Our Product Pick

Hewlett-Packard (Palo Alto, CA) unwrapped its HP EliteOne 800 G1 Retail System. With slim, 23" edge-to-edge projected capacitive touchscreen, EliteOne 800 G1 may be deployed in counter, kiosk, or wall-mount formats. It features choice of fifth-generation Intel CPUs and Windows O/S, as well as Intel vPro technology and HDD or SSD. Security has been addressed by Trusted Platform Module (TPM) encryption, lockable I/O security cover, and options such as SED drives or an NFC module. As expected, an expansive range of communications and connections has been provided, such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi via PCIe Mini Card and USB 3.0, along with Webcam. A stand adds tilt, swivel, and recline adjustability for either associate- or customer-facing situations.

HP EliteOne 800 G1

COMPANY BUSINESS

Straight to the Heart (of POS)

A major move by Heartland Payment Systems (Princeton, NJ), now proud owner of two of the leading ISVs in POS: Dinerware (Seattle, WA) and pcAmerica (Pearl River, NY). Well-known to readers of RRN.Com, Dinerware and pcAmerica have large footprints in hospitality and retail. Together with three previous acquisitions, Xpient Solutions (Charlotte, NC), Liquor POS (Marshall, VA), and Leaf (Boston, MA), they will now form the new business segment, Heartland Commerce. It already enjoys more than 90,000 customer locations and annualized revenue run rate--including Dinerware and pcAmerica--of approximately $30 million.

In making his official announcement (first rumored at the recent National Retail Federation Show in New York), Bob Carr, Chairman and CEO of Heartland Payment Systems, rightly noted the huge advantages to be gained by jointly marketing leading-edge point-of-sale, payment processing, and other adjacent business services. "We now enjoy the best of both worlds," enthused Carr. "An installed base of merchants processing on our existing solutions, and a world class development organization that we can focus on new opportunities."

Indeed, his strategy would seem to turn the point-of-sale/payment processing paradigm on its head. It's one thing to recruit POS VARs, and pursue an "integrated payments" approach, it's another to snap them up directly. In the case of Dinerware, the number is large. In terms of technology drivers, Carr pointed to EMV and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). As one would expect, both Dinerware and pcAmerica have taken steps into cloud-based POS, so an overlapping effort by Leaf will end.

Bob Carr, Chairman and CEO, Heartland Payment Systems

Exit Xterprise, Enter SML Inventory

Making its plans clear, Xterprise (Carrollton, TX) has changed its name to SML Intelligent Inventory Solutions (SML IIS). One of the pioneering developers of RFID, with presence in our channel, Xterprise was purchased by the SML Group in 2013. In recent years, it has focused on selling its Clarity RFID software into the soft goods arena, with significant contract wins such as American Apparel. For its part, the SML Group serves as the world's second largest supplier of inlays and tags for RFID.

"Changing Xterprise's name to SML Intelligent Inventory Solutions reflects the fact that we are leading innovators in the field of RFID software and highlights the expanded focus and commitment of the SML Group to RFID," declared Dean Frew, President of SML IIS. "Our tag and software businesses in RFID have become tightly integrated, bringing customers unique offerings to ensure project success and provide rapid ROI's from RFID." Drawing on his background at Texas Instruments and Globe Ranger, Frew started Xterprise in 2002.

"Clarity is well-established as a best-in-class software application suite for RFID item-level inventory management, and as SML IIS we will continue to invest and innovate on it, incorporating the latest technologies and applications, such as omni-channel fulfillment, fixed reader technologies, loss prevention, customer experience, and brand authentication," continued Frew. According to the company's blog, the next version of Clarity will be released in the first half of 2015. Also expect mobile-ready inventory management from SML IIS.

Dean Frew, President of SML Intelligent Inventory Solutions, Formerly Xterprise

Worth Your While

ProMat 2015
Material Handling Industry
March 23-26
Chicago

TransAct 15
Electronic Transactions Association
March 31 - April 2
San Francisco

Retail Realm Technology Conference
"Microsoft for the Retail Sector"
April 25-27
Las Vegas

WERC
Warehousing Education Research Council
May 3-6
Orlando

NRA Show 2015
National Restaurant Association
May 16-19
Chicago

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Speed Reading at CipherLab

CipherLab (Plano, TX) has debuted its Model 1862 UHF RFID Handheld Reader. An upgrade to the 1860 Series, Model 1862 extends reading range, most notably, with span of 3.3 ft. (1 m) to 16.5 ft. (5 m). It pairs with iOS, Android, and Windows, employs Bluetooth Version 4, and costs $1,200 with two batteries and charger, according to CipherLab. All EPCglobal UHF Gen 2 (ISO 18000-6C) tags will be read "in one shot."

About six inches long and equally high, and weighing 18.3 oz., Model 1862 has two function keys, one trigger key, and toggle switch. As indicators, it carries tricolor LEDs (red/blue/green), vibrator, and beeper. A rechargeable 3.7-V, 2500-mAh Lithium-Ion battery provides 10 working hours. As durability, Model 1862 meets an IP-64 rating against water and dust and withstands multiple drops to concrete of 5 ft. (1.5 m).

"The deployment of RFID technologies has been picking up in environments such as warehouse operation, logistics, manufacturing, and retailing industries," observed Luis Wu, VP and GM of CipherLab USA. "UHF RFID systems are getting more attention due to the benefits they generate and the improvements that have been made. We aim to fulfill as many needs and expand our products to better serve our customers."

Model 1862 RFID Reader by CipherLab

AZT POPs Out

AZT POS (Tustin, CA) has unveiled its new pair of compact All-in-One POS: POP-A1088 for Android 4.1 and POP-P1088 for Windows 7 POS Ready. Both systems come with tilting 10" projected capacitive touchscreen, built-in three-inch receipt printer (6.5 inch/170 mm per second), and stylish, fanless design. With aluminum housing, they measure 7.8 in. (W) x 9.8 in. (D) x 12.7 in. (H).

As technical characteristics, AZT POP-A1088 for Android has Rockchip Dual-Core Cortex A9 CPU at 1.5 GHz, 1-GB RAM, 4-GB Flash, and 32-GB SD. (AZT POP-P1088 for Windows has an Intel Atom D2550 CPU at 1.8 GHz.) A full suite of ports has been provided, including four USB. Optional magnetic-stripe reader (MSR), choice of customer display (LED, VFD, or LCD), and 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi complete the package.

New All-in-One POS in Android and Windows

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ALLIANCES

Clearent Cleared by ISV

ISV MicroSale (Brandon, FL) has added Clearent (Clayton, MO) to its roster of credit card processing partners. A rising player, Clearent now processes $7 billion in annual transaction volume for 23,000 businesses in the U.S., according to the company's own figures. It works with Version 9 of MicroSale's full-featured restaurant POS. Recently released, MicroSale Version 9 extends consolidated phone ordering, customized pizza half names, and more efficient delivery capability, in addition to core functionality for order taking, table management, time clock, and multi-unit controls.

As specific benefits, Clearent cited its direct connection to the card associations, eliminating the middle man, and thereby delivering benefits not typically offered through larger legacy payment processors. Further, Clearent has next day funding, with an 11:00 PM EST cut-off time, "one of the latest in the industry." Lastly, Clearent provides online reporting tools with easy-to-read, company-wide graphical reports that are updated daily. Of note to readers, MicroSale's reseller network addresses the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, and the Middle East.

"We're excited to give our dealers the ability to integrate to a true payment processor," remarked Ken Willis, VP of MicroSale. "This will help them make sure they're not leaving money on the table so they can grow their business faster. As for the integration, it was quick and simple thanks to Clearent's easy-to-understand documentation and robust code samples, and the level of support that we've received from the entire Clearent team is outstanding."

A "Growing and Shrinking" Merchant Report by Payment Processor Clearent

What They're Smoking

A tale of marijuana sales, and related IT, from Colorado. Based in Denver, Adilas ("All Data Is Live and Searchable") and "Janefour20" have joined forces to roll out an integrated kiosk/POS solution for this legal dispensary business. A business solution provider, Adilas enables sales, inventory, POS, and back-office functions via the cloud. Janefour20 was founded in 2014 by executives from the payment and kiosk industries to address this specific segment.

A cashless dispenser combines Janefour20's customer-facing kiosk and patent-pending mobile app with the Adilas business platform. As benefits of self-service and pre-ordering, the two partners cited faster transaction times and shorter waiting lines for customers. A third firm, aptly named "Mile High Merchant Group," serves as exclusive payment processor.

Self-Service Kiosk for Marijuana

Code Corner

Stratix Corporation (Norcross, GA) has announced enhanced "itrac360," its portal for real-time asset management and life-cycle management. Via dashboard, this service provides visibility to every device in the enterprise--with the ability to track procurement, provisioning and activation, to repair, support, and expense management. A next-generation of itrac360 delivers advanced reporting capabilities, enabling graphical dashboards to visualize Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Fully web-service enabled, itrac360 can now aggregate and analyze data from multiple inputs, resulting in one single view into the customer's entire mobile ecosystem. "Because mobile investments expand in size and complexity, our goal with itrac360 was to close the critical gaps between disparate IT systems and the growing diverse mobile workforces," explained Gina Gallo, CEO/President of Stratix. "Our enterprise customers helped us design this valuable and relevant mobile business intelligence portal, and as a result, it solves real problems."

ENVIRONMENTS/PLATFORMS

A Security Blanket From Epicor

Epicor Software Corporation (Austin, TX) has called upon Trustwave (Chicago, IL) to help bring data security to independent retailers in the SMB. Prosaically entitled Epicor Data Security Review, this new program will be furnished to users of the company's business management solution, Epicor Eagle. In one study cited by the software supplier, which was conducted in 2014, 43% of survey respondents across the U.S. suffered data breaches, and 60% suffered multiple breaches.

Participants in the new program will receive on-site assessments of their network completed by their "Epicor Local Platform Specialist." Customized for each user's business network and software set-up, reportedly, the Epicor Data Security Review also features six-month access to the secure Trustwave Portal. Additional benefits include six months of data breach coverage of up to $50,000 per store (maximum of $500,000), customized PCI Wizard and "To-Do" list for the Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ), vulnerability scan management (via Trustwave TrustKeeper), security policy advisor templates for PCI-DSS, and 24/7 help-line.

Epicor and Trustwave Address Data Breaches in the SMB

Polishing the MCL Collection

MCL Technologies has extended its mobile device management for support of devices running Android from Zebra/Motorola, specifically the Symbol MC40, TC55, MC67, and TC70. Since its founding in 1992, MCL has closely supported Motorola/Symbol. It offers its MCL-Collection, consisting of MCL-Designer, MCL-Client, MCL-Net, MCL-Bridges, and MCL-Mobility Platform. Version 4 may be purchased through ScanSource (Greenville, SC), global distribution partner of MCL.

Apps created with MCL-Designer 4 provide native support for data capture technologies featured on these devices, such as barcode scanners and RFID readers. Further, developers may take advantage of the MCL-AppDesktop functionality to create personalized, restricted menu screens so employees only see the apps they need to do their job. In addition, "kiosk mode" locks end-users into applications to prevent unwanted access to the device's O/S. Above and beyond security, this saves battery life.

"We have seen how time consuming and costly it can be for software developers to create solutions for both Windows O/S and Android, but with MCL, developers only need to create their applications once," emphasized Raymond Wolfert, Director of Sales and Marketing for MCL Technologies. "This saves our partners a lot of effort and also gives them peace of mind that their applications are future-proofed." Overall, MCL supports approximately two dozen different devices from Zebra/Motorola, RRN.Com was told.

Zebra's Symbol MC67 Receives Android Support for MCL Technologies' Mobile Device Management

Key Advertiser Links

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

POS & Peripherals
Bematech
Harbortouch
Hewlett-Packard
Partner Tech
Pioneer POS
POS BANK USA
Posiflex
PowaPOS
TEAMSable

Barcode & Transaction Printers
Brother Mobile
CognitiveTPG
SATO America

Cash Drawers
MMF POS

Data Collection
CipherLab
Code Corporation
Datalogic
Trimble MCS

Integrated Payment Solutions
Cayan
Datacap Systems
Discover
Mercury/Vantiv

Keyboards & Mobile POS
Cherry, ZF Electronics Corp
PrehKeyTec

Receipt Printers
Bixolon America
CognitiveTPG
Epson America
Star Micronics

Thermal Printers
Seiko Instruments USA

Touchscreens & Monitors
Elo TouchSystems

NOTES FROM THE FIELD

Fireflies Over Florida

TouchSuite (Boca Raton, FL) has launched its Firefly Retail POS for the SMB. Based on Android, and packaged with lightweight, 14" touchscreen LCD, as well as associated peripherals if desired, Firefly Retail encompasses such forward-thinking capabilities as drag-and-drop functionality, automated commissions, exchange processing, customizable inventory, wireless print capacity, built-in tax rates, customer relationship management, and cloud-based support. It follows introduction of Firefly Salon in 2014.

"With so many changes in the retail industry, from the rise of online sellers, to the invention of mobile coupons and payments, it is critical that today's store owners are equipped with the operating technology that will allow them to compete and to accommodate today's consumer experience," espoused Sam Zietz, Founder and CEO of TouchSuite. "In Firefly Retail, our team has created a highly advanced and affordable solution that not only bears in mind all of these industry innovations, but also looks to the future." To that end, Firefly Retail, like Firefly Salon, supports emerging mobile transaction technologies uch as EMV, NFC, and Apple Pay.

Following success in the payment processing world, TouchSuite has been very aggressive in promoting its POS. It recently ranked third on the list of fastest-growing companies in its home state of Florida. "The fact that we are the leading technology company on this list of notable and incredibly accomplished industry peers is truly humbling," noted Zietz. As common for such players in payment processing, it bundles its services.

Firefly Retail POS From TouchSuite

Xplore's f-stop

Xplore Technologies Corp. (Austin, TX) has developed Xplore xCapture Pro camera software for its Windows-based tablet PCs, the Bobcat and XC6. This new software provides end-users with photo editing, geo-tagging, and enhanced barcode scanning functionality. It has been loaded on all currently shipping Bobcat and XC6, and, elsewhere, may be downloaded.

"We continue to listen to our customers and deliver the features and capabilities they're looking for. Those in vertical markets such as utilities, field service, and insurance can take advantage of these enhanced features to improve productivity in the field," indicated Mark Holleran, President and COO at Xplore Technologies. As another advantage, the new camera capability reduces the need for additional devices.

In photo editing, end-users may crop, flip, rotate, or make notes on images. If they have experience taking photos with their smartphones and editing them with the tools in popular consumer apps, such as Instagram, they can apply those same skills to xCapture Pro, minimizing the need for training. With geo-tagging, end-users may take one photo of an incident or site containing all necessary information, including location, time/date stamp, and associated mapping. Lastly, Xplore xCapture Pro allows the Bobcat or XC6 to be employed for "light barcode scanning needs."

Bobcat Rugged Tablet PC From Xplore

Channel Factoid

America's one million restaurants will see continued growth this year, according to the National Restaurant Association's "2015 Restaurant Industry Forecast." While the operating environment will remain challenging, total restaurant sales are expected to reach the new record of $709.2 billion in 2015--up 3.8% over 2014--and marking the sixth consecutive year of increase. 2015 also will represent the 16th consecutive year in which restaurant industry employment will outpace overall employment growth. Eating and drinking places are expected to add jobs at the rate of 3.2% in 2015, compared to 2.2% for total U.S. employment. Overall, restaurants will engage 14 million individuals this year as the nation's second-largest private sector employer, representing about 10% of the total U.S. workforce. Roughly one-quarter of consumers say technology options are important features that factor into their decision to choose a restaurant (up from the nearly one-fifth that said the same the year prior). Consumers still want people as part of their restaurant experience, yet look to technology to increase service speed and convenience. "With the economy slowly improving and national employment trending upward, signs are pointing in the right direction," concluded Hudson Riehle, SVP of Research for the National Restaurant Association.

HELLO GOODBYE

Aggrandizing at Granbury

ISV Granbury Solutions (Grapevine, TX) has made changes in management. As part of this reorganization, Duessa Holscher, former Director of Marketing and Strategic Products, has moved to Chief Product Officer. In this newly created position, Holscher will lead the company's product development and overall technology strategy. She has over twenty years of experience in hospitality IT, with RapidFire Software and Radiant Systems, prior to founding FireFly in 2001. She served as Managing Partner for FireFly, which Granbury bought in 2010.

Granbury also announced that Larry O'Connor, the company's Chief Technology Officer since 2010, has retired. "Our company has benefitted from Larry's expertise and insights over the past four years and we wish him the best," commented Granbury CEO Tom Bronson. Also, Ashley Jernigan has been promoted to Director of Marketing from Marketing Team Lead.

"These changes are an example of Granbury's ongoing commitment to evolving to better serve the ever-changing needs of our customers," proposed Bronson. "I am confident these leadership moves will help us reach our goals of providing more robust, comprehensive technology solutions for our hospitality and specialty retail business customers." Granbury addresses the restaurant segment with Thrive POS, Coffee Shop Manager, and Vin Suite, and specialty retail with Nova POS.

Duessa Holscher, Chief Product Officer, Granbury Solutions

A Purpose-Built CEO

Motion Computing (Austin, TX) has appointed Peter Poulin as its CEO. Poulin joined the company in 2012 as VP of Marketing. In his varied career, Poulin has held management posts in sales, marketing, and business development for both software and hardware firms such as Compaq, American Power Conversion, NetBotz, Virtual Bridges, and Hoover's. He also serves as Managing Partner for the business consultancy, Command Crossing, LLC.

"The iPad introduction really accelerated the adoption of the tablet form factor," acknowledged Poulin. "A generation of workers has now come to expect the utility of a tablet to be integrated into their workflows. Combined with the increasing ubiquity of broadband networks and purpose-built rugged tablets, these productivity enhancing tools can be used in an ever-expanding set of demanding work environments. Motion intends to lead the way in delivering true mobility to these users."

Also, Motion Computing has upgraded its popular F5m and C5m Tablet Series. New ultra-high-speed 4G XLTE combines with 802.11a/c Wi-Fi to ensure voice and data support in both high-traffic urban settings and remote job sites, according to the vendor. Addition of fifth-generation Intel Core CPUs, including the i7 vPro, provides increased computing power as well as efficiency. As vertical markets for the F5m and C5m, the vendor pursues utility, oil and gas, mining, manufacturing, public safety, and healthcare, through ISVs, VARs, and DMRs.

Peter Poulin, CEO, Motion Computing