The mobile payment industry is quickly evolving to meet the growing demands of mobile users, "with more recognisable brands stepping into the industry to advance technology and offer what consumers and businesses want in terms of apps and services that allow them to pay with their phones". According to John Rampton in his article, 'The evolution of the mobile payment' on TechCrunch.com, it's anticipated that there will be more than 4.8bn individuals using a mobile phone by the end of 2016. Moreover, consumers have come to expect a broad range of sophisticated technology features in their cars, such as Wi-Fi access, voice-activated controls, keyless entry and remote start and stop. MasterCard has thus partnered with General Motors (GM) and IBM Watson to offer OnStar Go, a new cognitive mobility platform, which will be embedded across many GM vehicles starting early next year, whereby drivers and passengers can make secure and seamless payments for goods and services using their credit or debit cards stored within their Masterpass wallet. Read more for an example of how this will play out. In the same vein, Kirsty Barkhuizen shares some of the common themes around the journey to digital transformation, based on Adobe's most recent symposium in London. #SustainabilityMonth comes to a close with an article by Sindy Peters on Achenyo Idachaba, a green entrepreneur who turned an invasive water plant that chokes Nigeria's waterways into a source of income. Her company, MitiMeth creates eco-friendly handicrafts like home décor and personal accessories from aquatic weeds and other agro-waste. Watch Idachaba's TED Talk: 'How I turned a deadly plant into a thriving business'... Our hope is that you've been made more aware of environmental effects on business and inspired to think 'greener'.

Comment online in our ed's column archive. Go mobile with apps and m.bizcommunity.com. Engage with us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+. Subscribe to YouTube and via RSS. Send all your retail news and event invitations to retailnews@bizcommunity.com, exclusive opinion pieces to contributors-retail@bizcommunity.com and international news to internationalnews@bizcommunity.com. Read "How to contribute to Biz, from op-ed pieces to news".