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Optimizing Payments to achieve Profitability in Food Delivery (part 1 of 2)

Optimizing Payments to achieve Profitability in Food Delivery (part 1 of 2)

Food delivery flourished during the pandemic, but can it finally crack the profitability code? In this two-part investigation, the EDC Retail Practice dives deep into the challenges and market dynamics holding back the industry, and explores how innovative payment solutions might hold the key to unlocking sustained success. In Part 1 of this two-part article, Mark Beresford (Director, London), head of the EDC Retail Practice, has collaborated with Justine Morvan (Business Analyst, London) to explore some of the challenges and issues in food delivery, the market dynamics, and how profitability remains elusive.

by Mark Beresford | Apr 02, 2024
11 mins read
Returns: How optimising the customer checkout journey can turn a financial void into a cash cow

Returns: How optimising the customer checkout journey can turn a financial void into a cash cow

In 2022 the EDC retail payments practice asked the question “Can retailers ban a customer who returns too much?” and in another article described the “5 best practices to improve the returns process that will increase sales”. Justine Morvan (Business Analyst, London) has returned (no pun intended) to the persistent challenge of merchant returns to see how optimising the customer checkout journey can help.

by Justine Morvan | Mar 01, 2024
13 mins read
The Merchant’s Guide to the Payment Acceptance Maze: Avoiding Hidden Fees and Maximizing Profits

The Merchant’s Guide to the Payment Acceptance Maze: Avoiding Hidden Fees and Maximizing Profits

Accepting and managing payments has evolved into a complex affair for many retailers across North America, with more payment methods, new customer journeys, blurring of physical and digital sales channels, and increasing fraud. These factors are all contributing to increasing inefficiencies in how retailers accept and manage payments, with the Cost of Payment Acceptance (CoPA) slowly rising. In this article, Mark Beresford (Head of the Retail Practice, London) and Davide Villa (Senior Consultant, San Francisco) jointly looked at some of these factors, and how EDC’s proprietary 360° Payment Diagnostic Methodology can support retailers in reducing and future-proofing the cost of accepting payments.

by Mark Beresford | Mar 01, 2024
11 mins read
Get Ready, Retailers: The Digital Markets Act Changes Everything - Here's What You Need to Know

Get Ready, Retailers: The Digital Markets Act Changes Everything - Here's What You Need to Know

Are gatekeepers the new “resistance to access” where online platforms act as powerful intermediaries controlling the entry to a sizable segment of consumers and businesses within the digital market? The term "gatekeeper" can have different meanings depending on the context. In this article, Mark Beresford (Director, London), has looked at the implications of the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) for in-store retailer contactless payments as this wide-sweeping legislation comes into force on 6th March 2024.

by Mark Beresford | Mar 01, 2024
7 mins read
Italy's Digital Divide: Cash versus Cards in a Land of Tradition

Italy's Digital Divide: Cash versus Cards in a Land of Tradition

In Italy, the usage of payment cards has historically been lower than in other European countries, with cash continuing to be the preferred payment method among consumers, influenced by several cultural factors. However, payment card usage has increased- from 13% of the total consumer transaction volumes in 2019 to 26% in 2022. Elisabetta Nadal (Business Analyst, London) reviews the dynamic changes in payment acceptance trends in Italy within the broader context of the evolving payment landscape in Europe.

by Elisabetta Nadal | Feb 01, 2024
5 mins read
The untapped potential of in-store BNPL growth

The untapped potential of in-store BNPL growth

Charlotte Piron (Consultant, Paris) explores the rising prominence of BNPL in physical retail, highlighting its impact on consumer behaviour and the steps major players are taking to adapt to this shift. The article also discusses the key benefits of in-store BNPL for providers, merchants, and consumers, emphasizing its potential to elevate the shopping experience and delves into how traditional banks are responding to the growing appeal of BNPL and the regulatory changes that may shape the future of the industry.

by Charlotte Piron | Dec 04, 2023
5 mins read
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