Uncertain times are challenging. As the economy plunges into recession, analysts across the world have been using market-based data to track the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the various pieces that make the economy tick, sorting which have stabilized and which continue to struggle. The Johnson Redbook Index measures the growth in U.S retail sales. For the fifth straight week, Johnson Redbook’s weekly measure of retail sales exceeded year-ago levels – suggesting that consumer spending may be a lot more durable than originally thought despite declining financial support from the government.  Of course, the face of retail has shifted

According to the Global E-waste Monitor 2020, the world generated a record 53.6 million metric tonnes of e-waste last year. In 2014, that number was closer to 44 million, and it’s expected to grow to 74.7 million by 2030. In stark contrast, the formal documented collection and recycling of e-waste in 2019 was 9.3 million metric tonnes – 17.4 percent of e-waste generated. E-waste contains several toxic and hazardous substances, posing significant risks to the environment and human health. In fact, a total of 50 tonnes of mercury alone are found in globally undocumented flows of e-waste annually. Despite the

As consumers rely more on e-commerce for their needs and wants, their desire for instant gratification does not dwindle. Consumers want their packages to arrive at their doors as quickly as possible, and as a result, same-day delivery has become the new benchmark. Trends and Statistics: In 2019, the value of the same-day delivery market was USD 5.87 billion, and by 2024 it is expected to be worth USD 15.60 billion. Automation and increased internet and smartphone usage are the main factors behind the exponential growth. Another unexpected factor is the pandemic. As people avoid the mall and opt to

If your business accepts credit cards, you’re likely familiar with the basics of credit card fraud and chargebacks. If you’re not, here’s the rundown: Banks, payment processing networks and fintech companies pump millions of dollars and countless research and development hours into keeping our payment options secure. Despite their best efforts, credit cards and PINs still get stolen. In the case of true fraud, a stolen credit card is used without authorized access. If you’re unfortunate enough that the fraudster used the stolen card to pay for something from your business, you’re likely to be subjected to a chargeback when

A lot was going on in the second century. The Roman empire enjoyed a period of prosperity lead by the “Five Good Emperors.” The Antonine Wall was built in Scotland, while the Antonine Plague ravaged the Rhine. Cao Cao defeated Yuan Shao at the Battle of Guandu. And fastidious merchants in Jerusalem began adding written signatures to authenticate their transaction receipts. Muslims took up the practice a few hundred years later, but it didn’t really become commonplace in Europe for another millennium after that. By the 16th century, literacy was on the rise and agreements were being put into writing

If the cardboard in your recycling bin disappeared overnight, would you complain? Probably not. Instead, you’d just be happy it’s gone. After all, that’s why you’re putting it in the bin in the first place – so waste haulers can take it away.  However, in cities from Los Angeles to New York to Madrid, it’s often not the legitimate recycling firms doing the pickups. Instead, it’s cardboard trafficking gangs beating them to the punch. Southeast of LA in Huntington Beach, waste management and environmental services companies claim that half to three-quarters of the cardboard that gets thrown in commercial recycling

At the intersection of financial services and technology sits the fintech (financial technology) industry – the workhorse behind several important and growing merchant services technologies such as digital currency and mobile payments. Financial services are a ubiquitous aspect of economic stability. The methods through which we spend, save, and share our money are as important to keep in mind as the methods through which we make them. After all – what do the dollars in your bank accounts mean if there aren’t any safe ways to access them? The fintech sector is just as susceptible as the rest of the

The impact that COVID-19 has had on the world cannot be understated. While it was originally downplayed as little more than a variant of the flu, it quickly shut down entire nations. The speed of the economic collapse due to the virus was unlike anything we’ve seen in our lifetimes. Confirmed COVID-19 cases across the world exceed 19 million at the time of writing, and deaths have surpassed the 700,000 mark. In the telecom world, people had different expectations for 2020. This year was supposed to be the year that 5G went mainstream. The fifth-generation tech standard for cellular networks

Due to the integral role they play in managing supply chains in the modern world, small package shipping & courier vendors were considered essential businesses when governments across North America laid out plans to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s business as usual. Couriers such as FedEx, UPS, Purolator, USPS and Canada Post have had to make several changes and concessions to make sure they’re keeping themselves and their customers safe while still delivering much-needed goods. Here are a few examples of what the new normal looks like within the realm of small package shipping.

In order to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, employees across the world are turning to personal protective equipment (PPE) in the workplace. As more and more workplaces reopen, safe disposal of PPE will become even more important. So what are the safest methods of disposing of PPE? And what services are available to help expedite the process?  What does appropriate PPE look like?  The types of workplace PPE can vary greatly depending on the work environment and also the services provided. PPE could include single-use gloves, aprons, gowns, respirators and face coverings like surgical masks, goggles or face shields.