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IndustryUpdate

ANNOUNCEMENTS ing small firms enterprise-level marketing capabilities.
Customers report significant efficiency and tangible
results. Constellation Research evaluates products annu-
Mike Byington to retire from BlueStar ally based on client input, vendor references, market
BlueStar Vice President of Business Development Mike share and the unique needs of SMBs.
Byington will retire Dec. 31, 2025, after more than 30 TipMee.app offers fast, cashless rewards
years of service. Joining as the company's fourth employ-
ee in the 1990s, Byington helped shape BlueStar's culture TipMee.app launched as a digital tipping and rec-
of authentic relationship building and relentless innova- ognition platform for hospitality, retail and service
tion. Rising from inside sales to executive leadership, he industries, offering a fast, cashless way to reward staff.
spearheaded critical growth initiatives, most notably the Customers can tip instantly via QR codes, NFC, or facial
ISV Partnership Program, which transformed engage- recognition, with funds directed to the right employee
ment with independent software vendors. His strategic or team. Beyond tipping, TipMee provides managers
vision fostered enduring supplier and customer partner- with real-time analytics dashboards to track service
ships and expanded market reach. A mentor to many, quality, highlight top performers, and identify areas for
Byington's influence remains embedded in BlueStar's improvement. The platform aims to boost motivation,
DNA, leaving a legacy of leadership, innovation and reduce turnover, and enhance customer experiences.
community, the company stated. Available across Europe, the U.S., and Asia, TipMee
integrates seamlessly into operations, creating a culture
PayNearMe enters Dallas market of fairness, transparency and appreciation.

Fintech PayNearMe opened a Dallas office at The
Aberdeen business district, stating it chose the location RESEARCH
for its proximity to key clients in automotive and per-
sonal lending, as well as the city's dynamic business and Positive dispute results lead to more disputes
tech community. The office strengthens client relation-
ships, fosters innovation and enhances in-person collab- Chargebacks911's 2025 Cardholder Dispute Index
oration, while PayNearMe remains a remote-first orga- revealed a paradox in consumer behavior: positive dis-
nization with existing offices in Santa Clara, Calif., and pute experiences with banks drive higher dispute vol-
Holmdel, N.J. The company said its platform supports umes. Surveying over 1,200 U.S. and U.K. cardholders,
all major payment methods, including digital wallets, the report found 87 percent were satisfied with dispute
cards, ACH and cash via 62,000 retail locations, serving resolution, and 88 percent said success made them more
thousands of businesses across multiple industries. likely to dispute again. Dubbed the "convenience para-
dox" by Chargebacks911 CEO Monica Eaton, this trend
PCI SSC forms new Regional Engagement Board benefits banks but fuels friendly fraud, with 76 percent

The PCI Security Standards Council launched its first preferring bank resolution and nearly half bypassing
Regional Engagement Board (REB) in India and South merchants entirely. Researchers urged merchants to pri-
Asia, appointing 27 leading organizations across bank- oritize prevention by clarifying billing, easing refunds
ing, fintech, consulting and technology sectors. Modeled and enhancing customer support to intercept disputes
after the Brazil REB, the board will advise the council before they escalate.
on regional payment security challenges while promot- Gift cards market predicted to exceed $3.81 trillion
ing education and awareness of PCI standards and best
practices. Members include Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, According to Precedence Research, the global gift cards
NPCI, Google, Ernst & Young, Qualcomm and others. market surpassed $1.1 trillion in 2024 and is projected to
The initiative highlights the region's growing impor- grow from $1.24 trillion in 2025 to nearly $3.81 trillion
tance in global payments and aims to strengthen col- by 2034, registering a CAGR of 13.24 percent. Growth is
laboration, improve cybersecurity resilience and foster a fueled by rising digital payments, expanding ecommerce
safer payments ecosystem. and demand for personalized gifting. North America
held the largest share in 2024, while Asia-Pacific is the
Thryv recognized for B2B marketing automation fastest-growing region. Closed-loop cards dominated
Small business software platform Thryv was named to by type, but e-gift cards are expanding fastest, reflecting
Constellation Research's 2025 ShortList for Marketing consumer preference for convenience and sustainability.
Automations for Small and Midsize Business. One Online sales led distribution, capturing over 61 percent
of only eight firms recognized, Thryv's automations of the market in 2024.
include lead scoring, email marketing, payments inte- Open banking solutions market surging
gration, invoicing, billing reminders, review requests
and post-purchase campaigns. The open banking solutions market is projected to
Chief Product Officer Rees Johnson said the tools grow from $5.5 billion in 2023 to $11.7 billion by 2028
are "sophisticated yet deceptively easy to use," giv- at a CAGR of 16 percent, MarketsandMarkets Research
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