Bird will leverage Airwallex’s financial infrastructure to simplify payments for over 30,000 customers, replacing the more than 20 global banks it relied on previously
&nbsp;
AMSTERDAM/LONDON – <a style="color: #4bbb87;" href="https://www.airwallex.com/?utm_source=prnewswire&amp;utm_medium=pr_press_release&amp;utm_campaign=MessageBird_NLhires" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.airwallex.com?utm_source%3Dprnewswire%26utm_medium%3Dpr_press_release%26utm_campaign%3DMessageBird_NLhires&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1713877378524000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2bPkVssSz1ook544OGKNg2">Airwallex</a>, a leading global payments and financial platform for modern businesses, today announced its partnership with <a style="color: #4bbb87;" href="https://bird.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bird.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1713877378524000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2bydAgz2hyQyqb0PoPd_4_">Bird</a> (formerly MessageBird), a global communication platform, to power Bird’s international payments operations.

Powering Bird’s global payments infrastructure
Bird’s platform, applications and APIs help 29,000+ businesses to streamline conversations and build engaging experiences through their customers’ preferred channels - including WhatsApp, Email, SMS, Voice, WeChat, Messenger, and Instagram.
The global nature of Bird’s business - with multiple currencies flowing in and out of operating entities around the world - had led to a fragmented financial operating system, split across more than 20 banking partners around the world. This created operating inefficiencies for the Bird Finance team, particularly in relation to the creation and approval of supplier payments and reconciliation with Bird’s accounting software.
Using Airwallex’s global payments and financial infrastructure, Bird has been able to consolidate its financial operations across multiple entities and currencies into a single platform. This has enabled greater visibility and control as well as the automation of supplier payments around the world, leveraging Airwallex’s proprietary foreign exchange (FX) engine. Bird is also utilising Airwallex’s issuing product to pay its global suppliers and the batch transfers tool to run its own payroll across entities. Additionally, Airwallex and Bird collaborated on a superior integration via Netsuite that provides greater speed, consistency and depth of reconciliation for Bird’s finance team.
&nbsp;
Robert Vis, Founder and CEO at Bird, commented:

<blockquote>
“Prior to working with Airwallex, we were using legacy systems and technology which slowed down our entire global operations. With Airwallex, we’re able to streamline our payments infrastructure and supercharge our finance operations globally. We are continuing to explore more opportunities to leverage the Airwallex product and I look forward to deepening our relationship with the team.”
</blockquote>
&nbsp;
Pranav Sood, Executive General Manager, EMEA at Airwallex said:

<blockquote>
“Bird is one of the standout success stories in the Dutch tech community and has revolutionised the way that consumers and businesses communicate on a global scale. We’re proud that Airwallex’s financial technology and payments infrastructure can support Bird’s mission of creating a world where communicating with a business is as easy as talking with a friend. We’re looking forward to deepening our partnership with Bird and serving many more world-leading Dutch businesses with our growing local team in Amsterdam.”
</blockquote>
&nbsp;
Airwallex was founded in Melbourne in 2015 and is headquartered in Singapore. The company has since grown to over 20 locations globally, currently employs 1,400 people and plans to hire approximately 300 people in 2024.
&nbsp;
-ENDS-
&nbsp;
NOTES TO MEDIA
For further information
If you have any questions or would like to request further information, please contact <a href="mailto:press@airwallex.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press@airwallex.com</a>.

About Airwallex
Airwallex is a leading global financial platform for modern businesses, offering trusted solutions to manage everything from payments, treasury, and spend management to embedded finance. With our proprietary infrastructure, Airwallex takes the friction out of global payments and financial operations, empowering businesses of all sizes to unlock new opportunities and grow beyond borders. Proudly founded in Melbourne, Airwallex supports over 100,000 businesses globally and is trusted by brands such as Brex, Rippling, Navan, Qantas, SHEIN and many more. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.airwallex.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.airwallex.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1713877378524000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0QFZlmjsaAptAhtoySmm4p">http://www.airwallex.com</a>.
Airwallex (Netherlands) B.V. is licensed as an electronic money institution and supervised by the Dutch Central Bank (De Nederlandsche Bank).
&nbsp;
About Bird
Bird's mission is to create a world where communicating with a business is as easy as talking with a friend. Bird powers communication between businesses and their customers — across any channel, always with the right context, and on every corner of the planet. Headquartered in Amsterdam, Bird processes over 5 trillion messages, calls, and emails for over 29k+ customers, such as Google, Facebook, and Uber, across channels like WhatsApp, email, SMS, and many more. For more information, see <a style="color: #4bbb87;" href="https://bird.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bird.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1713877378524000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2bydAgz2hyQyqb0PoPd_4_">https://bird.com/</a>

Airwallex partners with technology company Bird to power its global payments infrastructure

<ul>
 	<li>Airwallex report reveals a growing consumer trust in international merchants with 61% of consumers perceiving international merchants as trustworthy</li>
 	<li>Flexibility and transparency for both payments and shipping were found to be key considerations for consumers as they carry our cross-border e-commerce transactions</li>
 	<li>Social commerce continues to grow, with more than half of consumers likely to make online purchases from international merchants through social media</li>
</ul>
SINGAPORE/LONDON, 21 March, 2024 – While 54 percent of global consumers expect to increase their cross-border purchasing over the next six to twelve months, they need flexibility and transparency in the digital payment experience to make that happen. In a report released today by leading global payments and financial platform <a style="color: #4bbb87;" href="http://www.airwallex.com">Airwallex</a> and Edgar, Dunn &amp; Company, 77 percent of consumers also said they would abandon their cart if their preferred payment method was not offered.
<blockquote>“E-commerce is more global than ever,” </blockquote>
said Kai Wu, Chief Revenue Officer at Airwallex.
<blockquote> “Despite ongoing economic uncertainty and slowing global growth, it is clear that consumer spending will continue to grow.

With the global cross-border e-commerce market set to reach USD 7.9 trillion by 2030¹, it is critical for international merchants to solve consumer pain points and deliver the best possible customer experience in order to thrive in this competitive market. 

As a global platform, we see millions of transactions on a regular basis, and are eager to find more innovative ways to support merchants as they navigate the complexities of cross-border e-commerce.”</blockquote>
Airwallex’s inaugural global e-commerce report is designed to understand the state of cross-border e-commerce, uncovering the challenges consumers and merchants face as they carry out cross-border e-commerce payment transactions. It provides key insights on emerging consumer sentiments and preferences, as well as broader market dynamics across Australia, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, the UK and the US. 

&nbsp;

KEY FINDINGS

Trust in personal data security and international merchants helping drive increased cross-border spend
<ul>
 	<li>61% of consumers perceive international merchants to be trustworthy, while 65% expressed confidence in the security of their personal and financial information when buying from international merchants. </li>
 	<li>Globally, the US (36%) and China (25%) stood out as the top regions for consumers’ international shopping. 72% of consumers from China ranked the US and Canada as the top region for their international shopping, whereas China was the top country that consumers from the US (41%) Singapore (35%), and the UK (35%) shopped internationally from.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;

Digital payments are enabling a more customised, seamless cross-border payment experience for consumers

The rise of digital payment methods is a key reason consumers now feel more comfortable buying goods and services from anywhere in the world, emphasising the importance of flexibility and transparency in the payments and shipping process. 
<ul>
 	<li>When shopping with international merchants, 77% of survey consumers would likely abandon their cart if their preferred payment method is not available. Additionally, 54% are unlikely to return to online stores that do not transparently disclose additional fees like currency conversion and international transaction fees.</li>
 	<li>Credit cards (39%) were ranked as the most frequently used payment method among consumers shopping online from international merchants, followed by global digital wallets (26%). </li>
 	<li>Shipping costs and transparency are ranked as the most important factors when evaluating the shipping policy of an international merchant (41%), while lengthy refund processing times represent the most prominent challenge for consumers (47%).</li>
</ul>
¹<a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/1296796/global-cross-border-ecommerce-market-value/#:~:text=The%20global%20B2C%20cross%2Dborder,roughly%20785%20billion%20U.S.%20dollars.">Global B2C cross-border e-commerce market size 2021-2030, Statista, Feb 2024</a>

&nbsp;

Cross-border shopping driven by enhanced online shopping experience, price competitiveness and broader product selection

Understanding the diverse considerations and preferences of consumers across regions is key for businesses seeking success in the global marketplace.
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">34% of consumers cited greater product options as the primary incentive for shopping internationally. This motivation closely competes with the desire for better quality products and lower prices. </li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Lower prices emerged as a significant driver for international shopping in the UK, the US, and Australia, whereas greater product availability and superior product quality were identified as key factors in China, Singapore, and Hong Kong. 

</li>
</ul>
Social commerce continues to grow in popularity globally

Social commerce recognises that social media is inherently social, and merchants are quickly leveraging these platforms to create interactive and creative content, engaging with and increasing purchases among a consumer group that primarily consists of digital-native consumers. 
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">59% of consumers will likely make online purchases from international merchants through social media platforms; Consumers in China (86%), Hong Kong (76%) and Singapore (62%) showed the highest appetite for social commerce.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Accessing better deals and offers on social media platforms (49%) was the top global motivation for consumers to buy from international merchants, followed by personal recommendations (42%) and interactive online selling (38%).</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">On average, consumers use Facebook the most (28%) to make online international purchases, followed by TikTok (22%) and Instagram (20%).</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;

The full report, along with recommendations on how merchants can optimise for global success, can be read <a href="https://www.airwallex.com/uk/ecommerce-campaign-2024?utm_source=press_release&amp;utm_medium=pr_press_release&amp;utm_campaign=uk_glblecomm2024___">here</a>.

&nbsp;
-END-
&nbsp;

NOTES TO MEDIA

Methodology:
The research was commissioned by Airwallex and carried out by consulting firm Edgar, Dunn &amp; Company during Q1 2024. Insights come from two primary sources, a global survey of 3,010 consumers in Australia, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, the UK and US, and interviews with leading merchants, as well as secondary research.

&nbsp;

For further information: If you have any questions or would like to request further information, please contact <a href="mailto:press@airwallex.com">press@airwallex.com</a>

About Airwallex
<a href="https://www.innovatefinance.com/company/airwallex/">Airwallex</a> is a leading global financial platform for modern businesses, offering trusted solutions to manage everything from payments, treasury, and spend management to embedded finance. With our proprietary infrastructure, Airwallex takes the friction out of global payments and financial operations, empowering businesses of all sizes to unlock new opportunities and grow beyond borders. Proudly founded in Melbourne, Airwallex supports over 100,000 businesses globally and is trusted by brands such as Brex, Rippling, Navan, Qantas, SHEIN and many more. For more information, visit <a style="color: #4bbb87;" href="http://www.airwallex.com">airwallex.com</a>

&nbsp;

Cross-border spending surging, 54% of global consumers expect to increase amount of international online shopping but expect more payment flexibility and transparency in 2024

<ul class="css-17ki0w9">
 	<li>
McLaren Racing selects Airwallex as an Official Partner, modernizing their global financial operations and supporting the introduction of a digital partner merchandise platform
</li>
 	<li>
Airwallex to become a partner of McLaren’s Formula 1 Team, as a permanent fixture across McLaren’s livery, driver overalls and other branded material through the 2024 season and beyond
</li>
</ul>
SINGAPORE &amp; LONDON – <a class="css-125i35s" style="color: #4bbb87;" href="https://www.airwallex.com/?utm_source=prnewswire&amp;utm_medium=pr_press_release&amp;utm_campaign=global_F1launch">Airwallex</a>, a leading global payments and financial platform for modern businesses, today announced a multi-year partnership with the <a class="css-125i35s" style="color: #4bbb87;" href="https://www.mclaren.com/racing/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">McLaren Formula 1 team</a>, one of the sport’s most iconic brands. As an Official Partner, Airwallex will support McLaren’s global financial operations through its treasury management and cross-border pay-outs and settlement product suite. This partnership between Airwallex and McLaren will help ignite the fintech giant’s growth trajectory as it continues to scale globally.
Specifically, McLaren will use Airwallex to optimise its supply chain payments for all Grands Prix. McLaren’s existing payments infrastructure limits payment to suppliers, such as hotel and event space providers, to a singular currency account based in the UK, resulting in high foreign exchange (FX) charges, slow transfer time and additional SWIFT fees.
Airwallex’s financial technology will unlock multi-currency payment options for McLaren, providing the company the ability to hold core currencies and exchange them with speed and ease at any point while reducing the amount of SWIFT fees that may be payable by leveraging Airwallex's extensive global proprietary payment rail network.
As part of this partnership, Airwallex will also provide technology to support the launch and ongoing operation of McLaren’s digital partner merchandise platform - further enhancing their multi-currency collection capabilities and allowing them to offer a broad range of global and local payment options.
Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, said “In the competitive world of Formula 1, efficiency and performance are crucial both on and off the track. We are delighted to have Airwallex on board and use their innovative and trusted payment solutions to support our team’s financial operations.”
Jack Zhang, CEO and Co-Founder of Airwallex, said “There are very few brands that match McLaren’s heritage and global appeal. Like McLaren, Airwallex is constantly innovating to move faster and with greater precision – with a product that unites people around the world. Our partnership will play a key role in supporting our global expansion, and we look forward to working with the McLaren team in 2024 and beyond to support our mutual growth.”
Alongside the product integration, Airwallex will become a partner of the McLaren Formula 1 team, with the Airwallex logo prominently displayed on the halo of the McLaren MCL38, on driver Lando Norris’ and Oscar Piastri’s overalls including the pit crew, as well as across other McLaren official branded material.
A truly global sporting event with races held in 24 cities, Formula 1’s multi-market reach and impact are unrivalled. It has a global viewership of 1.5 billion annually1. Airwallex’s partnership with the McLaren Formula 1 team, a prominent and much-loved brand, aligns with its global ambitions to be the financial platform of choice for innovative businesses across the world.
-END-
1 <a class="css-125i35s" style="color: #4bbb87;" href="https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.formula-1-announces-tv-race-attendance-and-digital-audience-figures-for-2021.1YDpVJIOHGNuok907sWcKW.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Formula 1 announces TV, race attendance and digital audience figures for 2021</a>
For media inquiries, please contact Airwallex at <a class="css-125i35s" href="mailto:press@airwallex.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">press@airwallex.com</a>, or Fran Campbell for McLaren Racing at <a class="css-125i35s" href="mailto:fran.campbell@mclaren.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">fran.campbell@mclaren.com</a>.
About Airwallex
Airwallex is a leading global financial platform for modern businesses, offering trusted solutions to manage everything from payments, treasury, and spend management to embedded finance. With our proprietary infrastructure, Airwallex takes the friction out of global payments and financial operations, empowering businesses of all sizes to unlock new opportunities and grow beyond borders. Proudly founded in Melbourne, Airwallex supports over 100,000 businesses globally and is trusted by brands such as Brex, Rippling, Navan, Qantas, SHEIN and many more. For more information, visit <a class="css-125i35s" href="https://www.airwallex.com/?utm_source=prnewswire&amp;utm_medium=pr_press_release&amp;utm_campaign=global_F1launch">http://www.airwallex.com</a>.
About McLaren Racing
McLaren Racing was founded by racing driver Bruce McLaren in 1963. The team entered its first Formula 1 race in 1966. McLaren has since won 20 Formula 1 world championships, 183 Formula 1 grands prix, the Indianapolis 500 three times, and the Le Mans 24 Hours at its first attempt.  
McLaren Racing competes across five racing series. The team competes in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship with McLaren F1 drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES with Arrow McLaren drivers Pato O’Ward, Alexander Rossi and David Malukas, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship with NEOM McLaren Formula E Team drivers Jake Hughes and Sam Bird, and the Extreme E Championship as the NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team. The team also competes in the F1 Sim Racing Championship as McLaren Shadow, having won the 2022 Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships. 
McLaren is a champion for sustainability in the sport and a signatory to the UN Sports for Climate Action Commitment. It is <a class="css-125i35s" href="https://www.mclaren.com/racing/sustainability/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">committed to achieving net zero by 2040</a> and fostering a diverse and inclusive culture in the motorsport industry. 
<a class="css-125i35s" style="color: #4bbb87;" href="https://www.mclaren.com/racing/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">McLaren Racing – Official Website</a>

Airwallex and McLaren Racing pen multi-year partnership to modernize global payment operations and support the Formula 1 Team

Airwallex is a global payments platform with a mission to empower businesses of all sizes to grow without borders, and by doing so, contribute to the global economy. With technology at its core, Airwallex has built a financial infrastructure and platform to help businesses manage online payments, treasury and payout globally, without the constraints of the traditional financial system.
Airwallex has secured over US$800 million since it was established in 2015, and is backed by world-leading investors. Today, the business operates with a team of over 1,000 employees across 19 locations globally. For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.airwallex.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.airwallex.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1647428312323000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0J1hlzlU-ZVooxewqXG9nQ">www.airwallex.com</a>. Airwallex (UK) Limited (Company No. 10103420) is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011 (firm reference number 900876).

Airwallex

Airwallex is a global payments platform with a mission to empower businesses of all sizes to grow without borders, and by doing so, contribute to the global economy. With technology at its core, Airwallex has built a financial infrastructure and platform to help businesses manage online payments, treasury and payout globally, without the constraints of the traditional financial system.

Airwallex has secured over US$800 million since it was established in 2015, and is backed by world-leading investors. Today, the business operates with a team of over 1,000 employees across 19 locations globally. For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.airwallex.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.airwallex.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1647428312323000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0J1hlzlU-ZVooxewqXG9nQ">www.airwallex.com</a>. Airwallex (UK) Limited (Company No. 10103420) is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011 (firm reference number 900876).

Executive General Manager, EMEA at Airwallex

Pranav Sood is the Executive General Manager, EMEA at Airwallex. Based in London, Pranav is responsible for all aspects of Airwallex's strategy and operations across EMEA. As part of the global leadership team, Pranav also plays a key role in supporting Airwallex’s global strategy. Pranav started his career at Bain &amp; Company, working in the firm's London, Mumbai and Melbourne offices. Prior to joining Airwallex, Pranav spent five years at GoCardless, including roles leading the firm’s International and Global SME businesses.