Page 12 - GS220201

IndustryUpdate

To be considered for participation, organizations need-
ed to be in operation for at least one year, have at least
15 employees working in Virginia and have a facility in
the commonwealth.

TSG heralds 2022 top payment gateways
The Strawhecker Group recognized several payment
gateways for exceptional performance across key areas
critical to a successful payment platform. "As a cashless
future approaches, we are excited to honor the gateways
making this possible," said Mike Strawhecker, president
of TSG. TSG’s Gateway Enterprise Metrics platform
sends real transactions and pings from over 20 global
locations 24/7/365 to monitor gateway performance. A
list of winners and runners up in categories of best per-
ANNOUNCEMENTS forming, fastest transactions, highest authorization rate,
lowest gateway minute outage (North America), and
APEXX Global enters U.S. market lowest gateway minute outage (global) can be found
here: xhttps://bit.ly/3okmM7O.
APEXX Global, a payments platform and buy now, pay
later (BNPL) provider, introduced its payments orches- RESEARCH
tration and processing platform to the U.S. marketplace.
The company said that as the BNPL market heats up Holiday gift card sales may boost Q1 retail sales
in the United States, it is focused on helping payment
services providers meet growing demand, and it expects Holiday gift card sales could boost retail sales in the
to be processing about $20 billion with big ecommerce first quarter of 2022, according to new research from
brands by the end of 2021. APEXX noted it is a staple Blackhawk Network. The findings, based on consumer
in European markets, with over 120 integrated part- research and Blackhawk’s U.S. sales data, found a
ners and multiple enterprise clients, while saving users double-digit increase in gift card sales during the 2021
across more than 70 countries an average of 15 percent holiday season, with most surveyed consumers plan-
on processing. ning to use their gift cards between January and March.
ATMIA celebrates 25th anniversary Eighty-two percent of surveyed consumers reported
they plan to use their holiday gift cards in the first half
ATMIA launched its 25th anniversary year logo to help of the year. With 47 percent of respondents planning to
commemorate a quarter century of service to the ATM spend more than the value of their gift card, that is good
industry. Founded in a two-room office in Louisville, news for U.S. retailers. Of those planning to spend more,
Ky., the not-for-profit association now represents over 41 percent of surveyed consumers said they anticipate
650 companies in 70 countries from all sectors of the spending at least $50 more than the amount they were
ATM, cash and payments sectors. ATMIA launched its given.
anniversary celebrations at its annual U.S. conference Icon finds request to pay challenges direct debit
Feb. 8 to 10, 2022 in Orlando, Fla. Founding Director
Tom Harper, now CEO of Networld Media Group, cred- An Icon Solutions report titled Demystifying Request
ited ATMIA CEO Mike Lee for leading the association to Pay: An Industry Perspective revealed a survey of 50
"into the world’s major markets with amazing skill and senior global banking executives indicates request to
diplomacy." pay is widely expected to challenge established pay-
ment methods, with 87 percent of respondents viewing
Nacha among Best Places to Work in Virginia
it as a good alternative to direct debits and 71 percent
Nacha was named one of the Best Places to Work in expecting it will reduce merchant’s dependency on pay-
Virginia for a fourth consecutive year by Virginia Business ment cards. Yet 67 percent identified bank readiness as
Magazine and Best Companies Group. The statewide the main barrier impacting adoption of request to pay
survey and awards program identifies, recognizes and services, with the limitations of existing technology and
honors the best places of employment in Virginia, ben- a lack of clear strategy seen as key inhibiting factors. In
efiting its economy, workforce and businesses, Nacha allowing payees to initiate requests for payments within
stated. The 2022 Best Places to Work in Virginia list is a secure messaging channel, request to pay enables flex-
made up of 100 companies and organizations. ible ways to move money between people, organizations
and businesses, Icon stated.

12