This Week’s Product Pick
Seiko Instruments USA, Thermal Printer Division (Torrance, CA), introduced its small form-factor, low-cost, two-inch kiosk printer. The APU-G274 packs many of the features commonly found on larger kiosk printers, and frees valuable mechanical design real estate, making it ideal for entry-level and mid-range self-service applications, according to the company. At 5.8 inches high, and 3.8 inches wide and deep, the APU-G247 supports two-inch-wide thermal printer paper and uses a front-loading design that takes advantage of Seiko Instruments’ EZOP clamshell-style paper replacement technology. The EZOP design allows users to quickly replace the paper roll with a simple drop-in process. The 24V thermal printer offers serial and USB connectivity and can print receipts, tickets, and labels at speeds of up to 5.9 inches per second. The highly reliable print head and cutter are rated for 100 million pulses, over 100 km of printed output, and more than 1 million cuts. “The APU-G247 kiosk printer is a prime example of Seiko Instruments’ emphasis on smart engineering,” said Kaz Onishi, VP and GM, Seiko Instruments USA. “This innovative design fills a critical niche in the fast-growing self-service market.” For more information, click here.
APU-G247 Kiosk Printer from Seiko
COMPANY BUSINESS FEIG Electronics Now on BlueStar’s Marquee BlueStar (Florence, KY) has reached an agreement to distribute the FEIG Electronics line of RFID products throughout the U.S. and Canada. FEIG (Tucker, GA) provides its passive High-Frequency (HF) and Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) Generation 2 reader products for applications such as library media management, healthcare, manufacturing, and asset management. The company is engaged globally with leading System Integrators and VARs and will fulfill a critical role in ensuring easier deployment of RFID technology across those markets served by BlueStar. “Our partnership with BlueStar will give FEIG the opportunity to reach more customers and increase sales to resellers and integrators that are outside of our current distribution channels,” said Klaus Schoeke, National Sales Director for FEIG Electronics. “We offer BlueStar customers access to a complete line of RFID readers at all frequencies.” “This is a notable addition to BlueStar’s product portfolio,” declared Dan Miller, RFID Program Manager at BlueStar. “I have worked with FEIG 13.56-MHz technology since HF became widely available 12 years ago. It was the finest product available then, and continues to be today. We are ready to assist them in fulfilling RFID product demand throughout the channel, as well as helping the company develop sales opportunities using the technology’s potential to create new business models.”
“Ease of Care” Debuted by Datalogic Datalogic Mobile (Eugene, OR) has introduced its new “Ease of Care” program, which offers end-users in the U.S. and Canada the choice of four service levels matched to different customer profiles and needs, ranging from renewable annual coverage to three-year comprehensive coverage the moment the product is purchased. Details of the four service levels—Service Plus 5 Day, Service Plus 2 Day, Service Plus 2 Day Comprehensive, and Quick Replacement—can be obtained by contacting the company. In general, Service Plus covers manufacturer defects, while Comprehensive extends coverage into normal wear and tear and accidental breakage. Datalogic Mobile’s resellers are invited to sell all levels of service, from maintenance services to flat rate repair. The discount structure is the largest for maintenance contracts, not surprisingly, but flat rate repairs also bring discounts for resellers. The company’s repair center is co-located with its manufacturing plant, which brings an extra level of quality. In addition, the service programs will be offered through distribution, so resellers can place one order for both hardware and service from their distribution partner. “Datalogic Mobile is channel-centric in our go-to-market model, and that model extends into services,” said Marino Tanas, President, Datalogic Mobile Americas. “End-users are looking for integrators that can provide complete solutions, so we offer a comprehensive suite of services that resellers can provide to their customers. Our service offering is designed to protect the client’s investment, thereby increasing productivity and reducing total cost of ownership. It is also a great source of differentiation and margin for our resellers.”
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Worth Your While
“Business
Opportunities for
Retail Technology”
This Web Seminar Presented by
Microsoft Dynamics RMS on
Tuesday, June 10
To Register, Click Here
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
Retail Market Seminar
Ingram Micro Data Capture/POS Division
July 9
Atlanta
For more info, Click Here
RetailNOW
Retail Solutions Providers Association
July 12-17
Las Vegas
www.gorspa.org
PARTNER PROGRAMS Ingram Micro Marches on Atlanta Ingram Micro’s Data Capture/POS Division (Carlsbad, CA) has scheduled its Summer Retail Market Seminar for Wednesday, July 9 in Atlanta. The event runs from lunch to dinner (12 pm to 6 pm) and is open to all VARs interested in retail. There’s no charge to attend, but registration closes on June 25. The event will feature presentations on best practices and opportunities by senior Ingram Micro executives, as well as Vendor Breakouts, the Solutions Pavilion, and “Wii Night” Reception, where prizes will be awarded. Participating vendors include IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, NCR, Datalogic Mobile, Datalogic Scanning, Zebra, Logic Controls, 3M Touch Systems, Cognitive/TPG, Wasp, MagTek, and Motorola EMB. Ingram Micro’s Digital Signage Division will also be represented. “Our division is focused on helping VARs develop vertical market expertise, and to show how we can support their business,” stated John Soumbasakis, VP and GM, Ingram Micro Data Capture/POS Division. “The Retail Market Seminar provides this information specific to the retail vertical. It also provides a forum for manufacturers and resellers to network together and with our sales and vendor team, which always opens doors to new opportunities.” To register, or to learn more, click here.
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Do you need to reach the POS & Auto ID resellers who really drive business—in the most targeted editorial environment, and on the most cost-effective basis?
E-mail Michael
Kachmar for advertising information,
or call 973-270-3284
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INTEGRATION
Due in October: PCI DSS Version 1.2
The PCI Security Standards Council (Wakefield, MA) has set October 2008 as the scheduled release date of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) Version 1.2, which has as its goals enhanced clarity on technical requirements, improved flexibility, and greater management of evolving risk and threats. It replaces Version 1.1, issued in September 2006.
The updated standard will reflect broad industry feedback from merchants, vendors, electronic funds transfer (EFT) networks, POS application developers, and banks, according to the Council. It incorporates best practices, eliminates overlapping sub-requirements, consolidates documentation, and strengthens frequently asked questions and glossary to facilitate understanding of the security process. Significantly, it will not include any new core requirements beyond the existing 12 in place. Participants in the Council will have an opportunity to review the proposed changes at the PCI SSC annual meeting in Orlando at the end of September.
“We believe adoption of PCI DSS Version 1.2 will increase cardholder data security and minimize the risk of data breaches that can challenge the positive public perception of the security practices of merchants and financial institutions involved in the payments chain,” commented Bob Russo, GM, PCI Security Standards Council. “Version 1.2 will allow for the adoption of new best practices and protections with sufficient implementation lead time.”
Catapult Loaded for Health Benefit Cards
ECR Software (Boone, NC) will upgrade its Catapult POS system to help retailers cope with IRS regulations for acceptance of Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA), and other health benefit plan cards. In 2009, IRS mandates will require that independent pharmacy retailers and other non-healthcare merchants who wish to accept FSA/HRA cards, which debit employee-paid health savings accounts, support an Inventory Information Approval System (IIAS) prescribed by IRS laws. ECRS expects its upgrade to be completed by this summer.
The Catapult software upgrade includes features such as automatic recognition of FSA/HRA-approved items imported through a third-party list and the automatic separation of these items at time of purchase. The cashier simply completes the transaction as a split tender for any outside items, according to ECRS. Catapult also has the ability to automatically identify cards that are restricted to medical expenses. FSA/HRA reporting mandates that a log be kept by the participating merchant of all health debit transactions for a period of five years. ECRS has developed “an innovative data warehouse” where all such transactions are stored within the Catapult Database Management System, giving merchants the flexibility to query transactions.
“ECRS has a twenty-year track record of helping our customers meet all compliance and IRS regulations so that they can best serve the needs of their customers,” declared Mark Noble, VP of Development. “FSA acceptance and the IIAS feature is one such example of this continued commitment.”
Code
Corner
GHX Mobile Solutions (Louisville, CO) released an update version of its Sales Accelerator handheld inventory management tool that can now read RFID tags in addition to barcodes. Sales Accelerator is the only mobile device application that is integrated to the GHX electronic trading exchange, which enables healthcare providers and suppliers to transact business with one another electronically, according to the company. Using the new version of Sales Accelerator, a representative from a supplier or provider organization can enter an area where RFID-tagged products exist and immediately count the inventory on hand. As products are used and inventory counts are reduced, the user can generate a billing and/or replenishment order, which, if desired, can be sent to the hospital’s materials management inventory system and transacted via GHX. In this way, hospitals are better able to track their high-dollar item purchases, which have limited visibility today. At the same time, suppliers can receive purchase orders as soon as the products are used in the operating room. The RFID interface is supported through two different RFID readers: the Sirit Plug-n-Play SDIO RFID reader and Socket Communications’ CF RFID reader. “While many hospitals and manufacturers still rely on traditional barcodes, RFID is being used increasingly in the cardiac implant market,” observed Brad Graves, GM, GHX Mobile Solutions, who noted his company works closely with its manufacturing customers to identify changing market needs.
ALLIANCES
Add Microsoft to the “Link @ Sheraton”
Sheraton Hotels & Resorts (White Plains, NY) and Microsoft Corp. (Redmond, WA) have partnered to implement products and services for the “Link @ Sheraton,” the hotel chain’s signature communications hub for road warriors. Under the agreement, Sheraton will roll out the co-branded “Link @ Sheraton experienced with Microsoft” at more than 300 properties worldwide by the end of the year.
Sheraton’s so-called “virtual and physical lobby lounge space” provides free Wi-Fi and Internet-enabled computers to allow guest to e-mail, search the Web, review local attractions, and even print up boarding passes. Through its relationship with Microsoft, Sheraton will now offer Windows-based computers, many of which will feature Webcams, allowing guests to have free video chats or to e-mail video postcards back home. That’s on top of televisions, newspapers, and food and beverages, naturally.
“Today’s traveler is part of a connected digital community, with instant access to information and technology for work, entertainment, and social networking,” offered Sandra Andrews, U.S. Hospitality Industry Director, Microsoft. “With ‘Link @ Sheraton experienced with Microsoft,’ Sheraton and Microsoft are helping forge the convergence of the digital lifestyle and work-style in the experiences offered to this new breed of guest.”
Nutricate and Maitre’D Put Nutrition on the Table
No more nagging. The receipt will tell your kid what’s healthy to eat.
Team Business Solutions (Irvine, CA) has installed nutritional analysis software from Nutricate running on Maitre’D POS in an educational environment. Chula Vista High School in San Diego, part of the Sweetwater School District, conducted the pilot program, which provides nutritional information (calories, protein, fat, and carbohydrates) on the receipts students receive with their lunch order.
Nutricate (Santa Barbara, CA) also offers tips on healthy eating and exercise on each receipt. The school plans to sell local advertising as well on the receipt to generate additional revenue and also to deploy the Nutricate receipt at other dining service locations in the district. And it’s a big district, with 42,000 students in Grades 7 through 12.
“There is a unique opportunity for Maitre’D resellers to introduce their customers to this solution,” noted Shannon Arnold, Marketing Manager at Posera (Montreal). “We do not have a formal business relationship with Nutricate, but we’re the first POS they have tested and deployed with.” The Nutricate solution connects to a terminal using standard printer cables, Arnold explained, and no integration is required. Nutricate’s device simply intercepts the print stream, appends nutrition data and relevant messaging, and sends the reformatted receipt to the customer’s existing printer. The Maitre’D/Nutricate combo was first tested in a restaurant environment and fits any educational, quick-service, or institutional site.
Customer Reads Nutricate Receipt, Doesn’t Regret the Salad
Key
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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
STARTS & STOPS
Fujitsu Cleans Up Garment Management
Fujitsu (Tokyo) will expand sales of its UHF RFID tags for garment management to markets outside Japan, targeting North America, Europe, and China. Designed for the Japanese market by Fujitsu Ltd. and manufactured by Fujitsu Frontech, the garment tags meet EPCglobal Class 1 Generation 2 standards as well as compatibility requirements for national bandwidth frequencies.
The tags are waterproof and resistant to pressure, heat, and alkaline washing, and so designed to withstand conditions through 200 cleaning cycles (washing, drying, and ironing). Moreover, they are thin and flexible, so they can be attached to any type of clothing or fabric without causing discomfort to the garment wearer. With their UHF-band capabilities, multiple contactless tags can be read simultaneously, raising operational efficiency. Not only can the location of each item be tracked, additional information such as the number of times an item has been used or the period of time it has been in use can also be managed.
Fujitsu will launch two tag models: the A501, which includes pre-defined EPC codes input by Fujitsu, and the A601 which can handle code input by customers. With the A601, users can customize the field codes to manage their products in accordance with detailed category characteristics, including such information as product type, color, and size. Fujitsu reported it is now working with local partners in the RFID field worldwide to bring its garment tags to organizations such as hotels and amusement parks. Shipments are expected to commence in July.
Oracle “GIT’s” to Utah
Oracle (Redwood Shores, CA) has announced plans to build its new Global Information Technology (GIT) center in West Jordan, UT, on the outskirts of Salt Lake City. The company plans to break ground on the 200,000-sq.-ft. facility during this summer, with operations commencing in early 2010. The new facility represents a $285-million initial capital investment by Oracle.
“Oracle is committed to providing our customers with the highest level of service, and this new facility will allow us to support our growing ‘On Demand’ [Editor’s Note: Managed Applications] business, as well as the technology infrastructure to support our research and development and customer service requirements,” observed Oracle President Safra Catz. “We are delighted to be creating a significant new presence in Utah.”
People in Utah are delighted, too. The site is expected to house 100 employees, with wages exceeding 200% of the Salt Lake Country average wage. Said West Jordan Mayor David Newton: “Oracle is the world’s largest enterprise software company, with a well-deserved reputation for offering superior employment opportunities, engaging with and giving back to the community. We look forward to our partnership with them.”
Channel Factoid
Return fraud and abuse costs retailers more than $15.5 billion per year, according to 2007 and 2008 surveys. Nearly 70% of retailers believe it is an important issue for their company, and the majority of retailers (64%) report that focusing on reducing return fraud is one of their high priorities. One big problem, however: two-thirds of these retailers describe their current return policies and systems as “ineffective” or only “somewhat” effective in deterring return fraud and abuse. Take heart, resellers, in the growing movement to solve this problem through the use of automated return authorization systems. As reported by the NRF’s Loss Prevention Research Council.
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.
ALL IN THE FAMILY
A Big Box of RuBee
A complete pilot kit that allows designers to create pilot projects quickly using RuBee (IEEE P1902.1) wireless asset visibility has been issued by Visible Assets (Stratham, NH). Visible’s new RuBee Pilot Kit (RPK) and licensing package includes an IEEE P1902.1 license plus all the necessary RuBee hardware, software, and support.
RuBee is a long-wavelength magnetic transceiver protocol that overcomes many of the problems seen with RFID and other wireless asset visibility solutions through its ability to work effectively near steel and liquids, according to the technology’s proponents. RuBee tags work over a range of 1 to 100 feet and can be powered by a single battery for up to 10 years. The technology is being used in medical, military, logistics, aerospace, and food industry applications.
“RuBee has commercially proven itself in many real-time, real-world visibility applications with larger partner companies,” pointed out John Stevens, Chairman and CEO of Visible Assets. “We are excited about this new RuBee Pilot Kit concept, and expect that it will expand our already highly successful licensing program to meet the demand we see from smaller System Integrators as well as new customer-driven application development.”
3M’s Design Has Integrators in Mind
3M Touch Systems (Methuen, MA) now offers its MicroTouch CT150 15-inch touch monitor, designed for easy integration into kiosks and industrial enclosures. The LCD display offers 500:1 contrast ratio and 1024x768 maximum resolution; in addition, the module can be print-color matched, making it an ideal choice for applications such as photo kiosks.
Integration is facilitated by a variety of mounting options, while three different bezel choices provide maximum design flexibility. A remote on-screen display module connects to the monitor and simplifies image adjustment on the installed monitor. In addition, the 75-mm VESA pattern on the back of the rugged steel case allows mounting on an array of arms and stands for stand-alone applications.
The CT150 features 3M’s MicroTouch ClearTek II capacitive touchscreen technology, which offers resistance to contaminants such as dirt, liquids, and harsh chemicals, as well as the MicroTouch EXII electronics platform. It accepts 12V DC or 110/220V AC power and comes with three-year warranty.
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