Barclaycard Links Travel Agents To Virtual Cards Via Amadeus

Travel booking company Amadeus is integrating Barclaycard virtual card technology into its Amadeus B2B Wallet solution to streamline business payments processes, the company announced Thursday (Feb. 21) in a press release sent to PYMNTS.

Barclaycard will integrate its virtual card tool Precisionpay into the digital wallet, enabling travel agencies using the Amadeus solution to generate single-use virtual cards to pay their travel suppliers. The solution automates reconciliation and provides spend visibility for companies, while also enabling payers to retain capital float without delaying payment to vendors.

“Payments is not a one-size-fits-all business,” explained Bart Tompkins, Amadeus managing director, payments, in a statement. “That’s why we developed the B2B Wallet concept, which gives travel agencies access to a range of different payment options in a single link. The addition of Barclaycard brings greater choice and deepens our credit offer, enabling our travel agencies to better manage their cash flow.”

“While cash flow remains one of the main challenges for any growing business, we know that travel agencies in particular have an ongoing need to make up-front purchases before they themselves get paid,” added Barclaycard MD of Client Coverage David Price in another statement. “This integration with Amadeus will be another way to help travel agencies take control of their cash flow and become even more competitive.”

Barclaycard’s integration with Amadeus comes just days after its announcement of another partnership with SAP to integrate Barclaycard’s Precisionpay into SAP Ariba for vendor payments. That integration, which will launch later this year, similarly aims to ease friction in paying suppliers via a secure virtual card.

Last year Amadeus acquired TravelClick in a $1.5 billion deal. TravelClick provides the hospitality industry with its Central Reservation System and Guest Management Solution tools within integrated business intelligence features. In a statement at the time, Amadeus president and CEO Luis Maroto said the deal will link hotels to “the tools they need to grow their businesses and deliver a great experience to their guests.”