Our Product Pick

SNBC has shipped its front access direct-thermal receipt printer, the 3" BTP-R681. With front paper exit and front paper drawer for drop-in loading, the BTP-R681 fulfills under-counter and high-shelf mounting environments. In addition, the flat top of the BTP-R681 supports other devices. With dimensions of 5.3 in. (W) x 8.5 in. (D) x 4.5 in. (H), the BTP-R681 has maximum print speed of 12.2 in./310 mm per second at 203 dpi. A triple interface of USB/Serial/Ethernet is standard (with optional Parallel, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi). Also, an auto-cutter, spill- and dust-proof construction, and bright indicator light when printing are included. In the U.S., SNBC sells through CRS, Inc. (St. Paul, MN) and Ready Distribution (Beaverton, OR and Buena Park, CA).

SNBC Front Access BTP-R681

COMPANY BUSINESS

Feelin' Groovv-y for ISVs

Another endorsement of integrated payments, and the importance of ISVs, this time from Total Merchant Services (Woodland Hills, CA). With this move, an expanded suite of application programming interfaces (APIs) and software development kits (SDKs) now support the processor's so-called "Groovv" Integrated Payments. Offered for free, it includes Plug-In SDK, In-Store API, Website Integration API, Online Payments API, and Merchant Enrollment API.

"A key milestone as we support omnichannel payments for an ever-growing portfolio of software development partners," stated Joe Kaplan, CEO of Total Merchant Services, in describing the Groovv Integrated Payments Suite. "Now ISVs can use our solutions in support of integration of in-store payments, website payments, and online payment capabilities such as recurring billing, without making significant investments in payment processing and associated compliance requirements [such as PCI]." Serving more than 500,000 businesses, with $12 billion in transactions annually, Total Merchant Services has adopted the "free equipment, revenue share" model.

As part of its channel effort, Total Merchant Services emphasizes elements such as developer portal, dedicated support team, turn-key sales and marketing packages, "meet or beat" processing rates for merchants, no-term contracts, and 24/7 support. It offers two stations: Groovv POS All-in-One and Groovv POS Flex. The first is the PayPoint Terminal from Elo Touch Solutions, which encases 13" flip touchscreen, small cash drawer, integrated barcode scanner, receipt printer, and EMV/NFC payment device. The second deploys the Samsung Galaxy Tab E 10" Tablet, with detachable stand, and payment device for EMV/NFC. In February, Total Merchant Services also debuted its palm-sized mPOS.

Groovv Flex From Total Merchant Services

A Rescue Mission by Taffer, Harbortouch

A celebrity sighting at Harbortouch (Allentown, PA), which has received endorsement by Jon Taffer, Host of Spike TV's "Bar Rescue." Under this new relationship, Taffer will collaborate with Harbortouch to develop what's termed as the industry's first "Smart POS," or "sPOS." Drawing upon Taffer's extensive experience and success in the nightlife, bar, and restaurant industries, it will integrate "powerful revenue generating tools," such as analytics and customer promotions, into the Harbortouch Elite POS.

"We wanted to see if we could go a step further and do something entirely unique by helping our customers generate more revenue," expressed Jared Isaacman, CEO of Harbortouch. "We wanted to leverage the power of our industry-leading POS technology to help our merchants make more money. As the leading authority in the bar and restaurant industries, we knew that Jon Taffer would be the perfect partner to help pioneer this Smart POS technology." A proponent of "POS-as-a-Service" since 2011, Harbortouch has been widely imitated.

"POS systems are the backbone of any business, but their major benefits have always been about efficiency," reflected Taffer. "I have found Harbortouch's POS solution to be unparalleled in terms of both price and capabilities, the two elements most critical to any small or mid-sized businesses' success. I am proud to integrate my proven tools for increasing revenue with their best-in-class system and bring the first truly Smart POS system to market." Among his credentials, Taffer has owned and operated 17 hospitality businesses, consulted with over 800 businesses in 30 countries, and advised the Nightclub and Bar Convention and the National Restaurant Association.

Jon Taffer, of Bar Rescue Fame, Partners With Harbortouch on "Smart POS"

Worth Your While

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

RetailNOW
Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA)
August 6-9
Las Vegas, NV

ALL IN THE FAMILY

SATO Wheels Out WS4

SATO America (Charlotte, NC) has unwrapped its new desktop label printer, entitled WS4. In two models--direct-thermal and thermal-transfer--the WS4 handles labels, receipts, tags, and wristbands. In the direct-thermal model, it has maximum print speed of 6 in./152 mm per second at 203 dpi. In the thermal-transfer model, it has maximum print speed of 4 in./102 mm per second at 305 dpi. Direct-thermal measures 7.2 in. (W) x 8.9 in. (D) x 6.5 in. (H) and weighs 3.9 lbs., while thermal-transfer measures 8.7 in. (W) x 11 in. (D) x 7.4 in. (H) and weighs 5.5 lbs.

As features, WS4 delivers face-in or face-out media, auto-calibration with adjustable sensor positioning, and ribbon length of 984 ft./300 m. As communications, it holds standard USB/Serial/Ethernet, with optional Bluetooth Version 2.1+EDR and 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi. Notably, it's configured with onboard competitive emulations (SBPL, SZPL, SEPL, SDPL, and SIPL), as well as auto-detection of the command stream. A three-color LED system (red, green, and orange) for status as well as tool-less replacement of its printhead or platen roller (common to SATO) helps ease-of-operation.

"The WS4 Series sets new standards of affordability, versatility, and value," suggested Gary Krause, Director of Marketing at SATO America. "[In addition,] simplistic operation with dynamic features not generally seen at such affordable price points make it the best choice for enterprise-wide installations." A presence in our channel, with its Prestige Partner Program, SATO America distributes through BlueStar (Hebron, KY), ScanSource POS and Barcode (Greenville, SC), and Synnex Corporation (Fremont, CA).

SATO's New WS4 Desktop Label Printer

Reduction at Rohm (Printheads Get Smaller)

A new printhead promising benefits in thermal printing has emerged from Rohm Semiconductor (Santa Clara, CA). As defining characteristic, this new component may be driven by a single-cell Li-Ion battery. In contrast, conventional thermal printheads for mobile receipt printers/payment terminals are driven by two-cell Li-Ion batteries, observed Rohm.

In terms of technology, this new component utilizes proprietary low resistance heat elements along with an optimized glaze design to improve heat storage characteristics. In addition, its structure combines ceramic substrate with printed circuit board (which minimizes resistance while suppressing energy loss due to wiring) in what has been dubbed "two body" construction. It improves applied energy efficiency, thereby allowing reduction of printhead size by 20%.

"Reviewing such fundamental structures and materials allowed Rohm to maintain print quality, even with single-cell," asserted the company, which is based in Kyoto, Japan. "And following the trend in recent years in the mobile terminal market for increased print quality and speed, along with greater energy savings, compactness, and lighter weight, the demand for single-cell-drive thermal printheads for receipt applications will continue to grow." Available now, Rohm's new printhead has been designated, rather prosaically, as the KR2002-D06N10A.

New "Single-Cell" Thermal Printhead

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Week of March 20

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ALLIANCES

An Expanding Star

An indisputable fact is the opportunity receipt printer vendors have seized from the Web. As only the latest example, Star Micronics America (Somerset, NJ) has partnered with online ordering platform for restaurants, MunchOn (Mountain Lakes, NJ). With this, customer orders entered online or by mobile phone will be received and processed by Star's TSP650IIcloudPRNT (which is based on the popular 3" direct-thermal TSP650II). An interface card, debuted in 2016, Star's cloudPRNT employs JavaScript Object Notification (JSON), reading HTTP. No intermediate tablet or terminal is required.

"The Star TSP650IIcloudPRNT was the perfect fit for our restaurant online ordering platform," relayed James Russo, Co-Founder of MunchOn. "Once integrated, we had the solution working in restaurants only one day later. We were able to work with restaurants who had never even considered online ordering before, and help them grow their business with MunchOn and Star Micronics." A complete solution for POS--with Samsung Tablet--has been assembled by Barcoding, Inc. (Baltimore, MD).

As further progress in connectivity, Star Micronics has unveiled "Access Point Mode" for its popular direct-thermal 3" TSP100IIIWLAN. "Before, our customers were struggling to connect via WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Set-up) or Ad-Hoc Mode, and we knew we needed this solution," shared Jon Levin, Product Integration Manager of Star Micronics America. Now, in its out-of-the-box configuration, the TSP100IIWLAN will behave more like the router, according to Star Micronics. Supporting iOS, Android, and Windows, the TSP100IIIWLAN also ties to Star Cloud Services.

Star Micronics Enables Online Ordering by MunchOn for Its TSP650IIcloudPRNT Receipt Printer

Inspector's Gadget: Janam's XT2

A key ISV in field service, Wireless Network Solutions (Excelsior, MN) has certified the XT2 rugged touch computer from Janam Technologies (Woodbury, NY). With this partnership, Inspector+ 4.0 by Wireless Network will support the XT2. Upgraded to 4.0 in January, Inspector+ improves the inspection process for the airline, healthcare, and oil and gas industries. A cloud-based app in Android, Inspector+ 4.0 includes new features such as signature capture, photo capture, and custom reporting.

"Janam's XT2 rugged touch computer delivers new levels of agility and efficiency," declared Doug Lloyd, VP of Global Sales Operations at Janam Technologies. "When coupled with Wireless Network Solutions' Inspector+ 4.0, the XT2 enables companies to streamline inspection processes, increase productivity, and ensure employee compliance and inspection accuracy." It reduces the number of lost inspection reports, with time and date stamped on completed forms for confirmation, stressed the two parties.

Introduced in 2016, Janam's XT2 runs Android 5 Lollipop and Windows 10 IoT Mobile Enterprise. It weighs 10 oz. with MSR, carries 5" capacitive touchscreen with Gorilla Glass, and meets IP-67 rating for water and dust, MIL-STD-810G for vibration and shock, and 5-ft./1.5-m drops to concrete. Other features include Zebra's SE4710 one- and two-dimensional scan engine, front- and rear-facing cameras (two-megapixel and eight-megapixel), Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, and 4G LTE WAN. A Qualcomm Quad-Core CPU at 1.2 GHz, 1-GB/8-GB or 2-GB/16-GB RAM, and 3,000-mAh Li-Ion battery power the XT2.

Wireless Network Solutions Certifies Janam Technologies' XT2 for Its Inspector+ 4.0 Field Service Application

Code Corner

POSitive Software (Richland, WA) has added texting capability for its family of POSitive for Retail, POSitive for Business, and POSitive Green Enterprise Management. As part of the software's marketing manager, such text messages, or SMS, may support couponing, customer engagement, and employee communications, according to the ISV. A customer may text his or her question, and receive immediate answers. A history of such texts is maintained in the customer's records. Also, special notifications may be delivered (such as "Your order is now ready"). Also included in the texting feature is the ability to group and send texts to employees, whether individuals or groups, with return messages going straight to the manager's smartphone. As part of the marketing manager, single-use coupons may be sent by either the new texting capability or the previous existing e-mail capability.

Courtesy of Dale Pinney,
Systems Engineer,
Olaf Solutions (Metairie, LA)

POSitive Software Adds Texting

ENVIRONMENTS/PLATFORMS

Digimarc Gets Real With NCR

NCR's RealScan 79e bi-optic scanner now reads the advanced product identification technology from Digimarc (Beaverton, OR). As many readers have seen, the Digimarc Barcode, based on patented digital watermarking technology, comprises an imperceptible pattern that gets repeatedly encoded into the images and graphics on consumer packaged goods (CPG). This novel approach makes an entire package scannable--not just the traditional UPC.

The RealScan 79e, featuring six-sided scanning capability, delivers one of the largest imaging scan zones in its class, and serves both cashier-assisted and self-checkout lanes. Adding the Digimarc Barcode will improve throughput and customer satisfaction, according to the two parties. With support for traditional one-dimensional, two-dimensional, and mobile scanning, the RealScan 79e also features NCR's Pacesetter technology to count, grade, and repair problem barcodes.

"NCR is committed to helping our retail customers transform the store experience and make checkout faster, easier, and more convenient for their consumers," expounded Greg Egan, VP of Retail/Hospitality Engineering and Product Management at NCR (Duluth, GA). "The Digimarc Barcode presents the next wave of digitally enhanced packaging and is an ideal complement for our RealScan." Another note for readers of RRN.Com: in February, NCR presented its NCR ENCOR. This store management solution, distributed via the NCR Interact Partner Program in North America, specifically targets the SMB.

NCR RealScan 79e Now Handles Digimarc Barcode

GS1 US: Stop the Guesswork!

GS1 US (Lawrenceville, NJ), part of the international standards group for Auto ID, has announced its new online tool, called "GS1 US Data Hub-Product View/Use." As many readers know, GS1 US Data Hub tracks product, company, licensees, and assigned barcodes, as well as sharing of data between trading partners. It has 13 million entries. Offered on subscription basis, GS1 US Data Hub-Product View/Use has been designed for utilization by "retailers, brands, solution providers, data pools, and application developers," specified GS1 US.

As identifiers, it includes the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) and Universal Product Code (UPC). Additional data provided by the brand owner may include dimensions, weight, country of origin, and photo of the product. In-tool messaging allows users to contact brand owners directly for questions on the product. Users can perform single queries, download data in bulk, or, for integration with their own system, draw upon the application programming interface (API)

"GS1 US Data Hub-Product View/Use is a dynamic source of accurate data with thousands of new products being added every day," reported Laura DiSciullo, SVP of Marketing and Product Management for GS1 US. "Supply chain partners have found that crowd-sourced data culled from manual searches is simply not reliable enough for today's digitally savvy consumers. Verifying GTINs and sourcing accurate product information using GS1 US Data Hub-Product View/Use can support innovative retailing strategies, and help organizations succeed in today's data-driven business environment."

Launch of GS1 US Data Hub-Product View/Use

Key Advertiser Links

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

POS & Peripherals
Aures
Bematech
Harbortouch
Hewlett-Packard
Pioneer POS
Poindus
POSBANK USA
Posiflex
Tailwind Solutions

Barcode & Transaction Printers
Brother Mobile
CognitiveTPG
Godex Americas
Honeywell

Cash Drawers
MMF POS

Data Collection
AML
CipherLab
Code Corporation
Denso ADC
Honeywell
Janam Technologies

Distribution
Ingram Micro

Integrated Payment Solutions
Datacap Systems
iPayment
Moneris
Sterling Payment

Keyboards & Mobile POS
Cherry Americas, LLC
TG3 Electronics

Mounts for POS
Innovative
SpacePole

Receipt Printers
Bixolon America
CognitiveTPG
Epson America
Star Micronics

Thermal Printers
Seiko Instruments USA

INSTALLATIONS

Electronic Payments Raises Its Glass

Electronic Payments (Calverton, NY) has fortified its Exatouch Point of Sale on two fronts: certification for the State of Ohio Liquor Modernization Project and new support for the Philadelphia Beverage Tax. Also, Exatouch fulfills the specialty tax requirements of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, for the taxation of beer, wine, liquor, and cigarettes in retail and hospitality. On its part, Ohio will replace business systems more than 40 years old, while Philadelphia has imposed tax on the supply of sweetened beverages to the tune of 1.5 cents per ounce.

"As we continue to develop Exatouch, we look to explore additional opportunities within other major markets, such as the State of Ohio and City of Philadelphia, where our client base falls in need of these updated and compliant solutions," remarked Michael Nardy, Founder and CEO of Electronic Payments. "A need for enterprise-level POS--with feature set and strength for larger organizations--is what Exatouch is made for. We intend to continue bringing our services to chain, multi-location, and government organizations across the country as the modernization of the payments infrastructure continues."

As many readers will recall, Electronic Payments purchased Exatouch Point of Sale in 2015. Addressing liquor, grocery, convenience store, and spa and salon segments, it furnishes inventory, reporting, gift/loyalty, and cloud-based support, as well as POS. It recently completed its re-validation with the PA-DSS 3.2 Standard, and supports EBT, EMV, and NFC. A member of the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), Electronic Payments has interest in VARs and ISVs in POS.

Exatouch Meets Emerging Market Requirements

Avanti Means "Come In"

After its success with Subway Restaurants, Avanti Commerce (Vancouver, Canada) has offered its mobile order, customer engagement, and payments platform to the wider hospitality market. As credentials, the leadership of Avanti cites its involvement with early trials of mobile commerce for major restaurant brands such as Starbucks, Panera Bread, and McDonald's. In late 2016, for its franchised environment, with multiple payment providers and systems for POS, Subway deployed its custom version of Avanti.

A white-labeled platform is delivered via software-as-a-service (SaaS) or licensed installation for larger restaurant chains. "[It] can be up and running in a matter of weeks, including customized brand, menu, and design incorporation," according to the company. It supports multiple channels (i.e., omnichannel), with seamless extension to multiple currencies and multiple languages. As partners in POS, Avanti enrolls Aloha/NCR, HP, Micros/Oracle, ParTech, and POSitouch.

"We've been working in the mobile space since 1999," recounted Jason Strashek, Founder and CEO at Avanti. "Mobile ordering is no longer just a shiny 'nice to have' capability for businesses. It's becoming a necessity for the fast-moving modern consumer and a powerful way to drive engagement and sales." As part of the company's launch, payments veteran James Christensen (e.g., RewardStream, Conasys, TSYS) has been added as VP of Business Development at Avanti Commerce.

Avanti Commerce Offers Its Mobile Ordering, Customer Engagement, and Payments Platform

Channel Factoid

Hot Tech Jobs/Salary

#1 Full-Stack Developer
$110,770

#2 Data Scientist/Operations
$129,938

#3 Engineer
$123,165

#4 Salesforce Administrator
$89,702

#5 IT Engineer
$85,563

#6 Salesforce Developer
$108,089

#7 Quality Engineer
$71,111

#8 Digital Project Manager
$73,169

#9 Cloud Engineer/Mgmt.
$118,878

#10 Analytics Manager
$90,994

#11 Project Architect
$75,666

#12 Oracle HCM Manager
$113,107

"As every business morphs into the digital version of itself, the demand for workers with highly technical abilities is increasing far faster than supply," contended Paul D'Arcy, SVP from leading job site, Indeed. "The result is a rapid growth in open, unfilled jobs and increases in salaries for the talent that can fill these roles."

Escaping the Cold

Your Editor In Key West

HELLO GOODBYE

She Recruits at iPayment

Growing processor iPayment, Inc. (Westlake Village, CA) has enlisted industry veteran Denise Tahali as its SVP of ISO and Direct Agent Sales. Prior to iPayment, Tahali worked for First Data Corporation (2002 to 2016) in such roles as VP of Partner Solutions-U.S. Team Leader, Director of U.K. Sales, and Regional VP-Southeast U.S. Merchant Sales. In 2015, she won the First Data Way Award, which is given annually to one individual out of more than 23,000 employees; she also received the 2007 First Data Product Cornerstone Award.

"After 20-plus years in payments and merchant acquiring, I was looking for a role with an organization where I could make both an immediate and long-term impact and I feel 100% confident that I have found that with iPayment," indicated Tahali. "After meeting with numerous members of the management committee and leadership team, I felt the energy and momentum and immediately recognized that this was the perfect fit for me. I'm excited to get started, working with the existing team and building a sales and partner management structure that positions us for expansive growth in 2017 and beyond."

"I had the distinct pleasure of working with Denise at First Data Corporation and we could not be more thrilled to add her skills, talents, and expertise to a senior leadership team we feel is best-in-class in the payments industry," contributed O.B. Rawls IV, CEO and President of iPayment. "Denise's experience in payments, her aptitude with Agent and ISO Partners, and the depth of her sales leadership will make an immediate impact to our team and the value we bring to new and existing Agent and ISO Partners." Also, Pete Embs has been named VP and Business Unit Head for iPayments' Petroleum Card Services. He was Director of Revenue and Financial Planning at iPayment, Inc.

Denise Tahali, SVP of ISO and Direct Agent Sales, iPayment

He Casts the Net at Netsurion

Netsurion (Ft. Lauderdale, FL), which supplies network security services, has engaged Guy Cunningham as its VP of Channel Sales and Distribution. Most recently, he served as Director of Global Strategic Alliances, which included Amazon Web Services and Hitachi Data Systems, for Veritas (2015 to 2017). Previous positions have included Regional Director of Sales for Connectria Hosting (2012 to 2015), Senior Manager for Eastern U.S. for Commercial Channel Sales with Symantec (2011 to 2012), and VP/GM at MSI System Integrators (2008 to 2011).

"Guy brings a fantastic analytical mind to the Netsurion and EventTracker teams," observed Kevin Watson, CEO of Netsurion. "With the rapidly changing security and threat landscapes impacting small, multi-location, and mid-sized businesses, we must continue to build strong relationships with resellers, managed service providers (MSPs), and distributors, so we can reach and secure as many organizations as possible. Guy will be key in increasing the reach of Netsurion's managed security services and EventTracker's security information and event management (SIEM) offerings in order to achieve this goal. We are delighted to welcome him to our team." (Editor's Note: In 2016, EventTracker merged with Netsurion.)

"Customers today are making technology purchases based on the cost of a desired outcome. Whether it's cloud infrastructure, managed services, or enterprise software, they're buying solutions, not technologies," commented Cunningham. "I'm excited to be part of the team because both Netsurion and EventTracker deliver industry-leading solutions, with highly predictable and successful outcomes, with cost cost-effective price points. Not only do we enable our customers to have confidence in their compliance and security posture, we enable our partners to deliver best-in-class service to their customers."

Guy Cunningham, VP of Channel Sales and Distribution, Netsurion

Things Buzzing at Honeywell

Honeywell Safety and Productivity Solutions (Fort Mill, SC) has recruited Dave Lowe as its new VP of Sales for the U.S. and Canada. He joins Honeywell from Samsung Electronics America, where he held the most recent title of VP/GM of Enterprise Sales (2011 to 2016). Before that, he worked as Senior Leader for North American Channel Sales at Research in Motion (2009 to 2011). As experience, noted Honeywell, "Dave has held a variety of sales leadership roles where he accelerated revenue growth and drove the adoption of enterprise mobility, cloud services, and software-as-a-service (SaaS) within large accounts."

Dave Lowe, VP of Sales for U.S. and Canada, Honeywell Safety and Productivity Solutions