Travel management companies making supplier payments via
virtual cards within the Amadeus B2B Wallet now can generate cards
automatically using technology from Troovo, the companies announced. The new
global integration of Troovo's Robotic Process Automation service automates the
entire virtual payment process, with card generation and the flow of payment
data from TMC booking tools into airline or hotel payment systems accomplished
via software.
Automating the virtual card payment process enables TMCs using
B2B Wallet to benefit from the advantages of virtual cards – including greater
security, spending controls and more complete spending data – while avoiding
the inefficiencies and potential for error inherent in relying on human-powered
processes to manually generate cards and enter payment data into supplier
systems, the companies said.
Both of those factors are expected to be points of increased
emphasis for TMCs as travel resumes in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic,
according to the firms.
"As things come back, travel agencies will need to
ensure they're as efficient as possible in all facets of their business,
including making payments out to suppliers," Troovo CEO Kurt Knackstedt
said in a statement. "We're helping them do that by automating the workflows
that drive those payments."
And as TMCs' corporate clients seek out their own
efficiencies post-Covid, virtual cards' ability to capture complete travel
spending data will be at a premium, added Damian Alonso, head of payer services
for Amadeus.
"One of the main benefits of virtual card technology is
the rich amount of data you can associate to each individual virtual
card," said Alonso. "All of that data can be automatically captured
and flow through to the customer to help reconcile their payments with the
booking activity they've done."
In January, Troovo integrated its RPA technology into
Mastercard's In Control for Business Travel platform, which delivers virtual
cards for use in corporate travel bookings. The Australia-based virtual card specialist
followed up that deal in February with a partnership with hotel room wholesaler
WebBeds. Troovo also racked up integration pacts in late 2019 with Flight
Centre Travel Group and mobile travel technology specialist MTrip.