Thursday , March 28, 2024

Kevin Woodward

Kevin's role at Digital Transactions is to write news and features stories for publication on the Web site and in the magazine. He also oversees the digital editorial aspect of the site and the Digital Transactions News daily newsletter.

Eye on POS Systems: Lightspeed Adds E-Commerce Features and Revel Augments Online Ordering and Other Features

In the wake of Covid-19, merchants continue to see more features added to cloud-based point-of-sale systems. In the latest updates, Lightspeed POS Inc. introduced on Tuesday new e-commerce services, including shipping, curbside pick-up, and appointment setting. And Revel Systems Inc. has refined its online ordering and order-pickup management. First up, …

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AmEx Scores a First as China Approves Its Processing License

American Express Co. has become the first foreign payments company to be approved to clear domestic transactions in mainland China. The move comes with approval of a network clearing license over the weekend from the People’s Bank of China for Express Technology Services Co. Ltd., an AmEx joint venture with …

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Panasonic Will Add PopID’s Facial Recognition And Payment Capability to Its Kiosk App

Restaurants using Panasonic Corp. of North America’s kiosk systems will have a new option for their consumers to order and pay, while limiting their contact, with the integration of facial recognition and payment technology from PopID Inc. Announced Thursday, the integration with the Panasonic ClearConnect Kiosk app means Panasonic and …

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Skrill’s Next U.S. Step Beyond Money Transfer

Paysafe Group has big ambitions for its Skrill financial products in the United States. Monday’s U.S. launch of the Skrill Money Transfer service is but the first step of a broader U.S. expansion for Skrill, says Lorenzo Pellegrino, a Paysafe executive. The free money-transfer service followed January’s debut of the …

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Overall Retail Sales Are in a Slump, But E-Commerce Is a Big Bright Spot

Total U.S. retail sales, including auto and fuel, will drop 10.5%, to $4.894 trillion in 2020, a total not seen since 2016, forecasts eMarketer Inc. That’s sharper than the 8.2% slump in 2009, in the midst of that recession more than 10 years ago. E-commerce, however, is the bright spot. …

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Touch-Free Commerce Takes Root As Contactless Payments Surge 150% Among Cardknox Merchants

More evidence that consumers are finally adopting contactless payments emerged  as Cardknox, a payment gateway, noted a 150% increase in contactless payment use from just from November to April. Announced Thursday, the increase, albeit lacking volume details, indicates consumers’ mindfulness about reducing physical contact with point-of-sale terminals. Cardknox said some of …

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Eye on Parking: A Venue Manager Preps for a Contactless Reopening; ParkMobile Lands Three Cities

Expectations that consumers will seek out live entertainment with some mindfulness about actually touching point-of-sale terminals is part of the reason for venue manager Spectra to strike a multiyear deal with parking specialist ParkHub Inc. Announced Wednesday, the deal will see ParkHub provide mobile point-of-sale technology that enables contactless payments. It …

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A New Study Shows How Acquirers Can Help Merchants Recover From Covid-19’s Heavy Toll

Fully 25% of U.S. merchants that accept payment cards experienced a drop of 56% or more in card volume in April compared with February, finds a new study from The Strawhecker Group. After analyzing billions of transactions from more than 1 million card-accepting merchants across the United States, the Omaha, …

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Eye on Fraud: Fiserv Targets Debit Card False Declines; More Mobile Payments Mean More Fingerprint Sensors

Debit card issuers have a new tool to spot potential false transaction declines with a new service from processor Fiserv Inc., and the authentication needs of mobile payments are driving, in part, the growth in fingerprint sensors. Brookfield, Wis.-based Fiserv says its new Authorization Lift service will help reduce the number …

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Mastercard Also Extends EMV Liability Shift for Fuel Pumps

All four card brands have now delayed for the second time their EMV liability shifts for automated fuel dispensers with Mastercard Inc.’s Monday announcement it would postpone its shift until April 16. The original shift was to have taken place in October 2017, but was deferred until October 2020. Along …

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