It’s a sure sign that year-end is fast approaching when stores start to display their holiday merchandise and decorations before Hallowe’en is even over. As you start planning for a successful 2022, and focus on payment security and frictionless customer experience, consider the global financial, regulatory and economic factors that will impact your business.

These days, when I cautiously venture to my favourite shopping mall on a weekend, I notice how different it is from a year-and-a-half ago, when no one had ever heard of COVID-19. It is busy, but not nearly as busy as it was back then. Sadly, I can rarely find my shoe size as merchandise stocks are low due to COVID-related supply chain issues.