This Week’s Product Pick

Logic Controls (New Hyde Park, NY), the Bematech Company, presented its SB-9090 All-in-One POS terminal, which emphasizes user-friendliness as well as performance. Key characteristics include fanless operation, Intel Atom 1.6-GHz processor, the full complement of modern I/O ports, and support for Microsoft Windows and Linux. Significantly, the new device features an extensive list of user-driven innovations such as the latest Projected Capacitive Touch (PCT) technology at 15-inch screen-size, simple hardware connectivity, exchangeable hard drive, hidden cable compartment, and adjustable base and customer displays. SB-9090 may be configured with three-track MSR for credit, debit, gift, and staff cards. The 2x20 customer-facing VFD display has been integrated into the POS terminal, which employs rugged aluminum housing and water-resistant sealing. Biometric fingerprint reading may be incorporated into the SB-9090 for enhanced security and employee identity protection. Aside from these most requested options, customers could also easily build their single-source hardware solution by adding Logic Control’s thermal printers and/or cash drawers. “Twenty-ten is certainly a special year for us,” noted Wladimir Alvarez, VP of Sales and Marketing at Logic Controls. “As to date, the company has transformed and presented a series of high-performance products to our valuable customers. Now, we are bringing that excitement to the next level by introducing our new SB-9090. Equipped with several user-driven innovations, SB-9090 is the unique All-in-One system designed with our visions for the customers’ needs.”

SB-9090 All-in-One POS from Logic Controls

Worth Your While

RetailNOW 2010
Retail Solutions Providers Association
July 25-28
Las Vegas

NACS Show
National Association of Convenience Stores
October 5-8
Atlanta

CTIA Enterprise & Applications
CTIA-The Wireless Association
October 6-8
San Francisco

AIM Expo
Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility
November 1-3
Chicago

Customer Engagement Technology World
(Formerly KioskCom & The Digital Signage Show)
November 10-11
New York

ALLIANCES

AT&T, Apriva & Payments

Apriva (Scottsdale, AZ), the aggressive wireless payment provider, has upped the ante by joining forces with AT&T. Specifically, AprivaPay and AprivaPay Professional will be integrated into smart phones to accept credit and debit card transactions, making AT&T the first wireless carrier to provide mobile POS solutions from Apriva, which counts major banks and governments worldwide as customers. In making the announcement, the two firms pointed to research indicating the mobile payments market should grow from $68 billion in 2009 to more than $600 billion by 2014, representing compound annual growth rate of more than 50% over the next five years.

“Sales increase when small businesses accept payment cards,” observed Michael Antieri, President, Advanced Enterprise Mobility Solutions, AT&T Business Solutions. “And given that an overwhelming majority of small businesses use smart phones, offering this mobile application that ties together payment cards and smart phones makes perfect sense. With Apriva, AT&T helps small businesses create ‘virtual storefronts’ in the field, enhancing cash flow while minimizing back-office processes such as billing.”

AprivaPay enables businesses to process electronic transactions through the browser of their mobile phones. For its part, AprivaPay Professional represents the full-featured tool downloaded directly onto smart phones running Microsoft Windows Mobile. Additionally, this service can be integrated with an optional card reader and receipt printer, allowing end-users to obtain the financial benefits of “card present” transactions, along with printing receipts. AT&T will bill $14.95 per month for AprivaPay, with AprivaPay Professional costing $19.95.

“Virtual Storefronts” Via Smart Phones

Two Thumbs Up for Less Card Data

The National Retail Federation (Washington, DC), not surprisingly, has heartily endorsed Visa’s recent efforts to reduce storage of sensitive card information in merchant payment systems. Just this week, Visa clarified its operating rules to advise merchants that they are not required to store full 16-digit credit and debit card numbers for use in post-transaction disputes. As such, merchants may present truncated, disguised, or masked card numbers, which issuers must accept, according to Visa.

Explicitly, on the cardholder receipt, merchants should disguise or suppress all but the last four digits of the card number as well as the full expiration date. For the merchants’ copy of the receipt, at maximum, the first six and last four digits of the card number should be displayed and the full expiration date should be suppressed. Furthermore, Visa has encouraged the use of tokenization and transaction data storage on the part of acquirers. No word yet on whether American Express, MasterCard, and Discover will follow Visa’s lead.

“NRF has been pleased to take the leadership role working with Visa in this effort to assist retailers in our mutual goal of securing customers’ information while potentially reducing the scope of the PCI Data Security Standard,” announced David Hogan, SVP and CIO for NRF. “Merchants should be encouraged to minimize both the amount of card information they store and the duration they keep it. The bottom line is that they should not be penalized for not storing card information. This clarification from Visa is one promising step in that direction.”

Visa Clarifies Regulations, Endorses Truncation and Tokenization

[Editor’s Note:  NRF also unveiled the first version of its Mobile Retailing Blueprint. A complimentary copy of the 176-page document is now available through the Mobile Retail Initiative’s website at www.nrf.com/mobile.)

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STARTS & STOPS

New Roost for LaneHawk

Datalogic Scanning (Eugene, OR) has taken ownership of Evolution Robotics Retail (Pasadena, CA), developer of loss prevention systems based on Visual Pattern Recognition, or ViPR, technology. The company’s flagship product, LaneHawk BOB, has been installed in 10,000 POS lanes in the U.S. to check for overlooked bottom-of-the-basket items. Follow-on products such as LaneHawk In-Cart, ShelfHawk, and TunnelHawk are currently in pilot stages with major retailers.

Value of the transaction was put at $25.5 million, with Evolution Robotics Retail reporting 2009 revenues of $5.1 million and no debt. Datalogic funded the acquisition by means of its own financial resources. According to the two parties, the entire management and technical team of Evolution Robotics Retail will remain with the company and continue to drive innovation in the retail sector while also working with their new owner to promote ViPR technology in other commercial and industrial markets.

“Even during these difficult economic times, Datalogic continues to seize bright opportunities for innovation and growth,” declared Mauro Sacchetto, CEO of Datalogic in Bologna, Italy. “We believe that Visual Pattern Recognition will be a key technological building block in our industrial-focused businesses and we expect to capitalize on this soon. More fundamentally, as a company we are looking to further balance our portfolio by investing strongly in solution-based businesses and not just in hardware-based businesses--thereby creating more value for our customers and positioning Datalogic as an enhanced strategic partner.” For the record, Evolution Robotics Retail, founded in 2006 by technology incubator Idealab, holds five patents with 11 more patent applications filed at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

LaneHawk’s Bottom-of-the-Basket Loss Prevention System, Now Part of Datalogic Scanning

The MobileDemand in Government Spending

MobileDemand (Hiawatha, IA) has formed its Public Sector Services Group to focus on the market for rugged tablet PC computers among federal, state, and local governments. Vertical niches include law enforcement, emergency services management, fire investigation, building code compliance, and last but not least, homeland security. MobileDemand, many RRN.Com readers may know, offers the xTablet T7000 Microsoft Windows-based PC with lightweight, slate form factor and input capabilities such as integrated numeric keypad, optional QWERTY keyboard, and barcode and credit card readers.

“The MobileDemand xTablet T7000 is well-suited for most of our inspection-related applications that need mapping overlay/GPS support as it doubles up as a full PC, combined with the portability of a handheld with rugged features as well,” testified Ramesh Narayanaswamy, CEO of Mobizent, the VAR in Edison, NJ. “It allows us to develop and deploy native Microsoft Windows touch/multimedia applications without much rework of our existing desktop applications. It also provides extra long battery life, which has been a gating factor for deploying mobility/field service in the seven-inch screen format. We found screen readability and its use in direct sunlight conditions to be superb as well.”

Simultaneously, MobileDemand has launched its Application Development Partner Program for the public sector. Solicited solutions, based on Windows O/S, must be “robust, reliable, and repeatable,” according to the vendor. MobileDemand provides business development and marketing support as part of this new effort, with the ultimate goal of producing an end-to-end offering for the customer that spans hardware, software, support, and professional services.

MobileDemand’s xTablet T7000 PC Targets Public Sector

Code Corner

Retail Pro (Folsom, CA) released Version 9.2 R3 of its store management and POS software, with significant performance and ease-of-use improvements. New features begin with enhancements to customer management, including faster customer look-ups and results sorting, along with better allocation, assignment, and communication capabilities between regions and districts. Users may now selectively define which fields are required (versus optional). The area of inventory management has also been strengthened with additional security measures and an improved physical inventory counting process, according to the developer. Retail Pro Version 9.2 R3 also adds three new links to popular accounting systems, along with an integrated, high-performance, payment processing engine and support for a variety of additional peripheral devices. Reporting functionality has been extended and fraud control and overall operational visibility have been enhanced with active database auditing. Finally, an improved licensing provision enables specific features to be licensed so that alliance partners can more readily extend the Retail Pro suite to address industry-specific vertical markets. “Individually, these enhancements are all exciting,” noted Kerry Lemos, CEO. “Together, they testify to Retail Pro’s forward-thinking leadership and commitment to ongoing product R&D investment.”

ECR Software Corporation (Boone, NC) has been certified to resell PLUM Scale Management products from Invatron Systems Corp. (Mississauga, ON, Canada). In turn, ECRS has engineered PLUM Interface Plug-In, or PLUM IP, as part of its Catapult grocery automation framework. PLUM IP will monitor the Catapult database for any additions, changes, and deletions to scale items and notify PLUM Scale Management, which will then automatically update individual scales across the enterprise. This high-level synchronization facilitates accurate pricing, margin control, promotion campaigns, and fresh food maintenance, according to Peter Catoe, CEO/President of ECRS, whether at individual stores or centralized multi-location enterprises. In particular, PLUM IP allows HQ stores to send price updates directly to the scales at all store locations with no user involvement. Moreover, PLUM IP ensures that customers will not be charged higher prices than advertised. PLUM IP, it should be noted, functions under the newly developed Catapult Integration Host, ECRS’s pathway for third-party applications.

INSTALLATIONS

Epson’s Big Day at the Salon

Epson America (Long Beach, CA) will supply its newly released TM-T88V single-station thermal printer for an 8,000-unit rollout to Regis Corporation’s corporate salon locations throughout North America, including Supercuts, Cost Cutters, Regis Salons, and MasterCuts. The selection is part of Regis’s POS refresh project, which is being supported by Storeworks Technologies, Ltd. (Burnsville, MN), the master integrator and provider of store-level peripheral solutions. Distribution will be handled through BlueStar (Hebron, KY), and is expected to continue over the next 24 to 36 months.

Shipped in June, Epson’s TM-T88V prints at speeds of up to 300 mm/second, 50% faster than its predecessor, the TM-T88IV. In terms of reliability, it carries MCBF of 70 million lines, 35% higher than the TM-T88IV. Additional benefits include true grayscale printing of graphics, dual interfaces with built-in USB, paper-saving settings, and improved cover design. Significantly, the TM-T88V meets Energy Star power-saving requirements set forth by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy.

“We know Epson’s industry-wide reputation for reliability, and selecting their TM-T88V was an environmentally responsible decision,” remarked Oliver Lederer, IT Director for Store Operations, Regis Corporation. Added Mike Helm, Director of Sales and Marketing, Epson System Device Group, “Customers are looking for technology that cuts costs. The TM-T88V stacks up well against competitive products in every way, and lowering energy costs equals the tangible ROI that retail executives expect.”

8,000-Unit Rollout for Epson’s TM-T88V Receipt Printer

[Editor’s Note:  Epson America also announced that TASQ Technology, part of First Data, and one of the largest providers of POS equipment in North America, has joined the company’s Envision Partner Program. In addition to selling Epson’s printers and scanners, TASQ will offer its full line of services, such as repair and overnight replacement of hardware.]

“Kitty” Collected by Retail Anywhere

Nakajima USA, master licensee for Sanrio Inc.--think plush toys such as “Hello Kitty”--has selected the POS and enterprise suite from Retail Anywhere (Atascadero, CA) to support its retail outlets. This includes Sanrio’s wholesale gift division, all independently run licensed stores, and the 47 Nakajima-owned specialty retail stores. All of the latter locations will be live with Retail Anywhere’s POS software installed on IBM SurePOS 500 hardware by October 2010, according to the two parties, with licensees installing the new solution case by case.

In making its choice, Nakajima USA pointed to the operational efficiencies and reduced costs to be gained from Retail Anywhere’s SaaS delivery model, which marries on-demand and on-premise software along with professional services, upgrades, maintenance, and support. Consolidated real-time information at the corporate office with comprehensive reporting tools also took top priority for the manufacturer. In addition, the Retail Anywhere package will be integrated with an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system from Lawson as well as additional third-party solutions such as ADI for payroll.

“Having SaaS and lower upfront costs was a huge factor in our selection of Retail Anywhere’s POS and complete retail management system,” confirmed Jennifer Pearce, Director of Corporate Stores for Nakajima USA. “Retail Anywhere’s pay-as-you-go model enabled us to quickly engage in the project while their solution suite will deliver the tools and functionality we need for retail success.” Nakajima’s concept of both company-owned and licensed stores, in particular, presents more complex system requirements, points out Branden Jenkins, CEO for Retail Anywhere.

Sanrio Adopts SaaS-Based POS Across Its Retail Outlets

Key Advertiser Links

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

POS & Auto ID Distribution
BlueStar

POS & Peripherals
Logic Controls
Pioneer POS
Posiflex Business Machines
POS-X

POS Systems - Hospitality
PAR

Barcode & Mobile Printers
Datamax-O'Neil
Godex International

Barcode & Transaction Printers CognitiveTPG

Cash Drawers
APG Cash Drawer
MMF POS

Data Collection Terminals
CipherLab
Datalogic Mobile
Datalogic Scanning
Janam Technologies

Data Collection Software
Wavelink

Integrated Payment Solutions
Datacap Systems

Keyboards
Cherry Electrical Systems

Receipt Printers
Bixolon America
Citizen Systems America
Epson America
Star Micronics

Screen Protection
3M Optical Filters

Self-Service Kiosks
Zebra/Motorola

Thermal Printers
Seiko Instruments USA

Video Surveillance & Access Control
ScanSource Security

HELLO GOODBYE

OKI Fortifies Managed Print Services

OKI Data Americas (Mount Laurel, NJ) has enlisted Tim Brien as its Director of Managed Print Service (MPS) Sales, where he will lead revenue generating efforts and execute both channel and customer-specific strategies. Brien has more than 15 years of experience in the print arena. Prior to OKI, he served as VP of Global OEM programs at PrintFleet, with responsibility for partner sales in North America, Australia, Asia, and Europe. Before that, he worked as an Account Executive for Ricoh Canada.

“MPS continues to be a strong area of focus for us and the addition of Tim Brien aligns with our growth strategy,” commented Greg Van Acker, VP of U.S. Sales for OKI Data Americas. “We look forward to incorporating his ideas and experience into our MPS infrastructure to strengthen and reinforce our commitment to the market. Brien brings exceptional technical expertise and industry knowledge that surpassed our expectations. We are thrilled to have him join OKI Data Americas.”

“At the time when MPS is at the forefront of expansion, I’m pleased to expand upon my experience by joining one of the leading print manufacturers who provide comprehensive MPS offerings,” Brien said. Last year, OKI Data launched “Total Managed Print” to help channel partners move forward in this area. The three-tiered program includes PageStart for cost-per-page and small accounts, FleetAssist for referrals, and FullAccess for complete MPS planning and fulfillment.

Tim Brien, Director of Managed Print Service Sales, OKI Data Americas

NCR Services Put Askew, Rightly

NCR Corporation (Duluth, GA) has named Christopher Askew as SVP, NCR Services, reporting to John Bruno, EVP at NCR. In this position, Askew leads the firm’s workforce responsible for generating more than $2 billion in revenue in 2009. NCR Services provides an array of multi-industry customer and managed service offers in support of the NCR portfolio of banking and self-service solutions.

Askew comes to NCR with heavy experience as SVP of Global Services for Lenovo, accountable for all aspects of that company’s service business, including strategic development, operations, sales and marketing, field service, logistics, and technical support. Previously, at Dell, he fulfilled the role of VP of Services for Dell’s Asia-Pacific and Japanese efforts. There, he significantly increased revenue while leading the 38-country region to earn global “best-of-breed” recognition within the company for customer service experience.

“NCR Services delivers best-in-class capabilities in the self-service industry, and Chris is a highly experienced professional whose vision, unwavering customer focus, and strong operational skills will strengthen NCR’s emphasis on profitable growth in this key segment of our business,” related Bruno. “In his new role, Chris will lead our global team of customer service professionals to create compelling new offers while delivering the highest-quality services that support and differentiate NCR’s multi-industry, self-service solutions.”

Christopher Askew, SVP, NCR Services

Channel Factoid

OMG! A recent study by TEKsystems, the technology staffing firm, reveals that 73% of today’s IT workforce is under the age of 45. As reflected by respondents across the U.S. and Canada, there are four generations now working side by side in IT: Silent Generation, born 1922-1946, comprising 1%; Baby Boomers, 1946-1964, 26%; Generation X, 1964-1980, 52%; and Millennials (also known as Generation Y), 1980-2000, 21%. Rapid changes in the workplace are affecting how these generations interact. To complicate matters, each generation brings its own perspectives and ideals. TEKsystems suggests the following motivational catch phrases may be applied. Silent Generation: “Your experience is respected here.” Baby Boomers: “Your contribution is important to us.” Generation X: “Do it your way” or “We are not very formal here.” Millennials: “You’ll be working with a team of bright, creative people.” Lastly, modern talent attraction and retention strategies are changing. According to the survey, 30% of IT decision-makers currently leverage social media to post positions, advertise, and perform background checks. To retain employees, 42% say they are increasing professional development opportunities, 40% are allowing more flexible schedules, and 25% are offering telecommuting options--compared to only 24% that increased compensation.

INTEGRATION

Finding RFID at the Headwaters

An item-level source tagging, box packing, and shipment visibility package for apparel retailers based on RFID has been debuted by Xterprise Incorporated (Carrollton, TX). This new solution functions as part of the Clarity Advanced Retail System (ARS), which delivers best-in-class features, comprehensive reporting and analytics, and seamless integration with existing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems such as SAP, Oracle, and Microsoft Dynamics, according to the developer. With deployment undertaken at multiple retail and supplier sites, Xterprise also plans to extend the application suite to sporting goods, electronics, and book and music outlets.

As one of Microsoft’s strongest partners addressing RFID, Xterprise supports BizTalk Server, Microsoft SQL Server, and the Windows O/S and Windows Mobile. In building its item-level apparel application, the company drew upon its long experience in case and pallet source tagging for the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) market. Further, retailers and suppliers may access the new database of system integration guidelines on its website in order to “navigate this new level of inventory management and drive as much value as possible.”

“We have seen significant increase in demand for item-level retail systems, specifically from the headwaters of the supply chain, the suppliers,” reported Dean Frew, CEO of Xterprise. “As large retailers begin to require item-level tagging, forward-thinking suppliers are leveraging the power of Clarity ARS to drive process change and strong ROI in the store.” Frew acknowledges that demand for such item-level systems will explode over the next 24 months in response to industry mandates.

Item-Level Tagging for Apparel Supply Chain