Blackhawk Network Continues Legacy of Disruption with Launch of Innovative Payment Solutions Suite

PLEASANTON, Calif., Dec. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital payments transformation has accelerated in 2020, driving massive adoption and expansion of digital wallets, mobile apps and contactless payments. Helping to drive this payments revolution, Blackhawk Network today announced a global suite of solutions for merchants and retailers that meaningfully connects physical and digital payments. The result: a truly seamless, omnichannel payment experience for consumers; more revenue, new customer acquisition channels and enhanced loyalty for partners.

"Retailers' and merchants' businesses changed instantly this year, and Blackhawk has responded with a product suite that brings once-disparate physical, digital and stored value payments together, keeping brands and consumers connected in a seamless way," said Helena Mao, VP of global product strategy at Blackhawk Network. "As a global leader in bringing brands closer to consumers with innovative payment experiences, Blackhawk continues to innovate its digital payment platform through our Pay4It(TM) suite of solutions that provide our partners with a complete end-to-end, omnichannel experience for their customers."

The new suite of solutions addresses key pain points in the payment experience today. More importantly, it provides expanded payment choice to customers and can improve partners' ability to acquire and retain customers:

    --  Bridging the gap between cash and digital payments by digitizing cash
        transactions for merchants with underbanked, unbanked and
        cash-preferring customers. This service provides cash customers with a
        simple connection to the digital world by allowing them to easily add
        cash to a digital wallet, mobile app or account, or make payments for
        digital goods with cash.The demand for a cash transition solution is
        strong; 230 million private-sector workers did not have bank accounts
        and received wage payments in cash in 2019(1). According to a recent
        report(2), 69% of survey respondents from eight countries say that the
        ability to use cash is one of the most important factors to consider
        when paying for things. And many digital wallet users (49%) would
        welcome the ability to add cash to it at a physical retail store.
        Another study(3) reported that if shoppers were able to add funds to a
        digital wallet in store, 68% of them would shop in the store more often
        than they normally would and 57% said they would spend more money at the
        store than they normally would.

    --  Giving consumers complete access to their spending power by enabling
        additional digital wallets for omnichannel checkout and transforming
        loyalty points, rewards and other assets into purchasing power. This
        service provides customers with more choices to pay regardless of where
        and how they shop. Merchants can gain access to new customers, untapped
        balance and incremental revenue. Mobile payments at point of sale are
        expected to grow by nearly 20% over the next four years(4).
        Additionally, six in 10 shoppers surveyed said they would like to pay
        for things in store by using points they've earned in their loyalty
        programs using their smartphones(5). Blackhawk's new solution offers a
        way to help consumers unlock their payment options from a wide variety
        of places including myriad digital wallets, loyalty programs, or other
        types of rewards and points by turning them into something immediately
        usable in store. This first-of-its-kind solution helps brands drive
        revenue through their branded ecosystems, foster greater customer
        affinity and acquire new customers.

    --  Expanding acquisition channels for digital gift cards. This solution
        affords retailers the luxury of a gift card selection that is not
        constrained by physical space. It provides merchants the ability to
        engage their customers at every touchpoint and offer a variety of
        digital gift card content for purchase. And most importantly, it gives
        customers access to a broader selection of digital content and a
        convenient purchase experience. The global gift card market is expected
        to grow by more than 15% over the next seven years(6) and the growth of
        digital cards is far outpacing growth of physical gift cards around the
        world. Blackhawk's new suite of solutions allows consumers the option to
        buy an assortment of digital gift cards from non-traditional locations,
        creating an "endless aisle" during their in-store experience, and even
        out of store.

"The Pay4It suite emphasizes how the power of payments can help our partners create true engagement and added value for their customers," said Mao. "Businesses know they must invest in their digital platforms and ensure payment option parity across their physical and digital channels, while also delivering a seamless, truly omnichannel experience. It's exciting to support our partners to meet this moment."

There is an unprecedented level of urgency for merchants to embrace digital payment options as customer preferences have shifted seemingly overnight. Blackhawk is powering payments in select branded ecosystems among its expansive network. This shift helps to meet customer demands by enabling cash-in options and seamlessly transferring money and stored value across physical to digital channels.

To learn more about Blackhawk Network's suite of innovative payment solutions, please visit our website.

About Blackhawk Network
Blackhawk Network delivers branded payment solutions through the prepaid products, technologies and network that connect brands and people. We collaborate with our partners to innovate, translating market trends in branded payments to increase reach, loyalty and revenue. Serving 28 countries, we reliably execute security-minded solutions worldwide. Join us as we shape the future of global branded payments. Learn more at blackhawknetwork.com.

(1) "The Role of Digital Financial Inclusion in Preparing for Older Age and Retirement" was published by World Bank and the Better Than Cash Alliance in July 2019.
(2) "BrandedPay(TM): How People and Brands Connect Through Payments" is based on the findings of an internet-based survey conducted by Leger on behalf of Blackhawk Network between February 12 and March 17, 2020. The sample size included over 12,000 respondents in eight countries.
(3) "Emerging Payments" is an online survey conducted by Leger on behalf of Blackhawk Network in October 2019. The sample size included 2,219 American respondents.
(4) "Mobile Payments Forecast 2020" was sourced via Statista in July 2020.
(5) The "Consumer Loyalty Verticals" research is an online survey conducted by Leger on behalf of Blackhawk Network February 5-15, 2018. The sample size included 1,500 American respondents.
(6) "Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027" - Gift Cards Market by Card Type (Open Loop Gift Card, Closed Loop Gift Card) and End User (Retail Establishments, Corporate Institutions).

CONTACT:
Geoff Renstrom
Geoff@fletchergroupllc.com
208-871-9280

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SOURCE Blackhawk Network