Counting on virtual cards as part of a B2B payments mix
#ATPSB2B2024
Virtual cards are counted upon as a payment mechanism to bring security and efficiencies of digitization to operations of a travel company. These cards, which are typically used for a particular transaction or for a specific duration, are playing a vital role in B2B payments.
The technology behind these cards offers benefits related to reconciliation (remove manual reconciliation), automation, security (limited-time use virtual cards can provide temporary card details for each transaction and can't be used again), foreign exchange (can be paired with the currency of suppliers) and cashflow (for instance, guaranteed payment timing, rebates are a source of immediate income etc.).
Virtual cards also meet the requirements of agencies and suppliers. For instance, suppliers can work out their payments terms for different markets, products and sales volumes. Travel intermediaries and suppliers can trace and reconcile payments, while leveraging other virtual card benefits such as flexible pricing, financing options etc.
The industry is going deeper and looking at ways to save on payment processing costs. A key aspect is to rely on virtual cards over ACH or traditional checks as a form of payment for cashbacks or discounts exclusively for virtual card payments. Accounts payable teams can garner rebates on transactions featuring suppliers who accept virtual cards. The likes of OTAs are shifting to systems that are automated, and cost-reducing, and virtual cards support the same.
Going forward, a travel company can evaluate following points for B2B payments:
· How to continue to digitize payment and data flows throughout the value chain?
· What is the negative impact of opting out of virtual cards as B2B payment method?
· How to leverage cost-related benefits of using virtual cards?
· Which virtual card technology is most beneficial for a travel company?
· What are the new trends in this arena?
Keen on this topic? Ai Events is scheduled to conduct the Airline & Travel Payments Summit (ATPS) B2B in London (24-25 September):
https://lnkd.in/giFi4_GV
By Ritesh Gupta, Ai Events
Cristina Ortega Garcia Christopher Staab
Wendy Ward Daniel YAO Spencer Hanlon
Grace Fang Agustín Botta Jeremy Dyball Livia Vité
Mastercard Visa Discover Global Network UATP
WEX Nium TreviPay Worldline Worldpay Nuvei
Sabre Corporation Outpayce from Amadeus Paysafe
FIS Adyen Checkout.com Pax2pay
#travelpayments #ATPSAPAC #ATPS2024
Many thanks, Jens Jacobsen, for participating on it! 👏