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Inspiration

Payments, a retrospectiv
Payments, a retrospective
e

Looking back, looking ahead

hen immersed in the whirlwind world of As far as security goes, didn't locks and keys used to cover
payments, it's easy to take for granted the it? How things have changed. Now it's all about staying
context in which we operate. An ongoing one step ahead of fraudsters by beefing up cybersecurity,
W symbiotic relationship exists through which including regularly updated PCI security standards, fire-
payments innovations contribute to advancements in walls, end-to-end encryption, improved passwords and
other spheres and vice versa. And since 1983, when The authentication methods, swift software updates when
Green Sheet launched, we've seen tremendous changes in threats are detected, and effective staff and consumer edu-
office life both in and outside of payments. Here are sev- cation to protect our valuable digital assets.
eral examples:
Some things remain evergreen
Then and now
Knowing more change is inevitable, it's reassuring to know
In the 1980s, we relied on landline telephones, fax ma- that some practices at work have continued through the
chines, interoffice memos and physical mail. Remember decades and are likely to continue in the decades ahead.
mail carts delivering daily to office cubicles? Today, our These include:
communications are instant and global; we use email,
instant messaging and digital collaboration tools to get • Professionalism: Maintaining a professional de-
the job done. Also, in the '80s, we relied on paper docu- meanor and strong work ethic remain important.
ments stored in filing cabinets. Printing and photocopy-
ing were routine in just about every office, with most • Teamwork: A commitment to collaboration and ef-
being equipped with typewriters, word processors, and fective teamwork are timeless best practices.
clunky desktop computers using floppy discs. Today, • Customer focus: Meeting customer needs and pro-
digital documents and cloud storage are the norm. So are viding excellent service is an enduring principle.
electronic signatures and document-sharing platforms.
Smartphones, laptops and printers/scanners with small • Adaptability: Businesses must continuously adapt to
footprints have replaced the heavy equipment of old. changing technologies and market conditions.

And let's not forget about flexibility. In the '80s, working Another practice likely to become timeless is the care of
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in a company office was the rule. Meet- employees. As Richard Branson once said, “Clients do not
ings were conducted in person, too. The COVID pandemic come first. Employees come first. If you take care of your
hastened a shift toward remote and hybrid work environ- employees, they will take care of the clients.”
ments, and video conferencing became an accepted way to
bring staff together. The payments sphere and the world around us will con-
tinue to evolve. Those of us who will be looking back 40
If you were in school or working in the 1980s, remember years from now will have contrasts with the past just as
what a chore research used to be? We gained information sharp as those we're observing today. Imagine that.
from printed books and manuals, magazines, physical
reference materials in libraries, or glossy encyclopedias
that quickly became outdated. Today's powerful search
engines and newer artificial intelligence platforms, all ac-
cessed with a few taps on a keyboard, would likely bog-
gle the mind of the generations that preceded those of us
working today. Kate Gillespie, President and CEO
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