Accepting Payments at Trade Shows and Pop-Ups: A Practical Guide

Mobile POS, tap-to-pay, and QR codes make it easy to take payments anywhere — if you're prepared.

Open banking represents a fundamental shift in the relationship between financial institutions, technology companies, and consumers. When implemented thoughtfully, it enables richer products, better pricing, and a more competitive market — all of which benefit Canadian businesses.

The Regulatory Dimension

Any significant change to your payment infrastructure needs to be evaluated through a compliance lens from the outset. Engaging your legal and compliance teams early — rather than treating them as a final gate — reduces the risk of costly rework and ensures that your implementation meets all applicable requirements.

Instant payment systems are moving from pilot to production in markets around the world. Canada's Real-Time Rail will eventually bring this capability to Canadian businesses and consumers, fundamentally changing how money moves domestically.

What the Data Tells Us

Aggregated industry data consistently shows that businesses with dedicated payment operations functions outperform their peers on authorisation rates, fraud losses, and processing costs. The investment in expertise pays for itself many times over across a typical payment volume.

The economics of payment rewards programmes are often misunderstood. Interchange funds the points and miles that consumers earn, which means merchants effectively pay for their customers' rewards. Understanding this dynamic is essential for negotiating fair interchange rates.