Payment processing

Smaller institutions are relying on an issuing system that gives away control over card programs, says Corserv's David Luther.

The latest round includes two new investors, Eurazeo Growth and Wellington Management, as well as one returning shareholder, Sprints Capital.

Payment companies in the near future will need to address the impacts of industry consolidation, pricing pressures, regulation, card-based technology solutions and spotting the proper niche, says Moneycorp Americas' Bob Dowd.

Some companies cut off the flow of cash to insurrectionists, while others put a halt to their political spending. Their actions came quickly after the events of Jan. 6.

Smaller financial institutions and fintechs need to work together to continue closing the unbanked gap through expanded digital banking capabilities.

What started as Mezu and went through 18 difficult months competing as a payments offering has now rebranded as Alviere, with a broader range of digital banking services.

Self-service payments require investment by the biller, but the payoffs can be huge, says PayNearMe's John Minor.

By focusing on "available near me" functions, retailers can combine digital with the need to boost small businesses, says Qualpay's Penny Townsend.

Synchrony wasn’t unscathed by the pandemic — consumer spending slowed during the first half of the year — but its mix of private-label and cobranded cards for everyday items suffered far less than other issuers' cards that emphasized luxury and travel.

Some categories of businesses, such as restaurants, have different needs the program doesn't adequately address, says LendingFront's Jorge Sun.

Citizens Financial Group has branded its point of sale lending software as Citizens Pay, saying it wants to more clearly define it as a merchant tool for "budget-friendly payment options" for customers who want a transparent and predictable way to finance purchases.

Careful due diligence is required when picking technology to expedite accounts payable automation, says Kofax's Michelle Trapani.

While instant payments and open banking have been gaining momentum across the globe, payments providers have established digitally backed services that not only facilitate seamless financial operations but also help generate revenue, says AFEX Americas' Christian Spaltenstein.

Organizations that put the customer experience front of mind will be the winners, but they must nonetheless expect additional pressure from regulators, new competition, ever more digitally demanding consumers, and no slowdown in technological innovation, says Entersekt's Gerhard Oosthuizen.

As the transport ticketing market evolves in the wake of the pandemic, further intensifying the challenges caused by the dominance of proprietary systems, it’s time to see a more open, collaborative public transport ecosystem, says Calypso Networks Association's Philippe Vappereau.

With people shopping online more than ever before, and a new group of consumers joining the online retail space, it’s become increasingly important for brands to connect their sales channels and embrace e-commerce, says Hatch founder and CEO Joris Kroese.

Even early in the pandemic, it was apparent that acquirers needed digital onboarding, electronic payments and automated chargeback solutions to keep their footing in an acquiring landscape already facing disruption.

The pandemic may have served as a catalyst for rapid growth in contactless payments through wearable devices. It’s the combination of form and function, however, that will push wearable payments into further growth in 2021 and beyond, says Zeta's Bhavin Turakhia.

The events of 2020 fueled new customer expectations, accelerated digital transformation and allowed B2B companies to react and deliver. But customers’ changing expectations are not going to disappear, says MSTS' Brandon Spear.

Card payments can't always cut it in different countries, says PPRO's Steve Villegas.