KPMG helps to develop first blockchain-based, airline loyalty program 'digital wallet'

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Sep 06, 2018, 07:00 ET

SINGAPORE, Sept. 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - KPMG in Singapore has worked with Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Microsoft to develop the first airline loyalty program "digital wallet" based on blockchain technology. SIA announced the launch of the new KrisPay digital wallet following a successful proof-of-concept development in February 2018.

With KrisPay, SIA's KrisFlyer members can instantly convert KrisFlyer miles into KrisPay tokens that can be spent with participating merchants. The digital wallet not only makes it easier for SIA customers to use miles in their KrisFlyer account, it allows SIA to onboard new partners and reconcile payments using blockchain technology.

"With the blockchain-based digital wallet, it is a straightforward process for participating merchants to connect with the program and for customers to make purchases with their tokenized miles," said Jan Reinmueller, Head of KPMG's Digital Village in Singapore. "The blockchain provides a distributed ledger that time-stamps every customer transaction in real-time, which provides significant cost and time efficiencies."

To help meet the requirements for the innovative KrisPay blockchain solution, the KPMG Digital Village team brought a wide range of experience in solutions architecture, application build and graphic design and cyber security.

"The innovative work with Singapore Airlines reflects the business-value approach that KPMG professionals around the world take in developing blockchain solutions across a broad range of industries," said Atif Zaim, Global Lead for KPMG Distributed Ledger Services. "Our focus is on using blockchain technology to contribute real value to a client's enterprise."

Andres Ortola, Enterprise Commercial Director, Microsoft, Singapore said, "KrisPay showcases how blockchain can create new experiences for customers and partners alike. Microsoft's blockchain technology and Microsoft Azure, together with KPMG's innovation and experience, helped to accelerate deployment, and drive significant customer value."

About KPMG International
KPMG is a global network of professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. We operate in 154 countries and territories and have 200,000 people working in member firms around the world. The independent member firms of the KPMG network are affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International"), a Swiss entity. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such.

About KPMG Singapore Digital Village
True innovation begins with revolutionary ideas, but to deliver real business results, it needs to work hand-in-hand with business adoption and risk management.

Enabled by our active ecosystem of partners, KPMG Digital Village provides corporates with a ready platform to co-innovate with solution providers and government bodies and turn innovative ideas into robust, practical and scalable solutions.

For more information, visit https://www.digitalvillage.asia/

SOURCE KPMG International