PYMNTS
DECEMBER 20, 2017
Passport, company that’s managing much of the technical aspects of how people pay to use public transportation resources in cities like London, Miami and Los Angeles, has just raised $43 million. The money, from Bain Capital Ventures, will go to help the company expand its payment and transaction services nationally and internationally. Read More.
Katz,Sapper&Miller
DECEMBER 20, 2017
We could not say goodbye to 2017 without revisiting the year’s most popular content. We believe these posts illustrate the depth and varied experience of our firm as well as our commitment to helping our clients further their growth and success.
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PYMNTS
DECEMBER 20, 2017
“Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is, I don’t know which half.”. That’s a quote from department store maven John Wanamaker, illustrating a conundrum for retailers (and merchants in general): Namely, you’ve got to reach out to consumers if you are going to convince them to buy your wares. But reaching out involves time and money — both precious commodities.
PYMNTS
DECEMBER 20, 2017
What do track and field stars, NASCAR drivers and millions of businesses owners around the United States have in common? They all have an appreciation for speed. While more speed may mean more endorsement money for athletes, it means faster settlements and more efficient business for commercial banking customers. With a growth in demand, banks and FinTechs are working to give business owners the speed they need.
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
DECEMBER 21, 2017
We asked our readers to give their favorite holiday tunes a T1D spin. Here are some lyrics for all to enjoy: The Night Before Christmas with Type 1 Diabetes. ‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, till the CGM alarm did rouse; The testing supplies were stocked by the bedside with care, In hopes that a finger prick soon would be there.
PYMNTS
DECEMBER 19, 2017
Employee fraud is a monumental issue, especially for small businesses (SMBs) without resources to track every penny workers spend. But that fraud is only part of the problem stemming from a lack of visibility into corporate spend. In addition to employee expenses, another key challenge for companies is the money they spend, and sometimes waste, on subscription services.
Accountant Advocate brings together the best content for small business accounting professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
PYMNTS
DECEMBER 18, 2017
IKEA has already done some early work to embrace augmented reality in its brick-and-mortar stores. Through a recent design collaboration with Wavemaker, the company is taking the next step by using virtual reality (VR) to help shoppers more fully experience IKEA and learn more about what they’re buying. IKEA’s newest retail concept got its first test run at a Dallas store opening.
PYMNTS
DECEMBER 20, 2017
As more businesses join collaborative groups and invest in internal research and development (R&D) to explore using blockchain for new services, some firms have begun to use the technology themselves. This week, news from Citigroup, UPS and Vanguard signal interest in using the distributed ledger technology in the back office. Plus, in this week’s Blockchain Tracker, PYMNTS takes a look at how governments continue to consider the tool, with one city aiming to be the first government that run
PYMNTS
DECEMBER 19, 2017
A European Union court is slated to decide later this week if ridesharing firm Uber is a digital company or one that provides transport services. According to a report in Reuters, a ruling in the case is expected Wednesday (Dec. 20). If the court decides Uber is a transportation company, that decision should not have an immediate impact on the company’s operations.
PYMNTS
DECEMBER 19, 2017
Cryptocurrency holding company Integrated Ventures wants to disrupt the lending industry with blockchain. The company announced news on Monday (Dec. 18) of the launch of CryptoFunder, a blockchain platform that provides lenders with a way to store and manage lending information. “The CryptoFunder blockchain will be focused on qualifying, initiating, underwriting and processing funding transactions, including tracking … digitally mined assets and using them as [a] main mode of payment for
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
DECEMBER 19, 2017
Reports Monday (Dec. 18) said unnamed sources suggest Amazon is planning to invest in alternative lender Capital Float, based in India. According to The Economic Times , three unnamed sources confirmed the news, which separate reports in VCCircle said would likely be a top-up to the $45 million in Series C funding Capital Float raised earlier this year.
PYMNTS
DECEMBER 20, 2017
[link]. Pot has a payments problem. Cannabis’ status as a schedule-one narcotic means the federally chartered banks, the card networks and the traditional payments ecosystem have made it clear that they’d like to steer clear. In turn, that means digital payment methods of all kinds have largely been a no-go, making pot a $7 billion cash industry in 2016.
PYMNTS
DECEMBER 18, 2017
Tokyo-based car manufacturer Toyota led the clean cars movement with its release of the hybrid Prius a little more than a decade ago, but it has since fallen behind as the market has moved toward full electrification and eco-friendly automobile options. That looks to be changing, though, as the car company has announced that it plans to offer more than 10 purely battery-powered vehicles from 2020 on — with every car it sells available in an electric or hybrid model by 2025, TechCrunch reported M
PYMNTS
DECEMBER 18, 2017
[link]. When one person is thinking about sending an email to another, there are all kinds of things to think about: how long or short to make it; whether or not to include pictures; whether an emoji is cute or will make them look immature. But what no one wonders about as they tap out an email on an iPhone is whether or not the receiver also has an iOS-enabled phone.
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 18, 2017
Citi has implemented what it calls a “blockchain-inspired” distributed ledger technology in its back-office to manage collateral in its ledger and send cash or securities, the financial institution (FI) announced Friday (Dec. 15) in a press release. The bank implemented the distributed ledger platform with CME Group in an effort to accelerate settlement of collateral.
PYMNTS
DECEMBER 20, 2017
Global Exchange is expanding its global payments services designed for the professional services space and broadening its customer scope, the company announced on Tuesday (Dec. 19). Along with its parent company, Cambridge Global Payments, Global Exchange is introducing Invoice Automation Solutions, a new service for businesses across industries that will be added into the Cambridge Global Payments offering.
PYMNTS
DECEMBER 20, 2017
Nearly a quarter of U.K. small businesses (SMBs) believe banks have changed their ways since the global financial crisis, according to a new survey by CivilisedBank. The data, according to a report by Asset Finance International , also found that most SMBs believe banks do not prioritize acting in a “civilized” manner with their customers. Small businesses said they feel employees at banks are more concerned with short-term sales instead of building long-lasting client relationships.
PYMNTS
DECEMBER 20, 2017
Data is expected to show slower economic growth across Canada for the second half of 2017 and, along with it, a slowdown in small- and medium-sized business (SMB) lending, according to new research from small business credit data and analysis firm PayNet. In its “Small Business Lending Index,” released Tuesday (Dec. 19), PayNet found a downturn in borrowing among medium-sized businesses for the month of September, with the index itself declining to 111.4 points from its previous 115.2.
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
DECEMBER 20, 2017
Geld stinkt nicht. Germany might be an economic powerhouse, its citizens are rather old fashioned but when it comes to payment preferences — and happily so. According to research inside the new PYMNTS Global Cash Index Germany Analysis, the country has a cash share of 20 percent as of 2016. That’s the sixth-highest cash share of countries in Western Europe, higher than that of neighboring nations like Belgium (15.4 percent), France (7 percent) and the Netherlands (7.1 percent).
PYMNTS
DECEMBER 19, 2017
Youbit, which operated as a cryptocurrency exchange in South Korea, announced news on Tuesday that it would file for bankruptcy following a hack that stole 17 percent of the company’s crypto “assets.”. The Telegraph reported this morning, via a statement signed by “all employees” at the company, that the company is working to minimize customer losses, with upcoming details on refunds to be provided via “additional notice.”.
PYMNTS
DECEMBER 20, 2017
A logistics startup that is already servicing some big names has announced $4.3 million in new venture capital (VC) funding. Monday (Dec. 18) reports from TechCrunch said AxleHire — which facilitates last-mile logistics and delivery for subscription commerce and consumer packaged goods (CPG) firms like HelloFresh and La Boulangerie — has secured the new funding from contributors like Acorn Pacific, RGA Ventures and other backers.
PYMNTS
DECEMBER 18, 2017
Following the global financial crisis and a pullback among banks from small business (SMB) lending, some jurisdictions have recently begun introducing new initiatives to entice competition in the space. That may come in the form of regulations that ease access to banking licenses or legislation like PSD2, promoting open banking and data sharing between financial institutions (FIs) and third parties.
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 20, 2017
Paychecks can be confusing for employees — and often wrong. Understanding how much you’re being paid, and how much goes to taxes, can be easily misunderstood. According to The Workforce Institute at Kronos, most Americans have experienced some type of problem with their paycheck. More than a quarter said they were paid too little, and 15 percent said they’ve received a paycheck late.
PYMNTS
DECEMBER 19, 2017
Longfin , a small startup focused on financial tech, has seen its stock price skyrocket since it started trading last week. According to Fortune , New York-based Longfin started trading on the NASDAQ last week at $5. But after announcing on Friday that it acquired startup Ziddu.com , which uses the blockchain ledger accounting technology from digital currencies to make small loans, Longfin saw its stock price more than quadruple to almost $24 a share.
PYMNTS
DECEMBER 19, 2017
Embattled toy and game retailer Toys R Us may close 100 U.S. storefronts following weaker-than-expected holiday sales , Bloomberg reported Monday (Dec. 18). Store sales for the Wayne, New Jersey-based firm have declined 15 percent this holiday shopping season compared to last, and the number of brick-and-mortar toy stores shuttering after the holidays could reach as high as 200.
PYMNTS
DECEMBER 20, 2017
World, meet Magic Leap One. Magic Leap One, meet the world. More at: [link] pic.twitter.com/2iXgyPs21K — Magic Leap (@magicleap) December 20, 2017. So here are the pictures of the new Magic Leap goggles coming soon. Also here is some early prototype pics via Rolling Stone who Magic Leap CEO Rony Abovitz shared the new Magic Leap news with. [link].
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
DECEMBER 19, 2017
With home security firm Ring reporting that nearly one in five homeowners in the U.S. have experienced package theft in the last year, companies like Sacramento, California-based package delivery locker system Luxer One are setting up package delivery systems to prevent porch pirates, CNBC reported Monday (Dec. 18). With the rise in eCommerce and online spending in 2017, most shipping and logistics firms are expecting record delivery numbers, and Adobe Analytics is predicting the first $100 bill
PYMNTS
DECEMBER 18, 2017
Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) have more on their plates than ever before. Financial management and strategy is now only part of the job description, which has come to include guiding their organizations’ tech adoption, cybersecurity efforts and growth strategy as well. Amid these changes is a world of regulatory shifts, from tax reform in the U.S. to financial reform in China and Brexit in the U.K.
PYMNTS
DECEMBER 21, 2017
The latest episode of Product to Product, a podcast for / by product people, is here. We spoke to Marc von Brockdorff , co-founder + engineering director of Hotjar. Listen below: Hotjar is on a mission to democratize user data and feedback by making their analytics platform accessible to everyone—no matter how small their website. They’re a startup success story that you don’t hear too often.
PYMNTS
DECEMBER 20, 2017
Japanese tech giant SoftBank is leading a $120 million investment round in home insurance startup Lemonade. According to Bloomberg Technology , New York-based Lemonade uses artificial intelligence and bots to minimize paperwork and speed up the claims process for renters and homeowners. The company raised $60 million before this recent announcement.
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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