August, 2018

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Why Belgium Can Be A Good ‘Test Market’ For FinTech Firms

PYMNTS

Belgium, which is home to many European Union (EU) institutions, is also a burgeoning FinTech hub. The country has the fifth-highest number of FinTech deals in Europe, according to an analysis from Belgium-based European FinTech platform B-Hive. The average FinTech deal size in the region is doubling, but B-Hive noted a decrease in the number of deals.

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Moving Past The Myths Of Payments Innovation

PYMNTS

All you need is a hot idea and some funding. All you have to do is listen to what consumers say they want. The big players have an inherent advantage. Meetings suck the creativity out of any worthwhile project. Those are some of the common myths of innovation , and they apply to the payments world. At best, they are superficially true, ne’er-do-well siblings of cliché.

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ICO Investors Fall For Exit Scams, Phishing

PYMNTS

The founder of crypto startup Savedroid , which just raised $50 million in an initial coin offering (ICO), posted two photos on his Twitter account a few months ago — one of him at an airport and another one of him at the beach. The caption? “Thanks guys! Over and out.” While it seems that Savedroid Founder Yassin Hankir pulled off a fake “exit scam,” the real ones are becoming a problem.

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In FinTech, The Race for Patents (And More)

PYMNTS

In technology, innovation, of course, is as critical as oxygen, fueling the “next big thing” and boosting top and bottom lines. And shoring up that “next big thing” comes with patent filings, part of the arsenal of protecting intellectual property, shepherding concept to reality. And, according to Cipher , a data insights firm based in the United Kingdom, in FinTech, the patent race is one that is seeing some clear winners, among them large tech firms, with traditional banks trailing.

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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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Global GDPR Compliance Rates Remain Low

PYMNTS

Compliance of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules remain low across the globe, according to the latest research from Dimensional Research. Reports from the Business Information Industry Association (BIIA) on Tuesday (Aug. 21) said Dimensional Research’s latest findings suggest most companies are still not fully GDPR-compliant, with only 20 percent reporting they are fully adhering to the new data security rules.

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Zoho Expense Integrates With Uber For Business Travelers

PYMNTS

Zoho , the maker of an operating system for businesses, announced on Thursday (Aug. 16) that it will automatically import Uber for Business trip receipts into Zoho Expense, its expense reporting and tracking software. In a press release , Zoho said that with direct integration between the Uber and Zoho apps, business travelers don’t have to manually forward Uber receipts to Zoho Expense.

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Visa-Supported Blindsight Could Change Payments For The Visually Impaired

PYMNTS

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.

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How A Single Digital ID Will Become EU’s Commerce Passport

PYMNTS

When trying to understand the new eIDAS regulations set to go officially online in the EU in September, it helps, Trulioo GM Zac Cohen told Karen Webster, to take a step back and look at the general purpose of the European Union. If one were to take a very quick trip back in time to the year 2014, when the eIDAS regulations were first passed, they would see the EU was lagging behind when it came to offering the same single market harmony that was the expected norm across most trade relationships

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Reformed Fraudster Now Fighting Fraud

PYMNTS

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.

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Today In Data: Pulling Off A Good Twist Ending

PYMNTS

It will never be said of Apple that they lacked a flair for the dramatic – and hitting the U.S. public market’s first $1 trillion market cap two decades after it stood on the brink of bankruptcy was a pretty good twist as far as endings go. Not all twist endings are good in payments and commerce, however. The consumers who thought they were buying from a real merchant only to find that it was a fraudster surely don’t like that last-minute reversal.

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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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Don’t Count Out Billboards — Amazon, Facebook And Google Haven’t

PYMNTS

Billboards are not going gently into that good night. In fact, the old-fashioned form of outdoor advertising is winning over digital marketing heavyweights and finding ways to thrive in the online world. Examples abound. Amid data sharing and online privacy controversies, Facebook recently promoted on billboards what Bloomberg called the social media operator’s “new approach to user safety and privacy.

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Fortumo Rolls Out Direct Carrier Billing In Sweden; MySQUAR Launches Remittance Service

PYMNTS

Welcome to The Axis, your late look at payments news from around the world. Coverage includes Fortumo ’s rollout of direct carrier billing in Sweden. In addition, Australia Post is deploying a multilane payment solution from Verifone , and MySQUAR has rolled out a soft-launch of a remittance service. Estonia -based tech firm Fortumo unveiled direct carrier billing and SMS messaging in Sweden, the company said in an announcement.

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FBI Warns Banks About Widescale ATM Cash-Out Scam

PYMNTS

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued a warning to banks that cybercriminals are gearing up to launch a choreographed global scam, known as the “ATM cashout,” in which the bad guys hack a bank or payment card processor to make cloned cards that they can use to withdraw money from ATMs around the globe. According to a Krebs on Security report, citing a confidential alert the FBI sent to banks late last week, millions of dollars can be stolen in only a few hours.

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 In India, Has Demonetization Been Defeated?

PYMNTS

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.

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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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Why Cash Was King For The Queen Of Soul

PYMNTS

“Oooh, your kisses, sweeter than honey/ But guess what? So’s my money.”. Writing about Aretha in a 2016 profile for The New Yorker , writer David Remnick noted that as she sat readying herself for a performance, she was surrounded by small stacks of hundred-dollar bills. The money, he explained, was her fee for singing that night in Ontario, because Aretha only sang once she had been paid upfront.

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Innovation-Seeking Big Brands Pop Up In Small Spaces

PYMNTS

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.

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How Digital Disbursements Tools Are Changing Low-Dollar Lending

PYMNTS

As Americans increasingly turn to their mobile devices to instantly pay through peer-to-peer (P2P) services like Venmo and Zelle, the act of writing a check or heading to the ATM for quick cash is becoming a thing of the past. This technology is also changing how consumers lend and borrow money, according to Travis Holoway, founder of short-term lending exchange platform SoLo Funds , particularly when it comes to low-dollar or short-term loans.

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Axiom Bank Acquires Factoring Firm

PYMNTS

U.S.-based Axiom Bank is expanding its business lending capabilities through the acquisition of Allied Affiliated Funding , reports said Thursday (Aug. 23). A press release announced the takeover agreement, which will see Axiom absorbing Allied’s asset-based lending and factoring offerings. The acquisition will also bridge Allied’s existing customers to the banking and cash management offerings of Axiom, the companies said.

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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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Barclays Next To Tap Into FinTech With MarketInvoice Investment

PYMNTS

Barclays is the next traditional financial institution to strike a partnership with an alternative lender, announcing Thursday (Aug. 2) that it has invested in small business lending platform MarketInvoice. An announcement on the MarketInvoice blog said Barclays’ investment makes the bank the first High Street FI to partner with the FinTech. In addition to acquiring a minority stake in the alternative lender, MarketInvoice will integrate its invoice financing solution into Barclays’ offering.

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Best Buy Plans To Buy GreatCall For $800M

PYMNTS

To continue to tap into the connected-home market, Best Buy plans to purchase GreatCall, Inc. for $800 million. The retailer expects that the deal will close by the end of the third quarter, Bloomberg reported. GreatCall makes emergency-response systems and smart phones geared towards seniors. The firm has over 900,000 subscribers, between its wearable devices and Jitterbug mobile phones.

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FinTech/FI Collaborations In Mexico And Beyond

PYMNTS

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.

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New Data Shows 1.5 Companies Fall Victim To Ransomware Each Minute

PYMNTS

A new report has found that 1.5 organizations fall victim to ransomware attacks every minute — and more than $1 million is lost each minute due to cybercrime. RiskIQ ’s 2018 “ The Evil Internet Minute ” investigated the cyber threats that organizations and internet users face every minute. “With businesses expanding their online presence to create more touchpoints with customers, employees and partners, the boundaries between what’s inside the firewall and what’s outside become less and le

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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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Alibaba’s Lazada Partners With Finaxar To Offer Credit Options To SMEs

PYMNTS

Alibaba’s Lazada has announced a partnership with Finaxar , which will offer new credit options for SMEs in Southeast Asia. Finaxar will offer its services to Lazada sellers in Singapore, with plans to eventually expand to cover other parts of Southeast Asia. The goal is to increase the number of retailers in the region, which boasts 650 million consumers.

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Auto Relocation, Sharing Economy Style

PYMNTS

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.

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Zelle Eyeing Expansion Into Small Business Payments

PYMNTS

Zelle , the digital payment app that enables consumers to send money to friends and family, is gearing up to expand its offering to enable customers to pay small businesses. Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the situation, reported Zelle is in the process of enhancing its risk assessment tools as part of the effort to make it safe for people to pay small businesses.

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Could Grubhub Become The Amazon Of Restaurants?

PYMNTS

Grubhub made news a couple weeks ago when it simultaneously delivered a very strong Q2 2018 earnings report and announced the acquisition of LevelUp. The focus then and the subsequent coverage since has been on the positive impact of the LevelUp acquisition on Grubhub’s ability to diversify its platform offerings. With LevelUp, Grubhub can now offer restaurants that are part of its network order ahead/pickup in-store and new CRM/loyalty initiatives to their mobile wallets using LevelUp’s white l

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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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In The Park. At A Kiosk. Using Digital Payments. Buying $1.6K Designer Jewelry.

PYMNTS

Consumers are using less cash than ever, with the average consumer carrying just $21. In response, unattended retail operators are finding new ways to embrace alternative payment methods, ranging from mobile wallets to cryptocurrencies. In the new Unattended Retail Tracker , PYMNTS charts the latest ways that companies are working to accept more non-cash payment methods, from the common credit card swipe to biometric scans.

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Wells Fargo Computer Glitch Forced Hundreds Of Foreclosures

PYMNTS

Wells Fargo , the embattled national bank, disclosed in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing that hundreds of individuals saw their homes in foreclosure because of a glitch in software the company used. According to a report in CNN citing Wells Fargo , software it used denied mortgage modification requests incorrectly. The bank said it set aside $8 million to compensate the customers that were impacted by the computer glitch.

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Food In Flight: Delivering Mobile Orders By Drone

PYMNTS

Food delivery is a $13 billion business in the U.S., one seeing growing interest from various players, ranging from delivery service companies like Deliveroo to ride-hailing giants like Uber. But while innovation is largely focused on making ordering and paying seamless, delivery times remain high, leaving customers frustrated and resulting in restaurants missing out on opportunities to fill more orders.

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Supply Chains Stumble Through GDPR Compliance

PYMNTS

The European Union (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into effect in May, but most businesses in the region still aren’t compliant with the rules. The data security requirements have wide-reaching implications for businesses across sectors, but as companies expand globally and business partners connect on digital channels, supply chains’ GDPR compliance is an increasing focus of security and compliance initiatives in the enterprise.

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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.