Our Product Pick

A "pocketable" solution for Mobile POS has been assembled by Verifone (San Jose, CA) and Aava Mobile (Oulu, Finland). It combines the Verifone "e355" payment terminal with the "Inari5" handheld computer from Aava Mobile. Agnostic to form factor, Verifone's e355 supports iOS, Android, and Windows, with MSR, NFC, EMV and PCI PTS 4.0. It includes Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and optional barcode scanner. In turn, Aava's Inari5 is powered by Intel's Atom Quad-Core CPU, carries 4.7" multimedia LCD touchscreen, and runs Windows 8 and 10. "A powerful enterprise-grade solution in terms of payment acceptance, advanced architecture support, and legacy system compatibility," enthused Michelle Tinsley, Director of Mobility and Secure Payment for Intel's Retail Solutions Division.

A "Pocketable" Mobile POS, Shown Here on Holder

COMPANY BUSINESS

ScanSource: More Green for Greenville

ScanSource has revealed plans to expand its headquarters in Greenville, SC. Announcing in concert with the South Carolina Department of Commerce, the distributor plans to invest more than $6 million and create over 100 new positions over the next five years at its site on Logue Court off Pelham Road. With this move, 30,000 square feet of warehouse space will be converted into office space for sales and support staff.

ScanSource has expanded its current location five times over the past ten years, according to the announcement, and now occupies over 175,000 square feet in two buildings on more than 24 acres, with approximately 650 employees. With approximately $3 billion in net sales per year, ScanSource has 43 offices across North America, South America, and Europe, with approximately 2,100 employees overall. It has three main segments: POS and Barcode, Communications, and Networking and Physical Security. [Editor's Note: I remember when it had six employees--my first reporting in POS and Auto ID.]

"Our corporate headquarters in Greenville plays an important strategic role in our global business, as it enables us to centralize some processes and share best practices, while also supporting the local needs of each geography," relayed Mike Baur, CEO and Co-Founder of ScanSource. "This expansion will give us the capacity we need to accommodate the growth of the global business, while also providing a positive impact on the state of South Carolina." During the presentation, government officials praised ScanSource's economic and charitable contributions to both Greenville and South Carolina.

Mike Baur, CEO and Co-Founder, ScanSource, Inc.

Epson's Silver Lining - Part 2

A number of years in the works, the Epson Cloud rolls out at the National Retail Federation Show in New York City in January. A logical conclusion for the company's OmniLink technology--which put PC functionality into Epson America's line of popular receipt printers in 2013--the Epson Cloud will greatly profit VARs and ISVs, RRN.Com was told by Joel Doherty, Head of Global Strategy - Epson Cloud. Based in Canada, Doherty co-founded restaurant software provider Livelenz, one of the handful of ISVs now helping to pilot Epson Cloud.

According to Doherty, three opportunities will emerge: margin on the hardware, revenue share from subscription-based solutions, and on-site installation, service, and warranty. "Our partners now have an entire new suite of cloud and mobile solutions that will be plug-and-play, and will integrate directly to the POS," summarized Doherty. Initial pricing shared with RRN.Com has not been finalized for publication, but suggests significant revenue for VARs and ISVs. Billing will go through Epson America, which "divvies up the pie three ways."

Empowering both "push" and "pull" of services, the Epson Cloud also will enable ISVs to monetize elements of their POS, explained Doherty. As an example, an effective pizza delivery module could be stripped out of the ISV's package of POS, and marketed individually on Epson Cloud. "If you're building out your cloud strategy, fantastic," expounded Doherty. "If you've got ten apps, we want to help you bring in another two or three. Or taking some of yours and making them more widely available. Complimentary, in other words, and not competitive." In order to participate, VARs and ISVs will undergo certification and "some reasonable level of business commitment," stated Doherty. A Web API will also be licensed.

Joel Doherty, Head of Global Strategy - Epson Cloud

Worth Your While

IAAPA Expo 2015
International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions
November 16-20
Orlando

NRF's Big Show - Annual Conference
National Retail Federation
January 17-20, 2016
New York City

Inspire 2016
Retail Solutions Providers Association
Jan. 31 - Feb. 3, 2016
San Diego

Transact 16
Electronic Transactions Association
April 19-21, 2016
Las Vegas

NRA Show 2016
National Restaurant Association
May 21-24, 2016
Chicago

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Linear Thinking at Datalogic

Datalogic (Eugene, OR) has unboxed its new corded linear imager, designated QuickScan QD2131. With extra-wide field of view and extra-long scan line, the QuickScan QD2131 addresses, in particular, utility bills, document processing, and packaging, according to the vendor. Also, its extended depth of field makes it suitable for use at the supermarket checkout for bulky items at the bottom of the shopping cart.

Measuring 6.4 inches, weighing 5.3 oz., with ergonomic design, the QuickScan QD2131 employs 650-nm red LED. Additional features include sharp scan line, multiple interfaces (Keyboard Wedge, USB, RS-232), the company's patented "Green Spot" technology for good-read feedback, and remote management functions. It meets IP-42 ratings for water and dust and withstands drops of 5 ft./1.5 m to concrete. For POS, it reads loyalty cards and codes from the screens of smartphones, unlike laser scanning devices.

"Datalogic continues its leadership role in the global data capture area by continually anticipating and delivering technology solutions to a wide array of markets," remarked Giulio Berzuini, GM and VP of the Handheld Business Unit of Datalogic. "We are confident this economical, quick-performing reader will be well received." With its corded, desktop format, it completes the QuickScan 2131 family, which also includes models with Bluetooth and Datalogic's STAR Cordless System.

Datalogic's QuickScan QD2131

A WindFall for PowaPOS

Powa Technologies has added the WindFall Frame from Heckler Design (Phoenix, AZ) for its PowaPOS T25. This brings another mounting option, in custom colors, and with extra security, for the tablet (whether Windows, Android, or iOS). It supports both 75-mm and 100-mm VESA Mount. PowaPOS T25 also offers its Universal Mount and iPad Air Models.

"Two of PowaPOS' most unique selling points are its unmatched, sleek design and its flexibility--supporting any operating system and the range of tablets that come along with that," emphasized Jeff Dumbrell, CEO of PowaPOS. "This partnership with Heckler Design is a natural extension of our commitment to enable retailers to easily transition to tablet POS." As an important benefit, PowaPOS allows the merchant to use their payment processor of choice.

Headquartered in London, with offices in New York City, Powa Technologies entered the U.S. market in 2014. It has made considerable headway with the PowaPOS T25. It gathers peripherals into one neat, matched package, with one cable-- including built-in thermal printer, two-dimensional scanner, credit card reader, expansion ports, orientation sensor, and optional cash drawer--as well as tilting/swiveling tablet stand. An SDK from PowaPOS has paved the way for VARs and ISVs.

Heckler's WindFall Tablet Stand Offered for PowaPOS T25

Join the Party at No Charge

Subscribe Today! Email:

Do you need to reach the POS & Auto ID resellers who really drive business? With the most targeted editorial environment, and on the most cost-effective basis?

E-mail Michael Kachmar for advertising information,
or call 973-270-3284

Did you miss one of our issues and suddenly realize your competitors know more than you do?

Hurry ! Use the links below to catch up :

Week of October 19

Week of October 12

Week of October 5

ALLIANCES

Another Kernel of EMV With Cayan

Cayan (Boston, MA) has achieved Integrated Circuit Card (ICC) EMV Terminal Certification with another processing behemoth, Vantiv. This follows last month's certification with First Data Corporation's Rapid Connect Gateway. With such kernel certifications for its Genius Customer Engagement Platform, Cayan has the capacity to remotely turn on EMV for customers, with no upgrade of hardware. As part of the liability shift for credit card fraud to merchants on October 1, 2015, certification is required on three levels--hardware, software, and processor.

"The transition to EMV requires a significant investment of time and resources across the payments industry," indicated Henry Helgeson, CEO of Cayan. "Cayan has remained committed to this vision of constantly preparing businesses for what's next in the world of payments. The speed with which we've achieved our second processor certification is a testament to our unparalleled ability to make the future of payments a reality for our customers."

"Many payments players have yet to complete any processor certifications, because they underestimated the amount of time the certification process would take," added Marc Castrechini, VP of Program Management at Cayan. "Our team took proactive steps to certify our kernel well before the EMV deadline. As a result, we are in a unique position to not only activate EMV for our customers, but to do so remotely and with multiple processors."

Marc Castrechini, VP of Program Management, Cayan

We Get Your Poynt

After some ballyhoo, Poynt (Palo Alto, CA) has shipped its so-called "Smart Terminal." In concert, the company has raised $28 million in Series B funding, led by Oak HC/FT and Stanford-StartX. It was founded in 2013 by CEO Osama Bedier, former VP of Wallets and Payments for Google and VP of Product Development for PayPal. A number of heavyweight hires have followed, such as Tony Miranz, former CEO and Co-Founder of Walmart's VUDU as COO; Aaron Leiba, formerly of Intel, Google, Apple, and Palm, as VP of Hardware Engineering; and Musaab At-Taras, former PayPal Head of Global Strategic Integrations, as VP of Software Development.

As its strategy, the company has offered the Poynt Smart Terminal, Poynt O/S, and APIs and SDKs. The terminal fashions the necessary elements for front counter checkout, including 7" touchscreen, 2" thermal receipt printer, 4.3" customer-facing PIN Pad, Quad-Core CPU, and Li-Ion battery--all in the swoopy molded casing. All payment types are accommodated--MSR, EMV, NFC, Bluetooth, and QR Code--with suitable certifications.

"EMV may be forcing merchants to make an upgrade, but we give them reason to embrace it," proclaimed Bedier. "Not only does Poynt deliver functionality that was previously unimaginable in a sleek, simple, and affordable device, but it is the most secure terminal on the market." As part of its go-to-market strategy, Poynt reportedly will target distribution partners and resellers. This month, for example, it enticed e-commerce middleware provider, eThor (San Francisco, CA).

Now Shipping, Poynt Smart Terminal

Code Corner

A familiar name, Future POS (Butler, PA), has announced its integration with Hot Schedules (Austin, TX). As its company name suggests, the Hot Schedules capability will enable restaurants to accurately forecast labor needs, enforce clock-in times, and control overtime, all leading to reduced labor costs. Significantly, it allows managers to build their schedules using data from Future POS. The system features customizable menu layouts, buttons, and graphics that can be tailored to the customer's business in restaurant segments for casual, quick-service, or fine dining. Each implementation is flexible and can be set up with specific users in mind, including management, service staff, and even customers. Newly posted schedules, as well as any updates, are automatically pushed into Future POS. According to the two parties, labor costs are typically reduced by 2% to 4%. "We look forward to helping our shared customers capitalize on this integration," stated John Giles, President and Co-Owner of Future POS.

INTEGRATION

NCR Is Now Click Ready

NCR (Duluth, GA) has released NCR Power Picking, its new store-based order fulfillment system for omni-commerce environments. Part of NCR Retail One, NCR Power Picking helps store associates fill orders more quickly and accurately in cases of "order online/pick up in the store," or "click-and-collect." According to Todd Michaud, VP and GM of Global Enterprise, Merchandising, and Supply Chain at NCR Retail Solutions, "Executing on the promise of this shopping model can be challenging for retailers, as the complete ecosystem needed often crosses siloed components of their IT networks and business operations."

In normal practice, associates print out orders and walk the store to pick items using paper and pencil, suggested NCR. In addition, orders are organized by online choices rather than by store design, leaving associates responsible for meandering through the aisles and often searching multiple shelves for each item. In contrast, NCR Power Picking directs the user to the exact location of each item within the order, using the most efficient route possible. Items and quantities are confirmed using barcode scanning, before placement into an appropriate tote or bag. Item descriptions, item numbers, and images are displayed on the Windows 8.1 Tablet (and Manager Console)."

Significantly, as many as eight orders can be selected, which cuts down on travel time when volumes are high. Once the entire order has been selected, NCR Power Picking generates its "license plate" to accommodate pick-up or delivery. It includes staging orders such as dry, perishable, refrigerated, or frozen. Another module of NCR Retail One, called NCR Power Inventory, moves items from "on-hold" to "sold" status. In making its announcement, NCR pointed to research indicating that less than 25% of players in retail IT believe they have sufficient order-online/pick-up systems.

Store-Based NCR Power Picking for Omni-Commerce

In the Mix, Chase Pay

Another mobile wallet has emerged, courtesy of this week's Money 20/20 Show in Las Vegas: Chase Pay. Scheduled for launch in mid-2016, Chase Pay, from JP Morgan, draws upon MCX, the consortium of major retailers, and its CurrentC App. A huge base of prospective customers exists, of course, comprised of Chase's 94 million credit, debit, and pre-paid card account holders, or one out of every two households in the U.S. On its part, MCX has over 100,000 retail locations across the U.S., such as Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and Shell.

Chase Pay will work on virtually all smartphones, according to its stakeholders. As another benefit, consumers can pay in trying environments such as gas stations and drive-through windows. Also, in certain locations, such as restaurants, consumers may use their smartphone to take a picture of the receipt and pay with Chase Pay. As expected, the merchant's loyalty program will be incorporated, with no need for plastic cards.

"It will improve the customer experience and drive down the cost of payments," declared Gordon Smith, CEO of Consumer and Community Banking at JP Morgan Chase & Co. It will be based on fixed pricing, which was undisclosed, with no network or merchant processing fees (and no merchant fraud liability). One thing to note: Unlike Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay, Chase Pay employs scanned QR Codes rather than "tap-and-go" NFC. An interesting choice.

A New Mobile Wallet From Chase

Key Advertiser Links

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

POS & Peripherals
AnywhereCommerce
Bematech
Elo Touch Solutions
Harbortouch
Hewlett-Packard
Partner Tech
Pioneer POS
POSBANK USA
Posiflex
PowaPOS
TEAMSable

Barcode & Transaction Printers
Brother Mobile
CognitiveTPG
Honeywell Scanning

Cash Drawers
MMF POS

Data Collection
CipherLab
Code Corporation
Datalogic
Honeywell Scanning

Integrated Payment Solutions
Cayan
Datacap Systems
Discover
iPayment Inc.
Mercury/Vantiv
Moneris
Shift4

Keyboards & Mobile POS
Cherry, ZF Electronics Corp
PrehKeyTec

Receipt Printers
Bixolon America
CognitiveTPG
Epson America
Star Micronics

Thermal Printers
Seiko Instruments USA

Touchscreens & Monitors
Elo Touch Solutions

INSTALLATIONS

OLR "Channels" Oracle

A win for Oracle, via System Integrator OLR (Minneapolis, MN). In this deployment, Gordmans Stores, based in Nebraska, will implement Oracle Retail Xstore Point of Sale and Oracle Retail Customer Engagement for its 100 apparel and home decor stores across 22 states in the U.S. (as well as online shopping). Oracle's Xstore POS (acquired from Micros Retail in 2014) will help Gordmans to speed up the checkout process through the reduction of manual entry for coupons, discounts, promotions, and vouchers, according to the two parties.

Other benefits include access to real-time inventory levels for both stores and distribution centers. In addition, native integration with Oracle Retail Customer Engagement (formerly Micros Relate CR) will simplify the tracking and offer redemption associated with the retailer's "gRewards" loyalty program. Previously, in 2012, OLR installed the Oracle Merchandising System for Gordmans. "We have developed a strong partnership and we have come to rely on their capabilities and counsel," indicated Richard Heyman, Gordmans' SVP and CIO. [Editor's Note: Not to be confused with Richard Hayman, formerly of Micros.]

"Since OLR began working with Gordmans over five years ago, we've seen them grow almost 40%, and as a partner it's very rewarding to see our clients succeed," contributed Dave Barrett, CEO of OLR, which has its origins in the former Retek (now, like Micros, part of Oracle). "We're pleased that our own growth through the expansion into new practice areas, such as point-of-sale, e-commerce, and enterprise applications, has supported Gordmans in pursuing its vision. At OLR, we are committed to helping retailers to not only streamline their operations, but to ultimately deliver an outstanding brand experience at every touchpoint."

Oracle Rolled Out for Gordmans Department Stores

Office Hours for Dr. Janam

Janam Technologies (Woodbury, NY) will supply its XG3 rugged mobile computers for Los Angeles County's Department of Health Services (DHS), the second largest such system in the U.S. With its network of 19 health centers and four hospitals, DHS cares for more than 670,000 patients annually. As part of an inventory management system for DHS, Janam's XG3 will provide staff members with real-time visibility into the location and condition of wide-flung medical equipment and supplies.

Introduced earlier this year, in gun format the XG3 weighs under 22 oz. and measures 3.1 in. (W) x 8.3 in. (L) x 7.4 in. (H). It furnishes high-resolution resistive touchscreen (3.5" and 480x640), long-lasting battery (5200-mAh hot-swappable Li-Ion), and 34-key numeric or 75-key alphanumeric keyboards. It runs Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5, with ARM Cortex A8 CPU, 512-MB RAM, 1-GB Flash, and Micro-SD. It also has Bluetooth 2.1, 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, and support for Voice-over-IP (VoIP). It carries an IP-65 rating for water and dust and withstands 6 ft./1.8 m drops to concrete.

"If the 19,000 staff members of Los Angeles County's Department of Health Services are able to spend less time searching for medical equipment and more time focused on improving the patient experience, everyone wins," noted Harry Lerner, CEO of Janam. "Our lightweight, powerful, full-shift XG3 with integrated barcode scanning is the ideal tool to help organizations like DHS achieve their goals for high-quality, patient-centered, and cost-effective healthcare." Of the XG3, Lerner has pointed to "an incredibly competitive price point."

Los Angeles County's Health Department Adopts Janam's XG3 Rugged Mobile Computer

Channel Factoid

When it comes to loyalty programs for the mass of so-called millennials (18-to-34-year-olds), better make things "fun." According to survey results from Colloquy, 34% of such consumers employ the term "fun" to best describe their participation. By comparison, 26% of the total population (18 to 65 years and over) chose "fun," with 66% citing "economical." For millennials, 56% chose "economical." A larger majority of millennials, 63%, said they joined loyalty programs within the past year, versus 55% of the total population. A quarter of millennials, 25%, said they joined their program because it offered access to members-only events, versus 16% of the total population. Access to members-only sales, products, and services were cited by 40% of millennials, versus 33% of the total population. Finally, 63% of millennials said it's important that their loyalty program participation supports lifestyle preferences such as wellness programs, sustainability efforts, or charitable giving, versus 53% of Gen X'ers (35-to-50-year-olds) and 46% of baby boomers (51 years and over). Other important factors for participation by millennials in loyalty programs include the presence of competitive games or social elements such as badges, leaderboards, or communities (cited by 27%, versus 7% of baby boomers) as well as mobile payment capability (cited by 42%, versus 15% of baby boomers). "Millennials have dramatically different ideas about consumerism and loyalty," observed Jeff Berry, Research Director for Colloquy. "Prioritize experiences over economic gains--and gamify everything."

HELLO GOODBYE

A Cappellania Sung at CognitiveTPG

CognitiveTPG (Ithaca, NY) has engaged Elizabeth Cappellania as its new Marketing Director. A well-known figure in our channel, with many years of experience in sales and marketing, Cappellania worked for MMF POS from 2005 to 2015, and for PrehKeyTech USA from 1992 to 2000. "I'm excited about my journey with CognitiveTPG and all the new experiences and opportunities ahead," she told RRN.Com.

"I'm delighted to have Liz join the CognitiveTPG team and lead our marketing initiatives," added Nigel Ball, VP of Sales and Marketing at CognitiveTPG. "Her depth of industry experience and relationships will be a big asset going forward." A longstanding player in retail and the supply chain, CognitiveTPG supplies thermal printers such as the A799/A799II for point-of-sale, M320 for mobility, and C Series and DLX/DLXi for labeling. It distributes through the "big four"--BlueStar, Ingram Micro, ScanSource, and Synnex.

Elizabeth Cappellania, Marketing Director, CognitiveTPG

An Alien Named Steve

Alien Technology (Morgan Hill, CA), one of the historic leaders in UHF RFID, has drafted Steve Wang as its new CTO. In addition to the firm's strategic technical direction, in his new role, Wang will lead the company's engineering, operations, and product management teams worldwide. Previously, he served as CTO and VP of Global Research & Development for Checkpoint Systems from 2006 to 2015. He holds more than 60 patents.

"Steve has a proven track record as a CTO overseeing the development of solutions from telecom and networking to security and the Internet of Things," commented Chris Chang, CEO of Alien. "Steve also understands customer end-systems and selling RFID products and components, and we're excited about his contributions to Alien." A surprisingly robust network of VARs and ISVs for Alien Technology.

Steve Wang, CTO, Alien Technology