Darren Thang of Sunrate Discusses the Future of B2B Payments and AI at ITB Asia 2025
At ITB Asia 2025, hosted in Singapore, Darren Thang, the Head of Marketing at Sunrate, imparted significant insights on the dynamic landscape of B2B payments within the travel sector.
In a stimulating dialogue with Travel and Tour World, Thang examined Sunrate’s transformative approach to financial transactions among travel stakeholders, alongside the pivotal role of artificial intelligence (AI) in enriching customer experiences.
ITB Asia: A Vital Networking Nexus
ITB Asia stands as a premier congregation for travel industry professionals, furnishing a distinctive venue for networking, sharing ideas, and fostering collaboration.
Sunrate, a long-standing participant, capitalizes on this platform to connect with clients, suppliers, and industry vanguards. According to Thang, this event has been instrumental in showcasing solutions to pressing challenges in the realm of B2B payments.
“Our long-term engagement with ITB Asia consistently provides an excellent avenue for direct interaction with clients and illuminating our comprehensive solutions. The platform allows us to address specific hurdles faced by our clients in the B2B payments sector,” remarked Thang.
Sunrate’s B2B Payments Innovations for the Travel Sector
Sunrate has positioned itself as a dominant player in B2B payments, crafting intricate solutions tailored to streamline financial transactions for online travel agents (OTAs), travel management companies (TMCs), and other stakeholders in the travel domain.
These enterprises depend on Sunrate’s offerings to process payments to suppliers, including airlines and hotels, and to optimize their financial workflows.
Among Sunrate’s suite of products, the cashback commercial cards emerge as a noteworthy feature. However, Thang accentuated that the company’s vision surpasses mere commercial cards. Sunrate aims to deliver an all-encompassing range of B2B payment solutions, empowering travel enterprises to elevate operational efficiencies.
“While our commercial cards have garnered substantial attention, industry players are beginning to comprehend that the B2B payment landscape is considerably more extensive. They seek a holistic solution to refine their financial operations, which is precisely what Sunrate provides,” Thang elucidated.
Harnessing AI to Elevate Customer Engagement
One of the prominent shifts discussed by Thang was the burgeoning integration of artificial intelligence into Sunrate’s ecosystem. The B2B payments sector, traditionally characterized by relationship-driven interactions, now faces mounting pressure to fulfill customer demands for expedited and intelligent responses.
In response, Sunrate advocates a symbiotic relationship between AI and human interaction. Rather than supplanting human roles, the goal is to utilize AI to enhance productivity and efficiency, thereby enabling sales teams to dedicate their efforts to more strategic pursuits while AI manages repetitive tasks.
We are not endeavoring to substitute humans with machines; our aspiration is to empower our workforce through AI to bolster productivity while retaining the vital human touch.
AI handles the mundane tasks, liberating our sales personnel to engage in more strategic and inventive endeavors, Thang articulated.
He further noted that the travel industry stands as an ideal domain for this conjunction of AI and human engagement.
While customers still cherish the personal touch—such as face-to-face meetings or casual dialogues with business development allies—they increasingly demand faster, more astute services, a need that AI fulfills aptly.
Integrating AI with a Human Touch in Sunrate’s Framework
For many within the travel sector, the prospect of AI displacing human jobs incites apprehension. However, Sunrate’s methodology towards AI integration is centered on amplifying productivity, not diminishing the human facet of their operations.
Thang emphasized that clients within the travel realm continue to prioritize interpersonal connections and personal engagement. Sunrate’s strategy is to enhance these relationships by employing AI to streamline procedures without undermining the personalized service that clients expect.
Our clients still seek that personal connection—be it through shared meals with business partners or face-to-face discussions about industry developments.
AI can augment our productivity by managing administrative tasks, but the essence of our operations remains rooted in relationships, he explained.
Sunrate’s Vision for the Future
As the horizon unfolds, Sunrate harbors ambitious aspirations to broaden its global footprint while continually refining its platform to adapt to the evolving demands of the travel industry.
With the relentless advancement of AI technology, Sunrate is devoted to remaining at the cutting edge, ensuring its solutions continue to be indispensable for travel enterprises worldwide.
We are in a state of constant evolution and adaptation to the shifting panorama. Our ambitions include expanding into new territories and enhancing our platform with additional features.
The future of travel and payments is thrilling, and Sunrate is poised to lead the charge, Thang asserted.
Sunrate’s Commitment to Innovation and Customer-centric Service
Sunrate’s prowess in marrying avant-garde technology with a personalized approach distinguishes it within the B2B payments landscape. By prioritizing AI as a tool to enhance, rather than replace, human interactions, Sunrate is establishing a new benchmark for customer experiences in the travel sector.
As the company aspires to broaden its reach and innovate persistently, Sunrate remains resolute in its mission to optimize the financial operations of travel enterprises, equipping them to thrive in an increasingly digital milieu.
Source link: Travelandtourworld.com.
