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3 Things Missing From Walmart's Strategy To Beat Amazon

PANOS MOURDOUKOUTAS | December 8, 2018 | 222 views

Walmart’s strategy to beat Amazon is missing three things: the brand, the logistics, and a community of third party sellers.This seems to be the case despite the fact that Walmart is beginning to look like Amazon. When it comes to technology that is. The retail giant has been paying top dollars to recruit software developer talent. It has also spent heavily to acquire digital commerce technologies.“Walmart is following closely behind Amazon in the race to dominate the retail space,” says Keith Ryu, CEO of Fountain. “The retail juggernaut has made major investments in its digital commerce initiatives introducing in-store mobile checkout and combining big data insights and AI for automated merchandising and unique product recommendations.” In addition, Walmart has been effective in integrating on-line and off-line shopping.

Spotlight

Basic Outfitters

In 2014, Basic Outfitters co-founders Laura and Michael Dweck married and moved into a cozy apartment in NYC. It was quickly obvious whose clothing collection would take precedence in their precious and limited closet space. Michael’s eclectic and long-time accumulated sock and underwear assortment would have to go and be replaced by a fresh, new and curated collection of basics.

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RESTAURANT POS

Why Businesses Should Switch to Cloud-based POS System

Article | September 22, 2022

Embrace the future and need of business operations with cloud-based POS systems. Experience unrivaled features such as unparalleled flexibility, scalability, real-time analytics, and more. Introduction Key Reasons for Businesses to Switch to Cloud-based POS System • Accessibility and Mobility • Flexibility and Mobility • Scalability • Improved customer experience • Cost saving Introduction With constant evolution in payment technologies, businesses are constantly looking for innovative ways to streamline their operations and improve their bottom line. As a result, innovative payment solutions are increasingly playing a crucial role in enhancing their transforming and upscaling businesses. One such technology that has revolutionized the way businesses operate is cloud-based POS systems. A significant transition from traditional POS systems to cloud-based POS systems has been witnessed in recent years. Businesses worldwide are increasingly deploying cloud-based point of sale systems to adapt to emerging paymentFrom enhanced security to real-time data accessibility and improved customer experience, learn why businesses should make the switch to cloud-based POS systems. technologies, improve customer experience, enhance payment security, and others. According to a study by SalesForce, more than 20% of retail businesses currently use a cloud-based POS, and around 29% of businesses plan to deploy it in the coming future. Key Reasons for Businesses to Switch to Cloud-based POS System Payment processes are presently propelled by connectivity and technological advancements, which have resulted in a significant impact on the payments industry. Consequently, it has become imperative for businesses to adopt point-of-sale systems powered by agile, cloud-based software to harness the full benefits of modern cutting-edge technology. Deploying a cloud point of sale system can guarantee optimal customer experience to businesses while remaining aligned with the rapidly evolving technological landscape. Here are the primary reasons why businesses should contemplate the adoption of a cloud based POS system: Real-Time Accessibility In today's fast-paced business environment, the abilityto access real-time data is crucial.Cloud-based POS systems allow businesses to access data from any device with internet access, enabling real-time inventory management, sales tracking, and customer insights. This real-time data accessibility empowers enterprises to make informed decisions, optimize operations, and improve customer experience. Flexibility and Mobility Cloud POS solutions are highly flexible, making it easier for businesses to adapt to changing needs and ecosystems. Leveraging a POS system, businesses can quickly and easily add or remove products, update pricing, and make other changes to their inventory. Furthermore, with the accessibility from any location, these cloud based retail POS systems enable employees/ staff to work remotely. These capabilities are especially useful for businesses that sell seasonal products, experience fluctuations in demand, or have multiple locations. Scalability With legacy POS systems, businesses need to invest in new hardware to expand their operations, which can be costly and time-consuming. However, cloud-based POS systems offer businesses the flexibility to scale up or down their operations without worrying about upgrading their hardware. In addition, businesses can seamlessly add new locations, products, and users without any hardware upgrades. Improved Customer Experience Cloud-based POS systems for retail enable businesses to provide a seamless customer experience by allowing employees to access customer data from any device with an internet connection. This allows businesses to personalize their offerings, offer faster service, and resolve customer complaints quickly. The ability to access real-time data also enables businesses to anticipate customer needs and preferences, allowing them to provide tailored promotions and recommendations. Cost Savings Businesses need to invest in expensive hardware and software, access as well as pay for ongoing maintenance and support while using a legacy POS system. Switching to a cloud POS system can result in significant cost savings for businesses. As these POS solutions require minimal hardware and software investments and often come with a low monthly subscription fee, businesses can save on maintenance and support costs, as these are typically included in the subscription fee. Bottom Line A cloud-based POS system with seamless integration offers an extensive business overview and can perform operations much more than accept orders and payments. Not only does it streamline services, but it also provides insightful data and simplifies day-to-day business management, allowing business owners to focus on development. It is evident that combining day-to-day operations with cloud-based POS software is now a critical requirement for businesses. In addition, the technological evolution of these systems in recent years and the possibilities for continuous development have made point-of-sale data, inventory, staff, and payment management much easier for businesses. Since the world is becoming increasingly digital, it is imperative that businesses adapt and adopt cloud-based POS systems to remain competitive and relevant. Therefore, businesses should consider the benefits of cloud-based POS systems and make the switch to ensure long-term success and growth.

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RESTAURANT POS

Retail ,Wholesale Trade,Ecommerce,Retail,E-commerce,point of sale.

Article | November 11, 2022

Last July, a small group representing the giants of the tech industry gathered in the seat of US government, Washington DC. They probably didn’t want to be there. Congress had summoned their employers Apple, Facebook, Google, and Amazon to answer questions about the command they hold over the markets they operate in. On Amazon’s behalf, associate general counsel Nate Sutton spoke in defense of his employer’s role in US retail. Throughout, he argued that Amazon isn’t so powerful as to be able to control prices and stifle competition. Amazon, he pointed out, makes up less than 1% of retail globally. In the US, it accounts for around 4% of retail. In fact, Walmart is much larger than Amazon, he said. In terms of sales, Sutton is right. Walmart reported $510 billion in total sales across its US and international segments in the 2019 fiscal year, versus Amazon’s $233 billion in roughly the same period.

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POS SOLUTIONS

How SMEs can emulate the success of Amazon through ecommerce personalization

Article | July 13, 2022

Whatever your feelings are towards Amazon, there is no denying that they have revolutionised ecommerce and now set the bar for the personalised experience of users when it comes to online shopping. So much so that it was recently reported that they have more than a 30% share of the UK’s ecommerce market. With statistics like this, it may feel like it is impossible to compete, especially as Amazon has huge tech and marketing budgets at its disposal. However, all is not lost. It is possible for SMEs to learn from the forerunner and implement some of their most successful techniques, with regards to their use of ecommerce personalisation and AI, to increase sales cost effectively.

Read More

How Retailers Can Utilize In-Store Digital Signage

Article | February 10, 2020

Consumer attention is shifting. Brick-and-mortar stores must now compete with e-retailers as customers spend more time online, thanks to targeted ads and personalized deals. As noted by Digital eCommerce, online sales rose almost 18 percent last year to $3.46 trillion worldwide and are on track to top $892 billion across the U.S. in less than two years. This shift has alerted most brands to the need for a retail evolution to ensure ongoing success. With e-commerce sales still accounting for just under 10 percent of retail revenues, businesses have an opportunity to boost sales and raise their brand profile — if they can reliably capture consumer interest. One solution: effective and engaging digital signage. Retailers Can Capture Crucial In-Store Moments To capture attention and drive conversion, businesses must capitalize on what Google calls micro-moments, when customers leverage their mobile devices to discover more information, find a price or pinpoint a vendor online.

Read More
RESTAURANT POS

Cashless Restaurants: A New Frontier in Hospitality Industry

Article | September 22, 2022

Embrace the future and need of business operations with cloud-based POS systems. Experience unrivaled features such as unparalleled flexibility, scalability, real-time analytics, and more. Introduction Key Reasons for Businesses to Switch to Cloud-based POS System • Accessibility and Mobility • Flexibility and Mobility • Scalability • Improved customer experience • Cost saving Introduction With constant evolution in payment technologies, businesses are constantly looking for innovative ways to streamline their operations and improve their bottom line. As a result, innovative payment solutions are increasingly playing a crucial role in enhancing their transforming and upscaling businesses. One such technology that has revolutionized the way businesses operate is cloud-based POS systems. A significant transition from traditional POS systems to cloud-based POS systems has been witnessed in recent years. Businesses worldwide are increasingly deploying cloud-based point of sale systems to adapt to emerging paymentFrom enhanced security to real-time data accessibility and improved customer experience, learn why businesses should make the switch to cloud-based POS systems. technologies, improve customer experience, enhance payment security, and others. According to a study by SalesForce, more than 20% of retail businesses currently use a cloud-based POS, and around 29% of businesses plan to deploy it in the coming future. Key Reasons for Businesses to Switch to Cloud-based POS System Payment processes are presently propelled by connectivity and technological advancements, which have resulted in a significant impact on the payments industry. Consequently, it has become imperative for businesses to adopt point-of-sale systems powered by agile, cloud-based software to harness the full benefits of modern cutting-edge technology. Deploying a cloud point of sale system can guarantee optimal customer experience to businesses while remaining aligned with the rapidly evolving technological landscape. Here are the primary reasons why businesses should contemplate the adoption of a cloud based POS system: Real-Time Accessibility In today's fast-paced business environment, the abilityto access real-time data is crucial.Cloud-based POS systems allow businesses to access data from any device with internet access, enabling real-time inventory management, sales tracking, and customer insights. This real-time data accessibility empowers enterprises to make informed decisions, optimize operations, and improve customer experience. Flexibility and Mobility Cloud POS solutions are highly flexible, making it easier for businesses to adapt to changing needs and ecosystems. Leveraging a POS system, businesses can quickly and easily add or remove products, update pricing, and make other changes to their inventory. Furthermore, with the accessibility from any location, these cloud based retail POS systems enable employees/ staff to work remotely. These capabilities are especially useful for businesses that sell seasonal products, experience fluctuations in demand, or have multiple locations. Scalability With legacy POS systems, businesses need to invest in new hardware to expand their operations, which can be costly and time-consuming. However, cloud-based POS systems offer businesses the flexibility to scale up or down their operations without worrying about upgrading their hardware. In addition, businesses can seamlessly add new locations, products, and users without any hardware upgrades. Improved Customer Experience Cloud-based POS systems for retail enable businesses to provide a seamless customer experience by allowing employees to access customer data from any device with an internet connection. This allows businesses to personalize their offerings, offer faster service, and resolve customer complaints quickly. The ability to access real-time data also enables businesses to anticipate customer needs and preferences, allowing them to provide tailored promotions and recommendations. Cost Savings Businesses need to invest in expensive hardware and software, access as well as pay for ongoing maintenance and support while using a legacy POS system. Switching to a cloud POS system can result in significant cost savings for businesses. As these POS solutions require minimal hardware and software investments and often come with a low monthly subscription fee, businesses can save on maintenance and support costs, as these are typically included in the subscription fee. Bottom Line A cloud-based POS system with seamless integration offers an extensive business overview and can perform operations much more than accept orders and payments. Not only does it streamline services, but it also provides insightful data and simplifies day-to-day business management, allowing business owners to focus on development. It is evident that combining day-to-day operations with cloud-based POS software is now a critical requirement for businesses. In addition, the technological evolution of these systems in recent years and the possibilities for continuous development have made point-of-sale data, inventory, staff, and payment management much easier for businesses. Since the world is becoming increasingly digital, it is imperative that businesses adapt and adopt cloud-based POS systems to remain competitive and relevant. Therefore, businesses should consider the benefits of cloud-based POS systems and make the switch to ensure long-term success and growth.

Read More
RESTAURANT POS

Top 5 Reasons Why Modern Restaurant Needs Integrated POS Solutions

Article | November 11, 2022

Last July, a small group representing the giants of the tech industry gathered in the seat of US government, Washington DC. They probably didn’t want to be there. Congress had summoned their employers Apple, Facebook, Google, and Amazon to answer questions about the command they hold over the markets they operate in. On Amazon’s behalf, associate general counsel Nate Sutton spoke in defense of his employer’s role in US retail. Throughout, he argued that Amazon isn’t so powerful as to be able to control prices and stifle competition. Amazon, he pointed out, makes up less than 1% of retail globally. In the US, it accounts for around 4% of retail. In fact, Walmart is much larger than Amazon, he said. In terms of sales, Sutton is right. Walmart reported $510 billion in total sales across its US and international segments in the 2019 fiscal year, versus Amazon’s $233 billion in roughly the same period.

Read More
POS SOLUTIONS

Impact of Cashless Transactions on Third-Party Payments

Article | July 13, 2022

Whatever your feelings are towards Amazon, there is no denying that they have revolutionised ecommerce and now set the bar for the personalised experience of users when it comes to online shopping. So much so that it was recently reported that they have more than a 30% share of the UK’s ecommerce market. With statistics like this, it may feel like it is impossible to compete, especially as Amazon has huge tech and marketing budgets at its disposal. However, all is not lost. It is possible for SMEs to learn from the forerunner and implement some of their most successful techniques, with regards to their use of ecommerce personalisation and AI, to increase sales cost effectively.

Read More

How Retailers Can Utilize In-Store Digital Signage

Article | February 10, 2020

Consumer attention is shifting. Brick-and-mortar stores must now compete with e-retailers as customers spend more time online, thanks to targeted ads and personalized deals. As noted by Digital eCommerce, online sales rose almost 18 percent last year to $3.46 trillion worldwide and are on track to top $892 billion across the U.S. in less than two years. This shift has alerted most brands to the need for a retail evolution to ensure ongoing success. With e-commerce sales still accounting for just under 10 percent of retail revenues, businesses have an opportunity to boost sales and raise their brand profile — if they can reliably capture consumer interest. One solution: effective and engaging digital signage. Retailers Can Capture Crucial In-Store Moments To capture attention and drive conversion, businesses must capitalize on what Google calls micro-moments, when customers leverage their mobile devices to discover more information, find a price or pinpoint a vendor online.

Read More
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Spotlight

Basic Outfitters

In 2014, Basic Outfitters co-founders Laura and Michael Dweck married and moved into a cozy apartment in NYC. It was quickly obvious whose clothing collection would take precedence in their precious and limited closet space. Michael’s eclectic and long-time accumulated sock and underwear assortment would have to go and be replaced by a fresh, new and curated collection of basics.

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POS RETAIL

Fullsteam Secures Major Investment from Aquiline and ADIA to Fuel Growth in Payments Technology and Vertical Software

PRnewswire | May 26, 2023

Fullsteam LLC ("Fullsteam"), a leading provider of integrated business management software and payments to customers across the Main Street economy, today announced that it has received significant new investment from founding sponsor Aquiline Capital Partners LLC ("Aquiline") and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority ("ADIA"), along with a consortium of other investors. Aquiline will remain as the lead investor in the company and ADIA will become a significant minority investor. This infusion of capital will enable Fullsteam to enter its next phase of expansion, building upon its rapid organic growth and an impressive portfolio of seventy acquisitions to date. Established in 2018 by CEO Michael Lawler and Aquiline, Fullsteam has been purpose-built and scaled to meaningfully transform the small to mid-sized merchant experience across multiple sectors, including specialty retail, field services, automotive, leisure, property management, association management, and other specialized markets. At the heart of its business model lies the integration of merchant payment processing and core vertical software. By seamlessly integrating payment processing products with comprehensive resources to accelerate software growth in each of its vertical solutions, Fullsteam allows its resident software entrepreneurs to continuously enhance the experience for its current base of approximately 50,000 customers. Hamad Shahwan Aldhaheri, Executive Director of the Private Equities Department at ADIA, commented, "Fullsteam is well positioned to continue its strong growth trajectory by meeting the digitalized payments and software needs of its customers and pursuing further acquisition opportunities. We are delighted to partner with Aquiline and Fullsteam to support the business as it embarks on its next phase of growth." Joe Pappalardo, Partner at Aquiline, said, "When we established Fullsteam with Mike and Greg Colella, our M&A leader, our goal was to address and accelerate two significant trends in vertical software: the adoption of business management across the small business economy and the convergence of this core software with merchant payment processing. Today, Fullsteam is emerging as a leading buyer and supporter of vertical software companies driving these two trends in North America. We are delighted to expand our existing relationship with ADIA through this transaction and we look forward to continuing our collaboration with Fullsteam to enhance the day-to-day experiences of its growing customer base." Michael Lawler, CEO of Fullsteam, said: "This is an incredibly exciting day for Fullsteam and our entire team as we expand our strategy to transform the payments and software landscape across a wide range of industries. Leveraging our extensive expertise in integrated payments, growth-focused resources, and entrepreneur-centric culture, Fullsteam has a proven track record of helping business founders accelerate their companies' growth while providing exceptional customer service. With the continued support of Aquiline and ADIA, we eagerly anticipate expanding our family of vertical payments and software providers, serving the countless small and mid-sized businesses that form the backbone of our economy." Goldman Sachs served as lead financial advisor and Raymond James served as financial advisor to Fullsteam. Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP served as legal advisor for Aquiline and Fullsteam. About Fullsteam Holdings LLC Fullsteam is a leading payments and software company headquartered in Auburn, Alabama. Fullsteam provides streamlined payments infrastructure and enhanced operational support to better serve customers. Fullsteam is actively seeking further acquisitions across multiple software verticals. About Aquiline Capital Partners LLC Aquiline Capital Partners LLC is a private investment firm based in New York and London investing in companies across financial services and technology, healthcare and business services. The firm has $9.9 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2023. About the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority Established in 1976, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority ("ADIA") is a globally-diversified investment institution that prudently invests funds on behalf of the Government of Abu Dhabi through a strategy focused on long-term value creation.

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POS RETAIL

Brave Wallet Integrates BitPay Payment Protocol for Seamless Crypto Payments Online

PRnewswire | May 24, 2023

BitPay, the world's leader in cryptocurrency payments, announced that Brave Wallet has implemented the BitPay Protocol, enabling its crypto wallet users to make easy, accurate, and reliable payments straight from the Brave privacy browser. Brave Wallet users can now shop with crypto at thousands of top merchants online and in-store, including Newegg, APMEX, PacSun, AMC Theatres, and airBaltic. Crypto payments are seamlessly made from the Brave Wallet to pay for everyday purchases, travel, and large ticket items. BitPay supports the top cryptocurrencies, ensuring Brave Wallet users can use their preferred coin to make payments. First launched in 2017, BitPay Protocol ensures accurate payments by eliminating payment exceptions including overpayments, underpayments, late payments, unconfirmed payments, and potential double-spends. As the crypto industry continues to evolve and attract a significant number of new customers, payment accuracy is imperative. The BitPay Protocol sets the industry bar for crypto payment quality enabling more accurate and reliable blockchain payments in-store and online. "BitPay applauds Brave's adoption of the BitPay Protocol," said Stephen Pair, BitPay CEO. "With the hard work and dedication of the Brave team, we are able to promote payment quality online and in-store for both customers and merchants wanting to leverage the benefits of crypto payments." "With this new integration from BitPay, we're expanding the utility of Brave Wallet and making it easier than ever for our users to spend their crypto on real world goods and services," said James Mudgett, VP of Web3 products at Brave. The Brave Wallet is a secure, multi-chain cryptocurrency wallet built directly into the Brave web browser. In addition to paying with crypto, Brave Wallet users can buy, receive and send crypto assets across multiple chains. They can also import non-custodial wallets, track live crypto prices, swap coins and interact with Web3 DApps. Brave Wallet is available on desktop and mobile as a core feature of the Brave web browser. Download it today for Android, iOS, Linux and PC devices. About BitPay Founded in 2011, BitPay is one of the oldest cryptocurrency companies. As a pioneer in blockchain payment processing, the company's mission is to transform how businesses and people send, receive, and store money. Its business solutions eliminate fraud chargebacks, reduce the cost of payment processing, and enable borderless payments in cryptocurrency, among other services. BitPay offers consumers a complete digital asset management solution that includes the BitPay Wallet and BitPay Prepaid Card, enabling them to turn digital assets into dollars for spending at tens of thousands of businesses. The company has offices in North America, Europe, and South America and has raised more than $70 million in funding from leading investment firms including Founders Fund, Index Ventures, Virgin Group, and Aquiline Technology Growth. About Brave Brave Software's fast, privacy-oriented browser, combined with its blockchain-based digital advertising platform, is reinventing the Web for users, publishers, and advertisers. Users can opt into privacy-respecting ads that reward them with the Basic Attention Token (BAT), a frequent flyer-like token they can redeem or use to tip or contribute to publishers and other content creators. Brave is a driving force leading the way for Web3 adoption, directly supporting Web3 into the broader Web through its privacy browser, independent search engine, and browser-native, multi-chain crypto wallet. Brave currently has over 57 million monthly active users and over 1.7 million Creators.

Read More

POS RETAIL

Ascend Completes Full Integration with Veruna Providing Automated Invoicing, Premium Financing, and Reconciliation

PRnewswire | May 23, 2023

Today, Ascend, the first modern insurance payments platform, announced the launch of their full integration with Veruna allowing for a seamless out-of-the-box solution that offers invoicing, point of sale financing, as well as automatic reconciliation and tracking of invoices back into accounting ledgers - all within the Veruna platform. Veruna's mission as the all-in-one CRM and AMS for independent agents is reinforced with this integration - allowing for a simple and integrated payments solution all within their Salesforce dashboard. Prior to this, integrations between Veruna and Ascend were set up on a per-client basis, but moving forward, all Veruna customers can now set up and enable this integration within minutes. "It was important for us to deepen our partnership since our initial integration. Customers have expressed a desire for a consolidation of tools and simplification of tech stacks and this integration delivers on that - one partner, synced with your AMS/CRM, to handle all your billing, financing, and reconciliation workflows," said Andrew Wynn, co-CEO of Ascend. This integration is a first for Veruna to have a single solution to handle all payment workflows including premium finance post policy placement. "We are very excited to be able to enable best-in-class user experiences through integrations such as these. Instead of having to navigate between different portals and websites, we want all agency workflows to be able to run right through Veruna - saving teams countless hours and allowing them to focus on growing their business," said Colleen Wells, Chief Strategy Officer of Veruna. About Ascend Ascend is the modern insurance payments platform that provides an automated all-in-one solution for invoicing, financing, and payables. Founded by two-time insurtech entrepreneurs Andrew Wynn and Praveen Chekuri, Ascend helps distributors sell more by eliminating expensive and labor-intensive agency bill workflows, while providing insureds with the great online checkout and financing experience they've come to expect. About Veruna Veruna, founded in 2015, empowers independent insurance agencies, carriers, insurtechs, brokers, and MGAs to sell more insurance and retain valued customers. Veruna does that by providing a single user interface and database (AMS-CRM-in-one) enabling agents to sell more and retain better. To serve customers better, Veruna allows agencies and MGAs to build custom configurations to capture unique value propositions and integrate with numerous solutions. Delivering highly innovative insurance technology, Veruna allows agents to focus on one thing - your customers.

Read More

POS RETAIL

Fullsteam Secures Major Investment from Aquiline and ADIA to Fuel Growth in Payments Technology and Vertical Software

PRnewswire | May 26, 2023

Fullsteam LLC ("Fullsteam"), a leading provider of integrated business management software and payments to customers across the Main Street economy, today announced that it has received significant new investment from founding sponsor Aquiline Capital Partners LLC ("Aquiline") and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority ("ADIA"), along with a consortium of other investors. Aquiline will remain as the lead investor in the company and ADIA will become a significant minority investor. This infusion of capital will enable Fullsteam to enter its next phase of expansion, building upon its rapid organic growth and an impressive portfolio of seventy acquisitions to date. Established in 2018 by CEO Michael Lawler and Aquiline, Fullsteam has been purpose-built and scaled to meaningfully transform the small to mid-sized merchant experience across multiple sectors, including specialty retail, field services, automotive, leisure, property management, association management, and other specialized markets. At the heart of its business model lies the integration of merchant payment processing and core vertical software. By seamlessly integrating payment processing products with comprehensive resources to accelerate software growth in each of its vertical solutions, Fullsteam allows its resident software entrepreneurs to continuously enhance the experience for its current base of approximately 50,000 customers. Hamad Shahwan Aldhaheri, Executive Director of the Private Equities Department at ADIA, commented, "Fullsteam is well positioned to continue its strong growth trajectory by meeting the digitalized payments and software needs of its customers and pursuing further acquisition opportunities. We are delighted to partner with Aquiline and Fullsteam to support the business as it embarks on its next phase of growth." Joe Pappalardo, Partner at Aquiline, said, "When we established Fullsteam with Mike and Greg Colella, our M&A leader, our goal was to address and accelerate two significant trends in vertical software: the adoption of business management across the small business economy and the convergence of this core software with merchant payment processing. Today, Fullsteam is emerging as a leading buyer and supporter of vertical software companies driving these two trends in North America. We are delighted to expand our existing relationship with ADIA through this transaction and we look forward to continuing our collaboration with Fullsteam to enhance the day-to-day experiences of its growing customer base." Michael Lawler, CEO of Fullsteam, said: "This is an incredibly exciting day for Fullsteam and our entire team as we expand our strategy to transform the payments and software landscape across a wide range of industries. Leveraging our extensive expertise in integrated payments, growth-focused resources, and entrepreneur-centric culture, Fullsteam has a proven track record of helping business founders accelerate their companies' growth while providing exceptional customer service. With the continued support of Aquiline and ADIA, we eagerly anticipate expanding our family of vertical payments and software providers, serving the countless small and mid-sized businesses that form the backbone of our economy." Goldman Sachs served as lead financial advisor and Raymond James served as financial advisor to Fullsteam. Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP served as legal advisor for Aquiline and Fullsteam. About Fullsteam Holdings LLC Fullsteam is a leading payments and software company headquartered in Auburn, Alabama. Fullsteam provides streamlined payments infrastructure and enhanced operational support to better serve customers. Fullsteam is actively seeking further acquisitions across multiple software verticals. About Aquiline Capital Partners LLC Aquiline Capital Partners LLC is a private investment firm based in New York and London investing in companies across financial services and technology, healthcare and business services. The firm has $9.9 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2023. About the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority Established in 1976, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority ("ADIA") is a globally-diversified investment institution that prudently invests funds on behalf of the Government of Abu Dhabi through a strategy focused on long-term value creation.

Read More

POS RETAIL

Brave Wallet Integrates BitPay Payment Protocol for Seamless Crypto Payments Online

PRnewswire | May 24, 2023

BitPay, the world's leader in cryptocurrency payments, announced that Brave Wallet has implemented the BitPay Protocol, enabling its crypto wallet users to make easy, accurate, and reliable payments straight from the Brave privacy browser. Brave Wallet users can now shop with crypto at thousands of top merchants online and in-store, including Newegg, APMEX, PacSun, AMC Theatres, and airBaltic. Crypto payments are seamlessly made from the Brave Wallet to pay for everyday purchases, travel, and large ticket items. BitPay supports the top cryptocurrencies, ensuring Brave Wallet users can use their preferred coin to make payments. First launched in 2017, BitPay Protocol ensures accurate payments by eliminating payment exceptions including overpayments, underpayments, late payments, unconfirmed payments, and potential double-spends. As the crypto industry continues to evolve and attract a significant number of new customers, payment accuracy is imperative. The BitPay Protocol sets the industry bar for crypto payment quality enabling more accurate and reliable blockchain payments in-store and online. "BitPay applauds Brave's adoption of the BitPay Protocol," said Stephen Pair, BitPay CEO. "With the hard work and dedication of the Brave team, we are able to promote payment quality online and in-store for both customers and merchants wanting to leverage the benefits of crypto payments." "With this new integration from BitPay, we're expanding the utility of Brave Wallet and making it easier than ever for our users to spend their crypto on real world goods and services," said James Mudgett, VP of Web3 products at Brave. The Brave Wallet is a secure, multi-chain cryptocurrency wallet built directly into the Brave web browser. In addition to paying with crypto, Brave Wallet users can buy, receive and send crypto assets across multiple chains. They can also import non-custodial wallets, track live crypto prices, swap coins and interact with Web3 DApps. Brave Wallet is available on desktop and mobile as a core feature of the Brave web browser. Download it today for Android, iOS, Linux and PC devices. About BitPay Founded in 2011, BitPay is one of the oldest cryptocurrency companies. As a pioneer in blockchain payment processing, the company's mission is to transform how businesses and people send, receive, and store money. Its business solutions eliminate fraud chargebacks, reduce the cost of payment processing, and enable borderless payments in cryptocurrency, among other services. BitPay offers consumers a complete digital asset management solution that includes the BitPay Wallet and BitPay Prepaid Card, enabling them to turn digital assets into dollars for spending at tens of thousands of businesses. The company has offices in North America, Europe, and South America and has raised more than $70 million in funding from leading investment firms including Founders Fund, Index Ventures, Virgin Group, and Aquiline Technology Growth. About Brave Brave Software's fast, privacy-oriented browser, combined with its blockchain-based digital advertising platform, is reinventing the Web for users, publishers, and advertisers. Users can opt into privacy-respecting ads that reward them with the Basic Attention Token (BAT), a frequent flyer-like token they can redeem or use to tip or contribute to publishers and other content creators. Brave is a driving force leading the way for Web3 adoption, directly supporting Web3 into the broader Web through its privacy browser, independent search engine, and browser-native, multi-chain crypto wallet. Brave currently has over 57 million monthly active users and over 1.7 million Creators.

Read More

POS RETAIL

Ascend Completes Full Integration with Veruna Providing Automated Invoicing, Premium Financing, and Reconciliation

PRnewswire | May 23, 2023

Today, Ascend, the first modern insurance payments platform, announced the launch of their full integration with Veruna allowing for a seamless out-of-the-box solution that offers invoicing, point of sale financing, as well as automatic reconciliation and tracking of invoices back into accounting ledgers - all within the Veruna platform. Veruna's mission as the all-in-one CRM and AMS for independent agents is reinforced with this integration - allowing for a simple and integrated payments solution all within their Salesforce dashboard. Prior to this, integrations between Veruna and Ascend were set up on a per-client basis, but moving forward, all Veruna customers can now set up and enable this integration within minutes. "It was important for us to deepen our partnership since our initial integration. Customers have expressed a desire for a consolidation of tools and simplification of tech stacks and this integration delivers on that - one partner, synced with your AMS/CRM, to handle all your billing, financing, and reconciliation workflows," said Andrew Wynn, co-CEO of Ascend. This integration is a first for Veruna to have a single solution to handle all payment workflows including premium finance post policy placement. "We are very excited to be able to enable best-in-class user experiences through integrations such as these. Instead of having to navigate between different portals and websites, we want all agency workflows to be able to run right through Veruna - saving teams countless hours and allowing them to focus on growing their business," said Colleen Wells, Chief Strategy Officer of Veruna. About Ascend Ascend is the modern insurance payments platform that provides an automated all-in-one solution for invoicing, financing, and payables. Founded by two-time insurtech entrepreneurs Andrew Wynn and Praveen Chekuri, Ascend helps distributors sell more by eliminating expensive and labor-intensive agency bill workflows, while providing insureds with the great online checkout and financing experience they've come to expect. About Veruna Veruna, founded in 2015, empowers independent insurance agencies, carriers, insurtechs, brokers, and MGAs to sell more insurance and retain valued customers. Veruna does that by providing a single user interface and database (AMS-CRM-in-one) enabling agents to sell more and retain better. To serve customers better, Veruna allows agencies and MGAs to build custom configurations to capture unique value propositions and integrate with numerous solutions. Delivering highly innovative insurance technology, Veruna allows agents to focus on one thing - your customers.

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