Our Product Pick

SATO America (Charlotte, NC) has unwrapped its new industrial thermal label printer, the CL6NX Plus. With maximum print width of 6.6 in./168 mm, the the CL6NX Plus has print speeds of 10 in./254 mm per second at 203 dpi and 8 in./203 mm per second at 305 dpi. A 600 m/2000 ft. ribbon supplies 30% more capacity. A metal casing has large bi-fold opening for easy access, media supply window, and 3.5" full color LCD, and overall dimensions of 12.6 in. (H) x 13.3 in. (W) x 18 in. (D), weighing 44.8 lbs./20.3 kg. A full suite of sensor types, connectivity options, and supported barcode symbologies are presented. Additional features include micro label print mode, direct print PDF, UHF RFID, tool-free maintenance, and pure line platen roller with visual wear indicator.

SATO's CL6NX Plus Industrial Label Printer

COMPANY BUSINESS

Epson Deals OmniLink TM-m50

Epson America (Los Alamitos, CA) has presented its newest thermal receipt printer, the OmniLink TM-m50. In cube-shaped dimensions of 5 in. (H) x 5 in. (W) x 5 in. (D), weighing 2.9 lbs./1300 g, the OmniLink TM-m50 has 3 in./80 mm print width and maximum speed of 13.8 in./350 mm per second at 180 dpi. Available in black or white casing, capable of switching between top-load or front-load configuration, it carries features designed for mobile and online ordering across retail and hospitality settings, as well as the "intelligence" of Epson's OmniLink.

As connectivity, OmniLink TM-m50 offers combinations of USB, Serial, Ethernet, Bluetooth, and 802.11 WLAN. For easy pairing with mobile devices, and identification of nearest printer in multiple user environments, it furnishes beacon support (via Bluetooth Low Energy) and Near Field Communication (NFC). Also, in certain models, the OmniLink TM-m50 delivers "smart connectivity," with charging, via USB and "USB-Network-Tethering." A printhead life of 124 miles/200 km and auto-cutter life of 2.2 million cuts demonstrate reliability.

As expected, OmniLink TM-m50 supports iOS, Android, and Windows O/S. Key functions such as online ordering and remote printing are supported through Epson's "Server Direct Print." Also, merchants benefit from access to third-party solutions via OmniLink Merchant Services. "Our new OmniLink TM-m50 expands on the capabilities of the existing mPOS product line, keeping the compact, sleek, modern industrial design while increasing print speeds, reliability, and expanding connectivity for traditional PC-POS systems," emphasized Aileen Maldonado, Product Manager, Business Systems, Epson America.

A Growing Product Line of Printers for Mobile POS

Office Hours for EPI

Electronic Payments Inc. (Calverton, NY) has expanded its ProCharge platform to include ProCharge Desktop. With a special focus on medical and professional-service offices, ProCharge Desktop was developed to allow merchants to continue using their existing business software and hardware, complemented by adding a stand-alone countertop terminal to accept payments, including EMV/NFC. It runs Windows 10, with certification to PCI-DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) and HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).

According to Electronic Payments, ProCharge Desktop can be installed and set-up quickly, with no downtime. It supports multiple users and workstations, and may print receipts on any office printer. With ProCharge, merchants may also take advantage of next-day funding and free integrated gift-card processing by Electronic Payments. Additional features include recurring billing, e-invoicing, and support for mobility.

"ProCharge has been a reliable platform for thousands of merchants, and we're excited to bring its many advantages to this market," declared Michael Nardy, CEO of Electronic Payments. "ProCharge Desktop provides an array of possibilities that ensure business continuity, including next day funding, reporting, and service from our team in Technical Support. Plus, it's a smart tool to lower processing costs and avoid expensive investments in new hardware and software."

Electronic Payments Inc. Debuts ProCharge Desktop

Worth Your While

ProMat
Modern Materials Handling (MHI)
April 12-15
Chicago, IL

NRA Show
National Restaurant Association
May 22-25
Chicago, IL

NRF Show
National Retail Federation
June 6-8
New York, NY

RetailNOW
Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA)
July 25-28
Nashville, TN

Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo
Clarion Events
August 22-24
Anaheim, CA

Money 20/20
Ascential
October 24-27
Las Vegas, NV

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Star "Draws" Upon USB

Star Micronics America (Somerset, NJ) has debuted new USB Versions of its Value Series (Model CD3) and Max Series (Model SMD2) Cash Drawers. An option for USB 2.0 will accommodate retailers or restaurants offering only digital or e-mail receipts--with or without use of receipt printer. It also enables management of each drawer independently in high-cash, dual-cash-drawer environments.

The USB Cash Drawers require no external power supply and allow the host to identify if the cash drawer is properly connected. Star Micronics America provides its StarPRNT software development kit (SDK) for Android, and Windows Drivers, for the Value Series CD3 and Max Series SMD2 USB Cash Drawers. As many as eight USB Cash Drawers may be connected to one host device, addressing large restaurant, bar, or retail locations. "A wider range of environments" for the Value Series CD3 and Max Series SMD2 via USB is cited by Christophe Naasz, Business Development Director at Star Micronics America.

Its Value Series CD3 has 13 in. x 13 in. and 16 in. x 16 in. formats. Its Max Series SMD2 has 13 in. x 17 in. and 16 in. x 17 in. formats. Each offers tills for the U.S. or Canada, media slots, locking till covers, bottom exit cable, and under-counter mounting brackets. A two-year warranty for the Value Series CD3, and four-year warranty for the Max Series SMD2. Also, Star Micronics America supplies its mid-range Choice Series Cash Drawer (Model CD4) in 14 in. x 16 in. and 16 in. x 16 in.

Star Micronics Offers USB for Its Value and Max Cash Drawers

Gamber-Johnson Stands Up for iPad

Gamber-Johnson (Stevens Point, WI) has unveiled its new secure kiosk stand for the Apple iPad 10.2 (designated as Item #7160-1617). In corrosion-resistant sheet-metal construction, it measures 7 in. (H) x 15 in. (W) x 11 in. (D) and weighs 15.8 lbs./7.2 kg. In providing comfortable viewing angle for the end-user, the tablet is positioned in the enclosure at 30 degrees, suitable for mounting on either flat surface or wall.

A key lock ensures security (with additional padlock bar). A sturdy frame supports future expansions, such as payment devices on the side, and covers the tablet's home button to prevent tampering. In addition, there's ample room for power routing, peripherals, and add-ons such as USB Hubs. A series of stands for iPad 10.2 and iPad Mini, intended for POS, have been rolled out during the past year by Gamber-Johnson.

"The last ten months have changed the customer experience and how companies are doing business," observed Garrett Neta, Product Marketer for Gamber-Johnson. "We believe that our products will allow those businesses to thrive in the current environment. Gamber-Johnson has extensive experience building products that withstand the harshest conditions, while also providing improved user ergonomics, so the addition of this product is a natural progression for our business."

Gamber-Johnson's Secure Tablet Kiosk Enclosure for iPad 10.2

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Week of December 14

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Week of November 16

ALLIANCES

NCR Gets Fresh

NCR (Atlanta, GA) has snapped up grocery e-commerce leader, Freshop (Rochester, NY). It will become part of NCR's Next-Generation Retail Store Architecture, which includes its subscription-based NCR Emerald. "It will give retailers, especially regional and small chains, the ability to deploy 'buy-online, pickup-in-store' [BOPIS] capabilities to serve their customers' needs directly . . . and earn better margins," suggested NCR.

"We know that by joining the industry leader in retail technology, Freshop can scale more rapidly and be an even bigger force in the market," contributed Brian Moyer, CEO of Freshop. "The team and I are proud of what we have built and are excited about this next step in our journey together with NCR." According to NCR, "buy-online, pickup-in-store" [BIPOS] e-commerce will grow by 25% per year through 2025. Acquisition price for Freshop was not disclosed.

Elsewhere, NCR Emerald has been chosen by independent supermarket chain, Big Y. With 85 locations in MA and CT, Big Y will run NCR Emerald on all checkouts, from grocery, fuel, and pharmacy to self-service, gift cards, and PIN Pads. It includes point-of-sale, payment processing, loyalty, and merchandising. (In case you're wondering, Big Y was named after an intersection where roads converge in the shape of "Y" in Chicopee, mA).

NCR Purchases Grocery E-Commerce Leader Freshop

EVO "NETs" ISVs

EVO Payments (Tampa, FL) has added two new services--TranCloud and NETePay Hosted--from its longtime partner, Datacap Systems (Chalfont, PA). Addressing both mobile and browser-based POS, TranCloud builds upon Datacap's popular payment middleware, NETePay. A new cloud-based NETePay Hosted supports all integrations by Datacap Systems (including NETePay, GIFTePay, TranCloud, Tran Series, and DC Direct).

Datacap's TranCloud and NETePay Hosted support all payment types, including card-present and card-not-present, with EMV, of course, and certification to Payment Card Industry (PCI) 5.x. As features, TranCloud offers store-and-forward for offline processing, tap-and-pay support, tokenization for recurring billing, and faster transactions via QuickChip. As terminals, there's the Tetra Series by Ingenico (Alpharetta, GA).

"We are very pleased to add Datacap's TranCloud and NETePay Hosted applications to our suite of omnichannel capabilities," expressed Brendan Tansill, EVO's President for the Americas. "Our ISV partners and merchants can have confidence that our enhanced product offering will provide additional simplicity and flexibility to track card payments from both the physical and virtual POS via Datacap's secure payment applications." An early pioneer in payments technology, Datacap Systems serves the channel of ISVs, VARs, and Dealers in POS.

EVO Payments Adds TranCloud and NETePay Hosted by Datacap Systems

Code Corner

Cybra Corporation (Yonkers, NY) has released MarkMagic X (Version 10) of its Barcode, RFID, and Electronic Forms Software. As major features, it includes all-new SQL support (for combining data from multiple sources), merging of PDF documents, and advanced graphic conversion. As specific benefits for end-users of IBM i, there's new search capabilities, enhanced history logging, and updated trigger for its controller, PrintMonitor. Also, the new MarkMagic X Platform Independent Fusion Edition (with centralized control and standardization of formats) bolsters Windows, Unix, Linux, and AIX. "MarkMagic has certainly come a long way since its first inception in 1990," mused Harold Brand, CEO and Co-Founder of Cybra. "We owe it to our loyal customers who have provided us with the support and encouragement to make the best MarkMagic X."

MarkMagic X by Cybra

A Message From the Editor

As we enter another year, our mission stays constant: to fill the need for timely, focused, non-biased news in the channel for POS & Auto ID. If anything, that need grows more pressing in the face of changes in technology, go-to-market strategies, business models, and consumer concerns. We look forward to continuing that mission and welcome your suggestions and thoughts on improvement.

Michael Kachmar, Editor

INTEGRATION

Ivanti Goes Sledding

Ivanti Wavelink, the supply chain business unit of Ivanti (Salt Lake City, UT), has launched Wavelink Velocity for iOS. In addition to support of Apple iPods, iPhones, and iPads, it offers rapid migration to web-hosted applications such as SAP S/4 HANA and ECC (Error Correcting Code). Accommodating iOS 11, Wavelink Velocity 2.1.15 works in partnership with mobile devices--sleds for barcode scanning, payment processing, and receipt printing--from Infinite Peripherals (Elk Grove Village, IL).

"For supply chain and warehousing organizations, mobile productivity is key to keeping pace with e-commerce demand and growth," proposed Brandon Black, VP and GM at Ivanti Wavelink. "As the migration away from traditional Windows O/S-based solutions continues, we are seeing a growing number of customers adopt iOS-powered endpoints and peripherals as part of their mobile device strategies." A longtime leader in remote device management, Wavelink has Velocity--including for Android and Windows O/S--and Terminal Emulation, Speakeasy, and Avalanche.

"Infinite Peripherals and Ivanti share the same belief in anytime, anywhere mobility," remarked Jeffrey Scott, CEO of Infinite Peripherals. "By partnering with Ivanti, we are supporting the growing need for durable, rugged iOS devices in the warehouse retail environment. We deliver plug-and-play iOS-enhanced user experience and management for not only the iOS devices but also for the peripherals as well."

Wavelink Launches Velocity for iOS and Partners With Infinite Peripherals

Honeywell Guns the Engine

Honeywell (Charlotte, NC) has stocked its new Model N4680 Decoded 1D/2D Scan Engine. A drop-in replacement for the company's Model N3680, in compact dimensions of 0.45 in. (H) x 0.83 in. (W) x 0.57 in. (D), the N3680 offers: motion tolerance of 236 in./6 m per second; image capture of 120 frames per second maximum; and wide field of view at 40 degrees horizontal and 30 degrees vertical. Its processor is 2.5 times faster than its predecessor in the N3680, reports Honeywell.

An integrated one-piece design eliminates the need for extra cabling, decoder board, or host decoder programming with the N4680. As advanced functionality, it supports optical character recognition (OCR) and Honeywell's software development platform, TotalFreedom. As interface, there's choice of standard Serial TTL or USB. A wide operating temperature range spans -22 to +140 Degrees F/-30 to +60 Degrees C.

"With its compact design, it is a versatile option for our customers from retail and healthcare to supply chain and warehouses," enthused Lori Haggart, GM of Optical Engines and Software at Honeywell Sensing and Internet of Things. "It allows operations to effortlessly handle the volume of scanning intensive applications, while fitting tight mechanical requirements." As markets cited: handheld devices, mobile payments, kiosks, vending machines, and medical diagnostic equipment.

Honeywell's Enhanced N4680 Scan Engine

Key Advertiser Links

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

POS & Peripherals
CRS, Inc.
Electronic Payments
Epson America
Harbortouch
HP
Ingenico
Pioneer Solution
POSBANK USA
Posiflex
Revel Systems

Barcode & Transaction Printers
Bixolon America
Brother Mobile
Godex Americas

Cash Drawers
APG Cash Drawer

Data Collection
CipherLab
Code Corporation
Janam Technologies
Unitech America

Integrated Payment Solutions
Datacap Systems
Electronic Payments
Ingenico
International Bancard
North American Bancard
PAX Technology

Receipt Printers
Bixolon America
Citizen Systems America
Star Micronics

Stands, Mounts, Cradles
Gamber-Johnson

INSTALLATIONS

Revel Hooks Seafood Chain

Revel Systems (Atlanta, GA) has supplied its Revel Enterprise POS for table-service restaurant chain, Hook & Reel, with 50 locations across the U.S. In making its announcement, Hook & Reel emphasized the versatility of Apple hardware--iPad, iPad Pro, and iPad Mini, employed with Revel Enterprise--for the table-service environment. A full-service, scalable solution, Revel Enterprise includes online ordering, take-out/delivery, payment processing, loyalty and customer relationship management (CRM), inventory tracking, employee scheduling and payroll, and analytics and business reporting, in addition to POS.

"Revel's ability to deliver flexible, scalable, and innovative solutions for table-service restaurants, including integrated mobile order takers, was the key differentiator," indicated Eason Li, Director of Operations at Hook & Reel. "Mobile order takers enable us to deliver a superior customer experience during the ordering process and help reduce order wait times. Since the Revel platform is cloud-based, we can also easily make updates across locations with the push of a button."

"Even in tough times, smart brands are buying and rolling out better technology because they understand it will be key to survival," declared Greg Dukat, CEO of Revel Systems. "Revel's digital-first iPad POS platform has strong momentum with large chains, building on recent wins at The Halal Guys, FAT Brands, Buff City Soap, and Moe's Southwest Grill." In addition to its Revel Enterprise, there's Revel Essentials, deployed at thousands of customer locations, for the SMB.

Hook & Reel Deploys Revel Enterprise POS

A Campus Full of Agilysys

Agilysys (Alpharetta, GA) has provided its InfoGenesis POS for the Rochester Institute of Technology in NY. A campus comprised of nine colleges, occupying 1,300 acres, RIT has approximately 18,600 students and 20 dining services locations, including eateries, coffee shops, food stores, and catering. In replacing its existing systems, RIT evaluated multiple technology vendors before choosing InfoGenesis POS, which has been delivered to RIT as SaaS (Software-as-a-Service).

Also included in the deployment is contactless self-service via InfoGenesis (IG) OnDemand, which allows students and faculty members to place and pay for orders using their own device (mobile phone, tablet, or laptop). Another piece is InfoGenesis (IG) Buy, which supports kiosk-based self-service order and payment stations. On the back end, InfoGenesis (IG) Kitchen Display System (KDS) has been installed. As point-to-point (P2PE), EMV gateway: Agilysys Pay Connect.

"Rochester Institute of Technology and Agilysys are building a strong partnership, and we are gratified to add them to our list of higher education customers," related Don DeMarinis, SVP of Sales and Marketing for the Americas at Agilysys. "InfoGenesis POS solutions are uniquely positioned to address the range of deployment options demanded by the Rochester Institute of Technology." Also, Agilysys has recently provided its mobile check-in/out, rGuest Express, as well as its IG OnDemand, for the Win-River Resort & Casino in Redding, CA.

Rochester Institute of Technology Installs Agilysys InfoGenesis POS

Channel Factoid

-Win or lose: 73% of consumers say they will do more business with retailers that meet or exceed their expectations on post-purchase order fulfillment, while 53% of consumers say they will never do more business with certain retailers that mishandle post-purchase order fulfillment.

-Incorrect orders persist: 41% of consumers returned an item due to retailer error (incorrect size, color, or wrong item altogether), up from 30% in 2018.

-Less patience for late deliveries: 56% of consumers report that gifts they purchased online arrived later than the promised date. Even if an item is correct, 26% of consumers returned items because they were delivered later than promised at the time of purchase, up from only 10% reporting returning late items in 2018.

-Wrong again: Incredibly, 51% of respondents said they returned an incorrect item only to have another wrong item sent the second time around.

-A failure to communicate: 54% of consumers who had gift delivery delays say it's "extremely important" that retailers continuously communicate the status of their delayed order. Another 42% report it's "important."

-Mailing it in: 56% of consumers prefer the option to return items via pre-paid postage, up from 47% in 2018. In-store returns saw a decrease in preference, dropping from 41% in 2018 to 34% this year. This may indicate increasing comfort with returning via mail as well as concerns over COVID-19.

Source: "Holiday Fulfillment Study," by Voxware (Hamilton, NJ)

Order Fulfillment Steps to the Forefront

HELLO GOODBYE

Mr. Efficiency at Code

Code Corporation (Murray, UT) has engaged Dave Frick as its VP of Operations. He joins the company from Varex Imaging Corporation, where he served as VP (2017 to 2020). Previous positions include Director of Global Interay Operations at Varian Medical Systems (2014 to 2017), Director of Operations at Philips Healthcare (2002 to 2014), and VP of Operations at Richardson Electronics (1996 to 2002).

"We were impressed by Dave's stellar track record; his background and unique skillset have prepared him to take our operations to the next level," commented Kent Hansen, CEO of Code. "He is joining right as Code delivers innovations that help increase efficiencies and outcomes in the global data acquisition and barcode scanning market. I look forward to leveraging his leadership skills, entrepreneurial spirit, and strategic mind as we move into the next phase of company growth."

"The high quality of Code's products and the solidity of its global supply chain are beyond impressive," reflected Frick. "This speaks volumes about its leadership as well as the expertise of Code's design and manufacturing engineers. I'm excited to work with this incredible team to accomplish great things together."

Dave Frick, VP of Operations, Code Corporation

NMI Goes Deep

NMI (Schaumburg, IL), which provides its payment gateway, has enlisted Jagdeep Sahota as its VP of Strategic Alliances. Most recently, he served as Senior Director of Strategic Product Partnerships at Salesforce (2019 to 2020). Other experience includes Executive Director at JPMorgan Chase & Co. (2017 to 2019), VP of Innovation and Strategic Partnerships at Visa (2008 to 2017), Senior Product Manager at PayPal (2006 to 2008), and Senior Systems Architect at Visa (1997 to 2006).

"I am delighted and honored to join NMI's exceptional team and look forward to contributing to the short- and long-term success of the company," shared Sahota. "Combining NMI's best-in-industry technology and skilled team members with fruitful new alliances and reinforced existing partnerships is the recipe for continued growth and prosperity for NMI and our customers." A recipient of B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Sahota also holds 23 global patents and filing applications.

"Jagdeep's appointment is an investment in NMI's dedication to growth and commitment to enabling success for ISVs, VARs, and ISOs," remarked Vijay Sondhi, CEO of NMI. "His experience and proven track record of building mutually beneficial alliances are key ingredients to NMI's planned success in 2021." At present, NMI processes over 1.2 billion transactions annually from retail point-of-sale, e-commerce, self-service terminals, and mobile touchpoints.

Jagdeep Sahota, VP of Strategic Alliances, NMI