent those individuals or managers who have a vested interest in a payment card program. Whether they use cards directly (cardholders), manage those who use cards (business managers), manage the card program itself (program administrator), lead the functional unit where cards have been implemented (purchasing, travel or fleet card manager) or run the entire company (senior management), these company representatives receive value from an effective card program. Whether a card program is just being implemented, or can be enhanced through best-in-class business practices, these stakeholders are key to its success. Recommended actions are linked to the stakeholder group that will benefit the most from the suggested program improvements.

How are the financial benefits calculated?
Your total potential savings opportunity was calculated based on Aberdeen Group’s industry benchmarks for transaction and category savings realized when moving from paper processing of purchasing, travel, or fleet transactions to the automated processing of transactions and expense reporting under a card program.

Your total potential savings opportunity depends on your industry sector and the size of the company: savings range from $9 to $32 per transaction/expense report processes. Additional savings come from better visibility into your purchasing, travel or fleet expenses, which enables you to negotiate supplier discounts. The potential savings amount represents your opportunity in addition to what you may have already saved by moving a portion of your purchasing, travel or fleet expenses to a card. This is what you could save by moving more of your category spend to card program(s).
 
What is the output?
After completing the MasterCard Purchase Optimizer survey, you can receive a tailored report by email (in PDF format) with benchmarks, opportunity calculations, and recommended actions to increase program value.
 

I have completed the Purchase Optimizer survey, but cannot print out the full diagnostic report about my purchasing/travel/fleet/one card programs.
Simply enter your email at the end of the survey, indicate that you would like to receive the report, and a full PDF report will be e-mailed to you.
 
What are the differences between the card products?
A Purchasing Card simplifies your procure-to-pay process and helps control purchasing more efficiently with preset spending limits, all within pre-established budget parameters.  A Travel Card (or "T&E" Card for travel and entertainment), is a payment card used to cover expenses associated with travel, such as airfare and lodging, and helps you organize all aspects of travel more easily and efficiently.  A Fleet Card has similar features to a Purchasing Card, but provides point-of-sale capabilities unique to fuel purchases in addition to handling vehicle maintenance and other fleet expenses.  A One Card offers any combination of purchasing, travel and fleet functionality on a single card, simplifying administration for the cardholder as well as program management.   

Each of these card products simplifies the authorization process, minimizes fraud, controls costs, and enables easier visibility into spend data by integrating transaction data into financial systems. 
 

Where did you get your benchmark data?
All benchmark data was provided by AberdeenGroup based on targeted market research efforts.  The most current data was collected in early 2006.  Responses from over 100 US-based companies were compiled according to company size, industry, technology deployed, and card program maturity

 
I would like more information on how my results were achieved and how to implement the recommendations. Who can I contact?
The MasterCard Corporate Payment Solutions team would be happy to provide you with more detailed answers regarding your analysis. You can contact us by email at mcbusiness@mastercard.com , by phone at 888-321-9119 or by using the Contact Us link at the bottom of any page.
 
How does my company apply for a MasterCard purchasing, travel, fleet or one card?
Go to www.mastercardbusiness.com and select the category for your company size. If you know what kind of card you are looking for, use the “For Card Issuers” list to select the card type and get a list of banks that offer the card you are looking for. You can also use the “Contact Us” or “Solution Finder” links for assistance in finding the right kind of card(s) for your company.