The EU-Startups Podcast | Interview with Nikita Miller, Chief Product Officer at Perk

Perk, formerly TravelPerk, is undergoing a significant transformation, evolving from a business travel platform into an AI-native ecosystem for travel and spend management. This strategic shift, amplified by recent acquisitions and a substantial credit facility, aims to automate repetitive administrative tasks and empower employees to focus on higher-value work. The company's ambition extends to international expansion, particularly in the US market, leveraging its European experience to navigate diverse market expectations.

At the core of Perk's product strategy is the elimination of "shadow work," encompassing manual processes like receipt reconciliation, invoice processing, and travel booking. By integrating AI, the company seeks to automate these burdens, freeing up employee time for more strategic responsibilities. Perk's Chief Product Officer, Nikita Miller, emphasizes that AI's role is not to replace employees but to augment their capabilities, allowing for greater focus on judgment, decision-making, and business direction.

The company is investing heavily in AI and personalization, utilizing its extensive travel and spending data to enhance user recommendations and provide CFOs with improved visibility into policies and costs. This approach fosters a more integrated experience across travel, spend, and invoicing platforms. Perk's significant credit facility of €300 million is earmarked for AI development, product enhancements, and the incubation of new solutions for both employees and the CFO's office.