Decision-makers: Carlo Bovero, Head of Global Cards, BNP Paribas

What are the current and future developments in payment methods?

Carlo Bovero - For many years, BNP Paribas has offered a wide range of innovative payment methods for business travellers. We adapt our offer to suit different uses in order to make it easier for our customers to use. Because payment methods are at the heart of employees' journeys, they are becoming increasingly transparent for travellers, both in their personal and professional lives. Very soon, for example, contactless payment will also be available on business cards. Today, we are witnessing the emergence of digital payment methods. In response to this, BNP Paribas is offering completely dematerialised and secure cards. Virtual Card and Travel Card, our hosted card - which go beyond payment by giving companies visibility over all their expenditure. In the longer term, I think that innovation will be based on simplifying the customer journey. For example, when you arrive at a hotel, you will be automatically recognised without having to take out your means of payment, or even your smartphone. Your room key will be directly accessible on your phone. The payment solution is no longer limited to the "payment" function, but offers an end-to-end service.

BNP Paribas is developing centralised and dematerialised payment solutions such as stored-value or virtual cards. What are the benefits for travellers?

C.B. - Log-in cards or virtual cards debit the company's account directly. When travelling on business, these solutions avoid the need for employees to pay in advance via their personal accounts. Everything is paid for using the company card, which is integrated into the booking process. Centralised payment simplifies life for employees without them having to worry about it. The company, for its part, centralises its expenditure while benefiting from a consolidated view with detailed reports. While we are moving towards increasingly transparent payment for the traveller, the aim is to make it perfectly visible to the company so that it can monitor its travel policy effectively.

Businesses appreciate that their bank is the point of entry for everything to do with payment.

How does centralising payment make it easier to control expenditure?

C.B. - By automating the reporting of payment data, companies gain a clearer picture of their travel spend. They can effectively manage their travel policy and negotiate more effectively with their suppliers. The company can draw certain conclusions from this, for example the preference of its employees for one airline rather than another. Centralising payments provides levers for reducing costs. At the same time, it eliminates the need to manage expense claims, which wastes the employee's time and costs the company money. In fact, we are currently working with various partners on digitalising the expense claim reimbursement process. This is one of our projects for 2019, along with the redesign of our website.

What are your other objectives?

C.B. - Today, we distribute our solutions in 49 countries, usually via our subsidiaries or with the help of partners. As a bank, commercial cards are an integral part of our support for businesses. Businesses appreciate that their bank is the point of entry for everything to do with payment. They prefer a single point of contact they can trust. Our aim is to continue to support our customers in this way, and to win their loyalty.

This also involves a comprehensive range of solutions...

C.B. - In addition to the Corporate Card for travellers and our Virtual Card, which was successfully launched 10 years ago, we have also developed a very attractive packaged card, the Carte Voyage. Its great strength lies in its Visa acceptance network, accepted in particular by low-cost airlines. Visa shares the same strategic ambitions as us, so that together we can build innovative solutions for the years to come.