Tag: Technology

Boost Margins with Value-Added Services: Smart Strategies for Grocery Retailers

In today’s competitive grocery landscape, small and mid-sized stores must find creative ways to stay profitable without raising prices. One of the most effective strategies is to boost margins with value-added services—enhancements that improve the customer experience and drive loyalty. From smarter POS systems to personalized rewards programs and curbside pickup, these services help stores […]

B2B Payments: Three Trends to Watch

Just as electronic payments disrupted retail, B2B payments are revolutionizing money transfers and business management. Here are three trends impacting B2B in 2019. 1. Blockchain: Speed and Accuracy

Deepen Merchant Relationships with POS Tools

With today’s POS systems, developers are competing for merchant dollars. Whoever can build the most bells and whistles into their tablet system can gain a real edge over the competition. This benefit holds true for merchants as well. By utilizing all the features built into their POS systems, merchants can take advantage of sophisticated front […]

3 Payment Innovations: Hits and Misses

  With all the headlines about payment innovation, you’d think we would be living in a tech utopia. But the reality is not so glamorous. Here in the US, payment change comes slowly. Our financial ecosystem is so large and complex that any meaningful innovation is just difficult to enact. Even something as straightforward as […]

Real Time Payments: A Fresh Angle for Fraud

One year ago today, The Clearing House debuted RTP, its Real Time Payments system for the US financial market. Supported by all the member banks of The Clearing House, RTP is off to a strong start. It’s estimated that 50% of eligible demand-deposit accounts will be able to receive an RTP transaction by year end. 

Checks: An Old Payment Form With New Profit

For years, we’ve been hearing that checks are dead. It seems that most consumers have ditched their checkbooks (except for the slowpokes in front of you at the grocery store.) So why should retailers consider accepting check payments? These four reasons may encourage you to promote check acceptance to your merchants:

4 Ways Retailers Can Profit with IoT

In today’s highly personalized and competitive retail world, data is gold. Modern POS systems specialize in collecting data so that merchants can improve business operations and profitability. But there’s another valuable tool that your merchants may overlook: the IoT.

4 Payment Innovation Killers

Are we finally getting ready to ditch the plastic card? Are wearables the next big thing? Judging by the buzz in the industry, you might think so. However, form innovation is just not ready to take off in the US.

Mobile Merchants: Your Next Big Market

In payment processing, acquiring new merchant accounts is time consuming and costly. And with churn rates running up to 22% every year, it’s a never-ending hassle.  But there is one profitable vertical that acquirers have yet to tap: mobile merchants.

3 Top Verticals and What They Want in POS

From local independent retailers to global hospitality brands, the point of sale industry is highly diverse. As a payment service provider, you need to know where your customers are headed, so that you can help them meet their current and emerging needs. Let’s look at 3 top business verticals and what they want in a […]

Mobile Payments: Is the Dongle Going Away?

You can’t overestimate the impact of the humble dongle in revolutionizing payments for small merchants. These simple, plug-in card readers have ushered in an entirely new market segment for payments. But as our industry moves toward a software-based focus, is it time to phase out the dongle?  

Payment Security: Cutting Through the Terms

Merchants are intensely concerned about payment security. And rightly so, considering the destructive costs of data breaches. However when you try to explain PCI compliance, you probably notice their eyes glazing over.

What Your Merchants Need to Know About Bitcoin

The meteoric rise of bitcoin over the past year has led to all sorts of exciting predictions about its takeover as a mainstream currency. But is that hype or fact? We’ve sorted through the stories to let you know what practical use bitcoin may have for your merchants.

PIN on Glass: What’s the Big Deal?

Mobility is the future of payments. More and more, consumers expect the convenience of paying when, where and however they want. For the most part, manufacturers have been quick to respond to this need. But there’s still one glaring fault: mobile PIN entry

“We Don’t Do That:” 7 Non-Payments Partnerships to Consider

Building market share in today’s fast-paced and tech-intensive economy requires a multi-faceted approach for nearly every vertical. However, busy merchants often don’t have time to think outside the box. Our industry is filled with innovative service providers, but finding the time to research what’s out there is just too much for most merchants.

The Value of Real Time Technology to the POS

Connectivity is the buzzword among POS system providers in 2018. Cloud based technology, improved AI and machine learning, and 24/7 connections enable retailers and their payment providers to communicate in real time regarding both transaction data and back office apps. By using the right technology, payment providers can make sure their retailers are operating at […]

Get Your Merchants Ready for April 2018: a Month of Changes

  In the payments industry, we’ve grown to expect change. Payment service providers face a constant barrage of rules, regulations and revisions from all angles: PCI, CPFB, FCC, you name it. Some of these regulations crucially affect the security and function of your merchant’s transactions, while other may feel more like procedural paperwork.

The End of Chip and Signature: What’s Next?

  The POS industry is being disrupted at a head-spinning rate. Every season, manufacturers and software providers are rolling out new payment options that don’t just tweak previous methods, but completely eclipse them. And changes don’t just rest with hardware. Acquirers and merchants continually have to adjust their procedures to meet evolving data standards.

3 Ways POS Innovations Improve the Consumer Experience

  Too often, the point of sale can be a liability for small businesses. Consumers are unsurprised to find friction at checkout, from terminal error messages to printer paper jams and more. The consumer experience has been neutral to even negative. This does nothing to help your small merchants build market share or increase customer […]

Cut Merchant Churn With Marketing Services

  Merchant churn: it’s an ugly reality for payment service providers. While it varies by market to market, studies show that at least 12% of merchants change payment providers every year. That’s an awfully expensive statistic, as the cost of acquiring a new merchant is three times the cost of retaining one. Fortunately, there’s light […]

3 Payment Trends to Watch in 2018

  The 2018 retail payments scene can be summed up by 3 words:  diversity, inclusivity and security. Let’s look at how these trends will translate to your retailers’ bottom line this year.

8 Tips for Managing Your Merchants’ POS Hardware Needs

  Payment service providers knows that new merchants are a priceless acquisition. Retaining these hard-won merchants is absolutely vital to your success in business. And yet, many PSPs find that managing merchant hardware, deployments and help desk support can be a major drain on their time, attention and money.

6 Ways Remote Access Makes POS Management a Breeze

When dealing with a frustrated retailer, troubleshooting can be tough. How many times have you wished you could just reach through the phone and do it yourself? In fact, what if you could access your retailers’ POS tablets anytime, anywhere with the touch of a button? Well, now you can – instantly and securely.

5 Most Important Characteristics of a QSR POS

Today’s consumers are always on the go and the Quick Serve Restaurant, or QSR, business model is seeing a lot of growth.  The restaurants that cater to this style of dining are always looking for technology that will help make their service faster, more convenient, and more efficient.  Now, POS systems and peripheral devices are […]

POS Provisioning: 6 Things Retailers Want

  For payment service providers, options for provisioning your merchants have never been better. POS solutions on the market today are overwhelmingly affordable, secure, and user-friendly. But at the same time, the field has become really crowded. With options from legacy manufacturers, tech startups, and everyone in between, it can be hard to determine the […]

Taylor Stands Makes ADA Compliance Easier

All businesses are required by law to be in compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).  While most believe that maintaining this compliance is a simple task, many fail to realize that there are aspects of their business that they may be overlooking.  With so many details throughout a business to consider, it’s easy […]

Blockchain: the Key to Faster, Safer Payments

  In the realm of consumer card processing, data security is an ongoing struggle. Defeating data thieves is like playing a game of whack-a-mole. As soon as one attack is shut down, another hits from a different angle. Processors and card issuers are in a position of constantly playing catch up: building firewalls, patching products […]

3 Reasons Checkout Buttons Build Conversions

  Is it possible to increase conversion rates during online checkout to 74%?  Providers of online checkout buttons say yes. Checkout buttons are revolutionizing conversion rates for ecommerce.

Digital Wallets Build Radical Partnerships

  Integration is the theme is today’s payments world, and nowhere is this more evident than digital wallets. In the realm of tap and pay, consumers are enjoying an expansive mix of payment sources and added value services. Not only are these innovative partnerships fueling the growth of tap and pay, they’re building cooperation and […]

Fintech is Changing the Way We Bank

  Fintech has infiltrated nearly every aspect of our lives and is disrupting the way consumers think about their money and how they spend it.  It’s no wonder that consumers are also changing the way they think about managing and storing their money as well.  Banking has come a long way from the days of […]

3 Partnerships Revolutionizing Payments

Payment services are finding that collaboration is the key to gaining market share in an increasingly crowded and complex playing field. By seeking out innovative partnerships, payment service providers are finding enormous market opportunities. These three partnerships are game changers in the areas of retail, ecommerce and money transfers

Venmo Me: A Quick Guide to P2P

  P2P payments have come barreling out of nowhere, developing from a niche millennial app into a digital behemoth with an estimated 129 million users in the US alone by the year 2020. Major FIs and payment influencers like Apple, PayPal and more have stepped into the game. Consumers face a complex mix of options, […]

4 P2P Trends That Impact Merchant Payments

  Mobile P2P payments encompass much more than simply splitting the cost of a pizza. With an annual transaction volume of more than $50 billion, P2P is becoming a major influencer in all parts of the payments world.  Here are 4 key P2P trends that are spilling over into merchant payments:

Consumers Embrace Biometrics Over Implants

  The future is here to stay! Most of us have seen high-tech iris scanners and the like used in James Bond films and in popular sci-fi TV shows. But the use of biometrics, the ability to confirm one’s identity from measurements of physical features, is steadily growing worldwide.  Poll numbers show the people favor […]

Artificial Intelligence in the Payments Industry

There was once a time when the words artificial intelligence, or AI, were only used in talks of “futuristic” inventions that one could have only imagined.  Now, AI is a very real type of technology that is changing the way businesses operate, especially in the payments industry.  In 2016, funding in AI startups had already […]

Looking at Accessibility in the Payments Industry

As the payment industry continues to evolve, it’s important that businesses are making technology accessible to all consumers, including those who are disabled.  As merchants seek options that allow disabled consumers to pay at their businesses, providers in the payment space are tasked with the innovation that makes this possible.  Today, many of these companies […]

The FinTech Effect on B2B Payments

In recent years, consumers have been enjoying the fruits of innovation when it comes to new payment solutions like Venmo and Google Pay. And thanks largely to FinTech and cloud technology, more businesses are also beginning to streamline payment methods, especially B2B payments.

Innovation Continues to Expedite Payments

Tech trends constantly make just about every aspect of our daily lives faster, from speedier Internet access to the ability to make remote bank deposits. The ability for the businesses to process payments faster is no exception. Now, cutting-edge advancements have made real-time payment processing a reality, although the widespread adoption of a faster system […]

The Value of Prepaid Cards: An Overview

Over the years, the use of prepaid cards across the world has continued to become more prevalent.  Today’s consumers use this payment method for a number of reasons, from a lack of nearby banks to budgeting efforts.  In 2015, the FDIC reported that 9.8% of U.S. households used prepaid cards.  In 2016, researches said they […]

A Cashless Society? Not Yet.

Technology is evolving at an exponential rate and the way that consumers view cash is changing with it.  As new methods of payment become available, consumers are adapting the way they shop and spend their money.  In recent years, many payments industry reports have said that cash will soon be extinct and payments by way […]

Bitcoin: Where Do Payment Processors Stand?

Bitcoin has frequently been the topic of discussion in the financial and payments industry.  Although the anonymous virtual currency has long been associated with the black market and fraud, the reputation for bitcoin has changed in recent years.  Today, accepting bitcoin for goods and services is an opportunity for all kinds of merchants and many […]

Grow Your Business With Non-Traditional Merchants

Today’s payments landscape has become very complex as the demands of consumers have changed, security measures have become more rigorous, and technology has continued to evolve quickly.  These challenges make navigating the payments industry difficult for everyone involved in the payments industry, including merchants.  This is especially true for businesses that operate in a “non-traditional” […]

An Eye on Digital Wallets

  The future of cash payments has been a hot topic in the payments and fintech industry for quite some time now.  Over time, innovators have created a number of alternatives for consumers to use as payments in their daily transactions.  However, mobile payment adoption has grown slowly and consumers have not become completely comfortable […]

CDE’s New P2PE v.2 Validation

We are proud to announce that CDE is now a PCI validated P2PE v.2 facility.  This new certification is more proof that we’re keeping payment security top of mind.  With our P2PE v.2 validation, we have an even better opportunity to help make the lives of our partners and their merchants easier.

Weighing the Risk of Alternative Payments

With today’s consumer, convenience is everything.  The increasing demands for easier, more user-friendly ways to pay have fintech players working hard every day to find newer, faster, better solutions.  However, as those in the payments industry work hard to make life easier for consumers, fraudsters are following closely behind looking for loopholes and weaknesses.  This […]

Data Security at Universities

Colleges and universities remain one of the prime targets for hackers and identity thieves.  However, stopping the criminals from accessing the sensitive data has been no easy feat for educational institutions.  The large quantities and variety of data in the broad networks of universities makes protecting the organization from cyber-attacks very difficult.  What’s more, the […]

What Does IoT Mean for Your Retailers?

By now we’ve all heard of the Internet of Things (IoT). But what does it mean for everyday merchants? And what should payment service providers know about this trend?

Spring Cleaning: Freshen Up Your POS

Spring is in full bloom and while many people might be cleaning closets or re-organizing their garage, the season could also be a great time for merchants to consider sprucing up their point of sale.  While it is easy for businesses to become complacent, there is plenty of opportunity to be realized with even a […]

How Kiosks Are Changing Everything

The first self-service, interactive kiosk was developed and implemented at the University of Illinois in 1977 for easy access to campus information.  By 1991, the first commercial kiosk with internet access was introduced.  Since then, technology has made leaps and bounds.  The rise of technology is allowing consumers and businesses to personally interact less and […]

EMV Switch: Are We there Yet?

Things are really looking up for EMV migration in the US. According to recent Visa statistics, 39% of US merchants now utilize EMV capable terminals, representing 49% of in-store Visa transactions1.  So while we’re not quite over the tipping point with EMV terminals, we are quickly heading in that direction. Momentum is building, and we […]

Wearables: Fashion That Pays

Today’s consumers are all about convenience.  To meet this demand, mobile technology has continued to work its way into almost everything that we do in our everyday lives, including making payments.  Fintech professionals are working every day to find ways to get rid of the classic wallet and make paying for goods and services easier […]

3 Reasons Restaurants Love Tablet POS Systems

If anyone needs a cutting edge POS solution, it’s restaurants. In a fast paced, dynamic environment, restaurants need a system that helps streamline and coordinate the many channels they must keep balanced. Tablet based POS systems hit all the marks for efficiency, flexible design and profitability, making them a great choice for restaurants of all […]

The POS Has Gone Mobile

As the frequency and amount of credit and debit card payments increased throughout the 90s and into the 2000s, there were many small businesses that were left unable to maximize their profits due to the difficulty and expense involved with obtaining a card processing system.  That’s when a company called Square introduced their mobile phone […]

Biometrics: Payments for the Future

  In the ever-evolving payments industry, advancements made in the name of added convenience and consumer preferences typically call for new and improved security measures.  Unfortunately, the enhancements in cyber security and fraud prevention typically mean less convenience for consumers making payments and the businesses accepting them.  Now, there’s an authentication technology that’s transforming the […]

P2PE in the Health Care Industry

In 2014, healthcare had the second largest number of security breaches.  As the healthcare industry continues to evolve and become more dependent upon patient payments, the complexity involved with protecting patient data grows.  Healthcare organizations, large and small, hold a great deal of responsibility in protecting their patient’s personal data, including payment information.  While hospitals […]

Avoid These 3 Traps with POS Tablet Marketing

  Tablet-based POS systems bring amazing new customer engagement opportunities for retailers: customized promotions, loyalty tie-ins, instant discounts, and so much more. As a payment service provider, you’re in a key role to educate your merchants on the various revenue-building options they may employ. However, you might also find yourself in the equally important position […]

CDE Announces New Role as Key Injection Vendor for USAePay

CDE, a leader in POS security and compliance solution execution, is now partnering with USAePay to provide more secure payment processing to merchants through contactless EMV and P2PE solutions.  CDE’s Key Injection Facility (KIF) is an integral part of encrypting the PaySaber MP200 device and offering a complete EMV solution to USAePay customers.

What’s Next?: Regulatory Influence on Transaction Technology

  The complicated framework of the payments industry incorporates regulation from various government entities.  Between the OCC, FRB, FDIC, CFPB, FTC, and NCUA new regulatory guidance is always in the works and being handed down to payment technology companies.  As payment technology evolves and new innovations go to market, new regulations must be developed to […]

Deepen Consumer Engagement With Tablet POS

  Consumers are inundated daily with marketing messages, all competing for their attention. From social media feeds, to TV commercials, billboards along the street, and store signage – so much visual clutter can result in overload. Consumers may just tune out the noise and disengage, limiting opportunities for retailer engagement.

Tablet Point-of-Sale: The Time is Now

We live in a world of “right now”.  We also live in a world of rapidly evolving mobile technology that makes “right now” a reality.  With the average person using their smartphone about one-third of the time they are awake, it’s as though humans have the world literally right at their fingertips, all the time. […]

Mobile Wallets and Loyalty: New Frontiers in Profit

  2017 will be a race to the top for loyalty integration into mobile payments. Due to the coming wave of branded mobile wallets, Apple and Android Pay’s days as top wallet are numbered. Banks and financial institutions in the US are aggressively rolling out branded mobile wallets. Heavy competition means that these platforms will […]

Loyalty: Guide Your Merchants to the Right Solution

  As a payment service provider, your retailers view you as a trusted partner. By assisting your retailers in developing a loyalty marketing strategy, you can become a partner in profitability as well as payments. Many payment service providers offer branded loyalty programs, an excellent strategy to increase merchant loyalty and profitability. However, even if […]

Loyalty: Developing an Effective Program

  An effective loyalty program is a must-have for today’s retailers. To remain relevant, retailers of all sizes must be able to provide their customers with an engaging, personalized shopping experience. As a payment service provider, you’re in an ideal position to help your retailers develop a strategy that is most beneficial for their business […]

Unattended Retail: New Markets, New Opportunities

  Payment innovations and consumer trends are changing every aspect of retail sales. This effect is especially evident in the rapidly growing market of unattended retail. No longer the domain of simple vending machines selling candy bars and soda, unattended retail has developed into a high-growth, multi-layered and profitable segment of the payments industry. Let’s […]

The Evolution of the POS

The exchange of currency has been changing continuously and rapidly since it first began, and in today’s technological world, it’s evolving at an amazing rate.  As touch screens and even wearable communication devices become “the norm”, the standard POS has morphed into a multi-faceted business-building, communication, and organization tool. Owners of businesses around the world […]

NFC: A New Way to Think About Payments

  Contactless technology is ushering in a whole new way to think about payments. It’s not just about a set of procedures at the point of sale. Rather, contactless technology is part of a paradigm shift in consumer and merchant interactions. By understanding how contactless technology fits into this new order, your merchants can focus […]

Contactless Payments: Look Globally, Plan Locally

  Here in the US, we have an endless appetite for the latest and greatest in technology: smartphones, tablets, and even wearables. But there is one area where the US lags far behind: contactless payments. By looking at the status of contactless technology in the rest of the world, we can forecast the developments that […]

The Generation That’s Shaping Payments

  The Millennials.  The generation made up of people who are now between the ages of 18 and 34 years old and the largest, most influential group of people in today’s society.  This generation was raised in an age of technology and financial struggle.  They are considered to be the disruptors of almost every industry […]

NFC Payments: Challenges to Merchant Acceptance

  NFC is more than just a payment technology. When combined with mobile wallets and loyalty apps, NFC becomes an avenue for added value, for both merchants and consumers. Once merchants realize the benefits contactless payments bring to their business, they will be eager to adopt this technology.

Connected Culture: Managing Risk at the Point of Sale

The payments industry is evolving at an incredible rate of speed. Social media and online accessibility have revolutionized the way consumers and businesses interact. In our connected culture, it’s crucial to understand the ever-changing data security challenges merchants face. Adhering to protocols such as EMV and PCI are a start, but compliance alone is not […]

NFC Payments: Challenges to Consumer Acceptance

Near Field Communication (NFC) is a truly innovative, secure payment method, and it’s here to stay. NFC harnesses the benefits of secure EMV protocols, low cost, fast transaction speed, and the convenience of tap-and-go payments. But if NFC is so great, why has it been so slow to gain traction in the marketplace?

NFC Payments Are Heating Up: Are Your Merchants Ready?

  The mobile payments industry in the US is evolving at a fantastic rate. Contactless payments at the point of sale, using technology such as NFC, are a fast-growing segment of this industry. By 2017, contactless payment transactions will reach $61.75 billion, with 50.2 million users. These revenues have an increase of 33.8% over 2016 […]

Securing Data & Devices From Start To Finish

  As a total solutions provider, we handle POS devices from purchase all the way to the time that they have to be recycled.  We understand the importance of maintaining security throughout the entire life cycle of a device.  We also understand that there are a lot of factors that go into ensuring the device’s […]

New Year, New POS

It’s 2016, and just like any other year, many of us are starting off the year with new goals and new plans to accomplish them. 

Tips for Making the Switch

The United States has officially made the switch to EMV technology.  For all of the country’s businesses, this means there will be a number of changes and adjustments to be made.  Although changing anything about the way you do business or collect payment may seem like a troublesome task, there is actually a lot of […]