Welcome to Summer School: Lessons for a Digital Economy in Motion

In today’s fast-moving financial landscape, standing still means falling behind. That’s why we created PYMNTS Summer School: a dynamic virtual series where leaders across FinTech, banking, payments and digital commerce share the strategies they’re using to shape the future. This eBook captures those conversations, distilling practical insights from across the ecosystem into one digestible, forward-looking guide.

Each chapter dives into a transformative trend, from embedded payments and stablecoins to artificial intelligence (AI)-powered procurement and the evolving meaning of digital resilience. These aren’t just buzzwords. They’re the new rules of engagement in a world where agility, intelligence and experience define success.

Gerardo Dada of Catchpoint reframed resilience as more than uptime. In today’s application programming interface (API)-dependent banking environment, the real measure is user trust. With every transaction traversing complex webs of services, even a few seconds of delay can break loyalty. Catchpoint’s “outside-in” monitoring model emphasizes customer experience over system metrics, a shift that’s becoming the new IT North Star.

Retail is also undergoing a seismic shift. Nikki Baird of Aptos Retail described how unified commerce transforms store associates into mobile, data-enabled problem solvers. The days of juggling devices and disconnected workflows are over. Platforms like Aptos One collapse those silos, enabling seamless interactions that rebuild loyalty and drive conversion in every channel.

In the software world, WEX’s Jay Dearborn laid out a three-stage roadmap for embedded payments, from bolt-on utility to integrated experience to monetized advantage. In this model, payments don’t just enable transactions; they drive new revenue streams. Platforms that fail to evolve risk missing out on a fundamental competitive edge.

Nick Babinsky of Solutions by Text showed us how conversational commerce is changing expectations. Half of younger consumers say they’d switch providers for better text-based service. Solutions by Text enables secure, compliant messaging that moves payments, opens accounts and solves problems, all inside the chat. It’s not just convenience; it’s conversion.

Coupa’s Rajiv Ramachandran made the case for procurement as a driver of innovation and agility. With $8 trillion moving across its platform, Coupa uses AI agents to link sourcing to payment, eliminate silos and predict supply shocks. Embedded payments and shared data networks turn procurement into a strategic lever, not just a cost center.

ChargeAfter CEO Meidad Sharon focused on embedded lending and the power of a multi-lender “switch.” By instantly routing financing requests across a network, merchants raise approval rates and boost sales, especially in high-ticket sectors. It’s about meeting every customer with the right credit, at the right time, with zero friction.

Finally, Stable Sea’s Tanner Taddeo explored how stablecoins are redefining cross-border payments. What once took five days can now take five hours. While balance-sheet risks remain, the benefits—faster liquidity, lower costs and real-time reconciliation—are too significant to ignore. As adoption grows, interoperability and trust will be key to unlocking stablecoins’ full potential.

Across every conversation, one truth emerged: digital transformation is no longer optional. The companies featured in this eBook are not just adapting to change; they’re defining it. They’re building platforms, services and networks that are smarter, faster and more resilient than ever before.

This eBook is a blueprint. Whether you’re a FinTech founder, bank executive, operations strategist or digital innovator, the insights here are designed to help you lead, not follow.

Welcome to PYMNTS Summer School.

Let the learning begin.

Download the eBook Summer School Series: 7 Financial Services Leaders Share Their Vision for 2025