This Week’s Product Pick

Datacard Group (Minnetonka, MN) unboxed its SD260, the first member of its new family of desktop card printers. The SD260 prints at speeds that are at least 33% faster than competitive models--up to 200 color or 850 monochrome cards per hour, according to the company. Additional enhancements include an easy-to-use soft-touch LCD control panel, TruePick card handling that virtually eliminates jams, and TrueMatch color management system that ensures accurate colors and clear printing. In addition, browser-based print management allows customers to adjust their printer settings and track performance. In keeping with the times, the SD260 also has been designed with eco-friendly characteristics, including Energy Star, RoHS, and Waste Electrical Electronic Equipment (WEEE) certifications. Further, the SD260 utilizes biogradeable supply cores, recyclable packaging, and energy-saving power-down functionality. “We’ve listened to hundreds of customers during the design process for the SD260 printer,” declared Kathleen Phillips, Head of Desktop Personalization Systems for Datacard. “It came through loud and clear--they wanted a card printer that was faster, more reliable, easier to use, and priced reasonably. We believe that the SD260 printer delivers on all fronts.”

Datacard's SD260

COMPANY BUSINESS

Motorola Sprints to Market

Call it the ES400S, “S” at the end for Sprint. Motorola’s ES400 Enterprise Digital Assistant, introduced in June, has become the company’s first device to be branded, stocked, and sold through wireless carrier, under the non-exclusive agreement intended to bring ruggedness to Sprint and reach to Motorola. It will be handled through all Sprint channels, including Business Sales, Sprint.com, and Telesales, as well as Sprint Business Solutions Partners, which can provide value-added services. Available by the end of October, with pricing of $499.99 for qualifying business customers or $549.99 with new phone line or eligible upgrade and two-year service agreement, the branded ES400S also requires Sprint Business Advantage Messaging or Everything Plans.

“Motorola ES400S was built with the business user in mind and expands Sprint’s leadership in rugged devices,” explained Danny Bowman, President of the Integrated Solutions Group at Sprint (Overland Park, KS). “With its compact size and access to advanced applications leveraging the Sprint 3G network, Motorola ES400S is a breakthrough enterprise-class device that can meet the needs of business users who are constantly seeking ways to boost individual and team productivity. Sprint is ideally positioned to offer business customers tools uniquely suited to meet their needs, and continues to build its reputation as an industry leader among companies searching for cost-effective wireless devices and applications.”

Meanwhile, Motorola has presented its MC65 EDA, which leverages the features and functionality of the ES400 and adds dual 3.5G WAN communications (GSM HSPA and CDMA EVDO Rev A) to handle any wireless carrier. Like the ES400, MC65 incorporates the Motorola Enterprise User Interface (MEUI), which provides one-touch access to applications, business-focused home screen, push-to-scan for one and two-dimensional barcodes, enterprise-class camera, and device-management tabs to eliminate the need to drill down through multiple screens. Other notable features include Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5, 802.11a/b/g WLAN, Bluetooth Version 2.0 with EDR, integrated GPS, and automatic motion sensing.

New MC65 EDA From Motorola Solutions

Fujitsu Dons CAP

CAP Software (Fort Worth, TX) has successfully ported its SellWise Pro retail software to the TeamPoS 3600 POS system from Fujitsu America (Sunnyvale, CA), thereby earning the designation Fujitsu RetailReady. The two parties were introduced through the ScanSource ISV Program, RRN.Com was told by Will Atkinson, President of CAP, and now offer this bundled package to their mutual resellers. “We installed our software on the equipment and tested for speed of operation,” Atkinson reported. “We then tested the OPOS and other drivers for ease of set-up, functionality, reliability, and compatibility.”

“The versatile Fujitsu TeamPoS systems are the ideal platform for SellWise Pro,” continued Atkinson. “The TeamPoS system is easy and economical to install and maintain, to keep retailers’ cost of ownership low. It’s also ideal for training store associates with multimedia applications. The combination of SellWise Pro 7 and TeamPoS 3600 offers retailers an unbeatable, optimized solution.”

Addressing specialty retail markets such as soft goods, gift shops, and liquor stores, SellWise Pro 7, released last October, and priced starting at $1,100, will be followed by SellWise Pro 8 in January. In the area of staffing, Elizabeth Frenzel has been promoted to Eastern Regional Channel Manager for CAP. She brings an extensive background in retail sales and management, according to the company, which also supports POS hardware from vendors such as Partech, Pioneer POS, NCR, and IBM.

Elizabeth Frenzel, Eastern Regional Channel Manager, CAP Software

Worth Your While

Pack Expo International
Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI)
October 31-November 3
Chicago

AIM Expo
Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility
November 1-3
Chicago

Customer Engagement Technology World
(Formerly KioskCom & The Digital Signage Show)
November 10-11
New York

NRF 100th Annual
Convention & Expo
National Retail Federation
January 9-12, 2011
New York

RSPA Inspire 2011
Retail Solutions Providers Association
January 23-26, 2011
Maui, Hawaii

ProMat 2011
Material Handling Industry of America
March 21-24, 2011
Chicago

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Christening Magellan 3300HSi

Datalogic Scanning (Eugene, OR) debuted its Magellan 3300HSi single plane scanner (“H” for horizontal) with imaging capability and in-counter form factor. It follows on the heels of the Magellan 3200VSi (“V” for vertical), released in July, and employs solid-state design for increased reliability and new technology for improved first-pass read rates for truncated, damaged, and high-density codes. By handling both sweep and presentation scanning, with omni-directional field of view, the device helps ensure maximum productivity and ergonomic ease. Significantly, it allows retailers to support emerging applications such as barcode-based mobile marketing, with visor on top to reduce the amount of light entering the scanner for better performance in such cases.

Beyond its image-reading capability, the Magellan 3300HSi has new features not found on competing single plane scanners, according to the vendor, such as Micro-SD card reader to help with software management, upgrading, and maintenance. Physical dimensions total 3.4 in. x 6 in. x 6 in., with weight of 1.75 lbs. Additional benefits include multiple interfaces, host download, and diagnostic and productivity reporting, which allows management to use data from the scanner to improve checkout performance and schedule maintenance.

“Emerging applications requiring more data in smaller spaces is resulting in the need for retailers to scan 2D barcode symbologies such as DataMatrix, QR, and Aztec codes,” observed Matt Schler, VP and GM of Fixed Scanning Products at Datalogic Scanning. “The capability to read these 2D symbologies is an important field-upgradeable feature that can be added to the Magellan 3300HSi scanner prior to the initial installation or as the retailer’s requirements evolve. This protects the retailer’s initial investment and extends the life of the scanner.”

Datalogic’s In-Counter Single Plane Scanner With Imaging

3M Widens the Chassis

3M Touch Systems (Methuen, MA) now stocks its 3M MicroTouch Display C2234SW, which combines 22-inch high-definition, wide viewing angle, wide aspect-ration LCD with 3M surface-capacitive touch (SCT) technology in robust, metal chassis housing. Targeted for use in industrial automation equipment and kiosk enclosures, the C2234SW display offers multiple mounting options to facilitate integration, including 100-mm VESA pattern and side brackets. An optional remote on-screen display module helps simplify any changes to the image during installation or system maintenance, according to the company.

The C2234SW features USB and Serial communication protocols, DVI and VGA video input, and three-year warranty for an unlimited amount of touches to meet the needs of public access and heavy-use environments. 3M’s SCT system achieves 91.5% light transmission and 3M’s ClearTek hard coat promotes durability and smooth finger drag. Technical characteristics include 5.4 millisecond touch response, finger input, and support for Microsoft Windows 7/Vista/XP, Linux, and Mac O/S.

“With the release of the C2234SW display, 3M offers system integrators a rugged and robust touch display solution for their demanding applications,” relayed Chris Tsourides, Business Manager at 3M Touch Systems. “This large, high-definition touch display is ideal for next-generation touch applications that require a bright, wide viewing angle display with fast and accurate touch response in a sturdy, easily mountable chassis form factor.”

3M MicroTouch Display C2234SW

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NOTES FROM THE FIELD

More Building by Merchant Warehouse

Merchant Warehouse (Boston) has released MerchantWARE 3.1, an upgrade that delivers enhanced security and improved efficiency for all forms of credit and debit card payments. This new build meets PA-DSS compliance requirements, employs encrypted PIN-debit, and enables partners to offer one device to their merchants for all non-cash transactions. It supports all-in-one card readers and signature-capture devices from major suppliers.

MerchantWARE 3.1 offers immediate merchant notification if the card has been used fraudulently at the moment of swipe with MagTek’s MagnePrint auto-decline option, according to the developer. This allows merchants to protect themselves and their customers from unwanted charge-backs and other fraud-related expenses. Additional enhancements include integration with contactless devices, transaction ID capability that allows the POS to inject its own identifier to perform reversal/void in the event the transaction gets timed out, and automatic card expiration update following entry of any new four-digit CSV.

“Secure PIN-debit enables POS solution providers to offer the highest level of security for their clients,” commented Markiyan Malko, Compliance Manager for Merchant Warehouse. “MerchantWARE 3.1’s wide range of payment devices enhances cardholder data security, reduces counter clutter, and results in significant savings for merchants by eliminating the need for multiple devices and improving the customer experience.”

MerchantWARE 3.1 Adds Encrypted PIN-Debit

Whiter, Cleaner Sheets From Appleton

Paper supplier Appleton (Appleton, WI) has developed new imaging chemistry for its top-coated direct thermal label facestocks, designated Resiste 900-3.0 premium and Resiste 190-3.2 standard. Under the new process, barcodes reportedly retain their dark, crisp image while the label preserves its bright white appearance, allowing for improved scan rates in warehousing/logistics, particularly in cases with hot and humid conditions. In testing, Resiste 900-3.0 demonstrated more than 45% higher image darkness after exposure to 70 C with 95% relative humidity, for example, while Resiste 190-3.2 image darkness enhanced more than 100% over previous methodologies.

“The new imaging chemistry provides superior performance in demanding environments,” acknowledged Mike Cove, Thermal Marketing Manager for Appleton. “It also delivers more flexibility and improved efficiencies for label converters due to the more stable sheet whiteness at higher web temperatures associated with more intense drying conditions on press. These enhanced grades offer excellent compatibility with popular water-based and UV-curable links. And, the added improvements in ink adhesion characteristics improve finished product robustness during thermal imaging and end-use labeling.”

The upgraded label facestocks each hold the highest rating (A grade) for overall quality and performance as established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), even after exposure to high heat and humidity. Also, both Resiste 900-3.0 and Resiste 190-3.2 deliver better overall resistance performance on wet and dry PVC packaging over-wrap. As part of its commitment to environmental responsibility, Appleton promotes the fact that it does not use BPA (Bisphenol A) in the manufacturing of its direct thermal products, having discontinued its use in 2006.

New Imaging Chemistry Improves Direct Thermal Label Facestocks

Code Corner

First Data Corporation (Atlanta) has established First Data Information & Analytics Services for merchants. This new program is comprised of three product areas: First Data SpendTrend, First Data Advisors, and First Data Reporting. First Data SpendTrend tracks aggregated consumer spending behavior based on payment data. Started on Black Friday 2009, and distributed monthly or biweekly, SpendTrend helps businesses with forecasting, sales performance benchmarking, regulation of inventory levels, and deployment of promotions. It will be enhanced with modules for e-commerce, prepaid, and regional focus. First Data Advisors, now open for charter engagements, leverages SpendTrend and First Data intellectual property to furnish customized benchmarking and payment strategy consulting services. First Data Reporting, expected in early 2011, will focus on providing more sophisticated, comprehensive oversight of all payment streams. This will include real-time intelligent querying on card-based activities, mobile transaction alerts, and web-based reporting tools. “In today’s volatile economy, many businesses find it difficult to get a timely picture of changing consumer spending patterns,” advised Silvio Tavares, SVP and Division Manager of First Data Information & Analytics Services. “First Data has launched these services to help businesses better understand how card spending is trending and the underlying reasons for those changes. Armed with this powerful insight, our customers will have distinct competitive advantage in the marketplace and will be able to make smarter business decisions.”

ALLIANCES

VERDEX Goes Positively Postal

Intermec (Everett, WA) has launched its latest data collection offering, dubbed VERDEX for “Verified Data Extraction,” which streamlines the postal delivery process by minimizing undeliverable address instructions. For use exclusively on Intermec’s mobile computers, VERDEX captures an image of text-based information and performs verification against the designated database at pick-up before the package ever enters the delivery system, so any necessary corrections can be made. It will become available in November.

Developed in partnership with RAF Technology (Redmond, WA), widely regarded as the leader in advanced pattern and image recognition, VERDEX utilizes commercial or custom databases provided and maintained by RAF. Moreover, RAF’s recognition technology cleans the image to provide instant address verification. Finally, VERDEX easily integrates into existing parcel collection processes with minimal user intervention, according to the two parties, boosting ROI and customer satisfaction in the process.

“VERDEX empowers mobile workers to quickly and accurately extract and verify postal address information directly from their mobile computer at the point of collection,” observed Larry Klimczyk, VP of Intermec Global Solutions. “This capability marries the elimination of error-prone manual data with never-before-seen downstream planning abilities, allowing not only increased efficiency but also the accuracy enterprise-class customers require to enhance day-to-day operations.”

Scrubbing Address Data at Point of Collection

Pitney Bowes at MagTek’s Service

Pitney Bowes (Stamford, CT) has added MagTek (Seal Beach, CA) to the list of vendors it supports in the workstation, mail stream, and kiosk industries. Under the new agreement, Pitney Bowes will act as the primary authorized service provider for MagTek and its ExpressCard 1000, delivering the full portfolio of on-site repair, installation, and maintenance services to customers in the U.S. ExpressCard 1000 provides financial institutions and retail store locations with instant card issuance for credit, debit, ATM, gift, loyalty, and membership functions. It carries MagTek’s MagnePrint card authentication technology, magnetic-stripe and smart-card encoding, and advanced personalization features.

“Pitney Bowes is honored to be chosen by MagTek to help deliver nationwide services to its U.S. customers,” stated Joanne Boyd, VP, Business Development, Multi-Vendor Services for Pitney Bowes. “Our collaboration will combine Pitney Bowe’s comprehensive services and technology capabilities with MagTek’s strength as a leader in secure payment transaction solutions.”

“Our agreement with Pitney Bowes will help MagTek expand its service reach in the U.S. to offer nationwide coverage for our customers in every ZIP code,” added Sarah Irato, SVP, Sales and Marketing for MagTek, Inc. “In addition, our collaboration will help MagTek increase service efficiency through comprehensive reporting capabilities, and the ability to open and monitor service calls over the web.”

Headquarted in Stamford, CT, Pitney Bowes MVS Fields 1,200 Service Technicians

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
Logic Controls
Pioneer POS
Posiflex Business Machines
POS-X

POS Systems - Hospitality
PAR

Barcode & Mobile Printers
Datamax-O'Neil
Godex International

Cash Drawers
APG Cash Drawer
MMF POS

Data Collection Terminals
Datalogic Mobile
Janam Technologies

Data Collection Software
Wavelink

Integrated Payment Solutions
Datacap Systems
Merchant Warehouse

Keyboards
Cherry Electrical Systems

Receipt Printers
Bixolon America
Citizen Systems America
Epson America
Star Micronics

Screen Protection
3M Optical Filters

Touch Displays & Monitors
3M Touch Systems

Video Surveillance & Access Control
ScanSource Security

INSTALLATIONS

Roll Out the Catapult

Sav-On Drugs, the largest franchisee of Sav-Mor Drug Stores (Detroit), has rolled out the Catapult enterprise automation system from ECR Software (Boone, NC) across its 22 stores. Main components of this project included POS, centralized multi-store price book management and reporting, and self-checkout. In making its decision, Sav-On cited ECR Software’s experience in the twin areas of pharmacy and general retail as well as its web-based customer support.

Along with POS and centralized reporting, ECR Software, also known in the industry as ECRS, has provided Sav-On with Inventory Information Approval System (IIAS) compliance, bi-directional pharmacy system integration, over-the-counter (OTC) inventory management, and electronic signature capture. Sav-On also deployed Catapult’s General Ledger consolidation solution, which improves data accuracy and reduces manual labor by capturing all GL activities within 24 hours. Finally, in response to customer feedback, Sav-On has started beta testing of ECR Software’s QuickCheck self-service technology in an attempt to further differentiate its stores.

“You know from the first minute you walk into a Sav-On location that they are leaders, not followers, so I’m very proud that Sav-On selected and successfully installed our solutions,” indicated Peter Catoe, CEO/President of ECR Software. “At ECRS, we are committed to Sav-On, and the hundreds of other pharmacy locations, to continue the development of industry-leading retail automation products that enable chain enterprises to achieve competitive advantages in the challenging marketplace of today.”

Freedom Panel POS Technology From ECR Software

A Bellyful of Retalix

Retalix (Dallas) announced that Wesco Convenience Stores will add Retalix’s StorePoint POS, Back Office, and HQC solutions, as well as Retalix Loyalty, to integrate and streamline supply chain and retail operations across its entire enterprise. Wesco already runs the Retalix PowerEnterprise supply chain software suite and DemandAnalytX (DAX) demand-based inventory replacement solution. Founded in 1978, the Michigan chain now has 50 locations, 1,000 employees, and annual revenue of $400 million.

“Our legacy system was aging and disjointed, and we needed a technology solution and provider that could help us integrate our systems and implement a robust loyalty program,” shared Rachelle Osborn, Director of Technology at Wesco.”We’ve been successfully using Retalix’s PowerEnterprise suite at our warehouse, as well as DAX for inventory management for several years. The addition of StorePoint and Retalix Loyalty should give us the integration we seek, and should improve efficiency and productivity chain-wide.”

Bill Campbell, EVP for Retalix USA, said, “Wesco is demonstrating how the integration of technology solutions can provide a truly cost-effective and highly productive system platform that will enhance all facets of their business and increase the customer shopping experience and overall satisfaction. Their innovative foresight will serve them well by creating a more efficient, demand-based supply chain that should cut costs and increase profitability.”

Convenience Chain Runs StorePoint

Channel Factoid

The average U.S. state sales tax rate increased to the record of 5.52% in the first nine months of 2010, exceeding the previous high water market of 5.48% for the full year of 2009, according to Sales Tax Rate Report by Vertex, the leading provider of corporate enterprise tax solutions, which began tracking such data in 1982. This average rate continues to swell despite an actual decrease in the number of rate changes overall. In the first three-quarters of 2010, for instance, there were 455 state, county, city, and district sales tax rate changes, as compared to 496 in the same period of 2009 and 707 for the full year. From January to September 2010, three states increased their sales tax rates: Arizona, to 6.6% from 5.6%; Kansas, to 6.3% from 5.3%; and New Mexico, to 5.125% from 5.0%. California remains the state with the highest state sales tax rate at 7.25%. Indiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Tennessee share the second highest rate at 7.0%. “Based on the rate level for the first nine months of 2010, and our internal forecasts for the last quarter of the year, it appears that the average sales tax rate will be at a new record high by December 31, 2010,” predicts John Minassian, VP, Tax Content Development, at Vertex.

HELLO GOODBYE

Livingston Explores RFID Market

Leveraging the experience gained by pioneering some of the first large-scale RFID item-level deployments for the retail industry at American Apparel, Zander Livingston has formed his own firm, Truecount Corporation (Dorset, VT) in collaboration with software industry executive Jordan Lampert and enterprise architect Paresh Yadav. Livingston, who served as American Apparel’s Director of RFID, said his new company will provide end-to-end solutions for the retail supply chain, including software development, consulting, training, and implementation services. It will soon announce the first launch of its platform with one of the “catalog-leading retailers.”

“We formed Truecount based on our strong belief in the profound capabilities of RFID technology,” Livingston declared. “Throughout my six years in this industry, I have experienced first-hand the dramatic results RFID can achieve for retailers, and am impassioned by the possibilities for item-level RFID.” Added Lampert, who serves as COO, “Current economic conditions are actually accelerating the growth of RFID by creating new challenges for retailers. Businesses at all levels are being forced to reduce staff at a time when they need to control shrinkage and balance inventory as never before.”

Livingston pointed to the lack of strong retail software solutions in the RFID space as another primary motivation for founding Truecount. Moreover, the timing was favorable, with some of the world’s largest retailers announcing their implementation of RFID across their chains. Truecount intends to provide scalable solutions that fit the needs of both Tier 2 and Tier 3 retailers as well as large global chains. “We are structured so that compelling ROI can be achieved, regardless of the retailer’s size,” Livingston said.

Zander Livingston, CEO of Truecount Corporation

Ro Steers the Boat at Printronix

Printronix (Irvine, CA) has named Sen-Yuan “Sandy” Ro as its new VP of Global Operations, replacing Victor Fitzsimmons, who has retired after holding the position since 1985. In his new capacity, Ro will oversee the company’s worldwide supply chain and manufacturing locations in California, China, Holland, Mexico, and Singapore. His career has been spent in the international electronics industry in management roles for sourcing, manufacturing and design, quality control, and operations.

“We wish Victor great success during his retirement and recognize the important role he performed during his 25-year tenure at Printronix,” remarked Randy Eisenbach, CEO of Printronix. “Now, we welcome Sandy to further streamline Printronix’s global operations and footprint. Sandy brings a unique mix of experiences and talent in manufacturing and supply chain management that will help Printronix move into our next phase of growth.”

Prior to joining Printronix, Ro worked for Palm, where he was VP of Strategic Sourcing and Manufacturing Operations. Previously, he served as SVP and Co-Chief Operations Officer for Compal Electronics, the leading notebook PC original design manufacturer in Taipei, Taiwan.

“I am pleased to join an organization that is viewed with such high regard by the industry,” Ro said. “The company has executed successfully several pivotal changes over the past few years that have positioned it to streamline operations and become the de facto leader of the line-matrix space.”

Sandy Ro, VP, Global Operations, Printronix