Today is Wednesday, May 11 and it’s National Eat What You Want Day, so maybe it’s time to get a few pizzas made by a robot and delivered by drone. Today is also the confirmation vote for Alvaro Bedoya to the Federal Trade Commission, but Republicans asked for his name to be pulled, so anything can happen. Here’s what else should be on your radar this morning.
Insta Payday: With 52% of adults living paycheck to paycheck, instant access to wages can be a retention benefit as well as a financial helping hand. PYMNTS’ latest Expanding Payments Choice Playbook®, a collaboration with Onbe, looks at how the use of instant payroll can help businesses boost employees’ financial security and loyalty while reducing turnover. READ MORE
Sales Channels: While 61% of online merchants increased their use of marketplaces last year, 40% of marketplace-native firms don’t think those avenues will make or break their future. Marketplaces are usually just one selling route for retailers, with just 12% selling exclusively online. In Online Sellers: The Future Is Multichannel, PYMNTS examines the eCommerce landscape and what’s driving today’s merchants. READ MORE
Packaging Africa: The perception of goods that are made in Africa needs a packaging reboot, Birame Sock, founder and CEO of African B2B marketplace Kwely, told PYMNTS. Lousy packaging has led to poor product positioning, but Kwely feels that with the right tools, local producers can find success in the global marketplace. READ MORE
Crypto Compliance: Cryptocurrencies operate across blockchains, which are publicly accessible and highly transparent, Andrew Fierman, head of sanctions strategy at Chainalysis, told PYMNTS. Once information is recorded on a blockchain, it can’t be changed or deleted, which makes it possible for anyone to examine the entire lifecycle of transactions — a plus for deep investigations into illicit behavior. READ MORE
ICYMI: Increased use of automation and robotics in the food industry is helping to fill the labor shortage gap, but consumer readiness varies by country. Automated restaurant Yo-Kai Express sees greater adoption in Japan, where it just launched last month because the population is used to vending machines, COO Amanda Tsung told PYMNTS. The eatery is also in the U.S. and Taiwan. READ MORE
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