The Art of Virtual Transformation

How One Museum Quickly Pivoted to an Online Experience While Also Streamlining Digital Business Operations

When the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) in the US, shut its doors to visitors and staff in mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic, it was “a lot to take in,” recalls Derek O’Brien, the museum’s chief marketing officer. “We are here to support the community. And this is the first time in over 200 years that we’ve had to close.”

PEM’s pandemic-driven pivot hasn’t been just about creating virtual content for visitors to enjoy. The museum also needed to transition to remote work and conduct business operations online.

With PEM employees working from home, SAP Concur solutions has reduced time spent on administrative tasks and supported museum vendors by staying current on payments. Vendors submit invoices electronically, which are uploaded into Concur® Invoice, where they are reviewed, coded and approved.      

“We are fortunate that we already had these digital tools in place because we really haven’t missed a beat,” says Nathalie Apchin, PEM’s chief financial officer. 

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