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Inspiration

Leap into the year-end holidays

ike the rest of 2020, the year-end holiday season products and services deal with this? If you fall short, find
will be different from all prior years. Indeed, partners who can help you fill this essential gap, because
the season has already diverged from conven- all indications are we'll see online purchases soar higher
L tion, because it is already well underway. Many than ever this holiday season.
savvy retailers segued from holiday prep to implementa-
tion before summer's end. In addition, getting a jump on the holiday season can give
merchants valuable data on emerging geographic and
Now would be a great time to encourage your merchant demographic trends that they can apply to their plans for
customers to step up their holiday season activities the rest of the year and into the coming year. Does
if they haven't already done so. A signifi- your suite of services provide a means for
cant portion of consumer spending them to collect and analyze data in a
shifted from in-person to online, meaningful way? If not, this is
which spurred merchants another area where you can
to adapt. Many launched research potential partners
ecommerce websites for who will enable you to
the first time; some en- provide the very best
tered entirely new service possible.
sales channels; a
large number adapt- There will always be
ed to new methods some folks for whom
of order placement holiday shopping is
and fulfillment. a cherished social
Much of this is activity. They will
still new to them. want to visit physi-
Integrating sea- cal stores and see
sonal products real merchandise
and promotions on display. Mer-
early will give chants need help
them more time to creating optimal in-
work out the kinks store experiences for
before the bulk of or- consumers under what
ders arrive. are likely to be social
distancing requirements
Another reason for mer- that vary from jurisdiction to
chants to get their holiday jurisdiction. What services do
mojo on early is that many retail- you have that can help merchants
ers are now at peak capacity when it offer a seamless in-store experience?
comes to shipping packages, and so are Do you provide contactless payment accep-
the various companies that will be making their tance, as well as hand-held POS devices so sales as-
deliveries. A glut of undelivered packages sitting in ware- sociates can check shoppers out on the spot and avoid long
houses on Christmas morning instead of under the tree, lines trailing down cluttered aisles?
for example, would cause more than disappointment. It
could lead to long-lasting ill will among the huge percent- We used to talk about omnichannel commerce in the
age of people who celebrate the holiday. future tense. It has now arrived. And we, in the payments
community, are positioned to help make it rewarding for
Update your offerings all involved as we get into the holiday spirit.
Authenticating online purchases is another challenge
merchants increasingly face this year. How can they
balance the need to block fraudulent card-not-present
purchases and the need to not decline valid purchases?
Take a look at what you offer merchants. How well do your
Kate Gillespie, President and CEO

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