Preparations underway for MPC21

MPC: The Digital Commerce Event opened its annual call for speakers on Jan. 4, 2021, in preparation for its 11th annual symposium. MPC conference committee members will review prospective presenters' applications postmarked on or before Jan. 22. The exclusive event will be held in August 2021, according to Marla Ellerman, executive director at MPC.

In an interview with The Green Sheet, Ellerman stated that MPC and its sponsors, exhibitors, keynote speakers and attendees have evolved from a New York City workshop into a vibrant community and platform. "MPC and digital commerce have grown up together," she said. "We launched the Mobile Payments Conference in 2009, before digital wallets and mobile apps gained widespread adoption. Last year, we had over 1800 attendees at MPC20, our first all-virtual event."

Ellerman went on to say that today's MPC platform brings together innovators who are shaping the future of commerce. Participants can learn, engage and network with experts in emerging payments, blockchain, digital currencies, cybersecurity, consumer privacy, rewards and loyalty and customer experience, she stated.

Pre-event publicity

Ellerman mentioned the enthusiasm expressed by payments and fintech professionals in response to the show's evolution to an always-on networking platform, giving speakers, exhibitors and sponsors additional opportunities to engage with participants far ahead of the actual conference. Opportunities include posting videos, press releases, blog posts and audience polls, and speakers will have numerous opportunities to interact and network with presenters, exhibitors and audience members, she stated.

News of new media partnerships with The Green Sheet Inc. and Board Studios Inc. has also received a positive reception. Together the partners will be "hosting a series of presentations, videos and webinars throughout the year that link to our annual conference," Ellerman said.

The MPC 2021 digital show guide, also in development, will offer behind-the-scenes access to industry leaders in payments, technology and financial services, Ellerman noted. “MPC attracts leaders from across the commerce ecosystem," she said. "Google, PayPal, Intel, U.S. Bank, Kount and many other innovative companies have presented at MPC and presentations get bigger and better every year."

Diverse agenda planned

This year's conference, themed, Where Commerce & Technology Meet, will focus on how alternative payment solutions are solving for COVID-19 and beyond. Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals that address trending issues in digital commerce, such as the following:

• 5G connectivity
• B2C, B2B and P2P
• Banking and fiinance
• Channels: Integrators, VARs and sales agents
• Digital wallets
• Embedded finance
• Government and regulation
• High-risk markets
• International business
• Marketing and customer experience
• Payments: Merchants, acquirers, ISOs, payments
• Real-time payments
• Security
• Technology and telecom
• Verticals: Retail, medical, entertainment, defense and more

Noting that all submissions will receive serious consideration, Ellerman stated that registration for MPC21 will open in April and urged prospective speakers to apply online by the Jan. 22 deadline at mobilepaymentconference.com/speakers/. For additional information about MPC21, including exhibitor and sponsor opportunities, visit www.mpcevent.com.

Whether you want to upgrade your POS offerings, find a payment gateway partner, bone up on fintech regs or PCI requirements, find an upcoming trade show, read about faster payments, or discover the latest innovations in merchant acquiring, The Green Sheet is the resource for you. Since 1983, we've helped empower and connect payments professionals, starting with the merchant level salespeople who bring tailored payment acceptance and digital commerce tools, along with a host of other business services to merchants across the globe. The Green Sheet Inc. is also a proud affiliate of Bankcard Life, a premier community that provides industry-leading training and resources for payment professionals.

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