The Business And Technology Network

The bitcoin miner earned $218,544 in total rewards for mining block 841,286 using CKpool in a solo mining configuration.

Lazarus Group usually impersonates an investor to target prominent DeFi projects, blockchain security firm SlowMist said.

Moving a business online can be rewarding as enterprises reach broader audiences, sometimes global in scope, and expand their revenue opportunities with online payments.

But challenges persist, whether it’s a small bakery establishing a digital storefront or a high-end computer retailer offering the ultimate “build it or buy it” online shopping experience. 

An ideal customer experience that sets the stage for repeat business can be created with the right choice of payments gateway — and by harnessing data, as Alex Burgin, vice president of Authorize.net, and David Larsen, head of marketing and eCommerce at Xidax PCs, told Karen Webster during the latest installment of the Visa SMBTV Series.

Read more: Visa: Behind-the-Scenes Collaboration Needed to Create eCommerce ‘Magic’ for Small Businesses

High-Level Strategy and Pillars

No matter the business, several pillars support a successful online strategy, Burgin said. Any business needs a simple, clean and easily navigable website. The shopping cart should be simple, too, leading directly to a wealth of payment options.

As Burgin said, “Wherever people shop, they crave convenience. They may want to pay online, in-person or over the phone. They have preferences for what payment types they want to use,” including digital wallets. “Offering multiple payment options is one of the best ways to ensure a positive client experience.”

Xidax offers a case study here, they said, as a critical step involves understanding end users’ expectations and preferences.

“Gaming is a culture,” said Larsen, who added that when companies and sites are engaging with them, “they can recognize an imposter from a mile away. We had to come up with methodologies of making sure that we stayed in tune with what they actually wanted and needed and confirm that we have been honoring that gaming culture.”

Data — offering insight into what those customers want, what they need, and how they want to pay — offers the ways and means of converting browsers into buyers. And converting buyers into long-standing loyalists.

Along with payments choice, there needs to be a payment gateway (Authorize.net among them) that can take those payment credentials as they are presented, verify the funds — while battling fraud, as small businesses remain evergreen targets for bad actors — and ultimately allow the merchant to send out goods or deliver services while collecting funds owed.

At a high level, Burgin said, “whether it’s a lemonade stand on the side of the road, or a complex PC computer company, every business needs to accept payments. And at the core, every business needs to think about what their digital presence looks like and how they interact with their clients.”

Web of Online Interactions

Larsen noted that the customer profile for his firm is different than might be seen elsewhere in eCommerce, given the fact that Xidax sells relatively expensive products — from the low end to the high end. It’s critical to engage with the consumer throughout what can be a browsing/buying and building process for the PCs that can stretch out for months.

Xidax allows users to save their configurations as they explore different gaming setups, allows them to see what stations their peers have been building, and interacts with customers (including across social media channels) to alert them of different technical combinations available, he said.

For consumers who may be reluctant to commit to closing the sale, Larsen said that SMS and other alerts include announcements, promotions and financing offers that might, in his words, “tip them over the edge towards making that purchase.”

Larsen said that his firm’s partnership with Authorize.net has incorporated data management and data tracking (including IP and shipping address analysis) to uncover the most promising customers, as well as battle fraud and chargebacks, which can have a significant impact on companies like Xidax that sell high-end products.

Keeping Out Fraudsters

As Larsen told Webster, “After a couple of fraud instances, we realized we could easily go out of business … for a small business such as ours, it’s hard to have the manpower to manage things like fraud prevention.”

Data management has also been a boon in developing long-lived, sticky customer relationships by building comfort and trust, he said. Authorize.net can manage the fraud, payments and data collection side of the business, so the gaming firm itself can focus on customer profiles.

There can be a lag time, Larsen said — stretching across two or three years — before a first-time buyer on the site is ready to make another purchase. Along the way, their income can increase, and they may be interested in an upgrade down the line.

Data Fuels Customer Service

“We’ve kept the customer service completely in-house,” said Larsen, who added that consistent engagement with Xidax staff (all of them gamers) means that the firm knows exactly what the customer needs.

Burgin said solutions, including Authorize.net’s Customer Information Manager, which help merchants store sensitive customer payment information data, can assist with payment card industry compliance and also ensure that when a customer returns to a site, they are recognized and verified so that the commerce experience itself is seamless.

“This creates a repeat buyer,” who ultimately becomes a brand ambassador for the company, Larsen said.

Asked by Webster what advice he would offer a small business looking to make a big splash online, Larsen said, “I would say don’t wait throughout your website development process to integrate all of your marketing and tracking — and don’t wait to find the right payment solution.”

The post Simplicity Defines the Small Business Online Payments Playbook appeared first on PYMNTS.com.

There’s no shortage of analysis these days about the effect inflation has had — and will have — on the banking and payments industry. But there are other implications as well. For example, inflation has also pressured the healthcare system, and here several companies are considering the impact that digitization and patient financing offered at the point of sale can have.

Among those companies is Bank of America. Galen Robbins, managing director, head of global merchant acquiring sales at Bank of America, said that the first quarter of 2024 has helped point the way to innovation in healthcare transactions — and the consumerization of payments.

The bank’s healthcare clients, he said, have been grappling with inflation and now are tasked with finding operational efficiencies from their payments and receivables operations. Better efficiencies, he said, lead to stronger cash flow management.

Robbins’ remarks came as part of the “What’s Next in Payments” series, which focuses on the events of the first quarter — and what the macro trends are that will determine the balance of the year.

Digitization, he said, can help improve those efficiencies, eliminating paper checks, paper invoices and delayed payments.

Large and complex healthcare firms, Robbins said, need to examine how they manage and send payments and receipts — and how the consumer-facing interactions are facilitated at the point of care.

“You and I have more healthcare choices than we did 10 years ago — and even five years ago. So it’s really important that you get the experiences right,” he said.

Modernization and tech-driven efforts, he said, “provide a better experience to their patients,” who are spending their daily lives on mobile devices. Robbins said he believes that hospital systems and other providers that have sought to interact with patients on those devices can improve their efforts.

Individuals can, of course, log into their phones to schedule appointments or look at their test results. The mobile device, he said, can also be a conduit to patient financing options, always available and personalized, so that managing receivables at a provider becomes more efficient.

“It reduces risk, and it reduces expenses to have an integrated solution,” Robbins said.

He said that connecting the payments, receivables and financing ecosystems as soon as patients enter the doctor’s office can have positive ripple effects across all stakeholders.

A significant part of the shift involves adapting to heightened consumer expectations. Patients now demand the same seamless and frictionless payment experiences they encounter in retail and other consumer sectors.

“Our job is to guide healthcare clients through digitizing and streamlining their processes to not only reduce costs but also enhance the service quality delivered to patients,” Robbins said.

He recounted the example where he met with a Bank of America client who asked if Robbins held consumer and retail roundtables that could help inform how to deliver frictionless and streamlined payment experiences akin to what they might enjoy at a restaurant or grocery store.

“When you sit down with the directors of payments at large healthcare institutions,” he said, “they are asking the same things that their counterparts at Consumer & Retail companies are asking.”

Looking ahead, Robbins envisions a healthcare payment landscape that fully embraces consumerization. He suggests three strategic takeaways for healthcare financial leaders:

• Emphasize Consumerization: Understand and integrate the lessons from consumer retail to improve patient interactions and satisfaction.
• Holistic Solutions: Aim for comprehensive, end-to-end solutions that reduce friction, drive efficiency and lower expenses.
• Dual Focus: Maintain a balance between enhancing the patient experience and optimizing the financial ecosystem.

For the companies that get it right, he said, “the patient and the client experiences drive loyalty. Full stop.” 

The post Bank of America: Digital Makes Healthcare Payments as Easy as Paying Any Other Merchant appeared first on PYMNTS.com.

There’s no shortage of analysis these days about the effect inflation has had — and will have — on the banking and payments industry. But there are other implications as well. For example, inflation has also pressured the healthcare system, and here several companies are considering the impact that digitization and patient financing offered at the point of sale can have.

Among those companies is Bank of America. Galen Robbins, managing director, head of global merchant acquiring sales at Bank of America, said that the first quarter of 2024 has helped point the way to innovation in healthcare transactions — and the consumerization of payments.

The bank’s healthcare clients, he said, have been grappling with inflation and now are tasked with finding operational efficiencies from their payments and receivables operations. Better efficiencies, he said, lead to stronger cash flow management.

Robbins’ remarks came as part of the “What’s Next in Payments” series, which focuses on the events of the first quarter — and what the macro trends are that will determine the balance of the year.

Digitization, he said, can help improve those efficiencies, eliminating paper checks, paper invoices and delayed payments.

Large and complex healthcare firms, Robbins said, need to examine how they manage and send payments and receipts — and how the consumer-facing interactions are facilitated at the point of care.

“You and I have more healthcare choices than we did 10 years ago — and even five years ago. So it’s really important that you get the experiences right,” he said.

Modernization and tech-driven efforts, he said, “provide a better experience to their patients,” who are spending their daily lives on mobile devices. Robbins said he believes that hospital systems and other providers that have sought to interact with patients on those devices can improve their efforts.

Individuals can, of course, log into their phones to schedule appointments or look at their test results. The mobile device, he said, can also be a conduit to patient financing options — always available and personalized, so that managing receivables at a provider becomes more efficient.

“It reduces risk, and it reduces expenses to have an integrated solution,” Robbins said.

He said that connecting the payments, receivables and financing ecosystems as soon as patients enter the doctor’s office can have positive ripple effects across all stakeholders.

A significant part of the shift involves adapting to heightened consumer expectations. Patients now demand the same seamless and frictionless payment experiences they encounter in retail and other consumer sectors.

“Our job is to guide healthcare clients through digitizing and streamlining their processes to not only reduce costs but also enhance the service quality delivered to patients,” Robbins said.

He recounted the example where he met with a Bank of America client who asked if Robbins held consumer and retail roundtables that could help inform how to deliver frictionless and streamlined payment experiences akin to what they might enjoy at a restaurant or grocery store.

“When you sit down with the directors of payments at large healthcare institutions,” he said, “they are asking the same things that their counterparts at Consumer & Retail companies are asking.”

Looking ahead, Robbins envisions a healthcare payment landscape that fully embraces consumerization. He suggests three strategic takeaways for healthcare financial leaders:

• Emphasize Consumerization: Understand and integrate the lessons from consumer retail to improve patient interactions and satisfaction.
• Holistic Solutions: Aim for comprehensive, end-to-end solutions that reduce friction, drive efficiency and lower expenses.
• Dual Focus: Maintain a balance between enhancing the patient experience and optimizing the financial ecosystem.

For the companies that get it right, he said, “the patient and the client experiences drive loyalty. Full stop.” 

The post Bank of America: Digital Makes Healthcare Payments as Easy as Paying Any Other Merchant appeared first on PYMNTS.com.

Nothing’s new (and first-of-its-kind) ChatGPT integration fuses the power of AI with its new audio lineup, and I had to give it a spin to see just how far the tech can go.

Imagine seizing an opportunity that could multiply your investment exponentially. This was the reality for a savvy investor who ventured into XRP during its nascent stage, reaping a staggering $150,000 from the bull run. Today, BlockDAG presents a similar opportunity. With its current presale price at a mere $0.006 per token and innovative DAG technology, BDAG is geared up for substantial future gains, positioning early investors for potentially 30000x returns.

XRP: A Precedent of Success For Earlier Investors

Ripple’s XRP provides a compelling historical precedent for what early investors might expect from BlockDAG. Early backers of XRP, like Ripple’s executives, saw their stakes skyrocket in value, turning them into billionaires as the cryptocurrency surged by 30,000% year-over-year. This phenomenal growth was fueled by its utility in facilitating international transactions and its strategic market positioning.

XRP’s journey also underscores the importance of timing and market sentiment in cryptocurrency investments. During its peak periods, XRP benefited from a general bullish sentiment in the crypto market and its distinctive position as a bridge currency in international finance, which boosted its adoption and value.

As new financial institutions began exploring Ripple’s technology for cross-border transactions, investor confidence soared, fueling the price surge. This scenario illustrates the profound impact of technological adoption and regulatory environments on cryptocurrency valuations, providing a valuable lesson for potential investors in new coins like BlockDAG.

BlockDAG’s Presale Phenomenon: 8.1 Billion Coins Sold in Just 10 Batches

BlockDAG, using a DAG structure, enables simultaneous transactions for faster, more secure blockchain technology. As it enters its tenth batch in the presale stage, priced attractively at $0.006 per token, BDAG offers a unique investment opportunity. This stage has already attracted a remarkable $21 million in sales, underscoring the market’s anticipation of its potential.

Investing early in technologies like BlockDAG can lead to exponential gains. For example, a $1000 investment now could convert to $5 million by 2030 if BDAG reaches its predicted price of $30. This dramatic growth is facilitated by BlockDAG’s commitment to scalability and security, aiming to process over 100 blocks per second in the future, a significant leap from its current capability.

The presale structure of BlockDAG enables early investors to benefit from lower prices and higher future valuations. With 8.1 billion BDAG coins sold and more than 4900 miners active, the network’s expansion is inevitable. An investment at the current presale price secures a substantial quantity of tokens and sets the stage for significant future wealth, assuming the network meets its ambitious goals.

Seize the BlockDAG Opportunity

Investing in BlockDAG now, following the successful trajectory of XRP, offers a strategic opportunity for significant returns. The cryptocurrency landscape is ripe with potential, and BlockDAG’s innovative technology and robust growth plan position it as a prime candidate for a similar explosive increase in value. Like the early investors in XRP, those who take the plunge with BDAG today could be the celebrated success stories of tomorrow.

Join BlockDAG Now!

Website: https://blockdag.network

Presale: https://purchase.blockdag.network

Telegram: https://t.me/blockDAGnetworkOfficial

Discord: https://discord.gg/Q7BxghMVy

Disclosure: This is a sponsored press release. Please do your research before buying any cryptocurrency or investing in any projects. Read the full disclosure here.

The post BlockDAG Sets the Stage for Massive 30,000x ROI, Mimicking XRP’s Historical Gains appeared first on The Merkle News.

The Ninja Professional Plus Blender with Auto IQ is a capable, powerful blender that makes superb smoothies, albeit noisily