As demand for technology-based financial services grows, amid an increasingly complex regulatory landscape, organisations like UATP have continually adapted to suit a changing payments landscape.
The organisation has evolved into one of the largest global payment platforms in the world, priding itself on offering a secure and easier way for businesses to manage payments. It also seeks to open new markets and drive growth for merchants, vendors and agents alike.
First becoming CEO of UATP in 2003, Ralph Kaiser has embraced digital transformation as a driving force within the financial services sector.
“It's all been about technology,” Ralph shares, as he speaks with us about how his role at the helm of UATP has changed. “We are doing things today that we didn't have the technology to do 20 years ago. Our customers asked us to solve certain payment problems, and, over time, we've built those solutions to support those needs.”
Maximising value with technology
UATP is an established leader in simplifying complex payment processes. It commits to innovative projects and strategic partnerships to optimise its services and offer more effective solutions for its customers.
It now comprises three main lines of business – one of which is its charge card B2B payment network. This was UATP’s founding business, which is still experiencing double-digit growth and profitability.
As technology has influenced the financial services industry, more companies have prioritised digital payments for ease and convenience. In response to this, UATP has committed itself to prioritising digital growth, boasting three patents in the last three years alone as referenced above.
“We have another business where we process alternative payment brands for airlines. Anything that's not on a traditional card network is considered an alternative method of payment,” Ralph explains. “For many alternative payment methods, for example, with PayPal, when a traveller buys an airline ticket, there’s a high chance that it’s running on our network in the background. We just move the data between the airline and PayPal, which we have been doing since 2007.”
When it comes to the travel industry specifically, UATP is eager to differentiate itself by adding value to the services its travel partners offer. UATP is eager to keep costs low and focus on its customers, modifying its technology business to meet the needs of its customers based on their requirements.
“What we try to do is provide fantastic service and quality and value to our customers,” Ralph says. “Other card networks have to maximise their bottom line to have a return for their shareholders. We’re not in the same boat – we sit in a very unique place within the travel vertical itself.”
Simplifying travel experiences
Traveller behaviour has evolved in recent years, with travellers now wanting more customised solutions. Ralph also explains that customers are wanting high-touch travel experiences that are available via a mobile device.
Working with plenty of the main alternative payment brands, UATP is adapting to these changes by making travel experiences more seamless with ease of payment.
“Payment should be transparent in a way that it shouldn’t create any friction for a traveller,” Ralph notes. “The end user, the corporate traveller, shouldn't really be thinking about payment. For example, UATP is a form of payment in the Uber app. We use UATP when we travel for business with Uber, which I love because now I don't have to file an expense report – it directly bills my company.”
The company is also seeking to capitalise on trends like AI to drive its business even further forward. However, Ralph is quick to note that he does not want to sacrifice the human element of UATP’s offerings.
“We are seeing more automation, and that includes the use of AI, in the sector. I think the way to win there is to be able to provide those services, but still maintain high quality services,” he says. “There needs to be a layer of human touch that can be guided by AI. If you just throw everything to AI, you could wind up with some unhappy customers.”
As a whole, UATP is committed to enhancing its entire portfolio to accelerate its growth, in addition to optimising services for customers to remove friction.
“We solve payment related problems for customers and meet their payment needs from a strategic and technology standpoint,” Ralph says. “We're always looking at ways to make the experience better for the customer, the traveller, and then enhancing our platform.”
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