Anyone whose livelihood depends on them being on the road for extended periods knows the costs associated with being away from home can add up quickly. Food, lodging, and especially fuel are significant expenses. Indeed, fuel is the top variable expense for any fleet – often equating to  more than 75 percent of a fleet’s variable expenses. A fleet of 500 vehicles, each driving 24,000 miles per year, accumulates 12 million total miles annually. With numbers this large, even a small change can mean big savings. In fact, if they could reduce their bills by a mere quarter of a

According to the International Energy Agency, electricity demand dropped significantly under lockdown, with the dramatic reduction in services and industry over the course of the COVID-19 outbreak only partially offset by a higher residential use. Additionally, across all major regions, the power mix saw a shift towards renewables following lockdown measures due to low operating costs and depressed electricity demand. Natural gas remained the leading source of electricity in the United States, but renewables, coal and nuclear power found themselves trading second place amongst themselves as lockdown measures ebbed and flowed and temperature averages shifted across the country. In general,

For obvious reasons, you’re likely spending more time at home these days. That means you’re also likely spending more on your monthly household utility bills. Thankfully, there are several ways you can reduce your utilities spend – one of them being smart home devices! Smart Devices can be installed in practically any home, and they can greatly increase your energy efficiency by using sensors and automatic adjustments to meet your energy needs and avoid over-consumption. Most of these devices can also be installed in the office to reduce your spend there. Here is a look at some of these devices

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