This Week’s Product Pick
DigiPoS Store Solutions (Burlington, ON) offered its new Retail Active 8000 POS PC, which is aimed at retailers who have traditionally opted for standard PC’s to support their store operations. Incorporating Celeron, Pentium, and Core Duo processing, the Retail Active 8000 delivers consistent overall motherboard architecture with a guaranteed lifespan, in addition to retail-specific functionality. It features intelligent cable management, powered serial and USB ports (four and three, respectively), fanless power supply for improved reliability, and dedicated cash drawer and receipt printer ports. Anticipating the potential need for customer communications, it supplies twin graphics output to enable one screen to be used for counter staff and another to be customer-facing. A locking front bezel for security and slim-line form factor (measuring 11.5 in. x 12.25 in. x 3.5 in.) address the requirements of front counter deployment. “Designed-for-retail technology is an important part of operating an enterprise economically and effectively,” declared Mark Leaper, DigiPoS CEO. “However, in the past, many retailers have compromised technology performance by selecting standard PC’s. Now, Retail Active 8000 bridges the gap and delivers a designed-for-retail solution at a competitive price.”
Retail Active 8000 from DigiPoS
COMPANY BUSINESS J2 Debuts Speedy New POS Terminal J2 Retail Systems (Tustin, CA) launched its J2 650 Integrated Touchscreen Computer with Intel Core 2 Duo processor support, designed to provide “unparalleled performance and versatility” for demanding POS applications. Packaged in a small footprint with 15-inch LCD display, the J2 650 features an “all-in-the-head” design for countertop or wall-mount environments. It carries five USB 2.0 ports and three serial ports, Gigibit Ethernet, and support for all standard Microsoft O/S’s as well as Linux. Pricing starts as low as $1,500 with “standard industry reseller discounts,” and J2 will provide technical and sales training. “Built by one of the largest and most reliable PC manufacturers in the world, the J2 650 is designed to serve in thick and thin-client environments or as a RAID server,” said Alexander Nelson, CEO at J2 Retail Systems USA. “This versatility provides a cost-effective hardware solution to meet the needs of our customers. In fanless operations, the J2 650 includes an energy-saving ‘green mode’ which turns off the fans and powers down the Intel Celeron Core processor speed to 1 GHz, reducing power consumption by up to 25%.” The J2 650 can hold up to 4 GB of high-speed 800-MHz memory and two hot-swappable 2.5-inch high-speed SATA drives that can be configured as RAID 0/1. It features an ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts for optimal viewing while further reducing power consumption. Upgrades and maintenance are facilitated by easy access to memory modules, motherboards, and disk drives, according to the vendor. “J2 Retail Systems takes a PC-approach with our touchscreen computers and POS terminals, by developing high-performance products that can be customized to meet the needs of our customers,” Nelson continued. “This includes wired or wireless operation, thin or thick client, stand-alone or networked operation. We are committed to employing emerging technologies that deliver a lower cost of ownership to the customer and provide a three-year parts and labor warranty with each product.”
Oracle Seeks Big Shoes to Fill Oracle (Redwood Shores, CA) announced its National VAR Program, targeted at VAR partners demonstrating “national footprints.” We’re talking about the big boys here. The new program includes the establishment of Oracle’s National VAR Sales team to provide such select VAR members of the Oracle PartnerNetwork with a single, national point of contact for the joint development and delivery of Oracle-based technology software products and services. Previously, leading VAR partners maintained and managed multiple regional Oracle sales contacts. Through this program, Oracle VAR partners will be able to gain access to Oracle server technology experts from across the nation. Participating partners will also receive access to the dedicated telesales team to assist in lead-generation initiatives and phone sales support, as well as pre-sales technical enablement, sales awareness, marketing materials, and proof-of-concept support for select customer engagements. In addition, Oracle will facilitate the so-called National VAR Council for these partners, allowing them to share strategic insights and best practices. “Oracle is committed to providing the resources our partners need to rapidly and successfully adopt, implement, and deploy Oracle technologies across their customer base,” commented John Gray, Group VP, North American Technology Channels, Oracle. “By delivering dedicated resources to key partners, the National VAR Program enables our valued VAR partners to streamline time and resources, while enabling them to better align their go-to-market strategy and specialized solutions with Oracle.” Humboldt Now Part of Moneris Moneris Solutions (Schaumburg, IL), the payment processor and channel player, has signed an agreement to acquire the assets of Humboldt Merchant Services (Eureka, CA), one of the largest ISO’s, or Independent Sales Organizations, in the U.S. Founded in 1993, Humboldt Merchant Services processes nearly $2.5 billion in bankcard volume annually from 18,000 SMB merchants in diverse market segments. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close by the end of the year. Terms were not disclosed. “Acquiring Humboldt Merchant Services fits perfectly with our overall U.S. growth strategy,” explained Greg Cohen, President of Moneris Solutions U.S. “Not only will the acquisition add over 18,000 merchants to our portfolio, but it will provide us with new sales and distribution channels that will substantially expand our reach.” The acquisition includes Humboldt’s operations, infrastructure, and team members. In particular, Moneris has significantly boosted its presence in the West and Southwest, where Humboldt has been very strong. “We are extremely excited about becoming part of Moneris Solutions,” added Ken Musante, President of Humboldt Merchant Services. “Moneris is one of North America’s largest, most successful payment processors. We have identified numerous synergies that will make this partnership very compelling and position us well for future growth.” |
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Worth Your While
Poll-A-Rama III
Tri-Technical Systems
September 30-October 1
Dubuque, IA
EPC Connection
EPCglobal North America
October 14-16
Chicago
Self-Service Expo
KioskCom
October 15-16
New York
Impact Now
ScanSource
November 10-11
Orlando
NRF Annual Convention & Expo
National Retail Federation
January 11-14, 2009
New York
ProMat 2009
Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA)
January 12-15, 2009
Chicago
Inspire 2009
Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA)
January 18-21, 2009
Aruba Marriott Resort
STARTS & STOPS Ingram Micro Sets Retail Market Seminar in The O.C. Ingram Micro’s Data Capture/POS Division (Carlsbad, CA) has scheduled its Retail Market Seminar for VARs in Southern California for Tuesday, October 28, at the Doubletree Hotel Santa Ana/Orange County Airport. The event runs from noon to evening. All VARS interested in retail are invited to attend at no charge and no limit has been set on the number of attendees per company. “This seminar will feature industry-leading educational content on the best business practices and opportunities within the retail market,” stated Marcie Moncrief, Senior Marketing Manager. “Our Solutions Pavilion will offer working demonstrations of products that fit within the retail space and will allow attendees to network with leading vendors and their peers in the channel. We’ll provide food and drink, as well as drawings for Wii games and other fun activities.” In his keynote address, Ken Morris, President of the LakeWest Group (Cleveland), will share his thoughts on retail industry trends, with particular emphasis on POS, digital signage, PCI compliance, and how VARs can be profitable. Ingram Micro executives will be on hand to discuss the distributor’s value-added services, and vendors will conduct breakout sessions on specific retail solutions. To register, click here.
BlueStar to Distribute RFID Interpreter BlueStar (Florence, KY) has been named the sole distributor for the CaptureTech RFID Interpreter from Barcoding Inc. (Baltimore). Introduced in July, the RFID Interpreter provides companies with an easy and practical way to get RFID tag data into any Windows-based PC application, including Word, Access, and Excel in Microsoft Office. Companies can implement the device and begin reading RFID tags in less than one minute while utilizing legacy applications, according to the two parties. It plugs into the computer’s USB port, and the RFID tag is scanned over the top surface of the device. “The RFID Interpreter identifies itself as a Human Interface Device (HID) and inputs RFID tag data into existing applications as if it were being typed on a keyboard,” noted Dan Miller, BlueStar RFID Program Manager. “Data from the RFID tag is entered by opening that application and placing the cursor where the user wants the data to be entered.” Barcoding Inc. also recently acquired Wi-Tec Data Systems (Dallas), which supplies Auto ID solutions to the supply chain and mobile computing sectors. Under terms of the agreement, Wi-Tec Data will become Barcoding Inc.’s Texas Regional Office, creating the seventeenth such outpost for the solutions provider. The Texas Regional Office will be headed up by Bill Ische, Founder of Wi-Tec Data and former executive with Amtech Systems and Intermec.
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ENVIRONMENTS/PLATFORMS
A Deadbolt Lock for Data
IBM (Armonk, NY) unveiled its IBM System x Vault adapter, billed as the industry’s first hardware-based encryption tool to secure data on the server’s hard drive. Once encrypted, data is well protected—even if the hard drive is improperly disposed of or stolen. The solution is particularly useful to SMB end-users with limited IT resources, according to IBM. It lists at around $1,000, and will be carried by IBM and IBM Business Partners.
When installing Vault adapter, clients can simply designate a security key—essentially a password—that becomes the only way data can ever be accessed. No key, no data. As a result, small businesses can be protected from loss of their sensitive data, while potentially reducing the costs of complying with regulations that require them to protect customer information so it can’t be read or reconstructed. The technology offers four levels of security to meet individual client requirements. Unlike software-based encryption technology, which consumes processing power, it does not affect server performance.
“The new IBM Vault solution directly responds to our clients’ concerns over data security, helping them to securely protect their data without adding much in the way of complexity to their existing operations,” observed James Northington, VP of IBM System x. “This unique new offering allows businesses of all sizes to take advantage of one of the strongest data security solutions available in the industry. Most people put deadbolt locks on their doors—it’s time for small and medium businesses to put deadbolt locks on their data.”
Intuit Looks to Mid-Market
At its third annual QuickBooks Enterprise User Conference in Dallas, Intuit laid out the roadmap for its push into the mid-market business segment, its Intuit Enterprise Suite. This suite will provide a single location for customers to access online applications connected with Intuit QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions to “increase collaboration and productivity across back- and front-office functions,” according to the developer. The first phase will be delivered this fall with the availability of applications that address inventory/warehouse, field service, and sales management. Intuit Warehouse Management ES will be powered by AccuCode (Centennial, CO), while Field Service Management ES utilizes Corrigo (Wilsonville, OR). Sales Management ES will be released in beta.
“This will bring a new level of front-office productivity that delivers on our promise of power, ease, and value,” declared Angus Thomson, VP and GM of Intuit’s Mid-Market Group (Mountain View, CA). “It also is an integral part of Intuit’s Connected Services strategy. By seamlessly connecting the customer, vendor, and employee data contained in QuickBooks with new online applications, we give mid-market businesses access to powerful information that can be applied to jobs far beyond accounting.”
Intuit also showcased enhancements to QuickBooks ES, with Version 9.0. The new release features improved database concurrency to allow administrators to back-up files while other users are in the system. Report performance and multi-currency capabilities were strengthened. Lastly, interaction with online banking was enhanced and 25- and 30-user versions were introduced so businesses can continue to scale up as their companies grow (hopefully).
Code
Corner
mPoria (Seattle), one of the leading providers of mobile commerce solutions for retailers, launched “GoMobile! Lite,” designed expressly for the large and underserved segment of small retailers. GMLite features the core capabilities of the company’s flagship GoMobile! service, including the online wizard-guided site set-up process, quick and easy site launch, and “click-to-call” purchasing capabilities. Small merchants can establish their site in as little as 30 minutes, according to mPoria, with up to 100 items in their product catalogue. Once set-up is complete, the merchant’s branded mobile shopping site is launched and accessible to consumers by entering the URL (selected by the merchant) in their mobile device, or via mporia.mobi. When ready to purchase, they simply click the merchant’s click-to-call button to complete the transaction. “Our GoMobile! service has been extremely well-received in the marketplace and is viewed as the standard in m-commerce technology,” stated Hossein Mousavi, CEO and Co-Founder of mPoria. “That said, many small retailers have indicated their particular business needs do not require such a robust solution, so we developed GMLite—an entry-level version of GoMobile! that serves the specific needs of the small retailer market.”
INSTALLATIONS
Drug Chain Hooked on RFID
Walgreens, one of the largest U.S. drug chains, released details of the RFID implementation at its “next-generation” distribution center in Anderson, SC. The DC represents one of the largest RFID deployments to date, with 45 shipping doors with integrated RFID readers tracking 170,000 shipping totes and other reusable assets. At full capacity, the DC will ship approximately 80,000 cases daily to more than 700 Walgreens stores across the Southeast. In an interesting note, more than 40% of the DC’s workforce has physical or cognitive disabilities, and the new operation was designed to facilitate productivity.
Intended to replace all paperwork and barcode scanning during shipment loading, the RFID logistics and distribution system tracks every product loaded onto every truck in real time, immediately alerting workers to any potential shipping errors. So-called “edge processing intelligence” from Blue Vector (Palo Alto, CA) is performed locally at every shipping door, with each trailer’s shipping manifest preloaded onto the Blue Vector edge appliance housed within dock door portals, to ensure accuracy and rapid error detection. The system employs hardware from Motorola’s Enterprise Mobility Business and passive UHF tags from Avery Dennison.
“Walgreens has a long tradition of pioneering break-through technologies in the industry,” said Randy Lewis, SVP of Distribution and Logistics for Walgreens. “Today, we’re leading the charge to revolutionize our distribution center systems and processes to drive significantly higher efficiency, accuracy, and ultimately higher margins. With the help of Blue Vector, we’re making significant progress toward the next-generation of automated and intelligent distribution and logistics systems.” In all, Walgreens operates 12 full-service DCs, with 6,300 retail locations in the U.S., and counting. According to published reports, the company intends to implement the RFID-enabled loading process in its new DC in Windsor, CT.
New SPIN on Check Conversion
Kohl’s, the family-focused specialty retail chain, has selected Solutran (Minneapolis) to provide Back Office Conversion (BOC) services. BOC, sometimes referred to as remote capture or even remote deposit, converts the customers’ paper checks into electronic settlements. Specifically, Kohl’s will utilize the patent-pending SPIN solution—Solutran’s POS and Imaging Network—across all of its 1,000 store locations. “We reviewed a number of check conversion products and SPIN was the best fit,” reported Gary Stoltmann, Kohl’s VP of Finance and Assistant Treasurer.
Solutran developed SPIN to meet the needs of large retailers in the area of check conversion. SPIN offers clients an outsourced approach to BOC. Check information is captured from merchant POS authorization equipment and sent to Solutran for settlement. The original paper checks are then forwarded separately to Solutran’s centralized processing facilities for imaging, archiving, and certified destruction. SPIN reduces client banking fees by as much as 70%, according to Solutran, with little upfront investment for the merchant.
“Retailers are looking for ways to increase operating efficiency,” observed Barry Nordstrand, Solutran’s President/CEO. “SPIN offers this opportunity, and we expect significant merchant adoption over the coming quarters.” Solutran provides customized solutions that span the payment spectrum and maintains relationships with 10 affiliate processing centers across the U.S. and Canada.
Barry Nordstrand, President/CEO, Solutran
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
ScanSource
POS & Peripherals
Bematech
Logic Controls
pcCashdrawer
POS-X
Barcode Printers
Wasp Barcode Technologies
Data Collection Terminals
CipherLab
Datalogic
Mobile
Honeywell
Imaging and Mobility
Janam
Technologies
ECRs / Touchscreens / Printers/
Parts and Supplies
CRS, Inc.
Keyboards
Cherry Corp.
Receipt
Printers
Citizen Systems America
Star Micronics
Retail Software
InfoTouch
Toshiba TEC
Screen Protection
3M
Optical Products
Thermal Printers
Seiko Instruments USA
Touchscreens
FireBox Displays
INTEGRATION
Putting the (Info)Touch on HP
InfoTouch Corporation (Atlanta), one of the leading suppliers of touchscreen-based POS software, has become one of the first companies to join Hewlett-Packard’s Developer & Solution Partner Program. In addition, InfoTouch received one of the initial pre-production units of HP’s newest POS platform, the HP rp3000, targeted at the SMB market. The company’s Store Keeper POS and Store Manager ES Software were both certified for the HP rp3000 prior to the official product announcement by HP.
“Our partnership with HP initiates a strategic alliance to grow our market share with POS resellers and specialty retailers,” commented Keith Neerman, President of InfoTouch Corporation. “HP’s engineering leadership in bringing world-class hardware to the market at an exciting price point. its outstanding distribution network, and its new emphasis on working with ISV’s such as InfoTouch mesh perfectly with our plans to grow our reseller network. The HP rp3000 and Store Keeper POS combination provides a complete solution to specialty retailers at a price that will astound the marketplace. We were pleased to be able to show the system to resellers at BlueStar’s VARTECH Show so shortly after the rp3000 announcement.”
“The rp3000 is truly an impressive feat of engineering,” added Adam Berger, VP of Development at InfoTouch. “A fast processor, generous memory and hard drive, and plenty of ports to connect POS peripherals are packaged into an incredibly small footprint—always a big concern at the point of sale. To produce this retail-hardened system, with three-year warranty and service support, at the rp3000’s price point is a game-changing event for the POS industry.”
As we reported in last week’s edition, that entry-level price point is approximately $1,600. The stampede has started, with POS ISVs rushing to support HP’s new terminal, and distributors such as BlueStar (Florence, KY) and Ingram Micro Data Capture/POS Division (Carlsbad, CA) promoting its availability.
Digital Signage and POS, Hand in Hand
Scala (Exton, PA), perhaps the leader in end-to-end solutions for digital signage, announced that Muvico Theaters, which runs 14 high-end, architecturally themed locations in Florida, Maryland, and Illinois, recently connected their digital signage network to their POS system to drive business through dynamic pricing and promotions. We report this news following multiple discussions about the relevancy of digital signage at BlueStar’s VARTECH Show in Orlando this week, as the POS channel looks for ways to get in on the action .
Hammond Communications Group (Cincinnati), one of Scala’s Certified Partners, and strategic partner Schult Industries (Blue Springs, MO), created this solution, which features three 42-inch LCDs for digital menu boards and one 50-inch plasma display to deliver a multi-zone layout of messaging for Muvico’s “Appetite Appeal.” Driven from dynamic sources, a single media player displays menu items, combos, animated specials, and pricing for all concession items. Working with Radiant Systems (Alpharetta, GA), suppliers of the POS software used by Muvico, Hammond was able to create a custom application that mines data from the POS system to drive pricing and menu items based on real-time inventory levels and promotional strategies.
Changes to the content are provided and distributed throughout the network by Hammond Communications, a full-service multimedia communications company. In addition, the local theater manager is given control to promote “Appetite Appeal” as needed. “Muvico is increasing the productivity of their digital signage network by connecting it to their POS system,” asserted Dean Reverman, Director of Business Development for Hammond Communications. “This allows Muvico to update their product offerings, meet the demands of their customers, and maintain their brand awareness.” Now Muvico's media and messaging consultants should do something about the name “Appetite Appeal.”
Channel Factoid
In 2007, the global market for payment/transaction terminals reached $2 billion, with unit shipments approaching 9 million. This market will enjoy Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.8% through 2012, with unit shipments expected to top 16 million and revenue approaching $3 billion. Included in this category are card readers, electronic signature-capture devices, and contactless smart cards. Retail enterprise end-users are expected to incorporate contactless smart card solutions even if they do not plan on using the technology in the immediate future, in order to avoid having obsolete, outdated technology in a few years, notes Venture Development Corporation in its study.
HELLO GOODBYE
Checkpoint Plants New Leader at OATSystems
Checkpoint Systems (Thorofare, NJ) has promoted Prasad Putta to VP and GM of OATSystems (Waltham, MA), which Checkpoint purchased in June of this year. In this role, Putta will be responsible for leading OATSystems’ strategy and operations in its new structure as a division of Checkpoint Systems. He previously served as Co-Founder and Head of Business Development.
“Prasad is highly respected in the RFID industry and has tremendous experience at OAT via his long-standing executive roles there,” said Rob van der Merwe, President/CEO of Checkpoint Systems. “We are very pleased and proud to have him lead this important division.”
Checkpoint also announced that Sanjay Sarma, who was OATSystems’ Co-Founder and Chief Scientist, has been retained as Checkpoint Technology Advisor and member of the Checkpoint Innovation Council. Sarma is a recognized leader in the RFID industry, having co-founded the MIT Auto-ID Center. He also serves as one of the board members of EPCglobal, which develops the electronic product code standards that are driving worldwide adoption of RFID.
Firmware Engineer Signs onto Sato
Sato America (Charlotte, NC) has hired Dennis Garis as its Senior Firmware Engineer. Reporting to Peter Fullerton, Director of Product and Applications Development, Garis will be responsible for firmware design and support for printer modifications and enhancements.
Prior to joining Sato America, Garis spent over 24 years with AMT Datasouth Corp. in a similar position. “Obviously, Dennis has extensive experience and expertise in firmware design and Sato America is very fortunate to welcome him to the Sato team,” said Robert Linse, President of Sato America.
Sato also announced its participation in the successful completion of the second phase of GS1 EPCglobal’s Transportation and Logistics RFID Pilot Program. The project involved the shipment of parts such as tires, as well as finished goods such as laptop computers, moving from source factories in China to distribution centers in the U.S., and flowing through the ports of Shanghai and Los Angeles. Sato was the only printer manufacturer to participate in this cargo visibility test for both passive and active UHF EPC tags.
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