Today In Digital-First Banking: SWIFT To Retool Platform For RTP; VSoft Rolls Out Bread Merchant Payment Network

SWIFT To Retool Platform For RTP

In today’s top news in digital-first banking, SWIFT has announced that its international platform will be updated to let financial institutions (FIs) provide instant transactions, and VSoft has rolled out its new Bread merchant services network. Plus, Acumatica has introduced features for its Acumatica Cloud ERP technology, including electronic banking feeds.

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    SWIFT to Create New Cross-Border Real-Time Rails

    SWIFT announced that its cross-border infrastructure will be revamped to let FIs provide real-time transactions. The cooperative said the effort will offer transaction management services. It is anticipated that the next-generation digital platform will harness an application programming interface (API) and cloud technology.

    VSoft Debuts Merchant Network for Real-Time B2B Payments

    VSoft has launched its novel Bread merchant services network to allow small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to have faster and less costly transactions. Payments on the network are directed between institutions, while a middleman does not hold the funds. Instead, funds are moved directly from a sender to a receiver’s account once a Bread user pays.

    Acumatica Debuts Automated Spend Management Tools

    Acumatica has launched the Acumatica Advanced Expense Management and Electronic Bank Feeds for the Acumatica Cloud ERP technology. The cloud technology firm will provide safe connections with over 11,000 FIs with different authentication processes and tokenization technology for the electronic banking function. Live activity downloads will be available, in addition to smart-matching to current transactions.

    Jonathan Vaux Named General Manager of i2c Europe

    i2c Inc. has brought Jonathan Vaux on board as general manager of its operations in Europe. The new general manager will report to the firm’s President James McCarthy, and will work to create alliances with FinTechs, FIs, payment service providers and retailers across the continent. Vaux previously worked at Visa for more than 20 years, where his work was geared toward commercial payment offerings and generated growth, prior to joining i2c.


    CarParts.Com leverages App and Paid Memberships While Exploring Potential Sale

    CarParts.com CEO David Meniane led the company’s Tuesday (Aug. 12) earnings call by saying that it remains engaged in exploring strategic alternatives and is “highly confident” that it is nearing completion of this process.

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      “We’re currently evaluating several different transaction structures, including a potential sale of the company and strategic investments that we believe have the potential to strengthen our capabilities and unlock new growth,” Meniane said.

      Meniane added that there is no certainty that the company will complete a deal.

      CarParts.com announced in a March 5 press release that it was exploring strategic alternatives, including a possible sale of the company, to “maximize value for our shareholders.”

      In the meantime, CarParts.com is pursuing strategic initiatives to boost the company’s value, Meniane said Tuesday.

      The company achieved positive adjusted EBITDA in June and delivered second-quarter results that showed improvement over the previous quarter, Meniane said.

      Meniane attributed the improved results to the company’s mobile app surpassing 1 million users and accounting for 12% of eCommerce revenues; services like products and shipping protection, paid memberships and roadside assistance contributing high-margin fee income; and its eCommerce and mobile app product roadmap delivering improvements in conversion rates, units per order and average order value.

      For the remainder of the year, CarParts.com is focused on expanding its product offering, generating high-margin fee income, scaling its B2B offering, continuing to grow its mobile app business and managing cash flow and inventory levels, Meniane said.

      “We know this transformation is a multiyear effort,” Meniane said. “We’re focused on rebuilding the core foundation of CarParts.com, one that can scale, innovate and deliver a seamless, high-quality customer experience, while driving greater discipline in both our cost structure and capital deployment.”

      Meniane also highlighted challenges faced by CarParts.com. These include noncompliant products imported from China driving a “race to the bottom,” tariffs and inflation weighing on consumer demand, and the macroeconomic environment requiring the company to seek new opportunities for growth.

      “As we progress through the remainder of the year, we’ll continue to navigate a dynamic macro environment, including ongoing tariff and impact and pricing volatility, with discipline and agility,” Meniane said. “Our focus remains on profitable growth, anchored by the strong foundation we’ve built.”