August, 2016

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The Netherlands’ Small (But Mighty) FinTech Scene

PYMNTS

In this week’s edition of PYMNTS’ Weekly Tech Center Roundup , we check out a small country with a huge potential to emerge as one of Europe’s premier FinTech spaces. Before we jump into the post, here are a few quick facts about the Netherlands and its tech scene: . The Netherlands is estimated to have a population of 17 million. The country’s GDP was approximately $880 billion in 2014.

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U.S. Postal Service Rolls Out New App To Protect Mail Carriers From Dogs

PYMNTS

With the rise of Amazon Prime and eCommerce , more packages are being delivered to customers’ homes than ever before. It’s now possible to order everything online for in-home delivery from groceries to pet food to toilet paper, and consumers can usually get those items delivered to their doorstep overnight or in a manner of hours. The U.S. Postal Service delivered 4.5 billion packages in 2015, a big jump from the 3.3 billion in packages it delivered to customers in 2011, and now accounts for abo

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The Three-Step Plan To Optimizing Mobile Revenue

PYMNTS

There’s no question that mobile has established itself as a default channel as far as the average consumer is concerned, and the growing cottage industry of turnkey software-as-a-service startups proves that getting on mobile is as ironclad a requirement as it gets in commerce. But starting up a mobile operation is just one half of a potentially profitable coin.

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Pixlee Lets Retailers Market Using Real Customers’ Photos

PYMNTS

Selfies or vacation photos are apparently a big business. Seriously. Pixlee , a San Francisco-based startup, allows retailers or brands to market directly to customers by using their own photos through curating them from social media or having the customer directly submit them for use, which the company says leads to a more authentic and engaging shopping experience for consumers.

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Planning Your Restaurants Path to Profitability

Speaker: James Kahler, COO of Full Course

Ever wondered where to splurge and where to safely conserve when it comes to operating and growing your restaurant? 🤔 Join James Kahler, COO of Full Course and industry visionary, in this new webinar where he'll talk all about best practices to invest in your restaurant's success! Whether you're a new business or an established restaurant, a seasoned pro or a rookie, you'll learn the keys to sustainable success in this competitive industry.

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Walletron, Speedpay Team Up To Offer Customers moBills

PYMNTS

Walletron , the bill presentment and payment capabilities firm, announced a partnership with Speedpay , the payment services company, in which Speedpay will offer Walletron’s moBills. With moBills, biller clients can send personalized notifications and bill information and enhance the payment experience to customers’ smartphones without them having to download an app.

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Full-Service Payments And Keeping Your Friends Close

PYMNTS

There was a time when it seemed that ubiquity would become the focal point of full-service and mobile payments systems. Experts believed that universally accepted mobile wallets from trusted companies like Apple or Samsung would dominate the new wave of payments. That belief was perhaps misguided, according to Stephen Goodrich, president and CEO of ZipLine, the company that built the loyalty and mobile payments app known as SmartPay for popular convenience and gas chain Cumberland Farms.

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Popular Becomes Second To Launch Credit Cards For Use In Cuba

PYMNTS

Popular announced on Tuesday (Aug. 23) that it has become the second financial institution in the U.S. and the first in Puerto Rico to offer its credit cards for use in Cuba. In a press release , Popular said the Mastercard credit cards of its two banking subsidiaries, Banco Popular de Puerto Rico and Popular Community Bank, can be used at any of Cuba’s authorized merchants and ATMs throughout the country.

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Visa Announces First Quick Chip Deployment

PYMNTS

Despite the fraud benefits that EMV has provided to retailers with terminals on their countertops, there has been one consistent refrain from retailers and their customers alike: It takes too long. Too long for terminals to be tested and certified and too long for consumers to insert their card and wait for the transaction to be approved. Help has arrived.

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Back-To-School Spending Goes Big — And Omni

PYMNTS

With advancements in technology, parents are doing their homework online before making purchases online and in-store. The Vantiv Back-to-School Report — Special Edition takes a look at the latest back-to-school shopping trends and includes hot-off-the-presses insights from Google. Twenty years ago, taking a trip to the mall or retail store for some good old-fashioned back-to-school shopping was the norm when it came to getting new outfits and supplies.

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How Mobile Apps Are Changing The Face Of Brick-And-Mortar Retail

PYMNTS

It might seem like a weird contradiction, but mobile shopping apps are changing the way that customers engage with and shop at traditional brick-and-mortar retailers. “Most shoppers are now armed with a mobile device when they enter a retail store,” according to a study on mobile apps by MicroStrategy , a global analytics company. “They are highly informed and expect the retail employees they interact with to be at least (if not more) knowledgeable about a store’s products, promotions and servic

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How Automation is Driving Efficiency Through the Last Mile of Reporting

Speaker: Jamie Eagan

As organizations strive for agility and efficiency, it's imperative for finance leaders to embrace innovative technologies and redefine traditional processes. Join us as we explore the pivotal role of digitalization and automation in reshaping what is commonly referred to as the “last mile of reporting”. We’ll deep-dive into why digitalization is no longer a choice, but a necessity for finance departments to stay competitive in a fast-paced environment touching on: 2024 trends for the Office of

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Millennials Are Shunning Credit Cards

PYMNTS

Millennials may know something that their older counterparts haven’t figured out yet: Cash is better than credit cards. That’s according to data from the Federal Reserve that shows that the number of people under the age of 35 in the U.S. that own a credit card has dipped to the lowest point since 1989, when the Federal Reserve started collecting data on credit card ownership.

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Record Year So Far For Robots In Manufacturing

PYMNTS

There were more robots ordered for manufacturing and business purposes in the first half of 2016 than at any point ever before, according to the Association for Advancing Automation (A3). A3 says the rise in automated manufacturing “promises increased efficiencies in production and the ability to compete globally.”. In total, 14,583 robots, at a value of $817 million, were ordered by North American companies during the first half of 2016, according to A3, which is a record and a 2 percent growth

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Visa’s Plan To Make $10 Trillion Real Time

PYMNTS

Ninety percent of the $10 trillion “push” payments market opportunity is concentrated in a variety of disbursements made between businesses and consumers that today rely on cash, checks and ACH to move money between those parties. Insurance payments, healthcare reimbursement, merchant settlements, loan disbursements, and payments to workers participating in the shared economy represent a $9 trillion opportunity filled with friction for both the sender and the receiver, with the remaining $1 tril

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How The Internet Of Things Is Already Influencing The Retail Industry

PYMNTS

The term “ Internet of Things ” has become a big buzzword in business lately, but what exactly is it and why might it shape the future of the retail industry? Simply put, think of the Internet of Things as an “interconnected ecosystem of internet-enabled objects,” according to eMarketer. So, things like your mobile device and tablet are part of the Internet of Things.

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No-Code Technology: The Key to Unlock the Future of Your Business

Global economies are reeling from recent upheavals—pandemic aftershocks, geopolitical conflicts, and a tech sector crunch. Mark Zuckerberg's 2023 "Year of Efficiency" ethos extends into 2024, with leaders seeking cost reductions without stunting growth. No-code technology emerges as a beacon of hope, fostering resilience and adaptability. Platforms like Make.com and Zapier empower even non-technical staff to automate and innovate, freeing IT for strategic tasks.

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Austin Is Bringing The FinTech Heat

PYMNTS

You know what they say, everything is bigger in Texas. That couldn’t ring truer for the state’s capital, which many consider to have a tech scene bursting with potential and growth. Though Austin may fall in the shadows of bigger U.S. tech hubs, like Silicon Valley and New York City, the city has been recognized as having a fast-growing tech sector with strong expansion.

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Alexa Can Now Find Your Lost Phone

PYMNTS

Sure, there are a variety of things Alexa can do — such as order groceries, make playlists and tell jokes — but the usefulness of those things is rather subjective. Lost phone on the other hand? That’s something that affects approximately 99 percent of humans at some point and makes everyone everywhere hostile. It is also something Alexa can now fix for you.

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Why Canada Is Blockchain’s Biggest Hot Spot

PYMNTS

Banks across the globe have invested resources into exploring blockchain technology, and that includes in Canada. But this year, the nation thrust itself into the center of the movement that looks to turn blockchain theory into reality when, in July, Canadian bank ATB Financial successfully sent money to a German bank via blockchain technology — in just 20 seconds.

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Uber Of X: GoShare, The Uber Of Trucks

PYMNTS

That “M” word – Moving. It’s something that people do a lot of. The packing. The lifting. The schlepping. The loading and unloading. The unpacking. Moving is one of the worst, most frustrating activities known to man, woman and child. Unless, you can, of course, get someone else to do it for you. That someone else – or at least one of those “someone elses” is Shaun Savage, who launched GoShare in May 2015.

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Register Now: Sneak Peek Into Close Automation SkyStem Web Demo

Technology is rapidly changing the way accountants perform and manage month-end activities. Spreadsheets, email, and shared drives no longer have to slow us down. Join us as we present a "sneak peek" recorded demo of SkyStem's month-end close solution – ART. In under four weeks, your team can start reaping the benefits of month-end close automation by vastly reducing spreadsheets, cut down on reconciliation work, speed up the month-end close, and better manage your remote team.

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New Chip Card Security Flaw Found

PYMNTS

A new flaw has turned up in the chip-based cards on offer in the U.S. According to new data released by researchers at NCR, credit card thieves can apparently rewrite the mag stripe such that the card looks to be chipless when run through a card reader machine – even though such machines should kick back the swipe and tell the user to insert the chip.

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Azimo Customers Can Transfer Money Via Facebook Messenger

PYMNTS

Transferring money digitally just got even easier for Facebook users, now that digital money transfer firm Azimo announced it is integrated into Facebook Messenger. That means users can send and receive money through their friends list on Facebook. “With 1 billion people now using Facebook Messenger, we saw an opportunity to make our customers’ lives easier and change money transfer forever.

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From IoT to IoP: The Internet Of Pet (Food)

PYMNTS

Pet owners, rejoice! Soon, you may own a pet food bowl — integrated with Internet of Things (IoT) technology and Amazon ’s Dash Replenishment Service (DRS) — that will automatically reorder dog or cat food. Pet owners may not have to worry about running out of pet food ever again. So says Obe , a San Francisco-based startup, whose ProBowl, a new IoT-enabled device, can track supplies and reorder food.

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In Wake Of Oracle Hack, Five More Companies Hacked

PYMNTS

First, it was Oracle Corp. and its MICROS customers that were getting hacked, and now, it appears more cash register vendors are falling victim to hacks that were allegedly conducted by the same Russian organized cybercrime group. That’s according to Forbes , which said it was informed by five cash register providers of the breach. According to the report, in the last month, Cin7, ECRS, Navy Zebra, PAR Technology and Uniwell were all hacked.

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Recruit and Retain New Blue-Collar Talent

Blue-collar jobs have a branding problem. One company, GEON, partnered with Paycor to find the solution. Learn how to attract, engage, and retain blue-collar employees, helping them build meaningful careers – and support your company’s goals.

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Are Millennials Better Off As Non-Home Buyers?

PYMNTS

Millennials are buying fewer houses than their Baby-Boomer counterparts – that is inarguable by the data. Across age groups, the U.S. homeownership rate has fallen to a 50 year low – 62.9 percent – and that dip is mostly powered by millennial homebuyers who aren’t buying. Among those under the age of 35, home ownership rates are just over 1/3 – and about half the national figures.

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Singapore Reforms Laws For FinTech Push

PYMNTS

Singapore is preparing for a FinTech revolution. The small nation is making a big push in support of FinTech innovation by reforming its payment laws. Singapore’s financial authority said it will look to consolidate existing legislation related to payment systems, stored value facilities and remittance businesses in order to create a new combined regulatory framework. “A more calibrated regulatory regime, applied on an activity basis to payment service providers, rather than specific payme

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Pokémon’s New Retail Customer Acquisition Math

PYMNTS

The coming ascendence of augmented reality and virtual reality have long been article fodder for tech enthusiasts, gamers and retail watchers alike. And for good reason – the story of virtual and augmented reality makes for some great copy. Oculus Rift rose from being a plucky crowdfunded upstart to a $2 billion dollar acquisition by Facebook – a deal that Marc Zuckerberg touted at the time as a first step toward using AR/VR tech to connect the entire world in wholly different ways.

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Loyalty Programs, The Blockchain Way

PYMNTS

The blockchain has been touted as a technology to revolutionize a lot of things — moving money, clearing trades, making contracts smart and enforcing terms. But curing what ails loyalty? That’s the view of Ron Quaranta, COO of loyyal and chairman of the Wall Street Blockchain Alliance. In the latest installment of Topic TBD, Karen Webster spoke with Quaranta about how blockchain is just what the doctor — or anyone interested in attracting and retaining an engaged consumer — ordered.

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Join the Instant Payment Revolution: Read 7 Must-Know Facts for Small Businesses

Technology evolves at lightning speed, and as finance keeps changing, instant payments emerge as a game-changer for small businesses. By 2030, instant payments are projected to surge by 289% and will become the new norm in financial transactions. Our whitepaper reveals seven must-know facts about instant payments, offering to help you navigate this financial revolution effectively.

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UN Looking For Bitcoin Gurus In Africa

PYMNTS

Bitcoin is going more mainstream in Africa, if the United Nations has anything to do with it. On the United Nation’s OnlineVolunteering.org website, the agency said it is looking for volunteers to help boost the adoption of the digital currency in Africa. The post says it is looking for qualified people to work for free to help educate the young people of Sierra Leone about bitcoin.

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Rule On Money Laundering Loophole Due To Prepaid Cards Could Get Resubmitted

PYMNTS

A proposition back in 2011 to close a loophole that enables drug cartels to move large sums of money across boarders using prepaid cards has been delayed but is not dead. According to a report by Reuters , the U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network spokesman Stephen Hudak said the rule is being reworked and could be resubmitted in 2017.

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Square’s August Earnings Surprise

PYMNTS

With its stock value up 10 percent in after hours trading – Square has managed to please investors with losses smaller than expected, growing payments volumes and continuing signs of strength emanating from from its lending platform for small business, Square Capital. It’s a far cry from investor reactions during Square Q1 announcement , which saw Square’s after hours tradingstock price take a 12 percent tumble – as investors proved to be much more concerned about Square’s rising co

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Aéropostale Liquidation Seems Eminent

PYMNTS

It is appearing more and more likely that liquidation will be the final fate of Aéropostale after a bankruptcy judge ruled last week that private equity firm Sycamore Partners could use the $150 million it is owed by the bankrupt teen retailer as a bid at its bankruptcy auction. Sycamore Partners and some liquidator partners entered their bids for the retailer last week, while Versa Capital Management appears to have backed out of its plan to try and save about 500 Aéropostale locations.

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How CPA Firms Can Profit From Payroll Services Without the Extra Work

"Offer payroll and do it yourself,” they said. “It’ll be fun!” Spoiler alert: It was not fun. Most CPA firms know that they need to offer payroll services to their clients or risk losing them to another firm that will. However, many don’t really want to. It is often time-consuming and complex due to changing tax laws and regulations, and with the growing staffing shortages, most just don’t have the resources.