DBS, SIA partner to enhance digital capabilities for seamless banking and travels

SINGAPORE (Mar 27): Customers can now look forward to booking their holidays – flight tickets, hotels and travel insurance – on the soon-to-be-launched DBS Travel Marketplace, on a single integrated platform.

This came about as DBS Bank and Singapore Airlines (SIA) today signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to enhance digital capabilities across various digital platforms, enabling a seamless banking and travel customer experience for travellers.

According to the MOU, both parties will introduce flight booking and merchandising capabilities on DBS’ platforms, a DBS-SIA Rewards Programme on KrisPay, and the expansion of payment options for SIA customers using PayNow, via Application Program Interfaces (API) technology.

This initiative is in line with SIA’s efforts to enhance digital capabilities company-wide, and DBS’ objective to make payments simple and hassle-free for customers through building integrated digital ecosystems.

This collaboration is also expected to allow KrisFlyer members to instantly convert DBS points into KrisPay miles via the KrisPay app, as part of the DBS-SIA Rewards Programme. The miles can be used for retail purchases at KrisPay partners nationwide. Alternatively, the KrisPay miles can be converted into KrisFlyer miles instantly within seven days of accrual.

In addition, by including PayNow as a payment mode, SIA can offer its passengers the flexibility and convenience to pay for their flights from their bank accounts using PayNow, and issue tickets instantly once the payment is done.

The initiatives will be gradually rolled out this year, beginning with the DBS Travel Marketplace, with the full range of updates expected to be available by end-2019.

Mak Swee Wah, executive vice president commercial of SIA says, “The partnership will provide great benefits to both our companies, given our shared aim to be a digital leader in our respective industries, with enhanced customer benefits through new flight booking, merchandising and reward programme ties.”

Shee Tse Koon, DBS Singapore country manager says, “Singaporeans are among the most well-travelled in the world with over 10.3 million overseas trips made in 2018 alone. Through this partnership, we would be able to elevate the consumer travel experience by offering extensive travel and retail options for travellers to choose from and customise their journeys right at the start.”