PYMNTS
MARCH 17, 2017
Financial software firm Misys had a bit of a roller coaster year in a market constantly in flux. The U.K. company canceled its IPO last October, citing “ current market conditions” as its reason behind deciding not to pursue an estimated $7 billion float on the London Stock Exchange. Those market conditions present interesting obstacles and opportunities for everyone in the banking FinTech space.
Katz,Sapper&Miller
MARCH 13, 2017
Getting economic development right is complex. Many factors come into play: workforce quality, infrastructure, industry mix, corporate citizenry, quality of place and creation of new jobs. It is not just the number of jobs that influence decisions about if and how much in incentives a locality might offer a business to set up shop.
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PYMNTS
MARCH 13, 2017
The paper check has a nasty reputation in B2B payments as a cumbersome, manual and risky payment rail. Yet data from the 2016 Association of Financial Professionals’ Electronic Payments Survey released last September actually found a 1 percent increase in corporates’ use of paper checks compared to two years ago. For Jim Ballagh, VP of business development at corporate payments firm Ensenta , that’s not too surprising.
PYMNTS
MARCH 14, 2017
A new report by Global Market Insights reveals that the market size for mobile POS terminals will gain significant growth in the coming years, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 19 percent from 2016 to 2023. According to a press release , the POS Terminal Industry is expected to be valued at $103.52 billion by 2023, with the growing demand for mobile-based features, such as online payments, and the preference for smartphone or tablet usage boosting the market’s growth.
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.
PYMNTS
MARCH 13, 2017
As banking becomes more digital, more financial institutions are turning to technological solutions to bring more customers on board. Several banks are rolling out banking solutions that are specifically focused on winning over millennial customers as they come of age and join the marketplace as adults. Some millennial-focused banking solutions include financial tools to help users manage their money and meet their financial goals.
PYMNTS
MARCH 13, 2017
Fraudsters are always looking for unsuspecting payments types that can be used to perpetrate their crimes. Today, that means alternative payment methods, or APMs. G2 Web Services categorizes these alternative payments among eight different types, which include peer-to-peer (P2P) payments, money service businesses (MSBs), eWallets, mobile payments, prepaid cards, vouchers, bank debits and credits or linked bank accounts and cryptocurrencies.
Accountant Advocate brings together the best content for small business accounting professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
PYMNTS
MARCH 14, 2017
JPMorgan announced Monday (March 13) it has inked a deal to acquire MCX’s payments technology in an effort to expand Chase Pay, its mobile and digital wallet for its Chase customers. In a press release , JPMorgan said the transaction is expected to close in the coming weeks and that MCX is the largest merchants’ network in America. Since MCX’s members were already connected to MCX, payments technology connecting to Chase Pay was seamless, JPMorgan noted.
PYMNTS
MARCH 13, 2017
As retailers across categories fawn over shares of millennial spending power, new insight from market research and analytics firm Slice Intelligence indicates that, in terms of apparel market sales, one online retailer appears to have already won the battle. Here are some of the key findings. First, millennials reportedly accounted for the largest share of online apparel revenue in both 2015 and 2016 across generations — 35.2 percent in 2015 and 34.6 percent in 2016.
PYMNTS
MARCH 13, 2017
The government of India is launching three tools that will help cashless payments gain adoption but could hurt some of the leading electronic payment providers in the country, including Paytm, MobiKwik, FreeCharge, Citrus, ItzCash and Oxigen, if they don’t step up their game. According to a report in Reuters , the government is rolling out a United Payments Interface (UPI) app that makes it easier for interbank fund transfers and Aadhaar Pay, which is a payment service that is linked to a bank a
PYMNTS
MARCH 13, 2017
The average small business considers itself a “moderate” user of technology, according to the PYMNTS.com SMB Technology Adoption Index. Only 13 percent say they’re willing to jump on the innovation bandwagon. Clearly, there’s still a long way for SMEs to go before they fully embrace FinTech – and the latest research on the topic reinforces the notion that small businesses aren’t using technology the way some may have hoped. 70 percent of SMEs didn’t use tax software in 2016 , found Office Depot
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.
PYMNTS
MARCH 14, 2017
New digital authentication tools are allowing India’s rural consumers to open bank accounts in the blink of an eye. As India moves to a cashless society, new digital banking tools — such as iris scanning technology — are being adopted by the nation’s banks to help verify customers’ identities. The availability of these digital tools is expected to expand significantly in India, following the Indian government’s decision to remove 500- and 1,000-rupee notes from circulation last year.
PYMNTS
MARCH 17, 2017
Blockchain technology has the potential to impact nearly every industry involving money. One area in which we’ve seen innovation break through recently may come as a surprise: insurance. If there was any industry that could be viewed as the definition of mundane and stuck in its ways, it would be insurance. However, earlier this week, we reported on a virtual insurance agent company partnering up with Facebook to offer quote comparison shopping via the social media giant’s Messenger chatbot.
PYMNTS
MARCH 15, 2017
The Internet of Things (IoT) is well beyond its initial start line. When it comes to the question of whether or not businesses should incorporate IoT aspects to help both streamline operations and better serve the customer via gathered personalized data, there is a general consensus that it’s a great strategic avenue. However, in RSR Research ‘s recent “The Internet of Things in Retail: Getting Beyond the Hype” study, there were some interesting findings that point toward
PYMNTS
MARCH 13, 2017
Small business and startup banking company Penta, based in Germany, is teaming up with solarisBank for faster access to bank accounts. An announcement Friday (March 10) said Penta is looking to accelerate availability to bank accounts for its SME and startup business customers in Germany and link them to deposit account and payment card solutions. In its announcement, Penta said the partnership with solarisBank will allow small businesses to spend more time focusing on their companies and less t
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.
PYMNTS
MARCH 17, 2017
It has been another wild ride of a week for bitcoin in the wake of the SEC ruling. At the tail end of last week, the Securities and Exchange Commission ruled the proposed Winklevoss bitcoin ETF a no-go by nixing a proposed rule change that would have led to the fund being listed on the Bats BZX Exchange. The reason? Lack of oversight, regulation and the potential for fraud in the broader bitcoin space.
PYMNTS
MARCH 11, 2017
It’s the weekend. And that means one and only one thing. All over the country, millions of Americans are looking at the kitchen and coming to a single realization. They just don’t want to cook anything. Which means millions of Americans are coming around to a favored solution for hunger right about … now. Pizza. Satisfying, delicious and available in 30 minutes or less; in divided times, pizza unites because everyone more or less likes pizza.
PYMNTS
MARCH 15, 2017
Software maker SAP announced on Tuesday (March 14) that it patched cybersecurity flaws on its HANA software product. According to Reuters , the vulnerabilities addressed had the potential to allow hackers to have control over the databases and business applications utilized by large global firms. In many cases, cyberattacks on the software databases of these types of companies can be more lucrative for hackers.
PYMNTS
MARCH 15, 2017
Google announced on Tuesday (March 14) that the Gmail app on Android will now enable people to send and request money from anyone, even if they do not have a Gmail address. “Whether you’re splitting a dinner bill or planning a group trip, you now have a fee-free way to work out the details and settle up without ever leaving the Gmail app on Android, just like you can already do on the web,” Sam Kansara, a product manager at Google, said in a blog post.
Advertiser: Paycor
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.
PYMNTS
MARCH 14, 2017
U.S. FinTech Autobooks announced new funding to support its SMB banking solutions. Reports Monday (March 13) said Autobooks secured $5.5 million in Series A financing led by Draper Triangle. The company provides online banking platforms with small business solutions to help FIs better service their SMB clients. The company cited research from Below Research that found 70 percent of SMBs say they would use a cash flow management solution if it were offered by a bank, representing a gap between wh
PYMNTS
MARCH 14, 2017
One of the topics we’ve touched on over the past few weeks in this column lies at the intersection of chatbots and eCommerce. From Domino’s Pizza to ATB Financial and more, there have been several developments over the past year when it comes to these two forces joining to provide an enhanced customer service offering. The ability of both chatbot technology’s natural language and artificial intelligence (AI) to interpret what is being said gives businesses a more succinct way of analyzing and mo
PYMNTS
MARCH 13, 2017
The blockchain has a problem — it is really, really backlogged. As bitcoin has gotten more popular, the number of people trying to use it has grown, and along with it the number of transactions on the good old blockchain technology that underpins bitcoin. The problem is that verifying all those transactions has slowed due to the most profound backlog bitcoin has ever experienced — the number of transactions awaiting verification is up more than fivefold from a year ago.
PYMNTS
MARCH 15, 2017
SME accounting firm Xero is integrating machine learning technology into its solution, the company announced this week. Reports Tuesday (March 14) said Xero is deploying a machine learning automation system that will help businesses’ specific needs, including automated invoice categorization. According to the company, the technology will learn over time how to categorize those invoices so accountants and small business owners will no longer have to do so manually.
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.
PYMNTS
MARCH 14, 2017
Yes, technology is enabling machines to communicate more efficiently with humans. But truth be told, that communication isn’t always smooth. While artificial intelligence interfaces like Amazon’s Alexa have come a long way, there are way too many times where consumers still feel like they’re talking to a robot that delivers a lot more misses than hits.
PYMNTS
MARCH 14, 2017
International Council of Shopping Centers CEO Thomas McGee told The Miami Herald that the ongoing message that shopping malls and center are coming to an end isn’t quite true. Instead, he said that while people think of shopping centers as endangered, they are actually just evolving. “There is stress in the department store segment and closures. When you look at those stores as a percentage of retail square footage, it’s small,” McGee said during the interview with the paper.
PYMNTS
MARCH 13, 2017
Is a bitcoin ETF DOA? If not, how about: ETF, ETA? News Friday (March 10) that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) nixed a proposed rule change that could have given rise, sooner rather than later, to a bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) took the wind out of the proverbial sales (pun intended) or the proverbial luster off the virtual currency for a spell. .
PYMNTS
MARCH 16, 2017
The Department of Justice bringing charges against two spies in Russia and two hackers who allegedly took part in the massive data breach that rocked Yahoo recently has now shed light on exactly how these breaches took place. During a follow-up briefing on Wednesday (March 15), the FBI shared its insight on how Yahoo’s user data and technology was compromised so significantly over a two-year period.
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.
PYMNTS
MARCH 15, 2017
The Federal Reserve went ahead with a widely expected decision to boost short-term interest rates Wednesday. And as is so often the case, the action begs the question as to what lies next, as in right around the corner. At this writing, just as the announcement was being released, stocks were higher, but not by much. It may be no surprise that banks stocks were widely higher, given the fact that higher interest rates presage growing returns on lending activity, which should boost margins and eve
PYMNTS
MARCH 15, 2017
The big day has finally arrived — no thanks to Mother Nature, who decided to throw a disruption of her own at the year’s biggest celebration of innovation in the shape of a blizzard named Stella. But while we may have spent some portion of the last few days doing our best Marlon Brando in a “Streetcar Named Desire” impression — clenching our fists and shouting “Stella!
PYMNTS
MARCH 15, 2017
Enterprise on-demand delivery platform startup Bringg recently announced the close of a $10 million round of Series B funding led by Aleph VC with participation from Coca-Cola and prior investor Pereg Ventures. To date, Bringg has raised $19 million in three funding rounds. “Amazon and Uber have pushed the customer expectations to levels we’ve never seen before,” Bringg cofounder Lior Sion told TechCrunch.
PYMNTS
MARCH 14, 2017
A Croatian company is aiming to help companies with employees who frequently work out in the field operate more efficiently. According to Business Insider , OptimoRoute is a route-optimization company that provides back-end software to help solve the “Traveling Salesman Problem.” While it will help companies figure out how employees-on-the-go (think doctors, couriers, salespeople, etc.) can get to their destination as quickly as possible, it also enables the workload between employees to be dist
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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