what is a pcard

A PCard, or purchasing card, is a type of company charge card that allows goods and services to be procured without using a traditional purchasing process. It is a type of commercial card that functions like a charge card, similar to a consumer credit card. The primary purpose of P-cards is to help improve the procurement process by empowering employees and saving money by imposing strict rules and restrictions on how employees can spend corporate money. They also assist with vendor management and weed out zombie spend. P-cards are designed to allow employees to make smaller purchases without having to route each purchase through the formal accounts payable process. By using P-cards, businesses can initiate electronic payments for the purpose of purchasing goods and services, which helps in the efficient management of business spending. If a company plans to start using P-cards, it is important to implement a clear expense policy that outlines expectations for purchases made with the P-cards and conduct training sessions with employees about their cards.