Digital wallets have become an essential part of the travel experience for many, with 74% of U.S. travelers now using them on their trips. This, according to an update from Visa (NYSE:V).
Kicking off the summer travel season, Visa, a global enabler of digital payments, announced its Digital Emergency Card Replacement, “a new service that promptly delivers a digital card replacement on behalf of card issuers via text or email.”
Once received, cardholders can authenticate and “add the new card into their digital wallet, offering a convenient, fast and secure solution that helps enhance travel experiences and boost issuer customer satisfaction.”
Kathleen Pierce-Gilmore, global head of Issuing Solutions at Visa said:
“We’ve all felt that moment of panic while on vacation – the loss of a card and the feeling of being stranded. Our new digital emergency card solution addresses these very issues. It offers instant, secure access to funds for travelers, while enabling issuers to deliver superior customer service. It’s a win-win, demonstrating the power of digital payments to improve experiences for everyone.”
In addition to helping ensure speedy access to digital cards, Visa is offering some valuable tips for travelers to augment their use of digital payments:
- Go Digital: Travelers can reduce the inconveniences of cash by pre-loading Visa cards into digital wallets.
- Stay Informed: By activating transaction alerts, travelers can track spending in real-time and detect fraudulent activity early.
- Quick Card Replacement: Travelers should report lost cards immediately. If supported by the issuer, Visa’s service promptly provides a digital replacement.
- Alert Your Bank: Travelers should contact their card issuer before their trip to ensure the card will work in the countries to be visited.
- Opt to Pay in Local Currency: It is typically more cost-effective for travelers to choose to pay in the local currency when given the option.
Visa continues to meet growing consumer demands “for seamless, secure digital payments with the introduction of the Digital Emergency Card Replacement.”
This new enhancement to its Global Customer Assistance Services “provides an additional layer of support, complementing issuers’ own emergency services.”
The Global Customer Assistance Services, “with its robust distribution network, established partnerships, and rapid card production and delivery across five continents, efficiently supports card issuers in today’s ever-evolving digital landscape. Annually managing over three million multilingual interactions, this service is an impactful solution for issuers already utilizing Visa’s around-the-clock emergency services.”