Merchant Innovation

Merchant Innovation
‘Super App as a Service’ Enables BNPL, Universal Rewards Redemptions, Including Crypto
September 09, 2021

“People are ready to switch their rewards to crypto,” novae CEO Sergio Arana told PYMNTS. With the help of Visa and a sweeping new rewards program, the company’s “Super App as a Service” platform will bring crypto transactions and buy now, pay later (BNPL) payments into...

Merchant Innovation
Consumers Want Self-Service Checkout Options But Rarely Get to Use Them
September 07, 2021

As consumers continue to return to the aisles en masse, retailers are seeking new ways to keep them coming back, even when online and mobile options beckon. One method of keeping consumers happy to be in a physical store is making in-store shopping more like...

Merchant Innovation
With Domestic Travel Booming, Hopper Bets Its New Services Will Take Off Too
August 25, 2021

As COVID-19 ebbs and flows and a sustainable re-opening for business and leisure remains shrouded in uncertainty, at least one thing has become clear; people everywhere are itching to pack their bags, get outside and travel again. “The one thing this pandemic has proved is...

Merchant Innovation
How D2C Mail-In Doggie DNA Kits Turn Data Into Research That Helps Dogs Live Longer
August 17, 2021

Fresh off a $75 million fund raise and a record-setting year of pandemic era growth fueled by a spike in pet ownership, Boston-based Embark Veterinary is looking to turn that money and momentum into its next big project; extending the lives of dogs by 3...

Merchant Innovation
Gupshup Looks To Automation To Remove The Mess From Messaging
August 16, 2021

For most consumers, a simple scroll through recent texts will reveal just how active and enthusiastic businesses have become in using messaging platforms to communicate with customers. The paradox of this shift is that the more crowded the medium becomes and the more cluttered our...

Merchant Innovation
COVID Turned A Small Chatroom For Accountants Into A Hub Of 50,000 Conversations
July 22, 2021

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that forming a community — for insight or support — is critical, even if those bonds must be forged online. Those interactions can be cemented more easily through online platforms — especially in the work-from-home environment, and,...

Merchant Innovation
NoTraffic Raises $17.5M To Make Dumb Intersections Smart
July 16, 2021

Traffic intersections are almost entirely dumb in North America. While we live in the age of connected tech and a “smart” version of everything up to and including the toothbrush, the place where two streets come together and traffic choreography takes place mostly isn’t there...

Merchant Innovation
Giant Food Adds EBT SNAP Payment Option To Online Orders
July 15, 2021

Giant Food will now accept EBT card payments for pickup and delivery orders placed online, the mid-Atlantic grocery chain announced today (July 15). “Convenience and value are of great importance at Giant and as online grocery demand continues at an all-time high, we are excited...

Merchant Innovation
Treasury In Transition: What’s Next As Businesses Recreate Their Payment Flows
July 14, 2021

It’s been a big year for direct-to-consumer (D2C) plays by big brands. Coke, Pepsi, Nike, Heinz and Mars are just some of the brands that consumers are used to seeing on store shelves that have, in the last 18 months, made big moves to open new sales...