PYMNTS
DECEMBER 31, 2018
So far this year (and there’s still one more day), Verizon reported that there have been 2,216 confirmed data breaches across 65 countries. Even more disturbing, perhaps, is that 68 percent of those breaches took months for the breached companies to discover. If that’s not disturbing enough, 28 percent of those incidents were perpetuated by insiders.
PYMNTS
JANUARY 1, 2019
Tech companies are taking more time to reach their initial public offerings, with the median gap between their early financing and their IPOs hitting 10.1 years in 2017, up from 6.9 years in 2013, according to a recent estimate. A robust supply of private capital reportedly is one of the main reasons for that, along with corporate cultures that are averse to public markets.
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PYMNTS
JANUARY 2, 2019
With the global mobile point of sale (mPOS) market projected to experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.8 percent from 2017 to 2026, many solution providers are looking to use partnerships as a boost to snag a bigger share of the growing market. Around the mPOS space, providers are teaming up, merging or making acquisitions. In the January mPOS Tracker , PYMNTS charts the latest developments.
PYMNTS
JANUARY 2, 2019
While commercial card innovation certainly accelerated in 2018, progress can always continue. One area of development that J.P. Morgan Managing Director and Head of Commercial Card Product Management Naney Pandit says should be a focus this year is in mobilizing the corporate card. It’s not altogether an unfamiliar concept, of course. Much attention has been paid to mobile business payments in the fleet sector in particular, with Comdata launching its mobile app, Comdata OnRoad, that links
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
JANUARY 2, 2019
In a recent report published by Protiviti and North Carolina State University, analysts found just how important technology and innovation are becoming for corporate executives. Their December 2018 survey found “digital readiness” to be the c-suite’s top priority for 2019, with executives also reflecting their concern that the biggest risks their companies face are intensifying.
PYMNTS
JANUARY 1, 2019
Here’s a 2019 prediction that we guarantee will come true: There will be no human being or business adamantly hoping to be paid slower in 2019 than they were in 2018. We also guarantee that this prediction will hold, regardless of who one is talking about or the use case to which it pertains. That could be the small merchant wanting access to their daily sales on the same day instead of seven days later, the dad who just sent $100 to his college-age kid to buy food for the weekend, an Uber drive
Accountant Advocate brings together the best content for small business accounting professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
PYMNTS
JANUARY 2, 2019
On the face of it, the lure of real-time payments might seem like an inevitability. The concept is gaining traction and deployment across any number of avenues and several countries. In a recent example, in the U.S., a number of leading tech companies have become vocal in their support of a real-time payments (RTP) network, to be created under the leadership of the Federal Reserve and different from what has been previously proposed by the big banks.
PYMNTS
JANUARY 3, 2019
The new year brings time for reflection and projection. To that end, any number of analyses are coming in the blockchain arena. According to an article via the MIT Technology Review , this will be the year that blockchain becomes “boring,” with innovative projects that will “bear fruit” this year even amid the declines seen last year in the sector, and in cryptocurrencies.
PYMNTS
JANUARY 4, 2019
New data shows that eCommerce traffic was up this holiday season, even after Christmas Day. According to the 2018 Holiday Retail Index by Verizon , average daily eCommerce traffic to the top 25 U.S. retailers increased by 7.5 percent year-over-year on Thursday, Dec. 27 and 7.7 percent year-over-year on Friday, Dec. 28. And while there was a 20 percent year-over-year decline in U.S. online retail traffic on Sunday, Dec. 30, eCommerce traffic saw a boost every day compared to the previous year bet
PYMNTS
JANUARY 4, 2019
PayPal has reported a more than twelvefold boost in revenue at its Indian payments subsidiary. According to The Economic Times , revenue reached Rs 260 crore in 2018 from Rs 21 crore the previous year. As a result, a source said the company has increased its investments in India, including a boost in technology augmentation, hiring new employees in the country and opening a new office in Mumbai.
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
JANUARY 3, 2019
Once upon a time — about a decade ago — there was this QSR executive who observed the rise of online retail, but figured those changes would never apply to his businesses. He would never ship a hamburger, he thought. Nor would the basic processes of fast food change — people would still line up before a cashier, or take their place in the drive-thru, recite their order, pay and then take their food.
PYMNTS
JANUARY 2, 2019
WhatsApp, Facebook ’s messaging app, is still working to launch its digital payments service nationwide in India. WhatsApp Pay, which is facilitated by the Indian government’s UPI payments system, began testing its service in the country earlier this year with around one million users. Since then, it has processed about one million transactions per month, according to people close to the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
PYMNTS
JANUARY 4, 2019
Let’s get a few things straight, a couple of points that might go against what every payments and commerce professional knows, but which will be important for the rest of the story. First, there is no safety — or perhaps even wisdom — in crowds. Second, friction is good. Welcome to a different world — in this case, the world of digital thieves, hackers and other such criminals.
PYMNTS
DECEMBER 31, 2018
Some popular apps for Android smartphones are feeding data to Facebook without user consent, which could be a breach of the European Union’s (EU’s) General Data Protection Regulation ( GDPR ). When looking at 34 Android apps, the campaign group Privacy International discovered that at least 20 — including Skyscanner , TripAdvisor and MyFitnessPal — immediately send certain data to the social media site before users are asked for permission.
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
DECEMBER 31, 2018
Call it a long day’s journey into … twilight? At this writing, bitcoin’s price hovers around $3,807. The nadir has been a bit more than $3,100, and not far behind us, in the rear-view mirror looking back little more than a year, was an all-time high of nearly $20,000. Long ago and far away, bitcoin enthusiasm was measured in dollars, and what a difference a year makes.
PYMNTS
JANUARY 2, 2019
When the B2B payments industry began considering what to expect for 2018, commercial cards weren’t often on the radar. Cards are still expected to account for only a minor fraction of B2B payments volume in accounts payable by the end of the year, after all, with ACH gaining traction as the go-to ePayments rail for corporate payers. Yet, 2018 was certainly a big year for commercial cards, and for credit card giants’ B2B payments aspirations overall.
PYMNTS
JANUARY 3, 2019
One size never fits all in retail — so why should it be any different with payments? Commerce is done across brick-and-mortar and online conduits, with plastic cards and in-app payments. Merchant acquirers — and, of course, merchants — must be aware of how consumers want to pay, and when and where. No easy task when point-of-sale systems are limited, in function and scope, by information conveyed.
PYMNTS
JANUARY 3, 2019
The ongoing battle between Apple and Qualcomm continued on Thursday (Jan. 3), with the latter striking a decisive blow over the copyright infringement suit it brought against the American tech giant. Qualcomm, a telecommunications and chip making company, said it posted security bonds amounting to $1.52 billion to start the enforcement of a court order from a German court.
Advertiser: Paycor
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PYMNTS
JANUARY 3, 2019
It’s an annual tradition come early January — people everywhere pulling back from their resolutions, finding some wiggle room in the certainty of change that seemed so absolute only a week or two ago. You can be sure that one area of regression involves social media. New research, in fact, supports that idea — specifically, the high value that consumers attach to Facebook , and the high cost it would take to make them leave the social media platform.
PYMNTS
JANUARY 4, 2019
To help lead a team that bolsters its consumer payment experience delivery, Mastercard said Donald Chesnut will become its first chief experience officer as of Jan. 14. Chesnut will also give issuers, merchants and other partners “a more holistic way to work with Mastercard’s products and services,” the company said in an announcement. “Providing customers with a clear, consistent and rewarding experience is what differentiates leaders from the rest of the pack,” Chief Product Officer Mich
PYMNTS
JANUARY 2, 2019
Online glasses retailer Warby Parker was hit by a cybersecurity attack that affected about 198,000 of its customers from late September to late November, according to reports. The hackers stole usernames and passwords and tried to access accounts. Warby Parker contacted law enforcement when it found out about the breach. The hackers reportedly used info obtained from the unrelated hacking of other companies.
PYMNTS
JANUARY 2, 2019
Didi Chuxing , China’s largest ride-hailing company, has debuted a slew of financial products for workers, according to reports. The company will offer crowdfunding and lending as it tries to distance itself from a year of scandals, including the murder of two female passengers. In December, Didi announced a company-wide reorganization, meant to improve safety and efficiency.
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
DECEMBER 29, 2018
What a difference a decade makes. Ten years ago, consumer confidence had slipped to an all-time low, and consumer spending followed it down the rabbit hole. At the close of 2018, the consumer’s outlook on things is several shades brighter than it was a decade ago. Consumer confidence hit an 18-year high point earlier this year. According to the Conference Board, the consumer confidence index jumped to a reading of 138.4 in September, up from 134.7 in August, and approaching its all-time high of
PYMNTS
JANUARY 3, 2019
Overstock , the online retailer and blockchain company, announced Thursday (Jan. 3) that it will pay a portion of its state business taxes in Ohio in bitcoin, becoming the first major U.S. company to pay state taxes in bitcoin. In a press release , Overstock said it plans to pay its commercial activity taxes (CAT) in Ohio this coming February using the state’s recently launched OhioCrypto.com platform, which lets taxpayers pay state business taxes with bitcoin.
PYMNTS
JANUARY 4, 2019
Quick-service restaurant (QSR) managers are a conservative bunch when it comes to payments, new PYMNTS research found. It makes sense — the process of walking up to a counter, ordering food, paying, then taking possession of the meal (or doing pretty much the same thing while in a vehicle in the drive-through) is simple and long-standing. Why mess with that legacy, given all the other problems that come with QSRs, including staffing and making sure food is both fresh and quick for the lunch and
PYMNTS
JANUARY 2, 2019
The European Union wants tougher examination of potential risks associated with Chinese tech companies, amid growing fears of cybercrimes linked to Beijing and the Chinese government. A diplomat who spoke to Financial Times said that with the upcoming adoption of 5G mobile technology, it’s a good time to question China’s motives for offering tech to other countries.
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
JANUARY 2, 2019
It has been a year of subscription innovation, with businesses in many verticals – from food to transportation – providing consumers with products and services for a recurring fee. Below, PYMNTS rounds up the top subscription trends of the year and sheds light on how merchants used this offering to offer more flexibility for customers. These are just some examples of how merchants adapted their business models to subscription offerings this year.
PYMNTS
JANUARY 4, 2019
Square , Jack Dorsey’s digital payments company, announced Thursday (January 3) that it named Blizzard Entertainment chief financial officer Amrita Ahuja as its new CFO. In a press release , Square said Ahuja will join the company in January, reporting to Dorsey. In her current role at Blizzard Entertainment, the unit of Activision Blizzard, Ahuja oversees the financials for a business that has more than $2 billion in annualized revenue.
PYMNTS
JANUARY 4, 2019
Following reports of its data breach last year, Marriott said on Friday (Jan. 4) that the total number of guest records involved in a Starwood database security incident was less than initially disclosed. And, while the hotel company said that the number of passport numbers and payment cards impacted is “a relatively small percentage of the overall total records involved,” it did acknowledge that 5.25 million unencrypted passport numbers were “accessed by an unauthorized third party.
PYMNTS
JANUARY 4, 2019
When it comes to the world of cybercrime touching the connected smart devices that consumers are increasingly using, it is easy to come across some disconcerting thoughts. Unlike fraud that might lift one’s credit card number, or even swipe personal information out of a database, there is something particularly worrisome about hackers getting a hold of a smart speaker or baby monitor because it feels so much more personal.
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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