This week, Visa has launched a new solution that allows consumers to authenticate themselves or even activate new cards simply by tapping their physical Visa card to their smartphones. The platform was created in partnership with Keyno.
There’s also fresh data from Placer.ai that revealed traffic increases across malls, open-air shopping centers and outlet centers—although some gains were tempered by higher gas prices.
And finally, PTC is expanding its startup program, which gives free access to a variety of the company’s solutions to qualified companies.
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Consumers Flock to Malls
Mall traffic showed renewed strength in April 2026, according to new data from Placer.ai, which reported year‑over‑year visit increases across indoor malls, open‑air shopping centers and outlet centers.
Placer.ai said the gains are particularly notable given that April 2025 had already delivered strong growth, creating a high comparison bar. Open‑air centers led the rebound with a 3.5 percent increase in visits, followed by indoor malls at 2.2 percent, while outlet malls posted a modest 0.5 percent rise. The weak gain at outlet malls was likely due to consumer sensitivity to elevated gas prices.
At the same time, shopper behavior is shifting in ways that highlight malls’ evolving role. The report found that average visit durations declined across all formats, with more consumers making quick, mission‑driven trips lasting under 30 minutes. Longer visits of 45 minutes or more declined, yet more than 40 percent of all mall visits still exceeded an hour.
This mix of shorter and extended trips suggests that while efficiency‑focused shopping is on the rise, malls continue to attract visitors seeking fuller, more experiential outings.
The combination of rising traffic and increasingly varied visit patterns points to a sector adapting to a broader range of consumer needs. Placer.ai’s analysis indicates that malls are functioning simultaneously as convenient retail hubs and as destinations for leisure‑oriented experiences.
If these trends continue, operators may find new opportunities to refine tenant mixes, enhance on‑site experiences and capture value from both quick‑hit shoppers and those lingering for longer excursions.
Visa Tap Tech
Visa has introduced tap‑based identity verification, partnering with Keyno and launching initially with Fidelity Bank (Bahamas). The new “Tap to Confirm” and “Tap to Activate” features let consumers authenticate themselves or activate new cards by tapping their physical Visa card against their mobile device, eliminating one‑time passcodes and call‑center checks.
Visa frames the move as a major advance in reducing friction as banking and commerce become increasingly digital.
The system relies on Visa’s EMV‑grade cryptography, its Chip Authenticate service, and real‑time validation through the Visa Transaction Exchange API, which connects directly to VisaNet. That infrastructure allows issuers to verify identity instantly and with far greater reliability than SMS‑based methods. Visa executives say the technology transforms the everyday payment card into a secure, intuitive identity credential that fits seamlessly into existing mobile‑banking experiences.
For banks, the benefits include faster digital onboarding, instant card activation, reduced call‑center volume and stronger fraud prevention.
Tap‑based authentication also supports high‑risk actions such as password resets, address changes, large transfers and account‑limit updates. By merging physical‑card trust with digital‑first convenience, Visa and Keyno are positioning tap authentication as a new standard for secure, streamlined identity verification.
Boosting Startups
PTC said it is expanding its startup program to companies across all industries. The initiative began with the Aerospace and Defense Startup Program, which was launched in 2025. “Building on that program’s success, PTC for Startups now makes PTC’s professional-grade product development tools available to qualifying early and growth-stage startups worldwide—at no cost,” the company said in a statement.
Those who qualify have free access to a host of PTC solutions include PLM applications. Participants from the initial rollout praised on the start-up program.
“When you’re pioneering reusable spaceflight, and your launch window won’t wait, you need to move fast,” said Will Sherman, CTO and co-founder of Reditus Space. “From our first day in the Startup Program, we had full access to professional-grade CAD and PDM tools without the friction of license management or IT overhead, so our teams could scale confidently with the compliance and control we needed.”
PTC said the expanded program reflects the company’s belief “that early-stage companies shouldn’t face financial barriers to enterprise-grade tooling.”
“For startups, speed matters most: bringing products to market quickly while navigating rapid iteration, lean teams, distributed collaboration and the constant pressure of fundraising and growth,” the company said, adding that the program is designed to help founders “move faster from day one with cloud tools that support agility, teamwork and scale at every stage of the journey.”
Beyond software, PTC said program participants gain access to its global ecosystem of incubators and technology partners as well as fellow innovators. There are also opportunities for mentorship, co-marketing and industry exposure.
Catherine Kniker, chief marketing and sustainability officer at PTC, the company helps the world’s leading companies bring better products to life, “and with PTC for Startups, we’re extending that same commitment to the next generation of innovators, giving them the tools to move fast, scale with confidence and compete on a level playing field from day one.”
Kniker said the startups building today “are the industry leaders of tomorrow, and we want PTC to be part of that journey from the very beginning.”
