Perk after the merger: Travel and expense management with Philippe Sahli and Eugen Triebelhorn

This interview is based on an episode of the torq.partners Finance Podcast featuring guests Philippe Sahli, Chief Spend Officer, and Eugen Tribelhorn, VP of Revenue for DACH at Perk. The full episode is available on Spotify and YouTube as a video podcast.

Why is the combination of travel and spending more than just “Travel & Expense”?

The travel process rarely begins with a receipt and does not end with reimbursement. Only when travel, expenses, tickets, incoming invoices, and bookings are integrated do gaps disappear: Once master data is maintained, data flows without the need for duplicate entry, and posting—including sales tax logic—occurs consistently. The transition from two separate silos to a single platform creates precisely this end-to-end consistency.

What insights does your study on “shadow work” in the travel and finance sectors provide?

Companies lose a tremendous amount of time because employees are performing tasks outside their core business—such as booking travel, collecting receipts, or performing manual reconciliations. The costs are often underestimated. The more steps are automated and the more systems are integrated, the more process costs and turnaround times decrease, while transparency and compliance increase.

From your perspective, what were the biggest pain points before the acquisition?

Separate tools led to data inconsistencies: duplicate master data maintenance, unreliable matching, special cases involving travel (such as cancellations or hotel extras), and manual follow-up in accounting. CFO teams demanded reliable data transfers and clear responsibilities throughout the end-to-end process. That is exactly where the shared platform comes in.

How did the integration of Yokoy into Perk go, both technically and commercially?

The groundwork laid by the partnership paid off: features were consolidated onto a shared platform, the brand was unified, and sales teams were trained on the expanded product. Pilot “squads” tested the go-to-market strategy and processes before a broad rollout. The goal was to ensure that customers no longer noticed the history of the two companies, neither in the app nor in the data flow.

What cultural and organizational hurdles did you have to overcome?

Silos had to be broken down: “us” and “them” are giving way to a platform mindset. This means new routines in communication, enablement, and deal orchestration. At the same time, the bar remains high: integration happens as business continues, without losing pace with the market.

What exactly will change for existing and new customers?

Those who have already used both solutions benefit from a single app, a single login, and a single database. Master data, policies, and limits are managed centrally; workflows and transactions are seamlessly integrated. New customers can start with individual modules and scale up without the need for additional app training: Travel, Expenses, Cards, Invoices, and Accounting all come together in a single system.

Why does the ecosystem remain open even though you offer a suite?

Open interfaces aren't just a nice-to-have—they're a promise of quality. Not every company fits perfectly into a single suite; special requirements or established IT landscapes require flexibility. A strong platform wins people over through product quality, not by creating silos.

What advice do you give founders regarding exit readiness?

A focus on the product and customers signals that the company is ready for an exit. In practice, a reliable team of legal and finance experts, short decision-making chains, and well-organized documentation all help. The process remains intensive, but becomes manageable when technology, customer value, and data quality are all in place.

How has the travel market changed since the pandemic, and what opportunities does this present?

Many companies are modernizing processes that were previously handled through traditional travel agencies and Excel. The trend is toward digital booking, end-to-end approvals, and automated reimbursement. This increases transparency, reduces costs, and enables real-time management—especially when travel and spend are managed together.

Where is Perk headed in the coming years?

The platform is just getting started: Travel and Spend are converging, data flows are becoming more consolidated, and complex requirements (e.g., taxes, anomalies) are being automated to a greater extent. The direction is clear: less shadow work, more control—global, scalable, and open.

What does “acquisition in a nutshell” mean to you?

Everything that belongs together is coming together: a platform that connects travel and expenses end-to-end—not just as a slide, but in a way that’s tangible in day-to-day work. And this is just the beginning.