PYMNTS
NOVEMBER 24, 2017
With the holiday shopping season in full swing, retailers are facing a new challenge: extra shipping fees during the busiest weeks. The Wall Street Journal reports that United Parcel Service (UPS) is adding on a surcharge to packages shipped to homes around Black Friday and the week before Christmas in a move to compel retailers to send their orders outside those peak periods.
PYMNTS
NOVEMBER 8, 2017
When it comes to business, it’s no secret the competition is fierce. But in an increasingly interconnected world, even competing companies need to collaborate. Rival banks and financial institutions (FIs) need to work together to serve customers and transfer money between banks. Car dealers need parts from competing suppliers and manufacturers to keep repair shops and vehicles running without a hitch.
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PYMNTS
NOVEMBER 14, 2017
The U.S.’s first new payment and clearing system in more than 40 years is up and running. At 4:59:40 p.m. on Monday, $3.50 was moved between accounts at two different banks (there was only one customer with two bank accounts) via RTP, the name for a new “Real-Time Payments” system set up by The Clearing House. All in all, the transfer took three seconds — as opposed to the hours or days more typically associated with an ACH transfer.
PYMNTS
NOVEMBER 3, 2017
It was a busy time for B2B venture capital this week, and while funding ranged across verticals from expense management to SaaS, there was a clear theme in investment rounds: high-tech data analytics. Startups deploying machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities are focused on improving corporate processes — from identifying fraud to testing software to managing employee effectiveness.
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.
PYMNTS
NOVEMBER 22, 2017
Artificial intelligence (AI) doesn’t walk and talk like C3P0 of “Star Wars” (many would say: “Thank God”). It doesn’t mask murderous intentions with a calming voice like HAL of “2001: A Space Odyssey.” It’s not the manically depressed, paranoid android Marvin of “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.” It’s not a beautiful but cunning killer like Ava of “Ex Machina.”.
PYMNTS
NOVEMBER 22, 2017
There will certainly be many sales to choose from once the Thanksgiving dinner dishes have all been cleared and the Black Friday festivities begin at retail locations nationwide. But this year, there is something slightly different in the mix. We are about to have a very connected Christmas. Or, more appropriately, a very connected New Year – on the assumption that most people will be shopping for gifts that won’t get their first official test drives until the last week of 2017.
Accountant Advocate brings together the best content for small business accounting professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
PYMNTS
NOVEMBER 21, 2017
With Europe only weeks away from PSD2 taking effect, Fiorano Software is debuting its solution for financial institutions (FIs) in the region to comply with the directive. The company revealed its new solution on Monday (Nov. 20), Fiorano PSD2, a platform for FIs across the EU to ensure compliance with PSD2, built on the company’s existing API Management capabilities and banking integration management tools.
PYMNTS
NOVEMBER 25, 2017
Peak toy season is upon us. Over the next six weeks, 40 to 60 percent of American consumers will purchase at least one toy during the holiday season. As a rule, toys are a bit like potato chips – it’s hard to stop once you’ve started. Some of those toys will be for children and some will be for the adults themselves (admit it, you’re thinking about getting a new lightsaber), but on average Americans buy between $25 and $30 billion in toys per year, according to The Toy Association.
PYMNTS
NOVEMBER 14, 2017
A new report by business banking market research and analysis firm East & Partners suggests corporations aren’t opposed to changing banks as a direct result of new FinTech solutions businesses want to use. Researchers announced East & Partners’ new report, “Financial Technology and the Corporate,” on Monday (Nov. 13). In a survey of corporate treasurers and CFOs at top corporations around the globe, 13 percent said they had already partially or totally switched their financia
PYMNTS
NOVEMBER 29, 2017
Fraudsters launching forays against financial institutions (FIs) is a tale as old as, well, financial institutions. For the honest banker, there’s a constant need to upgrade defenses and proactively fend off attacks. But not everybody has the resources for a complete cybersecurity makeover — or the $100,000 to sweep a successful hack under the rug. Such resource and budget constraints may be the reason why, even as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are enjoying high adoption rate
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.
PYMNTS
NOVEMBER 24, 2017
Good news for small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs): Spending growth at mom and pop shops has outpaced that of the big chains in both of the past two years. According to Bloomberg reports on Wednesday (Nov. 22), purchasing patterns research from Sarah Quinlan, senior vice president at payment processing giant Mastercard Inc., found that when Americans aren’t shopping online, they’re looking for more personal connections and the advice they can receive from local SMBs.
PYMNTS
NOVEMBER 30, 2017
When the limit on contactless payments in the U.K. was raised in 2016 from £20 to £30, the overall volume of contactless payments tripled. While, for many industry spectators, the growth in volume of contactless payments equated to a correlating drop in cash use, the actual numbers reveal that despite a growth in competition from alternate payment forms, cash is continuing to hold its ground.
PYMNTS
NOVEMBER 14, 2017
With Europe just weeks away from PSD2 coming into effect, banks across the region are gearing up to get on-board with one of the regulation’s main objectives: to promote open banking and stir up competition and innovation in the financial services market. FIs around the globe may be flocking to APIs and embracing the open banking concept today, but just a few months ago – says Marten Nelson, co-founder and VP of marketing for Token, Inc. – the banks weren’t having it. “If you h
PYMNTS
NOVEMBER 2, 2017
Google announced that it will be shutting off developer access to its QPX Express API service, which automates data for airfare search engines. According to a news report from The Verge , the move could affect third-party travel sites, such as Orbitz and Expedia. It’s also a sign that Google is becoming increasingly interested in competing with the big names in travel services.
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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.
PYMNTS
NOVEMBER 15, 2017
Wells Fargo Advisors and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reached a settlement this week resolving charges that the bank dropped the ball in reporting suspect activities pertaining to money laundering for several years. According to a MarketWatch report published Tuesday (Nov. 14), though broker-dealers are required to file suspicious activity reports (SARs) to the U.S.
PYMNTS
NOVEMBER 15, 2017
Fashion retailer Forever 21 revealed that it has suffered a data breach at some of its stores. According to news from Fortune , customer payment card information was compromised at certain point of sale devices in stores when the encryption on those devices was not operating. The company, which operates more than 815 stores in 57 countries, did not say which specific locations were affected.
PYMNTS
NOVEMBER 7, 2017
Those who are fortunate enough to have access to credit often take it for granted. Imagine if your car broke down, your child needed school supplies or your father passed away and you couldn’t afford the funeral, but banks didn’t want to work with you because you either had bad credit or none at all. What would you do? Many would turn to family or friends for an informal loan, while others would be too proud to do so.
PYMNTS
NOVEMBER 1, 2017
Two years ago, when Samsung Pay entered the mobile payments scene, it did what Apple and Android a year before it had not: It made mobile payment capabilities at the physical point of sale (POS) more or less ubiquitous right out of the gate. This new digital way to pay was made possible via technology that Samsung acquired, called “magnetic secure transmission” — MST — the very same technology that enables merchant point-of-sale terminals to accept a mag stripe card for payment.
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
PYMNTS
NOVEMBER 28, 2017
India’s Axis Bank has launched its instant, cross-border payments solution less than a year after announcing a collaboration with blockchain technology firm Ripple. The bank announced news on Monday (Nov. 27) that its global payments service, which uses Ripple’s blockchain infrastructure, is now up and running. Retail customers can receive payments from the UAE’s RAKBANK using the platform, while corporate clients in India can receive payments from Singapore’s Standard Chartered Bank in real-tim
PYMNTS
NOVEMBER 1, 2017
Is omnichannel enough? The classic definition, of course, is approaching sales from multiple angles: in-store, desktop, mobile devices, etc. But is it enough? After all, the omnichannel undertaking is usually one that involves a company branching out beyond what might be its traditional engagement with consumers. Consider the brick-and-mortar firm that looks to gain attention from online offerings, or Amazon’s own forays into bookstores and physical outlets.
PYMNTS
NOVEMBER 28, 2017
When customers are feeling hungry — maybe even a little hangry — the fewer obstacles between them and food, the better. Waiting in line? Talking to a human cashier? Too much hassle. Just get them those calories, stat. Alright, so maybe it’s not always quite so dramatic, but it’s certainly true that customers seem more and more willing to forego human interaction in fast food and fast casual dining environments.
PYMNTS
NOVEMBER 29, 2017
[link]. Every group of friends has a social director, Fevo CEO Ari Daie told Karen Webster in this week’s Matchmakers conversation – that one person who organizes the cats and gets a group of otherwise passive adults organized for a game, concert or weekend trip. This person’s life, Daie noted, is full of friction. They have to organize the group, figure out when everyone is free, what they want to pay for tickets and then how to purchase that block of tickets for the group.
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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
NOVEMBER 22, 2017
Intuit announced its Q1 FY2018 earnings this week, posting better-than-expected results for the firm and highlighting growth fueled by QuickBooks. “We are off to a strong start growing first-quarter revenue 14 percent and exceeding our overall financial targets,” Intuit chairman and chief executive officer Brad Smith said in a statement.
PYMNTS
NOVEMBER 20, 2017
Accomplished public intellectual and post-Keynesian economist John Kenneth Galbraith was well-known for four things. He didn’t think much of math and science — rather unusual given his choice of a profession that uses complicated math formulas to communicate. His economic principles were what inspired President Lyndon B. Johnson to kickstart the now-controversial “War on Poverty” program in the 1960s — a series of programs intended to end poverty and racial injustice.
PYMNTS
NOVEMBER 2, 2017
Singapore residents will soon be able to make purchases with a prepaid Visa card backed by the cryptocurrency platform Monaco. “Our team has worked incredibly hard over the past year to achieve this milestone. This is an important step towards Monaco’s vision to introduce cryptocurrency to the mass market,” said Kris Marszalek, co-founder and CEO of Monaco, in a press release. “We believe that the Monaco card program lays solid foundation for Monaco’s growth, and we
PYMNTS
NOVEMBER 24, 2017
The winners on Black Friday may be the big players in low-cost retail. Think Walmart, of course – and others, too. Wall Street research from Jefferies, noted in CNBC.com, said that a slight sliver of consumers will spend more on Black Friday than they did last year, which compares to the 17 percent who said the same last year. The upshot is that spending may not be concentrated in a single day’s spree.
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
NOVEMBER 1, 2017
After years of doubt, financial professionals are trusting the cloud. Research released last month by Adaptive Insights found 73 percent of surveyed CFOs trust the cloud to host their financial data today. That trust has permeated the financial services industry, too, as banks begin to migrate data and apps to the cloud and FinTechs launch entirely on cloud infrastructure.
PYMNTS
NOVEMBER 23, 2017
When the pilgrims landed in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in 1620, there was no voice of Siri to say, “Arrived.” The only parade that November was one of tired, hungry pioneers disembarking a ship. They weren’t dodging cars in the grocery store parking lot, but arrows shot by unfriendly natives and disease that ripped through the settlement as the weather grew cold and harsh.
PYMNTS
NOVEMBER 23, 2017
India’s decision to go cashless was a grand experiment to be sure, but did it go grandly? It’s been a bit more than a year since India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought a ban on cash into effect in the country, eliminating roughly 86 percent of its notes in circulation. As such, Nov. 8 marks a red-letter day in the nation’s history. The scorecard is mixed, delivering on only a few stated goals, but the most important goal pertains to digital payments.
PYMNTS
NOVEMBER 1, 2017
Small businesses (SMBs) are increasingly satisfied with their traditional financial service providers, though banks are pushing to heighten their innovation strategies and provide SMBs with the high-tech, customized services that those small businesses demand. The October 2017 PYMNTS Bank Innovation Readiness Index , developed in collaboration with i2c , found these financial institutions (FIs) are enjoying a bit of success in their efforts to digitize and innovate.
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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.
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