by Reservamos Team | Mar 8, 2023 | Culture
Our role in the workplace should also be that of mentors, so that young women interested in pursuing financial careers feel supported to break stereotypes and eliminate barriers.
Throughout my professional life, I have wondered, how can I address the challenges I face as a woman to have a successful career. To be honest, I still don’t have a clear answer, but over time I have come to understand that it is a balancing act.
Today, despite the times we live in, it seems that gender still determines lower chances of success for a woman; we have been underrepresented and limited for a long time. Of course, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of diversity in the workplace, and the financial sector is no exception, but we still have significant challenges to overcome.
Women and Finance
According to a 2021 report by consulting firm Spencer Stuart, in Mexico, the percentage of women CFOs in companies on the Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV) index is 10%, while in Latin America, it is 12%.
The above does not detract from the impact we have on the financial sector. As women, we play a fundamental role, providing unique perspectives and experiences that can lead to greater innovation and success in problem-solving, more efficiently. By having a diverse team, it is feasible to propose innovative ideas and solutions, which ultimately drive business growth and success. According to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), if the gender gap in labor force participation rates in Latin America and the Caribbean were closed, the region’s GDP could increase by 16%, equivalent to $1.7 billion.
It doesn’t sound too bad, but how can we get to that reality? Our role in the workplace should also be that of mentors, so that young women interested in pursuing financial careers feel supported to break stereotypes and eliminate barriers.
It is vital not to lose sight that there are still many challenges to face in the industry, including underrepresentation in leadership positions, the gender pay gap, as well as the lack of balance between work and daily life.
Women, not only in the financial sector, are often paid less than their male counterparts, even when they have the same level of education and experience. This can make it difficult to achieve financial independence and directly contributes to the lack of diversity in senior leadership positions. The gender pay gap on average worldwide is 23%, while in Mexico, it exceeds 34%, according to reports by IMCO and Inmujeres.
The long hours and demanding nature of the industry make it difficult to balance our careers with our personal life. This can be particularly challenging for women, who often take on greater responsibility for caring for children or elderly relatives at home. Addressing these challenges is crucial to ensuring that the financial sector is diverse, inclusive, and reflects demographic needs.
Women, Technology, and Development
Technology is transforming the market in many ways, from the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to blockchain and digital currencies. These advances are changing the way the customer interacts and risk management operations.
The rapid evolution of the market demands that we adopt new skills, but also create the necessary mechanisms for technology to be a driver, not an obstacle, to women’s professional development. In this sense, women in financial leadership positions must lead the way in adopting digital platforms and services, exploring their potential to shape a more inclusive future for the financial sector, and accelerating positive change among customers, employees, and shareholders alike.
For all women pursuing a career in finance, I share some suggestions to develop and strengthen their skills and competencies:
- Invest in professional development opportunities. Attending conferences, workshops, and training sessions can help stay up to date with emerging trends and best practices in finance and accounting. Continuous learning helps us bridge gaps and provides us with communication, critical thinking, and analytical skills.
- Seek mentorship from experienced executives who can provide guidance and support as they advance in their careers. Mentors can also offer information on the skills and competencies needed to succeed in the CFO role.
- Financial directors must create networks of peers and colleagues who can provide support and share knowledge and best practices. Networking events, professional organizations, and social media platforms can be excellent sources of connections and support.
- Take on new challenges and opportunities. Gradually assume new projects or roles that require us to extend beyond our comfort zone to develop and strengthen skills and achieve greater leadership.
Undoubtedly, the challenges for women remain significant. Therefore, it is essential to continue working as a team to help more women develop their skills, establish support and mentorship networks, and not fear new challenges and constant learning. Only in this way can we not only achieve our professional success but also drive the economy of our countries.
by Reservamos Team | Mar 8, 2023 | Culture
Nuestro papel en el ámbito laboral debe ser también el de mentoras, para que mujeres jóvenes interesadas en seguir carreras financieras se sientan apoyadas para romper estereotipos y eliminar barreras.
A lo largo de mi vida profesional me he preguntado, ¿cómo puedo abordar los retos que enfrento como mujer para tener una carrera exitosa? Siendo honesta sigo sin una respuesta clara; pero con el paso del tiempo he entendido que es una disputa de balance.
Hoy, pese a la época en la que vivimos, parece que el género aún determina menores probabilidades de éxito para una mujer; se nos ha subrepresentado y limitado por mucho tiempo. Claro que ha habido un reconocimiento creciente de la importancia de la diversidad en el lugar de trabajo, y el sector financiero no es una excepción; pero aún tenemos grandes retos por vencer.
Mujeres y Finanzas
Según un informe de la consultora Spencer Stuart publicado en 2021, en México, el porcentaje de mujeres CFOs en empresas del índice de la Bolsa Mexicana de Valores (BMV) es del 10%, mientras que en América Latina es del 12%.
Lo anterior no precede el impacto que tenemos en el sector financiero. Como mujeres desempeñamos un papel fundamental, aportando perspectivas y experiencias únicas que pueden conducir a una mayor innovación y éxito en resoluciones de problemas, de forma más eficiente. Al tener un equipo diverso, es factible que se propongan ideas y soluciones innovadoras, lo que en última instancia impulsa el crecimiento y el éxito empresarial. De acuerdo con el Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID), si se cerrara la brecha de género en la tasa de participación laboral en América Latina y el Caribe, se podría aumentar el PIB de la región en un 16%, lo que equivale a $1,7 mil millones de dólares.
No suena nada mal, pero, ¿cómo podemos llegar a esa realidad? Nuestro papel en el ámbito laboral debe ser también el de mentoras, para que mujeres jóvenes interesadas en seguir carreras financieras se sientan apoyadas para romper estereotipos y eliminar barreras.
Es de vital importancia no perder de vista que en la industria existen todavía muchos desafíos que enfrentar, entre ellos la subrepresentación en puestos de liderazgo, la brecha salarial de género, así como la falta de equilibrio entre el trabajo y la vida diaria.
A las mujeres, no solamente del sector financiero, se les suele pagar menos que a sus homólogos masculinos, incluso cuando tienen el mismo nivel de educación y experiencia. Esto puede dificultar que logremos una independencia financiera, y contribuye directamente a la falta de diversidad en los puestos de liderazgo senior. La brecha salarial entre hombres y mujeres en promedio a nivel mundial es del 23%, mientras que en México esa brecha rebasa el 34%. Esto de acuerdo a informes de IMCO e Inmujeres.
Las largas horas y la naturaleza exigente de la industria dificultan la posibilidad de equilibrar nuestras carreras con la vida personal. Esto puede ser particularmente desafiante para las mujeres, quienes muchas veces adquieren una mayor responsabilidad sobre el cuidado de los hijos o familiares adultos mayores en casa. Abordar estos desafíos es crucial para garantizar que el sector financiero sea diverso, inclusivo y refleje las necesidades demográficas.
Mujeres, tecnología y desarrollo
La tecnología está transformando el mercado de muchas maneras, desde el uso de inteligencia artificial y aprendizaje automático, hasta blockchain y monedas digitales. Estos avances están cambiando la forma en que opera la interacción con los clientes y administración de riesgo.
La acelerada evolución del mercado nos exige la adopción de nuevas habilidades, pero también la creación de mecanismos necesarios para que la tecnología sea un impulsor, y no un obstáculo para el desarrollo profesional de las mujeres. En ese sentido, mujeres en puestos de liderazgo financiero debemos abanderar el camino en la adopción de plataformas y servicios digitales, explorando el potencial; para dar forma a un futuro del sector financiero más incluyente, agilizando un cambio positivo entre clientes, empleados y accionistas, por igual.
Para todas las mujeres que estén persiguiendo una carrera profesional en finanzas comparto algunas sugerencias para desarrollar y fortalecer sus habilidades y competencias.
- Invertir en oportunidades de desarrollo profesional. Asistir a conferencias, talleres y sesiones de capacitación, pueden ayudar a mantenerse al día con las tendencias emergentes, y las mejores prácticas en finanzas y contabilidad. El aprendizaje continuo nos ayuda a acortar brechas y nos brinda habilidades de comunicación, pensamiento crítico y capacidad de análisis.
- Buscar tutoría de ejecutivxs experimentadxs que puedan brindar orientación y apoyo a medida que avanzan en sus carreras. Lxs mentores también pueden ofrecer información sobre las habilidades y competencias necesarias para tener éxito en el rol de CFO.
- Las directoras financieras debemos crear redes de pares y colegas que puedan brindar apoyo y compartir conocimientos y mejores prácticas. Los eventos de networking, las organizaciones profesionales, y las plataformas de redes sociales, pueden ser excelentes fuentes de conexiones y apoyo.
- Asumir nuevos desafíos y oportunidades. Hay que asumir paulatinamente nuevos proyectos o roles que requieran extendernos más allá de nuestra zona de confort, para desarrollar y fortalecer habilidades y alcanzar un mayor liderazgo.
Sin duda los retos para las mujeres siguen siendo muy grandes, de ahí la importancia de seguir trabajando en equipo, para ayudar a más mujeres a desarrollar sus habilidades, establecer redes de apoyo y mentoría, y no temer a los nuevos desafíos y el aprendizaje constante. Sólo de esta forma podremos no sólo alcanzar nuestro éxito profesional, sino impulsar la economía de nuestros países.
by Reservamos Team | Mar 8, 2023 | Culture
Nosso papel no ambiente de trabalho também deve ser o de mentores, para que mulheres jovens interessadas em seguir carreiras financeiras se sintam apoiadas para romper estereótipos e eliminar barreiras.
Ao longo da minha carreira, tenho me perguntado: como posso enfrentar os desafios que enfrento como mulher para ter uma carreira de sucesso? Sendo honesta, ainda não tenho uma resposta clara; mas com o tempo, entendi que é uma disputa de equilíbrio.
Hoje, apesar da época em que vivemos, parece que o gênero ainda determina menores chances de sucesso para uma mulher; temos sido sub-representadas e limitadas por muito tempo. É claro que houve um reconhecimento crescente da importância da diversidade no local de trabalho, e o setor financeiro não é exceção; mas ainda temos grandes desafios a superar.
Mulheres e Finanças
De acordo com um relatório da consultoria Spencer Stuart publicado em 2021, no México, o percentual de mulheres CFOs em empresas do índice da Bolsa Mexicana de Valores (BMV) é de 10%, enquanto na América Latina é de 12%.
Isso não diminui o impacto que temos no setor financeiro. Como mulheres, desempenhamos um papel fundamental, trazendo perspectivas e experiências únicas que podem levar a uma maior inovação e sucesso na resolução de problemas, de maneira mais eficiente. Com uma equipe diversa, é possível propor ideias e soluções inovadoras, o que, em última instância, impulsiona o crescimento e o sucesso empresarial. De acordo com o Banco Interamericano de Desenvolvimento (BID), se a lacuna de gênero na taxa de participação no mercado de trabalho na América Latina e Caribe fosse fechada, o PIB da região poderia aumentar em 16%, o que equivale a US$1,7 bilhão.
Não soa nada mal, mas como podemos chegar a essa realidade? Nosso papel no ambiente de trabalho também deve ser o de mentores, para que mulheres jovens interessadas em seguir carreiras financeiras se sintam apoiadas para romper estereótipos e eliminar barreiras.
É de vital importância não perder de vista que na indústria ainda existem muitos desafios a enfrentar, incluindo a sub-representação em cargos de liderança, a lacuna salarial de gênero e a falta de equilíbrio entre trabalho e vida pessoal.
Às mulheres, não apenas no setor financeiro, costuma-se pagar menos do que seus colegas masculinos, mesmo quando têm o mesmo nível de educação e experiência. Isso pode dificultar a conquista da independência financeira e contribuir diretamente para a falta de diversidade em cargos de liderança sênior. A lacuna salarial entre homens e mulheres, em média, em todo o mundo, é de 23%, enquanto no México essa lacuna ultrapassa 34%. Isso de acordo com relatórios do IMCO e Inmujeres.
As longas horas e a natureza exigente da indústria dificultam a possibilidade de equilibrar nossas carreiras com a vida pessoal. Isso pode ser especialmente desafiador para as mulheres, que muitas vezes assumem maior responsabilidade pelo cuidado de filhos ou familiares idosos em casa. Abordar esses desafios é crucial para garantir que o setor financeiro seja diverso, inclusivo e reflita as necessidades demográficas.
Mulheres, tecnologia e desenvolvimento
A tecnologia está transformando o mercado de muitas maneiras, desde o uso de inteligência artificial e aprendizado automático até blockchain e moedas digitais. Esses avanços estão mudando a forma como a interação com os clientes e a administração de riscos são realizadas.
A evolução acelerada do mercado exige que adotemos novas habilidades, mas também a criação de mecanismos necessários para que a tecnologia seja um impulsionador e não um obstáculo para o desenvolvimento profissional das mulheres. Nesse sentido, as mulheres em posições de liderança financeira devem liderar o caminho na adoção de plataformas e serviços digitais, explorando o potencial para moldar um futuro do setor financeiro mais inclusivo, acelerando uma mudança positiva entre clientes, funcionários e acionistas, igualmente.
Para todas as mulheres que estão buscando uma carreira profissional em finanças, compartilho algumas sugestões para desenvolver e fortalecer suas habilidades e competências.
- Investir em oportunidades de desenvolvimento profissional. Participar de conferências, workshops e sessões de treinamento pode ajudar a manter-se atualizado com as tendências emergentes e as melhores práticas em finanças e contabilidade. A aprendizagem contínua ajuda a fechar lacunas e nos fornece habilidades de comunicação, pensamento crítico e capacidade de análise.
- Busque mentoria de executivos experientes que possam fornecer orientação e suporte à medida que avançam em suas carreiras. Os mentores também podem fornecer informações sobre as habilidades e competências necessárias para ter sucesso no papel de CFO.
- As diretoras financeiras devem criar redes de pares e colegas que possam fornecer suporte e compartilhar conhecimentos e melhores práticas. Eventos de networking, organizações profissionais e plataformas de redes sociais podem ser excelentes fontes de conexões e suporte.
- Assumir novos desafios e oportunidades. É preciso assumir gradualmente novos projetos ou papéis que exijam que nos estendamos além da nossa zona de conforto, para desenvolver e fortalecer habilidades e alcançar um maior liderança.
Sem dúvida, os desafios para as mulheres continuam sendo muito grandes, daí a importância de continuar trabalhando em equipe para ajudar mais mulheres a desenvolver suas habilidades, estabelecer redes de apoio e mentoria e não temer os novos desafios e a aprendizagem constante. Somente desta forma poderemos não apenas alcançar nosso sucesso profissional, mas impulsionar a economia de nossos países.
by Reservamos Team | Jun 8, 2022 | Bus evolution
COVID is not the first pandemic that the world has faced, and it will certainly not be the last.
We are pleased to share with you a note created by our CEO – Andrés Sucre, published by Business Venezuela Magazine, where he shares his optimistic perspective on the future of tourism.
It is not news that one of the most affected industries after the pandemic has been the tourism sector. But, despite that reality, I would like to outline five reasons why the tourism industry can offer greater long-term opportunities.
The tourism industry is huge.
In 2019, the annual spending in the tourism industry exceeded 1.4 trillion dollars and came with an average growth during the last five years of 5% annualized, according to Phocuswright. The last quarantines have generated a pent-up demand waiting for the right moment to go out and travel when conditions allow it.
Source: Phocuswright
History shows that travel always returns.
COVID is not the first pandemic that the world has faced, and it will certainly not be the last. And what we have seen in the past is that the tourism industry always recovers after a crisis. Skift published a graph showing the tourism industry’s resilience after pandemics (SARS, MERS, etc.) or economic crises. If history is any indicator of the future, we will have more trips in the years to come!
Source: Skift
Slow but certain recovery
Despite its size and growth “megatrend”, this crisis has been particularly severe for the sector. For this reason, we can estimate that the recovery will be slow. Bain & Co published a report in June 2020 where they estimated a return to pre-crisis travel levels by 2022 in an optimistic scenario and by 2023 in a moderate one. With the return of lockdowns and new strains in recent months, it is more likely that we are looking at a modest recovery scenario.
Source: Bain & Co.
Recovery trends by segment
We can see how the current context benefits certain segments during the demand rebound process:
- Domestic destinations will be the first to resume their growth vs. international ones. Travelers have a preference for short distances and road access.
- The economic impact is beginning to be felt. So we see that cheap trips will have greater demand than those in the luxury segment.
- Due to the characteristics of COVID, young travelers are going to be the first to venture compared to the senior market.
- Flexibility in remote work and video conferences reduced the volume of business travel. While vacation trips or visits to the family will continue to see accelerated demand as the pandemic is controlled.
Companies that can invest will benefit.
“Every crisis brings great opportunities.” – According to Einstein. In this case, the pandemic has left a severely weakened tourism industry. The drop in passenger demand, combined with a forced closure of its operations, has reduced sales and therefore, cash flows of all companies in the sector.
The companies that will emerge stronger in the long term will be those that can access capital to invest in their technological structure and health protection processes and gain market share.
If these last years have taught us anything, it is that anything can happen in the short term. Despite this uncertainty for the tourism industry, we have every reason to be optimistic in the sector if we look at the long-term opportunities.
Written by: Andres Sucre
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by Reservamos Team | Jun 8, 2022 | eCommerce, Revenue Management
eCommerce frauds result in more chargebacks and less safe purchases.
Sometimes, there is an irrational fear of sharing sales history when hiring a payment gateway and/or new service provider, leading to a loss of opportunities for improvement, safe purchases and growth; driving an increase in fraud if the rules and parameters of the business rate improperly calculated. — Pamela López, Payments Manager.
The value of Reservamos SaaS in payments outlines in its extensive experience and the use of different control and measurement tools for payment attempts. Each industry, sector, and company presents distinct challenges, so it is necessary to know and create unique rules for each season and type of service to secure safe purchases.
- The needs, such as processors and anti-fraud systems, may be different. Evaluating possible scenarios and sales history will help adapt the parameters and tools needed.
- We monitor the acceptance rate, fraud level, user behavior, and changes in the market.
- We use machine learning tools as the first review filter and payment processors or aggregators to transact. Sometimes two step-verification when applicable, as long as it does not limit or harm the conversion rate.
There are some concepts and required procedures you need to know if your bus company has an eCommerce platform:
Chargebacks, what are they, and which are the most frequent?
eCommerce frauds result in more chargebacks. A chargeback is a process where a buyer communicates with the card issuer to unaware a transaction or reporte a problem in search of paying compensation.
There are several types and scenarios of chargebacks. They are usually fraudulent or friendly, for example:
- The cardholder does not recognize the transaction (fraud).
- The cardholder did not authorize the transaction.
- The consumer did not receive the goods or services they purchased.
- The consumer claims that the goods or services do not match the offer.
How payment acceptance impacts sales?
Payment acceptance measures the proportion of purchases accepted in respect of payment attempts.
- Unique payment attempts / Completed purchases = Acceptance rate %
The acceptance level depends on the market and the payment method to be measured. According to information shared by Visa in March 2021, the general acceptance in the payment sector in LATAM was 56%, Mexico was 48%, and Colombia was 49%.
Reservamos SaaS offers a high impact in increasing the acceptance rate and a low volume of fraud.
Many companies make the serious mistake of limiting or lowering their payment acceptance rate because they have 0% fraud. It not only limits their potential for sales growth but denies or blocks a service to users who may not be fraudulent. — Fernando Aguilera, Head of Sales & Expansion.
Understanding the process.
Market and current behavior.
2020 was an atypical year for eCommerce due to restrictions. Goods and services purchases through online platforms increased by +30% globally. As a result, besides boosting the market, the digital market also changed consumer behavior:
- The purchase frequency becomes difficult to predict. The consumer takes short-term actions to avoid complicated scenarios.
- Buyers use new payment options and registration.
- Users search for destinations that were not so attractive before.
In this new market, fraud increased considerably, along with the theft and testing of bank databases, for which it became essential to prioritize specific fields.
The challenges for the coming years are: to adapt and implement new analysis techniques due to the fact that consumer behavior is now more complex and changing. At Reservamos SaaS, we are always looking to implement new tools and parameters that minimize the percentage of chargebacks and increase the rate of payments acceptance to reduce a company’s losses and increase its income.
Do you also want to ensure safe online purchases for your travelers and increase the conversion at your eCommerce? Contact us at: [email protected]
