Latest news with #contactless
BBC News
4 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Wolverhampton taxi passengers can check driver's licence on phone
A council is making driver licence checks accessible by smartphone to provide increased security for taxi and private hire of Wolverhampton Council has introduced contactless driver ID cards so passengers can view a digital version of their licence by tapping the than 15,000 drivers licensed by the council have been given the new ID cards and have been tapped more than 40,000 times, it technology aims to provide passengers with reassurance about their driver's identity and confirm to them whether their private hire or taxi licence is current and valid. Existing identity cards used by taxi and private hire drivers across the country can be copied and used fraudulently, the council new ID cards include a hologram, optically variable inks and guilloche patterns, similar to those seen on banknotes and will be in the front windscreen on the passenger's side of the vehicle and customers can tap through the glass before they get the licence status shows as invalid, they are advised not to get in the vehicle and report the driver to the Bhupinder Gakhal said the technology made "checking your driver's licence and identity far simpler than calling the council"."Not only do the new cards offer extra reassurance, they are also more environmentally friendly and prevent the need for tens of thousands of plastic licences to be printed every year," he said. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Lincoln shopper feels 'held to ransom' by contactless payments
A shopper said he felt "held to ransom and bullied" by the "phenomenal" amount of businesses which only accept contactless Wicks, 62, from Ingoldmells, Lincolnshire, said he believed people should have more choice as to how they can Wicks said he was recently unable to use public toilets at Waterside Shopping Centre in Lincoln which have only accepted a 20p charge by contactless payments since Shopping Centre has been contacted for comment. Mr Wicks said he did not mind the fee, but said he felt "frustrated" by the lack of payment options and people should not be "held to ransom" by companies. "I don't see why people should be bullied into things they don't agree with.""We're meant to be inclusive and democratic in this country yet we've been stopped from using toilets because businesses have decided they want us all to be contactless," Mr Wicks said it was unfair the public had no say in the rise of contactless payments. "It's not been voted on. We haven't had a referendum have we?" In June 2021, Age UK published a report on how the decline of cash was affecting older people. It said there was a "critical importance of cash to older people in a world which is increasingly forcing all of us to use digital payment and banking services".The charity warned the government and industry needed to take action to protect access to cash to ensure "millions of older people and other citizens are not cut off from their money".A further report in May 2023 said: "No matter what advances in technology occur, there will always be people who depend on cash."It is imperative that it remains in circulation and as a payment method for retail customers." Mr Wicks said he contacted his bank and asked for the contactless option on his card to be disabled. "I won't have one, I don't want it and I don't see why anyone else should if they don't feel that way." Bill Draycott, from Lincoln, said he used contactless payments "very seldom".He said he was concerned scammers could access his money."I just prefer cash really," he said. However, Ben Whitfield-Heap, from Lincoln, said: "I don't think we need cash anymore." He said he often used contactless payment methods. Helen Lloyd, also from Lincoln, said she used contactless several times a day and had "never had a problem". According to UK Finance, contactless payments accounted for 76% of all debit card transactions made during March Richardson, deputy editor of Which? Money magazine, said contactless methods were secure and could be trusted."We've had over 10 years of mass contactless use with very little in the way of fraud," he said."Everyone thinks about fraudsters running off with our cards. Whilst that occurs, it's actually a very small amount of fraud."Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Arabian Business
28-05-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
Worldpay sees surge in real-time payments and digital wallets as regulatory reforms reshape UAE landscape
The UAE's payments landscape is undergoing a major shift, fuelled by regulatory reforms like the UAE's cashless society vision a growing consumer preference for contactless payments, digital wallets, and the rise of real-time payment capabilities, according to Worldpay, a global payments company that processes over 50 billion transactions a year, enabling domestic and international merchants enabling seamless, secure and compliant payment experiences . Speaking to Arabian Business on the sidelines of Seamless Middle East 2025, Tausif Ahmed, Merchant Country Leader for MENA at Worldpay, said the country's recent changes to allow non-bank acquiring have positioned it as a regional frontrunner in payment innovation. 'The UAE Central Bank's decision to license non-bank acquirers marked a turning point,' Ahmed said. 'It allowed international players like Worldpay to enter the market and bring in global best practices, an end-to-end proven solution, and access to advanced payment technologies.' He added Worldpay sees the UAE and broader GCC as a high-growth region, with growing cross-border trade, digital commerce, and demand for embedded finance products. Digital wallets take the lead, super apps accelerate usage Digital wallets are rapidly becoming the preferred method of payment for consumers in the UAE. Worldpay data shows that in 2024, 30 per cent of consumer transactions in the country were made through digital wallets—a number expected to reach 40 per cent by 2030. 'Digital wallets and super apps are not just changing how people pay; they're also reshaping expectations around convenience and user experience,' Ahmed said. 'Consumers now expect fast, seamless payments whether they're booking a ride, ordering food, or paying bills.' He also pointed to the growing popularity of apps like Careem and Talabat, which bundle payments with everyday services, as examples of how digital integration is influencing customer behaviour. Regulatory compliance and AML need to be part of the DNA While the payments space is evolving rapidly, there needs to be continuous awareness and implementations of all regulatory compliance, AML and risk systems and processes. 'We view compliance not as a cost, but as an investment in sustainable business'. Ahmed said. Worldpay also supports local merchants expanding overseas by helping them adapt to local regulations in target markets, while enabling global brands entering the region to localise their payment offerings. Worldpay is seeing growing demand for payment orchestration—a model where businesses use multiple payment processors through a unified platform. Real-time payouts address gig economy and remittances A major focus for Worldpay is the rollout of real-time payout capabilities in the UAE, powered by Visa Direct and Mastercard Send. Some of the use-case are insurance payouts , gig economy platforms, and cross-border remittances. 'Instant access to funds is becoming a default expectation, especially in the gig economy and for businesses that need to disburse funds quickly,' Ahmed said. AI, data and fraud prevention take centre stage In a move to strengthen its risk management capabilities, Worldpay recently acquired Ravelin, an AI-based fraud prevention company. Ahmed said this helps the company offer merchants stronger fraud mitigation and compliance tools. 'Payments are bloodstream of every business and beyond transactions, shaping customer experiences, data strategy and growth,' he said. 'We give merchants data insights that help them boost authorisation rates, payments performance, customer behaviour, transaction declines, and streamline reconciliation.' Payment orchestration sees growing demand from enterprise merchants Ahmed said Worldpay is seeing growing demand for payment orchestration—a model where businesses use multiple payment processors through a unified platform. 'Orchestration is no longer a niche concept. It's becoming the standard, especially for enterprise merchants operating with multiple PSPs and regions,' he said. 'They want redundancy, flexibility, and the ability to optimise performance by routing payments through the most effective channels.' Expanding operations in the UAE Over the past year, Worldpay has expanded its merchant portfolio in the UAE beyond traditional sectors, airlines and travel to include OTAs, financial services, including trading and insurance, digital platforms, mobility firms, education and healthcare. The company is also relocating to a new office in Dubai Internet City to support its growing local team. Looking ahead, Ahmed said the company is focused on real-time payments, embedded finance, and supporting the region's role in cross-border payment innovation. 'Dubai is becoming a global headquarters for many businesses,' he said. 'As payment infrastructure matures, you'll find Worldpay at the heart of great commerce experiences helping our customers become more efficient, more secure, and more successful.'
The Guardian
06-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Co-op rushes to fix contactless payment issue in some stores amid cyber-attack fallout
The Co-op was forced to scramble to fix a problem with contactless payments at dozens of its stores on Tuesday, as it grapples with the fallout from a cyber-attack which has left gaps on shelves. The food retailer said that up to 200 of its 2,300 stores across the UK had been affected by an issue with its contactless payment systems on Tuesday morning but said the problem had been fixed in all stores by mid-afternoon. A spokesperson for the Co-op said it had had 'a small number of stores with contactless payment issues' earlier on Tuesday, but contactless payment was now available again in all of its shops. The spokesperson said deliveries of some goods to stores had also been affected as the group had been forced to shutdown some systems as part of its efforts to contain the attack. The Guardian revealed last Wednesday that the Co-op had been forced to shut down parts of its IT system after discovering an attempted hack, days after rival Marks & Spencer faced a serious cyber-incident. On Thursday, it emerged that luxury department store Harrods had also been attacked. Its stores and website are continuing to trade. The Co-op, which runs more than 800 funeral parlours and offers legal and financial services as well as its chain of grocery stores, said hackers had been able to access personal data including names and contact details relating to an undisclosed number of the mutual's current and past members – of which there are more than 6.2 million. Passwords and financial details were not accessed. In a letter to customers, Shirine Khoury-Haq, the chief executive of the Co-op, said the group was 'experiencing significant disruption'. She added: 'Our frontline colleagues are focused on minimising any disruption that might be experienced by our members and customers.' M&S is now facing its third week of disruption, with its website closed and deliveries to stores affected. Over the weekend, some outlets were unable to offer meal deals as they run short of key items such as crisps and biscuits amid on-going problems with deliveries and stock systems. It is understood that M&S customer data has not been accessed. skip past newsletter promotion Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion Both the Co-op and M&S attacks have been blamed on hackers using tactics commonly linked to the hacking group Scattered Spider and other similar and possibly linked associates such as Lapsus$ who frequent the same Telegram channels and hacking forums, the trade journal Bleeping Computer reported. The National Cyber Security Centre said it was working with M&S and the Co-op to understand the nature of both incidents, and is expected to examine any potential links. The Metropolitan police confirmed last week that detectives from its cybercrime unit, assisted by colleagues from the National Crime Agency (NCA), were investigating the attack on M&S. The NCA is also investigating the Co-op hack.
Associated Press
06-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
OKKAMI's Cornelius Phanthanh to Speak at the 4th Hospitality Thailand Conference
As part of the Guest Experience Track at the Hotel Revenue Summit, Cornelius will present his forward-thinking vision for a seamless, tech-enabled guest journey 'From mobile keys to fully contactless guest journeys, we're helping properties deliver smarter, more personalized experiences, something we believe is no longer optional, but essential.' — Antony Goddard SUKHUMVIT, BANGKOK, THAILAND, May 6, 2025 / / -- OKKAMI is pleased to announce that Cornelius Phanthanh, one of its senior leaders in technology innovation, will be a featured speaker at the 4th Hospitality Thailand Conference (#HTC2025). He will take the stage on May 14, 2025, at the Grand Eastin Hotel Sathorn Bangkok as part of the Guest Experience Track at the Hotel Revenue Summit. Cornelius will present a forward-looking session on how a fully integrated webapp experience can reshape the hospitality landscape—enabling guests to unlock hotel doors, pay via QR codes, connect with third-party vendors, and enjoy an end-to-end digital journey without ever having to visit the front desk. His vision aligns with the increasing demand for seamless, mobile-first guest experiences that are both intuitive and efficient. 📅 Date: May 14, 2025 📍 Venue: Grand Eastin Hotel Sathorn, Bangkok Antony Goddard , COO of OKKAMI, shared his excitement ahead of the event: 'We are honored to participate in HTC2025 and proud to have Cornelius representing OKKAMI on such a forward-looking stage. Our mission has always been to enhance the way guests interact with hotels, and this conference is the perfect opportunity to showcase the innovation we're bringing to the industry. From mobile keys to fully contactless guest journeys, we're helping properties deliver smarter, more personalized experiences, something we believe is no longer optional, but essential.' Join industry leaders and hospitality professionals as Cornelius unveils how OKKAMI is redefining guest engagement through cutting-edge technology. For updates, follow #HTC2025 and stay connected with OKKAMI. About OKKAMI Founded to bridge the gap between traditional hospitality and modern digital expectations, OKKAMI is a leading provider of guest engagement and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions for hotels, resorts, and luxury residences. The company empowers properties with a single, integrated platform that enhances every step of the guest journey, from pre-arrival to post-stay. OKKAMI's core offering is its white-labeled guest app and webapp, which allows properties to provide services like mobile check-in, digital key access, in-room controls, service requests, spa bookings, restaurant reservations, and integrated payments, all through a unified interface. The platform seamlessly integrates with major Property Management Systems (PMS), Point of Sale (POS) systems, door lock providers, payment gateways, CRM tools, and even wellness and F&B vendors. By reducing friction across touchpoints and giving guests control over their stay via their own devices, OKKAMI helps hospitality brands boost operational efficiency, increase ancillary revenue, and elevate customer satisfaction. Its clientele includes global hotel chains, boutique resorts, branded residences, and serviced apartments across more than 25 countries. In addition to its core product, OKKAMI offers a range of modules including loyalty program integration, guest messaging via WhatsApp/LINE/WeChat, multilingual AI-powered chatbots, and marketing automation tools. With a strong focus on data security and scalability, the platform is built to serve the diverse and evolving needs of the modern hospitality industry. Sally Keen Tech News Asia email us here Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
