While it is common lip-service to describe small-to-medium-sized enterprises – SMEs – as the nation’s economic and employment engine, the SME sector can be forgiven for being a touch cynical about being “recognised.”
Governments often highlight the sector only at election and Budget times. Larger companies often talk about the small suppliers with whom they have developed lifelong, productive relationships – we have all seen those advertisements.
But occasionally, there is an initiative that does make SME proprietors feel recognised.
Qantas’ Aquire program is one such initiative. It’s the ‘Frequent Flyer’ program for businesses of all shapes and sizes. Aquire rewards businesses for their travel activity, and also for their day to day business spending. Members earn Aquire Points by flying with Qantas and when buying goods and services from Aquire partners. All it takes to join is an Australian Business Number (ABN).
So, how’s this a Win – Win – Win?
1. The ‘First Win’ comes with more points on travel
Once a member, a business gets Aquire Points for each eligible business-related flight it buys. There are some minimum earn thresholds the business needs to make before they can use these Aquire Points from flying, but there’s no downside as the person taking the flight still gets the Qantas Points and Status Credits just as they always did.
2. The ‘Second Win’ comes with points on every day spend
Another unique feature of Aquire is that members also accumulate points through their normal business spending with program partners. The likes of Westpac, GIO Business Insurance, Deloitte Private, Macquarie Leasing, Randstad recruitment, Avis and Budget car rental services (who you also earn both Aquire Points and Qantas Points with), Secure Parking, Snap Printing and Staples office supplies are all on the Aquire band-wagon, offering points for their services.
3. The ‘Third Win’ – the most important win – comes with rewards and savings for you and your business
Business owners can convert their Aquire Points into Qantas Points at a rate of 1:1 and choose whose Qantas Frequent Flyer account is credited with the points that the business has earned through Aquire. This is a key perk of the program, as they make it totally flexible whose pockets get filled with Qantas Points.
If earning more points isn’t enough, your business can make even more tangible savings on bookings you make today with the recently launched Aquire Flight Deals. With no minimum earning thresholds, your business can save up to 10% on a huge range of Qantas’ domestic and international airfares when you book in advance. You just need to make sure you book through Qantas’ free travel management tool ‘Qantas Business Direct’ or through participating travel agents. This is a pretty big win in itself!
Smart businesses are also using Aquire as part of their employee incentive program, using the points as gifts to their employees as reward or recognition. Those lucky employees can use the points for flights, upgrades gifts from the Qantas Store and more. Investing in human capital by rewarding people with points makes good business sense.
If you’re a staff member of a small or medium sized business, sign your business up! You can add more users to the account so your boss can also watch the points balance rise.
Attracting and retaining great employees, engaging them and getting the best out of them is a constant battle for SMEs, which often don’t have a dedicated human capital function. Using the benefits of Aquire Points can be a hugely effective human resources tool – and one that comes for a one-off fee of $89.50.
Want to know how you can earn points 3 times on the same transaction?
The program aims to amplify how you earn Points. So pay attention: if you are a Qantas Frequent Flyer member, if your business is an Aquire member and if you pay for your Qantas flights on a Qantas or Aquire Points earning credit card; you effectively get three lots of points for the same flight.
Think Aquire could be worthwhile for your business? It probably is.
