Dan is a veteran of tech companies large and small and leads global PR efforts for ACI. Among his responsibilities is working to educate external audiences (press, analysts, influencers) on just how cool ACI is. Dan is not a payments expert, but knows more than the average layperson to be slightly dangerous. He's bullish on mobile and bearish on wearables.
Articles by Dan Ring
Fintech’s March Madness: The Top Seeds “Jonesing” for Glory in Indiana
Ahh March Madness… my favorite time of year for sports (and gambling) and also the one tournament where I’m typically out of the running in my myriad betting pools after day one.
2020: The Year of (Near) Cashless Transactions?
Happy belated New Year and raise your hand if you make and/or follow New Year’s resolutions. I used to and then realized they were exercises in futility. But, over this past holiday, I thought I’d give the resolution game one more shot. This one was more a realistic goal than it was a resolution, but who can really tell the difference anyway!?! I decided to go cashless over the holidays, which can still be somewhat challenging for many in the US (though my friends in other countries are probably ridiculing me right now). I was traveling (to NYC and Florida) and wanted to pack as little as possible (in both my luggage and my wallet). I’m all about loyalty card points these days, hence the 2 back-to-back trips.
A Pointless Credit Card World (Sound the Alarm, Ring the Bell, Freak Out… Le Freak, see’est Chic)
Mark, we were slightly prescient a few weeks back when our rantings touched on credit card points.
All I Want For Christmas (Or Any Holiday) Is… Instant Payments Gratification
Mark, some of us are fast approaching the end of the holiday shopping season, some of us are fast approaching that time of year when we consume too much egg nog, and some of us are fast approaching too many viewings of Die Hard or It’s a Wonderful Life or Love Actually or Christmas in Connecticut (I’ve disclosed too much about myself). To segue slightly more than slightly, I was at Target over the weekend, braving the holiday shopping crowds, to buy toilet paper, paper towels and tissues… and I took advantage of the 5% off that I get from using my Red Card. I surveyed the throngs of other consumers in the nearby checkout lines and not once did I see another store card.
Money20/20 Europe: A Payments Extravaganza and a (figurative) Carnival of Sorts (to borrow from R.E.M.)
According to the Googles, “payments” translates as “betalingen” in Dutch. And if I’m using the word correctly, betalingen is on full display! Last week, Amsterdam brought many highs (and not of the stereotypical Amsterdam variety), very few lows (Antonio Banderas as a no-show, unexplained flight delays both departing and returning), a couple of surprises (Stu co-winning the Payments Race, celebrating Mark’s fake birthday) and some great memories. In addition to our presence at the ever-lively Money20/20 Europe, we hosted a corporate event commemorating our 20th anniversary in the Netherlands—welcoming regional ACIers and customers alike (and enjoying a most densely delicious and decorative cake).
Cash… Almost As Good As Money! (The Story of Two Americans in London)
Mark, although we were both recently in London, shockingly, our paths didn’t cross—the city was bustling as the Commonwealth leaders had all descended upon the British capital, which was also readying for its annual Marathon. You were there for work (cooped up in conference rooms) while I was there for fun (and the surprisingly fantastic weather made my trip that much more enjoyable). So enjoyable in fact that I’d rate my trip a 9.7 out of 10, a rarity these days. The reason for the 0.
The Bank of the Future: 2040 and the Reality of AR and VR
Mark, when I envision the bank of the future, I imagine Twiki and Buck Rogers at a casino. Or maybe I once dreamed that—I’m old and my mind is going. So what are we talking about and what can we envision when it comes to the bank of the future? And by future, I’m talking about 2040, before certain cities might be flooded (by water). But I digress, as this isn’t a post about climate change.
Getting a Gauge on Payment App Season
Dear Mark, this is a 100% true story (and a solid ‘Ranting’ to boot). As you know, I just returned from a lovely and relaxing vacation (or as our European colleagues call it, holiday). And as I got into my car this morning—for the first time in more than a week—I realized the gas tank was near-empty and that my low-tire indicator light was on… and I needed to get my daughter to camp en route to coming into the office.
How mCommerce and eCommerce Are Shaping the Infomercial (Cash, check or money order?)
If you enjoy watching infomercials as much as we do, you’re likely familiar with the payment option that closes out these delightful paid programs...which brings us to another edition of Rantings, focused on Payment Habits. And after all, who hasn’t purchased a ShamWow!? Mark, we’re approaching the unofficial start of summer (editor’s note: there’s likely a future post on summer holiday purchases) and even though there’s no correlation between vacations and COD (cash on demand)—at least I don’t think there’s one—it at least provides an awkward segue into Payment Habits.
Open APIs, PSD2, Blockchain and Marmite…The Deliciousness of Payments
As we quickly approach the new year, I thought it prudent to sit down with my esteemed colleague (as well as cyclist, oenophile, Arsenal fan and Kraftwerk fan) Lu Zurawski, who’s been at the forefront of some major industry initiatives that will ripple into 2017 and beyond.
2017’s Payment Buzzwords in October…and Other Insanity
Is it just me or are things a little insane right now? From clowns wreaking havoc across the country to category 4 hurricanes also wreaking havoc (later and later into the year) to a certain presidential election (Sunday’s debate was, how you say, actually, it’s difficult for me to put into words) to now…Christmas decorations in October! And don’t forget the pop-up Halloween stores that arrived in August…August! So let the Rantings begin.
The Magical Mystery API Is Waiting to Take You Away…Waiting to Take You Away
There’s nothing like a good mashup of a Beatles song and technology, right? We all know the Beatles, but do we all know APIs? To butcher another Beatles song, ‘All you need are APIs, APIs are all you need.’ At least that’s what it seems like, especially in today’s vast finance industry. Before we quote any more songs, we should first define what an API is. According to our friends at Webopedia, Application Program Interface (API) is a set of routines, protocols, and tools for building software applications. An API specifies how software components should interact and APIs are used when programming graphical user interface (GUI) components.