Last Month, Today - News in Payments and Fintech for November 2024

Our regular news roundup collects headlines in payments and fintech to watch, giving leaders across industries (and fintech enthusiasts) a quick glance at some of the news in the space. In Flywire’s 12+ years delivering the most complex, high value payments, we’ve had a unique opportunity to work with many different organizations in the fintech and payments ecosystem. We’ve seen changes in how clients get paid, how their customers want to pay and how central the payments experience is – not just across the industries we focus on, but every industry.

Here are some of the fintech and payments headlines from November, 2024.

Headlines:

5 payments predictions from research firm ForresterPaymentsDive

A reduction in the use of cash, increased M&A in B2B payments and a backlash against recurring online subscriptions are a few of the areas Forrester is looking at in 2025.

What payment firms want from real-time's next chapterAmerican Banker

The Clearing House's real-time payments network and the Federal Reserve's FedNow have gained hundreds of banks, but overall acceptance of instant settlement is still low, leading bankers at The Clearing House annual conference to question the path for future growth. (Subscription required.)

How Amex determines what makes or breaks a payment method and how it chooses the right payment techTearSheet

Matthew Robinson, EVP Payment Network and Acquirer Solutions at American Express, discusses how consumer expectations, merchant needs, trust and tech impact the adoption of different payment methods.

(Subscription required.)

How Trump’s administration may rework payments policiesPaymentsDive

The new administration will have the opportunity to revamp how the federal government approaches everything from earned wage access to digital currencies and open banking.

A look at Oracle's new EHR systemBecker’s Hospital Review

The new offering, built independently of Cerner’s original platform, incorporates advanced cloud and AI capabilities and allows users to access information with simple voice commands. However, current Cerner users will have to decide whether to transition to the new EHR and manage the migration challenges that might come with it.

The Ideal Mix For Hotel Distribution: Direct Bookings to Lead by 2030Skift.com

Online travel agencies still account for the largest share of hotel gross bookings—but that’s changing according to Skift Research’s Hotel Distribution Outlook 2024.

New Research: How Asia’s Middle Class Is Shaping Global TravelSkift.com

A recent survey from Expedia Group highlights the travel preferences and potential of Asia’s emerging middle class. Expedia sees a significant opportunity for travel brands to create new experiences tailored to this growing demographic.

Flywire News:

Flywire and Blackbaud Partner to Streamline Tuition Payment Experience for International K-12 Students in the U.S.

Integrated offering will provide international students studying at over 1,000 U.S. independent schools with a streamlined payment experience, from enrollment through to tuition.

Flywire appoints Carleigh Jaques to its Board of Directors

Jaques brings extensive experience in financial technology, payments, risk and capital markets. She previously spent 15 years at Visa where she led multiple strategic and operational teams.

VIB and Flywire partner to streamline cross-border payments for students from Vietnam

The partnership allows schools all over the world to optimize the international payment experience for students from Vietnam. Transactions can be completed without visiting a bank or incurring additional fees.

3 ways to support education agents in a shifting international education landscape

As the international education market continues to evolve, education agents play a key role in helping students identify destinations, complete applications and address visa requirements. Here are some ways institutions can support agents in those efforts.

CTO POV: The case for continuous integration, delivery and deployment

Flywire CTO David King believes more frequent incremental software updates provide significant advantages over once or twice yearly big-bang releases; for both you and your customers.

From recovery to growth: Takeaways from an electric WTM London 2024

The Flywire Travel team had the opportunity to attend WTM (World Travel Market) 2024 in London. Here are three key observations for travel operators, DMCs, and accommodation providers.

Report: Income collection policy benchmarks: How UK higher ed institutions can anticipate and act in the face of global uncertainty

Flywire commissioned a wide-reaching survey of U.K. institutions and their international students focused on policies and strategies for income collection. The findings can help schools compare their practices with other institutions, pinpoint opportunities to improve financial management, devise strategies to reduce bad debt, and shape policies and processes to optimise operations and increase student satisfaction.

Case Study: Top-tier dive company, Master Liveaboards, puts Flywire at the helm to solve payments and drive growth

Flywire has helped Master Liveaboards transform its customer payment experience. As a result, the company has reduced payment processing costs, streamlined administrative requirements for its staff and increased satisfaction for its guests.

Report of the Month:

The Impact of Misunderstood Treasurers in HealthcarePYMNTS.com

This report, done in collaboration with Citi, provides practical ways for healthcare companies to increase cash flow predictability, reduce payment-related operational costs and improve financial resilience.

Word of the Month:

Bleisure travel

A portmanteau of “business” and “leisure”―similar to the kosher, work-approved version of “hush trips,” another work-from-home-inspired trend in which employees work remotely from a trip location without notifying their employer.

Stat of the Month:

$490.2 Billion

The value of goods exported from Mexico to the U.S. in 2023, making the U.S. Mexico’s largest trade partner.

Conversation Starter:

Our weak passwords

According to a new report by enterprise password manager NordPass, the most common password in the world is "123456." "Secret," "password," and "qwerty123" are also near the top of the list.