Navan Review

Navan is a fintech platform headquartered in Palo Alto, California, designed to simplify corporate travel and expense management. Launched as TripActions in 2015, the company rebranded to Navan in 2023, combining the words “navigate” and “avant” to reflect its forward-thinking approach to travel and expense solutions. Navan integrates travel booking, expense management, and corporate card services into a single, intuitive platform, supported by AI-powered tools like its virtual assistant, Ava. The platform serves businesses ranging from startups to large enterprises, including notable clients like SurveyMonkey, Twilio, and Bloomreach.

Navan’s mission is to make corporate travel effortless, allowing employees to “focus on being there, not getting there.” It achieves this through a robust inventory of travel options, automated expense reporting, and 24/7 customer support. The platform’s innovative features, such as Navan Rewards and Navan Connect, further enhance its appeal by incentivizing cost-saving behaviors and integrating with existing corporate card programs.

Key Features of Navan

Navan’s feature set is designed to address the pain points of corporate travel and expense management. Below are some of its standout capabilities:

1. Comprehensive Travel Management

Navan offers an extensive travel inventory, including flights, hotels, and car rentals, sourced from aggregators and top suppliers. Employees can book trips directly through the platform’s web or mobile app, with filters for preferences like departure time, airline, and location. The platform enforces custom spending policies, ensuring compliance while allowing flexibility. Navan also supports team offsites, executive travel, and individual work trips, making it versatile for various business needs.

2. AI-Powered Virtual Assistant (Ava)

Ava, Navan’s AI-powered virtual assistant, is a game-changer for travel management. Introduced in 2023, Ava uses generative AI to assist with booking, itinerary changes, and expense tracking. It also serves as a personal data analyst for travel admins and finance teams, providing insights to optimize travel and expense (T&E) programs. The Concierge by Ava feature analyzes user travel patterns and real-time factors to offer personalized hotel recommendations, enhancing the booking experience.

3. Expense Management and Corporate Cards

Navan streamlines expense management by automating categorization, reporting, and reimbursements. Employees can link existing Visa, Mastercard, or Amex cards or use Navan’s corporate card, Navan Liquid, for seamless transactions. Real-time visibility into spending allows finance teams to monitor budgets and enforce policies. The Accounting Review page, updated in 2024, includes tools like workflow tabs and control settings to ensure data accuracy before syncing with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.

4. Navan Rewards Program

The Navan Rewards program incentivizes employees to choose cost-effective travel options, such as cheaper flights or hotels, by offering points or gift cards redeemable for personal travel. Fully funded by Navan, this program has been praised for driving company savings, with some users estimating cost reductions of up to 15%.

5. Navan Connect

Launched in 2023, Navan Connect allows companies to integrate their existing corporate Mastercard or Visa cards with Navan’s platform, preserving banking relationships while accessing Navan’s real-time control and automated expense reporting. This feature has been a significant differentiator, particularly for businesses hesitant to switch to Navan’s proprietary card.

6. 24/7 Customer Support

Navan provides round-the-clock support via chat, email, and phone, with premium high-touch services available through Navan Pro for VIP travelers. Customer reviews frequently highlight the responsiveness and professionalism of Navan’s support team, particularly during flight delays or booking issues.

7. Integrations and Partnerships

Navan integrates with tools like Greenhouse, Workday, and Anaplan, enhancing its utility for HR and finance teams. Strategic partnerships, such as with Citi, bolster its financial offerings, combining Navan’s platform with Citi’s commercial card solutions. These integrations streamline processes like headcount forecasting and expense reconciliation.

Benefits of Using Navan

Navan’s combination of technology and user-focused design delivers several benefits for businesses and employees:

1. User-Friendly Interface

Users consistently praise Navan’s intuitive interface, available on both desktop and mobile platforms. The clean design and comprehensive search filters make booking travel and managing expenses straightforward, even for those new to the platform. The mobile app, with over 100,000 downloads on Android and a 4.8 rating on iOS, is particularly valued by frequent travelers.

2. Time and Cost Savings

By automating expense reporting and offering negotiated travel rates, Navan reduces administrative burdens and travel costs. The platform’s AI insights and rewards program further optimize savings, with one user reporting a 15% reduction in travel expenses due to Navan’s inventory and compliance features.

3. Enhanced Policy Compliance

Navan’s customizable policies ensure employees adhere to company budgets, eliminating out-of-policy spending. Real-time reporting and approval flows provide transparency, empowering finance teams to maintain control without micromanaging.

4. Seamless Onboarding

Customers frequently commend Navan’s onboarding process, noting the responsiveness of account managers like Joe Jara, Frank, and Giselle. The platform’s training resources and demos facilitate quick adoption, even for companies transitioning from legacy systems.

5. Global Scalability

With acquisitions like Tripeur in India and partnerships with European airlines for New Distribution Capability (NDC), Navan supports global travel needs. Its ability to handle international card issuing and provide localized support makes it suitable for multinational corporations.

User Experiences and Feedback

Navan has garnered a strong reputation, with a 4-star rating on Trustpilot (based on 239 reviews) and a 4.6 rating on GetApp (176 reviews). Below is a summary of user feedback from various sources:

Positive Feedback

• Ease of Use: Users like Sam B. describe Navan as “very easy to use” compared to traditional systems, citing faster reimbursements and simplified travel booking.
• Customer Support: Mac B. and Robert praise Navan’s 24/7 support, particularly for resolving issues during flight delays. One user highlighted agent Liam’s professionalism in exploring multiple options to ensure timely travel.
• Onboarding Support: Companies with 200+ employees have noted Navan’s effectiveness in streamlining travel for large teams, with account managers like Joe, Jack, and David providing prompt assistance during rollouts.
• Cost Savings: The Navan Rewards program and negotiated rates are frequently cited as drivers of significant savings, enhancing ROI for businesses.

Criticisms and Challenges

• Customer Service Wait Times: Some users report long wait times for customer service calls, with one admin suggesting a dedicated line or callback feature to avoid 15–20-minute holds.
• UI/UX Issues: A minority of users criticize Navan’s interface as slow or quirky, with one describing frequent price changes during hotel bookings as frustrating.
• Account Management Issues: Several users have faced challenges with account suspensions or deactivated cards still incurring charges, with delays in resolution. One user reported waiting six months without a response after requesting account closure.
• Third-Party Issues: When issues arise with third-party providers (e.g., airlines or hotels), Navan’s role as a middleman can lead to a “runaround,” with users directed back and forth between Navan and the provider.
• System Reliability: Some users have encountered glitches, such as app failures to locate hotels or difficulties modifying airline tickets, which can be particularly problematic for frequent travelers.

Pricing and Plans

Navan offers two main pricing plans, though detailed costs require contacting the company directly:

• Growth Plan: Free for up to 50 monthly active users, including travel and expense management features. Live travel agent support incurs a fee.
• Professional Plan: Designed for companies with over 100 employees, this plan includes unlimited 24/7 live agent support, international card issuing, and corporate negotiated rates. Custom quotes are available.

While Navan’s pricing is not publicly disclosed, its value proposition lies in cost savings through negotiated rates, rewards, and automation. However, some users have criticized additional fees, such as a $25 charge for “alternative trips” (e.g., not merging trips), which lacks clear notification.

Areas for Improvement

Despite its strengths, Navan has room for enhancement based on user feedback:

1. Customer Service Response Times: Implementing a callback feature or dedicated admin line could address complaints about long hold times.
2. System Reliability: Improving app performance and syncing capabilities for itinerary changes would enhance the experience for frequent travelers.
3. Transparency in Account Management: Clearer communication regarding account suspensions or card deactivations, along with faster resolution, is critical.
4. Third-Party Coordination: Strengthening partnerships to streamline issue resolution with third-party providers would reduce user frustration.
5. UI/UX Optimization: Addressing slow or inconsistent interface issues could improve overall usability.

Comparison with Competitors

Navan competes with platforms like SAP Concur, TravelBank, and Zoho Expense. While SAP Concur is robust for large enterprises, it is often criticized for a clunky interface. TravelBank and Zoho Expense offer similar expense management features but lack Navan’s AI-driven travel capabilities and rewards program. Navan’s integration of generative AI, extensive inventory, and user-friendly design give it an edge, particularly for mid-sized companies and startups.

Conclusion

Navan is a powerful, all-in-one platform that transforms corporate travel and expense management through innovative technology and exceptional user experience. Its AI-powered tools, comprehensive travel inventory, and automated expense tracking make it a valuable asset for businesses seeking efficiency and cost savings. Positive user reviews highlight its ease of use, responsive support, and onboarding process, while criticisms point to areas like customer service wait times and system reliability that need attention.

For companies looking to streamline travel programs, reduce administrative burdens, and empower employees, Navan is a compelling choice. However, potential users should weigh its benefits against challenges like third-party coordination and account management issues. By addressing these pain points, Navan has the potential to solidify its position as the leading corporate travel management platform. To explore Navan further, visit navan.com or request a demo to assess its fit for your organization.