BluePay Blog

Credit card processing can be complex. Even more so when you’re presented with an industry-related acronym that has you reaching for your smartphone or tablet to Google search the meaning.   In short (no pun intended), an acronym is an abbreviation formed by the initial letters of multiple words, ex. ISV stands for Integrated Software Vendor.

Topics: Small Business Tips, Getting Started with Payments, Awareness

Financial independence is one of the main reasons entrepreneurs go into business for themselves, but running a profitable company isn’t easy.   There are a lot of unknowns (i.e., risks). You have to manage many moving parts. Competitors are always at your heels.  Worst of all, expenses never seem to end.  But in honor of National Financial Awareness Day (August 14), we wanted to outline some simple tips that can move you closer to financial responsibility. 

Topics: Recurring Billing and Electronic Invoicing, PCI Compliance and Fraud Prevention, Small Business Tips, Getting Started with Payments

Did you know the credit card is almost 100 years old, with the first being issued in the 1920s? These early examples were location-specific charge cards that could be used only at the gas stations or hotels that issued them.  Want another fun fact? Here’s one. Credit cards were originally made of cardboard. 

Topics: Fun Posts, Payment Trends

Planning for daily operations and long-term success can be challenging enough for a business owner. That might be the reason why many put off creating a business continuity plan. They are so overwhelmed by all the other demands business creates. However, ignoring this planning can cost you more than you realize in terms of revenue, brand reputation, and finances, should a disaster occur. 

Topics: Due.com Partner Posts, Small Business Tips

As an independent software vendor (ISV), you already know that end users expect turn-key solutions that work out of the box. The more tightly you can integrate payments with the solutions you provide, the fewer headaches your clients will face. That’s because there won’t be as many interoperability issues or moving parts for them to handle.  Meeting your end users’ expectations will require extra effort and development time. That’s no small feat — especially if you have limited resources. 

Topics: Software and Payment Integration, Payment Technology, ISV/VAR

Modern marketing has changed a lot since the early days of television. Advertisers used to blast generic messages to the masses (hence the term “mass marketing”). They hoped enough people were watching at that precise moment to receive those messages.  Fast forward 70 years. There now exists any number of technologies that allow companies to send highly targeted, location-independent messages to potential users. 

Topics: E-Commerce and Online Payments, Payment Technology, Payment Trends, ISV/VAR

Running a small business means everything is on a smaller scale. However, that doesn't mean it's any easier. This is especially true if you are a one-man band or have a few remote employees. In managing your work and life, you are most likely always on the go and tuned into your mobile device. It's the migration to the mobile world and remote resources that led to the emergence of cloud services. 

Topics: Due.com Partner Posts, E-Commerce and Online Payments, Small Business Tips, ISV/VAR

The stretch between Thanksgiving and New Year’s is the busiest retail season of the year, generating nearly $600 billion in sales. Second on this list, however, is the back-to-school shopping season, with consumers spending an estimated $30 billion for the upcoming academic year.  Although back-to-school shopping is incredibly lucrative for the retail industry, many parents dread this annual ritual. As a merchant, you can boost sales if you implement strategies that make the shopping experience as hassle-free as possible for your customers.

Topics: Mobile Payments, E-Commerce and Online Payments, Small Business Tips

Banks safeguard our collective wealth, and they provide a range of services and products that all of us need. However, these roles are not exclusive to banks. For example, credit unions provide many of the same services.

Topics: Financial Institutions

By now, you’ve probably already heard of Bitcoin — the world’s first cryptocurrency. This decentralized form of electronic cash allows users to make peer-to-peer payments anonymously.  Though despite this anonymity, all Bitcoin transactions are recorded in a public ledger that everyone can see. This makes the cryptocurrency very difficult to manipulate or steal.  Moreover, no single entity controls Bitcoin — making it immune from government or regulatory oversight. In addition, only 21 million Bitcoins will ever come into existence (through a process known as “mining”). This means the digital currency is less likely to suffer from runaway inflation.

Topics: E-Commerce and Online Payments, Payment Technology, Payment Trends