Arcot Newsletter Podcast

This episode gives a preview of Arcot's upcoming 3DS Summits and explores how AI is reshaping payments security. With fraudsters using it to scale attacks, Arcot leads the charge in payment security in launching an adaptive ruleset. Discover how The Arcot Smart Ruleset -- which leverages decades of vast transaction data from The Arcot Network -- offers issuers a scalable, adaptive, data-rich approach to combat today's sophisticated fraud, reduce false declines, and improve customer experience.

Arcot’s August podcast explores how The Arcot Smart Ruleset is revolutionizing authentication. Powered by 20+ years of transaction data, advanced machine learning, and real-time network signals, this innovation makes smarter authentication decisions in milliseconds – helping issuers block more fraud, approve more legitimate transactions, and cut down false declines. The episode also highlights how 3DS Data-Only flows are gaining traction, giving issuers the richer context they need to improve fraud detection and transaction approval rates.

In Arcot's July podcast, hosts James Jenkins, Head of Customer Development, and Matt Cooke, General Manager, explore how 3-D Secure is evolving from a regulatory obligation to a performance driver across global markets. They unpack how merchants and issuers are moving beyond compliance and using 3DS to reduce false declines and improve approval rates. Arcot's Smart Ruleset, which uses machine learning to optimize authentication decisions, is delivering stronger fraud prevention with minimal friction. This episode shows how 3DS is becoming a smarter, more strategic part of the payments experience.

In Arcot's June podcast, James Jenkins, Head of Customer Development, and Matt Cooke, GM examine the current wave of large-scale adoption of 3DS that’s transforming the protocol into a performance asset and revenue enabler across the ecosystem. Arcot's latest pilot with Square exemplifies what’s possible when there is smarter data-sharing between merchants and issuers. Meaningfully higher approvals without added risk, thanks to intelligent routing and high-quality data upstream. Arcot is also showcasing how to deliver smarter authentication with the innovation of Arcot’s Smart Ruleset. Trained on billions of transactions and device profiles on The Arcot Network, Smart Ruleset is delivering powerful results at scale: reduced fraud, improved approval rates, and a more seamless customer experience, all while maintaining regulatory compliance.

The May podcast episode is now live! Tune in to hear James Jenkins, Global Head of Customer Development, and Matt Cooke, GM of Arcot discuss the latest in 3DS. This epidose focuses on how optimizing 3DS with RCI Codes and ACS routing allows issuers to receive richer data, leading to improved authentication and authorization outcomes like those from the Square | Arcot Case Study. The 3DS Method URL call plays a critical role in allowing merchants to share detailed device and browser data with issuers. Despite its simplicity to implement, many merchants aren't using it. Arcot is dynamically fine-tuning authentication decisions with real-time data via Arcot's Smart Ruleset. This innovation adapts to issuer performance, fraud signals, and merchant behavior to optimize each transaction -- balancing security with approval performance.

The 3DS landscape is undergoing a major shift from a historic "blame game" between merchants and issuers toward real collaboration built on data sharing and trust. In Arcot's April podcast episode, James Jenkins, Head of Customer Development and Matt Cooke, GM and VP of Arcot, discuss how merchants are now using 3DS, not just to shift fraud liability, but as a communication protocol with issuers. The rise of "data-only" transactions (RCI 06) is fueling this change, improving approval rates while reducing friction for legitimate customers, particularly in the US region where false declines are a big problem. False declines impact trust and loyalty for merchants and issuers alike. When merchants share rich risk signals, they help issuers make smarter, faster decisions. Arcot's Smart Ruleset is also helping issuers optimize authentication strategies based on changing merchant behavior and transaction patterns without overhauling existing systems. Smart Ruleset is focused on improving approval rates while minimizing fraud exposure. Early adopters are seeing critical advantages in their metrics, including lower fraud, higher approval rates, and a stronger customer experience. The industry is shifting from a fragmented approach toward data-driven collaboration. The payoff? Lower fraud, higher approval rates, fewer false declines, and smarter risk handling.

Welcome to the March edition of the Arcot podcast. In this episode, James Jenkins and Matt Cooke explore shifting perceptions of 3DS, highlighting its rising adoption in the US and the growing recognition of its ability to reduce friction while boosting security. Arcot's AI-driven Smart Ruleset pilot is transforming the rule-writing game, delivering higher authorization rates, reduced friction, and enhanced fraud protection. By replacing manual rule-writing with a data-driven, adaptive fraud prevention strategy, Smart Ruleset is offering a smarter approach to transaction security.

Welcome to the February edition of the Arcot podcast! In this episode, James Jenkins and Matt Cooke discuss 3DS myths that continue to permeate the industry, particularly amongst merchants in the US. Leveraging 3DS, as the collaborative tool it was designed to be, leads to fewer false declines, higher approval rates, and gives consumers the fraud protection they want. Listen to this podcast for the highlights or subscribe to Arcot Comms for regular updates on everything related to 3-D Secure and the digital payments industry.

Welcome to the January edition of the Arcot podcast! In this episode, James Jenkins and Matt Cooke discuss Arcot’s Smart Ruleset: a game-changer in fraud prevention. Traditional manual rule writing is time-intensive, reactive, and often inefficient in combating sophisticated AI-driven fraud and bot attacks. Arcot’s Smart Ruleset leverages intelligence from across the Arcot Network, enabling a proactive, automated approach to fraud detection and prevention. This evolution transforms what was once a laborious, manual process into a streamlined, intelligent system. We will be meeting with customers in the coming months to review Smart Ruleset outcomes. Listen to this podcast for the highlights or subscribe to Arcot Comms for regular updates on everything related to 3-D Secure and the digital payments industry.

Welcome to the December edition of the Arcot podcast! In this episode, James Jenkins and Matt Cooke look back on 2024 and share some of the year's accomplishments and give their predictions for what's in store for the industry in 2025. Listen to this podcast for the highlights or subscribe to Arcot Comms for regular updates on everything related to 3-D Secure and the digital payments industry. We hope you enjoy this edition!

Welcome to the November edition of the Arcot podcast! In this episode, James Jenkins and Matt Cooke share the Arcot's peak shopping season readiness and the impressive results from our recent A/B testing of Arcot’s Smart Rulesets. For those new to the concept, Smart Rulesets are a game-changer in fraud prevention. Traditional manual rule writing is time-intensive, reactive, and often inefficient in combating sophisticated AI-driven fraud and bot attacks. Arcot’s Smart Rulesets leverage intelligence from across the Arcot Network, enabling a proactive, automated approach to fraud detection and prevention. This evolution transforms what was once a laborious, manual process into a streamlined, intelligent system. With results demonstrating a significant impact, we encourage all customers to review their outcomes and consider adopting this proactive solution as we move into 2025. Listen to this podcast for the highlights or subscribe to Arcot Comms for regular updates on everything related to 3-D Secure and the digital payments industry.

Welcome to the October edition of the Arcot podcast! In this episode, James Jenkins and Matt Cooke discuss the highlights and key takeaways from the recent Arcot 3DS events held last week in Dublin and London. We encourage ongoing participation, as feedback has been very positive. Both organizers and attendees benefit significantly from these events, and we aim to make them even more impactful in the future. Listen to this podcast for the highlights or subscribe to Arcot Comms for regular updates on everything related to 3-D Secure and the digital payments industry. We hope you enjoy this edition!

Welcome to the September edition of the Arcot podcast! In this episode, James Jenkins discusses the upcoming Arcot 3-D Secure Summits. The first summit will take place in Dublin on October 22nd, followed by the sixth summit in London on October 24th. These events bring together industry leaders from the 3DS ecosystem, including Issuers, Processors, and Merchants. The key topics revolve around optimizing payments and reducing fraud by leveraging 3DS. In addition, James provides the key highlights and takeaways from the industry events that Arcot has been part of – the Merchant Risk Council Conference in San Diego and the Merchant Advisory Group conference in Orlando. Listen to this podcast to get the highlights from this month’s Newsletter or subscribe to Arcot Comms (on arcot.com) for regular updates on everything related to 3-D Secure and the digital payments industry. We hope you enjoy this edition!

Welcome to the August edition of the Arcot podcast! In this episode, James Jenkins and Matt Cooke discuss how merchants can use the Arcot Scorecard to improve payment authentication outcomes. The Arcot Scorecard provides detailed authentication performance data, offering a comprehensive summary of 3DS performance and comparing it against similar merchants. By using the scorecard, merchants can gain insights into areas where they can enhance their performance and maximize value. This tool highlights transaction flows, and key metrics, and provides comparisons against peers, enabling data-driven improvements. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to stay updated via email and receive the Arcot newsletter for your regular updates on everything related to 3-D Secure and the digital payments industry. Hope you enjoy this edition!

Welcome to the July edition of the Arcot podcast! In this podcast, James Jenkins and Matt Cooke discuss how merchants and issuers are now collaborating, and sharing real-time data to enhance decision-making processes. By providing issuers with more data through 3DS, merchants ensure a comprehensive view of transactions. This empowers issuers to make better decisions, resulting in higher approval rates for transactions. The shared goal remains clear: streamline legitimate transactions while preventing fraudulent activity effectively. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to stay updated via email and receive the Arcot newsletter for your regular updates on everything related to 3-D Secure and the digital payments industry. Hope you enjoy this edition!

Welcome to the June edition of the Arcot podcast! In this podcast, James Jenkins and Matt Cooke discuss each step of a 3DS transaction; with a discussion on innovation at each stage, and provide more insights into how merchants today use 3DS primarily for higher approval rates or compliance as opposed to leveraging 3DS as a tool to shift fraud liability. Check out this podcast to learn more! Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to stay updated via email and receive the Arcot newsletter for your regular updates on everything related to 3-D Secure and the digital payments industry. Hope you enjoy this edition!

Welcome to the May edition of the Arcot podcast! In this podcast, James Jenkins and Matt Cooke share updates on the merchant pilots; using 06 and 05 RCI codes to drive performance, upcoming events, and scorecard enhancements. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to stay updated via email and receive the Arcot newsletter for regular updates on everything related to 3-D Secure and the digital payments industry. Hope you enjoy this edition!

Welcome to the April edition of the Arcot podcast! In this podcast, James Jenkins and Matt Cooke share highlights from the recent Arcot 3DS Summit in London. They also cover ​​leveraging AI in the Arcot platform; specifically the AI ruleset. Subscribe to our Monthly Newsletter to stay updated via email. Hope you enjoy this edition!

Welcome to the March edition of the Arcot podcast! In this podcast, James Jenkins and Matt Cooke discuss an Arcot to Arcot approach (Arcot 3DSS to Arcot ACS), which results in additional data shared between Merchants and Issuers to realize higher approval rates, less friction, and reduced fraud. Subscribe to our Monthly Newsletter to stay updated via email. Hope you enjoy this edition!

Welcome to the February edition of the Arcot podcast! In this podcast, James Jenkins and Matt Cooke discuss optimal 3DS data for both merchants and issuers. Subscribe to our Monthly Newsletter to stay updated via email. Hope you enjoy this edition!