This Week’s Product Pick

DAP Technologies (Tempe, AZ) now stocks its M1000 voice-ready handheld rugged mobile computer. Measuring 5.7 in. x 2.4 in. x 1 in., and weighing 8.2 oz., making it palm and pocket-sized, the device scans one and two-dimensional barcodes and allows for easy manual data input via 12-key numeric keypad or 2.8-inch color touchscreen with LED backlight. Equipped with Microsoft Windows CE 6.0 Professional, Marvell PXA310 624-MHz processor, 256-MB Flash, and 128-MB RAM, the M1000 offers ample power and storage capabilities, according to the vendor, while supporting WWAN GPRS/GSM 3G, WLAN with Summit 802.11b/g radio, and Bluetooth. It carries Jennifer Voice Plus speech-recognition technology and an IP-65 environmental rating. “With our new M1000, we’re addressing market needs--particularly in retail and warehousing--to have full data-capture functionality in a computer that’s sized for comfortable use by a variety of users,” remarked Khalid Kidari, DAP’s Director of Product Management and Marketing.

M1000 From DAP Technologies

COMPANY BUSINESS

Merchant Services Emerges at Ingram Micro

Ingram Micro’s Data Capture/POS Division (Carlsbad, CA) has plunged into credit card payment processing with the launch of Ingram Micro Merchant Services at this week’s RSPA RetailNOW Convention in Orlando. Exclusive to the U.S., this turn-key processing arrangement intends to open up additional revenue streams for Ingram Micro’s VARs by making it easier and more profitable to sell merchant services, either as part of POS installs or as stand-alone product. Offered in conjunction with “one of the top electronic commerce and payment processing companies," which Ingram Micro did not name, it promises low transaction fees, online reporting, and 24/7 customer service and technical support for end-users. As one would expect, it handles all major credit/debit card types, including Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express.

“Ingram Micro Merchant Services is a high-value incremental service for channel partners who sell to retailers and do business within key vertical markets such as e-tail, grocery, hospitality, specialty retail, professional services, and transportation,” related Justin Scopaz, GM of Ingram Micro Data Capture/POS. To drive demand and generate sales, the distributor said it will “reward channel partners with a large, upfront incentive for each service sold, as well as an incremental annuity stream that represents a healthy percent of the recurring revenue residuals received from each customer.” According to Brian Wiser, SVP, Specialty Solutions Division, Ingram Micro North America, the distributor’s channel partners have been asking for the new offering.

In making its announcement, Ingram Micro DC/POS quoted one of its partners, Nik Parra, Sales Director for Resource POS (Chicago): “Ingram Micro Merchant Services stands out above the rest. In the short time we’ve been working with Ingram Micro Merchant Services, they’ve already helped us close out a number of business deals with relative ease.” By attempting to simplify the sales of payment processing, Ingram Micro Merchant Services would seem to target the SMB market, RRN.Com readers will note, in which POS VARs face their strongest competition from ISOs.

Justin Scopaz, GM, Ingram Micro Data Capture/POS

Retail Pro Dips Toe in Wishpond

Retail Pro (Folsom, CA), one of the leading POS ISVs, has engaged with Wishpond’s RetailConnect shopping platform, which allows consumers to browse inventory from retailers near them before making their buying decisions. Under terms of this new strategic alliance, Wishpond marketing services will now be promoted to all Retail Pro customers. Effective immediately, Retail Pro Business Partners can add Wishpond in order to generate recurring revenue streams, according to the two parties. To date, Wishpond carries over 7 million product listings from 1,700 small, medium, and national retailers.

“Retail Pro customers will now be able to reach more local shoppers and significantly increase in-store sales without the cost and complexity that makes product inventory publishing very challenging for small retailers,” explained Ali Tajsekandar, CEO of Wishpond (Vancouver, BC, Canada). “Retail Pro is one of the fastest-growing and most progressive retail management companies in the world and we are excited about this strategic alliance. It signifies wins four times over: for retailers, local shoppers, Retail Pro, and Wishpond.”

Participating merchants install the Wishpond RetailConnect Plug-in, allowing Retail Pro to automatically push product inventory data to Wishpond and keep it synchronized with no additional effort. Retailers can sign in to the Wishpond Merchant Centre to manage their products and promote their inventory instantly to Facebook, Google Product Search, or suitable mobile applications. “In this highly competitive market, having an easy and effective way to market online to local consumers is critical for all of our merchants,” confirmed Kerry Lemos, Retail Pro’s CEO.

Online Shopping Engine Ties to Product Inventory

Worth Your While

VARTECH 2011
BlueStar
August 15-17
Miami

AIM Expo
Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility
September 26-28
Las Vegas

NACS 2011
National Association of Convenience Stores
October 1-4
Chicago

Customer Engagement Technology World
JDEvents
November 9-10
New York

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Elo Widens Store Portfolio

TE Connectivity (formerly Tyco Electronics) presented its Elo TouchSystems 2201L touch monitor for retail and hospitality settings. The 2201L offers flexible, space-saving design, high-definition 22-inch LCD display, LED backlight, 16:9 aspect ratio, and Microsoft Windows 7 multi-touch capability, according to the vendor. Based on IntelliTouch Plus surface-acoustic-wave (SAW) technology, with rugged construction and scratch-resistant glass, the new touch monitor was designed for front-of-store, back-office, self-service, and even out-of-store environments.

The 2201L carries USB/Serial combination touch controller, connections for DVI, VGA, and built-in speakers. Models also come equipped with removable base and mounting features, including VESA mount as well as wall and arm-mounting options, providing installation flexibility for almost any architectural configuration. Moreover, power and monitor control functions may be locked-out to prevent tampering.

“Today’s retailers are looking for flexible touch technologies that streamline processes, offer increased sales potential, and enhance the overall customer experience,” stated John Nicewick, Strategic Marketing Manager, TE Touch Solutions (Menlo Park, CA), which combines Elo TouchSystems and Sensitive Object. “The 2201L is ruggedized enough for the most demanding environments, yet it maintains a sleek design suited for today’s most polished customer-facing signage. Integrators looking for a retail-ready, wide-aspect-ratio, 22-inch monitor will appreciate this product’s customizable, versatile options as well as its competitive price point.”

Model 2201L Elo Touch Monitor

[Editor’s Note:  TE also has offered its Elo TouchSystems 2243L open-frame touch monitor, with similar features and capabilities as the 2201L. For its part, the 2243L addresses gaming and amusement, information kiosks, and digital signage for OEMs and system integrators.]

Mobility, Channel in Source’s Sights

Source Technologies (Charlotte, NC) continued its push into thermal barcode label and receipt printing with two portable models: the two-inch STm.57 and the four-inch STm.117. Both devices feature 80 mm/second print speed, 203-dpi resolution, maximum paper roll diameter of 56 mm, seven resident fonts, and Windows, Linux, Symbian, and BlackBerry drivers. Serial and USB comes standard with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi optional. STm.57 measures 4 in. x 6 in. x 2.9 in. and weighs 17.3 oz., while the STm.117 measures 5.9 in. x 6.4 in. x 2.8 in. and weighs 18.6 oz.

“As the demand for a mobile workforce continues to increase, it was an easy decision for us to expand our thermal barcode printer offerings,” observed Doug Salvador, VP of Marketing at Source Technologies. “Providing the same attention to detail as with our Performance Series product line, we researched and identified which features users consider most important for their mobile printing needs. Both devices are lightweight for ease of transportation and offer long battery life, easy drop-in loading of media, and an IP-42 rating, so they are resistant to moisture, dirt, and dust.”

Simultaneous with the shipping of these new products, Source announced its new AIDC Partner Program. Elements include product and marketing training, loyalty rewards, joint promotions, dedicated account managers, competitive analysis, and online support, according to the manufacturer. “As we developed the business plan for our new line of thermal printers, it was obvious we would have to include this partner program that would boost our partners’ revenue and market share, but also upholds our opinion that the success of our channel is imperative to the growth of our company,” declared Shannon Gardner, Director of Marketing for Source.

STm.57 Thermal Printer by Source Technologies

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INTEGRATION

Triple Play at Merchant Warehouse

Merchant Warehouse (Boston) advanced on three fronts at this week’s RSPA RetailNOW Convention in Orlando. In the technology arena, it announced the release of MerchantWARE 4.0 as well as support for hardware from ID TECH (Cypress, CA). MerchantWARE 4.0 provides streamlined integration for POS developers, according to Merchant Warehouse, along with compatibility with ID TECH’s “SL” Secure Line of products. Specifically, MerchantWARE now supports ID TECH’s SecureKey M130 and SecureMag devices, as well as Triple Data Encryption Standard (TDES) and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) methods.

“We are excited about our partnership with ID TECH, as it combines Merchant Warehouse’s secure payment solutions with ID TECH’s line of encrypted card readers and keypads,” commented Henry Helgeson, Co-CEO of Merchant Warehouse. “Together we can deliver superior performance to our customers and bring another level of data security confidence to the market.” As part of the new relationship, ID TECH designated the MerchantWARE Payment Gateway as one of its preferred decryption services.

With the addition of the ID TECH line of devices, MerchantWARE has another “out-of-scope” payment scheme for developers, thereby further minimizing the complexity and costs of Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance. This makes Merchant Warehouse one of the few payment processing providers that can offer multiple capabilities in this arena, the company noted. It also markets its Transport Platform, which brings PA-DSS validated hosted payment solutions for all POS, e-commerce, shopping cart, and SaaS environments.

Also at RSPA, Merchant Warehouse introduced Bob Cellucci as its new VP of Business Development for the Partner Channel. Cellucci brings over 20 years of experience in the channel, having held executive management positions at high-tech web and software companies such as Paper Thin, ATG, and Authoria. “We’ve seen great success in nurturing partnerships that have allowed our company to strengthen its position within the POS industry,” Helgeson said. “Moving forward, we want to push that envelope and we believe Bob will take us in that direction.”

Bob Cellucci, VP, Business Development, Merchant Warehouse

VeriShield Wielded by ParTech

ParTech (New Hartford, NY) now offers VeriShield Total Protect from VeriFone (San Jose, CA) for its EverServ QSR POS software, Version 1.4 or higher. Integration takes place using ParTech’s proprietary electronic payment interface, or EPI, which allows operators the flexibility to implement their choice of industry-standard Payment Card Industry (PCI) security solutions. In addition to traditional POS environments, VeriShield Total Protect, which is powered by RSA, will be available on mobile payment devices.

“VeriFone has been working with PAR for many years to integrate our payment systems with PAR POS software, and these solutions are used by many of the world’s leading restaurant brands,” recounted Jennifer Miles, SVP-Retail, Global Security, and Vertical Solutions for VeriFone. “PAR EverServ software customers now have the assurance of full, end-to-end encryption for all payment-card transaction data with our de facto industry standard. This will enable them to significantly reduce the scope of PCI compliance and its associated costs.”

“ParTech is committed to helping our customers achieve the highest levels of payment card security and simplify the process to meet PCI compliance requirements,” added Scott Langdoc, CTO at Partech Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of PAR Technology Corporation. “VeriShield Total Protect provides operators with peace of mind by dramatically reducing their payment card security risks and easing the process of meeting PCI requirements--today and in the future.”

Scott Langdoc, CTO, ParTech

Code Corner

InfoTouch Corporation (Atlanta) has achieved full functionality for all of its POS software on popular tablet PCs. This new capability supports many of the vertical markets targeted by the POS developer. These include garden centers and nurseries, providing the mobility to roam multi-acre lots with customers (InfoTouch Garden Center), to grocery stores, cafeterias, and outdoor markets (InfoTouch Market), and even larger liquor stores and wine clubs, providing information, adding new customers to the database, or taking special orders (InfoTouch Liquor Store)--all with small, lightweight portable tablet PCs. In addition, InfoTouch POS makes it possible to scan, swipe, and manage any transaction, generate or receive purchase orders, spot-check inventory in real time, or send out marketing e-mail blasts from anywhere on such premises. “The aggressive price points throughout the tablet PC market in conjunction with the small footprint of all InfoTouch retail POS software platforms provide our merchants speed, seamless functionality, and portability that rivals any standard POS terminal,” contended Doug MacIver, VP of Sales and Marketing at InfoTouch, which also announced it has incorporated Honeywell’s EasyDL age-verification technology for handheld scanners into its programs.

NOTES FROM THE FIELD

Restaurant Pro in Your Pocket

Mobile POS has come to pcAmerica (Pearl River, NY) in the form of Restaurant Pro Express Mobile for the Apple iPod Touch or iPhone. This new build works in conjunction with traditional pcAmerica POS terminals and synchronizes guest checks and menus in real time, so servers can place orders tableside but also view their open tabs and make changes at the POS station. Debuted at this week’s RSPA RetailNOW Convention in Orlando, Restaurant Pro Express Mobile will be available by the end of the summer, with support for Google Android devices in future releases.

This new solution features an intuitive interface that is extremely user-friendly, according to pcAmerica. An encrypted credit card reader enables payment processing, and wait staff may produce receipts with Epson’s Mobilink wireless printer, which delivers speeds of 70 mm/second and battery life of up to 20 hours. Alternatively, customers may be offered paperless receipts via e-mail. This new mobile ordering system also supports various taxation rules, discounts, split checks, and happy hour pricing.

“Mobile POS is gaining in popularity because it offers the functionality of the traditional point-of-sale package in an affordable unit that fits in your pocket,” remarked David Gosman, CEO of pcAmerica. “The appeal of this package is undeniable: less waiting means higher table turnover, accurate orders every time, and the ability to securely pay for meals without the credit card ever leaving the customer. We anticipate that Restaurant Pro Express Mobile will become one of our most popular POS solutions as our clients decide to make the switch to this cutting-edge technology.”

Mobile POS for Hospitality From pcAmerica

A New Look for iPad: KDS

Revel Systems (San Francisco) has unveiled its Kitchen Display System for the Apple iPad. Aimed at greater efficiency, this KDS features three modes (Kitchen View, Expedite View, and Fryer View) and displays food orders to chefs, provides feedback about the status of each order, and captures service times for management reporting in the accompanying iPad-based POS system. “Revel’s Go-Green Initiative starts with no more paper in the kitchen, faster completion times, and accurate statistics for management,” proposed Lisa Falzone, CEO and Founder of Revel.

Earlier this year, in May, Revel Systems closed its $3.7 million round of funding led by global venture capital firm, DCM (Menlo Park, CA). At that time, the company also announced that DCM General Partner, Jason Krikorian, joined its Board of Directors. This additional capital was earmarked for expanded sales and marketing, new product development, and an extended support network in the focus areas of iPad-based POS and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS).

“Like many industries before it, the point-of-sale market will be redefined by the efficiency, power, and scalability of cloud-based services” suggested Krikorian, who previously co-founded Sling Media, creator of the Slingbox IP television delivery system. “The opportunity is amplified by the dire need of the industry to move to more secure products. The Revel Systems solution delivers for restaurateurs its powerful combination of enhanced analytics, performance, and ease of use--all in an affordable and secure package.”

v

Revel Systems’ Kitchen Display System

Key Advertiser Links

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

POS & Auto ID Distribution
BlueStar
ScanSource

POS & Peripherals
Casio America
Logic Controls
POS-X
Touch Dynamic

POS Software - Retail
Tri-Technical Systems

POS Software - Hospitality
Aldelo Systems

Barcode & Transaction Printers
CognitiveTPG
Datamax-O'Neil
TSC America
Zebra Technologies

Cash Drawers
APG Cash Drawer
MMF POS

Data Collection Terminals
CipherLab
Datalogic Mobile
Janam Technologies

Data Collection Software
Wavelink

Integrated Payment Solutions
Datacap Systems
Merchant Warehouse

Keyboards
Cherry, ZF Electronics Corp.

Mobile Marketing & Loyalty
Sundrop Mobile

Pay at Table
Bellatrix Systems

Receipt Printers
Bixolon America
Citizen Systems America
Epson America
Star Micronics

Thermal Printers
Seiko Instruments USA

INSTALLATIONS

Opening the Curtain at Walmart

Nielsen (New York), the leading measurement company of consumer behavior, has signed an agreement with Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, to receive and analyze sales information from its U.S. stores. This marks Walmart’s return to the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry’s information-sharing model. The majority of U.S. food, drug, mass, convenience, and dollar store retailers already support Nielsen in such manner.

Nielsen will be working with Walmart (including Neighborhood Market) and Sam’s Club to report their sales information and incorporate it into existing reads of the marketplace. This new base of information will have better and more accurate coverage for all participating retailers and manufacturers, providing improved insights into sales volumes, pricing, merchandising, and promotions. As part of this cooperative agreement, Nielsen will be Walmart’s primary provider for information, tools, and training.

“This expanded relationship with Nielsen will provide Walmart and Sam’s Club with deeper insights into customer purchasing--and unmet needs--both nationally and in key local markets,” shared Cindy Davis, EVP of Walmart Global Customer Insights. “We plan to share our point-of-sale information to help us identify category growth opportunities sooner and collaborate with our manufacturer partners to develop more impactful customer-driven programs going forward.”

World’s Largest Retailer Rejoins CPG Information-Sharing Model

Steel Supply Chain Has RFID Backbone

An innovative RFID-based logistics scheme has been deployed at POSCO, one of the world’s largest steel producers, based in South Korea. This system, dubbed “Smart-Works,” leverages DogBone UHF RFID tags from UPM (Tampere, Finland and Fletcher, NC) to track and trace multi-ton metal coil products from manufacturing to customer delivery, no simple task given an all-pervasive metal environment. Beginning in October, POSCO will tag all of the items it produces, or more than two million steel components annually, with savings in inspection, packaging, and shipping estimated in the millions of dollars each month.

Under the system, modified UPM DogBone UHF labels get inserted upright as “flag tags,” perpendicular to the curved surface of the metal coils, which solves the problem of readability. Items are logged when they are moved by cranes to the warehouse, during storage, and again when they are readied for shipment. Handheld industrial PDAs and fixed RFID readers collect and update data, which flows into POSCO’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) and manufacturing execution system (MSE). Further, the company’s customers may access real-time information about their products over the web, enabling them to plan and fine-tune their own production operations.

“The POSCO-UPM RFID Smart-Works System demonstrates how RFID technology can optimize critical operational processes for manufacturing companies, even in challenging production environments,” noted Han Ku Park, VP, Maintenance Technology Department at POSCO. “We look forward to extending RFID technology further into our supply chain to gain new sources of competitive advantage.” In designing its system, POSCO drew upon prior experience implementing its RFID-based worker safety program in 2009. Interestingly, POSCO has received funding for the new system from the Korean government as part of the nation’s drive to become one of the leaders in the field of ubiquitous sensor networks.

UPM DogBone UHF RFID Tags

Channel Factoid

SMBs in the U.S. are expected to spend $32 billion on mobility solutions this year, according to Techaisle’s most recent study. Overall, 81% of SMBs are either currently implementing or planning to implement some type of mobility solution, ranging from simple mobile device-based applications to sophisticated logistics solutions. Of this, 23% will be spent on new application development and customization, 17% on devices, and 8% on security and management. SMBs also expressed the strong desire to integrate mobile solutions with line-of-business applications as one way to derive greater value over time. However, significant barriers remain, the top three being: cost of solution, concern over theft and data privacy, and data service pricing. And with both Verizon and AT&T discontinuing their unlimited data plans, hindrances will likely become greater. In terms of end-user size, the 10-19 and 100-249 employee segments are exhibiting the highest growth rates for mobility solution spend. Nearly 17% of all end-users fall into the “aggressive adopters” category, which shows the highest rates of smart-phones (90%) and tablets (38%).”

HELLO GOODBYE

NCR to “Curry” Channel Sales

As part of its recently announced strategy “to significantly grow its indirect business,” NCR Corporation (Duluth, GA) has named Kathleen Curry as VP, North American Channel Sales, with responsibility across retail, hospitality, financial services, travel, and healthcare. A 15-year channel veteran, Curry has fulfilled senior leadership roles with some of the world's largest reseller organizations, including those of Cisco Systems, BMC Software, and Oracle. She comes to NCR from Motorola Solutions, where she served as VP of the North American Channel Sales team.

“NCR is on a truly transformational journey to develop a world-class indirect sales organization,” said Curry, who was recognized as one of the “100 Most Powerful Women in the Channel” by industry publication CRN in 2010. “We have a company-wide focus on designing innovative self-service and assisted-service solutions that are channel-ready, combined with new support programs to help partners accelerate the sales and deployment process and achieve profitable growth. Together, NCR and our channel partners have a tremendous opportunity ahead of us.”

“By further strengthening its channel-focused management team and investing in new channel support programs, NCR is showing its partner community its commitment to their success,” testified Dean Crotty, CEO of NCR Partner, North Country Business Products (Bemidji, MN). “We look forward to co-innovating with NCR to provide the self-service and assisted-service solutions that transform the way consumers interact with business throughout North America.”

Kathleen Curry, VP, North American Channel Sales, NCR

JDA Bolsters Service

JDA Software Group (Scottsdale, AZ) has tapped David Gai as its EVP of Services, which entails professional services, managed services, and support efforts in its designated realm. Gai joins JDA from EMC, where he was VP, Worldwide Services, for the company’s Content Management and Archival Division. Prior to EMC, he worked as EVP, Worldwide Services, at BEA Systems and as CEO/President of Equitant, an order-to-cash outsourcing business based in Ireland.

“Today, our customers expect far more than just great technology from JDA. They expect thought leadership and trusted advice to help them overcome their challenges,” maintained Hamish Brewer, CEO/President of JDA Software. “David Gai understands this and brings his wealth of experience that will help us craft our service offerings to maximize value for both our customers and JDA. His strong background with global organizations, strategic development, executive leadership, and customer-focused initiatives are welcome additions to JDA and we look forward to working with David to grow our services business.”

JDA Software Group also announced that Office Depot has completed its phased deployment of JDA Point-of-Sale to more than 5,000 retail terminals in over 1,100 stores in the U.S. “The total cost of ownership for our existing POS environment was too high and the ability to respond to new business opportunities was very constrained,” relayed Keith Paulus, Director of Store Systems for Office Depot. “Through the new JDA solution, Office Depot now has the capability to quickly implement promotional price execution, customizable transaction flows and more, without the need for extensive involvement from an external resource.”

David Gai, EVP of Services, JDA Software Group