PYMNTS

JULY 10, 2017

In eCommerce news: The tug-of-war game just got a bit tighter, and Amazon may be in the crosshairs. Walmart’s Jet.com is helping to push the envelope with its new “ try before you buy ” approach. Approximately 300,000 online product samplings and exclusive offers will be included in monthly eCommerce packages. Through this new promotional effort, Jet.com is hoping to enhance its customer engagement process and is likely to continue to increase its status as a tier one eCommerce company.

Gaming 87

Gaming E-commerce 87

PYMNTS

JULY 5, 2017

The Hive Project, a company that uses cryptocurrency and Ethereum blockchain for trade financing , has launched its platform. The company announced Friday (June 30) that its portal is up and running to link SMEs to trade financing by turning unpaid invoices into tradable assets. Every invoice is assigned a unique fingerprint, the firm said, by tokenizing each bill and linking them onto the blockchain.

Finance 86

Finance Technology Sales B2B 86

PYMNTS

JULY 13, 2017

The digital retail revolution is well underway. Fusing technology into in-store experiences has officially gone mainstream, and retailers are looking for ways to go beyond the traditional mobile app. As we’ve reported in the past, places like Sephora have installed various tablets with embedded augmented reality (AR) features to help customers pick and choose what makeup shades look best on their skin tone.

Retail 85

Retail Technology Sales accountant 85

PYMNTS

JULY 6, 2017

API technology is opening new doors for the world of financial services, a trend that cultivates cooperation and collaboration between FinTechs and banks, once considered competitors. With the speed of payments accelerating and Same Day ACH initiatives continuing to roll out, NACHA has pulled together a group of industry experts to explore API standardization as a way to facilitate faster payment speeds and greater transaction security, among other use cases.

Technology 79

Technology accountant Account accounted 79

Speaker: Amanda Adams, Fractional CFO, CPA

Are you ready to elevate your accounting processes for 2025? 🚀 Join us for an exclusive webinar led by Amanda Adams, a seasoned fractional CFO and CPA passionate about transforming back-office operations for finance teams. This session will cover critical best practices and process improvements tailored specifically for accounting professionals.

Account

PYMNTS

JULY 25, 2017

Technological advances are pushing the boundaries for what’s possible in a variety of industries. Within the retail industry specifically, artificial intelligence (AI) is moving the ball for a lot of merchants looking to not only streamline their business operations but provide a more personalized experience for consumers. Stemming from AI, machine learning is helping technology move at a swifter rate, and as more people bring their shopping needs into the online world, it’s likely that machine

Maine 78

Maine Retail Manufacturing Technology 78

PYMNTS

JULY 20, 2017

Machine learning is perhaps the hottest buzzword in cybersecurity today. The artificial intelligence technology is deployed by cybersecurity firms in an effort to keep pace with the evolution of cyberattacks, as machine learning algorithms are able to improve predictability the more it is used. But according to Guy Caspi, CEO of cybersecurity company Deep Instinct , machine learning is no longer enough in an age of unprecedented evolution and volume of cybercrime.

Technology 78

Technology B2B 78

PYMNTS

JULY 28, 2017

Automation has come to several industries. From manufacturing to customer service, there have been several parts of today’s workforce that have been automated by some form of smart technology. One in four Americans are currently at risk of having their jobs automated, according to a research paper from Ball State University, “ How Vulnerable are American Communities to Automation, Trade, and Urbanization?

Retail 71

Retail Technology Manufacturing Start-ups 71

PYMNTS

JULY 6, 2017

Open Banking, the U.K. bank-funded entity that was mandated by the Competition and Markets Authority to provide new ways for customers to share their financial data with non-bank providers, has released an API specification for accounts and transaction information and payments initiation. In a press release Open Banking said the new spec was released on its website for review and development by banks and third-party service providers.

Start-ups 71

Start-ups accountant Account accounted 71

PYMNTS

JULY 4, 2017

According to the latest findings of the European Ecommerce Report 2017 , it is a good time to be selling online in Europe — especially since online retail growth has been “exponential” over the last several years. During 2016 alone, eCommerce activity increased by 15 percent to €530 ($602 billion U.S., 30 percent of global eCommerce). The 2017 forecast indicated a projected 14 percent growth to €602 billion ($684 billion, 34 percent of global retail sales).

Maine 71

Maine Retail Sales accountant 71

PYMNTS

JULY 6, 2017

The world’s not ready for the Internet of Things (IoT). Oh, consumers are excited, and they have embraced connected commerce with both thumbs — and their voice. People have embraced smart technology such as the Apple Watch, Amazon Echo, Fitbit and even connected scales and blood pressure monitors by Withings. PYMNTS’ study in collaboration with Visa, “ How We Will Pay ,” quantifies just how many people are on board.

Retail 68

Retail Start-ups Technology E-commerce 68

Speaker: Abdi Ali, Sr. Lease Accounting Consultant

Join this insightful webinar with industry expert Abdi Ali, who will discuss the challenges that can arise from managing lease accounting with spreadsheets! He will share real-world examples of errors, compliance issues, and risks that may be present within your spreadsheets. Learn how these tools, while useful, can sometimes lead to inefficiencies that affect your time, resources, and peace of mind.

Account

PYMNTS

JULY 5, 2017

Fraud is like gluten. It’s in almost everything, and it often goes completely unnoticed. Most organizations have resigned themselves to the fact that, despite their defenses, fraud is just a part of doing business. But fraud costs an average of 7.5 percent of revenue, and the numbers for e-tailers — who never handle a physical payment card — are much higher.

Retail 64

Retail Sales Finance Technology 64

PYMNTS

JULY 20, 2017

Innovation foundation Nesta has announced the 20 FinTechs chosen to compete for a $6.5 million prize as the company looks to boost innovation in the small business banking space. As part of its Open Up Challenge, announced in February, Nesta called for FinTechs that are using APIs to disrupt small business banking. The 20 chosen companies will compete for the prize money used to develop next-generation services and apps for U.K. small businesses, Nesta explained, adding that each of the 20 firms

Technology 62

Technology Gaming Retail accountant 62

PYMNTS

JULY 26, 2017

A new company is launching in India to support accounts receivable and invoice management for businesses. Announcing its rollout on Tuesday (July 25), PayBee said it is looking to digitize the B2B payments process to help companies enhance cash flow management. The company said it integrates with existing accounting, ERP and distribution management solutions already in place within business clients.

B2B 61

B2B accounting and finance Finance Retail 61

PYMNTS

JULY 20, 2017

A group of six multinational corporations in Switzerland is urging banks around the world to join SWIFT’s gpi initiative, news reports said Wednesday (July 19). ABB, Nestle, SBB and others reportedly sent an open letter to banks promoting their support for SWIFT’s gpi (global payments innovation) initiative and urging those FIs to take part in exploring how to improve cross-border payment processes.

B2B 59

B2B 59

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Join us in this webinar, where we share best practices on how to think about the reconciliation work each month, when best to do reconciliations, how they should be prepared, and some common pitfalls to avoid. Learning Objectives: This course objective is to understand how to properly prepare and review balance sheet reconciliations and its impact on the financial statements.

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PYMNTS

JULY 19, 2017

Mastercard is expanding its QR-based programs to create greater choice in retail mobile payments. The company today announced news of its plans to offer QR codes for scan by customers and merchants, building on its QR efforts in India, Thailand, the Middle East and Africa, as well as its collaborations with industry players to create new global QR standards.

Retail 59

Retail Technology Sales 59

PYMNTS

JULY 20, 2017

Cryptocurrency Ethereum price has jumped more than 50 percent, recovering from losses over the last several days. According to a report , not only did the cryptocurrency that competes against bitcoin have its biggest percent gain during the past 24 hours, but it also had double the volume of bitcoin. The report noted that as of Wednesday (July 19) there is a $10-billion difference between the market caps of bitcoin and Ethereum, and if the prices for Ether continue to increase Ether will be a re

Maine 59

Maine Government Technology 59

PYMNTS

JULY 24, 2017

The cashless payments movement has a calendar attached to it, at least in China. Cashless Week in China is little more than a week away — running Aug. 1 through Aug. 8 — as Ant Financial Services Group announced earlier this year. The cash-free week will see the firm encouraging China to embrace digital payments, an offshoot of the company’s goal to make China as cashless as possible in five years — using Alipay as a springboard, of course.

Management Consulting 59

Management Consulting Transportation Retail accountant 59

PYMNTS

JULY 7, 2017

While there are many reasons why small merchants should be able to take digital and online payments — including better conversion rates, wider exposure to a bigger audience and better data about consumers — Dusty Gomez, SMB product leader at Vantiv , says it all comes down to one main idea: The consumer lifestyle is evolving to a point where customers are constantly on the go.

Education 58

Education Maine E-commerce Technology 58

Speaker: David Warren and Kevin O’Neill Stoll

Transitioning to a usage-based business model offers powerful growth opportunities but comes with unique challenges. How do you validate strategies, reduce risks, and ensure alignment with customer value? Join us for a deep dive into designing effective pilots that test the waters and drive success in usage-based revenue. Discover how to develop a pilot that captures real customer feedback, aligns internal teams with usage metrics, and rethinks sales incentives to prioritize lasting customer eng

Sales

PYMNTS

JULY 18, 2017

It used to be that small businesses needing loans could wait weeks or months for a decision from the provider, with pre-qualification steps taking up a huge chunk of the time – and after all that, there was no guarantee that the provider would find them creditworthy. Today, artificial intelligence can do a lot of the heavy lifting at the front end of the process.

Technology 58

Technology Education accountant Account 58

PYMNTS

JULY 18, 2017

Turns out millennials are not the different-kind-of-banking-breed some had thought. It also turns out the much-vaunted social media generation is less inclined to use social media than you’d think. In a survey held from the end of June into early July and conducted by SurveyMonkey , the web-based survey firm queried more than 1,000 adults above the age of 18, 290 of which were defined as 18- to 34-year-olds: millennials.

accounting and finance 57

accounting and finance accountant Account accounted 57

PYMNTS

JULY 21, 2017

Think long and hard about the last time you carried physical cash or a business asked for cash only as a payment. While there are still some retailers today that have either a cash-only policy or still take cash, most consumers do not typically carry it on them. Just three years ago, The Washington Post reported eight out of 10 people carried less than $50 in their wallets on a regular basis, according to research from Bankrate.com.

E-commerce 57

E-commerce Washington Finance Retail 57

PYMNTS

JULY 28, 2017

Beauty is and always has been one of humanity’s favorite topics. English poet Thomas Overbury famously observed that it is only skin deep, while Irish poet Margaret Wolfe Hungerford noted that it is “in the eye of beholder.” And while no one knows who exactly originated the phrase “beauty is pain,” it is quoted widely and liberally in salons, shoe stores and bridal salons nationwide.

Maine 56

Maine accountant Account accounted 56

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The first Market Momentum Index: AI and Unstructured Data Management, conducted by Deep Analysis with support from AIIM and M-Files, surveyed 500 enterprises across various industries to assess their readiness to employ AI. The results reveal that AI is already far more embedded into organizations' operations than previously realized. These findings and more insights have been brought to you in the "Market Momentum Index: AI and Unstructured Data Management.

PYMNTS

JULY 26, 2017

USA Technologies, the payment technology service provider of integrated cashless and mobile transactions in the self-service retail market, announced news Tuesday (July 25) of the closing of its underwritten public offering of 9,583,332 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $4.50 per share. In a press release, the company said the foregoing included the full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase 1,249,999 additional shares from USA Technologies (USAT).

Entertainment 55

Entertainment Technology Retail 55

PYMNTS

JULY 19, 2017

Alternative lending has shifted from a competitor of traditional FIs to a collaborator, often lending a digital hand to banks in need of upgrading their systems to provide faster, more agile financing to SMEs. A new report from the state-backed British Business Bank (BBB), however, suggests alternative lenders are becoming an increasingly important part of its operations in a different way, highlighting how the lines between alternative finance (AltFin) and traditional finance continue to blur.

Finance 55

Finance Government B2B 55

PYMNTS

JULY 20, 2017

While there is still much in the way of debate in the U.S. and the rest of the developed West about the shape of things to come with the mobile and digital payments revolution that remains in nascent stages, on the other side of the world in China, the waiting has ended. The mobile revolution is here. Paper money — The New York Times writer Paul Mozer recently noted in a column — is seemingly dying a swift and unceremonious death in the Chinese market, as just about everyone seems to be using

New York 55

New York Retail Start-ups E-commerce 55

PYMNTS

JULY 21, 2017

Connecting with consumers has seen a significant change over the course of the past few decades. No longer are retailers working with marketers to figure out a way to mass market products and services. With the advent of connected devices in the palm of almost every consumer’s hand, the retail ecosystem has certainly seen a shift. Retailers are working hard to not only adjust but also enhance the approach to securing and maintaining sales.

Retail 54

Retail Sales 54

Speaker: Mark Stovel

When it comes to automating, many firms focus on finding the latest tech, believing that efficiency is something achieved through new tools. Yet true efficiency is achieved by delivering real value to clients, not merely by upgraded systems. Without a clear approach, no level of automation can overcome the complexities of serving every client’s needs.

PYMNTS

JULY 26, 2017

EML Payments is integrating its virtual payment capabilities into the accounts payable solutions offered by Mize Houser as the two look to help companies replace paper checks in B2B payments with virtual or ACH. Mize Houser provides accounting and AP solutions to franchisee owners; according to an announcement Tuesday (July 25), the company will begin offering those clients virtual payment capabilities to pay suppliers using EML Payments technology.

accounts payable 54

accounts payable B2B CPA accountant 54

PYMNTS

JULY 13, 2017

Working in the ATM business can be dangerous. From potentially getting robbed when reloading the ATM with money to installing the heavy machine, it’s possible to sustain severe injuries. However, it’s being reported out of Corpus Christi, Texas, that a repair man accidentally locked himself inside an ATM he was working on. The room located behind the machine that allows workers to repair it was the place where the man was stuck.

Texas 54

Texas 54

PYMNTS

JULY 27, 2017

Bitcoin has seen its fair share of ups and downs over the past year when it comes to both stock price and mainstream adoption. While the cryptocurrency is struggling to gain traction, there’s been talk brewing of a rival bitcoin being developed to compete against it. Reasons for the new bitcoin competitor stem from many believing it’s not where it should be at this point in time.

Start-ups 54

Start-ups 54

PYMNTS

JULY 14, 2017

B2B FinTech venture capitalists are finally in the full swing of summer, with one of the hottest weeks in the industry so far. More than $167 million was funneled into the industry, with the enterprise cybersecurity space taking home the gold for most money raised. But — surprise! — one startup operating in a B2B FinTech industry rarely seen on the VC roundup landed the second-largest investment round of the week.

B2B 53

B2B accounting and finance B2C Finance 53

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Setting the stage for successful organizational change always begins with clear, thoughtful communication. When it comes to rolling out a new travel and expense (T&E) policy, establishing a well-structured communication plan is key to ensuring that all employees understand the changes and their impact. By following a step-by-step approach, you can guide your organization through the transition, fostering smooth adoption from the outset and improving compliance.