Another first from Pitchup.com: seamless payment system;Benefits suppliers and customers.
Outdoor accommodation specialist Pitchup.com is making it easier for small business accommodation providers to manage their cash flow with the introduction of a smoother payment system.
This month, Pitchup.com has launched ‘Payup’, an integration with payments company Stripe which allows accommodation providers to link their bank account to the Pitchup.com system, so that payments from customers can be triggered and transferred automatically.
Dan Yates, Pitchup.com founder, said: “Our new payment system is efficient and safe for both our customers and our suppliers, and ensures speedier payments for accommodation businesses than our previous system. It’s a secure solution that removes the need for customers to contact the camping or caravan site to settle the balance, reducing administration as well as streamlining the entire process.”
The payments are powered by Stripe, the most advanced payment platform for the Internet. Founded in 2009 by two Irish entrepreneurs, Stripe is a quick and secure way to accept credit card and debit card payments from anywhere in the world instantly. Stripe bills a customer’s card and programmatically separates the payment into the proper portions: transferring the deposit to Pitchup.com and the balance to the park owner. The balance is billed to the customer on the due date specified on confirmation of booking and no further action is required from customers or site owners.
“We’re very excited about working with Pitchup.com and providing park owners a simple and elegant way to accept payments instantly,” said John Collison, president and co-founder of Stripe.
Pitchup.com is encouraging its accommodation provider partners to sign up, which can be done in a matter of minutes via a single-page application form, to enjoy the benefits, including:
- No need to chase customers for payment – payment is billed automatically;
- Reduction in losses from no-shows;
- No need to copy down payment card details from customer;
- No concerns about storing card details in a way that complies with PCI (Payment Card Industry) standards;
- Payments pass straight into provider’s payment account, bypassing Pitchup.com’s account;
- Reduced paperwork: Pitchup.com booking confirmation sets out the entire transaction;
- Full reporting via Stripe and Pitchup.com interfaces;
- Automatic VAT accounting;
- Lower commission rates versus setting up their own merchant account.
In addition, suppliers who sign up to Payup will enjoy a higher ranking in Pitchup.com’s search results than those yet to adopt the system, meaning they will be found more easily by customers using ‘pay in full’ filters.
Yates said: “This is another first for Pitchup.com and one that makes life easier for our suppliers, many of whom are small businesses. Pitchup.com is the first UK tourism company to use Stripe Connect, which shows that as we approach our fifth anniversary we continue to innovate and introduce measures that benefit our customers and our suppliers.”
He added: “Payup enables us to link bank account details of our accommodation providers, meaning they get paid automatically once a customer has booked. It means that our suppliers don’t need to chase customers for payment, can reduce paperwork and no-shows, and can generate more bookings as it’s so much easier for customers to arrange their holiday, particularly if they’re booking late.”
“Most of Pitchup.com’s outdoor accommodation sites are currently in the UK – where the Payup service currently operates – with other countries being added to the Payup network over the course of this year, so very soon all of our providers will be able to sign up to the service.”
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
