Applied Predictive Technologies | Mastercard Data & Services

The foundation of Data & Services can be traced back to the establishment of Mastercard Advisors in the early 2000s, which initially focused on consulting for card issuers and acquirers. Over the past decade, the division has aggressively expanded its capabilities through a series of strategic acquisitions. Key milestones include the acquisition of Applied Predictive Technologies (APT) in 2015 for $600 million, a cloud-based analytics provider with a Test & Learn® platform that helps companies measure the impact of business initiatives. This was followed by acquisitions of companies specializing in artificial intelligence and security, such as Brighterion in 2017 for its AI-based fraud detection technology, and NuData Security in 2017 for its behavioral biometrics capabilities to prevent online fraud. To bolster its digital commerce and loyalty offerings, Mastercard acquired Ethoca in 2019, which helps merchants and issuers collaborate to resolve fraud, and SessionM in 2019, a customer engagement and loyalty platform. A significant enhancement to its personalization services came with the acquisition of Dynamic Yield from McDonald's, a deal completed in 2022.

Mastercard Data & Services delivers a suite of integrated products. Its analytics platforms, such as SpendingPulse™, provide macroeconomic insights on consumer spending trends. The Test & Learn® platform enables clients to conduct in-market experiments to optimize strategies for marketing, pricing, and operations. In the realm of security, the division integrates technologies from acquisitions like Brighterion, NuData, and Ethoca to offer layered fraud prevention and authentication solutions. For customer engagement, platforms from SessionM and Dynamic Yield allow brands to deliver personalized, real-time offers and manage loyalty programs. These technology products are complemented by Mastercard Advisors, the consulting arm, which provides clients with data-driven strategies and implementation support to drive growth and efficiency.