Sat.Aug 12, 2017 - Fri.Aug 18, 2017

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Mobile Order-Ahead: It’s Not Just For Restaurants

PYMNTS

The growing popularity of mobile order-ahead is hardly news in the restaurant industry, where customers — especially millennials — crave the convenience, speed and personalization of a mobile ordering experience both in quick-service restaurants (QSRs), coffee shops and fast-casual dining environments. Here at PYMNTS, we’ve followed the trend closely, both in our regular coverage and in our Mobile Order-Ahead Tracker.

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KSM to Host Not-for-Profit Accounting Update: A Conversation with the FASB

Katz,Sapper&Miller

Katz, Sapper & Miller’s Not-for-Profit Services Group will host “Not-for-Profit Accounting Update: A Conversation with the FASB” Oct. 10 in Indianapolis.

Account 40
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Open Banking, Open APIs, Wide Open Opportunities?

PYMNTS

When it comes to open banking, there’s a clear choice in place: by fiat, which includes formal processes, or by evolution, which would imply letting the market dictate what happens. In Europe, of course, PSD2 looms large and soon, and financial institutions have been handed a roadmap for implementation of data sharing. Here in the United States, the road is less clearly defined.

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APT 28 Is Reportedly Behind European Hotel Wi-Fi Attack

PYMNTS

APT 28, a cyber spying group that is suspected to be connected to military intelligence in Russia , was likely behind a cyberattack of hotel guests in countries mainly in Europe in July. Researchers at FireEye, the security firm, said in a research report covered by Reuters that the Kremlin hackers were aiming to steal the password credentials for business travelers and Western government officials using Wi-Fi networks in hotels mainly in eight countries in Europe.

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How to Build the Ideal HR Team

HR doesn’t exist in a vacuum. This work impacts everyone: from the C-Suite to your newest hire. It also drives results. Learn how to make it all happen in Paycor’s latest guide.

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Aldi To Test Home Delivery Via Instacart

PYMNTS

Aldi, the discount grocery chain, is gearing up to test home delivery with Instacart at the end of August. According to a report, if the pilot goes well the test will expand to parts of Atlanta, Dallas and Los Angeles. The latest move is part of the company’s big expansion plans. In June it acquired around 1,700 stores and plans to invest $3.4 billion to expand into 2,500 locations around the country by the end of 2022.

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Wells Fargo’s Merchant Services Unit In The Spotlight

PYMNTS

Wells Fargo is facing a fresh lawsuit contending the bank’s Merchant Services Unit overcharged small businesses for the payment processing of their credit card transactions. According to a news report on CNN.com , citing a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court, Wells Fargo also hit business owners with “massive early termination fees” and targeted business owners who weren’t as savvy, by using “deceptive language.

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Facebook Takes On Zillow With Dynamic Ads For Real Estate

PYMNTS

With two billion active monthly users, Facebook is leveraging its massive audience against a new vertical: real estate. According to reports, the social media giant has launched “Dynamic Ads For Real Estate,” a new advertising feature that might just challenge Zillow’s supremacy in the digital retail arena. The product functions by integrating real estate firms’ existing listing data into the Facebook advertising platform.

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SEC To Regulate Bitcoin ICOs, Token Sales

PYMNTS

The Securities and Exchange Commission is getting into the bitcoin market, saying it will regulate the popular digital currency and other cryptocurrencies. According to a report in Seeking Alpha , the SEC said the cryptocurrencies are subject to federal securities laws. “Offers and sales of digital assets by ‘virtual’ organizations are subject to the requirements of the federal securities laws,” said SEC Chairman Jay Clayton, according to the report.

Sales 58
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Bitcoin To Possibly Split Again Into 3 Currencies

PYMNTS

Cryptocurrencies are experiencing a bit of an identity crisis right now. While there are many parties involved that are deeply invested in it, others are skeptical about its true value. In this year alone, we’ve seen bitcoin valued at just under $1,000 in January to over $3,000 in May and soaring over $4,000 this past weekend. One of the major factors impacting the most recent leap in bitcoin value is the recent hard fork to develop a new cryptocurrency dubbed Bitcoin Cash.

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Artificial Intelligence, Artificial Empathy

PYMNTS

Paging Dr. Alexa: How are you feeling? It may not be long before virtual, voice-controlled assistants can tell and answer accordingly. Mattersight VP of Product Andy Traba says the tech’s all there, and it’s just a matter of time before our friendly home bots pick up the decidedly human skill of empathy. Mattersight analyzes call center phone conversations to determine which language patterns correlate to which outcomes.

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Planning Your Restaurant's 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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Billie Launches SMB Invoice Financing With Wirecard

PYMNTS

Berlin-based fintech Billie announced it will now offer small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) invoice financing, following an agreement with internet technology and financial services provider Wirecard. Crowdfund Insider reported Billie will offer SMBs and freelancers the opportunity to pre-finance their invoices by purchasing all liabilities from third parties and settling the outstanding amount.

Finance 53
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Seeking Banking Balance Between Physical And Digital

PYMNTS

With more consumers moving to mobile transactions over visits to branches, some banks are considering closing brick-and-mortar locations to reduce operational costs. The price of real estate is prompting even the largest players in the banking world to scale back their branch operations. Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Citi, to name a few, all scaled back their physical bank branch locations between 2012 and 2016, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

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Too Much Security? There’s No Such Thing

PYMNTS

Retailers are retailers, not security experts. Too often, their best efforts can create friction at the point of sale for consumers, which leads to shopping cart abandonment and lost revenue, all while feeding the illusion of “too much security.”. It goes without saying that eCommerce security is paramount as cybercriminals get smarter and more creative.

Sales 52
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The Sky’s The Limit For Kenyan Online Marketplace Sky.Garden

PYMNTS

Africa is getting its own version of Amazon. Or at least, Nairobi, Kenya, is, with potential to one day see this marketplace representing all major cities across Africa. The software-as-a-service (SaaS) eCommerce platform is called Sky.Garden, and merchants use its virtual shelves to peddle everything from mobile phones and electronics to fashion, from household items and décor to art, and even safety equipment.

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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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This Time, We Want You To Drink The Kool-Aid

PYMNTS

Kool-Aid kind of gets a bum rap. After all, it’s pretty hard to stay relevant for 90 years – in the food and drink category, no less – and yet, Kool-Aid is still going strong. It’s even flavored in much the same way as it was when Edwin Perkins first set up shop in Hastings, Nebraska in 1927. “We have a significant level of awareness,” said Andrew Louie, brand manager of refreshment beverages at Kool-Aid’s modern corporate parent company, Kraft.

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Smartwatch Ownership To Increase 60 Percent In US

PYMNTS

There has certainly been a myriad of new tech devices and gadgets entering the scene over the last few decades. One connected device that some may have thought would not have lasted as long as it has is seeing a major upswing in the United States — smartwatches. According to NPD Group Connected Intelligence Wearables Survey, “ WEAR Report Industry Overview and Forecast , ” smartwatches are not going anywhere any time soon.

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Can Fashion Help JC Penney Beat Its Losses?

PYMNTS

Turnarounds are not easy work — just ask the team at JC Penney. As of the end of Q2, the numbers aren’t quite what the long-suffering retail chain was hoping to see. Same-store sales and earnings both clocked in under analyst estimates, and net losses grew to $62 million, or 20 cents per share, from the $56 million, or 18 cents per share, reported in the same time frame last year.

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The Buyers: Teen Retail Engagement

PYMNTS

It can be argued that some of the toughest buyers to keep in mind when planning out retail strategies are teenagers. With each passing decade, the buying patterns of teens undoubtedly and unequivocally see a shift alongside the advances in technology. While one day a teen may be into shopping strictly online, another day may see an offline preferred experience or a mixture of both, and retailers must be at the ready to transform engagement efforts at any given time.

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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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Amazon Tracker: Is This The Year Prime Takes Over America?

PYMNTS

By the end of the year , Amazon Prime will be in more than 50 percent of American homes , predicts Cowen and Co. The most recent Prime Day brought more new Prime subscribers into the eFamily than any other 24-hour period, and analysts believe that will give the eCommerce giant the nudge it needs to pass this milestone. Another key attractor was the constant growth of new Prime services: Prime Now, Prime Pantry, Prime Video and Prime Music, just to name a few.

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This Week In Retail: Finances, Delivery And IT

PYMNTS

This week in retail, there has been news coming in from opposite sides of the spectrum. We saw a huge surge in bitcoin’s value , expansions in speedy home deliveries , Amazon’s increasing presence and Gartner’s research on increasing global IT spend. Bitcoin’s year has seen its fair share of ups and downs in value. In addition to this, other cryptocurrencies have popped up, and recently there was a hard fork with the development of Bitcoin Cash.

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Jewel Paymentech: Tech’s Role In Upending The Banking System

PYMNTS

Payments are the connective tissue between businesses today. And, as digital avenues find their way into every nook and cranny of a digital consumer and merchant’s journey, the risks involved in managing and processing those transactions between banks, merchants and consumers heighten. Helping banks manage those risks in the face of this changing landscape is what Singapore-based Jewel Paymentech CEO Sean Lam says gets him and his team fired up every day.

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Target Hires New Execs To Transform Grocery Department

PYMNTS

Target is hoping to catch up to rivals such as Kroger and Walmart in the ongoing grocery war. The company announced Monday, Aug. 14, that it has added former executives from Walmart and General Mills to its food and beverage team in a renewed effort to bolster its $15-billion-per-year grocery business, which according to Fortune accounts for about 20 percent of the company’s sales.

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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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T.J. Maxx And Marshalls Parent Company Sees Positive Trajectory

PYMNTS

Finding a bargain in your favorite department store is always a thrill. Digging through the racks in the back of the store just to find that they have something in your size or something that fits in just the right spot in your home has become something of a way of life for Americans, especially after the 2008 recession hit. As a result, stores like T.J.

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Tech Saves More Than It Costs In The Procurement World?

PYMNTS

Optimization: it’s what separates the procurement wheat from the chaff. It goes without saying that, in a business setting, it is always optimal to do and earn more while expending less, and that’s a capability that technology and automation have unlocked for many businesses. Procurement organizations that have seized those capabilities have taken their business from good to great, raising it to a world-class level.

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Facebook Quietly Launched Photo-Sharing App In China This Year

PYMNTS

Facebook has reportedly entered the market in China, anonymously launching a new photo-sharing app earlier in the year. According to a report, the app, dubbed Colorful Balloons, was rolled out earlier in 2017 but does not include the Facebook name. Facebook confirmed over the weekend that it had launched the Chinese app. The app was released through a separate company based in China.

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Alipay And Yelp Partner To Give Chinese Travelers Access To Reviews

PYMNTS

Alipay, the Chinese digital payment arm of Alibaba, announced news that it has teamed up with online review website Yelp to bring Yelp’s local content to millions of Chinese travelers directly within Alipay’s mobile lifestyle and payment app. In a press release, Alipay said that with the beta launch, any of Alipay’s more than 520 million users visiting North American cities, such as New York City, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Francisco, can now easily discover, plan, make reservations, share

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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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Target Beats The Street As It Attempts A Turnaround

PYMNTS

After a few quarters that would charitably be described as rough sailing, the team at Target had some positive signs of progress to announce with its latest earnings reports. Sales during Q2 managed to come in ahead of analyst estimates, and the retailer boosted its earnings forecast for the rest of 2017. Investors liked the sound of that and sent Target’s share up 4.9 percent on the news.

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Technology Helps Lower Labor Costs, But Procurement Pros Still Vital To Success

PYMNTS

A new study has found that implementation of digital technology has enabled procurement organizations to reduce their full-time workers by an average of 29 percent, lowering labor costs by 22 percent. Research by The Hackett Group finds both buyers and sellers benefit from the technologies that automate processes, accelerate communication and shrink the distance between a global web of suppliers and customers.

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Direct To Consumer: Subscription Boxes For All

PYMNTS

Subscription boxes have slowly worked their way into becoming a staple of the modern home. From Birchbox to Blue Apron , Stitch Fix and BarkBox , there doesn’t seem to be a corner of the retail industry that doesn’t have its own version. Through these companies and more, consumers are able to check out products on a smaller scale without breaking the bank.

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B2B Marketplace Releaf Helps African Businesses Network

PYMNTS

Releaf is a new B2B marketplace that aims to help African businesses network and find partners they can trust. According to news from TechCrunch , the startup, which is currently taking part in Y Combinator, has signed up about 1,000 African businesses since its public launch in Nigeria on August 3. Releaf’s founders — Chief Executive Isaiah Udotong, Chief Operating Officer Ikenna Nzewi and Chief Technical Officer Uzoma Ayogu — knew they needed to address cultural differences when building thei

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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.