
Expensify - Detailed Review
Travel Tools

Expensify - Product Overview
Overview
Expensify is a comprehensive expense management platform that simplifies the process of tracking, reporting, and managing business expenses. Here’s a brief overview of its primary function, target audience, and key features:Primary Function
Expensify’s main purpose is to streamline the entire expense management lifecycle. It automates the capture, tracking, and reporting of expenses, making it easier for businesses to manage their financial transactions efficiently.Target Audience
Expensify is designed for a wide range of users, including individuals, small businesses, and larger enterprises. It is particularly useful for freelancers, independent contractors, and small business owners who need to manage expenses effectively. The platform is also popular among companies with 50-200 employees and revenues between $10M-$50M, with a significant presence in industries such as computer software, information technology, financial services, and internet services.Key Features
Receipt Capture
Expensify allows employees to quickly capture receipts and bills using their smartphones. The platform’s OCR technology scans and extracts key details from these receipts, automatically populating expense reports.Expense Tracking
The platform provides real-time expense tracking, supporting all major currencies. This feature enables immediate visibility into spending, allowing for more proactive financial decision-making.Reporting Automation
Expensify automates the compilation of expenses into reports, which can be easily submitted for manager approval and reimbursement. This automation reduces the need for manual input and ensures accuracy in expense records.Integration
Expensify seamlessly integrates with major accounting platforms like QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, and Sage Intacct. It also supports payment via ACH or card and offers open APIs for custom integrations.Corporate Card
The platform includes a free corporate card that allows for faster expense reporting and reconciliation. Users can earn cash back on purchases, with rates varying based on monthly spend.Spend Management
Expensify offers comprehensive spend management tools, including managing spend reports, vendor bills, payment records, and budget assignments. It also allows for customizable reporting and data exports to analyze expenses across various categories.Expense Policy Enforcement
The platform enables businesses to establish and enforce custom expense policies, ensuring compliance with company guidelines and reducing the possibility of policy violations.Travel
Expensify also includes a travel booking feature that provides access to a global inventory of flights, hotels, rental cars, and rail services at competitive rates.Conclusion
Overall, Expensify is a versatile tool that simplifies expense management, reduces manual tasks, and enhances financial transparency and control for businesses of all sizes.
Expensify - User Interface and Experience
Expensify: Travel Expense Management
Expensify offers a user interface that is both intuitive and efficient, making it highly user-friendly.Ease of Use
Expensify’s interface is streamlined to simplify the process of capturing and managing expenses. One of the standout features is the receipt capture functionality, which allows users to take a photo of their receipts using the mobile app. The AI-powered SmartScan technology automatically extracts relevant details such as date, amount, and merchant information, saving time and ensuring accuracy.Mobile and Browser Accessibility
The app is accessible across various platforms, including iOS, Android, desktop, and web, allowing users to manage their expenses from anywhere. This mobile-first approach ensures that all features are fully functional on the go, making it ideal for frequent travelers.Real-Time Expense Tracking
Users can log expenses in real-time, which helps in keeping track of spending without any delays. The app allows for instant upload and tagging of receipts, making it easy to finalize expense reports quickly, even in the midst of travel activities like checking out of a hotel or wrapping up dinner.Customizable Workflows and Integrations
Expensify enables users to create approval workflows that fit their company’s structure and integrate with various accounting systems. This integration helps in automating tasks such as syncing accounting data, managing corporate spending, and ensuring compliance with tax regulations.Chat-Based Interface
The new version of Expensify introduces a chat-first approach, where financial conversations happen directly on the expense or invoice being discussed. This feature reduces back-and-forth communication and makes the approval process faster and more efficient. The inbox houses all outstanding tasks in one list, and smart indicators help users understand what needs review and what is ready to go.Search and Filter Functionality
Expensify offers a global, custom search feature that allows users to find anything across expenses, trips, invoices, and chats. This makes it easy to locate specific information quickly, enhancing the overall user experience.Security and Compliance
The platform ensures high security standards, complying with PCI, Privacy Shield, and GDPR requirements, which provides peace of mind for users when handling sensitive financial data.User Experience
Overall, the user experience with Expensify is positive, with users praising its ease of use, the speed of processing expenses, and the intuitive design. The learning curve is minimal, and the app’s performance is consistent, with any issues promptly addressed by the customer service team.Conclusion
In summary, Expensify’s user interface is designed to be user-friendly, efficient, and accessible, making it an excellent tool for managing travel expenses and overall financial transactions.
Expensify - Key Features and Functionality
Expensify Travel Overview
Expensify Travel offers a range of features that streamline travel booking, management, and expense reporting. Here are the key features and how they work:Centralized Booking Platform
Expensify Travel allows users to search and book flights, hotels, cars, and trains all within the same platform. This centralization ensures consistency and ease of use, making it simpler for employees to plan and book their travel arrangements.Global Inventory Access
Built on Spotnana’s cloud-based Travel-as-a-Service platform, Expensify Travel provides access to a global travel inventory, enabling users to find travel options at competitive rates. This feature ensures that employees can book travel that fits within their budget and company guidelines.Policy Enforcement
The platform enforces company travel policies, minimizing policy violations and reducing administrative burdens. This ensures that all travel bookings and expenses adhere to the company’s guidelines, helping to maintain financial discipline.Dynamic Approval Workflows
Expensify Travel includes soft and hard approval processes to manage spending effectively. This provides real-time control and flexibility, allowing managers to approve or reject expenses quickly and efficiently.Integration with Accounting Software
Expensify seamlessly integrates with popular accounting platforms, linking travel, expenses, and financial systems effortlessly. This integration simplifies the process of exporting reports and ensures accurate financial records.Automated Categorization and Receipt Capture
The SmartScan technology in Expensify automatically extracts relevant information from receipts, categorizing expenses and saving time. Users can also capture receipts on-the-go using the mobile app, ensuring no expense goes untracked.Self-Service Capabilities
Expensify Travel offers self-service capabilities for managing flight changes, cancellations, and unused ticket credits. This allows employees to handle last-minute changes without needing extensive administrative support.24/7 Travel Support
The platform provides 24/7 support, ensuring employees have round-the-clock assistance to address any travel issues. This enhances the overall travel experience and reduces stress for travelers.Virtual Travel Cards
Expensify allows the assignment of virtual travel cards to employees, which can be used for travel bookings. This feature adds an extra layer of convenience and financial control.Real-Time Notifications and Reporting
Expensify Travel sends automatic notifications about rescheduled flights and other travel changes. It also provides detailed reports on travel and expense patterns, enhancing decision-making and forecasting.AI Integration
While the specific AI technologies used are not detailed, Expensify’s features such as automated categorization, policy enforcement, and dynamic approval workflows suggest the use of AI to streamline and automate various processes. For example, AI likely plays a role in SmartScan technology, which automatically extracts information from receipts, and in flagging policy violations before they occur.Conclusion
These features collectively make Expensify Travel a comprehensive tool for managing business travel, ensuring efficiency, accuracy, and compliance with company policies.
Expensify - Performance and Accuracy
Evaluation of Expensify’s Performance
When evaluating the performance and accuracy of Expensify in the travel tools and expense management category, several key features and capabilities stand out.Automation and Accuracy
Expensify boasts strong automation features that significantly enhance accuracy in expense management. The SmartScan technology, for instance, allows users to simply snap a photo of a receipt, and the system automatically captures and categorizes the expense, eliminating the need for manual data entry and reducing the risk of human error.Travel Management
The newly introduced Expensify Travel feature integrates travel booking and management directly into the platform. This allows users to search and book flights, hotels, cars, and trains in one place, with access to global travel inventory at competitive rates. The platform also provides self-service capabilities for managing flight changes, cancellations, and unused ticket credits, ensuring that all aspects of travel are efficiently managed.Policy Compliance and Controls
Expensify’s automated policy controls flag out-of-policy submissions instantly and route them for review, maintaining consistent standards without overburdening the finance team. This ensures that company travel policies are adhered to, reducing the likelihood of compliance errors.Real-Time Reporting and Analytics
The platform offers comprehensive dashboards and analytics, providing immediate visibility into company spending patterns and trends. This real-time reporting helps finance teams make informed decisions and monitor expenses effectively.Integrations and Connectivity
Expensify integrates seamlessly with various accounting software, such as QuickBooks, and other business tools, ensuring that expense data flows smoothly across systems without manual transfer. This integration enhances the accuracy of financial reporting and reduces the time spent on data entry.User Experience
The mobile-first design of Expensify allows users to manage expenses anywhere, submitting real-time receipts and reports through the mobile app. This prevents expense backlogs and ensures that all travel-related expenses are tracked and recorded accurately.Limitations and Areas for Improvement
While Expensify has made significant strides in automating expense management, there are still some areas that require human intervention. For example, about 20% of the expense workflow may require additional information not available on the receipt or card swipe, such as the purpose of the expense. However, Expensify is working to address this through its chat-first platform, aiming to automate this remaining 20% by capturing context from chat interactions.Support and Flexibility
Expensify Travel offers 24/7 support and the ability to book travel using any credit card on the market. The platform also allows admins to set specific rules for booking travel, such as spend limits, fare types, and flight durations, providing greater control over company travel policies.Conclusion
In summary, Expensify’s performance and accuracy in the travel tools and expense management category are strong, thanks to its automation features, integrated travel management, and real-time reporting. While there are some limitations, particularly in areas requiring additional context, the platform is continually evolving to address these needs and improve overall efficiency.
Expensify - Pricing and Plans
Expensify Pricing Structure
Expensify offers a varied pricing structure to cater to different needs, whether you are an individual or a business. Here’s a breakdown of the plans and their features:
Free Plan
Individuals
- The Free plan allows individuals to use Expensify with up to 25 SmartScans per month. This plan includes basic features like Expensify Cards, cash expense reimbursement, and invoice sending.
Small Businesses
- The Free Plan for small businesses is more comprehensive. It includes:
- Physical and digital Expensify Cards with cash back (up to 2% in 2021 and up to 1% thereafter).
- Free next-day ACH reimbursements for cash expenses.
- Unlimited SmartScans for receipts.
- Invoicing and bill processing.
- Chat-based corporate travel booking for flights, hotels, and rental cars.
Collect Plan
- This plan is particularly popular among SMEs and startups.
- Cost: Starts at $5 per user per month if paid annually, or $10 per user per month without an annual commitment. It can be free if more than 50% of the business expenses are on Expensify Cards.
- Features:
- Company cards.
- Expense approval.
- Accounting integrations.
- Smart limits.
- Customizable spend limits on Expensify Cards.
Control Plan
- This plan is more advanced and suitable for larger businesses or those needing more control.
- Cost: Starts at $9 per user per month if paid annually, or $18 per user per month without an annual commitment.
- Features:
- Company cards.
- Multiple approvers.
- Expense policies.
- Custom reporting.
- Access control.
Additional Considerations
- Expensify Card Discounts: Using the Expensify Card can significantly reduce the monthly costs. For example, the Collect and Control plans can be free if the business meets certain spend thresholds on the Expensify Card.
- Annual Billing Discounts: There is a 50% discount for annual billing commitments.
- Pay-Per-Use Rates: If you don’t commit to an annual plan, you can opt for pay-per-use rates, which are generally higher.
Expensify’s tiered pricing ensures that both individuals and businesses can find a plan that fits their needs and budget, with the option to upgrade as their requirements grow.

Expensify - Integration and Compatibility
Expensify Overview
Expensify, a comprehensive expense management platform, integrates seamlessly with a wide range of tools and systems, making it a versatile solution for various business needs.Accounting and Finance Integrations
Expensify integrates with major accounting and finance software, including QuickBooks, Xero, Oracle Netsuite, Sage Intacct, and more. For instance, the integration with QuickBooks Desktop allows for streamlined expense management by connecting directly to your QuickBooks account. This involves setting up the connection in Expensify, installing the QuickBooks Web Connector, and authorizing access to ensure seamless data transfer between the two platforms.Travel Tools Integrations
Expensify also integrates well with travel booking platforms like TravelPerk. This integration enables automatic transfer of travel expenses from TravelPerk to Expensify, ensuring real-time data synchronization and adherence to corporate travel policies. When employees book travel through TravelPerk, their expenses are automatically populated in Expensify, facilitating timely reporting and reimbursement.Banking and ERP Integrations
In addition to accounting and travel tools, Expensify integrates with banking systems and ERP software. This allows businesses to combine financial reporting with their current banking setup, ensuring that financial data is consistently updated and accessible across different platforms.HR and Payroll Integrations
Expensify integrates with HR and payroll systems such as ADP and Gusto. These integrations help in automating the expense management process, ensuring that employee expenses are accurately tracked and reimbursed in compliance with company policies.Cross-Platform Compatibility
Expensify is compatible across various devices and platforms. Users can upload receipts via the mobile app, scan them using the camera, or enter payment information manually. The platform supports both Windows and iOS, although Mac OS is not supported for certain integrations like QuickBooks Desktop.Real-Time Data Synchronization
The integrations with other tools enable real-time data synchronization, allowing finance teams to track expenses, monitor spending trends, and enforce budget controls more effectively. For example, the integration with Scoro allows businesses to automate expense management, link data to projects, and make insight-driven decisions based on real-time customizable dashboards.Conclusion
In summary, Expensify’s integrations with various tools and systems enhance its functionality, making it a comprehensive solution for managing expenses, travel bookings, and financial reporting across different platforms and devices.
Expensify - Customer Support and Resources
Customer Support
For Expensify Travel, users have access to several support channels:
Concierge
Available 24/7, you can chat with Concierge directly in the Expensify app or email them at concierge@expensify.com for quick responses.
24/7 Assistance
Expensify Travel provides real-time support via chat or phone, ensuring you can get help whenever you need it.
Additional Resources
Setup Specialists
These dedicated onboarding experts can help you get started with Expensify, connect your cards and bank accounts, and configure integrations, which is beneficial for setting up travel management as well.
Account Managers
These specialists can answer any questions you have and provide best practices for using Expensify Travel effectively.
ExpensifyHelp
This self-serve knowledge hub contains useful information compiled by customers and the Accountant Steering Committee. It can help you find answers to common questions about using Expensify Travel.
Payments Support
If you have questions about transactions, transfers, or statements related to your Expensify Wallet, dedicated support is available.
Travel-Specific Features
Trip Collaboration
Expensify Travel creates a trip chat room for employees to discuss travel logistics, making it easier to plan and manage trips.
Centralized Expenses
All travel and expense (T&E) expenses are managed directly within Expensify, streamlining your financial administration.
Dynamic Approvals
Admins can set up approvals for out-of-policy trips, ensuring compliance with company travel policies.
Built-in Rewards
Using the Expensify Card for bookings can earn you cash back and automatically reconcile card transactions to your Expensify account.
Booking and Management
All Bookings in One Place
You can book flights, hotels, cars, and trains in a single platform, making travel management more efficient.
Global Inventory
Expensify Travel allows you to search a worldwide database of travel options at competitive prices.
Elevated Control
Admins can create specific rules for booking travel, such as spend limits, fare types, and more, to maintain control over company travel policies.
These resources and support options ensure that using Expensify Travel is both easy and effective, providing a seamless experience for managing business travel.

Expensify - Pros and Cons
When considering Expensify’s travel tools, here are the main advantages and disadvantages to help you make an informed decision.
Advantages
Streamlined Booking and Management
Expensify Travel allows users to book flights, hotels, cars, and trains all in one place, making the travel planning process efficient and straightforward. This platform is built on Spotnana’s cloud-based Travel-as-a-Service, providing access to a global travel inventory at competitive rates.Integrated Expense Management
Expensify seamlessly integrates travel bookings with expense management, enabling users to manage all their travel and expense (T&E) needs within a single platform. This includes features like receipt scanning, automated categorization, and centralizing company expenses.Enhanced Control and Compliance
Admins can set specific rules for travel bookings, such as spend limits, fare types, flight durations, and room costs. This ensures compliance with company travel policies and reduces surprises related to business travel expenses.24/7 Support and Self-Service Capabilities
Users have access to 24/7 support via chat or phone, and the platform offers self-service capabilities for managing flight changes, cancellations, and unused ticket credits.Virtual Travel Cards and Rewards
Expensify allows admins to assign virtual travel cards to employees, and users can earn cash back and rewards when booking with the Expensify Card. This adds a layer of convenience and financial benefit to the travel management process.Collaborative Trip Planning
The platform creates a trip chat room for employees to discuss travel logistics, making trip collaboration easier and more organized.Disadvantages
Booking Fees
Members may incur a booking fee on a trip-by-trip basis, which could add to the overall cost of using the service. However, the specifics of these fees need to be clarified with Expensify directly.Limited Information on Cost
While the platform offers competitive rates, detailed pricing information for the travel features and any associated fees is not readily available in the provided sources. Users would need to contact Expensify for more detailed cost breakdowns.Potential Learning Curve
Although Expensify is generally user-friendly, new users might need some time to familiarize themselves with the full range of features and settings, especially if they are transitioning from another travel management system.Summary
Expensify’s travel tools offer a comprehensive suite of features that simplify travel booking and expense management, provide strong control over company policies, and offer excellent support. However, users should be aware of potential booking fees and may need to inquire about specific costs.
Expensify - Comparison with Competitors
Expensify Travel Features
Expensify is enhancing its platform with the introduction of Expensify Travel, built on Spotnana’s cloud-based Travel-as-a-Service platform. This addition allows users to book flights, hotels, cars, and trains quickly and at competitive rates. Here are some unique features:- Centralized Booking: Users can search and book travel within the same system, ensuring consistency and streamlined workflows.
- Policy Enforcement: Expensify Travel ensures that bookings and expenses adhere to company guidelines, reducing policy violations and administrative burdens.
- Dynamic Approval Workflows: The platform offers soft and hard approval processes for effective spending management.
- Global Inventory Access: Users have access to a worldwide database of travel options at competitive prices.
- 24/7 Support: Expensify provides round-the-clock travel support to address any travel issues.
- Automated Categorization: Travel expenses are automatically sorted and categorized, simplifying the reporting process.
- Virtual Travel Cards: Employees can be assigned virtual travel cards, enhancing payment flexibility.
Competitors and Alternatives
SAP Concur
SAP Concur is a strong competitor in the travel and expense management space. Here are some key differences and similarities:- Comprehensive Suite: Concur offers a comprehensive suite of tools including booking, approvals, expense integration, and more detailed options for large enterprises.
- Expense Analytics: Concur provides extensive expense analytics and insights for cost optimization, which is particularly beneficial for large enterprises with complex expense management needs.
- Similarities: Both Expensify and Concur offer travel booking, expense management, credit card synchronization, foreign currency support, and third-party integration options.
Navan (Formerly TripActions)
Navan is another significant alternative, known for its all-in-one travel management solution:- Real-Time Visibility: Navan provides real-time visibility, savings, and control for companies, making it easier for employees to manage travel without spending hours on administrative tasks.
- Simplified Travel Management: Navan empowers users to focus on their work rather than the logistics of travel, offering a seamless experience for EAs, finance teams, travel managers, and employees.
Paylocity and Emburse Expense Professional
Other alternatives include Paylocity and Emburse Expense Professional (formerly Certify Expense):- Paylocity: Known for its integrated HR and payroll solutions, Paylocity also offers expense management features that can be integrated with its other services.
- Emburse Expense Professional: This platform provides a comprehensive suite of expense management tools, including automated expense reporting and reimbursement processes.
Unique Selling Points of Expensify
Expensify stands out with its user-friendly interface, particularly beneficial for small businesses, mobile users, solopreneurs, and independent contractors. Here are some unique selling points:- AI-Powered Concierge: Expensify’s travel booking is enhanced by an AI-powered concierge service that helps manage travel itineraries efficiently.
- Seamless Integration: Expensify integrates well with various accounting, banking, HR, and travel software, making financial tracking seamless across different platforms.
- Automated Receipt Scanning: Expensify’s SmartScan feature automates receipt scanning, expense categorization, and reporting, which speeds up the expense reporting process and ensures compliance with company policies.

Expensify - Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions about Expensify Travel Tools
Q: How do I set up an Expensify account for managing travel expenses?
To set up an Expensify account, you need to create a profile either through the Expensify website or by downloading the mobile app. After signing up, customize your profile by adding necessary information such as your company name and billing details if applicable. This initial setup will help you track your travel expenses efficiently.
Q: How does Expensify’s receipt capture feature work?
Expensify’s receipt capture feature uses SmartScan technology, which allows you to take a photo of your receipts using the mobile app. The technology automatically extracts relevant information like date, amount, and merchant details from each receipt, saving you time and ensuring no expense goes untracked.
Q: Can I log travel expenses manually in Expensify?
Yes, you can log travel expenses manually within the app. Navigate to ‘Add Expense’ in the app or web interface, where you can input details such as category (e.g., meals or lodging), amount spent, date of expenditure, and any other necessary notes. This helps maintain comprehensive records that align with company policies regarding reimbursements.
Q: How do I generate expense reports in Expensify?
To generate an expense report, compile your logged expenses by selecting specific dates or trips you want included in the report summary. Once all necessary data is compiled into one document, which includes total costs, you can submit it directly through the platform for approval by your managers or finance departments.
Q: What travel booking features does Expensify offer?
Expensify Travel allows you to search and book flights, hotels, cars, and trains globally at competitive rates. You can book travel for yourself or others, get real-time support, and manage all your travel and expense (T&E) expenses within Expensify. There is a flat fee of $15 per trip booked, which can include multiple bookings such as flights, hotels, and car rentals.
Q: How does Expensify Travel help with duty of care and employee safety?
Expensify Travel provides duty of care analytics, which includes a real-time employee location map. This feature helps Workspace Admins see global employee locations, ensuring they can safeguard the health, safety, and well-being of their employees during business trips.
Q: Can Expensify track and report on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics?
Yes, Expensify Travel provides various ESG metrics, including carbon footprint analysis, sustainability scores, and ethical travel spending. You can view these metrics by selecting the ‘Company Reports’ and then ‘Air Manifest’ in the analytics tab.
Q: How does Expensify handle mileage tracking for business trips?
Expensify allows you to record mileage while traveling, either by using your car or renting a vehicle. The app stays up-to-date with the IRS mileage rate, so you don’t have to manually track or update this information.
Q: Can I set spending limits for employees using the Expensify Card?
Yes, with the Expensify Card, you can set Smart Limits, which allow you to cap expenses beforehand. This ensures that cardholders can spend up to the set amount before needing further approval.
Q: How do I access travel analytics in Expensify?
To view travel analytics, click the ‘ ’ icon in the bottom left menu and select ‘Book travel.’ Then, click the ‘Analytics’ tab at the top of the screen. Here, you can see various reports, including duty of care, spend, and ESG metrics.
Q: What is the cost associated with booking travel through Expensify?
There is a flat fee of $15 per trip booked through Expensify Travel. This fee applies regardless of whether the trip includes multiple bookings such as flights, hotels, and car rentals.

Expensify - Conclusion and Recommendation
Final Assessment of Expensify in the Travel Tools AI-driven Product Category
Expensify stands out as a highly effective and user-friendly expense management tool, particularly for managing travel expenses. Here’s a comprehensive overview of its benefits and who would most benefit from using it.Key Features and Benefits
- Receipt Capture and Automation: Expensify’s SmartScan technology allows users to capture receipts simply by taking a photo, which the system then automatically categorizes and extracts relevant details such as date, amount, and merchant information. This feature significantly reduces the time and effort required for expense tracking.
- Real-Time Expense Logging: Users can log expenses manually or through the mobile app, ensuring all travel-related expenditures are tracked in real-time. This feature helps maintain comprehensive and accurate records.
- Expense Reporting: Generating expense reports is straightforward with Expensify. Users can compile logged expenses into a report, which can be submitted directly for approval. This streamlines the reimbursement process and improves financial documentation accuracy.
- Integration Capabilities: Expensify seamlessly integrates with popular accounting software like QuickBooks and Xero, ensuring smooth data flow across multiple platforms.
- Travel Booking and Management: Expensify is set to introduce travel booking and management features, allowing users to book flights, hotels, and other travel arrangements directly within the platform. This will include access to competitive rates, virtual travel cards, and self-service capabilities for managing travel changes.
Who Would Benefit Most
Expensify is highly beneficial for a wide range of users, including:- Small to Large Businesses: Companies of all sizes can streamline their expense management processes, reducing errors and saving time. Decision-makers like CFOs and finance managers appreciate the real-time visibility into expenses and the streamlined reimbursement process.
- Individual Users and Freelancers: Freelancers and self-employed professionals can track all types of business spend, categorize expenses, and share them with their accountants for tax purposes. The platform’s free basic functionalities make it accessible to individual users.
- Traveling Employees: Employees who frequently incur expenses while traveling, such as sales teams, consultants, and field service technicians, will find Expensify’s mobile app and receipt scanning features particularly useful. These features ensure that no expense goes untracked and that reimbursements are processed quickly.