[Madrid, Spain–June 16] Spanish e-commerce is maturing, and along with the
growing pains have come ambitious initiatives to coax ticket-seeking
Spaniards into shopping online.
Spain’s Banesto bank and Ya.com, a major portal, joined this month
in an online ticket distribution plan for the biggest e-commerce operation
in Spanish e-history. Likewise, the high-tech travel distribution company
Amadeus teamed up with California-based BroadVision to launch a new
software system for online ticket sales.
Using the Virtual Banesto TPV Payment System, Ya.com (the Internet
portal of telecom operator Jazzfree) has set up an an online ticket
distribution system for the “Show de La Jungla,” a traveling show to
appear in more than 30 Spanish cities this summer.
“This is is the biggest electronic commerce operation using a
major, virtual TPV,” said Javier Fuentes, head of Banesto’s Internet
business division, “Keeping in mind that the number of transactions will go
beyond 60,000, we think this is going to help break [Spaniards’]
psychological barrier against using credit cards on the Net.”
While other banks such as the recently merged Banco Santander
Central Hispano (BSCH) use a virtual TPV payment system, fifty percent of
Spanish netizens making credit card purchasers from Spanish e-tailers last
year went through Banesto. More than 1,400 virtual shops in Spain use the
bank’s e-commerce payment system.
Amadeus and Broadvision this month announced a joint venture to
produce their own software for online ticket purchases. Amadeus is known
for its Amadeus System travel distribution software, but the new endeavor
will offer more personalized ticket sales through the Net, and will be
accessible through GSM mobile phones equipped with WAP technology.
Amadeus provides online distribution, marketing and sales tools to
airlines, hotels and travel agencies in more than 130 countries. Founded in
1987, the Madrid-based company has more than 2,800 employees. While 75% of
its capital is in the hands of three airlines (Iberia, Air France and
Lufthansa), the remaining 25 percent is traded publicly.
