KBank offer solutions to THAI

 The group aims to gain 30 percent of market share in this customer segment within three years.

 Under the deal wtih THAI, it will create a complete business network via K-Value Chain Solutions, offering a financial innovation to THAI customers and trading partners. The service covers everyone from retail customers who buy air tickets, to ticket sales agents, cargo operators, and catering business operators.

 THAI President Piyasvasti Amranand said that with a financial package serving the needs of THAI's customers and trading partners in the entire business network, the national carrier will be able to maximise service efficiency in several dimensions: development for the entire business network of THAI's financial transactions; providing convenience by adding diverse, convenient, and swift payment channels including innovative online channels; adding liquidity for retail customers to pay for tickets via installment and adding credit limits for ticket sales agents for selling and purchasing via a real-time top-up system; reducing documentation in logistics by mainly using an online system; increasing security of transactions with modern payment systems; providing a document guarantee to assure THAI's trading partners; and reducing operational procedures and time to cut organisation costs.  THAI and KBank aim to jointly study and enhance services in THAI Cargo and THAI Catering, in order to provide more convenience for all customer segments of THAI's business network.

 "These achievements will move THAI towards excellent services and maintain its international airline standard," he said.

 Kasikornbank Senior Executive Vice President Krisada Lamsam said that the service will enable more than 2.4 million customers of mobile banking and debit or credit cardholders to conveniently reserve tickets and make payment via a smart phone application jointly developed by the bank and THAI. Customers will be able to make ticket payment transactions via K-Cyber Banking and K-ATM. The most unique feature is that more than 1.7 million credit cardholders of the bank will be able to make a monthly ticket payment via credit card, mobile phone and online payment system. Within the end of September, cardholders will be given a privilege of six-month installments with a zero-percent interest rate, as well as joint promotions with THAI for the ultimate benefit of the company's customers.

 For over 300 ticketing agents, the E-ticket direct project allows agents to operate business without placing a guarantee with THAI. This will help reduce their financial costs by 40 percent; in addition, ticket purchase credit limits can be increased on a real-time basis, thus allowing agents to increase sales by as much as 50 percent. The bank targets 150 travel agencies to use the project this year, which will boost its new lending by Bt1 billion.

 For cargo business, KBank allows customers to make customs payments through real-time debiting. Currently, more than 130 freight forwarders are using the THAI Cargo service, and KBank aims to serve 80 per cent of this group.

 "The solutions will enhance growth in the entire supply chain of THAI and its trading partners, aiming towards maintaining the standards of a world-class airline," Krisada said.