This Week’s Product Pick

Cognex Corporation (Natick, MA) has debuted its fastest and most economical industrial handheld reader, the DataMan 8050 Series. Ideal for manufacturing environments, DataMan 8050 utilizes the company's patented 1DMax+ with Hotbars algorithms to provide high-speed two-dimensional reading even with damaged, low-contrast, or direct inkjet barcodes. Available with both corded and wireless communication modules, the DataMan 8050 supports USB, USB Keyboard, RS-232, and Bluetooth. It delivers durable and ruggedized product features as well as a range of industrial cables and accessories. "The new DataMan 8050 and 8050x build on the success of our industry-leading DataMan 8500, which has set the standard in direct part mark (DPM) barcode reading," proclaimed Carl Gerst, VP and Business Unit Manager, ID Products for Cognex.

Cognex DataMan 8050

COMPANY BUSINESS

Distributors Breathe A Psion

It's been two years in the making, but now both ScanSource POS and Barcode (Greenville, SC) and BlueStar (Hebron, KY) have officially announced they will offer Motorola Solutions' Industrial Mobile Computing (IMC) products, those formerly, fondly known as Psion. As RRN.Com readers will recall, Psion became part of Motorola in 2012. As part of their new expanded, individual relationship with the vendor, these two leading distributors will stock Motorola IMC's entire line of handheld computers (EP10, Omnii XT15 Series, and WorkAbout Pro 3) as well as vehicle-mount computers (such as 8515, 8525/30 G2, and 8585/8595).

"We are very excited to be offering Motorola Solutions' IMC products to our reseller partners, as it allows them to provide solutions into vertical markets that were previously not always addressable by their existing mobile computing solutions," indicated Paul Constantine, President of ScanSource POS and Barcode. "Our reseller partners can now obtain the complete Motorola Solutions' enterprise portfolio through one source, while also having access to the value-added services and support they have come to rely on from ScanSource." In particular, ScanSource pointed to the value of its new MobilETC program.

"Motorola Solutions' Industrial Mobile Computing portfolio bolsters our strategic position in industrial segments such as manufacturing, transportation, and logistics," relayed Michael Mughetto, VP of North America Distribution for Motorola Solutions. In his remarks on this expanded channel, Mughetto praised the value-added services of both ScanSource and BlueStar, which he believes will create new opportunities for partners and provide "end-to-end mobility solutions for customers in these markets." As many RRN.Com readers know, BlueStar's "In-a-Box" Solutions Series delivers hardware, software, and critical accessories in one bundle.

Motorola's IMC Omnii XT15 Series

All Charged Up at GTS

By the end of next month, no later than March 31, Global Technology Systems (Framingham, MA) will phase out any connection to "Honeywell." In making this move, the well-known supplier of batteries, chargers, and power management technologies proclaimed the channel's need for independence from the OEMs and their service contracts when it comes to this area. All current pricing and delivery times will remain the same and warranties will be honored, according to the company. GTS, it should be noted, has always served as the designer and manufacturer of "Honeywell Batteries," while simply licensing the name.

"Our company has used the 'Honeywell Batteries' brand for more than ten years. Under that brand we created innovative new batteries and chargers for mobile devices that have served business, public safety, and government, and we have provided high-performance alternatives to standard OEM batteries," recounted Michael Grosberg, COO at GTS. "We have now expanded our business model and our product lines, and we have developed new on-site services that go well beyond the limitations of the Honeywell Batteries branding."

"With our new technical and service innovations we have now established a superior position of industry leadership, and it is time for us to focus on our own unique identity," continued Grosberg. "We are now deeply committed to our unique Test & Replace battery field services, our new GTS Genius Batteries, mobile power management systems, and our Power by the Hour Program, where our customers can pay for battery energy as they use it. In addition, in 2014 we expect to announce new innovative products for the government and telecommunications markets."

Genius Battery by Global Technology Systems, Which Has Dropped the Honeywell Name

Worth Your While

Modex: Supply Chain Conference
MHI Solutions
March 17-20
Atlanta

Toshiba Connect 2014
Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions
April 7-10
La Jolla, CA

ETA Annual Meeting & Expo
Electronic Transactions Association
April 8-10
Las Vegas

WERC
Warehousing Education and Research Council
April 27-30
Chicago

NRA Show
National Restaurant Association
May 17-20
Chicago

RetailNOW
Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA)
August 3-6
Orlando

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Elo: "Big, Bright, and Beautiful"

Elo Touch Solutions (Milpitas, CA) has unveiled its new 5501L 55-inch touchscreen, part of its Interactive Digital Signage (IDS). With total thickness of only 3.5 inches, and 29 inches high, the 5501L features an energy-efficient LED high-definition display (16:9 aspect ratio and 1920x1080 resolution) with optical multi-touch technology and sensitive response along the lines of today's consumer devices. It employs tempered pure glass for durability and state-of-the-art brightness (700 lumens), along with steel chassis, VESA mounting, and portrait, landscape, or tabletop orientation. It weighs approximately 100 lbs.

Supporting Windows 7 and 8, the 5501L offers the choice of two optional integrated computer modules: with Intel Core i3 CPU at 3.3 GHz and HD 2500 graphics or Core i5 CPU at 3.6 GHz and HD 4000 graphics. This eliminates the need for any cables or additional mounting hardware. Webcam kits and NFC/RFID scanners are also offered. Available worldwide in sixty days, pricing starts at $5,250, with three-year standard warranty and additional two-year extended warranty.

"Elo provides a broad portfolio of touchscreens to help retailers attract and engage their customers with interactive content," commented Craig Witsoe, CEO of Elo Touch Solutions. "Ready to enhance retail installations worldwide, the latest 5501L IDS display is a big, bright, and beautiful digital canvas to enhance shopper experiences and drive retail cross-selling effectiveness." Education, corporate meeting rooms, and office lobbies were cited as target markets, in addition to retail and hospitality.

Elo's 5501L Digital Signage Display

Common COS for CipherLab 8600

CipherLab (Plano, TX) has unwrapped its new generation of 8600 Series Mobile Computer with the CipherLab Operating System (COS). Elements of its flexible design include swappable keypads of 29 or 39 keys, 802.11b/g/n WLAN and Bluetooth 4.0, and one- and two-dimensional scanning as well as RFID. "I'm confident that our users will feel the efficiency and increased productivity right away," observed Steven Liau, President of CipherLab. "It is lightweight, yet rugged and powerful--with all of the features of our 8600 Series."

Measuring 6.7 in. (L) x 2.4 in. (W) x 1.2 in. (H), and weighing 8.5 oz., the 8600 features ARM Cortex-M3 CPU, 16 MB Flash, 8/16 MB SRAM, and Micro SD. A 2.8-inch LCD with LED backlight defines background and text for improved readability. In terms of ruggedness, the 8600 meets IP-65 standards for dust and liquids and survives drops of 1.8 meters and 1,000 tumbles at 1 meter. A polycarbonate panel protects the display screen.

In addition to the CipherLab COS, which minimizes redundant system programming and supports intensive data-collection applications, the new 8600 comes equipped with the Forge Application Generator, Text Browser, and Remote Console. It also ships with some typical user applications to help with easy start-up. Accessories include hard shell, pistol grip, snap-on cable, and various combinations of charging/communication cradles.

CipherLab's 8600 Series Mobile Computer With CipherLab Operating System

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Week of February 5

Week of January 27

Week of January 20

Channel Correction

ALLIANCES

Upon Reflection at Touch Dynamic

Touch Dynamic (Irvington, NJ) will offer Reflection POS from NCC (Greenville, SC) preconfigured on its Breeze True Flat and Pulse All-in-One POS terminals. Portrayed as "the most feature-rich software of any product in its class," Reflection POS supports necessary peripherals for hospitality and retail, including credit card processing, barcode scanning, change and liquor dispensers, and electronic scales. Significantly, it features an embedded operating system that eliminates the risks of viruses and spyware.

Touch Dynamic recently overhauled the Breeze All-in-One with new bezel-free True Flat resistive touchscreen and Intel Atom Dual Core 1.8-GHz Fanless CPU. It features Touch Dynamic's rackable motherboard design, which promotes on-site service and upgradability. Another notable change has the Pulse All-in-One now shipping with the Atom Dual Core 1.8-GHz Fanless CPU--almost doubling the speed of the terminal without increasing the price.

"The Breeze is a popular choice with our resellers because it's feature-rich, cost-effective, and easily serviced on-site," reported Dave Graber, VP of Touch Dynamic. "We are pleased to be able to offer this outstanding software package on the Breeze and Pulse All-in-One terminals, which were both recently upgraded for added durability and enhanced processing." The Reflection Breeze may be purchased directly from Metropolitan Sales (Lynbrook, NY), M-S Cash Drawer (Pasadena, CA), or from Touch Dynamic.

NCC Reflection POS Now Shipping With Breeze

eBizNET's Barcode Buddy

One of the leading resellers in our world, Barcoding, Inc. (Baltimore), has partnered with eBizNET Solutions (Iselin, NJ), which provides supply chain execution solutions, primarily via Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). As one of eBizNET's Technology Partners, Barcoding will furnish hardware--such as mobile devices, wireless infrastructure, barcode printers, and consumables--for implementation of the eBizNET Supply Chain Suite. Software modules include Warehouse Management, Reverse Logistics, Cargo, and Transportation. This new relationship is not exclusive, but no other hardware reseller is listed as partner for the U.S. on the eBizNET website.

"Partnering with other supply chain technology experts like Barcoding allows us to help our customers enable collaborative supply chain execution across a single platform," elaborated Sid Geddam, Founder and CEO at eBizNET. "Because Barcoding is a systems integrator, our customers have the added benefit and convenience of turning to one provider for the entire infrastructure needed to support the eBizNET solution." As underlying platforms, his company counts NetSuite and CDC Software.

Jay Steinmetz, CEO of Barcoding, Inc., stated, "Like Barcoding, eBizNET is focused on delivering technology solutions that make supply chains more efficient, accurate, and connected through automation. We look forward to growing this partnership as we work together towards this common goal." Last month, Barcoding, Inc. established its "RFID by Barcoding" Practice, led by industry veteran Tom O'Boyle.

Sid Geddam Receiving the NetSuite SuiteApp Partner of the Year Award at SuiteWorld 2011. At Right, Zach Nelson, CEO of NetSuite

Code Corner

Mobeam (Palo Alto, CA) has recruited another mobile wallet for its laser-beaming technology, this time from Clutch (Philadelphia). Mobeam converts barcodes into beams of light from the consumer's smartphone that can be read by laser scanners, tens of millions of which remain deployed in retail, of course. As such, it allows loyalty, membership, and gift cards to be readily processed at the checkout line without need for two-dimensional readers. So far, Mobeam has been embedded exclusively on the Samsung Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3. Armed with Mobeam, the Clutch wallet eliminates the need for both physical cards and multiple apps for storing data, according to the two parties. Its proprietary recommendation engine stimulates consumer spending by pushing relevant deals to each user based on their personal, time, and location details, while simultaneously capturing demographic information. In the past month, Mobeam has driven close to two million shopping trips on over twenty-five million devices, according to the company's figures. "Mobeam is excited to be working with Clutch to help customers save time and money by simplifying their overall shopping experience," contributed Marcia Donner, COO at Mobeam.

NOTES FROM THE FIELD

A Back Door to EMV?

An international bridge in the payments world, as NBS Payment Solutions in Canada purchases Equinox Payments, LLC, here in the U.S. With EMV Chip-and-PIN an accepted standard in Canada, and expected to be implemented in the U.S. by late 2015, the synergies between the two suppliers of payment terminals, applications, and services should be obvious. NBS Payment said it plans to continue to operate under the name of Equinox Payments in the U.S., and did not disclose terms of the transaction.

"NBS Payment Solutions has operated in Canada for over twenty-five years and is delighted about partnering with Equinox in the U.S. market," enthused Drazen Ivanovic, CEO/President of NBSPS (Toronto). "The well-established Equinox brand, products, and excellent sales and support network, combined with NBSPS's expertise in security, EMV migration, and wireless technology, will enhance and strengthen Equinox's position in the U.S. payment terminal space. Our managed services, PCI-DSS certified, will provide additional value add and market differentiating solutions for customers of Equinox."

The Optimum, Apollo, and L-Series Multi-Lane products manufactured by Equinox should complement the NBSPS Noire product offering, according to the two parties. In the case of Apollo, Equinox has made progress via Class A and Class B certification efforts with the major acquirers and expects to complete its successful merchant trials in the U.S. in 2014. "We are enthusiastic about the prospects of embarking on our next stage of growth with a partner of such depth and experience," volunteered Stuart Taylor, VP of Payment Solutions at Equinox (Scottsdale, AZ), all that's left of the once mighty Hypercom.

L-Series Multi-Lane Payment Terminal by Equinox Payments, Now Part of Canada's NBS Payment Solutions

Thoughts on Pizza, iPad, and Revel

An admission by the editor of RRN.Com: we've simply stopped trying to chronicle all the iPad POS offerings by software suppliers and payment processors, given the fact that there's dozens per month. Rather, we've decided to focus on those players likely to survive, and those who evince interest in our channel. This brings us to Revel Systems (San Francisco), which this week announced it will deploy its iPad POS for over 100 storefronts of Pizza Patron, which, as its name suggests, targets the Hispanic community. Pizza Patron operates in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, and Texas, and made news recently by accepting pesos at its locations.

Here's the view from the end-user. "Revel Systems is a simple, cost-effective solution that provides us real-time access to data for our entire chain of restaurants," stated Antonio Swad, Founder and CEO of Pizza Patron. "We were looking for better analytical data ranging from product mix behavior to sales by day-part reports. Revel's POS system provides user-friendly features that can handle the challenge of tracking inventory and reporting across multiple stores simultaneously and will also be beneficial in training new employees and managers at each location."

"Our solution is the only POS [iPad-based] capable of multi-store reporting and the collaboration with Pizza Patron speaks to Revel's true ability to support an enterprise," emphasized Lisa Falzone, CEO and Co-Founder of Revel Systems. At present, the company lists a dozen or so resellers on its website, including Escobar Solutions (Miami), Great Lake Systems (Madison, WI), Chicago POS (Bensenville, IL), and Southwest POS (San Diego). It has fashioned relationships with peripheral vendors and recently invested $1.2 million in global customer support, including 24/7 call center. Stay tuned.

Pizza Patron Selects Revel Systems for 100 Storefronts

Key Advertiser Links

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

POS & Auto ID Distribution
Synnex
Wasp Barcode Technologies

POS & Peripherals
Harbortouch
Pioneer POS
POS BANK USA
Posiflex
POStablets
POS-X
TEAMSable

POS Systems - Hospitality
PAR

Barcode & Transaction Printers
Brother Mobile
CognitiveTPG
Printronix
Zebra Technologies

Cash Drawers
MMF POS

Data Collection Terminals
CipherLab
Datalogic ADC
Trimble MCS

Integrated Payment Solutions
Datacap Systems
Merchant Warehouse
Mercury Payment Systems

Inventory Systems
New West Technologies

Keyboards
PrehKeyTec USA

Keyboards & Mobile POS
Cherry, ZF Electronics Corp

Receipt Printers
Bixolon America
Citizen Systems America
CognitiveTPG
Epson America
Fujitsu Components
Star Micronics

Scanners
Code Corporation
Honeywell Scanning

Thermal Printers
Seiko Instruments USA

Touchscreens & Monitors
Elo TouchSystems

ENVIRONMENTS/PLATFORMS

ParTech Fires Off V6

ParTech, Inc. (New Hartford, NY) has released Version 6 of its PAR EverServ SureCheck food safety monitoring and intelligent checklist solution. This new release includes more than fifty new features and enhancements, most notably iOS support and global language and measurement capabilities, according to the vendor. A complete SureCheck system comprises three segments: SureCheck mobile application, multi-mode wireless temperature measuring device, and cloud-based enterprise configuration and reporting server capacity.

For temperature measurement, the iOS version of SureCheck, which joins the previous Windows Embedded Handheld, also works with ParTech's iCelsius inspection probe. This client may be downloaded at no charge through iTunes but requires valid SureCheck credentials to log-in. In addition, SureCheck V6 now supports foreign language and metric measurements. From both the enterprise server and handheld devices, end-users now may access their relevant data in English, French, German, Spanish, and Swedish.

"Expanding SureCheck capabilities to iOS devices offers our customers an alternative way to promote the return on investment (ROI)," related Karen Sammon, President of ParTech, Inc. "Our customers often refer to PAR's SureCheck technology as transformational based on the significant impact it has made on their food safety programs including accuracy, efficiency, and economies of scale." Beyond food safety for retailers, restaurants, and hotels, EverServ SureCheck may be applied to virtually any type of operational checklist, according to ParTech.

ParTech Fires Off V6

Seeing the Glint in RFID's Eye

Some relevant news from the RFID crowd, as Alien Technology (Morgan Hill, CA) has presented its new UHF EPC Gen 2 miniature inlay for jewelry and cosmetics tagging, designated as the Glint ALN-9715. A member of the Higgs 4 IC family, this new tag carries reduced footprint of 27 mm x 10 mm (1.06 in. x 0.38 in.), while still maintaining the long-range UHF antenna enabling tag interrogation of up to three feet, according to the developer. Specifically, it has been designed to operate in close proximity to metal or metallic surfaces.

An optimized memory package includes 32-bit Tag Identifier (TID), 64-bit Unique TID for authentication and next-generation serialization applications, 128-bit EPC memory bank, 128-bit user memory for distributed data applications, and password-protected read and write capabilities to prevent unauthorized viewing and modification of the tag's date. It supports pre-encoded MCS serialization and the company's BlastWrite and QuickWrite mass-encoding programs. In some configurations, this new tag may even exploit the metal surface of the product as an extension of its antenna to "amplify" its tested read/write distance, according to Alien Technologies.

"Many jewelry and cosmetics tags available on the market today have tails too long for some applications, and still not long enough for adequate read performance," contended Pat Ervin, VP of Worldwide Sales and Marketing for Alien Technologies. "Alien took a different approach by folding a much longer, narrower antenna into a condensed, useable footprint. As the retail market expands, the categories of products being tagged must also grow to include smaller and more challenging products, such as packed smaller items that are often metallic coated."

New UHF EPC Tag for Jewelry and Cosmetics From Alien Technologies, the GLINT ALN-9715

Channel Factoid

According to this year's economic forecast by the National Retail Federation, retail industry sales (which excludes automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) will increase 4.1%, up from the preliminary 3.7% growth seen in 2013. NRF also expects online sales in 2014 to grow between 9% and 12%. A number of factors contributed to NRF's positive thinking. First, economic growth is expected to be above its long-term historical average. Early estimates for growth in the economy as measured by real GDP appear between 2.6% and 3%, noticeably better from an estimated 1.9% for 2013, and the fastest pace in the past three years. Secondly, the labor market is expected to continue its modest recovery, averaging approximately 185,000 jobs per month, helping decrease unemployment to near 6.5% or lower by the end of 2014. Finally, the housing sector should continue to improve, and stronger household and business confidence should spur more consumer spending overall. "Though headwinds in the form of the looming debt ceiling debates, increased healthcare costs, and regulatory concerns still pose risks for both consumers and retailers, we are cautiously optimistic and hopeful that the economic tides will change in 2014," reflected Matthew Shay, CEO/President of NRF.

HELLO GOODBYE

Your Mission, Shilpa, Evangelize

A new Director of Marketing, Shilpa Marano, has been named by nChannel (Columbus, OH), which provides cloud-based multi-channel platforms for retail environments. Marano joined nChannel last April as Content Marketing Manager. Her previous experience includes twelve years at Sterling Commerce as Sales Executive, Product Manager, and eventually, Marketing Manager. She also served as Marketing Manager at Sypherlink, another integration software company.

"This is a landmark year for nChannel," declared CEO Steve Weber. "The next generation of our retail management platform will help companies manage multiple sales channels with unprecedented ease and flexibility. Shilpa's role will be to evangelize the value of multi-channel management and expand nChannel's customer base of retailers and suppliers to drive growth during 2014."

A successful integration for Mike's Archery was also announced by nChannel. With this deployment, the sporting goods supplier has connected its accounting system, Sage MAS 90, with its online stores and eBay to simplify order entry, invoice generation, and shipping. Benefits include two-thirds reduction in order processing times, improved profit margins, and 10% growth rate without hiring additional staff, according to Brian Dickess, Owner and GM of Mike's Archery (Ironton, OH).

Shilpa Marano, Director of Marketing, nChannel

Taking the Hill for ETA

Electronic Transactions Association (Washington, DC) has enlisted heavy hitter Scott Talbott as its new SVP of Government Affairs. In this position, Talbott will be responsible for developing and executing the ETA's federal and state legislative and regulatory strategies. With its recent growth in member companies to 500, ETA has enhanced its government affairs operation in recent months with the formation of the payments industry's first political action committee, dubbed ETAPAC, and expansion of the ETA Government Relations Committee. Watch out, Congress!

Prior to joining ETA, Talbott served as the SVP for Public Policy, as well as Counsel, for The Financial Services Roundtable. He has received numerous accolades, such as being named top lobbyist by The Hill in both 2009 and 2011, as well as "winner" for his work during the economic collapse of 2008 by Washingtonian Magazine. In 2012, he appeared in the Oscar-winning film "Inside Job." He joined the Roundtable in 1994 after working in the tax departments of Arthur Anderson and Ernst & Young.

"ETA is pleased to welcome Scott to head up our government affairs at a time of historic innovation and change in the payments industry and at ETA," commented Jason Oxman, CEO of ETA. "His experience advocating on behalf of the financial services industry will be invaluable as we ramp up our advocacy on behalf of the world's largest and most innovative financial and technology companies. I look forward to his counsel and I'm thrilled that ETA is taking a big step forward with Scott on board."

Scott Talbott, SVP of Government Affairs, Electronic Transactions Association

She Brings Marketing Savi

Savi Technology (Alexandria, VA) has elevated Sidra Berman to VP of Marketing, reporting to CEO/President Bill Clark. Berman joined Savi in 2013 to head the company's market management and product marketing efforts. A very early player in what has evolved into the Internet of Things, or IoT, Savi supplies its Sensor Based Analytics Platform.

Previously in her fifteen-year career, Berman was VP of Global Marketing for Commtouch, involved with so-called Security-as-a-Service, inevitably labeled SecaaS. Additional positions have included VP of Marketing and Inside Sales at Clarabridge, the SaaS company focused on business intelligence, text analytics, and, yes, big data. For five years, she worked as Director of Product Marketing and Strategy, where she helped lead efforts for the company's enterprise resource planning (ERP) portfolio.

"Sidra has the breadth of experience--from product marketing to communications to pricing to events and everything in-between--to lead this rising company's marketing and communication efforts," emphasized Clark. "She has an awesome track record of success, and she's a great addition to our management team."

Sidra Berman, VP of Marketing, Savi Technology