Traveloka launches Southeast Asia’s first PayLater ‘Virtual Card Number’

By Leandra Monteiro

Traveloka, Southeast Asia’s lifestyle superapp, recently announced the launch of its Traveloka PayLater ‘Virtual Card Number’. Developed in partnership with one of the biggest financial institutions in Indonesia supervised by the Financial Services Authority (OJK) and Bank Indonesia, PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (BNI), the innovative payment method allows Traveloka PayLater users to buy now and pay later on supported e-commerce platforms outside of the Traveloka ecosystem using a ‘Virtual Card Number’.

Traveloka, which pioneered the PayLater product in Indonesia, said its PayLater ‘Virtual Card Number’ comes with a 16-digit number, card expiration date, and Card Verification Value (CVV), similar to a credit card. Traditionally, e-commerce transactions require a credit card or other banking payment service, thereby excluding the unbanked and underbanked, who are unable to get a credit rating.

With the ‘Virtual Card Number’, customers can now use their PayLater credit determined on the Traveloka app and make online transactions with the option of instalment payment methods – from interest rates as low as 2.25% per annum – on numerous e-commerce platforms such as Shopee, Lazada, JD.ID, Bukalapak, and Tokopedia. Users can consolidate and manage their PayLater account through the app, thereby enabling responsible financial management.

Caesar Indra, President, Traveloka said, “A goal of our financial services offering has always been to advance financial inclusion, starting with our home market, Indonesia. Our new Traveloka PayLater ‘Virtual Card Number’ is a natural extension of our PayLater offering, which has already enabled millions of our users to access credit and fulfil their lifestyle aspirations. We believe that this innovative breakthrough will not only provide a safe and easy payment method for our users but also plug a gap by providing credit access to underbanked consumers in our largest market.”

Traveloka’s financial services serve as a powerful enabler for users to fulfill their lifestyle needs and aspirations. The launch of the Traveloka PayLater ‘Virtual Card Number’ is a demonstration of the brand’s focus on financial services and products, while strengthening the company’s commitment to financial inclusion. Since Traveloka launched PayLater in 2018, the company has seen the number of users increasing 7.5 times, reflecting strong demand for such financial services.

“We are seeing strong and growing demand from consumers across the region for fintech solutions that help increase consumers’ access to financial services, which has continued to accelerate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our position as Southeast Asia’s lifestyle superapp uniquely places us to take advantage of this growth and will continue to drive important innovations in the financial services space,” Caesar added.

BNI also expressed its support for this latest innovation. “The ‘Virtual Card Number’ is an advanced payment method that allows consumers to transact online in a convenient way. This feature allows consumers to enjoy an easy and safe way to do online transactions utilizing a unique virtual card number instead of the usual credit card number,” explained Corina Leyla Karnalies, Consumer Business Director, BNI.

According to Corina, the ‘Virtual Card Number’ offers plenty of benefits that can be utilized by companies or corporate partners. One feature is the provision of a different ‘Virtual Card Number’ for every online transaction, which adds an extra layer of protection, minimizing fraud risk and unauthorized usage. Corina also highlighted that the ‘Virtual Card Number’ is issued and delivered electronically in real-time and without an additional charge.

“Additionally, corporate partners can benefit from additional security, as it provides real-time notification integrated with email. Corporate partners are also able to access a comprehensive usage report, which makes it easier to carry out the reconciliation process. In the near future, other PayLater consumers can also enjoy these perks,” Corina concluded.

The ‘Virtual Card Number’ also comes with an additional security layer compared to traditional credit cards. Users must activate the ‘Virtual Card Number’ on the Traveloka app before it can be used. Once activated, the ‘Virtual Card Number’ is enabled for 15 minutes and prevents unauthorized usage.

At launch, the ‘Virtual Card Number’ payment method will only be available to selected Traveloka PayLater users in Indonesia, with a usage limit in accordance with their PayLater credit limit. This will be expanded to more users at a later stage.