The growing use of virtual Visa corporate credit cards across the MENA region has been accelerating as companies adapt to the rising digital economy. Based on newly released data by Tribal Credit, a company that provides comprehensive digital financial solutions for companies at all stages of development, new virtual cards have increased by 126% between Q3 2021 and Q3 2022.

According to Tribal, a 360° financial digital solution for companies at different stages of growth, the use of virtual corporate credit cards increased by 91% in Egypt between Q2 and Q3 2022, 117.5% in Saudi Arabia, and 42.9% in the UAE.

Businesses in the Middle East are relying increasingly heavily on digital payments. According to the consultancy McKinsey, digital payments have been steadily increasing in MENA since 2014, and use was accelerated by the pandemic, with a survey suggesting that cumulative growth in digital transactions has exceeded 50% since 2020.

For example, according to McKinsey, Saudi Arabia saw a 70% growth in card payments between February 2019 and 2020, while consumer digital payments grew by more than 9% annually in UAE between 2014 and 2019.

Despite the rapid shift to digital payments, traditional banks have been slow to adopt them. However, payment fintech, such as Tribal, have emerged to provide services optimized for today’s business environment.

The number of digital payment solutions has increased significantly as companies shift to a digital economy. The issuance of new virtual cards by Tribal in Saudi Arabia increased by 157.4% from Q3 2021 to Q3 2022, reflecting the trend. In addition, it rose by 64.6% in the UAE and 263% in Egypt.

Tribal’s Visa Virtual Corporate Card product is among the latest generation of solutions geared towards digital payments. Security, centralization of expenses, control over payment permissions and users, and ease of handling are central to the product’s appeal.

Like physical cards, virtual cards include the user’s name, number, expiration date, and security code, but they do not require physical cards. With a virtual wallet, users can use their cell phone or digital watch to make purchases online or physically. As a result of this digital product, companies can now manage and monitor payments more effectively.

Virtual cards provide users with enhanced flexibility in the digital payments space. The single-use virtual card was designed so that companies can pay for an expense that does not repeat over time – for example, purchasing a plane ticket – and that, after being used, can be eliminated. With the recurring use card, it is possible to transfer funds monthly to pay recurring expenses.

“Whether single-use or recurring, virtual cards are secure and efficient solutions for digital transactions because they offer data encryption and, being digital, there is no risk of loss, making it difficult for companies to fall victim to cloning and identity theft for this reason. In addition, they allow companies to decentralize purchasing operations, making payment processes more efficient and increasing capability across the company. And finally, in the event of cloning or improper use, they can be deactivated in real time and reactivated if required”, commented Amira Fadel, regional manager for MENA at Tribal.

Online spending with Tribal was greatest for online advertising, freight and logistics, and technology and computer infrastructure – further highlighting how Virtual Cards are a valuable tool for companies at different stages of growth seeking to operate more quickly in the digitally enabled economy.

Virtual private networks are for many people a vital part of staying safe when surfing the net. Firewalls, VPNs, password managers, and malware protection, are only a few of the security measures that are commonly used today for online security.

VPNs themselves are highly popular, with around 142 million people using them in the US alone. Around 30% of internet users say they use a VPN daily for their browsing and online activity.

The global VPN market was worth $30 billion in 2020, and remote working and lockdowns helped to increase VPN usage by 27.1% that year alone. The VPN industry is now predicted to be worth in the region of $120 billion by 2027.

But, are they all good enough for their purpose, or should you be looking at other options?

How effective are VPNs at what they are designed for?

VPNs are used on computers and mobile devices for increased anonymity, and extra security. They offer some peace of mind when signing into banking online, or making any other financial transaction.

Typically, users of VPNs may conduct the following activities online:

• Banking
• Gaming
• Streaming
• Ecommerce
• Paying bills
• General browsing

One of the essential features of an ecommerce site is security, and a VPN adds an extra layer of this when a consumer makes a digital purchase. VPNs can also be used for fun activities such as streaming foreign content or playing games on alternative servers.

How effective a VPN is for these activities is largely down to the developer behind them. There are numerous free VPNs, and some very well-respected paid-for versions too.

The downside to many VPNs is the speed that they run at. Encryption slows down the transfer of data, and to gamers for one, this is not acceptable.

Is there a better option for anonymity and speed?

Another alternative to VPNs is to use a proxy. These are often used by businesses that are involved in scraping websites for data, as users can hide behind genuine IP addresses instead of one provided by the VPN. Many websites can recognize the IPs used by VPNs.

The benefits of a proxy are that they are faster than VPNs and less detectable depending on the type used. However, a proxy service may log all the activity of their users, whereas most VPNs have a no-log policy.

Another option is to stick with a VPN for protection, but use a faster one. A VPN with WireGuard protocol may be the answer as it promises increased speeds, but with security too.

What is WireGuard protocol?

When browsing the technical specs of any VPN you will see a protocol listed. The common protocols that you should see in any VPN details will be these below:

• WireGuard
• IKEv2/IPsec
• OpenVPN
• L2TP/IPsec
• SoftEther
• SSTP
• PPTP

The last two should be avoided, and any VPN that advertises these protocols should be shunned due to some serious security weaknesses. PPTP security flaws were discovered by security guru Bruce Schneier. Open VPN is often cited as being the standard that all protocols should match for security, but WireGuard is now being included in many popular VPNs.

The reason for this is that it promises to replicate the speed provided by some of the earlier VPNs. These apps were less secure than today, but WireGuard’s developers claim this VPN has increased levels of security.

How can you get a faster and more secure VPN?

WireGuard appears to be an option for anyone who requires a faster experience online with a VPN. Developers are always looking at ways to increase the speed of a website, and users also want loading times to be faster. But, security is a concern too, and this can end with something of a trade-off.

Free VPNs tend to be slow, and there is the possibility that security could be less than that of a paid-for app. Some free VPNs may also record your browsing history which takes away the anonymity you may be seeking.

To get a fast, secure VPN you will likely have to take out a subscription. This will ensure that you have one of the best protocols in place, a no-log policy, and high-speed servers in place to send and receive data.

The best way to find the right VPN for you is to use comparisons on the net, read reviews, and search for the best VPNs that offer free trials. Many even allow up to 30 days free for testing.

 

Summary

VPNs should be an integral part of every home computer user’s security setup. While they can occasionally cause conflict with certain websites, their advantages far outweigh any issues that may sometimes occur.

A good VPN will balance speed and security for an enjoyable online experience, and with the best encryption protocols in place, you can have peace of mind that your sensitive information is safe, and your activity is not being monitored by anyone.

Building a website is now easier than ever thanks to nifty online website builder sites. Find out which of these are some of the best to use right now.

Website Creation Sites Worth Using

For a long time, the only way to get a website built was to either learn to code it directly or find someone who could. But things have changed in recent years, and it’s now possible to make use of a website creation site or website builder to build a website piece by piece, without any programming knowledge required.

This has dramatically reduced the barrier to entry in terms of who can create and maintain a website, allowing for hundreds of thousands of new websites to get built.

1. Wix

With more than 110 million websites having been built using Wix, it’s currently at the forefront of website creation for the average user. This website builder comes with a vast array of different tools and features that make it easier than ever to put an aesthetically pleasing website together in a short amount of time. It even boasts website creation tools that are powered by an AI, requiring very little effort on behalf of the user. It’s important to choose one of the Wix-specific lanes to maintain consistency throughout the site rather than having it look like it contains a number of different and counter-intuitive elements.

2. Weebly

Another big name on the market is Weebly, and while smaller in Wix in terms of the number of websites that it powers, it remains a solid choice for the average user. It’s as simple and straightforward as one could imagine, with instant access to a range of modern tools that make putting together a website incredibly easy. In fact, many feel that Weebly’s website builder tools are some of the most user-friendly right now, and combined with a multitude of various add-ons, it’s possible to have a great looking website up and running in less than a full day. Weebly is perfect for anyone wanting a person or business-related website as soon as possible.

3. WordPress

Most people have heard of WordPress, which has long been leading the pack for overall customisation. There are two different flavours of the service: the open-source software provided by WordPress.org, and more professional, automated tools provided by WordPress.com. The former is a better for those on a budget, but it does mean getting a bit more in-depth with the various tools that are provided. WordPress.com, on the other hand, is aimed at writers and bloggers, and while it’s somewhat limited compared to other sites, it still offers a great range of different tools that make website creation easier.

4. Shopify

Shopify is focussed specifically on making it easy to create and manage an online e-commerce site, and it can easily be bought after winning big using funds from an online casino welcome bonus or other means. It’s one of the most notoriously difficult things to do from scratch, which is a part of the reason that so many people turn to Shopify instead. It’s perfect for selling goods and services online, and it’s perfect for having an appealing e-commerce platform up and running as quickly as possible, with all the latest security and features one would expect.

Spacee, which provides the best computer vision and AI solutions to help businesses drive new insights, improve efficiency and boost revenue, launched HoverTouch™, the first plug-and-play solution transforming existing in-store surfaces, such as walls, glass or even cars, into interactive customer experiences that also enable clients to collect crucial data.

HoverTouch is designed to help drive in-store traffic and boost sales. Building on the success of Spacee’s previous interactive experience solution, Sense, HoverTouch adds significant new features, including:

• Hover technology – Shoppers do not have to touch the surface to interact with it. They can hover their hand over it to drive contactless interactivity. The customer experience is very similar to what a person might do online with a cursor, hovering over and clicking on items that interest them.
• HoverTouch Connect – A feature that gives retailers, consumer brands and their agencies full control over content, UX and device management while also providing actionable data. It also allows clients and their agencies to design content and deploy it in an HTML5-compliant media player. This means that virtually any content can run in the HoverTouch system, and retailers, brands and agencies are encouraged to reuse existing content. HoverTouch Connect also enables retailers to capture detailed data on customer interactions, on par with data collected during e-commerce interactions.
• Plug-and-Play installation with no manual calibration or tweaking needed

While HoverTouch can project to walls, glass or products, such as a car in a showroom, clients have the option to purchase a dedicated kiosk solution called ‘HoverTouch React’ with a projecting surface.

Audi Dallas, one of the top 10 Audi dealerships in the US by sales volume, was one of the first retailers to utilise Spacee’s HoverTouch. “Shoppers are back in the stores, and we want to give them an incredible experience,” said Tom McCollum, president and CEO at Forbes Todd Automotive Group, which owns and operates Audi Dallas. “We considered a number of options for interactive experiences and found that Spacee’s HoverTouch provided the best customer experience and was also the easiest to get up and running. We also love that there are no touchscreens that we’d constantly have to repair and replace. We are still early in the process but are already seeing double-digit in-store sale increases for the products we’re promoting with HoverTouch.”

Skip Howard, founder and CEO of Spacee, said, “Retailers are desperate for data, and HoverTouch can provide customer experience data on par with what’s collected online. We’re excited to bring this to the market and thrilled that clients already see a measurable impact on in-store sales.”

Modern benches and chairs in the interior

Quality furniture is an excellent solution for any interior, as everyone can enjoy functionality, attractive appearance, and high quality. Particular attention should be paid to seating areas. They must meet specific requirements, be high quality, and resist negative external influences.

For example, some need to provide additional seating that will be comfortable. Benches are an excellent solution for any interior. Small wooden structures look great in the interior and have universal qualities and reliability. They can also be used for sitting and storing things, structuring space, and optimizing it according to individual needs.

High quality and convenience of shops

Benches are an excellent solution to create extra seating space at home quickly. Such designs will fit nicely in almost any room. They can be used in entranceways, living rooms, or other rooms. Some plans are equipped with auxiliary storage systems, which allows you to save free space by making the most of everything available. Some shops also have an original design so that you can set a certain mood for the room at a minimal cost.

If you want to find the right furniture, there are a few things you need to pay attention to. It is essential to decide what this design will be used for in the interior. It can be used exclusively for storage and seating or as a beautiful decorative element that will be an excellent addition to everyone. You can choose more straightforward and functional solutions with a colored furniture set. First, decide where to put the bench to perfectly complement the room’s design. A wide range of different solutions will allow everyone to choose the best option for everyone at a minimal cost.

Beautiful chairs in the interior

High-quality chairs are an integral element of the design of any room. A wide range of products allows everyone to select the best option at a minimal cost. Chair can last for many years, so you should pay attention to such features when choosing:

• First, you need to understand for what room and for what purposes you buy furniture. It is essential to take care of the optimal comfort level during operation to reduce adverse effects.
• Before buying, you also need to take measurements of the structure to fit perfectly into the interior and not take up too much or too little free space.
• Color and design. The design should be in harmony with other room design elements. That is why you should carefully plan the entire structure in the early stages.
• Beforehand, you should draw up your budget to find the optimal solution that meets individual tasks. By deciding on the price in advance, you can significantly save money.
• First, you should decide what your furniture will be used for and how well it harmonizes with other furniture sets. Choose furniture in the future for several years.

If you find it challenging to make a purchase decision, you can always consult with a specialist. Properly selected seating places will provide maximum comfort for you, high space functionality, and will last for many years without losing their reliability and visual appeal. Buy only proven furniture from the best manufacturers to enjoy the result.