Alasdair Lane

The New York Times • 28th December 2022

Easing Mortgage Stress With A.I. and Empathy

The stress of financing a house purchase is something the California-based realtor Eloy Villamil is all too familiar with. During his 20-year career, he’s helped thousands of prospective homeowners navigate the pressures of the mortgage process — and been through it more than a few times himself.

CNBC • 25th October 2022

Dubai: a connected, pro-business city doing things differently

During an illustrious career as an airline chief executive and a professional marathon runner, Stefan Pichler called many places home. Europe, North America, Asia, Africa, Australasia — there are few corners of the globe the 65-year-old hasn’t lived in.

The New York Times • 11th January 2022

What Will the Highways of the Future Look Like?

The Romans built 50,000 miles of them. Today, there's at least 500 times that number worldwide. They convey goods and people over vast distances at speed, allowing societies to bloom and economies to thrive. Highways were a cornerstone of the ancient world — and in the 21st century, they’re no less important.

The New York Times • 12th November 2021

How Crypto is Re‑Writing the Rules of Digital Ownership

Shortly after the financial crisis of 2008, a group of tech-minded trailblazers sought a solution to the shortcomings of conventional finance. They envisaged a world underpinned not by centralized power, but by a distributed, democratic system of ownership that was inclusive, transparent and secure. This world, the crypto world, grew steadily in the years that followed. Then the Covid-19 pandemic hit. Global lockdowns have hastened the advance of all things digital and, in this uncertain age of

Travolution • 1st January 2015

The Role Tech Can Play In Defending Your Business Against 'Friendly Fraud'

For the travel industry, 2022 was to be the year of the sector’s big comeback. With COVID-19 vaccines and testing freely available, it was assumed people would start traveling far more widely for both business and pleasure.

Nasdaq.com • 1st January 2015

Higher Wages Can Mean Higher Profits, If Staff Have the Right Tools

Some call it the “Great Resignation”; others the “Big Quit.” Since early 2021, around 33 million Americans have parted ways with an employer — the highest ‘quits rate’ on record. And the Big Quit won’t be ending any time soon. Recent job market research suggests a staggering 74% of full time US employees intend to leave their jobs this year in search of new opportunities, more compensation, or better working conditions.

Entrepreneur • 1st January 2015

Good Advice Is the Secret to Success in Entrepreneurship. Here's How to Get It.

Entrepreneurs are, by their very nature, independent, driven and decisive individuals. They have to be — whether an investment opportunity is secured or slips away, whether a new product soars or slumps, whether, when all is said and done, a business venture is a success, it's all on them.

CryptoSlate • 1st January 2015

Friendly fraud warning as resurgent travel businesses explore new crypto horizons

Few industries are as competitive as international travel. An innumerable array of airlines, hotels, and tourist agencies vie for the custom of would-be vacationers, each trying to outdo the other in the features they offer. Payment options are key to this, with rich rewards for companies that are willing to innovate.

Bobsguide • 1st January 2015

Why specialisation is the key to successful transaction data management

On the surface, big banks and fintechs are not obvious bedfellows. One is an edifice of the old ways; the other, a fast-moving disruptive force eager to shake things up.

Forbes • 1st January 2015

For Brick-And-Mortar Retailers, Employee Empowerment Must Be A Top Priority

“Don't let perfect be the enemy of good” — an old adage that rings true in most walks of life. But in the increasingly competitive world of brick-and-mortar retail, “good” often isn’t good enough.

RETHINK Retail • 1st January 2015

4 Ways E-commerce Brands Can Ride Out the Economic Slowdown

For direct-to-consumer e-commerce merchants, the economic forecast is looking increasingly gloomy. Faced with a deepening cost-of-living crisis, consumers are spending billions of dollars less than usual, even as surging inflation, supply chain woes, and eye-watering energy prices are forcing sellers to shell out more just to stay in business.

Ratio • 1st January 2015

3 Ways That SaaS Vendors can Survive the VC Funding Drought

Driven by rock-bottom interest rates and a rush of digital transformations, 2021 was a record year for SaaS venture capital (VC) investment. Fast forward six months, though, and things are looking very different. Labor and supply costs are surging, inflation is up, and interest rates are rising. Mix in a disruptive dose of geopolitical unrest, and it’s easy to see why VC funding dropped a full 19% in the first 3 months of the year. Technology firms have been particularly hard hit by this reduc

Multichannel Merchant • 1st January 2015

BNPL Debt Warning Raises Friendly Fraud Concerns

A few years ago, you’d be hard pressed to find an ecommerce retailer offering buy now, pay later (BNPL). Today, it’s surprising not to see the option advertised at checkout. Since 2018, the number of BNPL users in America has more than tripled, and as of last fall almost half of U.S. consumers said they were on the pay-later bandwagon.

Retail Technology Insider • 29th December 2014

Open to All: Why ADA Compliance Should Be a Priority for Online Retailers

For more than three decades, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has safeguarded the rights of millions of disabled people. Wheelchair ramps, automatic doors, and accessible restrooms — the hallmarks of this landmark piece of legislation can be seen in stores and malls across the country.

Retail Technology Insider • 1st September 2014

Are Brand Employees Ready for Experiential Retail?

For brick-and-mortar retailers, COVID-19 was the challenge of a lifetime. The virus’s sudden spread in early 2020 saw sales plummet, with all but the most essential stores forced to close. Some, unable to weather the storm, never reopened.

The ACR Journal • 1st January 2015

Building sustainability: a smart solution

Buildings aren’t merely bricks and mortar. They’re where business deals are brokered, and families gather at the end of the day. They’re where we work, and where we play; where we grow up, and grow old. They are the centrepieces of cities, towns, and villages, and where most of our lives are spent. And, sadly, they are part of the greatest challenge that confronts us all: climate change.

Global Banking & Finance Review • 1st January 2015

Global supply chains: three predictions for the future

It’s been a tumultuous couple of years for global supply chains. First came the pandemic; an unforeseen public health emergency that disrupted the flow of goods and materials, prioritizing essential goods over non-essential goods as well as changing trading patterns. As the virus spread, national lockdowns were implemented, piling added pressure on already creaking commercial networks.

Bobsguide • 1st January 2015

Data management: reinventing a foundational capability to optimise cloud transition for financial services firms

Data is the lifeblood of the financial services sector. By mining and analysing financial market data, customer information and overall market trends, financial institutions can glean game-changing insights — but where to store that sensitive information has always been an issue.

FinTech Magazine • 1st January 2015

What the NFT revolution means for 'friendly fraud'

They’ve been used to trade everything from iconic soccer goals to priceless royal heirlooms. Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are no longer a niche gimmick sought after by crypto experts and trend-chasers – they’re a fast growing market worth tens of billions of dollars.

Internet Retailing • 1st January 2015

Automation: the future of supply chains?

Caught between the chaos of coronavirus and fallout from Brexit, international supply chains are under serious strain. Add into the mix a global labour shortage that shows no sign of abating, and the cross-border flow of goods is set to get even trickier.