Factors Considered to Negatively Impact the Company in 2026

A 2025 SAP Concur and Wakefield Research survey revealed the perspectives of global chief financial officers (CFOs) regarding factors negatively impacting corporate health in 2026.

The two most concerning factors were employee reluctance to travel for business and geopolitical conflict and tension. Other concerns included new or changing sustainability regulations, company spending cuts, new tariffs, and inflation.

Here's how CFOs ranked the likelihood of factors impacting their company's health next year:

• Employee reluctance or refusal to travel: 45%
• Geopolitical conflicts and tensions: 45%
• New or changing sustainability regulations: 40%
• Reduced corporate spending: 40%
• New or anticipated tariffs: 36%
• Tax regulations: 35%
• Inflation: 29%
• None of these: 1%

Based on these findings, SAP Concur stated that while CFOs are viewed as budget guardians, they still consider business travel a crucial investment, not merely an expense.

Specifically regarding business travel budgets, 90% of CFOs anticipate these budgets will increase or at least remain the same.

“53% (of CFOs) expect a slight increase in their budget, and 23% anticipate a substantial increase. This is despite the fact that 43% (of CFOs) agree that more than half of their company's trips could technically be replaced by virtual meetings,” said SAP Concur.

The Concur CFO-Global Survey was conducted from April 30 to May 12, 2025. The survey included 600 CFOs from companies in Germany, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.