Our Product Pick

Fujitsu America (Sunnyvale, CA) has unboxed its new TP8 Series All-in-One POS for Windows. In two projected-capacitive touchscreen sizes--15" and 18.5"--the TP8 offers versatility and performance, according to Fujitsu. A choice of Intel 4th, 6th, and 7th generation chipsets and processors are offered, along with storage (128 to 500 GB) and memory (4 to 32 GB). A full set of ports includes USB 3.0 x 2, Powered USB (12V) x 3, Powered USB (24V) x 1, Serial RS-232 x 1, Display x 1, HDML x 1, and Cash Drawer x 1. As user-friendly features, the TP8 Series furnishes modular design, tool-free access, and remote management capability with Intel vPro. With cabling through its stand, the TP8 has height of 12.4" and weight of 22 lbs. "Fujitsu has a legacy spanning more than 30 years of engineering trusted, ultra-reliable POS systems," stressed Marc Janssens, EVP of the Retail Business Unit at Fujitsu America.

Fujitsu TP8 POS

COMPANY BUSINESS

Epson's Revolution: OmniLink TM-T88VI

At each year's National Retail Federation (NRF) Show in New York City, there's news from Epson America (Long Beach, CA). Take this year's announcement of the new thermal Epson TM-T88VI. "Our most important product launch in at least six years," Gregg Brunnick, Director of Product Management for POS Printers and Robotics, told RRN.Com. "It cuts across all our vertical markets--retail, hospitality, financial." In development for two-and-a-half years, it enfolds and expands upon the functionality of the Epson TM-T88V, and has the "smarts" of OmniLink.

As expected, the 3" TM-T88VI delivers enhancements in specifications, such as maximum print speed of 13.8 in./350 mm per second at 180 dpi, sophisticated paper savings of up to 49%, and improved print-head life of 200 km and auto-cutter life of three million cuts. It measures 5.7 in. (W) x 7.7 in. (D) x 5.8 in. (H), weighs 3.5 lbs., and carries "slightly higher price." Another participant in our conversation, Luis Artiz, Group Product Manager for Epson America, pointed to equally important necessities for the industry: flexibility, connectivity, and thus, low TCO.

As standard configuration, Epson America has added its triple interface of USB, Ethernet, and UIB (Serial RS-232, Parallel, Powered USB). In addition, the TM-T88VI incorporates Epson's "ePOS" technology for web-based apps, Server Direct Printing, and, of course, support for Epson's OmniLink Merchant Services. In order to achieve proximity-based printing and easy pairing with mobile devices, Epson has included Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Near-Field Communication (NFC), as well as Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi. "An important goal of managing technology within organizations is to ensure that the right user gets the right technology at the right time and can process the transaction quickly," summed up Brunnick. Ready to ship, the TM-T88VI.

Epson's Flagship OmniLink TM-T88VI Series

POS Portal Turns the Key on P2PE

A leading distributor dedicated to payments, POS Portal (Sacramento, CA), has achieved certification as a Point-to-Point Encryption (P2PE) Version 2 Key Injection Facility by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI-SSC). As such, it now offers resellers an immediate way to streamline their operations and help their merchant customers to achieve compliance with PCI-DSS (the Data Security Standard). It operates two Key Injection Facilities in North America.

"Our facilities, technology, and controls offer solution providers turnkey access to market-ready systems of custody monitoring, device configuration, and key management," remarked Evamarie Ghiggeri, VP of Client Services at POS Portal. "We're the only ones in North America to offer this type of solution [P2PE Version 2 Key Injection Facility]. If P2PE compliance is part of your scope, there is no faster way to market." As assessor, POS Portal employed Coalfire (New York, NY).

In conversation with RRN.Com, executives of POS Portal emphasized that payment technology is their "bread and butter." Founded in 2000 by Buzz Stryker, President and CEO, the firm has relationships with the full roster of payment terminal manufacturers, gateways, and processors. As payment technology evolves, it has followed, "now creating storefronts for our partners, including e-commerce," expounded Ghiggeri. Also, it has moved into the mid-market from its roots in the SMB.

In the Warehouse at POS Portal: Payment Devices

Worth Your While

NGA
National Grocers Association
February 12-15
Las Vegas, NV

WERC
Warehousing Education and Research Council
April 30 - May 3
Fort Worth, TX

Transact
Electronic Transactions Association
May 10-12
Las Vegas, NV

NRA
National Restaurant Association
May 20-23
Chicago, IL

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Up to Code: the CR950

At the National Retail Federation (NRF) Show in New York City, Code (Salt Lake City, UT) debuted its new entry-level barcode reader, designated the CR950. In ergonomic format, with weight of only 3.9 oz., and dimensions of 5.5 in. (H) x 2.75 in. (D) x 2 in. (W), the CR950 delivers omnidirectional reading of one- and two-dimensional symbologies, including PDF-417 and QR Codes. In concert with Code's "2D Revolution" decoding platform, it rapidly processes reflective driver licenses and mobile device screens.

As features, the CR950 has manual or automatic triggering, continuous scan or motion detection barcode reading modes, visual and audible user feedback, and the company's rapid disconnect USB and Serial RS-232 "Affinity" Cables. It carries an IP-54 rating for water and dust and withstands multiple drops to concrete of 6 ft./1.8 m. "For the same price as a laser scanner, retailers can deploy the CR950 across their enterprise today and have confidence that their hardware investment will not be obsolete as their applications change with market demand," relayed Garrett Russell, VP of Marketing for Code.

Also, Code has unveiled its new sled for the iPod, the CR4300. Instead of scan engine, the CR4300 employs the camera on the iPod, supported by an innovative, patent-pending, optical platform and its "2D Revolution." Additional benefits include 3,000-mAh back-up battery, disinfectant-ready case, built-in battery gauge, and quick charging via USB or Dock. "Users are given a bright targeting bar and integrated scan buttons to easily find and read barcodes without looking at the iPod screen," stated John Deal, Director of Product Management at Code.

Code's New CR950 2D Barcode Reader

Bematech Fires Up KDS

A leader in Kitchen Display Systems, Bematech (Bethpage, NY), has released its KitchenGo Premium App. It follows the earlier release of KitchenGo, based on Android, which provided basic features such as order ticketing, timing, bump, and ticket recall. It comes pre-installed on the Bematech LS8000 Kitchen System Controller.

A more feature-rich and robust system, KitchenGo Premium has multi-language order display, order-waiting time alert, condiment message display, and customizable order panels (including font styles, sizes, and colors). With upgraded resolution, it supports 1080-pixel output and widescreen monitors, allowing display of training videos, recipes, and "build cards." As expected, KitchenGo is agnostic regarding the POS.

"Another great thing about this application is that if you already have our Kitchen Display System (KDS) Manager, integration with KitchenGo is seamless," explained Bematech. "Orders continue to be communicated via XML format through shared folder or TCP/IP Port. Also, direct integration to Mobile POS is now supported." Some time ago, Bematech purchased one of the pioneers in KDS, Logic Controls.

Bematech's Kitchen Display System Adds KitchenGo Premium App

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ENVIRONMENTS/PLATFORMS

Checking Fingerprints at ECRS

A longtime developer in POS, ECRS (Boone, NC), has presented its biometric payment system, dubbed Secure OneTouch. Assembled from sheet metal, with powder black finish and stainless steel top-plate, Secure OneTouch encloses the fingerprint reader by Digital Persona/Crossmatch (Palm Beach Gardens, FL). Its swiveling base allows for customer-facing or employee-facing access. A kit from ECRS addresses installation, with total cost for the system put at $250.

Upon reading of the fingerprint, the system begins searching for the associated customer record. If the customer has an account within the Catapult Software from ECRS, the transaction will be finalized without need of swiping his or her physical credit card. In addition, the system allows customers to receive real-time coupons and collect points for loyalty programs. Also, employees may clock in with Secure OneTouch.

As security for the customer, Catapult Software shifts its partial mathematical pattern of the fingerprint into numerical ID, with Triple DES encryption. Any completed transaction employs patent-pending tokenization technology. Founded in 1989 as ECR Software, ECRS has over 4,000 active retail locations in North America; it estimates it has installed biometric fingerprint readers in self-checkout kiosks for 500.

Secure OneTouch Biometric Reader for the POS

Another Piece of Silver

NCR (Duluth, GA) has redesigned its tablet POS for the SMB, entitled NCR Silver. Appointed as NCR Silver Version 4, it claims to eliminate 33 taps from the transaction process. A simplified touchscreen navigation menu, new colors, larger buttons, and modernized type font have been configured. Introduction of a slide-out menu gives customers easier access to the main ticket screen. Also, removal of many pop-up screens provides business owners with faster access to specific functions.

A beta user of this redesigned app, Darcy Lynn, Owner of Cakes by Darcy (Roswell, GA) praised the new features. "With the new interface, it's even easier to navigate. The slide-out menu in particularly is really nice. It makes everything, even clocking out, faster."

"NCR is constantly looking for ways to add value and insights to the small business experience," declared Chris Poelma, President and GM of NCR Silver. "With that, we take customer feedback and insights into everything we do--including technology enhancements to our platform." On the website for NCR Silver, incidentally, there's an offer for free hardware for new customers in 2017. Conditions apply.

Slide-Out Menu for NCR Silver 4

Code Corner

At the National Retail Federation (NRF) Show in New York City, Vantiv Integrated Payments (Durango, CO) enhanced its payment processing middleware with the general release of its triPOS Cloud, expressly for ISVs. Built on the RESTful Application Programming Interface (API), it enables plug-and-play merchant installation, according to Vantiv IP, and delivers Point-to-Point Encryption (P2PE), Tokenization, and EMV. Also, it facilitates migration to any new functionality, payment devices, transaction types, and gateway capabilities via the Vantiv Express Platform. ISVs can connect and integrate to triPOS at Vantive O.N.E. "A large demand from current and prospective developers to solve this important need [for triPOS Cloud]," cited Matt Downs, Head of Channel and Business Development at Vantiv Integrated Payments. At the NRF Show, Vantiv Integrated Payments ran triPOS Cloud through the Amazon Echo.

NOTES FROM THE FIELD

(Thing)Magic's Gone at Trimble

Jadak (Syracuse, NY) has snatched up the assets of ThingMagic (part of Trimble Advanced Devices) for $20 million in cash. Originally spun out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and based in Woburn, MA, ThingMagic helped pioneer UHF (Ultra-High-Frequency) RFID for vertical markets (including retail and supply chain). For its part, Jadak specializes in High-Frequency (HF) RFID, with focus on medical OEMs.

"In particular, it enables Jadak to provide OEM customers in the medical-technical industry with products that will further enhance their capability to deliver improvement around anti-counterfeiting, tracking of consumables, and protecting their revenue streams," emphasized Jeffrey Pine, VP of Business Development at Jadak (part of photonics and machine vision developer, Novanta). In 2015, Jadak purchased SkyeTek (Denver, CO), which has both HF and UHF RFID for OEMs.

"This transaction is consistent with our strategy to focus our efforts on domain-specific connected solutions in our core markets," disclosed Michael Lesyna, VP of Trimble. "We believe that we can create more value and sustainable differentiation by focusing on the software, data, and sensor integration for solutions that leverage RFID versus owning and developing the technology." Remaining at the technological heart of Trimble: Position Location.

Jadak Acquires ThingMagic's RFID Assets From Trimble

iConnect: Cash in the Cloud

Citing growing interest in its cloud-based POS, iConnect (Denver, CO) has kicked off its "Franchise Upgrade Program." It furnishes hardware subsidies in return for system-wide rollouts. iConnect has dedicated half-a-million dollars for this effort, which spans retail, restaurant, and beauty sectors. iConnect, which supports iOS, Android, and Windows, was founded by Subodh Gupta, President, in 2005.

The fund is overseen and distributed by a committee of five franchise industry veterans, according to iConnect. In order to qualify, the franchise must have at least 20 locations (domestic or international). Also, it must be--or become--part of the International Franchise Association (Washington, DC).

"Rising minimum wages, new legislation, and fierce competition are putting a squeeze on small businesses all across America," noted Ryan Hicks, VP at iConnect. "Our mission is to invest today to help franchise systems grow and improve unit profitability for the next decade and beyond." On its website, iConnect solicits partners for reselling.

iConnect Launches Franchise Upgrade Program

Key Advertiser Links

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

POS & Peripherals
Bematech
CRS, Inc.
Harbortouch
Hewlett-Packard
Pioneer POS
Poindus America
POSBANK USA
Posiflex
Tailwind Solutions

POS Software
Action Systems Inc.

Barcode & Transaction Printers
Brother Mobile
CognitiveTPG
Godex Americas
Honeywell

Cash Drawers
MMF POS

Data Collection
AML
CipherLab
Code Corporation
Honeywell
Janam Technologies

Distributors
Ingram Micro

Integrated Payment Solutions
Datacap Systems
Moneris
Sterling Payment

Keyboards & Mobile POS
Cherry Americas, LLC
TG3 Electronics

Mounts for POS
SpacePole

Receipt Printers
Bixolon America
CognitiveTPG
Epson America
Star Micronics

Thermal Printers
Seiko Instruments USA

INSTALLATIONS

A Prescription of Android Pay, Equinox, and Walgreens

Across its product lines, payment terminal maker Equinox Payments (Phoenix, AZ, and Toronto, Canada) has embraced Android Pay. At the forefront, this includes the Equinox L5300 multi-lane terminals used by drugstore chain, Walgreens. "It was evident just last month during the holiday shopping season that many of our Balance Rewards members enjoy the benefits of linking our loyalty program with mobile payments," recounted Abhi Dhar, CIO of Walgreens. "We're offering a convenient and secure way for our members to earn and redeem loyalty points in-store, eliminating the need to separately scan or enter their card for Business Rewards." At present, more than 85 million consumers participate in Walgreens Balance Rewards.

"Migration from cards to mobile wallets intensifies the demand for a quick and easy payment experience, and our integration with Android Pay makes this possible," reflected Rob Hayhow, VP of Equinox Payments. "Shoppers can simply tap their phones at the terminal, which replaces the time-consuming process of entering loyalty program information, inserting a chip card for payment, and waiting for the transaction to complete." A second tap applies payment from the card of their choice. Alternatively, retailers may choose to have loyalty and payment information conveyed by single tap, according to Equinox.

A particularly busy time for Equinox Payments, which this month unwrapped its newest terminal, the Luxe 6000m, with smartphone format and modular configurations for multi-port cable, Bluetooth BLE 4.2, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, and 4G LTE. Power is supplied via wired connection or battery module, with optional integrated receipt printer. The range of payment schemes are addressed: magnetic-stripe reader (MSR), EMV, and NFC. It meets PCI PTS 5.0. A Luxe 8000i has horizontal layout and 5" or 7" touch display.

Equinox Payment Terminals, Such as the L5300 at Walgreens, Now Integrated with Android Pay

Toshiba Be Nimble

Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions (Research Triangle Park, NC) will deploy its TCxWave POS for The Yankee Candle Company. Approximately 1,400 of TCxWave POS will roll out across stores in North America and the U.K., according to the two parties. Based in South Deerfield, MA, The Yankee Candle Company has approximately 500 company-owned and operated retail stores (in addition to shared space in mass merchandise, direct mail catalogs, and website). As factors, it cited versatility and gesture touch-based screen functionality.

"We selected Toshiba's POS solutions to support our new retail infrastructure because of the unique design, durability, product road map, and ability to strengthen our customer engagement," reported Dave Harris, VP of Information Technology for The Yankee Candle Company, Inc. Added Bill Campbell, VP and Head of Sales for North America for Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions, "As the most recognized brand in the candle business, we are delighted to provide The Yankee Candle Company with technology to deliver enriched shopping experiences for their customers, as well as frictionless checkout." A VAR, Certified Retail Solutions (Dover, NH), leads install.

At the National Retail Federation (NRF) Show in New York City, Toshiba GCS also promoted a trio of programs: TCx Elevate, TCx Pay, and TCx Simplify. Of most interest to our channel, perhaps, TCx Pay offers an end-to-end, turn-key solution for EMV. As POS-as-a-Service, TCx Simplify bills customers monthly in 36-, 48-, and 60-month terms, while TCx Elevate encompasses TCx Elevate Utilities, TCx Elevate Pre-Scan, and TCx Elevate POS Marketing. In discussing the state of the industry with RRN.Com, Brad Merritt, Director of Channel Sales for Toshiba GCS, cited strong interest in self-checkout solutions on the part of independent grocers, somewhat surprisingly.

Toshiba TCxWave Chosen by The Yankee Candle Company

Channel Factoid

Eureka! Retailers who spend more on technology are more likely to enjoy high sales growth, according to the "Unified Commerce Landscape Report," commissioned by NCR and conducted by the IHL Group. In the area of store transformation, for example, retailers that provide mobile sales tools for staff saw 77% higher sales; those that deployed Mobile POS saw 92% higher sales; and stores that offer Wi-Fi saw an amazing 663% increase in sales compared to those that don't. [Editor's Note: Probably not cause-and-effect for Wi-Fi.] In personalization: 110% higher sales for retailers that actively market their cross-channel services; 107% higher sales for those using customer preference across channels; and 84% higher sales for retailers that offer real-time loyalty programs. As for so-called seamless experience: 102% higher sales for those with cross-channel demand planning and 18% higher sales for retailers that deploy order management systems--"the foundation of Unified Commerce." Overall, retail leaders spend an average of 69%
more on IT. Ninety large retail chains in the U.S. and U.K. were surveyed. "Retailers can no longer view IT as only a cost center, but a strategic resource to grow the business," counseled Greg Buzek, President of the IHL Group. "The IT spending commitment from retail leaders is having dramatic impact on their ability to balance the top strategic priorities: creating a seamless shopping experience, creating a 'wow' in-store experience, and improving customer loyalty. Without the budget, others simply cannot keep up."

Greg Buzek, President, IHL Group

HELLO GOODBYE

A Wider Net(Surion)

A new member for the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI-SSC) Small Merchant Task Force: John Christly, Global Chief Information Security Officer (CISCO) at Netsurion/EventTracker (Ft. Lauderdale, FL). Christly has more than 25 years of experience in cybersecurity, enfolding industry regulations such as PCI-DSS and HIPAA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). Netsurion is one of the leading providers of managed data and network security services for our channel, and its subsidiary, EventTracker, is an innovator in so-called Security Information and Event Management (SIEM). "A managed firewall is essential but no longer a significant-enough barrier on its own," he advised of endpoints, adding, "Risk mitigation has become crucial, including monitoring outbound traffic."

"On every device, computer, and network, there are new methods thieves are creating to steal data from companies around the world, and smaller businesses are particularly at risk," confirmed Jeremy King, PCI-SSC's International Director. "Having a group that is focused on this specific challenge is a critical part of our work to increase security awareness and defend against breaches globally. It's great to have Netsurion and EventTracker, and a wide variety of industries and geographies on-board, and we look forward to working together to better protect small businesses."

Also this month, Netsurion has launched two new offerings powered by EventTracker: SIEM-at-the-Edge and its Breach Detection Service. Under SIEM-at-the-Edge, critical endpoints, such as POS, are protected. Real-time alerts and recommendations about critical security events are sent to the customer, and in certain situations, the dedicated sensors can perform automated response actions. Described as low cost, the Breach Detection Service, which overlays the firewall, tracks system changes, such as installation of unknown or unsigned applications, unexpected user behavior, and connection with suspect IP addresses. Without the proper security technology, it takes an average of 265 days to discover data breaches, estimates Netsurion, which merged with EventTracker in October 2016.

John Christly, CISCO of Netsurion, Named to PCI-SSC Small Merchant Task Force

Infogain: Always Buy Retail

Infogain (Los Gatos, CA) has promoted Jon Guyton to VP of its Retail Practice. He joined Infogain, an Oracle Gold Partner, in April 2014 as VP of Sales and Business Development, where he helped clients in their transition to Oracle's xStore Point of Sale. Before Infogain, he worked at Wincor Nixdorf as Senior Director of Business Development for Channel, and Relationship Management (2013 to 2014), Senior Director of Global Sales (2011 to 2013), and Senior Director of the Retail Sales Division (1999 to 2011). At Wincor Nixdorf, now Diebold Nixdorf, he developed the Retail IT services delivery model for North America.

"The retail industry is competitive with increasing demands for digital transformation strategies," commented Sunil Bhatia, CEO of Infogain. "Jon's leadership abilities, innovative thinking, customer mindset, and consultative approach will add value for our clients. His strengths in the new position will take Infogain's Retail Division into an exciting future."

Jon Guyton, VP of Retail Practice, Infogain