G+D Spotlight

From wearable health monitors and connected vehicles to smart meters and industrial sensors, the Internet of Things (IoT) is all around us, with the number of connected devices expected to reach 34 billion by 2028, according to the GSMA.1 This explosion in innovation has been made possible by advances in connectivity – yet it has also revealed a fundamental problem. The connectivity options available today do not adequately serve many emerging IoT use cases.

Every day, billions of transactions flow through global point-of-sale (POS) systems. An estimated 2.17 billion credit card payments alone were processed daily in 2024,1 according to Capital One Shopping data. Add debit cards, mobile wallets, and cash transactions to the mix, and the figure grows to an estimated 3–4 billion daily worldwide.

The backstory. As with most things these days, it’s about a deadline. Or, in this case, two deadlines. First, the backstory: the European Union identified some areas that needed updating in its previous regulation to its member nations about digital IDs. The existing regulation dated from 2014. Clearly times, technologies, and threats have changed.

“There’s an app for that” was the slogan of Apple’s 2009 marketing campaign for the release of the third generation of its iPhone. This model featured the newly released App Store – and few could have predicted how profoundly apps would reshape daily life in the years ahead.

There is a compelling argument to be made for considering eco-innovation as central to any organization’s business strategy. Sustainability has become something customers expect, and the numbers bear this out, say Gabrielle Bugat, CEO ePayments at G+D, and Simon Rosenberger, Head of Payment Card Program at Parley for the Oceans. Hear more at Spotlight Podcast!

With 48 countries and over 2,300 languages spoken, Asia is as culturally diverse as it is geographically vast – home to roughly 60% of the global population. Within its borders, you’ll find three of the world’s five largest economies – China, Japan, and India – alongside some of its least economically developed nations. It’s therefore of little surprise that such diversity is mirrored in Asia’s payment landscape, where some of the world’s most advanced digital payment methods are thriving alongside a deep-rooted reliance on cash.

Just two decades ago, the idea of checking your bank balance with a mobile phone was revolutionary. Today, mobile banking apps have become the remote control of our financial lives, with more than 3.6 billion people worldwide using mobile banking services in 2024.1 Banking tasks that once required a branch visit – such as sending money to friends and family, managing direct debits, requesting new cards – can now be handled instantly, on the go.

Five principles to build trustworthy AI

In an era when digital wallets and virtual payment methods are increasingly popular, why are physical cards still relevant? The answer may lie in differentiation. By creating premium experiences – from the “unboxing” moment to personalized choices around card materials and design – banks and financial institutions can stand out from competitors and connect with customers on a deeper, more emotive level.