MasterCard International Vice President John Mayer Visits UAE to Discuss Expansion of MasterCard Smart Data OnLine

21 October, 2002
 
John Mayer, vice president, Global Operations and Technical Offerings for MasterCard International, visited the UAE recently to discuss the expansion of MasterCard’s real time information management system, MasterCard Smart Data OnLine.
 
This is Mayer’s second visit to the UAE in six months, a sign of MasterCard’s commitment to the country and to the Middle East and North Africa Region, which it sees as an important growth region for its corporate payments solutions such as the MasterCard Corporate Purchasing Card.
 
The latest service, MasterCard Smart Data OnLine, offers small-, medium- and large-sized businesses an easy way to track employee spending on MasterCard commercial cards.   Accessible via the Internet, accounts departments and management may use MasterCard Smart Data OnLine to track spending in real time, in all major currencies and 12 different languages, versus waiting 30 to 60 days for their payment card statements.
 
MasterCard Smart Data OnLine also provides more detailed information than a statement about where the MasterCard card is being used and what is being charged to the account.  In addition, it stores this data for easy access for 16 months.
 
“MasterCard Smart Data OnLine is a powerful tool for all businesses, whether private companies or government departments.  The Internet-based platform means companies do not have to invest in new software, and there is instant access to the system all over the world.  Company employees can check their MasterCard card accounts while travelling and actually have their expense claims filled out by the time they return to the office,” John Mayer said.
 
MasterCard UAE and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Members Unveil MasterCard SDOL to Customers.
 
HSBC in the UAE was the first bank in the region to offer MasterCard Smart Data OnLine, while Saudi British Bank based in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia recently became the second to roll out the product for its corporate customers.  One of Mayer’s activities while in the UAE was to meet with HSBC and Saudi British Bank representatives for training. 
  
“Thousands of organisations around the world are enjoying the benefits of using MasterCard Smart Data OnLine in conjunction with their MasterCard fleet cards, purchasing cards, travel and entertainment cards and other corporate payment solutions,” explained Mayer.
 
“Since the start of this year when HSBC launched MasterCard Smart Data OnLine in the UAE, more than 10 companies have already adopted this solution.  We believe this is just the beginning because of the importance of corporate expense tracking and the time-consuming nature of accounting for companies,” said Charl Smedley, director, Business Development B2B for South Asia, Middle East and Africa, MasterCard International.
 
MasterCard Smart Data OnLine is one of the many corporate payments solutions that MasterCard offers corporate companies and government offices. For additional information, please visit www.mastercardbusiness.com.
 
-Ends-
 
About MasterCard International
MasterCard International has a comprehensive portfolio of well-known, widely accepted payment brands including MasterCardâ, Cirrusâ  and Maestroâ.  More than 1.7 billion MasterCard, Cirrus and Maestro logos are present on credit, charge and debit cards in circulation today. With approximately 25,000 MasterCard, Cirrus and Maestro members worldwide, MasterCard serves consumers and businesses, both large and small, in 210 countries and territories.  MasterCard is a leader in quality and innovation, offering a wide range of payment solutions in the virtual and traditional worlds.  MasterCard’s award-winning Pricelessâ advertising campaign is now seen in 90 countries and in 45 languages, giving the MasterCard brand a truly global reach and scope.  With more than 28 million acceptance locations, no payment card is more widely accepted globally than MasterCard.  For the six months ended June 30, 2002, gross dollar volume exceeded US$534 billion.  MasterCard can be reached through its website at http://www.mastercardinternational.com
 
Contacts:
Monique Saber, MasterCard International, 9714 391 4200 email: Monique_saber@mastercard.com
Samantha Burgess-Allen, Manning Selvage and Lee 9714 3311637 email: Samantha.burgess-allen@dubai.mslpr.com

© Press Release 2002