<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/05/banner-1-1.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="358">Payment Tokenization — One technology to make all the stakeholders of digital transactions happy!<blockquote class="block-node" id="pcv6p2tv7">“Tokenization market worth is estimated to be $4.8 Billion by 2025.”-&nbsp;Markets and Markets</blockquote>Simply put, the word “Tokenize” means substituting, and it is an ingenious concept introduced in 2005 by Shift4payments to protect cardholder data. It factored in data security at its core and is now a popular term due to the surge in online transactions.In fact, a token is a concept that has been long around; for example, the coins that we buy in the gaming arcade or a casino have no value outside the premises. But inside the building, you get to buy your stakes or favorite superhero toy. Likewise, tokens replace or mask the sensitive data in the online transaction by replacing it with random alphanumeric characters.By enabling payment tokenization, the merchants and networks can move data without the hovering threat of payments fraud or identity theft. Tokenization helps in finding a perfect balance between “data security” and “user experience.”<h2 class="heading-node" id="5806" style="text-align: justify">What is ‘Tokenization’ in payments?</h2>In the world of payments, the card account number is masked by a single-use randomized alphanumeric character of the same length. This camouflage is called tokenization in payments. Meaning, each account number is now a ‘Token’ representing the original confidential information. In contrast, the actual data is stored safely in a digital token vault.It is also referred to as ‘Credit Card tokenization’&nbsp;interchangeably. It helps in removing the credit card information from the internal network or database. The concept is more popular with <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/credit-card-processing-a-definitive-guide/">credit cards</a> as it involves a higher magnitude of the fraud.<h2 class="heading-node" id="8f6f" style="text-align: justify">Why do we need Payment tokenization?</h2>Pandemic fostered digital transactions at a faster pace than ever before indeed. As there is an increase in digital commerce, businesses came up with enhanced solutions that facilitated online transactions to confront consumer preferences.Improved digital transactions put security under question. While the consumers are worried about their sensitive data being visible to many online platforms, the merchants fret about losing loyal customers.‘Tokens — the trustworthy representatives,’ alleviates these roadblocks effectively as the original data (ex: credit card number) never reaches the merchant’s server. The merchants enjoy retaining the customers without compromising the reputation while staying <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/pci-dss-the-payments-armour/">PCI-DSS</a> (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) compliant.<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/05/int.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" id="92tjhlk3p" width="100%" height="358"><h2 class="heading-node" id="aa74" style="text-align: justify">How does Payment Tokenization/Credit Card tokenization work in action?</h2>Tokenization is not a costlier technology as it sounds. Any organization can adopt it irrespective of the structure and size. It is ideal for organizations that cannot afford to spend more on sophisticated encryption algorithms or infrastructure to secure the data.Let’s see an example,<ul class="list-node" id="a9ehiej48"><li>Sara orders a pair of sports shoes on Amazon. After choosing all her preferences, she reaches the payment section.</li><li>She enters the sensitive data on the portal (credit card number, cardholder name, etc.)</li><li>This goes straight to the tokenization server without storing any data in the amazon application’s server</li><li>There are many tokenization providers in the market like Fiserv, Mastercard, American Express, TokenEx, 3D Delta Systems, Meawallet, etc.</li><li>Then it reaches the token vault, where the original data is secure. It, in turn, returns a&nbsp;token&nbsp;of randomized alphanumeric representation of the same length.</li><li>This has no relation to the original data, like in the typical&nbsp;‘data encryption&nbsp;process. The actual data is contained within the ciphered text. Tokens are, in general, generated by mathematical algorithms.</li><li>This token is now passed to the merchant’s acquirer bank, and this bank passes the token to the credit card network.</li><li>Then the card network processes the token and maps it to the customer’s account number, authorizes and passes it to the issuing bank.</li><li>The issuer bank now authorizes or denies the transaction based on the fund balance.</li><li>After the successful transaction, a unique token returns to the merchant.</li><li>Amazon now has no record of Sara’s sensitive original information but her tokens. In this way, Amazon can enable Sara to make one-click payments the next time she shops.</li></ul>It is evident that&nbsp;tokenization checks all the mandates of refined digital transactions. Sara is now happy with her brand-new sports shoes while securing her data in the vault. Getting the data from the vault is not an easy piece of cake. It requires multiple authentication levels, service charges, etc., to verify if a trusted party raised it.<h2 class="heading-node" id="4357" style="text-align: justify">Then it also brings forth the question is Tokenization and Encryption one and the same?</h2>The answer is definitely no.The tokenized data cannot be reversed to reveal the original card number. In contrast, encryption takes a card number, transforms it into ciphertext by running it through an algorithm. To unlock the ciphertext, it has to be decrypted using an encryption key.On the other hand, tokenization uses no algorithm or requires a key to unlock the original data.<h2 class="heading-node" id="b70f" style="text-align: justify">Does Credit Card Tokenization impact a change in the payment process?</h2>No.The end-user will not find any difference in their transactions even after the implementation of tokenization. The entire process happens at the backend without intervening in the user experience. Tokens are generated online and eliminate the need to wait.<h2 class="heading-node" id="744e" style="text-align: justify">Why is Payment Tokenization a ‘Fintech Asset’?</h2>The boom of technology in the Financial services domain has been rapid in the past decade. Card-less transactions, <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/remittance-with-upi-a-giant-leap-for-cross-border-payments/">UPI payments</a>, <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/what-is-a-payment-gateway-and-payment-switch-understanding-the-basics-of-payments-architecture/">Payment Gateways</a>, etc., increases online consumers each day. As we enjoy the perks of digital banking with one-click transactions, we cannot deny the fact that our data is vulnerable to “Social Engineering.”Social Engineering is everywhere. We may fall into the trap of hackers and leave a lot of confidential information during digital transactions. There are multiple intrusion points for the hackers to lure in when the transactions float over the network and wipe away our savings.Given this scenario, tokenization is indeed an asset to Fintech. Because even if a hacker tries to sneak into the network, all he can find is randomized alphanumeric and characters with no relation to the original data (PAN number, credit card number, etc.)It is expensive for merchants to become <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/pci-dss-a-quick-guide-to-its-levels/">PCI DSS</a> compliant and qualify themselves as a trustworthy eCommerce merchant for the consumers. They have to undergo a lengthy auditing process, and it is an ongoing process. With the help of&nbsp;‘Tokenization,’&nbsp;merchants can save a hefty amount of money as the scope of <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/pci-dss-the-payments-armour/">PCI DSS</a> compliance is reduced in storing the user’s confidential information.Apart from banking,&nbsp;‘credit card tokenization’&nbsp;builds confidence among the investors as it secures the money with ease. We could see the boom of Blockchain technology-based fintech solutions gaining momentum across the nations.&nbsp;“Tokenization”&nbsp;is also seen as the key to drive blockchain implementation in the future by accompanying cryptocurrency transactions.Finally, it also offers substantial benefits to all stakeholders involved in the transaction:<ul class="list-node" id="nexhxh9e5"><li>Issuers witness a notable decrease in payment fraud in both channels of online and mobile transactions.</li><li>Acquirers, merchants, and processors experience a lower risk of accessible, sensitive cardholder data if compromised by cyber attacks.</li><li>Merchants will wield a powerful mechanism that lets them innovate better retail experiences minus the responsibility of storing and handling sensitive data.</li><li>Customers need not enter their details every time they make an online purchase from smartphones, tablets, or PCs.</li></ul>Payments tokenization makes all the parties — consumers; merchants; payment gateway providers, banking institutions, regulatory bodies feel safe, secure, and happy with their buying and selling processes.Tokenizing confidential data makes way for turbulence-free secure digital transactions!<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox. Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

How Does Payment Tokenization Work?

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/05/banner-2.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="383">The word <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/remittance-with-upi-a-giant-leap-for-cross-border-payments/">“Remittance”</a> means money sent to an individual in another place. The Latin origin of the word means “To let go or to send.” As the human civilization evolved, so did remittances. It was earlier a bill payment done via mail or a cheque sent for an appliance purchase. But, today, remittances are a much more complex phenomenon. It is hard-earned money of the immigrants sent back home to their families.Until the last decade, immigrants were heavily reliant on banks or FOREX brokers to relay their earnings back home. It came associated with a hefty fee and a longer waiting time of a week or more. It involved multiple players, the differences in conversion fees, processing fees, and so on.But, then again, over the years, Fintech’s intervention has changed the remittance landscape for the better. The primary advantage is the time taken to send the funds across the border. What takes weeks to complete, Fintech does it in seconds. They have turned the tables by providing competitive exchange rates, which were almost close to existing market rates.They have enabled multiple ways of currency transfers where the remitter can send money via:<ul class="list-node" id="2w6efqopb"><li>Enabling customers to see multiple exchanges fees at one place and then make money transfer within the platform — TransferWise (now Wise)</li><li>Doing remittances in bulk and passing on the savings to the Customers.</li><li>Internet-enabled smartphones</li></ul>The advent of account-linked mobile wallets like Google Pay, Apple Pay, Venmo has brought down the transactional fees to a bare minimum or no fees at all. Meaning all the international transfers happen through an app. They have provided the option for the customer to choose their preferred method of payment, right from the comfort of their homes.In fact, India holds first place in the remittance industry. It has averaged US$76 billion in 2020, despite the general decline in remittance across the globe as per World Bank. The main reason why India is the leading country in the remittance index is because of its large diaspora of expatriate population. It is closely followed by China and Mexico in the second and third places, respectively.Additionally, Fintech has unlocked vast amounts of user data, helping to better understand user behavior. The data provides utmost detail right down to the kind of phone used, frequency of transfers, locations, etc.<h2 class="heading-node" id="57f8">What are Fintechs doing?</h2>From extending reach of their in-app payment and transfer solutions, Fintechs are evolving how the age-old Exchanges have been working. While tying up with Banks and Exchanges in regions like GCC and executing remittances on their own in regions like the USA &amp; Europe.<ul class="list-node" id="fq5idmmwt"><li>Extending Banking to the Unbanked:</li></ul>The Fintech catering to low-income-income migrant workers, primarily in the GCC, provides them with solutions like debit cards, bill, payment, and mobile top-up facilities in-app. These fintech players are extending banking to the unbanked, giving them proper accounts, shopping online, and building their credit histories. Such customers’ data will further help them roll out services like Insurance and Credit (loans). — NOW Money<ul class="list-node" id="8v0gg4syi"><li>Blockchain-Powered Digi-wallet:</li></ul>Fintech players are taking remittance to another level where cash is converted as <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/central-bank-digital-currency-cbdc-101-a-primer/">digital currency</a> using blockchain-powered Digi-wallet. The money can be transferred to anyone having the wallet app installed (more like Intra-app transfer) using this wallet. They further create an ecosystem where the App’s user can do transactions anywhere, without even considering converting the digital currency to actual currency. — MenaPayWith <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/the-rise-of-digital-payments/" target="">digital payments</a> shrinking the world, transferring money across borders is now the new normal. New-age Fintech is constantly innovating the best practices to offer enhanced transparency while maintaining high-level security.<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox.Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

How is Fintech revolutionizing Remittances?

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/05/banner-1.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="529">On April 7, the Reserve Bank of India made several key announcements concerning <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/disruptive-business-enablers-prepaid-payment-instruments-ppis/">Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs)</a> at the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting. These measures could potentially impact the banking/FinTech sector and bring about changes in Digitalization and <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/fintech-a-catalyst-for-financial-inclusion/">Financial Inclusion.</a><h2 class="heading-node" id="04b0" style="text-align: justify">Interoperability of digital wallets is now mandatory</h2>All full-KYC PPIs and Payment Acceptance Infrastructure must be compulsorily interoperable.<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/why-payments-interoperability-is-a-must-for-todays-generation/"> Interoperability</a> through <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/upi-the-driver-of-economic-growth-and-inclusion/">UPI</a> among digital wallets was already achieved by RBI back in 2018, but it wasn’t a very widely used method for payment transfer. Now to extend the reach of digital rails, interoperability through UPI or otherwise, has been made a mandatory feature.<h2 class="heading-node" id="b0ff" style="text-align: justify">Increase in permitted outstanding balance</h2>A payments bank can now raise the limit of the end-of-day balance to INR 2 lakhs (previously INR 1 lakh). This move is to incentivize PPIs to move to a <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/know-your-customer-kyc-the-need-for-authentication/">full-KYC</a> structure and interoperability. The new move is expected to encourage financial inclusion of a wider customer base.<h2 class="heading-node" id="eda2" style="text-align: justify">Cash withdrawal from digital wallets</h2>Digital wallet holders can withdraw cash from their prepaid wallets at ATMs and/or swipe to pay at retail establishments. Previously, cash withdrawal was allowed only for full KYC PPIs issued by banks. The recent move brings uniformity among PPI players and bolsters the banking infrastructure, particularly in underserved areas. Bringing wallets at par with Bank Accounts in terms of service offering.<h2 class="heading-node" id="d9bb" style="text-align: justify">RTGS and NEFT enablement</h2>It is proposed that PPI issuers, card networks, White Label ATM operators, and Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) can now take membership in CPS (Centralized Payment Systems) and access Real-time gross settlement (RTGS) and National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT). It was previously restricted to banks. This move is expected to improve the services of PPI issuers to their customers and minimize settlement risk.<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/06/image.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" id="tbptd8z27" width="100%" height="529"><h2 class="heading-node" id="3a06" style="text-align: justify">What does it mean for the Banking sector and FinTech?</h2>Through these recent announcements, the RBI has opened up the extent of Banking services, to larger FinTech players. It is expected that this move will help relieve stress on traditional banks that cater to a wide base with limited legacy technology.FinTech players can take over the load, offer banking services (except credit offering) on par with traditional banks, and penetrate underserved areas of India. It will further increase the penetration of digital payments in the country especially the Tier-3 to Tier-6 centers. According to RBI, these new guidelines will promote the optimal utilization of Payment Instruments like wallets, cards, etc. as infrastructures such as PoS devices, ATMs, QR Codes and Bill-payment touchpoints are still scarce.Though banks will continue to handle the crucial aspect of lending, it will be interesting to see how PPIs, wallets, and other payment systems will now compete in the banking ecosystem. It will be an evolving process for Fintech companies who are partnering with the PPI license holders to issue co-branded prepaid cards for providing loans to their customers. The array of services that these FinTech’s offers will diversify and they will be able to ensure user satisfaction by providing <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/neo-banking-101-all-you-need-to-know/">Neo-banking</a>-like facilities.These announcements acknowledge the capabilities of FinTech players and the gaps in the system that they can effectively fill. This is also an endorsement of the enormous potential of the industry. It remains to be seen how payment companies ride this wave, innovate, and offer end-customers seamless payment experiences.<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox. Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

RBI’s new guidelines for PPIs. How will it impact the FinTech industry?

<html><head></head><body><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2580" src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/05/Artboard-1-copy-8-13.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" width="100%" height="100%">

<a href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/pci-dss-the-payments-armour/">PCI DSS stands for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard</a>. A collaboration between top reputed <a href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/credit-card-processing-a-definitive-guide/">credit card</a> brands such as American Express, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, and Visa in 2004 resulted in PCI-DSS launch. Organizations who store or process, or transmit the cardholder data either as clear or in an encrypted manner should comply with PCI regulations.

A short survey showed that most people give the above description when quizzed about PCI-DSS. When we further probed them about the levels present in this compliance, we came up short. So, we came up with a quick read of the PCI-DSS compliance levels.
<h2 id="6c0f" class="rz sa ps bn ds sb sc sd fr se sf sg fv sh si sj fz sk sl sm gd sn so sp gh sq dr">PCI DSS Compliance levels</h2>
Divided into four levels, the PCI Compliance levels are based on the number of credit or debit card transactions processed by a business annually. These levels determine what needs to be done by an enterprise to remain compliant.
Level 1:
Applies to merchants who process more than six million real-world credit or debit card transactions annually. An authorized PCI Qualified Security Assessor will conduct an annual internal audit and an on-site evaluation of the organization to:
· Authenticate the assessment’s scope;
· Evaluate technical information and documentation;
· See whether the PCI-DSS standards are being met;
· Assist and guide the compliance process and
· Also, evaluate the compensating controls
On successful evaluation, the QSA will present an RoC (Report on Compliance) to the organization’s acquiring bank, thereby demonstrating its compliance.
Level 2:
Applies to merchants who process between one and six million real-world credit or debit card transactions. Security testing reports on network hosts and applications should be completed on a defined frequency. The RoC is also applicable for level 2 organizations.
Level 3:
Applies to merchants who process annually between 20,000 and one million e-commerce transactions. A yearly assessment must be done using the relevant SAQ (Self-Assessment Questionnaire)along with a quarterly PCI scan.
Level 4:
Applies to merchants who process annually fewer than 20,000 e-commerce transactions or those who process up to one million real-world transactions. They must complete a yearly assessment using the SAQ and a quarterly PCI scan.

<h2 id="7604" class="rz sa ps bn ds sb aed sd fr se aee sg fv sh aef sj fz sk aeg sm gd sn aeh sp gh sq dr">What is this Self-assessment questionnaire?</h2>
PCI-DSS lists several kinds of SAQs for every level, and it is also based on how the merchant processes card information. Given below are some of the types of SAQs applicable to levels 2–4:
SAQ A: Merchants who outsource their entire card data processing to certified third parties. The transactions also include e-commerce transactions.
SAQ A-EP: Applies to E-commerce merchants who outsource their payment processing but not the site’s administration.
SAQ B: Applies to E-commerce merchants who don’t receive cardholder data, but they have control over the process through which data is redirected to a third-party payment processor.
SAQ B-IP: It applies to merchants who don’t store cardholder data in electronic form but will use IP-connected point-of-interaction devices. These merchants may handle either card-present or card-not-present transactions.
SAQ C-VT: Applies to merchants who process cardholder data via a virtual payment terminal.
You must select the right SAQ because every level has compliance requirements based on how payment card data is processed.

<h2 class="rz sa ps bn ds sb aed sd fr se aee sg fv sh aef sj fz sk aeg sm gd sn aeh sp gh sq dr">How to become a PCI DSS compliant</h2>
The PCI DSS specifies six control objectives for an organization to achieve compliance:
1. Build and maintain a secure network
2. Protect cardholder data
3. Maintaining a vulnerability management program
4. Implementing strong access control measures
5. Regular monitoring and testing of networks
6. Maintaining an information security policy

<h2 id="2e3a" class="rz sa ps bn ds sb aed sd fr se aee sg fv sh aef sj fz sk aeg sm gd sn aeh sp gh sq dr">The penalties of non-compliance</h2>
As cardholder data is considered personal data, a PCI DSS breach can also be regarded as equal to a <a href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/gdpr-in-a-nutshell/">GDPR</a> breach. If PCI regulations are not adhered to, organizations will face severe financial penalties or even lose their facility to accept card payments.
In short, PCI-DSS is a standard that ensures trust, business continuity, and safety of the cardholder data.
<a href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox.

Follow us on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.</body></html>

PCI DSS- A quick guide to its levels

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/06/Artboard-1-2.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" id="jc4mjh9mq" width="100%" height="479">Henry, an accountant, always takes the train on his way to the office. That particular day, he missed his usual cut-off time of leaving home and had to rush to the train station. He was terribly late for work and didn’t have a minute to swipe the card or scan the code to pay for his ticket. Then, Henry reaches the terminal and just places his index finger to purchase the ticket and proceeds to catch the train.<blockquote class="block-node" id="8ek6i7u3q">Sounds like a scene of a sci-fi movie, right? What if I tell you this is happening right now?</blockquote>Well, that is biometric authentication, where an individual’s unique physical traits are captured and stored by electronic devices. The captured information will be used to authenticate the individual’s identity when making a purchase.It is no secret that we often struggle to remember our passwords or PIN numbers. So, we resort to having our birthdays or our name as our password or PIN. Ironically, this also means we leave our sensitive data out in the open.With the global adaptation of <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/the-rise-of-digital-payments/" target="">mobile payments</a>, the pressing need for a more secure system, as opposed to the existing authentication systems, is on the rise. Fingerprint scanning, iris recognition, and facial recognition are some of the biometric systems now in place.It does come with a slew of advantages like higher security, improved customer experience, and customer retention. But, on the flip side, the concern of personal information, especially one’s unique traits being out in the open, is a problem. Also, installing biometric systems requires a considerable investment that often retailers shy away from.<h2 class="heading-node" id="5a9a" style="text-align: justify">What does the future hold?</h2>Biometric adoption will be the future of the payment industry. And it is an innovation-driven by institutions and individuals wanting an upgrade from password/PIN input. Right from wearables to injectable chips, the idea of biometric authentication seems to have taken root.The world of payments keeps evolving with many futuristic trends in payment processing every day. <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/future-of-payments-processing-matched-with-industry-needs/">Explore more.&nbsp;</a>It looks as if the future is just a step away………. Or rather a scan away.<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox.Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

Explore the future of payment authentication — Biometric

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/05/Artboard-1-copy-8.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="383">India is fast emerging as the leader of consumer <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/fintech-101-discover-the-3ws-of-fintech/">fintech</a> adoption at 87% with rapidly changing demographics and consumer behavior. Coupled with the government’s initiatives and regulatory policies, India was the perfect environment for deploying the Visa Everywhere Initiative (VEI).Started in 2015, the Visa Everywhere Initiative is a global program spread over six continents. More than 6000+ start-ups have benefitted and raised around $2.5 Billion in funding. But this is not the first time VISA has been active in the Indian fintech ecosystem.The programs of<ul class="list-node" id="3eh65jn4a"><li>The VISA Developer Program</li><li>VISA Ready Program</li><li>Fintech Fast-Track Program</li></ul>were already launched to cater to the ever-growing needs of the Indian fintech ecosystem.Also, the VEI initiative was explicitly customized to address the challenges of<ul class="list-node" id="htb8zqgg0"><li>Digital issuance</li><li>Onboarding of merchants</li><li>B2B payments value chain transformation</li></ul><h2 class="heading-node" id="0b92" style="text-align: justify">The Indian Connect</h2>VEI started its roadshow in five cities across the country so that Fintechs can get acquainted with it. Right from early-stage to established Fintechs, everyone got themselves registered with the platform. This event was also held at Sambalpur, which was the “India first” idea for VEI, and it brought forth local fintech founders.Loads of engaging conversations about how <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/the-rise-of-digital-payments/" target="">digital payments</a> were used to transform business models across countries were discussed. It was when VEI became a platform that inspired Fintech, and #InspireIndianFintechs became the slogan.This program also took on the mentorship stead and brought forth experts across VISA verticals. The experts mentored and offered technological support to the participating fintechs. Soon, the participating fintechs pitched their solutions with proof of concept. All this mentorship and demo was to be followed by a grand finale.<h2 class="heading-node" id="48fb" style="text-align: justify">The Learnings</h2>VEI’s journey through India brought a treasure trove of mutual learning. But, it also put forth the challenge of organizing the right outreach for fintechs and arming them with relevant APIs. VISA overcame this obstacle by giving them access to the VISA developer portal and its <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/the-world-of-apis-how-they-power-fintech/">APIs</a>. Also, the global expertise of the mentors helped the participants leverage VISA tech and assets.<h2 class="heading-node" id="ecac" style="text-align: justify">The Success</h2>The first edition of VEI turned out to be a huge success, with so many instances increasing the adoption of digital payments. It ignited a revamp of essential services to empowering micro-businesses along with support solutions.<h2 class="heading-node" id="1adf" style="text-align: justify">The Obstacle</h2>The chronicles of VEI in India started in late 2019, but before they could get to the main event, COVID-19 had forced a nationwide lockdown. But it also brought forth solutions to tackle the post-COVID era.<h2 class="heading-node" id="1c91" style="text-align: justify">Fintech’s future</h2>The Fintech ecosystem is all set to drive a radical change on the brink of customer experience and innovation. VEI will be the bridge that will connect legacy institutions and new-age Fintech, boosting financial inclusion. The customer will be the recipient of the best of both worlds. VISA will play a vital part in India’s journey of becoming a digitized economy.<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox.Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

The VISA Everywhere Initiative — A journey spanning 100 countries

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/05/Artboard-1-copy-7-7.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" id="dfm3kye4j" width="100%" height="479">Traditional insurance firms are yet to touch the foreign shores of technology adoption or disruption. Nevertheless, this pandemic has Insurance players considering their strategies and adopting technology to retain its customer base.So far, many insurers or insurance companies have adopted a technology-based process only on a cellular level. But, given the wave of innovation, Insurance companies are yet to arm themselves for the upcoming digital transformation. That is where InsurTech comes in to save the day.<h2 class="heading-node" id="971b" style="text-align: justify">InsurTech- Overview</h2>InsurTech is a component of <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/fintech-101-discover-the-3ws-of-fintech/">Fintech</a> dedicated to delivering a complete set of <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/digital-lending-open-credit-enablement-network/">digital insurance solutions</a> and services. When FinTech started, it mostly worked with banks as partners and improved user experience through online/mobile banking or <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/the-rise-of-digital-payments/" target="">digital payments</a>.As a striking contrast, InsurTech focuses on the consumer segment than the commercial one. The reason is that digital-savvy individuals consider insurance products like any other consumer goods and are willing to try or switch new insurance policies. They are incredibly comfortable in submitting an insurance claim online or browsing for insurance policies online.<h2 class="heading-node" id="d670" style="text-align: justify">Product Strategy and Value Chain</h2>Today, most InsurTech applications cover consumer insurance product lines like Property &amp; Casualty (P&amp;C), Non-Life Insurance, and Health Insurance. And so far, P&amp;C has been a significant contributor to InsurTech’s revenue.Moreover, with extensive real-time data collection and analysis, InsurTech minimizes the number of false insurance claims considerably compared to legacy systems. It’s interesting to see that the same P&amp;C insurance product’s value proposition differs between incumbents (existing insurance providers) and new entrants (tech-based insurance companies).Currently, InsurTech is targeting the sales, pricing, and distribution areas predominantly in the overall value chain. For higher growth, it should expand across the entire value system, including new product development, and start offering more commercial or retail and life insurance services.<h2 class="heading-node" id="e14b" style="text-align: justify">Technology Triangle and Benefits</h2>Most of the tech adoption has improved the method of delivering and buying claims and paying and billing. For instance, streamlining the claim disbursement user journey is of utmost importance to InsurTech.Today, they include as many digital touchpoints as websites, apps, smart devices, wearables, and much more. Additionally, they are keen on instantly issuing claims right away when the customer faces damage. Many InsurTech has already accepted digital card payments instead of checks from customers to disburse and process claims at lightning speed.Therefore, the existing programs in InsurTech revolve around providing a better customer experience, lowering acquisition costs, minimizing risks, increasing upsell, and cross-sell.<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox.Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

InsurTech- The changing facets of the Insurance industry

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/06/Artboard-1-copy-7-11.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" id="avpoofk1v" width="100%" height="661">Today’s consumers use mobile apps and ecommerce sites for their shopping needs. Right from festive shopping to weekly grocery needs, online is the place to go.In fact, the first online marketplace evolved in the 1990s to buy and sell used goods. And now it has become a necessity, given the current situation. Nevertheless, it paves the way for online fraud as well.Given the right code, anyone can hack and gain access to your card information and relieve you of your funds. So, the question remains: How to make online transactions&nbsp;much safer?Well, fret not! We have got you covered through Virtual Cards.What is a Virtual Card?Virtual cards are <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/payment-cards-design-made-simple-heres-what-you-need-to-know/">payment cards</a> available only in the digital format. The 16-digit electronic cards come with a custom spending limit and can be instantly issued. They are usually valid for a short period.<blockquote class="block-node" id="qoe6auwbb">The specialty of virtual cards is that your debit or <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/credit-card-processing-a-definitive-guide/">credit card</a> number or primary account information is not shared with the merchant, thereby shielding you further.</blockquote>In India, virtual cards are limited to eCommerce transactions and can be used only once. However, globally, they are used for online and offline transactions and are available as single-use or multi-use cards.<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*oMH4iJh7mu7R7FfW25U1nw.png" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="317">Available as a one-time use or as a recurring card<h2 class="heading-node" id="73a2" style="text-align: justify">How do virtual cards work?</h2>In addition to physical cards, banks also issue virtual cards, usually when the customer requests them.A customer who holds a primary account with a bank can apply for any number of virtual cards.To create a virtual card, you need to provide your name, existing debit or credit card number, and card limit. Upon successful OTP verification, you would be shown the cardholder name, virtual card number, expiry date, CVV, and card limit.When you purchase online using the virtual card, PIN and password are sent to your registered email or mobile number. The card will expire as soon as you complete the transaction, and the unused amount will be transferred back to your account.Suppose you haven’t purchased anything within the valid date, the entire amount will be refunded to your account.An extra layer of security and privacy<blockquote class="block-node" id="d0brlx9pn">For every online transaction, a new virtual card number is generated and provided to merchants.</blockquote><img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*Kyo4Ll49opChIvJtk7eMRQ.png" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="317">Even when the fraudsters access the temporary virtual card info, the primary card or the underlying account is not exposed.So, you need not worry about unauthorized charges or a hacker gaining access to your account. Moreover, you can freeze or cancel the virtual card and get your money back.How corporates achieve smarter ops with virtual cards?Melon is a consumer product company that sells trek cycles for adventurers. Meera heads the marketing team, and Krish leads the sales team. It’s no surprise that both the teams use a ton of SaaS subscriptions.It was month-end, and Meera was busy analyzing the marketing budget spends. She suddenly got a call from Rintu, reminding her to reimburse the travel expenses during their H.Q. visit.Another colleague pinged her to pay off the subscription fees. As Meera was quite busy, she shared her card info to them for reimbursement and renewal payment.<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*TeLOCkiZATW4mgqeS6Bq_g.jpeg" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="317">Offer dynamic spend control and expense categorizationMeanwhile, she noticed that Krish’s teammates were paying their expenses using individual cards. She later learned from Krish that his team has partnered with its bank and a Fintech firm and initiated a virtual card program.<blockquote class="block-node" id="ol4xf6yj5">All team members had their own Digi cards, and Krish controlled the card’s spending limits. From trips to subscriptions, they had cards for each category.</blockquote>Meera thought virtual card as an excellent solution since it gave a 360° understanding of expenses. She discussed it with her team and implemented a new program.What makes virtual cards preferable?These programmable virtual cards offer intact visibility on spending, authorize transactions in real-time, and comes with increased security.Powered by <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/the-world-of-apis-how-they-power-fintech/">open APIs</a> platforms, they have many defining features that give them an edge over traditional cards.<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*PslqLLEkZHT4K6liBJZo9A.png" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="317">Virtual card featuresWhat does the future of virtual cards hold?In India, several banks have already collaborated with many fintech partners and have launched many invaluable programs. Globally, virtual cards have also experienced tremendous growth in the past five years and will continue to boom.P.S. For those keen on how virtual cards began, here’s a fun fact —&nbsp;The travel industry was the first to pick up this splendid product. It needed a safe international fund transfer and excellent expense management solution back then.To know more about virtual cards, write to us at business@m2pfintech.com.<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox. Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

All You Need to Know About Virtual Cards

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/05/Artboard-1-copy-8-16.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="383"><blockquote class="block-node" id="taxe2h50t">UPI transactions clock 1.61 billion transactions worth Rs 2.98 trillion in AugustDigital payments up by 23% with transactions valuing at a record high of $113.4 Trillion</blockquote>Source- Business Standard<blockquote class="block-node" id="osu78ucl8">India will provide approx. 2.2% of the world’s digital payment by 2023 — Pwc &amp; PCI</blockquote>Amazing right! In the race between digital payments vs. cash, the former is definitely taking the lead. Right from a cash-dependent economy to cashless transactions, we slowly see the shift. This trend is now fueled by the pandemic, COVID-19. Starting right from cards to UPI, digital payments have taken over in both online and offline methods. Nevertheless, UPI payments are setting up a record high as 1.61 billion transactions.But this is not the first time that digital payments have seen a spike in our country. The history-defining move of Demonetization brought digital payments to the fore. Many opened bank accounts or started using their bank accounts for depositing their cash reserves. Incidentally, it also prompted many to dust their debit cards.Soon, several incentives and schemes were introduced to encourage this transition. Also, the year 2016 saw a significant milestone with the introduction of UPI in August. Coupled with the availability of the internet, digital payments had the right boost. Starting from grocery stores to street vendors, UPI, and other modes of digital payments had taken root.<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/06/Artboard-1-copy-10.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" id="ah9a6k969" width="100%" height="383">It was a great learning curve, with many technology players coming to the forefront. Innovating payments and user experience became a priority. But after a while, the spike plummeted as currency notes and coins rose in circulation.Now, the onset of the pandemic and nation-wide lockdown has made people embrace digital payments. The pandemic has also brought forth a two-pronged result where businesses are going digital, and some are losing their footing. But, the retail section seems to have stayed afloat by going digital. So, what took four years to adopt is now the norm within months of lockdown. With new customers on the rise, merchants are currently searching for tailored and localized payment solutions.COVID has pushed people to adopt online shopping where digital payments rule and cash on delivery is frowned upon. Even those who are tactile by nature are now supporters of online shopping. Online grocery shopping is now on an all-time high with e-commerce spearheading the cause.<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/06/Artboard-1-copy-9.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" id="s6b81zced" width="100%" height="383">So, it puts forth the question of how digital payments got back their spotlight?COVID has made people wary of physical contact, so digital payments were the only solution. Also, here are a few more points that answer the above question:<ol class="list-node" id="erdc35dw2"><li>It requires minimal or zero contact. Minimal contact if it is cards and zero contact if paying through UPI or mobile wallets.</li><li>You don’t need to carry a loaded wallet as right from cab drivers to popular stores, digital payments are available.</li><li>Forget rummaging around for change; your card or wallet will let you pay the exact amount.</li><li>It is there 24/7, and you don’t need to spend long hours outside the ATM standing in those social distancing circles patiently waiting for your turn.</li></ol>Recently, a study conducted by The Red Seer Consulting deduced that India’s digital payment will reach Rs.7,092 trillion by 2025. And that is not all; Digital payments are now the favored choice of the millennials. They have gone through a shift of reluctant usage to a must-have tool for every day.To know more digital payments write to us at <a class="link au mg" href="mailto:business@m2pfintech.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener ugc nofollow">business@m2pfintech.com</a>.<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox.Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

Tag: "Digital Payments (63)"

M2P Fintech