Connected Economy

Connected Economy
Auto Hauler Exchange CEO on Making Platforms Work in Vehicle Transport
February 03, 2023

Digital marketplaces are rewriting industry rulebooks, building new B2B relationships and modernizing historical processes. This is paradoxically most true, and most impactful, in those industries most resistant to change. So says Royce Neubauer, founder and CEO of Auto Hauler Exchange, whose company’s online marketplace platform...

Connected Economy
CE 100 Index Gains 5.3% as BNPL, Amex Lead the Charge  
January 30, 2023

Earnings season has taught us that the death of consumer spending has been greatly exaggerated.   Much depends on where you look, of course.   December’s latest macro data shows that consumers pulled back during the holiday shopping season, and the month showed a 0.2% drop in...

Connected Economy
2023 Revs Up to Become Connected Cars’ Milestone Year
January 29, 2023

This year, the rubber meets the road for connected cars. A slew of partnerships and announcements in just the first few weeks of 2023 show that all parts of the ecosystem — the payments firms, the software providers, the dealers and of course the automakers...

Connected Economy
CE 100 Index Up 1% as DoorDash and BNPL Names Rally
January 23, 2023

Despite concerns over consumer spending, PYMNTS’ ConnectedEconomy “CE 100” Stock Index gained ground this past week, as it extended its recent run with another 1% weekly advance. And thus far, year to date, the Index is up 10%, boosted a bit this time around by...

Connected Economy
Germany’s Paid Training Leave Attempts to Plug Digital Skills Gap
January 19, 2023

The German government wants to introduce paid leave for employees to undergo training. In comments widely reported in the German media, Labor Minister Hubertus Heil said that an upcoming bill will introduce the concept of paid educational leave for up to a year, building on...

Connected Economy
Impel Raises $104M to Help Car Dealers Improve Digital Engagement
January 19, 2023

Impel has raised $104 million to grow its digital engagement software for automotive manufacturers, dealers and third-party marketplaces. The company will use the new capital to develop new products and pursue mergers and acquisitions (M&A) to meet the auto industry’s demand for automation and digital technology...

Connected Economy
Grocers Can Win Zillennial Loyalty With In-Store Purchase Options
January 17, 2023

Cross-channel purchasing options may be a key loyalty approach for grocers seeking to capture this bridge generation. Why Is This Important? Capturing this demographic just as they’re gaining financial independence could be key for grocers and other retailers seeking to increase customer loyalty. Zillennials represent...

Connected Economy
BurgerFi Uses in-Car Payments to Feed Fleet Sales
January 16, 2023

With the emergence of in-vehicle ordering, restaurants have the opportunity to drive large-scale B2B sales. In an interview with PYMNTS, Karl Goodhew, chief technology officer at fast-casual dining brand BurgerFi, discussed the potential of the technology, which the restaurant unveiled earlier this month in partnership...

Connected Economy
CE 100 Index Surges 6.3% as Banks Kick Off Earnings Season
January 16, 2023

Macro level data suggests inflation is cooling, and bank earnings suggest consumer spending is resilient. In tandem with the investor sentiment that interest rate hikes may be slowing or the Fed might pause altogether, the CE 100 Index surged 6.3%. That positive performance outpaced the...