In these uncertain times, the W. Capra Data Science team has taken upon itself to report on the anticipated impact that the COVID-19 outbreak will have on the verticals we service over time. Using data current as of April 13, this first report is intended to identify and predict how...
Nonstop, Look & Listen
This article originally appeared in the CStore Decisions. CStore Decisions’ online content can be found here. “Epic Convenience” was the title for my planned remarks for the New England Convenience Store and Energy Marketers Association (NECSEMA) annual expo, which I didn’t get to share because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But...
POS Opportunities Expand
This article originally appeared in the online edition of CStore Decisions. CStore Decisions' online content can be found here. In 2020, new point-of-sale (POS) solutions, including frictionless solutions, are giving c-store retailers much to consider. “Retailers continue to be confronted by POS solution providers’ attention to delivering software to support...
Installment Payments: Should Merchants Offer Their Customers A New Way to Pay?
What are installment payments? Installment payments refer to a transaction that is split into a series of payments that a consumer pays overtime rather than paying one lump sum at the time of purchase. Many financial technology companies (Afterpay, Klarna, etc.) are partnering with merchants to provide them with installment...
The Epic & Evolving Convenience of C-Stores
W. Capra's Ed Collupy* had been invited by the New England Convenience Store and Energy Marketers Association (NECSEMA) to speak at their 2020 annual Expo on the latest technologies in the Convenience / Petro industry. The event was unfortunately cancelled due to current circumstances. Ed's remarks were to be titled...
W. Capra Adopts NIST Privacy Framework Approach to Data Privacy
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released version 1.0 of the NIST Privacy Framework: A Tool for Improving Privacy through Enterprise Risk Management on January 16, 2020. This framework was developed starting in September 2018 using a “robust, transparent, consensus-based collaboration with private and public sector stakeholders.”...
Analysis of the Texas AFD Anti-Skimming Regulation
Introduction to the Regulation On September 1st, 2019 Texas Legislature created Chapter 607 of the Texas Business and Commerce code related to card skimmers on automated fuel dispensers (AFDs). This chapter requires petroleum merchants to implement procedures to prevent, detect, and report the installation of skimmers on their unattended AFDs....
Utilizing an AWS framework to measure KPIs
When collecting KPIs, there are certain foundational questions that organizations must ensure they can answer: How can you be certain all of your system processes ran without error? What are the KPIs you are tracking? How long would it take to find out what data your KPIs are measuring? Would...
Before You Check Out of 2019…
The winter holiday season is around the corner, but that doesn’t mean time stands still and projects need to grind to a halt. While most who work in service industries and operational roles cannot automatically schedule week-long or more vacations around the holidays, many do have the luxury to “check...
Averting the Digital Dilemma
This article originally appeared in a print edition of Convenience Store News, written by contributor Thomas Malloy. Convenience Store News’ online content can be found here. Most c-store operators are by now already familiar with the Internet of Things (IoT). Small sensors and tiny tech machines talk to each other...
EMV Co. and W3C, United for a World Without Friction
One of the hardest parts of the payments universe is increasing transaction speed and reducing friction for the consumer. Let’s be realistic, we have gone from paying with cash to using a mobile phone in a very short time, but the last five years have brought significant change. In the...
Defend Against Dollar Stores: C-stores can protect their turf against value retailers by focusing on strengths and differentiation
This article originally appeared in a print edition of Convenience Store News, written by contributor Tammy Mastroberte. Convenience Store News' online content can be found here. Convenience Store Operators face competition from within the industry, as well as outside of it. This includes quick-service restaurants, drugstores and the expanding dollar...
