This Week’s Product Pick

Datalogic Scanning (Eugene, OR) shipped its new entry-level QuickScan L handheld barcode scanner. The device is targeted at general-purpose users who prefer laser scanning technology and need to read barcodes at “instinctive” distances. It weighs just 4.5 oz. and supports linear barcodes and GS1 DataBar symbologies, with scan rate of 100 scans per second. RS-232, USB, and keyboard wedge interfaces are supported. Additional benefits include: gun-shaped ergonomic form-factor for user comfort; “plug and play” kits with cables for ease of purchase, selling, and installation; user-replaceable window; and IP42 rating for sealing against liquids and dust. The scanner is available in black or white, with an optional gooseneck stand for customers needing hands-free operation. “The QuickScan L reader has the best specifications in the entry-level class of barcode scanners,” said Dave Sullivan, SVP of Worldwide Sales and Marketing for Datalogic Scanning. “The QuickScan L reader is a simple laser scanner designed to meet the majority of scanning needs at an affordable price and low total cost of ownership.”

QuickScan L from Datalogic Scanning

Worth Your While

“Business Opportunities for
Retail Technology”

This Web Seminar Presented by
Microsoft Dynamics RMS on
Tuesday, June 10

To Register, Click Here

NRA Show
National Restaurant Association
May 17-20
Chicago
www.restaurant.org

Greening the Supply Chain
Warehousing Education and Research Council
June 9-10
Sacramento, CA
www.werc.org

HITEC
Hospitality Financial and
Technology Professionals
June 16-19
Austin, TX
www.hftp.org

RetailNOW
Retail Solutions Providers Association
July 12-17
Las Vegas
www.gorspa.org

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STARTS & STOPS

Keg Party at Xterprise

College students beware. Xterprise (Dallas), one of the leading providers of RFID, has announced that its Clarity-RTI solution now tracks and finds missing beer kegs. This is no small problem, apparently, as the Beer Institute estimates that U.S. brewers and beer importers lose more than 300,000 kegs annually, at a cost of approximately $50 million. Some are stranded at distributors or in retail coolers, some are never returned by customers, and an increasing number are stolen and sold to scrap metal processors.

In addition to the Clarity-RTI (Re-Usable Transport Items) software application, the Xterprise solution utilizes the rugged IP68 Ironside Gen2 UHF metal-on-metal tag from Confidex (Apex, NC and Tampere, Finland) to ensure the tag will meet the needs of keg transport and storage environments. Options include tags for pallets and locator boards, readers in brewery lines, warehouse portals, mobile and fork-lift readers, and handheld readers for delivery collection and maintenance. Xterprise has achieved Gold-Certified Microsoft ISV partner status, and the system employs the BizTalk Server platform.

“The increasing number of lost and stolen beer kegs negatively impacts the bottom line of U.S. brewers and importers,” said Jim Caudill, VP of Marketing and Strategy at Xterprise. “Our Clarity-RTI application can help producers significantly reduce, and even eliminate, keg loss.”

Q2 Trials for Ecrio’s MoBeam

Ecrio (Cupertino, CA) has made available its MoBeam Digital Barcode Redemption solution for Q2 trials, with production-level quantities of its innovative ClipPod keychain-based device coming in Q3. MoBeam eliminates the need for printed barcodes by using the LED on the ClipPod to “beam” the equivalent of a barcode’s reflection into the scanner. The technology allows consumers to digitally collect and save barcode-enabled offers—coupons, loyalty cards, gift cards—then digitally redeem them when they shop. This is no small market. According to CMS, a leading coupon-processing provider, marketers issued 302 billion coupons in 2007, most of them through free-standing inserts in daily newspapers.

Ecrio will also provide its MoBeam Barcode Service (MBS). This server-based system integrates with retailers’ Websites to provide their customers with downloadable coupons. The MBS offers detailed reports of coupon downloads and redemptions, and uses industry-standard fraud prevention measures, according to the company.

“Retailer interest in digital coupons is skyrocketing,” declared Nagesh Challa, Ecrio’s CEO. “There’s never been a better time for us to begin field deployments of our MoBeam Digital Barcode Redemption solution. And since MoBeam dovetails neatly with the coupon-processing systems already in place, we see manufacturers, retailers, media companies, Web portals, and traditional coupon providers as natural partners.”

Nagesh Challa, Ecrio

Code Corner

Code Corner

Charge Anywhere (South Plainfield, NJ) has issued its Secure Payment Software solution designed to be compatible with Intuit’s QuickBooks Point of Sale. The new “end-to-end” solution allows merchants to quickly process and import credit-card transactions generated by POS terminals, wireless devices, and e-commerce through any major payment processor that is certified with ComsGate, Charge Anywhere’s PCI-compliant payment gateway. Charge Anywhere features an encrypted database and advanced key rotation functionality that securely stores and protects transactional data, according to the developer. It offers encrypted database management controls for storing sensitive customer information. Merchants can also capture and manage pertinent customer contact information at the POS, which can be used to support communications efforts and sales initiatives. Furthermore, Charge Anywhere designed for QuickBooks POS allows VARs and ISOs to retain ownership of merchant accounts that utilize QuickBooks, while continuing to provide credit-card processing services.

ALL IN THE FAMILY

How Do U-Scan Bulky Items?

Look for Metrologic’s Voyager BT scanner.

Fujitsu Transaction Solutions (Frisco, TX) has added the Voyager BT Bluetooth handheld device from Metrologic Instruments (Blackwood, NJ) to its U-Scan Genesis self-checkout family to simplify large-item scanning. Complementing U-Scan’s Metrologic Stratos bioptic scanner, the Voyager BT addresses items that are too heavy or too bulky to place on the self-checkout security scales. Customers scan one large item at a time and alert the cashier to visually certify the fact.

“The Metrologic handheld scanner empowers the customer with the freedom to scan large, bulky items without the time-wasting hassles of cashier assistance or cord entanglements,” explained Paul Burel, Fujitsu’s Self-Checkout Strategic Marketing Director. “Over the past decade, customers learned to use bioptic scanners at self-checkout very quickly, so adding an economical wireless Metrologic Bluetooth scanner is a natural step forward to help make U-Scan even easier and faster for the customer to use.”

Software has also been in the news at Fujitsu Transaction Solutions. First, the company made available its GlobalStore POS to North American grocers, with several key features: advanced user interfaces for cashiers and customer displays, transparent integration for customer relationship management/loyalty programs and self-checkout, and Microsoft-centric technology, specifically .NET. Fujitsu also announced that it will work with partner TELentice Global (Golden Valley, MN) to market new, comprehensive digital media solutions (DMS) to retailers. Fujitsu and TELentice said they have developed an integrated system that combines the hardware, software, and services required to “create, deploy, and manage chain-wide, multimedia information campaigns.”

IBM Fathers Kiosk/Self-Checkout Hybrid

IBM has introduced its AnyPlace Checkout system, which marries attributes of the company’s kiosk and self-service solutions, and allows consumers to pay for merchandise anywhere in the store. The system combines three elements all rolled up into one package for non-cash transactions: IBM AnyPlace Kiosk (15-in. or 17-in. form factor), IBM Checkout Environment for Consumer-Service (CHEC) Software, and the IBM Self-Checkout Back Office System (BOSS).

“Today’s market environment is tough and competitive, and there is huge pressure on retailers to transform and innovate, all driven by a need to change the shopping experience for consumers,” observed Steve Ladwig, GM, Retail Store Solutions, IBM System & Technology Group (Raleigh, NC). “The IBM AnyPlace Checkout allows us to help our clients serve their customers in totally new ways, answering consumer demand for easy-to-use self service in more places than ever before.”

Those places may include small store formats with limited space or specific departments within larger stores, such as deli, floral or prepared foods in grocery. To help speed the self-checkout process, IBM has released its CHEC Version 6.2. This “robust, modular” software platform allows IBM’s Business Partners to tailor solutions to the retailer’s specific needs, according to the company. In addition, custom enclosures will be provided by IBM Global Technology Services or third-party vendors.

IBM’s AnyPlace Checkout System

Key Advertiser Links

Be sure to visit these vendors for the latest in channel products and offers for resellers.

POS & Auto ID Distribution
BlueStar
Ingram Micro

POS & Peripherals
Bematech
Logic Controls
PC-PoS Inc./DigiPoS

Data Collection Terminals
CipherLab
Datalogic Mobile
Honeywell Imaging and Mobility
Janam Technologies

ECRs / Touchscreens / Printers
Parts and Supplies
CRS.Inc

Receipt Printers
Bixolon
Citizen Systems America
Star Micronics

Retail Software
Microsoft Dynamics

Screen Protection
3M Optical Products

Thermal Print Technology
Seiko Instruments USA

Touchscreens
FireBox Displays

ALLIANCES

Field Service Tilled by Barcoding Inc. & Apacheta

Barcoding Inc. (Baltimore) and Apacheta Corp. (Media, PA) have partnered to provide complete hardware and mobile solutions to field-service and delivery companies in the U.S. Barcoding Inc. will bring its expertise as a hardware integrator to the party, while Apacheta will offer its mobile business applications, particularly ServiceACE and RouteACE. The companies will be participating in a joint marketing and sales campaign, including webinars, advertising, and industry events.

“Apacheta’s ability to provide the flexible and reliable software and support that our Fortune 500 customers require is the driving force behind this partnership,” commented Jay Steinmetz, Barcoding Inc.’s CEO. “Barcoding Inc. provides total solutions from hardware and software applications to integration services and support. Apacheta’s enterprise-level mobile workflow applications are a great complement to our existing application for small field-service operations.”

“Many of our customers struggle to identify the right hardware for their needs and to integrate their solutions onto new devices, slowing down their deployment process,” added Peter Clare, CEO for Apacheta. “By partnering with Barcoding Inc., Apacheta is able to offer a complete solution of hardware, software, integration services, and support to all of our current customers and potential clients throughout the United States.”

Reva “TAPs” Directly into Oracle’s E-Business Suite

Forget the need for coding. Reva Systems (Chelmsford, MA), one of the leading RFID network infrastructure providers and Certified Advantage Partner in the Oracle Partner Network, has full integrated its Tag Acquisition Processor (TAP) appliances into Oracle’s E-Business Application Suite.

Installed at the facility level, Reva TAPs manage the operations of RFID readers and other equipment, collect the raw tag data, process the data for accuracy, and then pass only relevant RFID information to the Oracle E-Business Suite. Reva also provides a set of enterprise-level RFID management tools that Oracle users can rely upon to remotely operate RFID infrastructure and devices across global sites.

In the mind of Jon Chorley, Oracle’s VP of SCM Product Strategy, “Reva makes implementing RFID simple by supporting a structured interface to Oracle Applications. Reva’s technology transforms RFID data into superior asset-visibility and supply-chain information, allowing Oracle users to rely on RFID for every day operations.”

Channel Factoid

Now found in only 2% of North American universities, 802.11n Wi-Fi will be available in 99% by 2013. Primary and secondary schools will also experience robust growth in the use of Wi-Fi and Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWi-Fi). Wi-Fi access point and controller equipment revenue in the global higher education market will skyrocket from $137 million in 2007 to $837 million in 2013. The global K-12 market for Wi-Fi equipment will grow from $47 million in 2007 to $644 million in 2013. Demand for video surveillance and “anytime-anywhere learning” are prime drivers of this adoption. From “Wi-Fi in the Education Vertical” by ABI Research.

Reseller Rewind

If you missed either of the two recent “Retail’s in the Bag” presentations sponsored by Retail Reseller News and Microsoft Dynamics RMS, don’t despair. Microsoft has given you another chance to benefit from these deep-dives into POS.

-For Microsoft Dynamics “Retail’s in the Bag: Retail Industry Trends That Impact Your Future Profitability,” click here.

-For Microsoft Dynamics “Retail’s in the Bag: Grow Your Customer Base and Consulting Revenue,” click here.

ACQUISITIONS

Jadeon Serves Radiant’s Purpose

Radiant Systems (Atlanta) has acquired Jadeon, Inc. (Irvine, CA), the wholly-owned subsidiary of Innuity and full-service POS solutions provider to the hospitality industry. Founded in 2001, Jadeon has installed more than 3,000 POS systems and also provides consulting services and a complete suite of maintenance offerings, including on-site field service and 24x7 call center. The acquisition adds 100 employees to Radiant’s presence in Orange County, bringing the total to more than 150 personnel.

“This acquisition enhances Radiant’s ability to service larger, key customers,” noted John Heyman, CEO of Radiant Systems. “While we are strengthening our presence on the West Coast through this acquisition, we remain committed to our reseller model as the best way to serve the vast community of small and medium-sized businesses across the nation and around the world.”

Also, Radiant has been selected by Heartland Food Corp., the third-largest Burger King franchise in the U.S. with 216 restaurants, to implement Aloha QuickService POS and MenuLink back-office software in all its locations. Heartland will begin their rollout with the deployment of MenuLink to all locations across four states by the end of this year. Implementation of the complete solution, including Aloha QuickService POS, Radiant P1220 hardware, and Aloha eManager centralized data management system, begins later this year.

3M Jettisons HighJump Software

3M (St. Paul, MN) has entered into a definitive agreement to sell HighJump Software to Battery Ventures, the technology venture capital and private equity firm. The transaction will result in a stand-alone company focused on providing supply-chain software and services to a global customer base. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“3M’s track and trace business is refining its approach to providing comprehensive track and trace solutions for high-value assets and people that deliver customer value through asset utilization, safety, and security,” stated Lemuel Amen, VP and GM, 3M Track and Trace Solutions Division. “Therefore, we believe HighJump will have more opportunity to maximize its potential with Battery Ventures.”

Post transaction, HighJump will remain committed to investing in the development of its products, services, and technologies in order to continue to provide value for its customers and maintain its strong offering in the marketplace, according to the new owners. The products will continue to be sold and supported under the HighJump brand around the world. “Moving forward, HighJump Software provides us with an excellent platform to grow both organically and through acquisition,” pointed out Jesse Feldman, Senior Associate, Battery Ventures.