June, 2017

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NEW REPORT: Can Western Union Leverage Its Heritage To Build A Better X-Border API?

PYMNTS

There was a time when the telegraph was as important to keeping people connected as the smartphone is today. And while the telegraph’s heyday may well be over, the network it once rested upon can still be put to good use, especially with an assist from API solutions. As more merchants and smaller businesses seek to engage in global commerce, several companies are stepping up their efforts to help merchants address the complexities presented by international trade.

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Girl Scouts Will Get The Chance To Earn Badges In Cyber Security

PYMNTS

Girl Scouts will soon get the chance to earn their first ever cyber security badges. The Huffington Post reports that Girl Scouts can earn the first of 18 cyber security Girl Scout badges beginning in September 2018. The program will reach as many as 1.8 million Girl Scouts in kindergarten through sixth grade and is being developed in a partnership between the Girl Scouts and Palo Alto Networks, a security company.

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FinTech Startup Helps Millennials Plan For (And Afford) Their Future Family

PYMNTS

Kids these days. Millennials are using FinTech to pay back their college loans, cover healthcare expenses, and now, through FinTech startup Future Family , to get pregnant. More and more women are waiting until their 30s to have children. There are plenty of good reasons for that: millennials are getting married later, and having kids is expensive. But the biological clock waits for no woman.

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Adding Digital Value to The In-Store Experience

PYMNTS

To say that the retail industry is going through a minor transformation right now would be an understatement. While several store closings and bankruptcy filings have been reported over the past year, the retail news cycle hasn’t exactly painted an inspiring image for the future of retail. Moving into the digitally driven age, retailers are looking for new and meaningful ways now more than ever to engage, maintain and retain consumer attention.

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Your Accounting Expertise Will Only Get You So Far: The New Way To Lead

Speaker: Victor C. Barnes, CPA, MBA

In the climb from contributor to leader, the rules quietly change. But if you’re aiming for the summit, the air gets thinner, and what got you here won’t be enough to get you to the top. 🗻 What made you successful early in your finance career—technical accuracy, sharp analysis, flawless execution—won’t be what carries you to the next level. The higher you go, the more your effectiveness depends on how you connect, adapt, and communicate.

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How IoT And The Cloud Can Save A Restaurant

PYMNTS

There’s a lot more to running a restaurant than making good food and serving it with a smile — and no, we don’t mean listing the menu on GrubHub, UberEats or OpenTable. Restaurants have to follow regulations set by the food and health administrations, such as cleanliness guidelines and storing various foods at specific temperatures. It can be a lot for one owner to track, especially owners of multiple establishments or franchise locations.

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Chain CEO On B2B Payments’ Blockchain Blockbuster

PYMNTS

The blockchain has a bit of an identity crisis. Everyone who is anyone in financial services knows what it is, and there is broad consensus at this point that it will play a very important role in financial services. Yet few can really articulate how it all works or what exactly it will do — and when. Here’s a little proof. According to WEX’s First Annual Payments Pulse Survey , 66 percent of the 500 CFOs interviewed say that they are quite certain that they understand blockchain; 50 percent thi

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NACHA Report: Inaugural Meeting Of API Standardization Industry Group

PYMNTS

Created in 2017, the API Standardization Industry Group has begun developing an application program interface (API) standardization “playbook” to help enhance support for payments and the business needs of financial institutions, companies, FinTechs and other industry stakeholders and participants. National Automated Clearing House Association ( NACHA ) — the Electronic Payments Association — and the Payments Innovation Alliance recently released a summary report from the API Standardization

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IBM Japan Announces Mizuho Bank As API Customer

PYMNTS

IBM Japan announced Thursday (June 8) the launch of API banking for Mizuho Bank, that provides the bank with the ability to tailor services to its customers. In a press release IBM announced the bank will use IBM Japan’s FinTech API solution, as well as IBM API Connect on the IBM Cloud and IBM DataPower Gateway. “API banking becomes a crucial step that helps drive open innovations by new technologies for customers, business partners, and Mizuho Bank,” said Masahiko Kato, senior technical

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Is 5G The Oxygen Connected Cars Need To Ignite?

PYMNTS

The world is becoming an increasingly connected place such that internet connections aren’t just for phones and computers anymore – appliances, household systems, dog collars, hair brushes, cars and VR headsets are just a short sampling of the world of things looking for secure, consistent connections to the web. By most estimates there are 6.3 billion such devices as of today – by Gartner’s estimate, that number will have exploded to over 20 billion worldwide by 2020.

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Kaspersky Lab Report Shows U.S. Is No. 1 Target For Mobile Ransomware

PYMNTS

Wealthy countries with developed financial and payment infrastructures are most likely to have their data encrypted and held for ransom by cybercriminals, according to a recent report by global cybersecurity company Kaspersky Lab. In 2016-17, cyber attackers have set their sights on mobile users in the U.S., first and foremost, with Canada, Germany and the U.K. following closely in terms of risk.

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The Hidden Science Behind Why Finance Teams Resist Change—And How to Fix It

Speaker: Kim Beynon, CPA, CGMA, PMP

The most overlooked, yet most critical, element of transformation is preparing people for change. Automation and AI aren't just technical upgrades, they’re cultural shifts which can challenge identities. That’s why change management isn’t a side project—it’s the foundation. In finance, where precision and process rule, navigating change can feel especially disruptive.

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Potcoin Value Soars Thanks To Dennis Rodman’s Trip To North Korea

PYMNTS

Potcoin , the digital cryptocurrency similar to bitcoin but aimed at the legal marijuana market, got much-needed publicity by sponsoring Dennis Rodman’s trip to North Korea. According to a report in Business Insider , the value of Potcoin jumped nearly 97 percent, to more than $0.18, in trading on Tuesday after Rodman was photographed wearing a Potcoin T-shirt when he arrived in the country.

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New Delivery Method By Walmart Flirts With The Gig Economy

PYMNTS

Walmart made some news lately when it dipped its toe into the gig economy waters, asking employees to deliver packages ordered by customers who live along their commutes. Employees can opt into the program via a smartphone app to take home up to 10 deliveries a day and earn a little extra cash. The success of this quasi-gig delivery program depends on several key factors.

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AI/Bot: Dole’s Secret Artificial Intelligence Weapon

PYMNTS

Artificial intelligence (AI)–assisted technologies have been on the rise over the past few years. From virtual personal assistants to video games, smart cars, online customer support, and music or movie recommendations, AI has infiltrated nearly every aspect of consumers’ everyday lives. Yes, we can all thank AI for our Netflix addiction. While AI certainly makes consumers’ lives easier, it’s also working in nearly every industry to help streamline operations.

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Taking Cross-Border Payments From Telegraph To API

PYMNTS

According to some recent reports, there are a trillion reasons for smaller merchants to get active in cross-border commerce. An estimated 94 million online shoppers are expected to spend $1 trillion on cross-border eCommerce by 2020. This rising trend of cross-border consumers has prompted major shipping players, like logistics and delivery company FedEx, to address some of the challenges involved with international shipping and trade for both consumers and merchants.

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Doing More With Less: The Modern Finance Miracle

Speaker: Mark Gilham, FCCA, CPP

Finance used to be the function that counted, now it's the one that’s counted on. 📊 For accounting firms, controllers, and finance leaders, expectations are rising faster than headcount. Businesses want agile forecasts, granular analysis, seamless reporting, and smart automation—often without added resources while demanding uncompromised accuracy and compliance.

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Amazon Opens Up Video Skill API So Alexa Can Control Any TV

PYMNTS

Could Alexa’s latest API skill stem losses to streaming services for pay TV providers and the telco industry? Some providers seem to think so, with Dish, NetGem and YouView already on board. The skill? Amazon announced June 8 that its virtual assistant has learned to control more than just the company’s own Fire TV stick: Now, for developers that opt to use the Video Skill API, any cable or satellite TV company, streaming service or content provider can add Alexa voice control to its app.

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NTechLab’s FindFace Facial Recognition Technology Has Applications In Retail, Public Safety

PYMNTS

FindFace started as a futuristic social technology for identifying strangers by scanning their faces with a smartphone camera. Two years later, the facial recognition technology is the best in the world (yep, even better than Google’s) and is being used for public safety, law enforcement and fraud prevention through cybersecurity. Of course, facial recognition has driven significant public controversy over the erosion of personal privacy and anonymity.

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Blue Apron Files To Go Public

PYMNTS

Blue Apron on Thursday filed to go public , but that doesn’t mean the meal-kit pioneer has won the start-up game. From 2014 to 2016, the company grew revenue from less than $80 million to almost $800 million. But it also saw its losses grow, from $31 million to $55 million. That’s because new growth has been fueled by new customers, and those customers are easier to acquire in a nascent market.

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Blockchain Tracker: Blockchain’s Possible Impact On The Economy

PYMNTS

Blockchain could have an impact on the economy — is Russia leading the way with its current investments? With eCommerce transactions moving at the speed of light, the ability to have transparency between parties is likely crucial to preventing security breaches. When executives in the finance industry think of blockchain technology, its perception has shifted in the past few years in terms of how it could shape financial services — and therefore the economy — as a residual impact.

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8 Pillars of Leadership Development

Great leadership development is the key to sustainable business growth. Are you ready to design an effective program? HR can use Paycor’s framework to: Set achievable goals. Align employee and company needs. Support different learning styles. Empower the next generation of leaders. Invest in your company’s future with a strong leadership development program.

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AI/BOT: Man Versus Artificial Intelligence

PYMNTS

Since the advent of technology, the age-old battle of man versus machine has been an issue. Whether it’s televisions entering homes in the mid-20th-century or personal computers coming onto the scene in the late 1980s, technology has no doubt had an effect on everyday life. By integrating tech into various aspects of everyday life, many processes have become streamlined.

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London B2B FinTechs Win Big As Market Preps For Disruption

PYMNTS

More than $30 million in venture capital stuck around the U.K., the U.S. and Canada, mostly focusing on Series A investments. The U.K., though, is a particularly bright star this week, as more than 60 percent of that funding went to London startups. Preparations for corporate banking disruption and PSD2 are stirring the innovation pot, it seems. We break down all the B2B FinTech funding rounds below.

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DNA For Dinner: London Restaurant Vita Mojo Offers Food Customization Based On Genomes

PYMNTS

Like strands in the double helix of DNA, the home of London’s most customizable diet and a gene analysis lab are intertwining to create something truly magnificent: the healthiest meal in the world. That goes deeper than five fruits a day, personal fitness goals and taste preferences. The healthiest meal in the world is different for everyone, and DNA holds the key to food customization for the perfect meal.

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Data Enablers: SigOpt’s Machine Learning Tools Help Businesses Optimize Operations

PYMNTS

From some guy’s garage in San Francisco, a group of math nerds has grown into one of the world’s finest-tuned machine learning operations. SigOpt now helps optimize fraud detection and investments like beer brewing and even the manufacturing of synthetic rhino horns. SigOpt cofounder and CEO Scott Clark said that’s because his 14 employees, like the machines they create, never stop learning.

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Automation, Evolved: Your New Playbook for Smarter Knowledge Work

Speaker: Frank Taliano

Documents are the backbone of enterprise operations, but they are also a common source of inefficiency. From buried insights to manual handoffs, document-based workflows can quietly stall decision-making and drain resources. For large, complex organizations, legacy systems and siloed processes create friction that AI is uniquely positioned to resolve.

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Switching Rent Payments From Analog To Digital

PYMNTS

While the world of payments has mostly gone online – rent remains stubbornly analog in the age of digital. According to a recent Zillow study, 76 percent of rent payments are made offline – mostly in the form of checks, though cash and money orders make guest appearances from time to time. And it was a situation that Ryan Abell, CEO & founder of PayRent.com found acutely annoying in his days as a property manager.

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Behind The Scenes, Socure Feeds The Machines

PYMNTS

How do machines learn to learn? In Episode Three of PYMNTS’ machine learning podcast, Socure CEO Sunil Madhu and PYMNTS CEO Karen Webster get technical as they explore the methods and processes that are making machines progressively smarter. In Episode Two, Madhu and Webster talked about different kinds of artificial intelligence (AI) and how each is equipped to handle certain kinds of jobs.

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Hacker Tracker: Cyberattacks Come In All Shapes And Sizes

PYMNTS

There are a few sexy cybercrime cases that pervade the public consciousness. They fill anxious minds with visions of hooded hackers reaching through glowing ones and zeroes to steal their data. Last month’s global ransomware attack WannaCry dominated real estate on every major tech website, including PYMNTS. But in the shadow of these attacks, a cyber pandemic is being overlooked.

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Shopify Now Lets Merchants Hire Virtual Employee ‘Kit’ For Free

PYMNTS

Today in retail news, employee of the week award goes to Kit, Shopify’s virtual assistant for Shopify merchants , who handles digital marketing and advertising for merchants on the platform … for an upcharge of $10 to $25 a month. Except now, all Shopify merchants can hire office assistant Kit at no additional cost. Yep, free office assistant labor: the holy grail of tight-margined businesses everywhere, and startups especially.

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Data Talks, CFOs Listen: Why Analytics Are Key To Better Spend Management

Speaker: Claire Grosjean, Global Finance & Operations Executive

Finance teams are drowning in data—but is it actually helping them spend smarter? Without the right approach, excess spending, inefficiencies, and missed opportunities continue to drain profitability. While analytics offers powerful insights, financial intelligence requires more than just numbers—it takes the right blend of automation, strategy, and human expertise.

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Fighting Fraud, In Real Time, Dynamically Duoed

PYMNTS

Fighting fraud is a lot harder online, and a lot harder for merchants and consumers, as card-not-present transactions become the preferred method of malfeasance. In one recent announcement, payments provider TSYS and real-time learning technology platform Featurespace said they were joining forces to offer fraud prevention tools. The first product, the TSYS Foresight ScoreSM with Featurespace, utilizes machine learning and other initiatives to pinpoint cyberattacks tied to transaction fraud.

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 Modo’s COIN of the Realm                 

PYMNTS

Payments are often described like the Tower of Babel, with disparate platforms trying to talk to each other without speaking the same language. It’s this inability to communicate that is causing connections to fall apart through the lifecycle, from initiation at the point of sale to back-end reconciliation. It’s an industry-wide problem that Modo is solving with its patented COIN technology.

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MatrixCare Targets Niche Healthcare Market With Analytics Tool

PYMNTS

MatrixCare, a technology provider with a targeted focus in the healthcare industry, is rolling out new data and analytics solutions for its clients. The company serves long-term, post-acute care (LTPAC) healthcare providers. On Thursday (June 29), the company announced the availability of two new solutions, MyAnalytics and MyData, available through the MatrixCare Analytics Suite of offerings, for this niche market.

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The Buyers: UK Shoppers’ eCommerce Habits

PYMNTS

Online retail sales in the U.K. have seen a lot of action over the past six months. As we reported back in January, the U.K.’s eCommerce sales have seen a significant year-over-year increase. Between 2015 and 2016, U.K. eCommerce sales saw a nearly 16 percent increase from £114.75 billion all the way up to £133 billion. Stemming from Interactive Media in Retail Group’s research, eCommerce sales in the U.K. are set to see a 14 percent increase by the end of this year.

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Protect What Matters: Rethinking Finance Ops In A Digital World

Speaker: Cheryl J. Muldrew-McMurtry

Distributed finance teams are rewriting how the back-office runs, and attackers are taking notes. Disconnected workflows, process blind spots, and rising cyber threats are more than just growing pains—they’re liabilities. The challenge isn’t just going remote. It’s building resilient systems that protect accuracy, control, and speed across every transaction and touchpoint.