Here is a list of product releases and updates for late-October from companies that offer services to online merchants. There are updates on voice commerce, expense management, payments, small business loans, shipping, and returns.
Got an ecommerce product release? Email releases@practicalecommerce.com.
Ecommerce Product Releases
Yahoo Small Business launches platform for business development. Yahoo Small Business has introduced Business Maker, a platform to help small businesses and aspiring business owners start, run, and grow their own business. The services offered through Business Maker include a business plan guide, legal packages and guides, online presence development (including website, domain, and email boxes), point of sale mobile app with back-office tools, a choice of three card readers, and Localworks business listings.
Yahoo Small Business: Business Maker
Rewind offers free holiday data backups for ecommerce platforms. Rewind, a cloud data backup provider for ecommerce and other platforms, has announced the launch of Rewind: One-Time, a limited-time, complimentary version of its data protection software. Helping merchants on Shopify and BigCommerce, Rewind: One-Time can protect and quickly restore a retailer’s online store during the holiday shopping season. Available through December 31, 2019, Rewind: One-Time allows retailers to conduct a free, one-time backup of up to 10,000 products and related data tied to their ecommerce storefront.
Facebook opens marketplace search to ads. Facebook is enabling ads in Facebook search results for sellers to connect with buyers on its marketplace. All new ad campaigns using Automatic Placements will automatically include the Facebook search results placement. You can also manually select the placement when setting up your campaign. Once you opt-in, ads will be eligible to appear on search result pages, which include general search and marketplace search. The ads are designed to fit the experience on the given search results surface (marketplace search or general search). They look similar to news feed ads and have the same transparency and controls, including a “Sponsored” label, so it’s marked as paid placement.
ScaleFactor unveils Visa card for SMBs, extends into expense management. ScaleFactor, an automated accounting and finance platform for small businesses, has announced the launch of the ScaleFactor Visa Card, a corporate card that gives greater speed and control to business owners over how they manage spending. The customizable card helps entrepreneurs tailor their expense management workflow. The addition of the card features to ScaleFactor’s existing platform, which includes bookkeeping, bill pay, payroll, and tax products, expands a set of financial insight solutions for small businesses.
ScaleFactor
Splitit announces partnerships with Shopify and Divido as well as new North American merchant agreements. Splitit has signed an agreement with Shopify to make available Splitit’s “buy now pay later” service to Shopify’s network of merchants. Splitit’s payment service is now listed inside Shopify as an integrated payment gateway. Splitit has also signed an agreement with global point-of-sale finance platform Divido. This partnership enables Splitit to offer its payment service to Divido’s network of more than 1,000 merchants, banks, and other partners.
Introducing PayPal Business Loan for small businesses in Canada. PayPal is introducing PayPal Business Loan in Canada, addressing the struggle of Canadian small businesses to get access to capital. The PayPal Business Loan program will provide funding from $5,000 to $100,000 for small businesses looking for quick decision-making and settlement. Approved applicants get the money in their business’s bank account in as fast as one or two business days. Before accepting the loan, a merchant is informed of the fixed fee. There are no hidden fees, including origination fees, late payment fees, early repayment fees, or application fees.
Phebi software makes it possible to voice-enable a website. Phebi, a player in voice commerce, has announced a new release that enables people to search and even purchase items from websites using only their voice. The highlights of Phebi’s new release, which can be used to power mobile, desktop, and in-app interactions, include instant search, text search, a built-in call-to-action capability for lead generation, support for the visually impaired, real-time data dashboard, and more.
Commercetools raises $145 million. Commercetools, a player in commerce software, has announced a $145 million investment from Insight Partners to support the company’s plans for growth in the U.S., Asia-Pacific, and Europe. The company’s cloud, headless, and API-first commerce platform helps brands move from legacy ecommerce software, reducing development time and resources required to migrate to modern commerce technology. The new financing builds on the rapid growth of Commercetools over the last 18 months. The company has opened new operations in the U.K. and Asia-Pacific.
Commercetools
UPS to enable special shipping rates for Stamps.com’s customers. UPS has unveiled a new collaboration with Stamps.com. Stamps.com customers will have UPS connectivity for ecommerce fully integrated within their familiar Stamps.com platforms. This new collaboration with UPS will make UPS shipping services available to Stamps.com’s customers at attractive discounts of up to 55 percent off daily rates, including various waived surcharges.
Returnly brings international returns to shoppers and retailers. Returnly, a post-purchase payments company that enables returns for online retailers and customers, has announced the availability of international returns, which lets global shoppers return items online from anywhere in the world. Retailers can now enable international shoppers to self-service cross-border returns that include shipping label generation, streamlined duties and tax drawback procedures, and returns tracking.
Amazon adds thousands of new locations for free package pick-up across the U.S. Amazon has announced the expansion of Counter, a network of staffed pickup points that gives customers the option to pick up their Amazon packages at a partner location. New store partners include GNC, Health Mart, and Stage stores. Delivery to a Counter location is available for the millions of items sold on Amazon and works with Same-Day, One-Day, Two-Day, and Standard shipping. The service is available to all Amazon customers at no extra cost.
Kabbage launches Kabbage Payments to help small businesses get paid faster. Kabbage, a data and technology company providing small businesses cash flow services, has announced the general availability of Kabbage Payments, a new payment-processing solution for small businesses. Kabbage Payments customers can create a unique URL for their business and send payment requests through texts, emails, or the web to collect card payments. The custom pay link eliminates the need to manually create new accounts, open new payment orders, and duplicate work for recurring invoices.
Kabbage
