This Week’s Product Pick
Bixolon America (Carson, CA) presented its eco-friendly, power-saving BCD-1100 Customer Pole Display. Powered through the USB cable, the BCD-1100 alleviates the need to purchase an accompanying power adapter. Sleek and space efficient, the new pole display delivers quality and flexibility with its small footprint, high-resolution vacuum-fluorescent display (VFD), adjustable viewing angles, optically matched lens, and wider character pitch. Improved visibility and readability provided by the unit adds to customer confidence during transactions, according to the company. With support for almost any language, the BCD-1100 can emulate all popular command sets, features an adjustable telescopic pole, and comes in black and ivory colors. Bixolon also announced support from Microsoft for its printer products. Bixolon’s SPP-R200 thermal mobile receipt printer has received certification from the Microsoft Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL), and the Bixolon SRP-350Plus thermal receipt printer has been certified with Microsoft RMS and POS. “Customers are assured of easy plug-and-play installation when used with Windows operating systems, minimizing the need for IT support during installation and operation,” said David Roberts, VP of Sales and Marketing at Bixolon America.
BCD-1100 Pole Display from Bixolon
COMPANY BUSINESS Next Up: An Encrypted POS Bundle An interesting team of industry players has pooled resources to offer an encrypted POS bundle with all hardware, software, and merchant processing services necessary for the SMB market. The SecurePOS SMB Bundle, distributed by Ingram Micro’s Data Capture/POS Division (Carlsbad, CA), builds upon Hewlett-Packard’s rp3000 POS system. Transaction security is achieved through use of MagTek’s MagneSafe Secure Encrypted MSR technology and Payment Processing, Inc.’s Merchant Services and PPI PayMover Payment Gateway. As part of the package, PPI will decrypt and process credit card transactions from Uniforce Technology’s Retail-Lite and R-POS POS software packages for retail and hospitality. This multi-vendor effort, which has been in the works for some time, can be bundled and configured for VARs by Ingram Micro’s Configuration Center in Millington, TN, and presented as an out-of-the-box secure solution for their end-users. All POS peripherals can be included, according to Ingram Micro DC/POS: Motorola LS-2208 scanner, Citizen receipt and kitchen printers, MMF cash drawer, Cherry keyboard, and Planar touchscreen. One of the key differentiators, clearly, is the end-to-end security and merchant services provided by MagTek (Seal Beach, CA) and PPI (Newark, CA). “People don’t realize that you don’t just plug in an encrypted swipe and it works,” Tim Murray, PPI’s VP of Product Development, told RRN.Com. “There has to be the hosted service that supports such technology.” PPI intends to offer POS VARs two opportunities to profit from their participation, Murray shared with RRN.Com, including the recurring revenue stream offered from credit card processing, as well as an incentive for every new merchant account enrolled with the bundle.
Psion Teklogix Drafts Ingram Micro DC/POS Psion Teklogix (Hebron, KY) has signed on with Ingram Micro’s Data Capture/POS Division (Carlsbad, CA) to distribute its products throughout the Americas. Under terms of the new agreement, Ingram Micro DC/POS will support, market, and resell Psion Teklogix’s full line of rugged computing solutions, including handheld and vehicle-mounted devices, RFID readers, scanners, and voice and printer products. At present, Psion Teklogix also distributes in the U.S. and Canada through Synnex. According to Psion Teklogix’s President of Worldwide Sales, Ron Caines, the new distribution alliance promises greater operational efficiency, expands his company’s reach, and provides its current channel partners access to Ingram Micro’s value-added service and financing programs, as well as its broad portfolio of products and solutions. “Working with Ingram Micro, one of the industry’s top channel partners for POS, AIDC, and RFID technology solutions, accelerates our value proposition to channel partners and enables them to sell to and service their customers more effectively,” Caines concluded. “Demand for mobile, data capture, and POS computing solutions is growing—especially within field-intensive verticals such as retail, entertainment, manufacturing, and public sector,” added Justin Scopaz, VP and GM, Ingram Micro Data Capture/POS Division. “We are pleased to offer and support Psion Teklogix’s complete line of ruggedized mobile computing technology and expand upon our growing portfolio of vertically-focused IT products and solutions.”
|
|
Worth Your While
AIM Technology Leadership Summit
Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility
April 20-22
Chicago
Put RFID 2 WRK
RFID Journal Live
April 27-29
Orlando
KioskCom
(Self-Service Expo & Digital Signage Show)
JD Events
May 6-7
Las Vegas
5th Annual Partner Invitational
Ingram Micro Data Capture/POS Division
May 12-14
Phoenix
NRA Show
National Restaurant Association
May 16-19
Chicago
NACStech
National Association of Convenience Stores
May 18-20
Grapevine, TX
RetailNow 2009
Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA)
July 11-16
Las Vegas
VARTECH 2009
BlueStar
August 13-15
Nashville, TN
ALL IN THE FAMILY
Entry-Level Card Printing from Zebra
Zebra Technologies (Vernon Hills, IL) launched its QuikCard ID Solution for the SMB market. QuikCard ID includes all of the hardware and software needed to customize and print single or dual-sided, full-color cards and badges, including support for barcodes and magnetic encoding. System components include Zebra’s value-class P110i or P120i card printer, QuikCard ID design software and templates, Logitech USB Webcam with mini-tripod, and media/supplies starter kits consisting of one ribbon and 200 PVC cards.
“The QuikCard ID Solution is designed to meet the access and ID needs of smaller organizations without requiring major capital investment or specialized technical expertise,” explained Ram Ramaprasad, Director of Product Management for Zebra Technologies. “By removing these entry barriers, Zebra’s out-of-the-box solution offers new and existing market segments a practical way to deploy entry-level card applications.”
The Zebra QuikCard ID Solution, which will be sold through the company’s channel partners, enables end-users to quickly and easily design, print, and issue high-quality Photo ID cards for a variety of applications such as access control badges, visitor ID management, and retail loyalty and membership cards. The solution is also ideal for ID cards in educational, state and local government, public safety agencies, and not-for-profit organizations.
Zebra’s All-In-One QuikCard ID Solution
Epson Cures Hospital Labeling Woes
Epson America (Long Beach, CA) checked in with its SecurColor ink-jet printer, designed specifically for high-quality, on-demand color printing and labeling in hospital environments. Unlike traditional color-labeling solutions which require manual selection and loading of pre-printed stock or blank sheets, SecurColor offers maximum flexibility by printing on a wide variety of permanent, waterproof, and durable media. Labels, wristbands, and forms may be printed on demand, in any number, and with sizes ranging from 1.2 in. to 4.4 in. wide—at the lab, pharmacy, or point of service.
In addition, SecurColor offers front-loading labels and ink cartridges for easy access, and its small footprint fits neatly onto the desk or shelf. Patented MicroPiezo ink-jet print heads ensure text and image quality at speeds of up to 3.7 inches per second, according to Epson. Finally, its user-friendly Windows driver system and dedicated software assigns the correct color codes, reducing the risk of human error and minimizing the amount of wasted labels.
“Epson has a strong reputation for manufacturing highly reliable, durable ink-jet printers, and we are enthusiastic about bringing that expertise to healthcare,” stated Bud Weist, VP of Sales and Marketing, Epson System Device Group. “SecurColor is a solid choice for hospitals looking to print high-quality on-demand color without the waste and complexity of using multiple printers and various media.”
SecurColor Ink-Jet Printer from Epson
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 :
INTEGRATION
Progress on Three Fronts for Vigilix
Vigilix (Greenville, SC) has received PCI DSS Compliance from Trustwave (Chicago) for its Total Support Manager, which provides remote monitoring and control of POS systems. Total Support Manager also has been integrated with remote control PC and desktop technology from NetSupport (Alpharetta, GA), adding enhanced security capabilities to NetSupport Manager in the area of PCI requirements for strong password protection and two-factor authentication. This month, Vigilix will surpass 7,000 deployments monitored by help-desks in support of POS, Bradley Smith, VP of Sales and Marketing, told RRN.Com
Vigilix Total Support Manager provides real-time monitoring, messaging, and control of POS systems from an enterprise level down to an individual location. Using the secure remote control function, Vigilix RC, technicians can respond to alerts quickly, thus preventing small issues from becoming big problems. Delivered as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Vigilix does not require additional hardware or software for deployment. Vigilix powers ScanSource’s Virtual Technician, for example.
“According to VISA, remote access is one of the top three areas of POS vulnerabilities,” commented Andrew Kurtz, CEO of Vigilix. “Many companies are using general IT remote access products that are not compliant to support POS systems and are leaving their customers open to becoming victims of cyber-crime. Since we are 100% focused on the Point of Sale industry, it was worth the time and expense to make sure our product is compliant with PCI requirements.”
Andrew Kurtz, CEO, Vigilix
TomTom Beats for Fleet Management
TomTom (Concord, MA), which provides navigation solutions and digital maps, has partnered with Advantage Integrated Solutions (Denver), one of Intuit’s Premier QuickBase Business Consultants, to deliver an “intelligent” fleet routing solution. The system couples TomTom’s PRO Series navigation devices with Web-based Advantage SmartRoutes to offer enhanced route planning and navigation for mobile workforces. Highly customizable for functions such as central dispatch, it also gives drivers detailed mapping information about the locations to which they are navigating.
“Every day companies with mobile workforces are challenged to direct all their people to all the places they need to go,” observed Scott Wyatt, CEO of Advantage Integrated Solutions. “The TomTom PRO Series navigation device, combined with our Advantage SmartRoutes application, provides an affordable and complete business fleet solution that marries the best in point-to-point navigation with the easiest route planning. And our customers appreciate having the central Web repository to hold and manage all their location and address information.”
The TomTom PRO Series is comprised of two models: the PRO 4000 and the PRO 8000. Both include innovative features such as TomTom Map Share—which enables users to access the most up-to-date map information—and the “Help Me!” emergency resources menu. The PRO 8000 also comes equipped with premium navigation features such as IQ Routes (TomTom’s proprietary routing technology that plans the best route based on average drive times), Advanced Lane Guidance, Voice Address Input, and Bluetooth hands-free calling.
Code
Corner
Version 12.0 of Cash Register Express and Restaurant Pro Express has been released by pcAmerica (Pearl River, NY). Major highlights include enhanced credit card security, new labor scheduler, an interface with security camera and DVR systems, ID scanning, and an Internet-based portal for end-users, CEO David Gosman told RRN.Com. Significantly, pcAmerica has achieved PA-DSS Compliance for both Cash Register Express and Restaurant Pro Express, Gosman reported, adding, "we may be one of the first POS software applications to achieve PA-DSS Certification, which goes beyond the older PABP standards.” The new labor scheduler shows how many employees are working at any time, as well as what roles they are fulfilling. Schedules can be printed for employees, as well as copied from previous weeks. A new Labor Cost Percentage Report has been included, in addition to the new Customer Summary Report and Credit Card Detail Report. In the area of Security Camera/DVR integration, both Cash Register Express and Restaurant Pro Express Versions 12.0 overlay the actual transaction on the screen in real time, including items being rung up, discounts, “no sales” to open the cash drawer, payments, and the full receipt. Both solutions, CRE and RPE, come armed with pcAmerica’s ID/Age Verification technology, produced in conjunction with Honeywell Scanning & Mobility. Lastly, chains of stores and restaurants can now use the pcAmerica Web Portal to run reports, change prices, create purchase orders, and perform other back-office tasks from any computer Web browser. This solution can be hosted and managed by pcAmerica or offered under license to larger chains that manage their own servers. In all, more than two dozen updates have been included in Version 12.0 of CRE and RPE, Gosman reported.
MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
Printronix Enfolds TallyGenicom
It’s official: the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware has named Printronix (Irvine, CA) as the winning bidder in the court-supervised auction of certain assets of TallyGenicom LP, the U.S.-based entity of TallyGenicom. Acquired assets include the intellectual property, inventory, and equipment necessary to offer TallyGenicom’s line-matrix and portions of its serial-matrix and laser printer series along with the Printronix-branded product and solutions portfolio for the industrial marketplace and supply chain. Printronix has already added the “TallyGenicom Welcome Center” to its corporate Website to facilitate the switch-over.
“We are excited at the opportunity to serve TallyGenicom’s long-standing, valued customer base,” declared Robert Kleist, CEO of Printronix. “One of the reasons we pursued this acquisition is that we respect TallyGenicom’s strong name recognition and technology platform worldwide. We plan to market the TallyGenicom brand and product line-up in parallel to our Printronix offerings. We believe the combination of Printronix’s and TallyGenicom’s strong market presence will herald an era of broader geographic reach, segmented industry offerings, expanded solutions, and higher levels of customer satisfaction.”
Most notably, the TallyGenicom addition will permit Printronix to better serve banking, government, and healthcare customers. Printronix plans to evaluate staffing needs—as well as other aspects of engineering, branding, marketing, and logistics—during the upcoming months of integration. Printronix, RRN.Com readers may recall, was bought last year by Vector Capital, the San Francisco-based private equity firm with deep pockets.
HighJump Prized by Third-Party Logistics Provider
Guess they liked the product. After using HighJump Software’s supply chain suite in its facilities, JDF Distribution Solutions (Coppell, TX) has decided to buy the company. The third-party logistics provider currently runs 400,000 square feet of distribution center space across three sites in the Lone Star State. Its primary customers are mid-tier manufacturers that supply Wal-Mart and other mass retailers. HighJump (Eden Prairie, MN) was selected after JDF’s competitive review of more than 20 warehouse management systems.
“Customers want and expect their logistics services partner to have a robust, reliable systems platform,” remarked Jason Flood, JDF Distribution’s VP of Sales. “HighJump enables JDF to offer customers the leading-edge system for supply chain execution that is scalable to meet any future need.”
“We see this recessionary period as an opportunity,” Flood emphasized. He expects JDF customers to benefit from the new system in myriad ways: enhanced productivity through more automated and intelligent storage and picking processes, including immediate implementation of voice-enabled picking; fast, easy integration with popular enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms, enabling seamless transmission of orders to the warehouse management system without the need for value-added networks (VANs); visibility to product anywhere along the supply chain for improved planning; and, last but not least, improved inventory accuracy.
Key
Advertiser
Links
Be sure to visit these vendors for the latest in channel products and offers for resellers.
POS & Auto ID Distribution
BlueStar
M-S Cash Drawer
POS & Peripherals
Pioneer POS
POS-X
Barcode & Mobile Printers
Datamax-O'Neil
Cash Drawers
MMF Cash Drawer
Data Collection Software
Wavelink
Data Collection Terminals
CipherLab
Datalogic
Mobile
Janam Technologies
Motorola
Integrated Payment Solutions
Datacap Systems
Payment Processing
Precidia
Receipt
Printers
Star Micronics
Retail Software
Toshiba TEC
Screen Protection
3M Optical Filters
Video Surveillance & Access Control
ScanSource Security
HELLO GOODBYE
Firich Draws Pair of POS Veterans
Firich USA (Fremont, CA) has added two POS industry veterans to its sales team, simultaneously bolstering its presence on both sides of North America: Nancy Smith as FEC Regional Sales Representative, East, and Joel Snyder as FEC Regional Sales Representative, West. In making the announcements, Scott Johnston, FEC VP of Sales, described both to RRN.Com as huge assets that will awaken FEC in North America, and expressed his pleasure in working with them again after time together at Micros and Posiflex.
Smith spent 10 years with Marriott Corporation in the hospitality business. This background brought her to Micros, where she started her career in POS sales. Over the past 20 years, she has worked in that capacity at Datasym, Panasonic, and Posiflex. “The new alliance with FEC USA is a rare opportunity to develop and expand new and old partnerships in a product line with depth and strength,” Smith said.
A POS veteran since 1979, Snyder has represented leading vendors such as Micros, Datasym, Squirrel Systems, and Posiflex. As a former POS owner/operator, he understands the challenges resellers face in working with hardware manufacturers, and has developed lasting relationships with VARs, ISVs, and Distributors throughout North America. “I am excited about the opportunity to work with FEC, formulating a new vision for partnering,” Snyder said.
 |
 |
Nancy Smith |
Joel Snyder |
Estill to Exit Synnex Canada/EMJ
Synnex Corporation (Fremont, CA) announced that Jim Estill, President/CEO of Synnex Canada Ltd., plans to resign from Synnex Canada /EMJ at the end of May 2009. Mitchell Martin, President of Synnex Canada Ltd., will assume Estill’s responsibilities. Estill stated, “While my decision to leave Synnex Canada is based solely on my desire to pursue the next challenge in my career, I am pleased to hand over the reins of Synnex Canada to Mitchell, who has proven himself ready for the responsibility.”
“With over 30 years of industry experience, Jim has been instrumental in building Synnex Canada into the market leader and fierce competitor it is today,” acknowledged Kevin Murai, President/CEO of Synnex Corporation. “He is a seasoned executive with significant insight and knowledge about the Canadian marketplace and we have appreciated the many contributions that he has made over the years. Through his vision and leadership, Jim has built a strong and seasoned team in Canada that will continue his legacy and best business practices.”
Mitchell Martin joined Synnex Canada through the acquisition of Merisel Canada in September 2001. With over 20 years of industry experience, Martin advanced through the ranks of Merisel Canada through various positions in Product Management, Marketing, and Sales. In 1999, he became SVP of Product and Inventory Management for Merisel Americas. The next year, he returned to Canada as President of Merisel Canada.
Jim Estill, President/CEO, Synnex Canada
Channel Factoid
It’s our contention that the self-service industry finally took off when business executives were introduced to kiosks at airports and became comfortable with the technology. Now travelers want to perform additional transactions through self-service channels after the booking process. Nearly one in three travelers (28%) would like to make seat changes and purchase in-flight meals at the kiosk, while an even greater number (35%) want to check into their hotel or secure their rental car. Overall, 82% of travelers indicate they prefer to patronize travel providers that offer kiosk, online, and mobile self-service channels. In particular, support has grown for the use of mobile boarding passes, welcomed on their devices by 33% of travelers. Many airlines are currently piloting such technology, and the International Air Transport Association has set an industry objective of 100% BCBP (Bar-Coded Boarding Pass) compliance by 2010. From the survey conducted by Buzzback Market Research for NCR Corporation.
PARTNER PROGRAMS
Datacap: “EZ” PCI Validation for Partners
Datacap Systems (Chalfont, PA) has collaborated with 403 Labs (Chicago) to offer the Datacap PCI EZ-Validation Program, designed to simplify and streamline the PCI validation effort and lessen the expense incurred by participating Independent Software Vendors (ISVs). The new “EZ” program leverages Datacap’s own PCI validations to provide POS/ECR software developers using Datacap’s payment solutions with an easier, more cost-effective way to have their applications tested against the PA-DSS standard by 403 Labs.
Datacap and 403 Labs worked closely together to provide the validation foundation and to thoroughly familiarize 403 Labs with Datacap’s integrated payment products and services, along with their use in integrated environments, according to the two parties. This experience and knowledge-base will enable 403 Labs to perform Datacap partner validations efficiently, and to pass the cost savings on to Datacap payment product users. These efficiencies can translate into validation savings of 50% or more for Datacap’s partners.
“Compliance and validation adds a significant cost burden for POS system developers, and there are risks associated with not complying and not being validated,” noted Gale Peters, Datacap’s VP of Sales and Marketing. “Furthermore, the costs of both validation and non-validation are certain to increase in the future, as the security standards become more complex and compliance becomes more important to retailers.” By July 1, 2010, POS VARs should know, all merchants must meet PCI requirements for payment processing.
PinPoint Media
All Rights Reserved