Recruit and JCB Today Launch the AirCARD Corporate Credit Card

Industry’s No.1 point earning rate of 1.5% that makes managing expenses easier

Recruit Co., Ltd. and JCB Co., Ltd. today launch the AirCARD corporate credit card that offers the industry’s No. 1 point earning rate of 1.5%*1. The move comes out of the firms’ shared desire to simplify management of expenses by popularizing the use of corporate credit cards in Japan. 

About AirCARD: https://airregi.jp/aircard/

Background to the launch of AirCARD

Drawbacks to  current approaches to expense management

Expense management is facing changes as the shift to paperless receipts and invoices advances following the revision to the Enforcement Rule of the Electronic Books Preservation Act in October 2020. In a survey by Recruit carried out at the time of the change in the law*2 , 50% of respondents described themselves as “not knowing much about expense management or not being good at it.” About 30% identified specific issues, such as “it is difficult to differentiate between private and business usage.” (graph 1)

Graph 1: Do you have any issues with expense management at your workplace?
(n=685 respondents / multiple responses of “Yes”)

Source: “A Survey on Business Card Needs”

90% of managers have limited knowledge of corporate credit cards

Corporate credit cards remove the need for complicated paper-based expense management, providing an efficient and accurate way to manage expenses. With card usage details automatically recorded on statements, they help prevent entry omission, and also offer additional benefits such as low transfer fees and points that can be redeemed against other business costs.

In the Recruit survey*2 in response to the question, “Are you familiar with corporate credit cards,” about 90% of managers answered, “I’ve heard of the name,” or “I’m not familiar with them” (graph 2).

 Graph 2: Are you familiar with corporate credit cards?
(n=1,270 non-corporate credit card holders/from single answer questions)

Source: “A Survey on Business Card Needs”

Working with JCB to popularize corporate credit cards

Recruit and JCB share the desire to simplify expense management by popularizing the use of corporate credit cards. To encourage businesses to try them, with AirCARD we have introduced the industry’s highest point rate of a corporate credit card, at 1.5%.

Recruit, through its provision of Air BusinessTools, which includes AirREGI and AirPAY, will continue to leverage technology to support businesses through greater simplicity and efficiency.

Details of the AirCARD service

AirCARD makes expense management easier. It can reduce or eliminate the work required to store and manage receipts and to process reimbursement settlement applications and transfers. Also, for those who until now have used private credit cards, it ends the need to separate corporate expenses on personal card statements, and as usage can be checked online anytime, it makes expenditure control easy.

• Start of serviceJanuary 26, 2021

• Application method
  ① Register your AirID on the AirCARD website
  ② Fill out the application
  ③ Admission screening & submission of documents
  ④ Receipt of card *See the AirCARD website for further information (https://airregi.jp/aircard/) 

• Those eligible to apply Corporate or individual business owners 

• Point rate 1.5％

• Annual fees For one card user: 5,500 yen (tax included), for each additional user: 3,300 yen (tax included) 

• International brand JCB

• Card issuer JCB

• Cards that can be added ETC, QUICPay

OtherPoint earned when paying taxes, public utilities charges and call charges is 0.5%. Annual fees, electronic money and use of the ETC Through Card N do not earn points.

3 features

Points quickly accumulate

AirCARD points accumulate at the highest industry rate of 1.5%. They can be used from 1 point, which equals 1 yen.

Everyday payments earn value

Just by using AirCARD to buy equipment, pay utility bills or other running expenses, card holders can earn even more points.

Makes expense management easier

With no need to manage receipts or settle reimbursements, and being able to check on expenditure usage and differentiation between private and corporate usage at any time, it makes daily management of expenses easier.

About Recruit points

Recruit points can be accrued and used at accommodation and stores publicized in the services that Recruit offers. When card holders use a Recruit service to buy equipment or reserve a hotel, lodging or restaurant, as well as the points earned by using the card, extra points are accrued.

Recruit points earned by using the card can be spent from 1 point, which is equivalent to 1 yen.

In addition, if Recruit points are converted to Ponta points, they can be used at Ponta-affiliated stores for various services. Furthermore, from the first quarter of 2021, they can also be converted to d POINTs. Converted points can then be used to pay mobile phone bills. 

Examples of services where the points can be used

• Travel accommodation reservation site Jalan.net Jalan: Japan Hotels & Ryokan Booking Site 

• Hair salon, relaxation & beauty salon search and reservation site Hot Pepper Beauty http://beauty.hotpepper.jp/

• Restaurant information and discount coupon site Hot Pepper Gourmet
   TOP | HOTPEPPER GOURMET (hotpepper-gourmet.com)

• Shopping mall Ponpare Mall http://www.ponparemall.com/

*List of affiliated stores and services where points can be used　https://point.recruit.co.jp/point/?tab=pointUseService*Regarding the inclusion of d POINTs in the Recruit Point service　https://point.recruit.co.jp/recruitid/campaign/d/start/

Details regarding point assignment and terms of use　　　https://point.recruit.co.jp/doc/terms/pointlist.html

About Air BusinessTools

Air BusinessTools provides a comprehensive bundled suite of cloud-based solutions, including reservation and reception management, POS system, cashless payments, human resources recruitment, and shift management.

AirREGI is a POS cash register app with 518,000 accounts and ranks No. 1*3 in terms of the number of stores where it can be used, and support dinings and restaurants, retail and the service industry, among others. AirPAY is an in-store payment service that can handle 35 payment methods and can be easily used by people of all ages. All Air BusinessTools are connected to a single AirID, allowing for the separate apps and web services to be used in conjunction, optimizing business processes.

About JCB Co., Ltd.

JCB is a major global payment brand and a leading credit card issuer and acquirer in Japan. JCB launched its card business in Japan in 1961 and began expanding worldwide in 1981. Its acceptance network includes about 36 million merchants around the world. JCB Cards are issued mainly in Asian countries and territories, with more than 140 million cardmembers. As part of its international growth strategy, JCB has formed alliances with hundreds of leading banks and financial institutions globally to increase its merchant coverage and cardmember base. As a comprehensive payment solution provider, JCB commits to providing responsive and high-quality service and products to all customers worldwide. For more information, please visit: www.global.jcb/en/

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