RETAIL BRIEFSANNOUNCEMENTSHyperwallet Systems Inc. presented the winners of the Hyperwallet Hackathon, which challenged developers to build faster, safer, and smarter payout solutions to help charitable organizations distribute funds during disasters. The top prize of $2,500, sponsored by Visa Inc., went to Team Get 50/Give. The team's solution featured a fund distribution mechanism that used Hyperwallet's Visa Direct integration. Team Reach won second place; Team Guard Me took third. Over 75 developers registered to participate in the event.
Loop Commerce Inc.'s GiftNow placed first in the Innovation Project's 2017 Innovator Awards in addition to winning a gold medal in Most Innovative Payments Player category. GiftNow, an e-gifting platform and service, powers shopping, checkout and gift delivery for leading retailers. Six finalists in 15 categories competed for gold, silver and bronze medals.
The NFC Forum named winners in its Innovation Award Program. A jury of global leaders and industry experts selected one first-place winner from each of three categories. Speech Code GmbH won honors in the Most Innovative category for its near field communication (NFC) talking labels; Best Mobile App recognition went to Khushi Baby Inc.; and Dimple Inc. was recognized as Best NFC Startup. Entries were judged on innovation, commercial potential and usability, as well as on the quality of design and implementation.
SmartCard Marketing Systems Inc. and Primeline HK Ltd. recently agreed Primeline HK Ltd. will invest $1 million in SmartCard Marketing for up to 25 percent of the company's outstanding common Class A shares. Together, the companies will focus on developing opportunities in the fintech and retail industries by channeling independent software vendors as a growth conduit for sales through proprietary technology and advisory services.
Payment processor The Members Group reported the company and two of its executives were named finalists for the Technology Association of Iowa's Prometheus Awards. They were recognized in the Top Growth Company of the Year, CEO of the Year and CTO of the Year categories. Presented by the Iowa Economic Development Authority, the Prometheus Awards bring together leaders from technology, business, education and government. Recipients will be named at the organization's annual awards ceremony in April.
Virtual Piggy Inc. is changing its name to reflect the evolution of the company into broader payment-related markets. The company's new brand is REGO Payment Architectures Inc. REGO CEO John Coyne said, "Utilizing our proprietary technology, we believe that we have the opportunity to create something bigger here – beyond just the scope of the original market served by Oink [the company's financial payment delivery platform]. We believe that we have an opportunity to create revolutionary advancements in payment architecture."
Wells Fargo Bank N.A. upgraded its entire fleet of 13,000 ATMs to card-free machines. The bank's mobile customers nationwide can now access their accounts using a one-time access code, instead of a card, to authenticate at an ATM. To do so, bank customers log into their Wells Fargo mobile app, select Card-Free ATM access under Account Services, and request a one-time use, eight-digit access code. The customer's debit or ATM personal information number is then entered into the ATM.
RESEARCHIn its survey report titled Omni-Channel Engagement Strategies of Retail Leaders, Aptos Inc. stated that retailers are boosting efforts to personalize interactions across channels and prioritize consistency of cross-channel information. The survey contacted 100 retail marketing and ecommerce executives in an effort to benchmark marketing and order management strategies and identify common best practices. Smartphone and social media channels ranked high among retailers as targets for engagement strategies, with personalized content also ranking high as a key tactic.
According to the Boston Retail Partners publication BRP Special Report: The Fine Art of Analytics, retailers recognize the importance of enhanced data and analytics, with 44 percent of respondents indicating improved analytics is a top priority. However, the study also found retailers' ability to leverage analytics to improve business performance lags intent due to a lack of organizational alignment and inconsistent processes.
Worldwide use by merchants of Consumer Authentication programs continues to rise, according to the fourth annual Consumer Authentication Survey, sponsored by CardinalCommerce and The Fraud Practice. The survey found nearly 25 percent year-over-year growth in the share of North American merchants who use these programs, from 29 percent in 2016 to 36 percent today. However, merchants who only do business in North America remain significantly behind in worldwide usage of consumer authentication, which now stands at 41 percent, according to the survey.
ControlScan, in partnership with Merchant Acquirers' Committee, released findings from the 2017 Acquirer PCI and Security Survey. Completed by more than 130 ISOs, acquirers, processors and payment facilitators, the survey revealed respondents support an ongoing effort to understand and share Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard compliance program practices among payments industry stakeholders. A key finding of the survey indicates that retention concerns are creating a struggle between promoting convenience and enforcing compliance.
According to a study from Infiniti Research Ltd., Visa Checkout and other new and advanced mobile payment solutions are set to increase the use, convenience and popularity of mobile commerce globally. The report found increased competition and awareness of NFC technology as primary reasons the global mobile commerce market will grow at a rate of more than 20 percent until 2020, reaching $980 billion. Other areas addressed in the study include market developments and opportunities and their impact on mobile commerce.
A recent Mercator Advisory Group Insight Summary Report titled ATM and Self-Service Banking: Key to Engagement revealed that 30 percent of U.S. consumers would be willing to use a smartphone to scan a code or wave a phone at an ATM instead of using a debit card to withdraw cash. Responses from a sample of 3,000 U.S. adults were collected in an annual online survey that highlights rising use and interest in a variety of self-service and ATM channels.
PARTNERSHIPSFactor4 LLC integrated its proprietary gift and loyalty platform with 3dcart's ecommerce platform. The 3dcart web store solution will now be available to Factor4's customers as a secure egift card platform. In addition, 3dcart recently integrated Square Inc.'s payment processing features into its ecommerce platform, giving online merchants a seamless way to receive payments and obtain next-day direct deposits, consolidate reporting and use Square's proprietary Authorize Only verification service.
Payment21.com and ACI Worldwide formed a strategic collaboration to enable payment service providers to offer merchants anti-money laundering-compliant bitcoin acceptance via ACI's UP eCommerce payment solution. "Our relationship with ACI Worldwide allows us to achieve scale by enabling AML-compliant bitcoin acceptance for more than 130 PSPs globally," said Bernhard Kaufmann, General Manager of Payment21.
American Payment Solutions added the AccountMate Business Financial software system to its library of integrated credit card processing solutions. AccountMate users now have a cost-effective choice for credit card processing that is seamlessly integrated in the AccountMate framework, APS said. "It has been a pleasure and a privilege to make AccountMate's requirement for an easy to use, Level 3 credit card processing solution a reality within our growing portfolio," said Phillip Heath, President of APS.
Cardknox Payments partnered with Applications Research Software to provide reduced credit card processing rates, along with an EMV chip-card solution for health clubs. The partnership brings a new level of automation, security and simplicity to Applications Research's QuattroC and eFinesstri software, ensures payment security and offers a unique workaround for terminals to display custom forms and messaging, according to the companies.
EVO Payments International selected Smart Communications to accelerate its agreement and statement processes in an effort to better support the needs of its global customers and partners. "Smart Communications technology and product architecture enables our business users worldwide to quickly deliver accurate, personalized agreements and statements to their customers, while reducing the time the business invests on back-end processes," said Darren Wilson, EVO's President – International.
TouchTunes Music Corp., an in-venue interactive music and entertainment platform, formed an exclusive partnership with Harbortouch Payments LLC. Through this partner program, TouchTunes operators can now offer Harbortouch POS systems to their existing and prospective customers. "We are excited to bring this unique new business opportunity to our operators and venues," stated TouchTunes President and CEO Ross Honey.
ICBA Bancard, the payments services subsidiary of the Independent Community Bankers of America, partnered with linked2pay to offer a white-label solution that allows community banks to help their small business customers manage cash flow and receivables. Through this alliance, ICBA members will gain access to a highly scalable payments platform without the operational burdens and costs associated with building their own platform, according to the companies.
Kount Inc. and Chargebacks911 integrated their respective products, Kount Complete and Chargebacks911. The integration will provide a solution for third-party fraud prevention and back-end friendly fraud protection, helping Kount and Chargebacks911's joint merchant customers safely boost revenue and sales while eliminating the damaging, costly impact of fraud and chargebacks, Chargebacks911 stated.
Sionic Mobile Corp. and Customer Engagement Technologies partnered to provide mobile loyalty and instant universal rewards to the underbanked. Sionic's ION Commerce EngineT (ICE) will be integrated with PaySwag, a mobile app by CET that works on improving the payment experience for the underbanked. Sionic also integrated its ICE platform with RevTrax SmartOffers, to enable retailers and consumer packaged goods providers to better engage and connect with Rewards App users nationwide, the companies said.
SmartCard Marketing Systems and Touchpeak Software Inc. partnered to launch a bundled, wireless EMV mobile and ecommerce POS solution for the Windows and Android platforms. The product bundle will target merchants in key markets including North America, Asia and Latin America. It will support main functionality with international specifications to support multicurrency, multilanguage and geo-fencing security, according to the companies.
Worldpay US noted that it expanded its omnichannel payment solutions with integration to the BillingTree Payrazr Marketplace, enhancing Worldpay's payment processing solution offerings. "Adding myPayrazr solutions to Worldpay's growing omni-channel payments offerings provides even more options for customers to accept payments over the phone and online," said Mike Frank, Senior Vice President and Head of Sales for the Worldpay US Corporate Business Unit.
ACQUISITIONSFollowing a strategic investment made in January 2015, Synchrony Financial acquired GPShopper, a developer of mobile apps that offer retailers and brands a full suite of commerce, engagement and analytic tools. According to Synchrony, the transaction further demonstrates the company's commitment to bringing its partners enhanced digital offerings supported by advanced mobile application development and robust technology, data and analytics.
APPOINTMENTSThe Emerging Payments Association appointed Andrea Dunlop, CEO of Acquiring & Card Solutions at Paysafe Group plc, as Deputy Chair of its advisory board. Dunlop, who brings more than 16 years' experience in the financial sector to the board, will support EPA Chairman Rich Wagner. She has knowledge of many aspects of payments from acquiring and issuing, to mobile solutions, the EPA noted.
The Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center appointed Heather McCalman as its Credit Union Council Manager. McCalman will report to Jeffrey Korte, Director of Community Institution and Associations at the FS-ISAC. In her new role, McCalman will apply her more than 25 years of information technology and security experience in working with credit union regulators, associations and state leagues to serve the needs of FS-ISAC credit union customers, the center said.
The NPD Group Inc. named Karyn Schoenbart its CEO. In her more than 30 years with NPD, Schoenbart has held positions spanning numerous functions and divisions. Most recently, she was President and Chief Operating Officer of NPD's Global Commercial Practices, Product, IT, and Operations. Shoenbart was named one of the Top 25 Most Influential Women of the Mid-Market for 2015 and 2016 by the CEO Connection.
iPayment Inc. hired Denise Tahali as its Senior Vice President, ISO and Direct Agent Sales. The company stated that Tahali brings more than 26 years of sales and client management experience in payments and financial services to this newly created senior leadership role. Most recently, Tahali served as Vice President, Partner Solutions for First Data Corp., where her accomplishments included re-engineering the product, service and support offerings within the ISO program and re-launching the revamped program to attract and sign new ISO partners.
RichRelevance Inc. appointed Carl Theobald as its President and CEO. A seasoned technology executive, Theobald brings more than 25 years of experience driving rapid growth for enterprise and cloud businesses through innovation, product vision and execution, RichRelevance said. As CEO, Theobald will be responsible for leading all RichRelevance global operations. Former RichRelevance President and CEO Eduardo Sanchez will remain with the company as a board advisor.
Jamie Walker was named CEO of Elavon Inc. Walker is transitioning from his current role as Chief Administrative Officer for U.S. Bank's Payment Services division, a role he has held for two years. As CEO, Walker will have responsibility for Elavon's global acquiring business, operating with more than 4,000 employees in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and throughout Europe, the company said.
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