The Green Sheet Online Edition
June 6, 2022 • 22:06:02
Letter from the editor
With gasoline prices soaring everywhere, and Mendocino County, Calif., holding the U.S. record at the time of this writing—a whopping $9.60 per gallon—merchants, consumers, ISOs, merchant level salespeople, payment processors, gateway providers, equipment and software vendors, VARs, payments consultancies and all other participants along the electronic payments and merchant services value chain are shifting gears. Everyone wants to mitigate the challenges brought by painful price hikes, so businesses can remain profitable and ordinary folks can maintain a good quality of life. We cannot know to what degree crypto payments will play a role in this endeavor, but research shows that demand for crypto payments is growing. Thus, in this issue, we conclude our two-part series featuring members of The Green Sheet Advisory Board who share perspectives on the state of cryptocurrencies and crypto payments now and going forward.
One factor that remains constant in the payments industry, whether inflation levels are acceptable or runaway, is the need to sign new merchant customers. For this, prospecting is an ongoing endeavor. One contributor to this issue makes the case that cold calling should remain on the table and, calling it a contact sport, offers tips on how to cold call successfully. Other expert authors appearing in this issue discuss the pros and cons of emerging real time or near real time payments offerings; the multiple business advantages of using an automatic account updater; how innovative thinkers are leveraging payment rails to create a deeper, richer customer experience and how MLSs can emulate them by focusing on each prospect or partner holistically; and how digital transformation is reshaping financial services right now.
In News Briefs we've highlighted stories on consumer satisfaction levels plummeting due to rising expectations amid a faltering economy; indications that, unfortunately ransomware attacks are robust and rising; fraudsters now targeting consumers with crypto scams; and research showing merchants are eager to accept cryptocurrencies, believing it will give them a competitive advantage. The complete stories behind these and additional breaking news are posted at www.greensheet.com.
Be sure not to miss the product and company profiles included herein, along with updates on such milestones as company and individual awards, eye-catching research, new partnerships and acquisitions, and executive appointments made in our sphere. Then, please take a moment to send us your comments and suggestions at greensheet@greensheet.com. Also, please send news of your company's innovations and other developments to press@greensheet.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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