Intelligent CIO Middle East Issue 16 | Page 8

NEWS KSA Al Rajhi Bank deploys Gemalto’s instant EMV solution Gemalto, the provider of digital security, is supplying Al Rajhi Bank, a financial institution in Saudi Arabia, with its instant card issuance solution for the bank’s new generation of self-service kiosks. Gemalto’s technology enables secure replacement of EMV payment cards to be printed in a matter of minutes on-the-spot, offering customers the speed and convenience of immediate, anytime card renewal. As a result, Al Rajhi staff can focus on delivering value-added services and personalised customer support. The new kiosks represent the latest stage in Al Rajhi’s ambitious strategy for banking in the digital age, and build on its long- standing use of Gemalto’s instant card issuance solution. Customers simply enter their existing card into a reader inside the kiosk, and input their PIN to authenticate themselves. A One Time Password (OTP) by Al Rajhi in 2009. The instant issuance system is now deployed in 1,200 points of issuance in the bank’s branches and responsible for issuing up to 20,000 cards daily. Gemalto’s solution can be used in conjunction with any type of hardware, optimizing the flexibility of Al Rahji’s procurement strategy. is automatically sent by SMS to facilitate double authentication and ensure all necessary security standards are met. The ready-to-use card is issued immediately. The kiosks are being deployed outside existing branch locations to provide round- the-clock availability, with the potential to extend into new sites such as shopping malls at a later stage. Gemalto launched instant EMV card issuance ten years ago and it was adopted Al Tayyar extends strategic partnership with Amadeus Al Tayyar Travel Group, a travel and tourism company in the region, has signed a new partnership agreement with Amadeus, a provider of technology solutions for the travel industry. The agreement extension till the year 2020 will transform the existing relationship between Amadeus and Al Tayyar to a strategic partnership, and expand their cooperation from the local level to the Middle East and North Africa. The signing of the agreement marks a step forward in ensuring the delivery of quality services to a wider customer base across the region. Al Tayyar Group’s decision to upgrade the partnership with Amadeus to the regional level is in line with its intensive projects and investments in the e-commerce, travel and tourism industries, as well as its global expansions. Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Dawood, Managing Director & CEO of Al Tayyar Travel Group, said: “As a major company in the regional 8 INTELLIGENTCIO “The extension of the solution to kiosks is part of our on-going plan to transform branches for the digital age of banking and give our customers advanced services and a seamless experience,” said Saleh Alzumaie, General Manager Retail Banking Group for Al Rajhi Bank. “Instant card renewal is now accessible on a 24/7 basis through self-service kiosks, and our staff are being freed from repetitive tasks to better engage and support clients. We’ve seen a 30% card issuance increase since the kiosks were deployed.” travel sector, Al Tayyar has been building on the solid foundation of our existing relationship with global travel solutions providers like Amadeus. Our vision is to find innovative ways to meet the needs of the market and create new avenues for growth. The expansion of our strategic partnership with Amadeus to the regional level will further strengthen our relationship and infuse fresh energy to the corporate travel sector in the region.” Antoine Medawar, Vice President of Amadeus MENA, said: “The MENA region represents a key hub of corporate travel and offers vast opportunities for the travel industry. As Amadeus takes its strategic partnership with Al Tayyar to the regional level, the corporate travel sector in the MENA region will stand to gain significantly from the expertise of two leading players in the travel industry. Amadeus is committed to excellence as we work together with Al Tayyar to find new ways to satisfy customer needs and identify exciting new opportunities in the region.” www.intelligentcio.com