PYMNTS

MARCH 4, 2019

Pharmacies and the delivery of prescription medication are both undergoing significant change, and much of the credit for that can be directly or indirectly attributed to the rise of eCommerce and digital payments. The latest development? The deployment in South Africa of what some observers are calling ATMs for medicine. A recent report from the Financial Times offers one of the better descriptions of the project, meant to ease certain pressures on the South African healthcare system and provid

Healthcare 93

Healthcare Technology Gaming accounted 93

Katz,Sapper&Miller

MARCH 8, 2019

Katz, Sapper & Miller’s Andy Manchir, director in the firm’s ESOP and Valuation Services Groups, will present at the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) 2019 Employee Ownership Conference. Taking place April 9-11 in Pittsburgh, PA, the annual conference is the nation’s premier ESOP event to share knowledge, network with peers, and discuss concerns and opportunities impacting the ESOP community.

46

46

Cherry Bekaert

MARCH 8, 2019

To assist state and local governments with applying GASB Statement No. 87, Leases , the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (“GASB”) has issued a draft Implementation Guide. The GASB presents the proposed guidance in a question-and-answer format and intends to clarify the requirements listed under the lease accounting standard. GASB Statement No. 87 offers a simplified approach for state and local governments to account for and disclose leases.

accounting standards 40

accounting standards Government Account accountant 40

CBH

MARCH 7, 2019

President Trump announced over the weekend plans to issue an executive order that would withhold federal research funds to colleges that do not support free speech. The president did not offer details on how the executive order would work or who will determine whether an institution violated free speech, but he referenced incidents at the University of California, Berkeley for declaring the order.

Education 40

Education California accountant accounted 40

Speaker: Danny Gassaway and Wayne Richards

Finance leaders are prioritizing efficiency and digital transformation, yet many hesitate to automate due to uncertainty. Without a clear understanding of its impact, organizations risk falling behind competitors who are leveraging automation to drive productivity and cost savings. Join Wayne Richards and Danny Gassaway from AvidXchange for a practical guide on bringing accounts payable (AP) automation to your organization.

Finance

PYMNTS

MARCH 4, 2019

To help keep the prices of food and drinks low, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta is about to become cashless. Only credit cards, debit cards and mobile payments will be accepted at the venue beginning on March 10, Bloomberg reported. With the change, the costs of working with cash, such as reconciliation and physical cash drawers, are said to be removed.

Gaming 90

Gaming Technology accounted Account 90

PYMNTS

MARCH 7, 2019

Lawmakers in Philadelphia have passed a ban on cashless stores, making it the first major city in the U.S. to do so, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The new law will take effect in July and would require most retail outlets to accept physical currency. New Jersey recently passed a similar law and New York City is on the path to doing so as well.

New Jersey 85

New Jersey Massachusetts New York Retail 85

PYMNTS

MARCH 6, 2019

Global payments and receivables company Flywire enjoyed strong growth in 2018 that it plans to carry into this coming year and over $10 billion in total payments volume. Some of the company’s achievements last year included raising $100 million in new funding, expanding its presence in Asia-Pacific and EMEA and making significant gains in both regions.

Hospitality 80

Hospitality Healthcare Education 80

PYMNTS

MARCH 7, 2019

Ant Financial Services Group and Jiangsu-based Hoperun Information Technology announced Wednesday (March 7) a new banking product aimed at financial institutions. In a press release , the companies said the new banking product dubbed Distributed Core Banking Platform (DCBP) helps financial firms move their business models to customer-oriented models and away from transaction-oriented models.

accounting and finance 79

accounting and finance Finance Technology accountant 79

PYMNTS

MARCH 7, 2019

Merchants and customers are now transacting under PSD2 and GDPR in the European Union (EU) — regulations that allow a greater window into how customer data is being used. While these regulations are aimed at increasing consumer trust by allowing them more transparency, many consumers in the region are still adjusting. In fact, many still have concerns over data breaches under PSD2, especially when it comes to their relationships with banks, now required to share previously siloed data with third

Government 79

Government Technology Maine 79

PYMNTS

MARCH 7, 2019

It might be the case that 2019 takes shape as a watershed year for payments regulation, marked by PSD2 and GDPR. Stakeholders in the financial services and payments arenas are navigating new rules about how data is collected, stored and shared. However, the way payments innovation is pursued — and becomes reality — is changing, too. The rise of Open Banking is helping to open up payment ecosystems, encouraging collaboration between traditional financial firms and smaller, tech-focused upstarts.

Technology 77

Technology Healthcare accountant accounted 77

Advertisement

It's the time of year to give our close process some TLC. Join us in this one hour webinar where we discuss how to adopt leading practices and infuse technology into the month-end close process to improve our experience and increase our productivity during month-end and quarter-end close. Learning Objectives: This course's objective is to understand how the month-end close can be improved with automation and adoption of leading practices.

Technology

PYMNTS

MARCH 4, 2019

Allow us at PYMNTS to take a brief step back and admire the landscape — in this case, the growing, though still young, connected vehicle ecosystem. A decade or two from now, such a look will be possible only via history books, TV and magazine retrospectives, or unreliable personal memories. Now, though, one can see how this massive economic, commercial and cultural shift is taking place in real life.

Technology 77

Technology Retail 77

PYMNTS

MARCH 8, 2019

Microsoft disclosed on Friday (Mar. 8) that it will acquire global cross-border money transfer company Transfast, which works with both P2P and B2B payments. Microsoft said in a press release that Transfast will “complement Mastercard’s wide range of payment solutions by increasing worldwide connectivity in the account-to-account space, enhancing compliance capabilities and offering more robust foreign exchange tools.”.

B2B 76

B2B Government accounted Account 76

PYMNTS

MARCH 7, 2019

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched a preliminary investigation into Amazon ‘s work with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), shining a spotlight on the challenges technology companies face as governments procure products and services to digitize their own operations. The Federal News Network (FNN) reported this week that the FBI and DoD Inspector General (IG) are now probing the DoD’s dealings with Amazon Web Services (AWS), which secured a $10 billion contrac

Government 76

Government B2B Expense Management Legal 76

PYMNTS

MARCH 6, 2019

Blockchain is increasingly garnering headlines and attention for its use cases beyond cryptocurrencies. For instance, the ability to transfer data and various assets can help firms keep track of, and improve, operations. It’s no secret that transactions done between businesses, or across borders, can be mired in manual tasks. One area where elimination of such processes can be of benefit is treasury management — specifically, reconciliation of transactions and liquidity management.

Pharmaceutical 75

Pharmaceutical audit Technology accounting and finance 75

Speaker: Jennifer Hill

Payroll compliance is a cornerstone of business success, yet for small and midsize businesses, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of federal, state, and local regulations. Mistakes can lead to costly penalties and operational disruptions, making it essential to adopt advanced solutions that ensure accuracy and efficiency.

payroll

PYMNTS

MARCH 8, 2019

Consumers in the European Union (EU) are adjusting to Payments Service Directive 2 (PSD2) and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), even though these regulations focus on bringing greater trust through transparency. At the same time, new technologies such as biometrics are emerging in the fight against fraud. And an initiative tied to a consortium of companies is looking to redefine how automated teller machine (ATM) applications are built and used.

Technology 75

Technology Government Retail 75

PYMNTS

MARCH 5, 2019

Credit card debt in the U.S. reached $870 billion at the end of last year, setting a record. Bloomberg , citing data from the Federal Reserve, reported credit card balances in the third quarter were $26 billion less. While spending tends to increase in the fourth quarter because of the holiday selling season, the Federal Reserve said it’s the first time credit card balances reached “the 2008 nominal peak,” the report said.

accountant 74

accountant accounted Account Finance 74

PYMNTS

MARCH 6, 2019

Product debuts from FinTech firms sometimes come out of an evolution: Modo has been facilitating interoperability for banks for a few years. As part of those efforts, the company has worked with large FinTechs or banks to help connect their secure technology to the marketplace of payment methods. And, while the company still works with banks, Modo recently unveiled a new product dubbed /Checkout that is geared toward eCommerce merchants.

Technology 72

Technology Retail 72

PYMNTS

MARCH 8, 2019

Bank-FinTech collaborations have emerged as a viable, lucrative growth path for both sides of these partnerships. For traditional financial institutions (FIs), working with a would-be competitor means integrating technologies for customers without having to build solutions from scratch. For FinTechs, the deals mean access to a broader range of customers through well-established industry names.

B2B 72

B2B accounting and finance Finance California 72

Speaker: Sierre Lindgren

Fraud is a battle that every organization must face – it’s no longer a question of “if” but “when.” Every organization is a potential target for fraud, and the finance department is often the bullseye. From cleverly disguised emails to fraudulent payment requests, the tactics of cybercriminals are advancing rapidly. Drawing insights from real-world cases and industry expertise, we’ll explore the vulnerabilities in your processes and how to fortify them effectively.

Finance

PYMNTS

MARCH 4, 2019

Shopping on a traditional, narrowly focused eCommerce site is one thing. Consumers are dealing with a single merchant, and the working assumption is that the retailer is vetting suppliers and products, and has invested the time and money to provide a secure environment in which consumers can operate without excessive worry. But online marketplaces are different creatures.

B2C 72

B2C Technology Transportation B2B 72

PYMNTS

MARCH 6, 2019

On Friday (March 8), the world will recognize International Women’s Day — celebrated globally since 1975, when it was adopted as a holiday by the United Nations. In the 44 years since, much has changed for women all over the world. More women have finished college and started businesses, as well as work outside the home and fill management or supervisory blue-collar positions, than at any previous point in U.S. history.

Technology 71

Technology 71

PYMNTS

MARCH 7, 2019

Data privacy and security is becoming a popular political issue, and the latest proof of that came Thursday (March 7) on Capitol Hill. During a hearing for the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Investigations, executives from Equifax and Marriott were called out on their companies’ recent data breaches , while other witnesses helped describe the current landscape when it comes to online privacy and data security.

California 71

California Manufacturing accountant accounted 71

PYMNTS

MARCH 4, 2019

In London, LEGO and Snapchat are partnering on a pop-up shop that combines many concepts that, if not opposite, are not normally associated with each other. It’s a shop, but doesn’t have any merchandise in it – from a quick glance, it’s a blank white room with a single snap code for scanning. The goods for sale, despite the LEGO branding, aren’t building sets or toys, but a line of streetwear themed around LEGO in general – and, specifically, around the new LEGO movie.

Sales 69

Sales Gaming Retail Technology 69

Speaker: Debra L. Robinson

CPAs know the drill: taxes, compliance, rinse, repeat. But what about the sneaky cash flow that’s quietly messing with your organization’s success? It’s time to step into the spotlight and expose the “dirty little secrets” of cash flow to fuel strategic growth. By upskilling your accounting practices and shifting focus from tax compliance to the strategic movement of money, you can transform your role from reactive accountant to proactive financial strategist.

CPA

PYMNTS

MARCH 4, 2019

Comcast announced Monday (March 4) that it has acquired BluVector, a company that uses advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning to provide cybersecurity protection to companies and government agencies. In a press release , Comcast said that using a proprietary machine-learning engine, BluVector can detect, analyze and contain cyberthreats, including fileless malware, zero-day malware and ransomware.

Government 69

Government Technology 69

PYMNTS

MARCH 5, 2019

The Mexican central bank and Amazon are in talks to introduce a government-approved mobile payment system, according to reports. The system would involve users paying for online purchases using QR codes, and it would be the first time Amazon offered the technology in the country. In Mexico, half of the population is unbanked, so the move could eventually provide Amazon with a new customer base.

Government 69

Government Retail Technology Sales 69

PYMNTS

MARCH 7, 2019

New technologies keep emerging in the fight against fraud — biometrics, for instance — but they are not the only part of pushing back against criminals and preventing them from stealing data and money. The process tied to fraud prevention matters significantly, too. And that includes combining ID verification and authentication. That was made clear by Reinhard Hochrieser, director of product management at Jumio , during a recent interview with PYMNTS.

Government 69

Government Technology 69

PYMNTS

MARCH 7, 2019

Barclays has divested its portfolio of physical prepaid cards in the U.K., selling the assets to Prepaid Financial Services (PFS), PFS said in a press release Wednesday (March 6). PFS took on the corporate and payroll prepaid card assets from Barclays and integrated the portfolio into its own platform earlier this year, the company noted. In a statement, PFS CEO Noel Moran said the acquisition will enable the company to enhance its offering to corporate customers using corporate prepaid cards an

payroll 68

payroll B2B 68

Speaker: Aaron Berson

Managing spend is more than a cost cutting exercise – it's a pathway to smarter decisions that unlock efficiency and drive growth. By understanding and refining the spending process, financial leaders can empower their organizations to achieve more with less. Explore the art of balancing financial control with operational growth. From uncovering hidden inefficiencies to designing workflows that scale your business, we’ll share strategies to align your organization’s spending with its strategic g

Spend Management

PYMNTS

MARCH 8, 2019

It’s one of the main clichés of the early 21 st century, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong: Data is the new oil. The saying reflects the value of payment, commerce and personal information in the growing digital economy, and the fact that those organizations that know how to collect and harness tend to have an edge over competitors and the best prospects for growth.

Maine 68

Maine Start-ups Technology 68

PYMNTS

MARCH 6, 2019

The French government is going after U.S.-based internet companies, announcing Wednesday (March 6) the introduction of a digital tax that will impact companies including Google, Facebook, and Amazon. According to a report in CNBC , France’s finance minister announced the 3 percent tax, saying it will apply to about 30 big companies, mainly from the U.S.

Government 68

Government Tax income tax Maine 68

PYMNTS

MARCH 8, 2019

HSBC has unveiled its application program interfaces (APIs) and developer portal to comply with the EU’s Second Payment Services Directive (PSD2). Reports in the Global Banking & Finance Review said this week that HSBC launched the APIs and developer portal to enable third-party payment companies to deploy their own solutions for business and consumer customers.

accounting and finance 67

accounting and finance Finance Retail accounted 67

PYMNTS

MARCH 7, 2019

Corporate payments are still not a guaranteed use case for cryptocurrencies. While some analysts say crypto is a viable technology to address the friction of cross-border transactions in particular — pointing to the lack of transparency and speed in the traditional correspondent banking system — a lack of acceptance on the receiver’s end means a technology like bitcoin probably won’t be the B2B payment rail of choice anytime soon.

B2B 67

B2B accounting and finance Finance payroll 67

Advertisement

Bleisure travel — where employees combine work and leisure — has been around since the advent of corporate travel and is here to stay. Successful bleisure policies strike a balance between employee preferences and company goals — workers report a 64% improvement in work-life balance, while companies benefit from reduced travel costs and increased workforce innovation.