Mobile Payments

Venmo users who regularly use the app to gift money can now do so with an accompanying physical Hallmark card, the two companies announced Wednesday. In a first-of-its-kind collaboration, the PayPal-owned digital payment platform Venmo and the greeting card company Hallmark are giving customers a new, unique way of giving gifts. Here's how it works:…

Macy's cannot offer the use of its Scan and Pay app for purchases from departments where employees make commissions, and must pay back commissions on such purchases, a labor relations arbitrator has ruled, reports RIS News. The determination applies to three collective bargaining agreements between Macy's and employees at stores in Boston and other New…

A little more than one year ago, COVID-19 presented itself as an unlikely disruptor for retailers. Government safety measures changed the retail landscape seemingly overnight, and in doing so, forced a shift in customer needs and shopping behaviors. The past 12-plus months saw the accelerated adoption of long-predicted technology needs that enabled many retailers to…

Mobile technology use is soaring in retail, and for good reason. IHL Group found retailers that provide mobile sales tools for staff enjoy 77 percent higher sales growth than those that don’t, and those that deploy mobile point of sale (POS) achieve an impressive 92 percent higher sales. It’s rare to see such spectacular return…

The COVID-19 pandemic has recently accelerated the adoption of “contactless” technologies. Zoom and other video-conferencing platforms have scaled massively, and employers are now anticipating an era when working from home is normal rather than an exception to the rule. Universities are contemplating e-learning being almost as core to their curriculum as on-campus classes. And the…

The current global environment has made contactless payment more popular and necessary than ever before. While over the past few years we’ve seen the rise of contactless payment methods such as NFC or ultrasonic technology, today is arguably the most crucial point for its mass adoption. A recent study from Mastercard found that nearly eight…

The Kroger Co. announced the launch of a contactless payments pilot across the QFC division, located in Seattle, allowing customers to use their mobile device for a more seamless checkout experience. The pilot includes the acceptance of Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Fitbit Pay, mobile banking apps and contactless chip cards, underpinned by near-field communication (NFC)…

Consumers have never had so many choices in how to pay in-store. Today, in addition to cash, checks and payment cards, among others, in-store transactions can be completed by placing a mobile device, enabled by a mobile wallet app, near a point-of-sale (POS) device that supports contactless payments. In response to this ongoing evolution, the…

Businesses have become all too quick to market to Gen Z, the emerging buyers continuing to dominate headlines. However, it could be dangerous to focus so heavily on these new consumers when we’ve barely begun to understand millennial shoppers. Looking ahead is important, but brands are just chasing the shiny new object by pivoting right…

With retail in 2019, it's innovate or get left behind. Merchants must compete to win the business of consumers more than ever before. In this push-and-pull landscape that will only intensify, consumers are demanding more personalized shopping experiences and further asserting their purchase preferences. One trend that has bubbled to the surface is the move…