Point-of-sale

January, 2021

• 18 January

  Despite Covid, Holiday Retail Sales Beat Expectations Handily, the NRF Says

  

  The numbers are in, and it turns out the holiday shopping season was not only better than expected, but also better than the one in 2019, weeks before the coronavirus pandemic struck in the United States. Retail sales in November and December totaled $789.4 billion, up a healthy 8.3% over …
• 15 January

  Pineapple Payments Furthers Its Expansion With Its Deal for 1st Payment Systems

  

  Payments provider Pineapple Payments announced Friday it has acquired 1st Payment Systems, a provider of private-label payment processing and omni-channel payment technology for integrated software vendors (ISV) in the powersports and health-care industries. Terms were not disclosed.  The acquisition strengthens 1st Payment’s ability to service its customers by leveraging Pineapple’s Transax …
• 15 January

  Givingli Picks Blackhawk for Digital Gift Cards and other Digital Transactions News briefs from 1/15/21

  

  Givingli Inc., an app provider for virtual greeting cards and gifts, will use the Blackhawk Network platform to allow app users to send digital gift cards.Gateway NMI outlined its 2021 ambitions, including launching a tap-on-phone solution that will build on its recent partnership with Mastercard Inc.’s Cloud Tap on Phone.Gamber-Johnson LLC, a maker of mounting …
• 14 January

  More Debit Card Use Translates Into More Debit-Based Returns, PSCU Data Finds

  

  The holiday shopping season may be over, but the holiday returns are coming in at full force. Data from PSCU, a credit union service organization, showcases the impact the rise in e-commerce spending is having on returns. Return purchases using debit cards were up 76.2% for the week ending Jan. …
• 14 January

  Vanco Acquires SmartcareOS and other Digital Transactions News briefs from 1/14/21

  

  Vanco Payment Solutions Inc., a payments provider specializing in the educational and faith-based sectors, said it acquired SmartcareOS LLC, a software provider for child-care centers. Terms were not announced.Entrust Corp., a provider of technology for identity, payments, and data protection, announced it acquired HyTrust Inc., a vendor of data-encryption, key …
• 13 January

  CardFlight Enters the Register-Replacement Arena With a Trio of Devices for Multiple Markets

  

  CardFlight Inc., a provider of payment hardware and software-as-a-service payment applications, announced Wednesday a major product line expansion into the burgeoning market for countertop point-of-sale devices that can function as cash-register replacements. The new line of terminals, on which merchants can run CardFlight’s SwipeSimple software, includes a trio of models …
• 13 January

  COMMENTARY: PCI And EMVCo Have No Business Setting Standards

  

  Standards are the prerogative of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for most industries around the world. According to ISO, “ISO standards are internationally agreed by experts” and “should be thought of as a formula that describes the best way of doing something.”  Unfortunately, the roles of ISO and its …
• 13 January

  Visa Ends Plaid Deal and other Digital Transactions News briefs from 1/13/21

  

  Visa Inc. has dropped its year-old, $5.3-billion bid for the data network Plaid Inc. in the wake of an antitrust lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice. The DoJ feared Visa could use Plaid’s links to financial institutions to stifle competition in the debit market, a contention Visa denied.The big drugstore chain Walgreen …
• 12 January

  Walmart’s Fintech Startup Is Expected to Pack A Potent, Low-Cost Punch

  

  Unlike many fintech startups, Walmart’s Inc.’s new financial company is expected to be a formidable player right out of the gate. The retail giant unveiled plans late Monday to partner with Ribbit Capital to create a fintech that will provide what Walmart describes as “modern, innovative, and affordable financial solutions.” …
• 12 January

  Eye on Restaurants: Torchy’s Tacos Taps CardFree, And GoTab Debuts a Contactless Ordering Kit

  

  Mobile point-of-sale specialist CardFree Inc. announced Torchy’s Tacos, with 83 locations across seven states, has adopted its contactless ordering and services technology. Also, restaurant commerce provider GoTab Inc. debuted a contactless ordering starter kit for hospitality operators. San Francisco-based CardFree says the Austin, Texas-based Torchy’s Tacos started with online ordering and …