UATP

CEO of UATP Ralph Kaiser explores how the company is committed to improving global customer experiences by making the overall payment experience simple

First founded as Air Travel Card , UATP ’ s mission is to lower the total cost of payment for the sale of travel , including airline , rail and cruise line tickets . It is a global network that provides innovative payment solutions for a broad range of organisations .

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 .

In an environment that is increasingly regulated , UATP has sought to position itself to comply without sacrificing its innovation . As a result , UATP has boosted its staff numbers by 20 % in the last 18 months and , despite its small size , is currently processing in excess of US $ 20bn .

“ We ’ ve been on this accelerated technology growth curve ,” Ralph says . “ Ironically , the pandemic allowed us to turn inward and focus on building out the platform , which we did successfully . We just received our third patent as a result . We call ourselves an 88-year-old startup .”

UATP now comprises three main lines of business – one of which is its charge card B2B payment network . This was UATP ’ s founding business yet it 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

124 October 2024