There are many lenses through which we can view the continual evolution within the payments space. One of them is to take a look at developments from a hardware perspective. Examining the evolving role of hardware and associated payment security brings major advances into sharp focus.
This issue's lead article delves into hardware's digital journey, pointing out that as POS devices and payments became more elegant and invisible, POS manufacturers and technology providers certified and powered next-generation commerce solutions. Hardware slowly faded from the center of the customer experience while operating behind the scenes to enable mobile and digital commerce. In this first of a two-part series on the topic, industry experts weigh in on hardware's evolution and how advanced technologies are bridging the gap between physical and digital security.
In addition, data security continues to grab headlines in our sphere. Sometimes the news is good; other times it is not. In News Briefs we highlight stories about the rise in friendly fraud amid the COVID-19 pandemic; the ballooning of digital fraud, in general, during the pandemic; and a proposed new federal data privacy standard. Additional stories spotlighted in News Briefs include Visa and Mastercard's decision, given pressure from Congress and the public, to delay interchange rate hikes for another year; economic optimism spurred by 5G deployments; and a report on how the ecommerce sector continues to grow unabated.
The industry experts contributing to this magazine also cover a range of issues, including how merchant level salespeople (MLSs) can adapt to thrive in a world of embedded finance; rules for MLSs to follow to remain profitable; how credit cards can have a place in B2B transactions; a new breed of fintechs taking advantage of the cannabis market opportunity; major disadvantages of an obsessive pursuit of profits; a UK government-backed report that fintech and regtech stakeholders welcomed; and interchange as well as debit card routing issues that have put the major card brands on the hot seat.
You'll also find herein company and product profiles, as well as updates on new developments in our realm such as awards, updated guidelines, rebranding, new associations and partnerships, acquisitions, appointments, and relevant industry research. We hope this publication and online resources are of assistance to you in your payments career. We will welcome your questions and suggestions at greensheet@greensheet.com. And please continue to send your latest news to press@greensheet.com. 
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