As summer travel season kicks off, the importance of digital wallets in enhancing travel experiences is clear, with three-quarters of US travellers now using them on their trips. Addressing the need for secure digital payment solutions, Visa has introduced its Digital Emergency Card Replacement service.
Digital wallets have become an integral aspect of the travel experience for 74 per cent of travellers, most prominent amongst affluents (83 per cent) and millennials (82 per cent). Eighty-five per cent of travellers used their main domestic card internationally, reveals the Visa Global Travel Intentions Study.
Losing a credit card while traveling can be a stressful experience, leaving travellers feeling stranded. Visa’s new service aims to alleviate this anxiety by delivering a digital card replacement via text or email on behalf of card issuers.
Once received, cardholders can authenticate and add the new card to their digital wallet, ensuring quick and secure access to funds.
“We’ve all felt that moment of panic while on vacation – the loss of a card and the feeling of being stranded,” said Kathleen Pierce-Gilmore, global head of issuing solutions at Visa. “Our new digital emergency card solution addresses these very issues. It offers instant, secure access to funds for travellers, while enabling issuers to deliver superior customer service. It’s a win-win, demonstrating the power of digital payments to improve experiences for everyone.”
Travel tips
In addition to providing digital card replacements, Visa has also offered tips for travellers to maximise their use of digital payments:
- Go digital: Pre-load Visa cards into digital wallets to avoid the inconvenience of carrying cash.
- Stay informed: Activate transaction alerts to monitor spending in real-time and detect fraudulent activity early.
- Quick card replacement: Report lost cards immediately to take advantage of Visa’s prompt digital replacement service.
- Alert your bank: Notify your card issuer before traveling to ensure your card works in your destination countries.
- Pay in local currency: Opt to pay in the local currency for potentially better exchange rates.
Visa’s Digital Emergency Card Replacement is part of its Global Customer Assistance Services, which supports card issuers with emergency services through a distribution network and established partnerships for rapid card production and delivery across five continents.