PYMNTS

APRIL 11, 2018

Financial services players, both big and small, are embracing APIs in a major way — as they should. From solutions designed to increase the use of new technologies like the blockchain , to those aimed at giving consumers a more personalized set of products and services, APIs are being used to unlock all kinds of new capabilities. And now, around the industry, banks, financial managers and other players are seemingly embracing the age of APIs.

B2B 67

B2B Technology Banking Planning 67

PYMNTS

APRIL 7, 2018

It’s fair to say we live in the future. A vast majority of Americans carry a super-computer in their pockets that can be used as a GPS navigator, a payment method, a source of entertainment and a shopping mall. Oh, and you can also use it to make phone calls. Beyond our casual use of technology (that would have seemed like pure science fiction in the 1950s and sorcery in the 1850s), we also have washing machines that order their own detergent, refrigerators that suggest recipes and vacuum cleane

Entertainment 65

Entertainment Advertising Technology Forecasting 65

PYMNTS

APRIL 11, 2018

Ripple , the blockchain company, announced news on Wednesday (April 11) that it has invested $25 million of its XRP cryptocurrency in Blockchain Capital’s $150 million fund Blockchain Capital Parallel IV. In a press release, Ripple said Blockchain Capital is the first fund focused solely on the blockchain space and is also the first to accept capital calls in cryptocurrency.

Investments 64

Investments Healthcare Startups Technology 64

PYMNTS

APRIL 9, 2018

For many consumers, secondhand is becoming their first thought when it comes to clothes shopping. It’s a movement that’s been gaining momentum since the recession in 2008. Today, one in three women are reporting that they shopped secondhand within the past year, according to research by thredUP. That’s a total of 44 million shoppers in 2017. Compare that to 35 million the previous year, and it’s clear this trend is not only on the rise, it’s growing dramatically, with the potential to reach $41

Numbers 60

Numbers Retail Accounting 60

Speaker: Michael Veatch, Senior Director, Implementations & Ella Aguirre, Director of Solution Consulting

Embedding payments can be a transformative step for software companies looking to enhance their platform capabilities, boost customer satisfaction, and drive long-term growth. However, the success of payments hinges on a single thing: implementation. Drawing on real-world insights and experiences, payments implementation experts Michael Veatch and Ella Aguirre will explore actionable strategies that can lead to a transparent, friction-free launch and mitigate potential challenges like technical

Investments

PYMNTS

APRIL 11, 2018

Uber , aiming to expand access to transportation for the masses, announced news on Wednesday (April 11) that it has launched a series of product updates that help riders get around without the need for a vehicle. In a blog pos t, Uber Chief Executive Dara Khosrowshahi said to meet that end, Uber Bike by JUMP is expanding to Washington, D.C. The service, which was first piloted in San Francisco earlier in 2018, will enable residents and visitors to Washington, D.C. to find and book a JUMP pedal-a

Transportation 60

Transportation Planning Technology 60

PYMNTS

APRIL 9, 2018

It’s called the Paradox of Choice , or “analysis paralysis” – and anyone who has ever frozen in the face of searching Netflix for a Friday night movie has felt its icy grasp. Stated simply, it says that too much choice is bad for the average customer, who becomes so weighted down trying to figure out what they “really want” that they find it hard to choose anything at all.

Advertising 59

Advertising Compliance Manufacturing Leverage 59

PYMNTS

APRIL 9, 2018

With Amazon , Kroger and other large retailers in the grocery business introducing digital technology, such as mobile self-checkout, how do smaller regional grocers compete? The answer could be in white-label technology platforms provided by companies such as GrocerKey , a software company that helps brick-and-mortar retailers adapt to the new digital world.

Auditing 58

Auditing Retail Leverage Technology 58

PYMNTS

APRIL 10, 2018

In payments security, the key is the key. Encryption and the digital keys that allow firms to scramble and descramble data are permanent parts of the payments landscape. There’s a personal element to the technical wizardry, though. Data needs management, and protecting that data requires vigilance. And yet, many firms do not have the staff in place to manage cryptographic keys.

Securities 57

Securities Manufacturing Sales Numbers 57

PYMNTS

APRIL 9, 2018

Etsy is refocusing its aspirations and energies — much to the annoyance of some of its sellers. CEO Josh Silverman said the decision is a pivot toward the areas that are showing the most growth for the handmade marketplace, particularly on its core eCommerce site. However, the news came as a jolt to merchants like jewelry maker Natalie Jacob, who told Bloomberg she became a major fan of the Etsy Wholesale service until it abruptly stopped communicating with merchants.

eCommerce 57

eCommerce Retail Communication Sales 57

Speaker: Amanda Adams, Fractional CFO, CPA

Are you ready to elevate your accounting processes for 2025? 🚀 Join us for an exclusive webinar led by Amanda Adams, a seasoned fractional CFO and CPA passionate about transforming back-office operations for finance teams. This session will cover critical best practices and process improvements tailored specifically for accounting professionals.

Accounting

PYMNTS

APRIL 11, 2018

Whether they’re hairdressers that are wizards with a razor and shears, clothing designers with a knack for new looks or carpenters with all the tools of the trade, all small businesses need to get paid. While SMB owners may be masters of their crafts, few are experts in efficiently resolving their payments pain points. They need websites that offer online payment capabilities to stay competitive, preferably with clean and simple interfaces to ensure they can quickly accept and process customers’

eCommerce 57

eCommerce Numbers Planning 57

PYMNTS

APRIL 12, 2018

In the workforce, speed is an issue close to employees’ hearts. How quickly workers get paid can not only affect their satisfaction with their day-to-day job, but also plays a large role in motivating them to remain in their roles. And employers are learning that the same rule of payment speed applies when it comes to boosting productivity through company wellness programs.

Healthcare 57

Healthcare Banking Accounting 57

PYMNTS

APRIL 9, 2018

The latest CBIZ Small Business Employment Index (SBEI) indicates an improvement in hiring activity among U.S. small businesses (SMBs). The company announced its findings on Friday (April 6), which recorded a 1.39 percent month-over-month increase in SMB hiring for March. That follows a decline of 0.2 percent in activity in February, CBIZ noted. According to CBIZ Employee Services Organization President Philip Noftsinger, the data could be a result of regulatory effects.

Numbers 56

Numbers Marketing Finance B2B 56

PYMNTS

APRIL 9, 2018

Though you might not realize it looking at a weather forecast in various parts of the nation – as it seems the temperature might never actually break 40 degrees – spring is upon us; the season for new beginnings is here. Even if the weather refuses to play nicely, at least we can count on the payments and commerce ecosystem to snap to life with some resets and fresh starts.

Cash Management 56

Cash Management Banking Treasury Leadership 56

Speaker: Abdi Ali, Sr. Lease Accounting Consultant

Join this insightful webinar with industry expert Abdi Ali, who will discuss the challenges that can arise from managing lease accounting with spreadsheets! He will share real-world examples of errors, compliance issues, and risks that may be present within your spreadsheets. Learn how these tools, while useful, can sometimes lead to inefficiencies that affect your time, resources, and peace of mind.

Accounting

PYMNTS

APRIL 12, 2018

The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), the trade group for the financial industry, released a framework on Thursday (April 12) to protect the data of consumers when they give third parties the right to access that information. Reuters , citing SIFMA, reported the trade group said that while these third parties, often FinTechs , help consumers make decisions on investments, they also expose consumers to personal data security risks.

Banking 55

Banking Securities Investments Accounting 55

PYMNTS

APRIL 10, 2018

Just as SAT scores don’t convey everything about a student, FICO scores don’t convey everything about a loan applicant. They can be one valuable piece of information, but when banks rely solely on scores from the credit bureau to decide which businesses or individuals can be trusted with a loan, they omit much more information than they include — perhaps missing the opportunity to build a relationship with some of the most creditworthy applicants out there.

Credit Risk 54

Credit Risk Leadership Finance Banking 54

PYMNTS

APRIL 9, 2018

SWIFT ’s global payments initiative (gpi) service has a new bank on board. Reports on Friday (April 6) in WebIndia123 said ICICI Bank is the first in India to join and roll out the global payments service. The gpi tool aims to heighten speed, transparency and efficiency of cross-border payments for financial institutions and their banks. “International trade is the backbone of globalization and an imperative for India to grow,” said SWIFT Head of India and Subcontinents Kiran Shetty in a stateme

Banking 54

Banking Leverage Technology B2B 54

PYMNTS

APRIL 9, 2018

U.K. challenger bank CivilisedBank announced plans to release its banking license to instead focus on developing its underlying infrastructure and technology. A press release on Friday (April 6) issued by the FinTech, which targets small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), said it will release the license awarded last May and reapply for another one after further technological development of its solution.

Banking 53

Banking Technology Planning Investments 53

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Join us in this webinar, where we share best practices on how to think about the reconciliation work each month, when best to do reconciliations, how they should be prepared, and some common pitfalls to avoid. Learning Objectives: This course objective is to understand how to properly prepare and review balance sheet reconciliations and its impact on the financial statements.

Reconciliations

PYMNTS

APRIL 10, 2018

Continuing its foray into smart-home devices, IKEA is rolling out four smart speakers dubbed Eneby. The launch, however, is the company’s first venture in audio, TheNextWeb reported. The speakers come in two sizes and two colors, and the smaller speakers retail for the same price as a Google Home Mini or an Amazon Echo Dot at $49. All the Eneby speakers are listed on IKEA’s website, but customers can’t purchase them quite yet.

Retail 53

Retail 53

PYMNTS

APRIL 10, 2018

This month, startup Tipalti is celebrating a PO-matching match made in heaven as it integrates with leading cloud ERP provider NetSuite. PO (purchase order) matching is one of two new capabilities Tipalti has rolled out within recent months, the other being multi-entity functionality. Tipalti CMO Rob Israch said both new capabilities are now being enhanced with a focus on the platform’s NetSuite integration.

Accounts Payable 53

Accounts Payable Invoicing Auditing Startups 53

PYMNTS

APRIL 13, 2018

Amid headlines that corporate banking helped boost Citigroup profits, the firm also reported strength in its mobile and online initiatives, as evidenced by growth in consumers using bits and bytes to bank, according to earnings materials from the company. In results reported on Friday (April 13), the top line at the bank came in at $18.87 billion, in line with estimates and showing growth from the $18.3 billion reported last year.

Banking 52

Banking Profit and Loss Retail Numbers 52

PYMNTS

APRIL 10, 2018

The bikesharing trend has really gotten rolling in many cities around the world. Whether or not you’ve ridden one, you’ve surely seen them: Fleets of identical bikes, often colorful, clustered at rental docks where anyone from commuters to tourists can pay the fee to take one for a spin. The latest evolution of the trend, however, does away with those docks, instead leveraging GPS technology to keep track of bicycles and lead riders to the nearest one when they log into the app.

Transportation 52

Transportation Leverage Securities Marketing 52

Speaker: David Warren and Kevin O’Neill Stoll

Transitioning to a usage-based business model offers powerful growth opportunities but comes with unique challenges. How do you validate strategies, reduce risks, and ensure alignment with customer value? Join us for a deep dive into designing effective pilots that test the waters and drive success in usage-based revenue. Discover how to develop a pilot that captures real customer feedback, aligns internal teams with usage metrics, and rethinks sales incentives to prioritize lasting customer eng

Sales

PYMNTS

APRIL 13, 2018

This week’s VC Investment Roundup demonstrates investors’ varied appetite for B2B FinTech. Funding targets this time around included blockchain, logistics, alternative finance, artificial intelligence and T&E — with a few startups taking a stab at some of the biggest problems in the cannabis industry, procurement and microfinance. Take a look at which firms from around the world landed new funds this week, and how they plan to deploy the cash.

Startups 51

Startups Investments Finance B2B 51

PYMNTS

APRIL 9, 2018

On Monday (April 9), American Express unveiled a new global brand platform and marketing campaign dubbed “Powerful Backing: Don’t Do Business / Don’t Live Life Without It.”. In a press release , the payments company said the campaign is aimed at reflecting how people live and work today and celebrates the reality that life and business are becoming increasingly interconnected.

Advertising 51

Advertising Startups Marketing 51

PYMNTS

APRIL 9, 2018

April 24 looms large for Spotify. The digital music streaming service last week said it would share news on that date at an event to be held in New York City. The details thus far are scant, and speculation is mounting. CNET reported the company sent a “save the date” invitation to journalists on Friday with only the date and “general location” disclosed.

51

51

PYMNTS

APRIL 10, 2018

Through a private funding round that could make Ant Financial the world’s biggest unicorn, the Chinese financial firm — an affiliate of Alibaba — is reportedly seeking to raise $9 billion. The fresh investment could lead to a valuation of nearly $150 billion for Ant, The Wall Street Journal reported. According to people familiar with the matter, Ant Financial has been in discussions with potential investors.

Valuation 51

Valuation eCommerce Investments Marketing 51

Speaker: Mark Stovel

When it comes to automating, many firms focus on finding the latest tech, believing that efficiency is something achieved through new tools. Yet true efficiency is achieved by delivering real value to clients, not merely by upgraded systems. Without a clear approach, no level of automation can overcome the complexities of serving every client’s needs.

Marketing