Industry Insights

The Path to a Cashless Society

If you were to peer into the payments industry’s crystal ball, would you see visions of a cashless society? Will be there a time when cash is obsolete? At this stage in the evolution of payments, it’s less a question of “if” and more a question of “when.” Before we get too ahead of ourselves, we can turn to printed media for some guidance. In the spirit of Mark Twain, let’s just say that “The reports of the death of newspapers are greatly … [Read more...]

Frictionless Payments and Transaction Disputes

As the holiday shopping season approaches, one thing is clear – e-commerce is thriving. An eMarketer Report forecasts 2018 US holiday e-commerce sales to grow 16.2% to $123.39 billion. Looking back to 2017, mobile sales accounted for 34.5% of all e-commerce sales. By 2021, mobile sales are forecasted to account for 54% of total e-commerce sales. These numbers should excite any merchant with omnichannel capabilities, but they come with a warning: … [Read more...]

Mastercard cardholder signatures now optional on cards and receipts

The lightning-fast pace of technology has dug deeper into consumers’ billfolds. Mastercard announced on Friday that signatures will soon be optional for all cardholders, not only on the card but on receipts, as well. Mastercard issuers will start distributing the signature panel-less cards in April, 2019. Having the luxury of get-it-and-go without having to sign anything offers consumers the ability to save time and deal with a little less … [Read more...]

Experts weigh in on the future of payments (Part 1): The evolving transaction

We’ve been surveying the fintech landscape as we head into Q4 of 2018. We’ve looked at the future of lending and trends in insurtech and insurance using a crowdsourced content model where we went directly to the Tearsheet community for guidance. The articles have been received well, so now we’re turning our sights to payments and what 2019 has in store for the sector. We received so many contributions that we had to split this series in two — … [Read more...]

Preventing Friendly Fraud in Holiday Sales

The big push. All hands on deck. Make or break the year. Yes, the holiday shopping season is soon upon us, and merchants are preparing to claim their fair share of sales. Deloitte's annual forecast for the holiday season predicts holiday retail sales could top $1.10 trillion this year, an increase over the $1.05 trillion in sales between November 2017 and January 2018, as reported by the U.S. Commerce Department. Often lost amid this hyper-focus … [Read more...]

Maximize Sales, Not Chargebacks

Advances in e-commerce and payments have made completing purchases easier than ever for busy consumers. Whether signing up for subscription services for food, cosmetics, entertainment, or making an impulse buy on their mobile phone, consumers expect a frictionless experience. While card-not-present (CNP) merchants offer new ways for their customers to shop, their ongoing challenge is to maximize sales without increasing fraud and chargebacks. … [Read more...]

Engaging E-Commerce Customers

For today’s customers, e-commerce provides an easy way to make a purchase. With the click of a mouse, tap or swipe, transactions are completed with minimal effort. For a merchant, a duck paddling furiously to stay afloat might be an apt metaphor. Their challenge is making the entire process easy and transparent, while also engaging e-commerce customers during and after the purchase cycle to build customer loyalty and grow their business. An … [Read more...]

Extending Brand with M-Commerce and Frictionless Payments

M-Commerce and frictionless purchasing, once industry innovations, have evolved into a necessity for today’s merchants. Once embraced only by innovators and early adopters, these and other advanced payment methods have “crossed the chasm” into acceptance by the majority of consumers. Beyond the convenience new payment methods provide consumers, can they be used for extending brand recognition? Merchants have invested to keep up with consumer … [Read more...]

A More Comprehensive Approach to Managing Chargebacks

Transaction disputes and managing chargebacks are facts that will always be part of the world of business. Ever since the introduction of the Fair Credit Billing Act in 1974, regulations are set to prioritize protecting consumers from prejudicial or unfair billing practices. At the time, the Fair Credit Billing Act was a logical response to the explosion of consumer credit in dire need of regulation. However, with the emergence of e-commerce, … [Read more...]

The Power of Transaction Data

You’ve invested in tools to gather data on customers, including transaction data for purchase history, buying patterns that help generate highly targeted offers and personalized messages. The data you accumulate helps you discern what offers are effective, which marketing tactics generate the best results, and your customers’ preferred digital buying channels. There’s no question that capturing and analyzing consumer purchase behavior is … [Read more...]