In this week’s news, we saw reports of a possible clean sweep of GameStop’s executive team, and new insights have emerged on business-to-business (B2B) payments in addition to subscription commerce. The Weekender is here to catch you up.
News
Is GameStop Rearranging The Deck Chairs Or Advancing Its Digital Transformation?
GameStop’s C-suite shakeup is reportedly now centering on its final target, Chief Executive George Sherman, only five days after the retailer said that top shareholder and activist investor Ryan Cohen had been nominated to become its new chairman.
Multiple news reports hint a change is afoot that would mark a clean sweep of the executive team in under two months.
The Why Behind Microsoft’s $19 Billion Nuance Buy
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The week began with a much-awaited purchase, with Microsoft announcing that it will acquire speech recognition company Nuance Communications for approximately $16 billion.
Nuance will go into the segment of Microsoft’s business that works with governments and companies and its technology will be made a part of Microsoft’s healthcare cloud offerings.
Gap And Synchrony Part Ways On Branded Credit Cards After 22 Years
After they were not able to come to suitable terms to lengthen a business relationship that goes back over 20 years, Gap Inc. and Synchrony Financial will part ways on their branded credit card partnership.
Afterpay, Adyen Team On Installment Payments
Afterpay, the buy now, pay later (BNPL) company, has collaborated with payments platform Adyen to provide merchants throughout the globe with its installment payments.
When Will Consumers Cut The In-Store POS Cord?
Connected devices and apps put the power of the point of sale (POS) into the hands of shoppers and provide a chance to cut the POS cord, even when consumers shop in the brick-and-mortar store.
Trackers And Reports
B2B Payments Make Waves In $167 Billion Global Seafood Industry
The fishing sector can lack digitization and grapple with cumbersome supply chains — a challenge that has only become worse amid the pandemic as companies contend with strained cash flows.
PYMNTS explores ShoreTrade’s utilization of its homegrown business-to-business (B2B) payment technology ShorePay and traversing payment-related hurdles to help get fish to plates quicker.
Hotels, Airlines Tap Payments Orchestration To Meet Consumers’ New Digital Expectations
Companies throughout the globe are still suffering from the effect of the pandemic, and the travel and hospitality industries were hit more profoundly than most. PYMNTS explores how the sector’s digital transformation has increased the stakes for their clients’ payments expectations – and what companies need to do to satisfy them.
Key Features Convert The Subscription Curious Into Long-Term Subscribers
Convenience and ease are among two of the many factors that shoppers seek in their subscription commerce experiences. What other kinds of features do subscription companies have to provide to win over new, subscription-curious shoppers?
Fun, Cool And Otherwise Interesting
Grab’s Super-Sized SPAC IPO Underscores The Rise Of The Super App
Grab Holdings, billed as the largest technology platform in Southeast Asia, said this week that it would go public via a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) merger. The deal itself provides even more affirmation of the rise of the super app.
More SEC Scrutiny Threatens To Slow SPAC Pace
SPAC listings keep surpassing levels observed in all past years. However, regulatory scrutiny could decelerate the floods of new listings in the coming months.
Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Pause Could Shake Consumer Confidence
The combined announcement from the CDC and FDA that they are halting the use of the Johnson & Johnson inoculation because of blot clot problems might put the brakes on vaccine uptake, particularly among those who are already suspicious parts of the population.
Coinbase Listing Opens New Chapter For Crypto Exchanges
Digital currency exchange Coinbase went public through a direct listing on Wednesday (April 14).
Legendary Italian Restaurant Carbone Gets Saucy And Broadens Audience
Even though the previous 13 months have been very challenging for most restaurateurs, the creators of the Carbone Italian-American eatery have discovered creative ways to expand and iterate. Beyond rolling out a flourishing takeout and delivery operation, the founders’ restaurant group Major Food Group rolled out a consumer packaged goods (CPG) label and opened a number of eateries in Miami.
