Walgreens To Accept Alipay For Chinese Visitors

There will be another payment option for Chinese travelers shopping at U.S. Walgreens locations. As the following Retail Dive article reports, Walgreens will begin accepting the mobile pay app in major U.S. markets this week. Starting this week, 3,000 U.S. Walgreens stores, including locations in New York, San Francisco and Las Vegas, now accept Alipay, the mobile payment platform owned by Ant Financial, an affiliate of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, according to a post on Alibaba’s Alizila news blog. That number will increase to 7,000 by April, according to an email from Alibaba to Retail Dive. Each year, some 4 million Alipay users are in the U.S., and save on foreign-exchange fees when they’re able to use it, the company said. Alipay is increasingly an option for Chinese travelers to the U.S. Last September, for example, cross-border mobile payment company Citcon and omnichannel platform GK Software partnered to bring Alipay and rival WeChat Pay for use by North American retail customers, according to an email from those companies to Retail Dive

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Leading Wireless Retail Platform Provider Real Time Technologies Continues Growth and Expansion With Acquisition of Your Ware Software

Real Time Technologies (RT²) | January 24, 2024

Real Time Technologies, Inc (RT²), the largest enterprise front-end software platform serving Fortune 500 companies in the U.S. wireless industry, announced today its acquisition of Your Ware Software, a provider of customized business intelligence, sales, and compensation reporting for the wireless retail postpaid channel. Trusted by tier-one telecom carriers to provide retail activation, point-of-sale (POS), payments, business intelligence, and inventory management solutions, RT²'s acquisition of Your Ware Software adds key capabilities to its burgeoning retail wireless store solutions, enabling further expansion into postpaid channels for customers. The purchase is expected to add access to another 4,000 postpaid locations for RT²'s industry-leading wireless retail platform, setting the company up for another banner year in 2024. "The acquisition of Your Ware significantly expands RT²'s presence in the postpaid retail environment and adds to our long-standing success as the leading enterprise POS and Payments provider in prepaid wireless channels," said Omar Azrag, CEO of RT². "The Your Ware team has similar DNA to RT² and brings a world-class level of service specializing in building and deploying customized solutions for the postpaid channel. We are thrilled to have them part of the RT2 family," says Ali Koumaiha, Founder & CPO of RT². "For 22 years, Your Ware Software has designed POS, inventory management, and commission-tracking software for authorized retailers representing tier-one U.S. telecom carriers. Our team of world-class developers and engineers are excited to join the RT² family and continue to serve our customers with the industry-leading products and services they've come to expect. This deal is a triumph for our employees and our customers," says Chris Jones, CEO of Your Ware Software. Neither party disclosed the terms of the deal at this time, and it will remain confidential. In August of 2022, RT² acquired IAS, formerly Qpay from InComm Payments, specializing in customizable payment and technology solutions and the payment processor of choice for retailers, master agents and wireless carriers. RT² has since transformed and simplified the payment offering with an industry-first service model, much to the delight of their long-term customers. About Real Time Technologies (RT²) RT² offers the most flexible cutting-edge Retail Management Solutions that encompass POS, inventory management, payment services, frontline employee management & engagement, business intelligence, and digital automation tools for the wireless industry. RT² support Fortune 500 companies unify their customer experience and remove pain points across multiple retail touch points. Now serving over 14,000 retail locations across the US, Territories, and Canada. RT² prides itself on fostering a family culture and a dynamic work environment where team members are set up to make meaningful contributions across the organization. Learn more at www.rt2.com.

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POS Solutions

Finastra's Filogix unveils automated lender note capabilities, powered by Gen AI

Finastra | February 21, 2024

Finastra's Filogix team has unveiled new generative AI (Gen AI) capabilities in its Expert Pro Canadian Mortgage Point of Sale (POS) solution. The function automates the creation of borrower narratives (notes) that aids in lender underwriting – streamlining processes, saving time and minimizing errors for brokers. With just a single click, users can generate a comprehensive summary of the mortgage deal, covering all the relevant criteria. The content can be reviewed, edited and then sent for underwriting much faster, as compared to the traditional manual process. Content can be auto-composed in English or French, and brokers can choose the format and which elements of the mortgage application to include for a more tailored and personalized experience. Jonathan Wootten, Head of Filogix at Finastra said, "We're very proud of this significant milestone. As a leader in financial technology solutions, we are committed to harnessing the power of Gen AI to enhance our own business processes, as well as to bringing exciting innovations to our customers. In our recent annual survey, 83% of financial services professionals said that their institution is interested in Gen AI. This mirrors the enthusiasm we see in the marketplace for the new functionality in our Expert Pro solution for brokers. We look forward to continuing to bring our customers opportunities to tap into the innovative and transformative technology that is Gen AI." The Auto-Compose functionality has a secure private model at the core, which stands out from other systems built around public models. Filogix Expert Pro allows mortgage professionals to centralize their business through workflow optimization, resulting in improved consumer experience, more time to manage new opportunities, and funding deals faster. Click here for more information. About Filogix Filogix has served as the hub of the Canadian mortgage industry for almost two decades, offering secure, reliable connectivity to brokers and lenders. It provides trusted mortgage lending products, that enable the effective management of the sales process from origination through underwriting. As the mortgage landscape continues to change, Filogix is prioritizing advances to support the industry into the future. It is investing in a more open infrastructure and building connectivity to create a complete mortgage marketplace, helping mortgage professionals do business with more choice, speed and reliability than ever before. About Finastra Finastra is a global provider of financial software applications and marketplaces, and launched the leading open platform for innovation, FusionFabric.cloud, in 2017. It serves institutions of all sizes, providing award-winning software solutions and services across Lending, Payments, Treasury & Capital Markets and Universal Banking (Retail, Digital and Commercial Banking) for banks to support direct banking relationships and grow through indirect channels, such as embedded finance and Banking as a Service. Its pioneering approach and commitment to open finance and collaboration is why it is trusted by over 8,000 institutions, including 45 of the world's top 50 banks.

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POS Retail

MyTradeZone.com Joins Certified Trade Mission to Hong Kong to Explore Business Expansion Opportunities in Asia

MyTradeZone | November 28, 2023

MyTradeZone.com, a trade and Social Networking for businesses, is pleased to announce its upcoming visit to Hong Kong from December 4th to 8th, 2023. Bachir Kassir, founder of MyTradeZone, will join a delegation of American companies to Hong Kong as part of a U.S. Department of Commerce Certified Trade Mission organized by IBS Global Consulting with the support of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the U.S. Commercial Service. The delegation, comprising a diverse group of American companies, aims to foster cross-border partnerships, explore export opportunities, and deepen economic ties between the United States and Hong Kong. The visit to Hong Kong presents an exciting opportunity for MyTradeZone.com to expand its global reach, tap into new markets, and establish key connections with Hong Kong's dynamic business community and trade associations. With Hong Kong's strategic location as a gateway to the Asia-Pacific region, robust financial services sector, and reputation as a major international trade hub, this visit holds immense promise for American enterprises looking to navigate the Asian market. Led by Tonya McNeal-Weary, Managing Director at IBS Global Consulting, the delegation will engage in a series of high-level meetings, networking events, and industry-specific forums during the five-day visit. These activities are designed to facilitate mutually beneficial partnerships between U.S. and Hong Kong businesses across various sectors. [MyTradeZone.com] is a disruptive business networking platform, and is like an always open trade show Businesses: Add company profile page. Showcase products & services. Network locally and around the world Event Organizers, Trade Associations, & Networking Groups: Provide value-added offering to members & sponsors in a public or private setting Creators & Group owners: Monetize your creations via peer-to-peer payment enablement Advertisers and Marketers: MyTradeZone's B2B search engine offers highly targeted and cost-effective advertisements to both buyers and sellers Business Professionals: Grow your professional network, chat, connect, follow, takes notes, share and collaborate As an official member of the delegation, MyTradeZone will have the opportunity to gain firsthand insights into Hong Kong's business landscape, explore regulatory frameworks, exchange best practices, and forge lasting relationships with key stakeholders. Additionally, the itinerary includes tailored site visits to cutting-edge facilities and industrial parks, showcasing Hong Kong's commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship. The visit to Hong Kong aims to enhance trade cooperation and seeks to highlight the enduring friendship between the United States and Hong Kong. As both economies continue to recover from the challenges posed by the global pandemic, this visit becomes even more crucial in reinvigorating trade ties and promoting long-term economic growth. About MyTradeZone.com MyTradeZone is a social networking platform for businesses. We are working on the next thing to disrupt business networking. MyTradeZone is a forward-thinking B2B media technology company reshaping how businesses connect and network. MyTradeZone's B2B search engine offers highly targeted and cost-effective advertisements to both buyers and sellers. MyTradeZone is also a perfect companion offering to trade show organizers and networking groups offering value added benefits to both members and sponsors. MyTradeZone is always free to join.

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POS Solutions

Agilysys Provides On-Site Premier POS Service to Ensure Exceptional Fan Experiences at The Australian Open Tennis Tournament

Agilysys | January 23, 2024

Agilysys, Inc., a leading global provider of hospitality software solutions and services, announced it is providing on-site premier support for the InfoGenesis point-of-sale (POS) system at Melbourne & Olympic Parks to ensure the 900,000-plus people expected to attend the 2024 Australian Open enjoy their food and beverage experiences. As host to a variety of popular sports and entertainment events throughout the year, and as one of the largest and most diverse multi-purpose sporting, entertainment, conference and community precincts in Australia, Melbourne & Olympic Parks holds claim to the Australian Open, the first of four Grand Slam level tennis tournaments held each season. With more than 900,000 people expected to attend the 2024 tournament, the venue requires a fast, robust and reliable POS system to smoothly manage the high volume of orders and transactions and to ensure an exceptional fan experience at every interaction. To prepare for delivering exceptional service to Australian Open fans, hundreds of InfoGenesis POS terminals are strategically placed in concession stands throughout the venue to shorten lines and wait times. With an increased focus on the convenience of mobile concession ordering and delivery and the security of contactless payments, Agilysys’ IG OnDemand solution has been made available so fans can use their mobile devices to place and receive orders wherever they are around the 40-hectare venue, and for the venue to accept and track cashless transactions. In addition, Agilysys POS experts and service teams are on-site throughout the two-week-long Australian Open to provide instant assistance and ensure optimal system efficiency and performance under heightened demand. "Augmenting support during times of intensified system demand, such as what occurs during high-attendance events, is just one way we demonstrate our Serious About Service commitment,” said Agilysys Vice President of Client Services for APAC Ajoy Meenakshisundaram. Meenakshisundaram added, “By delivering system implementation, performance optimization and signature service directly, rather than outsourcing to others, we gain deep insights into how our customers operate and their unique requirements, especially in times of peak demand. World-class venues like Melbourne & Olympic Parks count on innovative solutions such as InfoGenesis tailored to meet their unique fan experience requirements and delivered by a global trusted advisor focused on hospitality-driven businesses.” About Agilysys Agilysys exclusively delivers state-of-the-art software solutions and services that help organizations achieve High Return Hospitality™ by maximizing Return on Experience (ROE) through interactions that make ‘personal’ profitable. Customers around the world use Agilysys Property Management Systems (PMS), Point-of-Sale (POS) solutions and Inventory and Procurement (I&P) systems to consistently delight guests, retain staff and grow margins. Agilysys’ 100% hospitality customer base includes branded and independent hotels; multi-amenity resorts; casinos; property, hotel and resort management companies; cruise lines; corporate dining providers; higher education campus dining providers; food service management companies; hospitals; lifestyle communities; senior living facilities; stadiums; and theme parks. www.agilysys.com

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