This Week’s Product Pick
Datalogic Scanning (Eugene, OR) shipped its QuickScan QD2100 Imager, an entry-level linear-imaging reader targeted at retail and office environments plus activities associated with couriers and postal services. Capable of reading one-dimensional barcodes and the recently adopted GS1 DataBar linear codes, the QD2100 features an ergonomic, lightweight form factor as well as Datalogic’s exclusive patented “Green Spot” technology, which provides intuitive code positioning and good-read feedback in noisy environments. In addition, replacement scan window kits allow for easy cleaning or replacement of dirty, scratched, or damaged scan windows. The QD2100 comes with two multi-interface options: RS-232/IBM 4600/USB and RS-232/USB/Keyboard Wedge/Wand. Datalogic’s Aladdin configuration program simplifies the start-up procedure, even for inexperienced end-users. “Customers can now select from their preferred scanning technology, laser or the new linear imager, which offers an even better performance and greater depth-of-field,” noted Pietro Todescato, GM, Handheld Scanning at Datalogic. “The new QuickScan Imager not only shares the same enclosure, accessories, and cables with the QuickScan Laser scanner, but is priced identically and competitively for this economic market.”
QuickScan QD2100 Imager from Datalogic Scanning
COMPANY BUSINESS Bematech Reboots U.S. Plans Bematech, the large Brazilian retail hardware vendor, has reorganized its operations in the U.S., following its purchase of Logic Controls and the departure of Matt Chamberlin, former Director for the U.S. and Canada. Going forward, Bematech’s U.S. efforts will be led by Wladimir Alvarez, Bematech’s International Director, who also handles Europe and Latin America for the company. All administration, sales, and support will be run through “Logic Controls: A Bematech Company” located in the Logic Controls facility on Long Island, NY. In an interview with RRN.Com, Alvarez explained that all products will now flow through Logic Controls, and in particular, flow exclusively through its two-tier distributors: ScanSource, BlueStar, Ingram Micro Data Capture/POS Division, and Metropolitan Sales. Previously, Bematech U.S. marketed directly to resellers. In addition, Bematech’s “evergreen item,” the LR-3000 Mini-Printer, will be introduced to the U.S. marketplace and branded as one of Logic Controls’ products. With Bematech’s Cincinnati office being phased out, Alvarez will relocate to Long Island after the upcoming NRF Show in New York City in January. Bematech used last year’s show to introduce itself to the retail market and plans another big splash this year. “Attending the event in 2008 was a great experience we are keen to repeat in 2009,” said Marcel Malczewski, Bematech’s Co-Founder and CEO. “The company will bring to NYC its team composed of main executives, where they will have the opportunity to meet their international and local clients—and future clients, as well.”
Baracoda Hooked by Ingram Micro DC/POS Ingram Micro’s Data Capture/POS Division (Carlsbad, CA) has expanded its mobile workforce portfolio by adding Baracoda’s Bluetooth-based data-capture devices to its line card. Baracoda’s entire family of barcode scanners and adapters, which includes brand names such as D-Flys, Pencils, RoadRunners, ScanWear, TagRunners, and ToughRunners, has been made available to Ingram Micro solution providers in the U.S. No certifications are necessary, and training and solution-focused technical support services are also available from the distributor. “Demand for mobile workforce solutions is on the rise, especially in vertical markets such as retail, healthcare, manufacturing, and transportation where precision and service levels are top priorities,” noted Justin Scopaz, VP and GM, Ingram Micro Data Capture/POS Division. “By leveraging mobile wireless technologies such as Baracoda’s scanners and adapters, IT service providers can help companies achieve operational experience and clearly demonstrate ROI by increasing workforce productivity and introducing more efficiency.” “We are extremely pleased that Baracoda’s portfolio of Bluetooth barcode scanners and RFID readers is now available to channel partners from Ingram Micro,” said Christophe Dissaux, EVP for North America, Baracoda (Brooklyn, NY). “Ingram Micro’s reputation globally and reach in North America are assets we believe will help Baracoda reach a much larger customer base.”
All Together Now: CognitiveTPG Long-time channel players Cognitive and Transaction Printer Group, both owned by ATSI Holdings Inc., have decided to co-brand under the name, CognitiveTPG. The new company has updated its logo, collateral, e-mail addresses, and perhaps most significantly, Website to provide consistent look and feel across its printer product lines. “We want resellers to realize there’s additional money to be made by looking at us as the one-stop solution for their label printing and POS printing needs,” declared Angela Mansfield-Swanson, Director of Corporate Marketing, CognitiveTPG, in an interview with RRN.Com. “The new site is built on a database system which will allow for more timely updates and improved functionality. Our first goal was to release a combined product line and brand identity. Our second goal is to incorporate our ‘partners only’ area. Shortly thereafter, you will see more 2.0 Web tools incorporated into the site.” According to Mansfield-Swanson, CognitiveTPG has set its sights on providing customized programs for its partners “because they have different needs.” In addition, the company’s corporate headquarters have been located to Lincolnshire, IL, with engineering, tech support, and customer service based in Ithaca, NY, and label manufacturing in Golden, CO. Finally, CognitiveTPG is looking to grow international sales, particularly through its relationship with BlueStar Europe.
|
|
Worth Your While
NRF Annual Convention & Expo
National Retail Federation
January 11-14
New York
ProMat 2009
Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA)
January 12-15
Chicago
Inspire 2009
Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA)
January 18-21
Aruba Marriott Resort
AIM Technology Leadership Summit
Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility
April 20-22
Chicago
NRA Show
National Restaurant Association
May 16-19
Chicago
NACStech
National Association of Convenience Stores
May 18-20
Grapevine, TX
INTEGRATION
Elo Gives An Extra Finger to Zoom and Scroll
Elo TouchSystems (Menlo Park, CA) has developed proprietary technology that enables real-time, two-finger gesture recognition on analog resistive touchscreens. The new technology, dubbed Resistive Gestures, provides richer user experience via intuitive gestures which until now had been possible only with higher-end, costlier schemes such as projected capacitive, according to the company. It consists of an enhanced controller and firmware set, and it can be quickly integrated into analog resistive touchscreen systems.
In making the announcement, Elo pointed to the growing popularity of touch technology in small form-factor electronics such as smart phones, navigation devices, and wireless hospitality handhelds. While analog resistive touch technology provides low cost, low power consumption, and multiple input methods, its functionality has been limited to single touch. Projected capacitive, by comparison, delivers multi-touch functionality, but at higher cost, higher power consumption, and finger-only input. The new Elo technology is intended to bridge the gap. It supports two-finger zoom and two-finger scrolling, anchor and rotate gestures, plus standard single-finger gestures including pan and flip.
“Elo continues to leverage our leadership and innovation to deliver on our commitment to provide an advantage to touch technology customers,” commented Mark Mendenhall, GM of EloTouchSystems and VP of parent company, Tyco Electronics. “Our new Resistive Gestures technology will provide mobile touch device makers with a value-added, cost-competitive touch interface alternative.”
Intermec Offers Kit for BizTalk Mobile
Intermec (Everett, WA) has released its Intermec Device Deployment Kit in support of Microsoft’s BizTalk RFID Mobile, making mobile solutions easier for customers and partners to develop, deploy, and manage, according to the company. Downloadable for free, the kit offers partners seamless integration with BizTalk RFID for the CN3 and CK61 mobile computers with the IP30 snap-on RFID reader, as well as the CV30 fixed vehicle computer with the IV7 vehicle mount RFID reader. Intermec expects ISVs to use the BizTalk tools to build plug-and-play vertical market solutions.
“We continue to support Microsoft’s platforms for RFID-based applications across various businesses year after year,” stated Ray Cronin, Intermec VP and GM of RFID. “From the warehouse to a postal delivery route our offerings make our channel partner’s RFID implementations more scalable and efficient.” Intermec, as one would expect, serves as one of Microsoft’s Direct OEM and Gold Certified Partners.
Microsoft BizTalk RFID Mobile, which supports Windows Mobile and Windows CE, allows users to integrate both fixed and mobile RFID readers into common business processes through the same interface, clearing the way for end-to-end, real-time decision making by mobile workers. The platform supports the following features: barcode scanning, pull-trigger events, storing and forwarding tag events in case of intermittent network connections, and remote configuration and administration of handheld devices through Microsoft’s Low Level Reader Protocol (LLRP) provider.
Vehicle-Mount RFID Reader from Intermec
Join the Party at No Charge
 |
 |
 |
|
||
 |
|
 |
|
||
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
Did you miss one of our issues and suddenly realize your competitors know more than you do?
Hurry ! Use the links below to catch up :
HELLO GOODBYE
President Drafted for Datamax-O’Neil
Slowly but surely, the Dover Corporation is bringing together its two printing subsidiaries, Datamax (Orlando) and O’Neil (Irvine, CA). In the most recent move, Christian Lefort has been named President of the Datamax-O’Neil Business Group, where he will lead worldwide sales, marketing, and all related commercial and distribution support functions. He will report to Omar Kerbage, President/CEO, Dover Product Identification Group (PIDG). As a member of the Dover Product Identification Group Executive Committee, he will also act as the executive interface with PIDG support functions such as supply chain and research and engineering.
Lefort joins Datamax-O’Neil from his position as VP Global Distribution Sales for Markem-Imaje, the PIDG Business Group providing marking and coding solutions for the packaging industry, where he managed revenues of $700 million, 1,600 employees, 32 direct sales operations, and 80 distributors worldwide. He joined Imaje in 2000 and has held senior-level management roles in product marketing, marketing communications, and sales. Lefort and his wife and three children will relocate to the U.S. from France, where Imaje is headquartered.
Datamax-O’Neil has also seen fruit from its strategic alliance with Motorola’s Enterprise Mobility Business. Systems Application Engineering (Houston), one of Motorola’s PartnerSelect Premium Business Partners, will provide Interstate Batteries with an enterprise mobility solution for its network of 300 distributors. Interstate Batteries selected Motorola’s WAN-enabled MC9090 mobile computers and O’Neil’s mobile MicroFlash 4t printers to support its Route Management System for route accounting, field operations, and inventory management.
Christian Lefort, President, Datamax-O’Neil Business Group
New Datalogic BDM at BlueStar
BlueStar (Florence, KY) has named Chris Sheppard as Business Development Manager for Datalogic Scanning and Datalogic Mobile products in North America. Sheppard joins BlueStar after years of account management experience in the financial services industry. He holds certification in lead management, time and territory management, and competitive selling, according to the distributor.
“BlueStar is very pleased to have Chris Sheppard join our team as a Business Development Manager for Datalogic,” said Mark Fraker, BlueStar VP of Marketing. “He has the experience and track record of building business, and by employing new marketing techniques such as those in our Fusion program, he will help BlueStar continue to achieve its growth goals.”
“Datalogic Scanning is glad to have Chris Sheppard on board as our new Business Development Manager,” confirmed Kirk Morrison, Datalogic Scanning’s Director of Distribution Sales, North America. “This position is critical to our ongoing success within BlueStar as well as overall business growth in the two-tier channel.”
Chris Sheppard, Business Development Manager, BlueStar
Code
Corner
RP Solutions (Ithaca, NY) launched the Web-based version of its RD Express remote deposit solution, targeted to small businesses with low volumes of incoming checks and to financial institutions that want to quickly deploy custom-branded remote solutions to their client base. Using a small check scanner, RD Express captures images of each check then transmits them directly to RP’s ExpressPay Gateway. From these images, ACH and Check 21 deposit files are created and immediately processed for clearing. A business can make deposits to one or more accounts with their bank. ExpressPay Gateway manages the relationship with the financial institution and handles the entire clearing process on behalf of the end-user. The Gateway can also consolidate deposits from multiple locations, manage return items, and process files from third-party solutions. “With its smart client architecture, RD Express offers the best of both the thick and thin models without the disadvantages,” said David Johnson, President of RP Solutions. “It is available via Web browser, rather than being installed locally as with thick clients, allowing for easy start-up and automatic updates. And unlike thin clients, key functions are performed locally and Internet connectivity is required only when performing certain tasks, such as uploading check images to our payment gateway.”
ALLIANCES
One Basket for Grocery Solutions
Tomax Corporation (Salt Lake City, UT) and Revionics Inc. (Granite Bay, CA) will partner together to address two key areas of need for grocery retailers and wholesalers: Workforce Optimization and Price Optimization. Under the agreement, Workforce Optimization, key to the Tomax Retail.net solution suite, will be offered by Revionics on the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) basis. In turn, Tomax will offer the Revionics Advanced Pricing System, or RAPS, to supplement and enhance its Revenue Management portfolio. The scope of this partnership will include joint marketing and sales, technical integration, implementation coordination, solution delivery, and technical support.
“Revionics and Tomax each have leadership positions, especially in the grocery industry,” noted Eric Olafson, CEO at Tomax. “We are very excited about our planned offering with Revionics, and are excited about the opportunity to work together on advanced solutions for the grocery channel.”
Added Todd Michaud, President/CEO at Revionics: “Revionics has always specialized in scientifically analyzing consumer shopping patterns and price sensitivity in the determination of everyday, promotional, and markdown pricing. The very same demand intelligence data that we are analyzing for our clients is an essential part of planning and optimizing store-level workforce requirements for enhanced productivity and increased efficiency.” Makes sense to us. Next, the two companies plan to roll out “affordable, highly configurable, off-the-shelf deployments.”
[Editor’s Note: Elsewhere in the ISV world, i2 Technologies announced that it has terminated its merger transaction with JDA Software. No further details have been released by either company. Twenty-one of the AMR Research Top 25 Global Supply Chains belong to i2 customers.]
LXE and MCL Tool Up Together
Intending to strengthen its channel market focus, LXE Inc. (Atlanta) has entered into an agreement with MCL Technologies (Waterloo, Belgium) that gives its partners greater access to MCL software tools on LXE equipment. Specifically, the companies unveiled the release of MCL-Collection and MCL-Voice for LXE’s handheld and wearable rugged mobile computers. This includes LXE’s HX2, HX3, MX7, and MX8 products.
“Today’s agreement with MCL supports LXE’s expansion in the channel, strengthening the options available to LXE partners to develop and deploy new applications using LXE equipment,” offered Bill Roeder, LXE VP and GM. “In particular, MCL software tools give our partners a powerful and effective way to develop robust applications for use in a variety of environments. MCL-Voice enables current MCL developers to quickly add voice capabilities to their applications.”
MCL-Voice delivers language-based speech recognition as well as text-to-speech synthesis. Using MCL-Voice, customers can create voice-dedicated applications or combine voice with other data-capture technologies, such as barcode scanning. They can also run voice and non-voice applications on the same device, and even share a pool of devices amongst users. MCL-Voice also offers management and analysis tools to evaluate voice performance.
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
Logic Controls
pcKeyboard
POS-X
Barcode Printers
Wasp Barcode Technologies
Cash Drawers
MMF Cash Drawer
Data Collection Terminals
CipherLab
Datalogic
Mobile
Honeywell Scanning & Mobility
Honeywell Scanning & Mobility/Metrologic
Janam Technologies
Keyboards
Cherry Corp.
Receipt
Printers
Citizen Systems America
Star Micronics
Retail Software
InfoTouch
Logivision
Thermal Printers
Seiko Instruments USA
WINNER’S CIRCLE
CDW Buzzes About Wasp
Wasp Barcode Technologies (Plano, TX) was selected as one of CDW’s 2008 Partners of the Year at the recent CDW Partner Summit in Las Vegas. CDW Partner of the Year Awards are based on input from CDW customers, account managers, product management teams, advanced technology specialists, and executives. The awards take into consideration the growth of partner sales through CDW, as well as overall partner financial performance.
“CDW recognizes that the technology marketplace is constantly adapting to meet the increasing demands of business,” remarked Matt Troka, CDW VP of Product and Partner Management. “The Partner of the Year program recognizes Wasp Barcode Technologies for its contribution to the technology industry, as well as for its support of CDW’s initiatives and values.”
“CDW shares Wasp’s passion and enthusiasm for the small business segment, and leveraging its sales programs helped Wasp enjoy great success in 2008,” testified Tom O’Shea, VP and GM for Wasp. “Wasp is extremely gratified to be one of only four manufacturer partners honored with this prestigious award. We will leverage this momentum and expanded opportunities as we head into 2009.”
Wasp Executives Receive Partner of Year Award from CDW: Pictured (left to right) Matt Troka, VP Product & Partner Management, CDW: John James, Wasp Account Manager; Mark Gambill, VP & Chief Marketing Officer, CDW; Bryan Keepers, Wasp Director North American Sales; Andrea Sirchio, Wasp Channel Marketing Manager; Jim Shanks, EVP, CDW.
Channel Factoid
Forget the traditional 80-20 rule—the idea that 80% of sales come from 20% of customers—at least as it applies to today’s shoppers of consumer product brands. Among more than 1,300 individual product brands analyzed, just 2.5% of shoppers accounted for 80% of sales for the average brand. Of brands surveyed—all top-selling products in their categories—only 25 relied on more than 10% of shoppers to drive 80% of sales. CPG manufacturers and retailers have both caused and responded to customer demand for greater choice and personalization with an unprecedented array of targeted products and brands. Indeed, the number of new CPG products reaching the market each year now surpasses 25,000, more than 10 times the rate of 1980. “These findings surprise even the most seasoned CPG executives,” admitted Todd Morris, SVP of Catalina Marketing, which conducted the survey through its new Pointer Media Network.
PARTNER PROGRAMS
Private-Label Microsoft Solutions
Microsoft (Redmond, WA) and Hewlett-Packard (Palo Alto, CA) have joined forces to help VARs benefit from the software-plus-services business model. Specifically, the two technology leaders plan to equip VARs with “comprehensive tools and guidance” that will enable them to offer private-label Microsoft solutions that are hosted by Managed Service Providers (MSPs). By enabling VARs to offer SMB customers their choice of traditional on-premise and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) IT delivery models, the private-label initiative should also allow VARs to extend their role as strategic IT advisors by helping customers optimize IT investments and productivity as they migrate to Web services. The program builds on HP’s and Microsoft’s existing strategic Frontline Partnership.
“For VARs that want to be successful in the cloud and Software-as-a-Service marketplace, HP and Microsoft are the first major technology vendors to deliver the program, products, training, and sales tools necessary for them,” emphasized Janet Pretti, VP of Marketing in the Solutions Partners Organization at HP. “By allowing VARs to evolve their business model and benefit from a recurring revenue stream, we are opening up new opportunities in a challenging economic climate.”
Microsoft and HP are also providing solution configurations based on HP BladeSystem, HP ProLiant, and HP StorageWorks products. These solutions are intended for MSPs looking to expand their hosting business by deploying the Microsoft virtualization platform and management tools for the optimized delivery of Windows-based workloads such as Hosted Microsoft Exchange Server, hosted Microsoft Dynamics CRM or Windows SharePoint Services, as well as to companies that want to enter the hosting business. For these companies, Microsoft offers its suite of data center virtualization products and tools.
PinPoint Media
All Rights Reserved