Payment providers looking to unlock new efficiency gains for Latin American clients should explore smart fleet cards, which combine corporate fleet management systems with fuel payment functionality. 

While well established in the U.S., this innovative way to manage company fleets is just gaining traction in the LatAm region. Smart fleet cards are yet another example of how, using the principles of Gustanomics, providers can move beyond payments to offer a customer experience that drives long-term satisfaction and loyalty.

Once introduced, fleet cards–which can be used for fuel, maintenance, and tolls–can become essential tools for companies managing vehicles on the move. They also make perfect sense for the Latin American continent, where company cars are increasingly common, and smart systems offer a strong defense against rising fuel fraud.

By introducing smart fleet cards to a wide range of companies and industries including logistics, delivery, and field service, payment providers can help businesses streamline operations, control expenses, ensure transparency, and gain smarter oversight through real-time data. A recent report showed that smart fleet management can reduce fuel consumption by 15 percent and improve fleet maintenance schedules by 20 percent in LatAm.

Additionally, for payment providers, fuel cards can act as a gateway to a much broader range of financial services, such as embedded lending, insurance, and vehicle maintenance financing.

Several LatAm providers already are accelerating into this space. For example, payment platform Clara recently launched a fleet and fuel Mastercard to help businesses simplify fuel expense management. The card includes features like auto-generated invoices, simplified tax deductions, and customizable fuel reports. 

By offering fleet cards that also contain a bundle of relevant features to their customers’ industry, region, and workforce, payment providers can use the four pillars of Gustanomics to go beyond providing a simple payment tool, instead providing a rich finaincal experience  that enhances customer satisfaction, loyalty, and long-term engagement.

Let’s align fleet cards with our four pillars of Gustanomics principles:

• Need – Fleet cards solve a key operational challenge, offering payment simplicity alongside real-time control and fraud reduction.

• Incentive – Rewards and discounts on relevant extras, like fuel or insurance, encourage continued use and loyalty.

• Status – Partnerships with top card issuers and AI-driven analytics enhance brand credibility.

• Engagement – App-based interfaces with tracking and insights keep users connected and invested.

By leveraging Gustanomics principles and positioning fuel cards as a gateway to a wider array of services, payment providers can drive sustained loyalty and deliver a smarter, more satisfying customer experience.

Learn more about fueling loyalty and engagement in LatAm with smart fleet cards.