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.