Your feedback is so important to us. So, in Q4 of this year, we’ve began to roll out enhancements to XPP’s search function that directly address this valuable insight. These include:

• Increased search filtering and save favorite filters and searches
• Easily switched views of individual merchants
• View of global payment transactions status
• Replaced current statistics display with dynamic XPP dynamics within Analytics module
• And much more

A group of you will be invited to trial the pilot version of XPP’s improved search feature which goes live in Q4. We encourage all users of XPP to test out the search enhancements and share any feedback in an email to: Travel.payments@amadeus.com

Looking ahead to 2020, we’re also planning to improve XPP’s Orchestration Module with the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. By the end of Q1 next year, the module should be able to detail the precise acceptance rate and number of transactions attached to individual payment rules. In the second half of next year, we’re planning to enhance our current simulation module with the ability to predict the acceptance rates of rules before they go into live production.

Be sure to keep an eye out for these updates to the XPP’s Orchestration Module in the coming year!

At Amadeus, we’re excited by the potential of AI and want our customers to join us on the journey as we integrate the transformative technology into our solutions.

With its implementation deadline delayed, 2020 is set to be another year dominated by SCA for the travel industry. We’ve always been clear that successful SCA implementation hinges on cutting edge authentication solutions that integrate compliance into processes. In recognition of this, we’ve launched EMV 3DS which will support the sharing of 3D secure (3DS) authentication data between travel agencies and airlines.

Going forward, travel agencies will be able to provide authentication data, using Amadeus’ 3DS solution or that of a third party’s, which will be automatically added into Amadeus’ Global Distribution System (GDS). The GDS will use the data at authorization, which can then be cascaded to the Billing Settlement Plan (BSP) files.

SCA implementation doesn’t have to result in a clunky customer journey. In 2020, we’re focused on enhancing our solutions to make SCA less of a headache for both our customers and their end users.

What features would you like to see added to our solutions? Are there any areas that could be improved upon? We would welcome and appreciate any input. Feel free to share your feedback in an email to travel.payments@amadeus.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

SCA Explainer

In this mini explainer, we unpack what SCA is and what it means for the travel industry. We detail the requirements of this new regulatory development, explaining the exemptions and when they are applicable. We also hone in on the difficult question of whose responsibility it is to enforce SCA.

4 min read >

SCA Deadline Extension

Whatever the difficulties SCA implementation holds, it’s important to keep the problems it sets out to solve in mind. This blog argues that the dire problem of card fraud will only be solved by a serious solution like SCA.

3 min read >

What is SCA?

Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) is a key part of the EU Payments Services Directive (PSD2), the set of laws introduced in 2018 to empower consumers and reduce fraud in European payments.

SCA requires payments to be validated by two separate forms of authentication – often referred to as two-factor authentication. Authentication must be verified through two of three factors:

• Something a customer knows (e.g. password or PIN)
• Something a customer is (e.g. fingerprint)
• Something a customer has (e.g. mobile phone)

The deadline for the implementation of SCA had long been slated for 14 September, 2019 but this has since been pushed back to 31 December, 2020. Complex technical requirements, a lack of preparedness and a negative impact on consumers were all provided as reasons for the delay.

Who needs to comply and in what circumstances?

Most notably, SCA only applies to payments enclosed within the European Economic Area (EEA). This means payments made inside the EEA to merchants outside won’t fall under SCA’s jurisdiction. Other exemptions apply to:

• Contactless payments in face-to-face transactions
• Low value payments
• Payments to trusted beneficiaries
• Recurring payments
• And more

These exemptions are dependent on specific circumstances, the full details of which can be gleaned in this Visa whitepaper.

Why do we need it?

Card fraud is a massive issue in Europe. The European Central Bank estimates the annual cost of online card fraud in the continent to be as high as €1.3 billion. By requiring end-users to authenticate themselves in two steps, the hope is that fraud, particularly ‘card not present’ fraud, will go down.

The implementation of SCA comes with a whole host of reservations as merchants attempt to navigate the complexity that this new regulation presents. In the process, good intentions behind its introduction are often forgotten. This rings true for the travel industry, which has a particularly complex payments eco-system consisting of multiple agents, intermediaries and suppliers.

In our view, the complexities and challenges thrown up by SCA shouldn’t detract from the necessary goal that the requirements set out to achieve: consumer protection.

Whose responsibility is it?

While it’s true that identifying fraudulent transactions is the job of the card issuer, payments is a collective effort. Merchants themselves can make changes to ensure that SCA disrupts their business as little as possible. Working with specialist technology providers, merchants can adopt software that will provide the functionality and assurances they need to comply. At Amadeus, we have partnered with CyberSource, Visa’s payment management platform, to offer a broad range of fraud and authentication solutions that incorporate 3D Secure 2.1. Implementing the latest version of the 3D Secure protocol (2.1) is a great example – this updated version of 3D secure supports biometric authentication and other features that eases the meeting of SCA demands.

Find out more about our various payment solutions, here: https://amadeus.com/en/business-function/payments

How prepared are you for the SCA deadline? Take our quiz to find out.

Taking the right steps

Strong Customer Authentication shouldn’t leave travel businesses feeling helpless. Various measures can be taken to ease the transition and prevent any unwanted cliff edges:

• Installing 3D Secure 2.1: The latest 3D Secure contains various features that makes SCA compliance easier, such as shared risk analysis data between merchant and issuers. Features like biometric authentication also enforce SCA compliance while delivering a smoother customer experience – preventing those dreaded abandoned transactions.
• Whitelisting: Consumers are given the option to opt out of SCA with merchants that are on a card providers “whitelist”. All travel merchants should consider educating customers about these whitelisting schemes, highlighting the added convenience in the customer’s experience.

• Transaction Risk Analysis (TRA): It’s possible for merchants or their acquiring partners to take the responsibility of applying TRA to payments from card issuers. When done right, merchants will have the confidence to assume the task of exempting payments from two-factor authentication.

SCA implementation is a technological as much as a cultural one – one that requires a technology partner with the suitable expertise and solutions. Our partnership with CyberSource, Visa’s payment management platform, means we can offer a broad range of fraud and authentication solutions that incorporate EMV 3DS and support the independent management of TRA.

To find out more about our various payment solutions, click here: https://amadeus.com/en/business-function/payments