Global growth accelerated by automated supplier payments for I Need Tours
I Need Tours is a B2B platform specialising in ground travel services, including transfers and local experiences ranging from one hour to one day. Working exclusively with direct supplier contracts, the business connects tour operators and travel technology providers to local partners worldwide, primarily through integrations with operators and travel software providers.
As the company looked beyond Europe to scale globally, payments quickly became a limiting factor.
Previously, supplier payments were handled through traditional bank processes that slowed onboarding and limited international expansion. Today, I Need Tours uses the Modulr portal and virtual cards to automate supplier payments, remove friction for international suppliers, and support global growth.
Expanding into new destinations required more than demand and supply, with each market demanding new currency handling, local payment processes, and operational setup before suppliers could be onboarded.
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When payments slowed growth
Before adopting Modulr, I Need Tours relied on traditional bank-based payment processes. While workable within Europe, this approach became increasingly restrictive as the business expanded internationally.
Entering non-Euro markets required new banking agreements for each destination. Payment timelines were slow, fees were high, and many international suppliers were unwilling to accept contracts under those conditions.
“If we wanted to open a new destination, we had to go to the bank, sign specific agreements, and repeat the process country by country. It was really damaging to our expansion,” said Marco Stronati, COO, I Need Tours.
Commercially viable contracts often stalled or failed to reach signature, not because of a lack of demand, but because payment terms created friction for suppliers.
“Thanks to Modulr, we were able to cover the entire American continent earlier than expected and start working on Asian destinations sooner. What we like is that there is a real contact. Not just an AI entity. When problems happen, we can speak to people who support us operationally."
Automating payments to unlock expansion
By adopting Modulr’s virtual card payment solution, I Need Tours removed banking complexity from supplier onboarding and replaced it with a standardised, automated payment process.
This eliminated the need for special bank agreements outside Europe and allowed payment conditions to be agreed at the start of contract negotiations, rather than revisited later in the process.
Marco said, “Thanks to Modulr, we don’t need any special agreement with the bank. Now, we just sign the contract with the supplier and start processing payments.”
Scaling faster without increasing complexity
With automated payment controls in place, I Need Tours accelerated destination coverage and supplier growth without adding operational burden.
Payments to local providers are now processed faster and more consistently, reducing delays typically associated with traditional bank transfers. This improved supplier acceptance, removed friction from negotiations, and strengthened commercial relationships.
Marco added, “Using the Modulr platform, payments reach local providers in one or two days. With bank transfers, it could take up to one week.”
This shift removed a major bottleneck in the sales and contracting process and enabled the business to scale its supplier network at pace.
The same approach also enabled rapid expansion of supported currencies, giving the team the flexibility needed to operate confidently across Europe, the Americas, and Asia.
“Today, our team manages twenty-nine currencies, and Modulr helps us with eleven of these currently. Our target is to reach between thirty-six and forty-one by the end of 2026.”
“Using the Modulr platform, payments reach local providers in one or two days. With bank transfers, it could take up to one week.
Thanks to Modulr, we don’t need any special agreement with the bank. Now, we just sign the contract with the supplier and start processing payments.”
Expansion brought forward, not just enabled
Originally, I Need Tours planned to complete expansion across the Americas before turning to Asia. With automated payments in place, those timelines shifted.
The business completed coverage across the American continent earlier than planned and began onboarding Asian destinations from Q3 2025 — ahead of its original roadmap.
Marco commented, “Thanks to Modulr, we were able to cover the entire American continent earlier than expected and start working on Asian destinations sooner.”
What began as a change to how suppliers are paid became a catalyst for faster global growth.
Built to scale, supported by people
While automation was critical, Marco also highlighted the importance of accessible, human support as teams adapted to new workflows.
Marco reflected, “What we like is that there is a real contact. Not just an AI entity. When problems happen, we can speak to people who support us operationally.”
By the second half of 2025, the entire payments team had access to the platform, creating a strong operational foundation for continued growth.
Operational efficiency that unlocked global growth
By removing payment friction from supplier onboarding, I Need Tours has turned operational efficiency into a growth advantage.
In just one year, the business reduced onboarding times to under two weeks, expanded its supplier network significantly, and accelerated its expansion beyond Europe into the Americas and Asia.
With 29 currencies now supported — and a target of more than 40 by the end of 2026 — payments are no longer a blocker to growth, but a standard part of how new partnerships are formed.
What began as a change to how suppliers are paid has become a foundation for scaling globally, faster and with less operational complexity.
