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Chase Jumps into Mobile Payments with Different Model
Chase is diving into mobile payments in another way – offering a different model that challenges the incumbents. But, will it work? The Chase model differs greatly from the newly crowned incumbents Apple Pay and Android Pay in technology, customer experience, acceptance, and economics. Let’s look at each.
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Mobile Payments: Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Android Pay Aren’t the Answer
When we examine mobile payments in popular media outlets, the questions they keep posing are focused around which is the better solution for mobile payments: Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, or Android Pay. The problem with that is that neither is answer – not because those schemes aren’t worthy.
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Two Letters and Four Numbers Shake Up the Debit World
H.R.4173. In a day when 140 characters rule the media, these six characters may usher in the third major era of the Debit industry. To quote another famous H.R.: Can’t do a little, ‘cause he can’t do enough – H.R. Pufnstuff Theme Song, Sid & Marty Kroft That may in fact be the bottom line […]
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Dorado Trendwatch Q2 2010 Released
My favorite quarterly payments industry update has been released. I am a bit late in posting it due to a few client obligations, but better late than never. Again, this is from my long-time colleague John MacAllister at Dorado Industries. As always, it is a snarky review of the payments industry happenings over the past […]
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Using Cash Costs You Cash
A new paper from the Boston Fed was released last week, entitled, “Who Gains and Who Loses from Credit Card Payments? Theory and Calibrations.” For payment systems aficionados, it is important reading. The premise is straightforward: which consumers are the winners and losers when making payment type selection. The simple conclusion is that cash users […]
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The Cost of Payment Acceptance (UK)
In a report just published by the British Retail Consortium (found here), an analysis of payment acceptance was done to determine the frequency (transaction share and dollar volume share) and cost by payment type. I’ll be the first to admit that the payment costs in the U.K. are not directly attributable to the U.S. However, […]
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Behind Wal-Mart Backing EMV
A lot of discussion has been going on about EMV in the U.S. And, much like any payments related product or technology, it relies on someone making the first move. Wal-Mart has decided to be that instigator with its EMV terminal adoption. Jamie Henry, Wal-Mart’s director of payment services discussed their position at the Smart […]
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Durbin Amendment is Misguided
In the evening of May 13, 2010, a shock wave went through the payments industry. The Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill that, at first blush, enables regulation of Debit Card fees – both Interchange and Network fees. Obviously, it still needs to get through Congress, but it has made it a lot further than most […]
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Is it time for more complex Interchange?
The price for using that card… it’s simple. It’s just 80 basis points of the purchase price plus 17¢. Unless it’s for gas, where the 17¢ becomes 13¢. Or it’s a medical co-pay, where it is 120 basis points plus 20¢. Or if it is at a fast food restaurant, it’s 125 basis points plus […]
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Dorado Trendwatch Released
Our long-time colleague, John MacAllister at Dorado Industries, just released the latest edition of his Trendwatch. This is a must read for all payments executives. As is customary for him, MacAllister examines the recent activity over the past quarter, looks at M&A activity, and predicts what will happen in the upcoming year. One interesting editorial […]
Benton Consulting was formed in 2002 after years working for and growing a larger consultancy, Benton International. In 1997, Benton International was purchased by Perot Systems Corporation, and many of the challenging and fun opportunities a smaller consulting firm can drive for its clients slowly evaporated. But, out of that rose an idea to stay small and service clients in a different way – as a trusted advisor and individual. That is what Benton Consulting is today. We hope we are just what you are looking for.
Experience
Benton Consulting has a surprising list of qualifications. The clients we have worked with, and the projects on which we have helped them, create a unique set of experience. From the largest companies in the world to small organizations that want to change the world.
Blog
There is no better way to communicate our opinions than with a regularly updated blog. As news and discussions come out, we are right there to offer our two cents. But we’d like to here from you, too. Read some of our posts, and let us know what you think.
Projects
We have had the opportunity to drive and support many fantastic clients through many challenging projects. Take some time and review some of the work we have done in the past. We can’t always tell you for whom we did the work, but you can see the types of engagements we are frequently called on to support.
Partners
It’s no secret we are a small consulting firm. However, one of our more unusual attributes is that we can quickly grow to accommodate the needs of our clients by enlisting the help of our partners. The experience level of our partners in unrivaled. And, just as important, we love working with them.
11 Questions: A Strategic Planning Approach
There is no simple answer explaining the distinction between the ongoing planning of a business and a strategic analysis. It is not one sentence. It is a matter of degree, a matter of rigor, a matter of time frame, and a matter of dissolving constraints. Perhaps more than anything, it is the challenge of addressing the big questions, the types of questions that do, in fact, affect the status quo. Perhaps more than anything, strategic planning is the proactive management of material change, not simply the incrementalism of a going forward approach.
