How Dollars Make Sense

Payment options exist everywhere I go and seem to be changing all the time.  One day I am in the grocery store and the chip reader is covered because its not working, the next day, it's alive and well and that annoying sound is heard loud and clear.  At Starbucks I can pay using my app or Apple Pay.  At the airport, I can pay for a meal using my frequent flyer miles.  I can check into a hotel with a virtual credit card picture on my phone, but ideally, they already have that number and I simply smile and get my room key.  I can buy and sell items online using a service like Pay-Pal. 



Yesterday, I read something about how Amadeus is improving their virtual payment solution.  This made me think about the broad spectrum of companies with virtual payment options.  The obvious is banks and credit card companies...well duh!  To that, you add can GDS's, TMC's, expense solutions and a number of new entrances who are trying to make payments simple.

The draw for managed travel is improved policy compliance, ease of use for travelers, decreases in credit card fraud instances and improved expense/reconciliation processes. 

The challenge for managed travel is moving the massive payment ship.  Internal systems are using traditional credit card data.  Reconciliation processes are set up to manage those card swipes instance by instance. 

Payment is the next frontier of change.  The trade of dollars and cents is making dollars and sense for a variety of companies.  If we are trying to make the lives of the travelers like their everyday lives, payments just make sense or cents...however you want to look at it.  Change is coming, keep going.  (Did you catch the pun there?!) 

Simple Isn't a Bad Thing

Last night I read the words “Daring Simplicity” in a book.  It was one of those moments when you read them, go back to read again and then stop to think about the real meaning.  Those words can mean so much. 

Last week my husband went to an AC/DC concert.  There were lights, thunderous booms and lots of extra activity.  It made me think about AC/DC fans who are fans simply because of the music, not the show.  Just like going to a high school choir concert, it’s the daring simplicity that makes it amazing. 

Now I turn that to travel.  Last week, when Brian was enjoying AC/DC, I was traveling and found myself in San Francisco, Sacramento area and Austin, TX.  Looking back, I saw lots of great moments of daring simplicity.  The smile of the guy at TSA, the greeting from the flight attendant, the warm welcome from the hotel front desk agent and being able to drive a clean car.  All those, simple and impactful. 

Here is a small list of items that with daring simplicity, can make the day of a traveler:

- Friendly staff.  That could be gate, front desk, flight attendant, pilot, driver

- Meeting people’s requirements.  Working internet.  On time arrivals and departures.  Room ready when needed. 

- Clean, reliable and comfortable.  Travelers want to drive a clean car, sleep in a comfortable bed and know the aircraft is safe and well maintained. 

None of these come with anything extraordinary, just people doing what they need to do, everyday, for every customer.  It’s people enjoying their jobs and wanting to do them right.  

In 1985, AC/DC didn’t send out firecrackers and canons with their albums, it was simply the music and people became hooked.  Sure, the extras are nice once in a while but my husband was a fan before he saw them in concert simply because of the music.  Suppliers, who are your fan and why are they your fans?  Is it because you do the simple stuff well?  When you hear from an unhappy customer, it is because you failed in simplicity?  Probably.  

I am striving for daring simplicity in my life and all the while, I keep going.