NicSRS Rolls Out DigiCert VMC to Help Brands Stand Out—and Stay Safe—in the Inbox

In an age where phishing scams and inbox clutter are a daily reality, NicSRS is raising the bar on email security. The digital certificate provider has announced the addition of DigiCert Verified Mark Certificates (VMCs) to its portfolio—an upgrade designed to make emails more secure, more recognizable, and far more trusted by recipients.

The move reflects a growing trend: organizations want more control over how their messages appear—and how they’re perceived—before users even click.

What’s a VMC, and Why Should You Care?

A Verified Mark Certificate lets companies display their official brand logo next to authenticated emails in supported inboxes—think of it as a verified checkmark for your emails. It works hand-in-hand with the DMARC protocol, which already helps filter out spoofed or fraudulent emails.

But VMCs go further: by visually signaling trust, they help customers instantly spot which messages are the real deal. And in an era of rising phishing attacks, that instant recognition isn’t just nice—it’s essential.

Why DigiCert’s VMC Matters

By integrating DigiCert’s VMC offering, NicSRS aims to give businesses a sharper edge in both security and customer engagement:

• Better visibility: Showcasing a verified brand logo means customers can spot your message quickly—and know it’s legit.

• Phishing prevention: Branded authentication reduces the risk of impersonation, a major source of financial and reputational damage.

• Higher engagement: Messages that look credible get opened more often, clicked more frequently, and trusted more deeply.

• Customer confidence: VMCs signal that a company takes security seriously, helping build lasting loyalty.

CRM-Level Engagement, Enterprise-Grade Protection

“Email security is more important than ever,” said Andrea Cao, BD Director at NicSRS. “With phishing and online fraud on the rise, our new DigiCert VMC offering helps businesses communicate with clarity and authority—right in the inbox. When customers see a trusted logo, they’re more likely to engage, and less likely to fall for a scam.”

Why Go with NicSRS?

NicSRS isn’t new to this space. The company has helped hundreds of thousands of businesses strengthen their online presence with SSL certificates, code signing, S/MIME, and now VMCs—all available through its one-stop reseller platform. Whether you're a startup or a sprawling enterprise, NicSRS delivers enterprise-grade cybersecurity tools without the enterprise-level hassle.

And with the launch of VMCs, NicSRS reinforces its commitment to giving businesses smarter, more integrated ways to reduce risk, build brand authority, and improve digital trust in every inbox they enter.

RedWood Digital Redefines eCommerce Development with Custom, Scalable Online Store Solutions

As the online retail landscape grows more competitive and complex, RedWood Digital is stepping up with a fresh initiative aimed at helping businesses build future-ready eCommerce platforms. The company, known for its tailored digital solutions, is offering a structured, high-performance alternative to the cookie-cutter store templates that dominate the market.

With consumer expectations around speed, security, and usability at an all-time high, brands can no longer afford to cut corners on their digital storefronts. RedWood Digital’s latest offerings aim to fill that gap by combining technical excellence with deep user understanding—a blend that’s become essential in today’s digital-first world.

A Modern Answer to an Overloaded Market

Unlike one-size-fits-all platforms, RedWood Digital’s development model emphasizes scalability, data privacy, and mobile-first design, ensuring that each build meets the unique operational and experiential needs of the business it supports.

“Consumers are demanding seamless, responsive, and trustworthy experiences—and rightly so,” said a spokesperson for RedWood Digital. “We help brands meet those expectations through platforms that are built to scale, adapt, and thrive.”

Built for Growth, Not Just Launch

Where many services stop at deployment, RedWood Digital continues the journey. Their development process includes:

• Custom architecture that scales with business needs

• Multilingual and accessible design to serve global and inclusive audiences

• Integrated payment systems and mobile-first UX/UI

• End-to-end post-launch support for evolving functionality

• Compliance with data privacy and security standards

With engineers, designers, and project managers working in lockstep, RedWood avoids the trap of digital fragmentation and focuses instead on delivering cohesive platforms designed for real-world business demands.

More Than Technology—A Digital Strategy Partner

Beyond the tech, RedWood Digital helps clients navigate the larger digital commerce ecosystem—offering insights into analytics integration, performance optimization, and platform sustainability. As eCommerce shifts from "nice to have" to "mission critical," this guidance can make the difference between surviving and scaling.

Their customer-first approach has proven especially valuable during periods of digital acceleration, such as pandemic-driven shopping shifts or emerging market expansions.

An Invitation to Future-Proof Your Storefront

For businesses still tethered to legacy platforms or boxed-in by generic eCommerce builders, RedWood’s message is clear: it’s time to move on. With rising cybersecurity risks, fast-evolving consumer behaviors, and growing pressure for global accessibility, investing in a robust, flexible platform is no longer optional.

RedWood Digital’s latest initiative positions it not just as a service provider, but as a long-term partner in digital transformation—offering the infrastructure and insight businesses need to compete in a hyper-connected marketplace.

Buy Now, Boom Later: BNPL Market to Hit $1.4 Trillion by 2029

The Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) market is in overdrive. According to the latest report from The Business Research Company, the sector is on track to skyrocket from $231.5 billion in 2024 to $343.5 billion in 2025, reflecting a CAGR of 48.4%. But that’s just the start—by 2029, the market could hit an eye-watering $1.44 trillion, driven by aggressive adoption across retail sectors and digital platforms.

For businesses, fintechs, and investors alike, the message is clear: BNPL isn’t a payment trend—it’s a financial revolution.

What’s Fueling the Surge?

The report highlights several forces behind the meteoric rise of BNPL:

• Cross-border eCommerce expansion, opening new markets and increasing payment flexibility.

• Physical retail integration, bringing BNPL to the in-store experience.

• Mainstream retail adoption, particularly among traditional players moving beyond credit cards.

• Embedded finance and BNPL-as-a-Service, making installment options native to checkout flows.

• Regulatory focus on consumer protection, creating standards that build trust and legitimacy.

• Loyalty program integration, gamifying consumer finance to boost repeat usage.

These shifts are transforming BNPL from a millennial-friendly perk to a core part of global retail infrastructure.

Beyond Online—BNPL at the Point of Sale

The market is segmented across online channels (e-commerce, apps, marketplaces) and point-of-sale (in-store retail, restaurants, service providers). While online continues to dominate, POS adoption is ramping up fast, especially as fintech players streamline integrations with legacy retail systems.

Large enterprises and SMEs alike are deploying BNPL to capture higher conversion rates, offer more flexible purchasing power, and tap into younger demographics wary of credit cards.

Who’s Winning in BNPL?

The major players are familiar fintech names—Klarna, Afterpay, Affirm, PayPal, Zip, Sezzle, Paytm Postpaid—but the field remains fragmented. With over two dozen other companies, including Sunbit, Katapult, Credova, Uplift, and Bread Finance, racing to differentiate on features, underwriting models, and partnerships, consolidation could be on the horizon.

To stay ahead, providers are leaning into:

• Embedded finance APIs

• AI-driven personalization

• Merchant co-branded solutions

• Stronger fraud protection and compliance tools

North America Leads, APAC Accelerates

In 2024, North America held the crown as the largest BNPL market. But Asia-Pacific is tipped as the fastest-growing region through 2029. With surging smartphone usage, massive unbanked populations, and an exploding digital middle class, countries like India, Indonesia, and China are fertile ground for BNPL innovation.

Meanwhile, regions like Western Europe and Latin America continue to climb steadily, buoyed by favorable regulation and rising merchant adoption.

What This Means for the Future of Payments

BNPL’s rise reflects a broader trend: consumers want flexibility, speed, and transparency in their financial interactions. As traditional credit systems struggle to keep pace, BNPL offers a user-centric alternative—and it's quickly becoming a standard offering, not a novel feature.

The line between fintech, commerce, and finance continues to blur, and BNPL is right at the intersection. Whether through native apps, white-labeled APIs, or loyalty-linked POS solutions, expect “Buy Now, Pay Later” to evolve into “Buy Now, Build Loyalty.”

Web Content Management Market Set to Surge 85% by 2031 Amid Digital Shift

The Web Content Management (WCM) market is entering a major growth phase. According to a new report from Business Market Insights, the market is projected to leap from $9.63 billion in 2024 to $33.32 billion by 2031, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.4%. This acceleration reflects a broader global movement toward digital-first operations—and a pressing need for businesses to manage content at scale.

Why the WCM Market Is Booming

WCM systems, which help organizations create, organize, and distribute content across digital channels, have become indispensable. From e-commerce to government services, the ability to maintain consistent, responsive, and secure content delivery is now central to customer experience and operational efficiency.

Leading retailers like Amazon and Walmart are prime examples of this shift. Amazon’s web content platform, for instance, supports millions of SKUs, blog posts, and customer reviews globally—ensuring brand consistency and customer trust across all regions.

And it’s not just tech giants leaning into this space. Governments are deploying WCM systems to modernize public communication. According to Singapore’s Digital Economy Report 2023, the nation’s digital sector accounted for over 17% of GDP in 2022, up from 13% in 2017. The surge illustrates how WCM platforms are increasingly central to national and commercial digital infrastructure.

Cloud-Based WCM: The Game Changer

One of the most significant trends driving the market is cloud adoption. Businesses of all sizes are ditching clunky, on-premises setups in favor of cloud-native WCM platforms, which offer:

• Rapid scalability

• Lower infrastructure costs

• Real-time collaboration

• Seamless updates and integrations

These solutions are especially attractive to SMEs, which seek enterprise-grade functionality without the complexity or overhead. Cloud WCM enables dynamic content delivery across channels like web, mobile, social, and voice assistants—essential in a landscape where omnichannel engagement is the norm.

Geographic Trends: North America Leads, Europe Evolves

North America remains the largest WCM market, driven by widespread digital transformation across sectors such as BFSI, media, and healthcare. Companies are investing in AI-powered, personalized content delivery tools to drive customer loyalty and optimize user experiences.

Meanwhile, Europe is seeing robust WCM adoption among SMEs, especially those looking for GDPR-compliant, flexible solutions. Open-source platforms like WordPress dominate, offering a low barrier to entry while still supporting powerful content strategies.

Case in point: In May 2023, Advantage Solutions divested its WCM platform, The Data Council, to SPINS in a strategic pivot—highlighting how the content management space is becoming increasingly specialized and competitive.

Market Segments (2024 Snapshot)

• By Component: Solutions led the market, outpacing services.

• By Deployment Mode: Surprisingly, on-premises deployments still held the top spot, though cloud is expected to overtake in the coming years.

• By Enterprise Size: Large enterprises continue to dominate, though SME adoption is rapidly accelerating due to affordable cloud models.

• By End User: The retail sector was the largest adopter in 2024, reflecting the industry’s deep investment in seamless digital engagement.

The WCM market is undergoing a profound transformation. As organizations across industries embrace digital-first strategies, the ability to manage, personalize, and distribute content at scale is no longer optional—it’s critical.

From hyper-personalized customer journeys to multilingual, globally compliant content strategies, web content management is evolving into a strategic pillar of digital success. And with forecasts pointing to 85% market growth by 2031, businesses that invest now will be best positioned to lead in the decade ahead.

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Madison Logic Taps AI to Turn B2B Buyer Insights Into Revenue-Driving Engagement

In today’s B2B buying landscape, the average deal isn’t won with a single decision-maker—it’s won by navigating an entire buying committee. That’s why Madison Logic, a leading Account-Based Marketing (ABM) activation platform, is doubling down on AI and advanced reporting to help sales and marketing teams work smarter and close faster.

This week, the company unveiled two significant updates aimed at translating complex buyer behavior into actionable, personalized engagement:

1. An enhanced Gong integration powered by ML SmartReach™ for generative AI-driven outreach content.

2. Buying Group Identification and Engagement Reporting, a new feature designed to help teams track and influence key stakeholders across the buying journey.

Together, these tools are designed to close the gap between intent signals and sales execution—a chasm that has long hampered enterprise revenue teams.

From Insight to Inbox: AI-Powered Outreach via Gong

The expanded Gong integration with ML SmartReach™ enables sellers to craft AI-generated, on-brand emails and messages that are directly informed by behavior captured in Madison Logic campaigns. Instead of forcing reps to interpret dashboards and translate data manually, ML SmartReach automates outreach with tailored messaging aligned to demonstrated buyer intent.

“Winning in modern B2B sales means translating intelligence into results,” said Liz Ronco, SVP of Product at Madison Logic. “This integration puts the power of AI and real-time buying signals directly into the hands of revenue teams—when and where they need it most.”

By embedding Madison Logic’s proprietary intent data and insights into Gong's Revenue Intelligence platform, the integration bridges the critical divide between marketing analytics and sales action—a major bottleneck for organizations navigating long, multi-stakeholder sales cycles.

Making Sense of the Buying Committee

In tandem with AI-driven content, Madison Logic also rolled out Buying Group Identification and Engagement Reporting—a tool aimed at mapping out who’s really influencing a deal and how they’re interacting with marketing efforts.

With Forrester data suggesting that engaging three or more stakeholders can boost conversion rates by up to 50%, it’s no longer enough to know which account is active—you also need to know who within that account is leaning in, and how.

This new feature allows teams to:

• Monitor multi-stakeholder engagement across campaigns and channels

• Identify decision-makers needing more attention

• Attribute behavior to specific roles in the buying process

• Inform personalization strategies for high-stakes outreach

“Understanding how each member of today’s buying generation engages across channels is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s essential,” said Ronco. “We’re giving marketers the tools to see what’s happening inside the buying committee and tailor their efforts accordingly.”

Why It Matters: Closing the Marketing-to-Sales Loop

For enterprise B2B marketers grappling with long sales cycles, siloed data, and shrinking attention spans, the ability to deliver relevant, personalized messaging at scale is the holy grail. Madison Logic’s latest innovations offer a clear step toward that goal—by automating what was once manual, aligning sales and marketing, and zeroing in on the people who actually move deals forward.

It’s a playbook fit for the modern revenue team—one that prioritizes intent over guesswork, personalization over volume, and coordination over chaos.

Both the Buying Group Identification and Engagement Reporting feature and the enhanced Gong integration are now available to Madison Logic clients.

Cien.ai Taps Former EY Partner Eric Buchen to Strengthen Global Growth and AI Strategy

AI-powered data analytics firm Cien.ai is expanding its global ambitions with a key strategic hire. The company announced the appointment of Eric Buchen, former Senior Partner and Global Business Development Leader at EY, to its Advisory Board—a move signaling a deeper push into enterprise markets and professional services.

Buchen, whose career spans more than 30 countries and some of EY’s most high-impact roles, brings a unique vantage point: deep experience helping businesses unlock growth amid disruptive change. That perspective is becoming increasingly critical as AI shifts from hype to reality in boardrooms worldwide, especially among large consulting and advisory firms navigating pricing model shake-ups and delivery overhauls.

“Eric understands the mindset of the consulting giants as AI becomes the No. 1 topic for their clients,” said Robert Kall, CEO of Cien.ai. “His insight will help us better serve our growing professional services customer base and scale globally.”

Marrying Global Reach with AI-Driven CRM Intelligence

Buchen’s expertise dovetails with Cien.ai’s mission: transforming CRM data into revenue-driving intelligence using advanced AI. The platform—SOC 2 Type 2 compliant and cloud-native—integrates with major CRM systems and uses proprietary models to clean, interpret, and deliver actionable insights within five business days.

In an era where CRM systems are overflowing with underutilized or poorly structured data, Cien.ai is filling a critical RevOps gap by providing:

• Immediate revenue insights

• Risk mitigation tools during M&A

• AI-led opportunity scoring

• Operational synergy identification post-close

“Companies today aren’t just talking about AI—they’re racing to apply it,” said Margot Carter, Co-founder of Cien.ai. “Eric’s global leadership and transaction experience will sharpen our go-to-market approach and expand strategic relationships.”

AI for Growth, Not Just Automation

While many AI vendors focus on automating workflows or enhancing customer service, Cien.ai positions itself at the intersection of growth and governance—helping companies use AI to uncover revenue potential, reduce operational waste, and streamline integration during critical change events like mergers or global expansion.

The company has already made a name for itself with mid-market and publicly traded clients, particularly those navigating complex CRM ecosystems and RevOps bottlenecks. With Eric Buchen now on board, Cien.ai is clearly gearing up to take that value proposition further—into more boardrooms, across more geographies, and with stronger ties to professional services ecosystems.

QSR Diners Are Still Showing Up—but They’re Demanding More

Despite inflation tightening wallets, Americans aren’t ditching fast food—they’re just becoming choosier. According to new consumer survey data from restaurant tech provider HungerRush, 93% of U.S. consumers still visit a quick-service or fast-casual restaurant at least once per month. But their expectations? They’re evolving fast—and tech is at the center of it.

In an industry long defined by low margins and high competition, QSR operators are now navigating a complex landscape where price, speed, and personalization must align. And according to HungerRush CEO Bill Mitchell, restaurants that strike this balance with smart technology will earn more than just short-term gains—they’ll build loyalty in an increasingly selective customer base.

“Consumers are still dining out, but they’re more selective,” Mitchell said. “Operators who use technology to reduce friction, personalize offers, and enhance speed of service will win both loyalty and repeat business.”

Tech and Value Go Hand-in-Hand for Today’s Diners

While affordability remains king—67% of respondents said price was the top driver for choosing a restaurant—it’s not the only factor influencing decisions. Convenience (51%) and speed (48%) also top the list. Notably, 16% of consumers say they’ve increased their QSR visits specifically to cut costs, opting for value menus over pricier sit-down meals.

But diners are also looking for smarter interactions. Over half (57%) said they prefer personalized discounts based on their order history, while only 34% said they’re satisfied with generic offers. Tech-savvy loyalty programs and real-time order updates are no longer perks—they’re expected.

• 57% of diners say mobile apps have improved their experience.

• 69% value real-time order updates—35% call them “very important.”

• 51% would use more tech if it meant faster service.

• 40% would do so for better loyalty rewards.

Pain Points Still Persist—and Tech May Be the Fix

Yet even as digital ordering rises, diners aren’t giving up on human interaction. In-store ordering (38%) remains the top channel, followed by drive-thru (26%). The implication? Technology should enhance—not replace—staffed service.

That’s particularly important when addressing customer frustrations. The top complaints—long wait times, incorrect orders, and poor service—are often tied to labor shortages and disconnected systems. Strategic tech integrations, Mitchell argues, can fill the gap without eliminating the human element.

“Convenience without compromise is the new standard,” he said. “By equipping staff with the right tools and automating behind-the-scenes processes, restaurants can meet demand without sacrificing experience.”

The Bigger Picture: QSRs Are a Bellwether for Retail Tech Adoption

The insights from HungerRush's April 2025 survey, conducted by Dynata, aren’t just useful for restaurants. They reflect a broader consumer mindset now permeating retail and hospitality: personalization, seamless tech, and real-time responsiveness aren’t optional anymore—they’re table stakes.

For QSRs, the challenge lies in maintaining affordability while investing in tech-enabled convenience. Those who succeed won’t just survive a high-inflation economy—they’ll define what modern dining looks like.

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5WPR Doubles Down on Prime Day with PR Muscle Built for Conversions

As Amazon Prime Day barrels toward another record-breaking July, brands are bracing for a marketing melee. Enter 5WPR, one of the largest independent PR and digital firms in the U.S., with a freshly expanded service offering laser-focused on helping clients cut through the promotional chaos and drive real business results.

This isn’t just about splashy press hits. 5WPR is bringing strategy, speed, and scale to Prime Day campaigns—leveraging media relationships, influencer reach, and storytelling that doesn’t just earn buzz but moves products.

“Our team understands what it takes to stand out during critical retail moments like Prime Day,” said Matthew Caiola, CEO of 5WPR. “We’ve expanded our services to meet growing demand from clients looking to turn visibility into impact.”

Turning Press Into Purchases: How 5WPR Makes Prime Day Count

Prime Day has morphed from a digital deal frenzy into a full-fledged media event—and 5WPR’s playbook reflects that evolution. The agency taps into deep relationships with editors and journalists from outlets like CNET, Wirecutter, and Forbes to get brands into product roundups, tech previews, and “best-of” lists that shoppers scour in advance.

The firm’s approach blends high-profile editorial placements with strategic influencer partnerships and affiliate outreach, ensuring clients appear across every relevant touchpoint—before, during, and after Prime Day.

Key service components include:

• Pre-Prime Day Prep: Embargoed media pitches, list inclusion, influencer alignment

• Live Coverage Execution: Real-time pitching, newsroom monitoring, mid-event amplification

• Post-Event Momentum: Recap coverage, performance metrics, and long-tail promotional strategy

The firm also offers expedited onboarding and messaging development for late starters needing to move fast.

Why This Matters Now

In an era where consumer attention is fragmented and fleeting, Prime Day is more than a sales window—it’s a narrative battleground. With product saturation at an all-time high, brands that rely solely on ad spend risk getting lost in the scroll. 5WPR’s expanded services aim to bridge this gap, combining earned and paid media into cohesive campaigns that drive not just interest—but intention.

It’s a strategy that’s already paid off. 5WPR has helped clients across lifestyle, wellness, home, and consumer tech categories secure standout placements and significant sales lifts during previous Prime Days.

“Our Prime Day services are built to deliver not just buzz, but business impact,” said Caiola. “We’re excited to help clients capitalize on this key moment with campaigns that drive lasting results.”

The Bigger Picture: Performance PR is Here to Stay

As marketing leaders look for accountable spend, 5WPR’s Prime Day strategy is a case study in what modern PR should do—fuse storytelling with measurable sales outcomes. Whether for legacy brands or breakout DTC players, the agency’s approach underscores a larger industry shift: in peak moments like Prime Day, PR isn’t just about impressions—it’s about conversions.

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