Darren Thang, Sunrate’s Marketing Head, Discusses the Future of B2B Payments and AI Integration at ITB Asia 2025

Saturday, November 8, 2025

At the ITB Asia 2025, held in Singapore, Darren Thang, Head of Marketing, Sunrate, shared valuable insights into the evolving world of B2B payments in the travel industry. During an engaging conversation with Travel and Tour World, Darren discussed how Sunrate is transforming the way travel stakeholders handle their financial transactions and how artificial intelligence (AI) is enhancing the customer experience.

ITB Asia: A Key Platform for Travel Industry Networking

ITB Asia is one of the premier events for travel industry professionals, offering a unique space for networking, idea exchange, and collaboration. As a long-time participant, Sunrate has used this platform to connect with clients, suppliers, and other industry leaders. For Darren, the event has proven invaluable in presenting solutions that address real-world challenges faced by travel businesses, particularly in the B2B payments space.

“We’ve been attending ITB Asia for many years now, and it’s always been an excellent opportunity for us to engage with our clients and present our solutions directly. This event provides a great opportunity for us to discuss the specific challenges our clients face in the B2B payments arena,” said Darren.

Sunrate’s B2B Payment Solutions for the Travel Industry

Sunrate has carved out a niche for itself as a leading B2B payments platform, offering comprehensive solutions designed to simplify financial transactions for online travel agents (OTAs), travel management companies (TMCs), and other travel stakeholders. These businesses rely on Sunrate’s services to manage payments to their suppliers, such as airlines and hotels, and to streamline their financial operations.

Sunrate’s flagship offering is its cashback commercial cards, a feature that has garnered significant attention in the industry. However, Darren emphasized that Sunrate’s focus extends far beyond commercial cards. The company’s approach is about providing a complete suite of B2B payment solutions that empower travel businesses to enhance their operational efficiency.

“While commercial cards have been a core part of our offering, we’ve seen a shift in the industry. Travel businesses are realizing that the B2B payment space is much broader than just that. They’re looking for an all-encompassing solution to better manage their financial operations, and that’s what Sunrate delivers,” Darren explained.

Embracing AI to Enhance Customer Experience

One of the most significant changes Darren discussed was the increasing integration of artificial intelligence in Sunrate’s operations. Traditionally, the B2B payments sector has been very relationship-driven, with high-touch, sales-focused interactions. However, with the rise of AI, there is growing pressure to meet customer expectations for faster, smarter responses.

Sunrate’s response to this challenge is a blend of AI and human interaction. Rather than replacing human involvement, Sunrate aims to use AI to enhance productivity and efficiency, allowing sales teams to focus on higher-level tasks while AI handles repetitive, time-consuming activities.

“We’re not looking to replace people with robots. Our goal is to empower our team with AI to increase productivity, but still retain the essential human touch. AI will handle the repetitive tasks, freeing up our salespeople to focus on more strategic and creative work,” said Darren.

He also noted that the travel industry is particularly suited to this balance of AI and human interaction. While customers still value the personal touch – such as in-person meetings or casual conversations with business development counterparts – they also expect faster, smarter services, which AI can help provide.

Humanizing AI in Sunrate’s Platform

For many in the travel industry, the idea of AI replacing human jobs can be a source of concern. However, Sunrate’s approach to AI integration is about improving productivity, not replacing the human element of their business.

Darren emphasized that customers in the travel sector still value human relationships and personal interactions. Sunrate’s strategy focuses on enhancing those relationships by using AI to streamline processes without compromising the personalized service that clients expect.

“Our customers still want the personal touch – whether that’s having lunch with their business development counterparts or discussing industry trends face-to-face. AI can help us be more productive by handling some of the administrative tasks, but the core of our business is still about relationships,” he explained.

Sunrate’s Plans for the Future

Looking ahead, Sunrate has ambitious plans to expand its presence in global markets and continue refining its platform to meet the changing needs of the travel industry. As AI technology evolves, Sunrate is committed to staying at the forefront of these advancements, ensuring that its solutions remain relevant and valuable for travel businesses worldwide.

“We’re constantly evolving and adapting to the changing landscape. We’re looking to expand into new regions and markets, and we’re committed to enhancing our platform with even more features. The future of travel and payments is exciting, and Sunrate will be right there, leading the way,” said Darren.

Sunrate’s Commitment to Innovation and Customer Satisfaction

Sunrate’s ability to integrate cutting-edge technology with a personalized approach makes it a standout player in the B2B payments sector. By focusing on AI as a tool to enhance, rather than replace, human interactions, Sunrate is setting a new standard for customer experience in the travel industry.

As the company looks to expand its reach and continue developing innovative solutions, Sunrate remains dedicated to improving the financial operations of travel businesses and helping them stay competitive in an increasingly digital world.

About Sunrate
SUNRATE is a global payment and treasury management platform for businesses worldwide. Founded in 2016, SUNRATE has been recognised as a leading solution provider and has enabled companies to operate and scale both locally and globally in 190+ countries and regions with its cutting-edge proprietary platform, extensive global network, and robust APIs.With its global business headquarters in Singapore and offices in Hong Kong, Jakarta, London, and Shanghai, SUNRATE partners with the top global financial institutions, such as Citibank, Standard Chartered, Barclays, J.P. Morgan. SUNRATE is also the principal member of Mastercard, Visa, and UPI. To learn more about SUNRATE, visit https://www.sunrate.com/.

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