See Who's Attending APEX Europe

All Payments Expo Europe, the most relevant B2B payments and retail gathering in Europe, is shaping up to be the most relevant international community for prepaid, technology and merchants. This is where executives will hear all-new, peer-led case studies and insights AND get access to brand new consumer research.

Attracting attendees from 25+ countries, APEX Europe is where retail, mobile, data and technology intersect to grow connected commerce over the course of 3 days, 8+ hours of devoted networking and private, off-the-record sessions.

Here’s a sample of who you’ll get to meet while in Marbella:
3V Transaction Services • Airplus International SRL • Al Fardan Exchange • Alma D • ArbitorSports • Auctionata • Bankable • CardOneBanking • Cardwise • Carta Financial Services Ltd • Centigo AB • Coop Danmark • Dansk Supermarked A/S • Edgar Dunn & Company • eNett International • ePayService • Epipoli SpA • EuroCommerce • First Data • Flex e-card • FlexCard • Flex-e-Vouchers • Gap Inc •     Gemalto SA • Genesys • GKFX • Globoforce • Gruppo Poste Italiane • Gx • Hobbs Limited • Home Retail Group • Hotel Voucher Shop • IMA • Iqcard LLC •  John Lewis Partnership • Limonetik • Load & Go • Localz •Locke Lord • Marks & Spencer • Mercator Advisory Group •        MintCombine • MTACC Inc • Nordic Choice • Optimal Payments • Orwell • Payment Card Solutions • Payoneer EU Limited • PerfectCard • PMA Media Group • Polymath Consulting • PPRO • PSI-Pay Ltd • Raphaels Bank • Rapid Financial Solutions • Rideau Recognition Solutions • Riverbridge Partners LLC • Sears Holdings Corporation •Signet • Smart Concepts BV • TESCO Bank • Thames Card Technology Ltd • The Billing Project LLC • Ticket Surf • TJX Europe • TrustEu Affairs • TrustPay a s • Tuxedo Money Solutions • WEX Europe Ltd. • Yandex Money •Zalando SE

View Agenda | Speaker Faculty | Register

To join these peers and potential partners, sign up here. Register by 17 April to save up to €200! Use the code XU2940BLOG to save.

I look forward to seeing you in Marbella this coming May.

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Top 5 Reasons You Can't Miss APEX Europe

At APEX Europe, you'll join an international community and get in-person insights, valuable face time with peers and partners and access to consumer research and case studies you won't hear anywhere else. This is where 250+ payments, retail and technology executives are convening to build the next generation of inter-connected commerce.

With a focus on consumer experience and intra-industry collaborations, All Payments Expo Europe is the most relevant gathering of Europe's payments players, including retailers, programme managers, card networks, processors, issuers/acquirers, financial institutions, payments start-ups, technology and investors.

The Top 5 Reasons You Can't Miss APEX Europe:

1. The only European payment & financial services event where retail, mobile, data and technology intersect to grow connected commerce
2. Partner with 250+ movers and shakers in the prepaid, retail & technology industries
3. Sharpen Your Strategies with insights from industry leaders
4. Design your company's solutions to challenges in regulation, consumer awareness and interoperability
5. Uncover new ways for payments technology to acquire new customers, deepen loyalty, leverage data and improve the financial health of consumers

Download the programme.

Register with the code XU2940BLOG by 20 March & save €300!

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APEX Digital Currency Partnerships Agenda Released!

APEX Digital Currency Partnerships addresses how cryptocurrency can be integrated, utilized and valued by mainstream banks, payments, nonprofit and investing firms.

The latest agenda is now available for download!

 


 Highlights include:

1. More than 50+ speakers, 20+ sessions in a streamlined schedule, and one monster keynote from Patrick Byrne, Chairman of Overstock.com

2. Insights into what you should be learning from the VC Activity in crypto, the development of less-clunky user experiences, the realities of compliance and regulation and much MORE!

3. Eight hours of built-in networking, including two attendee parties, a Women's-Only Lunch and MORE!

4. Crypto Awards celebrating industry achievements after a blockbuster year of innovation, press coverage and exposure. Nominations are open until July 31st for 6 award categories. Enter now.

5. Meet-Up Collision: The ultimate mash-up of the nation's best crypto meetups, and it's only at APEX.  Contact Krystin Bruan, at kbruan@iirusa.com to get involved.

DOWNLOAD the Agenda by Clicking Here!

See you in San Francisco!

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The Future of Payment Processing

By Marc Putman, SVP, First Data Prepaid Solutions

"As technology advances and becomes simpler to use, modern tools are being transformed into smart business solutions. In a world where people turn to smart devices for entertainment, engagement and life management, businesses are obligated to do the same.

Luckily, merchants can get the most for their money by investing in technology that consolidates payments and business management. Investing in new payment processing technologies gives business owners the time to do what they do best: run their business.

Next generation point-of-sale (POS) systems can help. Packaged as a tablet or mobile app, these systems can accept cash, contactless and mobile payments, and barcodes, enabling customers to pay how they want…"

To continue reading, please download the full PDF here.

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Showcase your Innovations in Mobile and Emerging Payments at Prepaid Expo

Is your company changing how people can pay? The diversity of the prepaid market has made it a ripe industry for technological adoption and implementation.

Prepaid Expo 2013 has created an all-new Emerging Payments Pavilion for 2013 in the central hub of the exhibit hall. Attendees can learn about and shop for new technologies and payment systems to implement into their business plans.

Own your own 10 x 4 ½“ storefront in the Mobile Pavilion and showcase your solutions to 1,400+ players in the prepaid market; including decision-makers from card networks, processors, banks, retailers, technology providers, and telecommunications.

Space is very limited, sign on today! For more information, or to reserve your space today, please contact Matthew Middleton – 646.616.7604 mmiddleton@iirusa.com

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Prepaid Expo 2013: Agenda Now Available for Download!

The prepaid world has gotten more crowded – and complicated – lately. And the rapid-fire competitive innovation and lingering regulatory uncertainties show no signs of abating. With new players cropping up to take advantage of the great opportunities in payments, it’s critical that you stay ahead of the competition in the year ahead.

How does the Prepaid Expo help you do business? For 8 years, the Prepaid Expo has served as THE gathering for the prepaid and payments community. In 2013, we’re kicking everything up a notch, with MORE opportunities for networking and meetings, MORE sessions, and MORE solutions to the industry’s most pressing concerns.

Download the 2013 brochure now for full details. And if you register by Friday November 9th, you’ll save up to $800. This is the lowest price offered for the Expo!

What Are the Threats to Your Business? How Will You Flourish at this Critical Moment? All your burning questions will be answered at Prepaid Expo 2013.

Pre-Conference, start the Expo at a turbo-charged pace, with association meetings or workshops covering everything from the latest knowledge on mobile, security and fraud for veterans to the basics of prepaid programs for industry newcomers.

Day 1 dissects the Future of Prepaid in Payments, and how to capitalize on the evolution now.
• Which technologies are fixtures or fads?
• How will technological disruptors change the landscape of payments?
• How do I bullet-proof my company for changes ahead?
• How can I capture the imagination and spending power of techno-savvy millennials?

Day 2 hones in on tackling the biggest challenges to prepaid today and crafting solutions and actionable plans.
• What’s in the regulatory pipeline, how can I clarify guidelines and what implementation will mean?
• Amid downward pressures in pricing, how can I innovate my business model to improve my margins?
• What causes churn in GPR, and how can I strengthen my relationship with customers?
• How will I energize the gift card category and motivate brick-and-mortar employees to promote gift card sales?
• Are contactless payments complementary or cannibalizing, and which technology will prevail?
• Amid the mobile hype, which technology will compel consumers to change their payment preference?

Day 3 focuses on growing your business to the next level to maintain relevance through the payments evolution.
• What are the opportunities I am missing, and how can I execute on them?
• How can I handle infrastructure challenges when expanding my prepaid program globally, and which products make the most sense for which geographies?
• What are the secrets to keeping a loyalty program top-of-mind when customers juggle an average of 11 loyalty memberships?
• How can I reach the underserved and build a bridge to consumers who are wary of traditional banking or financial institutions?
• What’s the B2B landscape, and how can incentives be tailored for maximum impact?

Register by Friday November 9th for Best Rates!

Download the agenda now for full details on all the sessions, speakers and opportunities to grow your business at the Expo. And make sure you register by Friday, November 9th to save up to $800. This is the lowest price offered for the Expo!

Online: www.prepaidexpousa.com
Email: customerserviceiir@informausa.com
Phone: 888.670.8200 or 941.951.7885

* Mention your Prepaid Expo Blog VIP code to SAVE 10% off the standard and onsite rate: XU2648BLOG10

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Mark Your Calendars for the Biggest Event in Payments: Prepaid Expo 2013

This is a unique moment for the world of payments, and the prepaid industry is poised for explosive growth and consumer ubiquity. With the influx of new competition in the ecosystem, what are you doing to maximize your firm’s opportunities? What is your outlook for the future? Now is the time to be proactive and win business. 

The 8th Annual Prepaid Expo, March 4-6, 2013 

Book your seat for the Prepaid Expo today to be a part of the largest industry event for prepaid and payments.

5 Reasons You Must to Attend Prepaid Expo 2013

1. 300% MORE Future-Forward Content: 
More than a day’s worth of content focused on the evolution of payments, including: which innovations will be fixtures or fads, how disruptors are charting new courses in commerce, GPR acceptance and what it will mean for prepaid adoption, and sessions devoted to mobile, NFC, EMV and apps.

2.  Regulatory Content to Mitigate Uncertainty: 
More than a day’s worth of insight from regulators, lobbyists and industry and consumer advocates alike, all to help you interpret the rules and regulations and understand how compliance will affect you.

3. 250+ Retailers in Attendance: 
Two days of content tailored for retailers’ unique needs to grow the gifting category, including in-store marketing and re-selling strategies, eye-catching design, digital gifting, loyalty programs and B2B growth strategies.

4. Senior-Level Decision Makers: 
With more than 50% of Prepaid Expo attendees in C-Level, Founder, President and VP-Level roles, Prepaid attendees meet who matters across the industry. Qualifying executives have access to our exclusive Executive Agenda, which provides executives with three full days of business meetings, executive idea exchanges, private sessions focused on strategy and EXCLUSIVE Q&As with our keynote speakers. Space is limited, so apply by clicking here.

5. Save Money, Miles and Time. 
The stored value community stops for 3 days to attend the Prepaid Expo. You’ll meet 1,700 like-minded peers, acquire new partners and strengthen existing relationships at the meeting place for prepaid and payments professionals.

REGISTER BY OCT. 26 2012 FOR THE BEST RATES & SAVE UP TO $800

* Mention your Prepaid Expo Blog VIP code to SAVE 10% off the standard and onsite rate: XU2648BLOG10

Online: www.prepaidexpousa.com
Email: customerserviceiir@informausa.com 
Phone: 888.670.8200 or 941.951.7885

The Prepaid Expo is THE BEST WAY to scope out the competitive landscape and network with industry peers at this critical time in payments. 

RSVP here and invite your colleagues: 
LinkedIn
Facebook

We look forward to seeing you in person next March!

Get Involved:

Are you looking for a creative way to reach top-level decision-makers? Why not consider sponsoring a luncheon, cocktail party or refreshment break, or an Exhibit Booth? For more information on sponsorship or exhibition opportunities, please contact Terri Sobol at +1 646-895-7473 or email tsobol@iirusa.com. 

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How Restaurant Technology Innovation is Driving Revenue

A MenuPad, a new application used for ordering
 meals and wine and even paying the check. 
(Source: bizjournals.com)

The ecosystem of the restaurant experience is ever evolving. As technology advances, and customer habits grow increasingly impatient, diners are continuously seeking methods to streamline the interactions they may encounter as they search for their next meal. Businesses on the low tech side of the spectrum have begun to reevaluate the restaurant  recommendation revolution to drive revenue. 

While the main source of traffic to new restaurants are derived through word of mouth or favorable mention from friends and family, diners are now embracing a modernized approach when they consider to experiment with a new restaurant experience.

In the information age, knowledge and research are vital in making informed decisions. For many smartphone wielders, Yelp is no stranger and has become an essential tool. In Q2 2012, Yelp received traffic of 78 million unique visits, while users contribute 30 million reviews. Of these reviews 23% consist of restaurants.

The research phase continues with a wide array of websites and apps that have painstakingly collected, organized, and made available large catalogs of menus from surrounding restaurants. MenuPages collect and update thousands of menus (monthly) from nearly 30,000 restaurants in eight major markets. The interface is clean and simple while provides filters such as neighborhoods, price ranges, take out and list of other features. MenuPages also features the option to order directly through Seamless, the largest online food ordering company.

While the majority of restaurants accept walk-ins, operating the back of house becomes much less of a wild card if patrons develop the habit of making reservations before they dine. Digital reservation services, such as OpenTable, have streamlined the process to book your table for available time slots. A one-two combination partnership with Yelp, OpenTable is the reigning champion in the digital reservation service for restaurants. Having grown their customer base to over 13,000 restaurants in 50 states and multiple countries, it is hard to imagine there would be an emerging challenger. 

SeatMe, a San Francisco startup, has begun to step up to the plate and take a bite of that market share. SeatMe allows management of reservations, guests, and staff floor plans straight from a tablet or smart device. SeatMe’s guestbook also tracks unique schedules, performances, and tastes with nice design, easy usability, and good integration. SeatMe does not provide a stark distinction from OpenTable, but there are a host of differences as an alternative to look out for.

The inaction of waiting in line to be seated has even taken a turn for the tech as select restaurants have adopted a waiting list management system. NoWait is a Pittsburgh based startup that has developed an iPad app where customers may leave a name and number with the front of house, or host, and opt into receiving a text message when their table is ready. Customers can also check their status in line through a provided link via text message where they can access, “What’s My Place”, in the line. Acceptance of the NoWait system ideally organizes hosting duties in a manner where customers can inquire where there their position is in line without inundating the host or hostess with line status updates.

Once seated, the item selection has also stepped in to the technology retrofit. Restaurants are opting to do away with physical paper menus with tablet and smart device interfaces. Plate replaces a paper wine list or entire menu with a software format displayed on tablets. These “smart menus” are fully customizable to restaurants that have adopted the Plate platform, and can display notes, photos, and even pairings of particular wines to food items. Plate reports that with a few extra minutes playing with the menu can increase a diner’s order by 10-15%. 

For restaurants with a budget and cannot afford to distribute upwards of 10 tablets at any given time, SecondMenu offers a similar experience. Instead SecondMenu presents a restaurant's menu through the diner’s own smartphone. The SecondMenu web app is not activated via native apps which must be downloaded from an app store; rather it is through visiting secondmenu.com/restaurantsname or more easily in the form of a QR code.

Alternative payment methods have also managed to make its mark in efforts to accelerate the checkout process. With increasing support for NFC, or Near Field Communication, customers can simply tap their smart devices or use an app to pay using Google Wallet, PayPal, LevelUp, Square, or a slew of emerging payment services. Experimentation with BitCoin has also been recorded, in such with a restaurant in Berlin. Room 77, located in Berlin, serves Southwestern American fare, from burgers to burritos. The decors of the restaurant are reflections of a Texan steakhouse that we are all familiar with. 

One differentiation that Room 77 has over any other restaurant in Germany is that it is the only restaurant in Germany that accepts BitCoin. “When someone pays with by Bitcoin, either through a computer or smart phone, the Bitcoin is sent encrypted to ensure it can't be hacked. There are no transaction fees, and you can exchange a Bitcoin for real currency.”

There are a wide array of tools and new technology to incorporate in order to excite customers, while also differentiating your restaurant from conventional competitors. Adopting new methods to streamline management, or keep customers engaged, can improve the overall dining experience for patrons as well as the staff.

About the Author

Phil Ng is a Social Media Analyst at IIR USA with a specialized focus on technology and technology culture. He may be reached at PNg@iirusa.com.

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