PayPal and Venmo users will get early access to a new artificial intelligence-based tool that could herald the payment company’s next steps with agentic commerce. Perplexity.AI’s Perplexity Pro, typically a $200 annual subscription, is now available to PayPal and Venmo users in a 12-month free trial. It is part of …
Read More »Eye on Hospitality: Radisson Picks CellPoint Digital; TipMee Launches as a Cash Tip Stand-in
Payments-orchestration platform CellPoint Digital says Radisson Hotel Group, with more than 1,580 hotels in more than 100 countries, will use its platform across its portfolio. In related news, TipMee’s app launched to enable cashless tipping. London-based CellPoint Digital says Belgium-based Radisson will benefit from a standardized global payment process and …
Read More »Instacart Targets Independent Grocers for E-Commerce Growth
Delivery provider Instacart has been on a tear to enroll grocers, such as the four that adopted it as their e-commerce platform in November, and is now looking to independent grocers for expansion. Instacart Thursday said it will work with wholesale grocery Merchants Distributors LLC to reach these grocers. Instacart, …
Read More »Eye on Merchants: LegitScript Adds Merchant Vetting Features; Elavon Enlists Liberis for Merchant Financing
Ensuring healthy merchants are added to a portfolio, and taking care of them once they’re admitted, are two major priorities for acquirers. LegitScript, which provides merchant and product certification and onboarding services, helps organizations vet new merchants and has released updates for its onboarding product. Meanwhile, processor Elavon, a subsidiary …
Read More »Klarna Debuts in More Than 400 Walmart Canada Stores
Buy now, pay later services might be mostly associated with e-commerce, but BNPL providers are steadily moving acceptance into stores. The latest is Klarna AB with Monday’s announcement it is now an in-store payment method at more than 400 Walmart Inc. locations across Canada. Sweden-based Klarna says Walmart is its …
Read More »Eye on Restaurants: Qu Updates Its Kiosk; Purdys Chocolatier Picks Square
In the fiercely competitive restaurant market, point-of-sale systems makers can’t afford to slack off when it comes to features for restaurant operators. That’s why companies frequently develop new features. Qu POS Inc. and Square, separately, are the most recent examples. First up is Qu, an Arlington, Va.-based POS system maker with …
Read More »Eye on Credit Cards: Credit Card Users’ Affinity for BNPL; AmEx Adds Credit Card Perks
Credit card users are almost as satisfied using a buy now, pay later option as they are a credit card, finds new research from YouGov. Meanwhile, American Express Co. is adding new perks to entice its cardholders. The YouGov report, which is based on rolling survey data collected from U.S. …
Read More »Eye on Point of Sale: ParTech Lands Taco Bueno; Tote.ai Raises $22 Million for AI-Based POS
Par Technology Corp. can add quick-serve restaurant chain Taco Bueno to its client roster, while Tote.ai, developer of a point-of-sale system incorporating artificial intelligence for fuel and convenience stores, has raised $22.6 million for growth. First, ParTech, says the 140-location Taco Bueno chain will use the PAR POS and PAR …
Read More »No Summer Holiday for RTP As Volume Increases
Taking time off and getting away may be top-of-mind for many in the summer, but the payments system has little time for that, especially real-time payments networks. Real-time payments over the RTP network from The Clearing House Payments Co. LLC, increased over both the Memorial Day and July 4 weekends, …
Read More »Gift Card Demand Is Poised to Increase This Holiday Season
The percentage of consumers purchasing gift cards has gone up and is expected to increase yet more this year, finds a new report Bank of America Corp. commissioned from TSG, a payments advisory firm. The report found that 38% of respondents purchased a digital gift card in 2024, up from …
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