PYMNTS
OCTOBER 5, 2018
One of the new realities of augmented reality is this: the technology is attracting more investment from China than from sources in North America. This trend happens as activity around AR heats up, with major players in the digital economy apparently positioning themselves to profit as the retail-friendly tech move every closer to mainstream popularity.
Katz,Sapper&Miller
OCTOBER 5, 2018
The Internal Revenue Service issued Notice 2018-77, updating the special per diem rates under tax code Section 274(d), which is used to substantiate the amount of ordinary and necessary business expenses incurred while traveling away from home.
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PYMNTS
OCTOBER 3, 2018
Crypto research site Diar claims that startups in the digital currency and blockchain space have notched roughly $3.9 billion in funding via venture capital (VC) investments, CoinDesk reported. The figure, which represents investments over the first, second and third quarters, marks a 280 percent jump from all of last year. In addition, the report noted that the average size of investments in the blockchain and crypto space rose by $1 million this year.
PYMNTS
OCTOBER 5, 2018
5G is coming. Now if we can just figure out what it’s good for. That’s a little bit unfair, but it does reflect some of the talk around the mobile connectivity standard. What types of business will it support? What will emerge as the “killer use case” for payments and commerce? As one observer put it: “The fifth generation of connectivity, pithily called 5G, will be ready for prime time later this year.
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
SEPTEMBER 30, 2018
Ripple (XRP) has overtaken Ethereum within the last 24 hours, with a 7 percent surge in price for a market valuation of $24.28 billion. According to CCN , this is the third time this year that Ripple has moved past Ethereum, with each time occurring in the second half of September. But with the market cap of Ethereum only slightly below that of Ripple — combined with the weak volume of XRP — it is likely that Ethereum will regain its position as the second-most valuable cryptocurrency soon.
PYMNTS
OCTOBER 5, 2018
An Amazon of banking? That’s the description — perhaps clichéd but still apt — applied to FinTech firm Curve , which is on the hunt for $50 million in fresh capital, according to recent comments made by CEO Shachar Bialick to CNBC. The Amazon comparison came from Bialick, who also said that the three-year-old firm is looking to become more of a platform for services from various providers, explaining why it has not applied for a banking license.
Accountant Advocate brings together the best content for small business accounting professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
PYMNTS
OCTOBER 1, 2018
Ripple, the cross-border payments company and backer of the XRP digital token, said Monday (Oct. 1) that xRapid, its cross-border payments platform, is commercially available with three firms signing on as clients. According to a report in Reuters , citing the companies, the three clients that are using xRapid at the launch are Cuallix, Mercury FX and Catalyst Corporate Federal Credit Union. xRapid uses XRP to make faster cross-border payments.
PYMNTS
OCTOBER 2, 2018
What would one say about a computer geek who said he could protect their online identity , and while doing do would make a bold move against the likes of Facebook and Google ? What would one say if that person happened to be the inventor of the World Wide Web? As consumers become more cautious — cynical? — about online privacy and data storage, Tim Berners-Lee has a plan to “decentralize the web and take back power from the forces that have profited from centralizing it,” according to a report.
PYMNTS
OCTOBER 1, 2018
Driverless vehicles are coming to the U.K. in the next three to four years, the country’s Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said on Monday (Oct. 1). According to a report in Reuters , citing comments made at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, Grayling said that even though there will be truly driverless cars on U.K. streets within that time frame, there will still be a need for diesel cars for many years to come.
PYMNTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2018
Sources have reported that some large U.S. banks have seen a boost in attempted cyberattacks in recent weeks. According to the Wall Street Journal , the news comes at a time when the government is increasing its warnings to financial institutions about bank cybersecurity and possible cyberthreats, asking banks such as Bank of America , Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo to closely monitor traffic from hackers who might be looking for weaknesses in their bank security networks.
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
OCTOBER 1, 2018
In the age of blockchain, all manner of physical assets are making the leap to bits and bytes. Blockchain can track transactions of all sorts and create a connected record — and that blockchain is rapidly cleaving from the cryptocurrency clamor to which it was once inextricably linked. When it comes to supply chains, proponents say blockchain — specifically, distributed ledger technology (DLT) — holds promise.
PYMNTS
OCTOBER 1, 2018
A new survey from Bank of America shines a spotlight on the increasing concerns — and increasing costs — of data breaches. The financial institution released the results of its Small Business Payments Spotlight survey last week, which surveyed more than 500 small business owners and 500 consumers in the U.S. According to the bank, 22 percent of consumers who have already had their personal or bank information stolen by a data breach said they would not shop at a small business that had fallen v
PYMNTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2018
Facebook could get hit with a massive EU fine by a European Union privacy watchdog after the company announced on Friday (Sept 28) it had suffered a Facebook data breach that compromised the accounts of more than 50 million users. Ireland’s Data Protection Commission, which is Facebook’s lead privacy regulator in Europe, has requested more information from the company about the breach, including which EU residents might be affected.
PYMNTS
OCTOBER 2, 2018
The manipulation of cryptocurrencies is getting attention from regulators who have been warning that these digital tokens, and the exchanges they are traded on, could be vulnerable to price manipulation. The Wall Street Journal , citing the New York Attorney General Barbara D. Underwood, reported in September that the AG issued a report warning about the potential for the prices to be manipulated.
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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
OCTOBER 1, 2018
As financial institutions (FIs) invest in technology in an effort to position themselves more competitively against FinTech firms, the development of so-called chat bots and “robo advisors” has accelerated. Projects from Wells Fargo , JPMorgan Chase and RBS have all surfaced in recent years, as FIs deploy artificial intelligence (AI) solutions that both meet their customers’ needs for digitized services and save those financial service providers money at the same time.
PYMNTS
OCTOBER 3, 2018
Coinbase , the cryptocurrency exchange operator, is nearing a deal that would give it a valuation of around $8 billion, reported Recode. The report, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that Coinbase is in discussions with Tiger Global and existing shareholders for an investment as high as $500 million. Some of the investment will be used to buy out some of its existing shareholders.
PYMNTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2018
Fidelity Investments , the Boston-based fund company, is becoming a leader in blockchain technology, investing billions of dollars on that and other cutting-edge technologies. According to a report in CNBC citing Fidelity, billions of dollars are going toward Fidelity blockchain, Fidelity AI and Fidelity VR. Executives told CNBC Fidelity wants to be considered an Nvidia alternative, not compared to the likes of Charles Schwab, and thus the technology push.
PYMNTS
OCTOBER 3, 2018
For most people, absently swiping through an Instagram feed, or flipping a light switch, or going to a doctor’s office don’t register as important events. But for people with mobility issues, visual impairments or a host of medical concerns, those activities aren’t always simple, and can actually form huge quality of life roadblocks. For those customers, the advent of voice-controlled navigation aided by AI-powered voice assistants is about a lot more than adding convenience or fighting ir
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
OCTOBER 1, 2018
Challenger bank Tide wants the U.K. to allow eMoney non-bank institutions to be able to compete for Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) bail out funds , according to reports. The Daily Telegraph reported Sunday (Sept. 30) that digital and financial service startups claim they are unfairly kept out of competition for the $1 billion made available by the government via a deal with RBS.
PYMNTS
OCTOBER 2, 2018
Petal, the startup credit card company, announced on Tuesday (Oct. 2) that its credit card is now available via the company’s website. In a blog post , Petal said the company was established to help people build credit by providing a credit card with no fees, no “financial traps” and no prior experience with credit needed. “Tens of millions of Americans have no credit score at all, and millions more have short credit histories that may not tell the whole story.
PYMNTS
OCTOBER 4, 2018
Uber ’s CEO revealed that the company is looking into offering its drivers health insurance and other benefits through a “portable” system that would cover contractors from job to job. “For the first time, I think we are now listening to our drivers, and we are building out our services in concert with them,” Dara Khosrowshahi said this week at Fortune ’s Most Powerful Women Summit in Laguna Niguel, California.
PYMNTS
OCTOBER 4, 2018
Google Assistant can now help users book a car from Uber , Lyft , Ola , Grab , GO-JEK and other ridesharing services. The feature, which works with Google Assistant-enabled speakers and on phones, allows users to request a car from a specific company or place a general request to receive pricing for all supported local ridesharing services. Once you decide which company to go with, Google Assistant will then transfer you to that rideshare’s mobile app to complete the booking.
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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
OCTOBER 2, 2018
Apple has inked a deal with three universities in the U.S., enabling students to store their student IDs on their Apple devices. According to a report in CNBC , students at Duke University, University of Alabama and University of Oklahoma can store their student IDs on their iPhone or Apple Wallet. Apple initially announced the service in June at its annual developer conference.
PYMNTS
OCTOBER 1, 2018
Consumers have historically needed a bit of prodding to get them into a mobile state of mind when it comes to payments. Digital transactions on the whole are up – eCommerce, financial services, bill payments – but fully embracing mobile has been a bit trickier. But, by the numbers, that tide may be turning – particularly when it comes to younger consumers who are increasingly making their preference for app-based payments and commerce known.
PYMNTS
OCTOBER 1, 2018
Consumers interact with product packaging on a daily basis. Packaged goods often reach consumers’ hands after traveling across oceans and being shipped between manufacturers, distributors and retailers. Faced with that kind of transit, brands want supply chain visibility: they don’t want to be left in the dark on where their products are in their journeys or on how quickly items are selling once they get to their retail destinations.
PYMNTS
OCTOBER 3, 2018
Blockchain trade finance consortium we.trade has grown with the addition of three new bank members, reports in CryptoNinjas said Tuesday (Oct. 2). UBS is joining the consortium, as are CaixaBank and Erste Group. The three were part of the former Batavia consortium, another group formed to explore blockchain in trade finance and management. The financial institutions (FIs) join we.trade’s existing bank partners HSBC, Deutsche Bank, Rabobank, Santander and others, now totaling 12.
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
SEPTEMBER 30, 2018
Amazon.com is reportedly getting into the online mattress business, entering a market in which a handful of startups are trying to dominate. According to a report in Bloomberg , AmazonBasics firm mattress, which sells starting at $130, was found by TJI Research late last week. The firm monitors the list of more than 120 private label Amazon brand products that now includes kitchen goods, clothing, batteries, and electronics.
PYMNTS
OCTOBER 5, 2018
Two-day shipping platform ShopRunner is reportedly planning to acquire Spring , an eCommerce startup that runs an online department store. Terms of such a deal are not yet clear, and both companies declined to comment on the news, Recode reported. Spring’s online store carries fashion items as well as accessories from brands like Gucci and Levi’s. The company’s sales are split about 50-50 between its mobile app and website.
PYMNTS
OCTOBER 3, 2018
Google has acquired customer service automation startup Onward for an undisclosed sum. According to reports , Onward Co-founders Rémi Cossart and Pramod Thammaiah, as well as CTO Aaron Podolny, will be joining Google as part of the deal. “With Google, we’ll be able to expand the reach of the technologies that power Onward,” the company wrote in a blog post. “These core technologies are what got us excited in the first place, and we are excited to bring them to Google.
PYMNTS
OCTOBER 5, 2018
Facebook-owned Instagram reportedly is testing a new privacy setting that could lead to more targeted ads directed at consumers. The new privacy setting would enable Instagram to share users’ location history with Facebook. According to TechCrunch , that “means your exact GPS coordinates collected by Instagram, even when you’re not using the app, would help Facebook to target you with ads and recommend you relevant content.
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With automation, you’ll reduce errors and save valuable time, allowing you to focus on what really matters: strategic analysis and insightful decision-making. Picture accurate financial reports ready at your fingertips, giving you the confidence to tackle business challenges head-on. Embracing automation not only boosts productivity but also elevates your role from number cruncher to closing rockstar.
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