Digital fleet and fuel solution
Finance Now has announced a collaboration with Visa to launch New Zealand’s first universal digital-payment solution for business vehicles.
The finance company is also working with technology partners Pismo, a cloud-native core banking and cards platform, and The Online Fuel Company.
It means Finance Now has become the first provider to offer an open-loop solution for fleet payments with universal acceptance, enhanced security and real-time control features.
It will provide one platform that works anywhere Visa is accepted for fuel, maintenance, tolls and vehicle-related expenses. Business owners will be able to choose which expense categories to enable for each vehicle or user, providing greater control over how drivers can spend.
“New Zealand business owners are ready for a payment solution that matches how they work today,” said Hadyn Halls, pictured, chief executive officer of Finance Now.
“Whether you’re running one work ute or managing a hundred vehicles, you deserve the same secure, easy-to-use experience you get with personal payments. We’re excited to begin introducing this innovation with businesses and to make it more widely available over time.”
The system uses Visa’s value-added services – including advanced cloud-native processing, real-time data insights and industry-leading security – to deliver a future-ready payments platform for Kiwi companies.
By building on Visa’s global infrastructure and innovation, Finance Now’s solution will feature instant digital-card provisioning to digital wallets, mobile app management, detailed transaction data down to the pump level and real-time spending controls that business owners can adjust on the go.
Enhanced security through chip technology and tokenisation will provide the same level of protection people expect from personal payments. The platform is also built for the future with support for EV charging infrastructure as businesses make the switch.
Finance Now will work with fuel retailers, fleet management companies and other partners to make the solution available nationwide.
“Fleet programmes are ready for a step change and Visa – together with partners like Finance Now – is leading the charge,” says Ben Adams, Visa’s head of commercial and government solutions for Oceania.
“This collaboration will help fleet owners implement a modern platform backed by our network, tokenised controls and richer data. The result is a simpler, safer way for operators to manage fuel and mobility spend with real-time visibility and universal acceptance that scales across New Zealand and the wider region.”
The platform is powered by Pismo, which enables the flexible, scalable infrastructure needed to support modern payment solutions. Built on real-time events, it will give users better control and security over their payments.
“Finance Now is creating an exceptional solution using the kind of modern, digital-first experience that business owners expect with the flexibility to adapt as their needs evolve,” explains Varun Dudeja, head of business development for APAC Pismo. “We’re pleased to offer the technology to support Finance Now in delivering this.”
The Online Fuel Company is providing the technology platform that powers the mobile app and fleet-manager portal, as well as the pay-at-pump functionality for the system to work “seamlessly” at fuel stations.
“We’re building technology that makes payments as simple as buying your coffee,” adds Ben Everitt, co-founder of The Online Fuel Company.
“Our platform connects everything – the payment credential, pump and fleet manager’s device – so business owners can see what’s happening with their fleet in real time. It’s the kind of visibility and control that hasn’t been available in New Zealand before.”
