How tech can be used for social good

As part of her keynote, Alison will reveal how payments industry participation has enabled Pennies to raise over £6m in private contributions and £25m in microdonations in only five years. Explaining the importance of this new fundraising channel for UK charities, Alison will discuss how digital altruism ‘adds consumer value’ when making purchases. She will also highlight the business advantages, including portfolio diversification and positive corporate social responsibility.

Increasing CSR is among the topics that will be explored further in a thought provoking panel debate involving Niki Ackhurst at Pennies and senior executives from The Entertainer, Papa John’s and K3 Retail. Titled ‘‘Why, and how, should merchants involve customers in their CSR?’’ the panel will examine the benefits of altruistic programmes to increase brand loyalty and customer engagement.

Presenting a compelling case study, experts from Pennies will explain how the digital ordering process has evolved for retailers, incorporating active corporate participation to encourage support for their chosen charity. Discussing website optimisation, retailers will explain their online journey in expanding their digital offering for increased donations.

A session called ‘‘Brand, CSR and innovations’’ gives retailers the opportunity to talk about their CSR programmes and their impact on ethical values, customer engagement and staff satisfaction. 

Alison Hutchinson, CEO of Pennies, explains: “We are proud to be driving the UK customer micro-donations movement with our partners in the retail, finance and payments technology industries. Our independent research shows us that consumers like giving in small and convenient ways, and so by digitising the process we can offer an increasingly cashless public a way to give their small change a big purpose.’’

Alison continues: “We are privileged to have a platform at PayExpo Europe to discuss how together we can potentially unlock £150m a year of new giving through card transactions and transform the UK charity sector.”

Mike Seaman, Show Director of PayExpo Europe, adds: “We are delighted to be partnering with Pennies this year. They have revived the simple act of putting spare change in a charity box, by digitising the process for an increasingly cashless society. We could not be more thrilled to help them connect with international payments provides to support frictionless, affordable and anonymous giving when paying by card.”

Featuring a comprehensive two-day conference, PayExpo Europe provides insight, best practice and innovation for the future of payments and transaction technology and their impact on global commerce. Gathering expert speakers from world renowned organisations, topics to be explored include utilising social networks for personalised and localised payments, competition between ‘challenger’ and legacy banks, an update on the European payments landscape and strategies for maintaining the UK as a payments hotspot.

As new developments drive continual change in the vital area of payments, the event is an essential source of news and insight for anyone involved in making financial transactions faster, easier and more secure

A full two-day conference pass starts from £699+VAT for delegates who book before 30 April and £999+VAT after that date.