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As a proud sponsor of the Merchant Advisory Group, PayPal was excited to present two speaker sessions at this year’s MAG San Antonio 2025 conference. Here are the top 5 key takeaways per session in case you missed it.
Speakers:
This session was the result of PayPal’s strengthened partnership with Katapult who invited PayPal to co-present. We highlighted how our joint efforts and underscored the urgent need for businesses to embrace smarter, adaptive fraud solutions as well as collaboration between merchants and fintech leaders is key to tackling an increasingly sophisticated threat landscape.
Fraud tactics are becoming more advanced with methods like synthetic identities and social engineering, making it a constantly shifting challenge. Merchants must adopt agile, proactive defenses to outpace evolving threats and stay ahead of bad actors leveraging innovative tools.
Fraud impacts more than revenue—it can harm customer trust, brand reputation, and issuer relationships. For every $1 lost, businesses incur up to $3 in indirect costs, emphasizing the need for robust fraud strategies to minimize disputes and protect both transactions and loyalty.
Traditional, rule-based fraud systems no longer suffice; modern fraud prevention relies on cross-platform data and AI-driven insights. Platforms like PayPal use real-time analytics and machine learning to catch fraud early while enabling smooth, trustworthy experiences for genuine customers.
Fraud defense must span the customer journey, using layered approaches like biometric insights and adaptive authentication. Integrated strategies balance high approval rates with seamless experiences, improving both conversions and fraud mitigation.
Effective fraud solutions should drive sustainable growth by fostering trust, minimizing disputes, and boosting operational efficiency. By embedding risk management into business operations, merchants can transform fraud prevention into a tool for competitive advantage and long-term success.
Speakers:
This session emphasized how payouts, traditionally considered operational necessities, are fast becoming strategic tools for driving customer satisfaction, operational efficiency, and global growth.
Payouts go beyond monetary transactions; they are vital moments to reaffirm customer trust during recovery processes. Swift and personalized compensation, such as Southwest Airlines responding to flight delays, helps turn negative experiences into positive ones while highlighting the brand’s care for its customers.
Building in-house payout systems may offer customization, but ongoing costs like compliance, fraud prevention, and scalability during high demand can quickly overwhelm resources. These challenges often make partnering with a proven provider a smarter, more efficient choice for businesses.
Platforms like PayPal Payouts and Enterprise Payouts streamline global payment challenges with real-time payments, multi-currency support, and automated compliance. Businesses save resources while delivering streamlined compensation experiences, supported by partners who ensure regulatory compliance.
Emerging technologies like blockchain, instant payment networks, and mobile wallets are evolving the purpose of payouts. They can act as strategies for customer engagement, such as loyalty rewards, making payouts a tool for strengthening relationships and driving repeat business.
In global markets, diverse payout options like digital wallets and crypto, tailored to local preferences, distinguish brands as customer-focused leaders. Businesses that address regional scalability effectively enhance brand recognition and market share in competitive global settings.