PYMNTS
AUGUST 31, 2018
Right now, it looks like a blood pressure cuff with wires and tiny boxes attached to it. Or, perhaps, an oversized watchband, one that was made by a child stuck inside on a rainy day. But it’s only a prototype — one invented by high school seniors in the San Francisco Bay area — that could one day change how blind consumers handle payments and commerce, along with other daily tasks.
Katz,Sapper&Miller
AUGUST 30, 2018
Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, as amended, creates a five-step framework for entities to determine when and how much revenue should be recognized. The first article in the ‘Dissecting the New Revenue Recognition Guidance’ series discussed step 1: identifying the contract(s) with a customer. The second article in the series explained step 2: identifying performance obligations in the contract.
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PYMNTS
AUGUST 31, 2018
Most people’s first job was babysitting, or delivering the paper, or perhaps working at a local shop. But none of those jobs really appealed to a young Tony Sales – because they weren’t lucrative enough. Fraud, on the other hand, paid extremely well, a fact he learned at the age of 13 when he embarked on his first subscription scam. Sales would go door-to-door soliciting pledges for a charity walk, or a swim to fight cancer or a skate-a-thon, or anything else he could think of.
PYMNTS
AUGUST 30, 2018
When you want to know something: Follow the money. In India, then, to find out how well, or not so well, demonetization efforts are playing out, follow the money. News comes this week, per India’s central bank, that cash still is king — more than ever. In fact, the value of cash grew 37.7 percent during a period that was supposed to reduce reliance on paper notes.
Speaker: David Worrell, CFO, Author & Speaker
Your financial statements hold powerful insights—but are you truly paying attention? Many finance professionals focus on the income statement while overlooking key signals hidden in the balance sheet and cash flow statement. Understanding these numbers can unlock smarter decision-making, uncover risks, and drive long-term success. Join David Worrell, accomplished CFO, finance expert, and author, for an engaging, nontraditional take on reading financial statements.
PYMNTS
AUGUST 30, 2018
Brands might want a space to test new concepts with shoppers in brick-and-mortar retail environments, but they don’t always want the time and expense involved in building out a permanent store. To that end, retailers like Macy’s are turning to pop-up shops to showcase brands — and giving them a level of flexibility not often found with traditional stores.
PYMNTS
AUGUST 28, 2018
There are any number of government initiatives pairing FinTech with traditional FIs , and now Mexico joins the roster with renewed focus. Only one-third of adults in that country have a bank account. And the new administration, incoming, is looking to boost financial inclusion. One incoming future deputy finance minister, Arturo Herrera, told Reuters that financial inclusion’s shortfall in the country has led to obstacles in the fight against poverty and slow economic growth.
Accountant Advocate brings together the best content for small business accounting professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
PYMNTS
AUGUST 28, 2018
Peer-to-peer (P2P) marketplaces seek to make car relocation more accessible as they tackle the challenge of moving vehicles across the country. Consumers might put out a query online and be bombarded with responses when they first look to move said vehicles, a process that sometimes continues long after they have found a solution. Vehicle delivery can also be a pain point for them.
PYMNTS
AUGUST 30, 2018
The grocery delivery arena is getting crowded – as crowded as the aisles, one might say, of a local supermarket ahead of a big storm. Amazon has had and still has its impact, of course, having bought Whole Foods and helping to send companies such as Kroger and Walmart into the meal kit market and to their own online delivery models, scrambling to get clicks and online sales.
PYMNTS
AUGUST 29, 2018
Data released by Visa on Wednesday (Aug. 29) showed that counterfeit fraud ticked down at U.S. merchants by 75 percent from September 2015 to March 2018 as more storefronts started accepting chip cards. To that end, Visa said that, as of its latest “Visa Chip Card Update,” as many as 67 percent of storefronts in the United States now accept chip cards.
PYMNTS
AUGUST 29, 2018
The currency decline continues: The Swedish krona fell Wednesday (Aug. 29) against the euro, the fifth straight day that has happened. The decline comes amid political uncertainty in that Nordic country, the prospect of a widening trade war that could hurt it and increasing attention to the benefits of currency hedging among commerce and payments businesses.
Speaker: Dave Sackett
Traditional budgeting and forecasting methods can no longer keep pace with today’s rapidly evolving business environment. Static budgets, rigid annual forecasts, and outdated financial models limit an organization’s ability to adapt to market shifts and economic uncertainty. To stay ahead, finance leaders must leverage a future-forward approach—one that leverages real-time data, predictive analytics, and continuous planning to drive smarter financial decisions.
PYMNTS
AUGUST 25, 2018
Small businesses in the U.S. are increasingly know for their optimism. Expectations about economic growth, and increases in their own revenues, make for a good time to be a small business owner in the country. In the U.K. and Australia, though, small business sentiment looks a bit different. This week’s B2B Data Digest looks at the numbers behind small businesses’ optimism (or pessimism), as well as new stats about adoption of technology like payment services and machine learnings. 7
PYMNTS
AUGUST 28, 2018
The gig economy: no longer the domain of ride-hailing firms. No longer the side hustle of people who need to make an extra buck just to make ends meet. No longer a “need to do.” Increasingly, gig work is a matter of choice. In the latest Gig Economy Index , a number of stats stood out, gleaned from the responses of 10,000 workers queried by PYMNTS. According to a subsequent conversation between Karen Webster and Hyperwallet SVP of Digital Markets Michael Ting in the most recent Data Drivers pod
PYMNTS
AUGUST 27, 2018
Welcome to Five at Five, your late look at the day’s payments and commerce news. Today’s coverage includes the increasing importance of loyalty programs to airlines, and Allstate’s plan to boost its power in identity protection. Intuit has mobile app news, Walmart cozies up with Moosejaw and Alibaba has a new partnership centered around credit options.
PYMNTS
AUGUST 30, 2018
One often hears that many people, especially in the most prosperous countries of the West and Asia, live better than the kings and queens of past centuries. (Given one’s tolerance for constant media attention and nonstop family drama, one might also say that many people live better than the current British monarch, but that’s another topic.). The internet and pocket-sized mobile devices offer access to information outside the grasp of the most educated monks and scholars.
Speaker: Erroll Amacker
As businesses increasingly adopt automation, finance leaders must navigate the delicate balance between technology and human expertise. This webinar explores the critical role of human oversight in accounts payable (AP) automation and how a people-centric approach can drive better financial performance. Join us for an insightful discussion on how integrating human expertise into automated workflows enhances decision-making, reduces fraud risks, strengthens vendor relationships, and accelerates R
PYMNTS
AUGUST 29, 2018
Much has been made about cryptocurrencies and the speculation that has marked trading activity in that arena. Much has been made about the fact that, insofar as they can be used in everyday commerce, cryptocurrencies have not made much headway. That may be about to change if payments firm Square gets its way. The company has a patent in place that will let merchants accept payments across cryptos – most notably, perhaps, bitcoin, the marquee name in the space.
PYMNTS
AUGUST 27, 2018
To enhance liquidity, ATM servicer and software provider Diebold Nixdorf has secured a $650 million capital commitment from two institutional lenders and started a process to amend its existing credit agreement. The funds will be used to acquire remaining shares of Diebold Nixdorf AG and repay debt, among other purposes, the company said in an announcement.
PYMNTS
AUGUST 29, 2018
U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver II (D-MO) has published the initial findings of a probe into the alternative small business lending market in an effort to explore borrower protections, fairness and the possible need for greater regulatory oversight. About a year after reports first surfaced that Cleaver would be examining the industry, the initial findings of the investigation have revealed several key concerns of the market.
PYMNTS
AUGUST 27, 2018
Welcome to The Axis, your late look at payments news from around the world. Coverage includes LumoXchange ’s launch in the Philippines. In addition, Wirecard Brazil is rolling out new features for entrepreneurs, and UAE Exchange has rebranded its operations in Fiji. LumoXchange has unveiled the launch of a money transfer service to the Philippines that allows consumers to compare exchange rates between banks in the country, the company said in an announcement.
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PYMNTS
AUGUST 30, 2018
Dunkin’ Donuts announced Thursday (August 30) that ordering via Amazon’s voice-activated digital assistant Alexa is now available. In a press release , Dunkin’ Donuts said the new integration of Alexa means DD Perks Rewards members can place a mobile order via voice on an Alexa-enabled device and skip the line to pick up. The company said customers who have a DD Perks account and an Amazon account can link them together in the Alexa app once they open the skill, with all ordering and payments ha
PYMNTS
AUGUST 29, 2018
Swiss financial regulator FINMA is planning to soften anti-money laundering rules for smaller FinTech firms in an attempt to help the country become a tougher competitor in the money management sector. According to Reuters , the change is the result of the government’s decision in June to amend the Swiss Banking Act. As a result, a new FinTech license category was created to loosen rules for financial companies that provide certain bank-like functions, such as taking deposits, but do not g
PYMNTS
AUGUST 30, 2018
Business growth in Africa requires better payments infrastructure, and that effort received a significant boost this week when Stripe, Visa and other firms invested $8 million in Paystack. The Nigerian company enables developers to create payment tools via its APIs, and connects multiple payment processors by handling transactions for merchants and consumers.
PYMNTS
AUGUST 30, 2018
To bring the concept of the farmers’ market to the world of eCommerce, online marketplaces are connecting local producers with consumers hungry for fresh food. With that in mind, companies such as Farm To People source small-batch and handcrafted proteins and produce that they deliver to shoppers who want to know more about what they put in their refrigerators.
Speaker: Anna Tiomina, MBA
AI is reshaping industries, yet finance remains one of the slowest adopters. Concerns over compliance, legacy systems, and data silos have made finance teams hesitant to embrace AI-driven transformation. But delaying adoption isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about staying competitive in a rapidly evolving landscape. How can finance leaders overcome these challenges and start leveraging AI effectively?
PYMNTS
AUGUST 30, 2018
When myPOS launched in 2014, cash was still mostly king among small businesses. In fact, as Andrew Byrne, COO at myPOS , told Karen Webster, in some places it still is. Camden Market , Byrne noted as an example, is a popular destination in London that bills itself as a place to “eat, drink, shop and dance.” All of which are true, Byrne said, so long as one has pounds in their pocket – because many of the merchants in markets don’t take cards, and will politely direct customers to the nearest ATM
PYMNTS
AUGUST 27, 2018
The fast food segment has become a highly competitive place of late, with upgrades and discount promotions seemingly pouring in at all times — a reality that has hit Yum! Brands as it labors to keep not one, but three chains up, running and avidly competing. Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and KFC are all large operations in their own right, and they’re all facing the stiff headwinds that are blowing throughout the fast food segment.
PYMNTS
AUGUST 28, 2018
Two small business software providers are integrating their solutions to streamline the process of hiring and managing employees. In an announcement Monday (Aug. 27), hiring and talent management solutions provider Hireology said it struck a partnership with BambooHR, a human resources firm for SMBs. Together, their solutions will help small businesses manage hiring new talent and the maintenance of those new hires without manual data entry between the two platforms.
PYMNTS
AUGUST 31, 2018
In an update to its standalone product, Weebly unveiled multiple eCommerce features for its mobile app. The rollout comes as Weebly seeks to make the mobile phone a “new back office ,” according to reports. “This is what our customers were requesting,” Weebly CEO David Rusenko told a reporter. “People are taking their entrepreneurial lifestyle and having the freedom to work on things wherever they are.”.
Speaker: Joe Wroblewski, Senior Sales Engineer
Is your tech stack working for you—or are you working for it ? 🤖 In today’s world of automation and AI, technology should simplify workflows—not add complexity. Seamless integration and interconnectivity are key to maximizing productivity, optimizing workflows, and improving collaboration. Join expert Joe Wroblewski for a practical and insightful session on how you can build a smarter, more connected tech stack that drives efficiency and long-term success!
PYMNTS
AUGUST 27, 2018
More “entry-level” prices and more plus sizes and other options: that’s reportedly the plan for reversing sales declines at J.Crew , where comparable store sales have dropped for 15 straight quarters. “We must reflect the America of today, which is significantly more diverse than the America of 20 years ago,” James Brett, the retailer’s CEO, told The Wall Street Journal for an article on Monday (Aug. 27).
PYMNTS
AUGUST 27, 2018
Some news cycles are, by nature, dark and cloudy, and with the passing of Senator John McCain, it seems that this news cycle will be one of them. A lion of the U.S. Senate and a genuine hero, Senator McCain will be deeply missed by all Americans. While the payment and commerce news of the week fell far short of the tragedy in the national news, there were still some rather dark clouds dotting the horizon.
PYMNTS
AUGUST 30, 2018
Apple has made a new bet on augmented reality (AR), buying Akonia Holographics , which makes lenses for the technology. The secretive deal, confirmed this week, comes amid other augmented reality moves by the likes of PayPal and Target. Apple bought the Colorado-based company for an undisclosed sum. “Apple buys smaller companies from time to time, and we generally don’t discuss our purpose or plans,” Apple told Reuters , declining to release more details.
PYMNTS
AUGUST 30, 2018
India-based eCommerce marketplace Paytm Mall wants to work more closely with regional retailers and team up with eCommerce grocery service BigBasket to compete with Flipkart and Amazon, according to recent Reuters reports. It is currently the third-largest company competing in the country’s retail space. “We are in the process of integrating BigBasket on our app,” said Amit Sinha, Paytm Mall’s chief operating officer.
Speaker: Melissa Hurrington
Finance isn’t just about the numbers. It’s about the people behind them. In a world of constant disruption, resilient finance teams aren’t just operationally efficient. They are adaptable, engaged, and deeply connected to a strong organizational culture. Success lies at the intersection of people, culture, adaptability, and resilience. Finance leaders who master this balance will build teams that thrive through uncertainty and drive long-term business impact.
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