Sat.Apr 28, 2018 - Fri.May 04, 2018

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Turning To APIs To Bridge The Gap Between Old And New Tech

PYMNTS

From mom-and-pop retail shops to the world’s largest companies, nearly every business is looking to offer the latest technology to its consumers. For many in the financial services world, though, implementing innovations is easier said than done. So, what’s standing in the way of FIs, the largest of which come to the table armed with big budgets and endless resources?

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State Tax Update for Technology Companies

Katz,Sapper&Miller

For years the tech community has grappled with Indiana’s taxation of software, and specifically software-as-a-service (SaaS). But with the passage of Indiana Senate Bill 257, sellers and buyers of SaaS products now have clearer guidance, which is effective beginning July 1, 2018.

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Can FinTech Walk The FinTalk?

PYMNTS

Benjamin Franklin is best remembered as a signer of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and a prolific inventor who created the lightning rod after flying a kite with a key on it in a thunderstorm. A little known fact, perhaps, is that Franklin is credited with inventing two things that almost every person has used — or will — at some point in their lifetime: swimming fins and bifocals.

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More Banks See Value In Faster Payments And APIs, Finds ACI Worldwide

PYMNTS

A new survey by ACI Worldwide and Ovum found evidence that financial institutions (FIs) are more willing to open up their data via API and are embracing real-time payments initiatives. The report, published on Monday (April 30), found nearly three-quarters of banks surveyed (73 percent) said they would be willing to open up data to third-party developers via API.

Retail 71
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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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Ripple Partners With Five European And Asian Payment Providers

PYMNTS

Ripple has announced that five new customers across Europe and Asia will use xVia to power payments over RippleNet, its blockchain network. The companies partnering with Ripple are FairFX (U.K.), RationalFX (U.K.), Exchange4Free (U.K.), UniPAY (Georgia), and MoneyMatch (Malaysia). xVia is an API solution enabling payment originators (those sending a payment on behalf of a customer, but not actually processing and paying it out) to access RippleNet.

Georgia 70
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Visa ‘Hackathon’ Produces A Digital Payment Tool For Small Businesses

PYMNTS

Its name is Hermyz. Its mission, which just won the official admiration of Visa , is to move small businesses away from checks and paper receipts by migrating invoice management online. Hermyz took the grand prize and the $10,000 that came with it at last weekend’s Small Business Hackathon, an inaugural event that took place in Washington, D.C., with the backing of Visa and the U.S.

More Trending

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The Interoperability-Integration Debate: Where APIs Fit

PYMNTS

New technology and solutions powered by APIs are hitting the financial services market every day, brought on by new innovations or industry regulations. But introducing tech to stay compliant with new regulations and expecting easy adoption in a competitive space is a steep hill to climb – one made even tougher by outdated or legacy technology and IT infrastructure. .

B2B 64
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The (eCommerce) Race Is To The Swift

PYMNTS

Going too slow these days is a costly error to make, as consumers don’t have the patience to wait for their merchants to catch up. If a purchase takes too long to complete, customers will migrate to another site where things move more smoothly, according to this month’s Checkout Conversion Index. And while it’s an exaggeration to state that customers are all turning to Amazon , the eCommerce giant’s latest earnings release indicates a lot of them are.

Sales 63
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Treasurers Overconfident On Cyber Defenses

PYMNTS

With a threefold increase in the number of corporates who had been hit by a ransomware attack in the last year compared to a year prior, corporate treasurers have been forced to swallow the large, uncomfortable pill of the threat of cyberattacks and fraud on their organizations in a short amount of time. But Strategic Treasurer , which highlighted that statistic in its latest Treasury Fraud & Controls survey report sponsored by Bottomline Technologies, found an impressively high level of opt

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Oh, Baby: The Sharing Economy Comes To Childcare Equipment

PYMNTS

Millennials love to share. Ridesharing, home-sharing, bike-sharing — you name it, they probably share it. They are proportionally comfortable using gig economy services that provide these things, with about a third of millennials working some sort of gig position themselves. This generation also loves to travel, and many delay starting families (or forego it altogether) to continue exploring the world or otherwise pursue self-fulfillment.

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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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The Biggest Banking, Regulatory Challenges For Today’s Entrepreneur

PYMNTS

National Small Business Week is this week in the U.S., and finance experts are celebrating with new data on the state of the entrepreneurial community. The verdict, overall, is quite good: Small business optimism is, again, at new heights. But analysts from Bank of America, Square, Navcom and the National Association for the Self-Employed warn that challenges for some SMBs have reached new heights, too.

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Mapping The Black Box: A Look Inside Machine Learning’s Powers And Quirks

PYMNTS

“Machine learning is the answer to the financial inclusion problem.”. So said Douglas Merrill, founder of ZestFinance. It’s a bold statement, considering that the lending space is still trying to articulate what, exactly, the financial inclusion problem is — and everyone else is still trying to figure out what, exactly, “machine learning” means and why it matters to them.

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GDPR & PSD2: A Silver Lining For Fraudsters?

PYMNTS

The deadlines for compliance with new European data regulations are right around the corner, and the impact of these changes won’t be limited to the European Union. According to Ethoca, neither should preparations for the shift. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) goes into effect on May 25 of this year. Additionally, the strong customer authentication (SCA) mandated by the second Payment Services Directive (PSD2) goes into effect in September of 2019 — and yes, that too counts as “rig

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The Role Of Customer Service In Strengthening The Processor/Merchant Bond

PYMNTS

Customer service matters in all walks of business, to consumers and businesses alike, but especially so in payments. Troubleshooting issues when they arise, or anticipating them before they happen, can make all the difference in ensuring transactions and other business processes flow smoothly and voluminously. In an interview with PYMNTS, Latiffa Sharpe, vice president of merchant services for First American Payment Systems , said that merchants, in establishing relationships with their payment

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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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Synchrony Amazon.com Store Card Holders Can Now Check Balances Via Voice

PYMNTS

Synchrony , the financial services company, announced news on Wednesday (May 2) that customers can now use voice commands to manage their Amazon.com Store Card. In a press release , Synchrony said it is making this happen via a new skill for Alexa, dubbed the Store Card skill. Via voice commands, cardholders can check their account information, review recent purchases and charges, get payment details and even pay their bill.

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Starbucks’ US Traffic Flat In Q2 As Promos Fail To Take Off

PYMNTS

Starbucks promotional efforts, which it has been increasing recently, failed to resonate with customers, resulting in the company reporting lackluster store traffic in the U.S. for two quarters in a row. Reuters , citing the company’s second-quarter financial results, reported that same-store sales in the Americas — which is led by the U.S. — increased 2 percent in the second quarter.

Sales 52
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The Quiet Sea Change At QVC

PYMNTS

Home shopping used to mean something quite different in the United States than it does today. In the pre-digital, pre-web and pre- Amazon world, shopping at home meant shopping from the couch — from TV channels like QVC or HSN , but a similar model no matter which way one went. Each program would feature a genial host hawking directly to consumer wares, perhaps some “Diamonique” jewelry.

Retail 51
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Telegram Bags ICO

PYMNTS

After bringing in $1.7 billion from private investors, messaging app Telegram has called off its public initial coin offering (ICO). According to The Wall Street Journal , Telegram raised the money by selling newly created cryptocurrency to fewer than 200 private investors. The company will use the funds for a project, Telegram Open Network, which will expand its technology and further redevelop its messenger service, which has about 200 million users globally.

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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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TRENDING: Can Escrow Disbursements Ease Gig Worker Payment Woes?

PYMNTS

Whether it’s a full-time employee waiting for a regular paycheck, a gig worker expecting to be paid in short order or a borrower seeking a loan, payment frictions can be a roadblock to financial stability. And, if they aren’t cleared seamlessly, these hurdles can cause bills to be missed, expansion plans to be delayed and business relationships to crumble.

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FLEETCOR Reveals Gift Card Data Breach

PYMNTS

FLEETCOR Technologies , a provider of commercial payment services, reported a data breach as the company announced on Thursday (May 3) a 17 percent year-over-year revenue increase for the first quarter of 2018, beating analyst expectations. In its earnings statement, FLEETCOR said that on April 26, it “identified suspicious activity primarily on systems involving the company’s Stored Value Solutions gift card business.

payroll 50
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Amazon Business Adds Invoicing, Allowing Buyers To Delay Payment

PYMNTS

Amazon Business is introducing a new invoicing feature that could impose cash flow pressure on sellers, according to AuctionBytes. The blog posted excerpts from an email reportedly sent by Amazon Business to U.S. sellers on the B2B eCommerce platform, advising them of the launch of Pay by Invoice. The feature, which requires no action or onboarding on the part of the vendor, enables corporate buyers to make invoiced purchases.

B2B 49
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WhatsApp Founder Leaves Company Over Facebook Data Strategy

PYMNTS

The co-founder of WhatsApp, a messaging service owned by Facebook , announced he is leaving the company. Jan Koum, who co-founded WhatsApp with Brian Acton, is leaving the company after disagreements over the messaging service’s strategy, as well as Facebook’s attempts to use its personal data and weaken its encryption. “It’s been almost a decade since Brian and I started WhatsApp, and it’s been an amazing journey with some of the best people,” Koum, said in a post on his Facebook page, accordin

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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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Pitney Bowes Renews Partnership With eBay

PYMNTS

Extending its multiyear collaboration, Pitney Bowes has announced a renewal of its partnership with eBay. The partnership, which has been in place since 2012, focuses on providing a way for eBay sellers in the U.S. to “sell internationally and ship domestically” through eBay’s Global Shipping Program (GSP), Pitney Bowes said in an announcement. Through the program, U.S.

B2C 49
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BMW, Ford, GM Join New Blockchain Consortium Focused On Transportation

PYMNTS

MOBI , the Mobility Open Blockchain Initiative, debuted on Wednesday (May 2) to explore blockchain for use in transportation. In a press release , the group, which includes BMW, Bosch, Ford, General Motors, Groupe Renault, ZF, Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Services USA and others, will focus on using blockchain to make transportation safer, more affordable and more accessible.

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EU May Create Algorithms To Find Anti-Competitive Pricing

PYMNTS

To find companies that may be using software to fix prices, EU regulators may create their own algorithms. European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said that it’s now easy for price collusion to occur, Reuters reported. “It is a hypothesis that not all algorithms will have been to law school,” Vestager said at an event on Friday (May 4).

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SoundHound Raises $100M In A New Round Of Funding

PYMNTS

SoundHound , a voice-enabled artificial intelligence (AI) and conversational intelligence technologies company, announced news on Thursday (May 3) that it has raised $100 million in new funding from a group of strategic investors. In a press release, the company said investors in the round of funding include Tencent Holdings, Daimler, Hyundai Motor Company, Midea Group and Orange.

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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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Making Way For The Up-And-Comers

PYMNTS

Cheers to the up-and-comers: the new and emerging forces that are transforming how people around the world think about payments and commerce. They can be found in the B2B scene, in the explosion of the P2P market and in the rapid expansion of the gig economy — m ore and more companies are going global and trying to figure out how to make their funding motion match.

B2B 49
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Britain’s $2B Royal Commerce Boon

PYMNTS

Spring has been called the season of renewal — new birth and new life — and it doesn’t get much better than the announcement of a marriage and a birth to drive home the cliche. For Britain, spring 2018 has turned out to be a notable year, as the country got a two-for-one special in this regard. On Monday (April 23), the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, gave birth to her third child and second son, Prince Louis (Lou-ee, not Lou-iss).

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Amaryllis Makes TRANSACT 18 Impact

PYMNTS

Startup Amaryllis made an appearance at TRANSACT 18 in Las Vegas April 16 through 19 – the company’s first 10-by-10 booth at a major conference, noted CEO Mark Bishopp , and an experience that was right in line with the startup’s goal to make 2018 “the year of getting the word out” about Amaryllis. According to the Electronic Transactions Association (ETA), TRANSACT brings together all parts of the payments ecosystem – from ISOs/VARs to ISVs and large financial institutions to technology compani

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Blockchain Moves From POC Into Pilots And Beta Tests

PYMNTS

Blockchain applications may still be a ways away from real-world proliferation, but the technology is certainly beginning to take steps from proof-of-concept phase into beta and pilot testing. This week’s Blockchain Tracker takes a look at some of the latest initiatives to make progress and inch closer to a real-world launch. IBM. IBM is no stranger to blockchain, and the technology conglomerate has several distributed ledger projects in the works.

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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.