Sat.Feb 03, 2018 - Fri.Feb 09, 2018

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Ripple Enables Real-Time Payments Into China Via LianLian

PYMNTS

Soon after Ripple announced a collaboration with MoneyGram, the blockchain firm revealed yet another partnership, this time in China. Reports in Blockchain News on Wednesday (Feb. 7) said Ripple announced a partnership with LianLian International, a Hong Kong-based, cross-border payments company, that plans to use Ripple’s xCurrent enterprise blockchain tool to process real-time payments coming into China.

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Tax Reform: Major Changes to Meal and Entertainment Expenses

Katz,Sapper&Miller

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) largely eliminates the deduction for entertainment expenses. While there are a few unanswered questions (specifically how this provision affects meals), its effect is immediate. As a result, businesses should incorporate this change without delay.

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Own Your Program Management, Own Your Destiny

PYMNTS

Being a program manager isn’t easy. Essentially, it means handling everything other than card issuing, authorization and transaction processing. If it’s not holding money or providing a payment network, the program manager does it: AML (anti-money laundering) compliance, KYC (Know Your Customer), fraud mitigation, marketing, privacy, document review, OFAC compliance, reporting and more.

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Mercedes and Bosch Queue Up For Self-Driving Taxi Test

PYMNTS

Daimler’s Mercedes and Bosch are gearing up to test driverless taxis on the roads in the coming months. Engadget, citing German news site Automobilwoche, reported that Bosch head Volkmar Denner said the first test taxi will be on the roads in the coming months. He didn’t provide other details, reported Engadget, but did offer up more of a timetable for the initiative.

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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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NXT-ID Rolls Out The Ability To Pay With Bitcoin

PYMNTS

Fit Pay , a unit of NXT-ID , announced news on Thursday (Feb. 8) of the launch of Flip TM , a contactless payment device for cryptocurrency holders. According to a press release , Fit Pay said the new device will enable cryptocurrency holders to use their digital coins to pay for goods at retail locations. The device launch follows an announcement in December that the company would expand its platform to include cryptocurrencies.

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Predictive Analytics Are Retailers’ Crystal Ball

PYMNTS

Can predicting the future help retailers and other organizations avoid negative outcomes? It’s not just a thought exercise: By analyzing the past, organizations can shape the future they want to see, starting with creating the best possible user experience. Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it, and all that. Customer churn doesn’t have to be a total loss.

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Western Union’s Plans For Mass Payments

PYMNTS

Corporate T&E company Certify is integrating payment capabilities provided by Western Union to enhance its global reimbursement and supplier payment offering. The companies announced in a press release sent to PYMNTS on Thursday (Feb. 8) that they formed a partnership that allows businesses using Certify to facilitate employee reimbursements and supplier payments across borders, with transactions powered by Western Union.

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Blockchain Must Be Easy, Secure To Drive Adoption

PYMNTS

In 2017, cryptocurrency startups raised $5.6 billion through ICOs (initial coin offerings, a fundraising strategy by which creators of digital coins and tokens like bitcoin and Ethereum sell their tokens to investors in order to fund the currency’s launch). With so many ICOs underway, one might say the cryptocurrency space has quickly grown oversaturated – or at the very least, overwhelming.

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Apocalypse Not: Brick-And-Mortar Retail Is Neither Dead Nor Dying

PYMNTS

Frozen food didn’t kill the restaurant. Telephones didn’t kill human interaction. And eCommerce won’t kill brick-and-mortar retail. That’s L Brands CEO and Chairman Les Wexner’s theory, as reported by The Wall Street Journal , in the face of brick-and-mortar retail’s worst year ever. Around 7,000 stores closed their doors in 2017, among them Abercrombie & Fitch, CVS, Gymboree, J.

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Sizzle Of The Week: Amazon Solves The Last Mile Problem With Whole Foods

PYMNTS

This week, in honor of the Big Sizzle – Amazon’s announcement that it would be offering grocery delivery directly from Whole Foods – we thought we would give our readers a chance to take a special quiz. “ THUD”. The above is the sound of…. . The other shoe. dropping on Amazon’s August 2017 Whole Foods purchase. . . The stock prices. of Walmart, Kroger, Target and Publix all crashing at once. . .

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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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WhatsApp Testing Payments In India

PYMNTS

WhatsApp is testing a payment ability in India which will enable users to send money to other users of the mobile app. Citing sources familiar with the company’s plan, TechCrunch reported the service is currently in beta tests. WhatsApp has opted not to make an official announcement yet because the service isn’t available on a wide basis. WhatsApp’s payment solution takes advantage of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in India and includes support from a handful of banks, including State Bank

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Bon-Ton Is The Next Retailer To File For Bankruptcy

PYMNTS

After struggling for years with decreasing sales and mall traffic, Bon-Ton Stores has filed for bankruptcy. The retailer said it voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Delaware and is exploring a sale, Fortune reported. Before the announcement, Bon-Ton announced it would shutter 40 out of its 260 brick-and-mortar stores across its various brands.

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Corporates Go For The ‘Coopetition’ Model Of Blockchain

PYMNTS

Corporates are now in a race to develop and deploy blockchain tools — and sure, part of the momentum behind that effort is the recognition that blockchain technology can lead to greater efficiency and speed in an array of business processes. But much of that effort is also due to the heightened sense of competition and urgency: The ability to tell stakeholders and industry rivals that blockchain is, in some way, already in use within an organization can certainly provide a competitive edge.

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Canadian Firms Spending $5 Billion On Payments Processing

PYMNTS

A new report from Ernst and Young LLP (EY) and Payments Canada finds Canadian businesses are spending as much as $5.2 billion on payments processing. The companies released their report on Tuesday (Feb. 6), highlighting both the cost of payments processing and the inefficiencies involved in the process due to a lack of transparency and data in payment messaging, especially for small businesses (SMBs).

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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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Purchase Order Matching Is A Sign Of Maturity

PYMNTS

Not every organization is diligent about matching purchase orders (POs) with invoices when handling supply chain payments and accounts payable (AP). A PO matching process ensures that a PO has already been established and approved for the vendor before an invoice is even received, so that, when the invoice arrives, the organization can guarantee it’s paying out the correct amount and not overspending.

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Half Of Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) Offer In-Store Pickup For App Orders

PYMNTS

To run a popular burger restaurant, it’s not enough to simply have a good grill and a fresh beef patty. With advances in technology, what happens online — outside the kitchen — can make a good restaurant experience a great one. At Shake Shack, for example, CEO Randy Garutti is focusing on new digital options to make his customers leave his restaurant feeling satisfied.

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Voice: A Growing Piece Of The Omnicommerce Pie

PYMNTS

If a customer wants some red Nike running shoes in size 11, he can use his web browser or phone to navigate to Nike’s website, find the shoes, choose the color and select a size — or he can just say, “Alexa (or Google, or Siri), I want some red Nike running shoes in size 11.”. It’s clear that the natural language approach is a much faster way to get the desired result, and consumers are figuring that out: Alpine.AI CEO and Co-Founder Adam Marchick said the company’s analytics have been showing a

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In Battling Identity Fraud, Finding Digital DNA And The`(Synthetic ID) Devil Behind The Details

PYMNTS

Digital DNA. Perhaps the last and best hope in the battle against ID fraud – the kind that brings ruin to credit reports and billions of dollars in losses to card companies and merchants. News Monday that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has walked back from a full-tilt investigation into the Equifax breach brought to mind the personal data of hundreds of millions of people that is now floating across the Badlands of the Dark Web.

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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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Building A Better Lending Model To Serve SMBs Who Served

PYMNTS

According to the Small Business Administration , of the 28 million U.S. SMBs, roughly 2.5 million, or 9.1 percent, are owned by veterans of the United States Armed Forces. Those firms, according to the same SBA report, had an annual payroll of $195 billion, receipts of $1.14 trillion. And, because vet-owned firms employ about five people each, they are responsible for creating 12.5 million jobs.

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Seven US States Seek To Simplify FinTech Licensing

PYMNTS

Reuters reported news on Tuesday that banking regulators from seven states across the United States are working to, as the newswire reported, “streamline” the FinTech reporting process, with an eye on those tech firms having an easier road toward offering their products and services across the nation. The Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS), through which these states are working, said Tuesday that seven states — which include Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Texas, Tennessee an

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Team USA Launches Omnichannel Strategy For Olympic Retail

PYMNTS

With the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games not too far away, it’s high season for Team USA merchandise. Fanatics , a company that sells Team USA merchandise, has taken a novel approach to Olympic retail this year with a physical store in a major U.S. city. The store marks a milestone for Team USA: It’s their first in-person retail store outside the Olympic Training Center in Colorado.

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Ledger Wallet Vulnerability Can Dupe Users Into Sending Cryptocurrencies To Hackers

PYMNTS

After a report indicated that a bug in Ledger Wallet ’s software could allow users to be duped into sending cryptocurrency to hackers, the hardware wallet company took to Twitter to remind customers to be careful when transferring digital coins. Ledger told users to “always verify [their] receiv[ing] address” on their screen at the bottom of each transaction, TheNextWeb reported.

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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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Rebirth Of Malls: Anchor Stores To Become Destinations For Experiences

PYMNTS

In the future, consumers will come to malls — but they may not come to a large department store with a savings pass in hand. They will be seeking to rewind, relax — and not necessarily search for the latest fashions. As a result, malls and retailers have to rethink how malls are set up and designed. “The key is to control the shopper’s journey and direct the consumer to the proper place, and malls will transition from anchors to attractions,” A.T.

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‘The Market @ Macy’s’ Pops Up

PYMNTS

As department stores reconsider their real estate and business models, Macy’s is testing out pop-up stores in 10 cities — from Las Vegas to New York — in a new concept named “The Market @ Macy’s,” CNBC reported. Through the program, brands can pay a one-time fee for a space on Macy’s first floor to advertise or sell their products while retaining all of their sales.

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Majority Of Consumers Want Digital Coupons, Rewards From Grocers

PYMNTS

H-E-B is not only the neighborhood grocery store for many communities in Texas: It’s also an eCommerce retailer with digital features to better reach its customers. The grocer has brought curbside pickup to cities such as San Antonio, Waco and Houston, while rolling out delivery from Shipt and Instacart. The grocer has also expanded its business beyond its borders to serve Texans that have moved to other states but want comfort food from home.

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Tovala’s Ovens And Meal Kits Get Investment From Tyson Foods

PYMNTS

Chicago-based startup subscription service and steam oven creator Tovala has received new funding from Tyson Ventures , the investment arm of food giant Tyson Foods, according to a Tuesday (Feb. 6) TechCrunch report. The exact amount of the funding was not disclosed, but Tyson’s investment appears to have been earmarked to finance collaborations on Tyson-branded meals through the Tovala meal prep subscription service offering.

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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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Justice Department Announces Three Dozen Indictments In $530M Cyber ID Crime Spree

PYMNTS

You’ve heard of a baker’s dozen. Well, here, perhaps, is the hacker’s three dozen — and might there be more? According to reports by Reuters Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice said it had indicted 36 people from around the globe tied to an internet identity theft ring. The cybercriminals racked up nearly $530 million in losses to consumers and enterprises.

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Bitcoin Slides Again As Banks Curb Buying

PYMNTS

And the hits keep coming … to bitcoin’s price. The cryptocurrency’s value was down more than 7 percent on Monday (Feb. 5) to roughly $7,600, a level that would represent a new low not seen in more than two months. That slide occurred as global concerns come to bear on the digital currency, tied primarily to bans on buying bitcoin levied by banks. As reported by Reuters , the price, quoted from Bitstamp, now represents a fall that has taken bitcoin well off its peak of nearly $20,000 seen late la

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New Chargeback Rules No Sweat For Chargehound

PYMNTS

April 15, the day that Visa’s new chargeback rules go into effect, has stirred up a lot of anxiety for merchants – but for the startup Chargehound , it’ll be just another day. Merchants who respond to chargebacks manually are pulling their hair out as they picture 30 percent shorter deadlines and more stringent rules around what qualifies as evidence.

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Why B2B Payments Innovation Is Key To China’s Global Standing

PYMNTS

B2B payments are an instrumental component of global trade and of setting the stage for currencies to operate as global instruments of cross-border trade. China’s renminbi (RMB) is one global currency that is pushing its international standing, but new data from SWIFT released earlier this month found 2017 was a mixed year for the currency. RMB usage made up 1.61 percent of domestic and cross-border payments in December 2017, SWIFT found, with the company’s Head of Payments Markets, Asia-Pacific

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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.