Our Product Pick

DT Research (San Jose, CA) has shipped its new 6" (Model DT362GL) and 8" (Model DT382GL) rugged handheld tablets running Intel Pentium Silver Quad-Core CPU at 1.1 GHz/2.7 GHz and Microsoft Windows 10 IoT Enterprise. Included are Common Access Card (CAC) reader, 2D barcode scanner, and UHF RFID reader (powered by Jadak ThingMagic). As features: capacitive touchscreen, 8-MP back camera, hot-swappable battery pack, and Bluetooth 4/BLE and 802.11 WLAN. As durability, there's an IP-65 rating for water and dust and MIL-STD-810G for shock and vibration. "We saw a need in the market for a small Windows 10 handheld device that delivers two-factor authentication required by government agencies, along with long-range, Ultra High Frequency RFID," indicated Daw Tsai, President of DT Research. (A CAC, along with PIN, is often required for access to government facilities.)

DT362GL and DT382GL by DT Research

COMPANY BUSINESS

POS Nation Tips Its CAP

As an integral part of its plan to become a full-service provider of retail IT, POS Nation (Charlotte, NC) has purchased long-time ISV, CAP Retail (Ft. Worth, TX). Established in 1978, well-known for its SellWise POS, CAP Retail addresses segments of liquor, tobacco, lawn and garden, hardware, clothing and apparel, grocery/market, and convenience stores. It's privately held, and terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"We debated internally on if we should develop our own software or acquire a software," shared Cort Ouzts, CEO of POS Nation. "Once we decided on the acquisition route, there was only one partnership we considered. We've known the team at CAP Retail for years, and we were very familiar with their product." Approximately 10,000 current customers for POS Nation, according to its website.

"Our team was fully behind the idea of not trying to be the best POS software for everyone, but instead, trying to be the best software for the specific verticals we serve," reported Will Atkinson, Director of Channel Sales at POS Nation (former President of CAP Retail). "We've spent the better part of the past year further developing CAP Retail and adding new features that should complement the software's core functionality." As enhancements, CAP Retail lists new color palettes on screen (beyond its traditional blue), mobile reporting, virtual back-office, 24/7 support, and billing via Subscription-as-a-Service (SaaS).

A Complete Solution: POS Nation Purchases CAP Retail

Up North With Datacap

Datacap Systems (Chalfont, PA) has extended integrated payments support for Moneris Canada (Toronto, ON, Canada) via its cloud-based payments hub, TranCloud. Addressing both mobile and browser-based POS with EMV, and processor and hardware agnostic, TranCloud builds upon Datacap's popular payment middleware, NETePay. It now joins NETePay as another cross-border payment solution for VARs/ISVs.

Initial release of TranCloud for Moneris Canada utilizes the P400 PIN Pad from Verifone to process credit/debit/contactless transactions with EMV. Other features include store-and-forward for offline processing, tap-and-pay support, tokenization for recurring billing, and faster transactions via QuickChip. New installations are available immediately with TranCloud for Moneris Canada. Also, existing integrators of TranCloud may add support for processing in Canada via minor integration enhancements, according to Datacap Systems.

"Cross-border payments via universal integration have brought substantial benefit to Datacap partners on our NETePay product line, so we're excited to extend the same benefit to TranCloud point-of-sale partners in both the U.S. and Canada," reflected Justin Zeigler, Director of Product at Datacap Systems. A new NETePay Hosted supports all integrations by Datacap Systems (NETePay, GIFTePay, TranCloud, Tran Series, and DC Direct). An application programming interface (API), designated as "Pay," brings e-commerce and omnichannel capability.

Datacap Systems Extends TranCloud to Moneris Canada

Worth Your While

2021

Shoptalk
Shoptalk Commerce, LLC
March 21-24
Las Vegas, NV

ProMat
Modern Materials Handling (MHI)
April 12-15
Chicago, IL

NRF Show
National Retail Federation
June 6-8
New York, NY

RetailNOW
Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA)
July 25-28
Nashville, TN

Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo
Clarion Events
August 22-24
Anaheim, CA

Money 20/20
Ascential
October 24-27
Las Vegas, NV

[Editor's Note: As information becomes available, we will provide updates on the National Restaurant Association Show, National Association of Convenience Stores Show, ETA Transact, Pack Expo, etc.]

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Gamber-Johnson Stands By POS

Gamber-Johnson (Stevens Point, WI) has debuted its new pair of payment stands for the Apple iPad 10.2 and iDynamo 6 card reader by MagTek. A Swivel Stand rotates 180 degrees holding the iPad 10.2 with additional 45-degree adjustable tilt angle. A No-Swivel Stand for iPad 10.2 includes 45-degree adjustable tilt angle. Both are designed with an open hole base for easy cable management and cable strain relief.

At 10.5 in. (H) x 13.2 in. (W) x 7.3 in. (D), the Swivel Stand weighs 11 lbs./5 kg. In similar dimensions of 10.5 in. (H) x 13.2 in. (W) x 7.3 in. (D), the No-Swivel Stand weighs 6.3 lbs./2.9 kg. A black powder coat finish brings smudge-free look, corrosion resistance, and durability, with cited PCI Compliance. A hardware kit is offered for easy assembly, with mounting on the countertop with either adhesive or 1/4-20 screws.

"We believe our offering brings the durable construction desired by retail environments," expressed Garrett Neta, Product Manager at Gamber-Johnson. "We have extensive experience in building products that withstand the harshest conditions, while also providing improved user ergonomics, so the move into the point-of-sale environment is a natural progression to grow our business." A longstanding supplier of rugged mounting solutions for fleet vehicles, law enforcement/public safety, and the military, Gamber-Johnson also offers stands for iPad Mini and the Luxe 8500i payment terminals from Equinox Payments.

New Payment Stand for Apple iPad 10.2 and MagTek's iDynamo 6 Card Reader by Gamber-Johnson

Wide World of SATO

SATO America (Charlotte, NC) has presented its wide-format industrial thermal label printer, the Model SG112-ex. With 10.5" print width, the SG112-ex has maximum speed of 6 in./150 mm per second at 305 dpi, with continuous or tear-off operation. Introduced in North America in August following success in Japan, it replaces the Model SATO M10e.

In dimensions of 18.7 in. (W) x 12.3 in. (D) x 12.6 in. (H), weighing 51 lbs./23 kg (with cutter), the SG112-ex features maximum media roll of 8 in./200 mm outer diameter (OD) on 3 in./76 mm core. It furnishes automatic label loading, simultaneous printing of multiple labels, and multi-language display (3.3" LCD). A number of self-diagnostic and support tools are provided, along with flexible connectivity with multiple standard interfaces (USB, LAN, Serial).

"A monumental step forward in high-resolution large-format printing," remarked Steve Sundstrom, SVP of Sales and Operations for SATO America, describing the SG112-ex. "Achieving an impressive distinction of being one of the largest width variable data labels available in today's market. With automatic label loading and durable design, the unit is ideal for applications such as pallet labeling, where quality, accuracy, and speed are predominant."

SATO's Wide-Format SG112-ex Label Printer

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ALLIANCES

Shift4: ICE, ICE, Baby

A new partnership in digital commerce has been forged between payment processor Shift4 Payments (Allentown, PA) and mobile commerce provider Sionic (Atlanta, GA). It will furnish contactless payment services through Shift4's gateway and Sionic's cloud-based technology for mobile devices, vehicle dashboards, and smart home appliances. (Interestingly, in July, Sionic hired Erica Burris, previously in Sales and Dealer Customer Experience and Connected Vehicle Business Operations at General Motors, as its new VP of Strategy and Product.)

"Shift4 offers comprehensive payment processing technology, and we are excited to partner with the company for our ULink connected commerce service and ION Commerce Engine (ICE) mobile commerce platform," commented Ronald Herman, Founder and CEO of Sionic. "Through this partnership, we will help our mutual restaurant clients increase sales and lower costs with our integrated solutions." In July, Sionic added seven restaurant brands to its Mobile Rewards Marketplace via its new "Mix it Up"--Auntie Anne's, Carvel, Cinnabon, Jamba, McAlister's Deli, Moe's Southwest Grill, and Schlotzsky's.

"We are pleased to partner with Sionic as the end-to-end payments provider for their mobile and connected commerce platforms, especially as contactless, mobile, and online ordering transactions continue to gain in popularity," relayed Chris Bjork, VP of Integrated Payments at Shift4. "Driving incremental business to our restaurant and hospitality clients during this challenging time is a priority for us." In addition to its payment processing, Shift4 Marketplace, and Lighthouse Business Management System, Shift4 has Future POS, Harbortouch, POSitouch, and Restaurant Manager as brands in POS Software.

Shift4 Engages With Mobile Commerce Provider Sionics' ION Commerce Engine (ICE)

Sound Payments: Pump It Up

Sound Payments (Jacksonville, FL) has enlisted supplier of fuel dispensers, Freedom Electronics (Atlanta, GA), to help distribute its payment solution for EMV-at-the-Pump, entitled "Sound Easy Pump." As an option for retrofitting, it helps fuel retailers meet the industry deadline for EMV of April 2021. Significantly, it eliminates the need to purchase new pumps and to close stations during their installation.

Sound Easy Pump supports the range of payment types--MSR, EMV Chip-and-PIN, QR Codes, PIN-on-Glass, and NFC for Apple Pay and Google Pay. It communicates via Bluetooth and 802.11 Wi-Fi. A built-in security camera is included, with one cord for delivering power. Earlier this year, Sound similarly partnered with National Retail Solutions, a subsidiary of IDT Corporation (Newark, NJ) for Sound Easy Pump.

"Sound Payments' Petro Channel is thriving as we work to provide a solution that is desperately needed in the petroleum industry to enable EMV-at-the-Pump," relayed Andrew Russell, President of Sound Payments. "Many stations can't afford a full pump replacement, and we are proud to partner with reputable companies like Freedom to help deliver a better solution." As its commerce solution, there's Sound POS.

Sound Easy Pump Helps Fuel Retailers Meet the EMV Deadline of April 2021

Code Corner

Revel Systems (Atlanta, GA) has released its enhanced Revel Guard XT, its technology structure for monitoring and supporting in-store devices. It covers everything from printer connections, to payment terminals, and can show which software versions are operating on devices at any time. It employs the cloud structure, iOS, and iPads of Revel Systems, which, of course, supplies POS. Additionally, there's an offline mode with no degradation in functionality if access is denied to the Internet. "This is just the beginning," enthused Art Beckman, CTO at Revel Systems. "With such a strong infrastructure in place, we have our sights set over the next couple of years on helping locations using this IoT platform to save costs and improve quality by extending the management to HVAC, signage, and kitchen devices. You know you have a compelling offering when, upon release, several major brands totaling around 3,000 sites immediately commit to installing."

In-Store Device Management Via Revel Guard XT

A Message From the Editor

As we enter another year, our mission stays constant: to fill the need for timely, focused, non-biased news in the channel for POS & Auto ID. If anything, that need grows more pressing in the face of changes in technology, go-to-market strategies, and business models. We look forward to continuing that mission and welcome your suggestions and thoughts on improvements.

Michael Kachmar, Editor

INTEGRATION

Touch D. Raises Its Pavilion

Touch Dynamic (South Plainfield, NJ) has premiered its new self-service kiosk, dubbed Pavilion. As display, its 27" true-flat, projected-capacitive touchscreen (resolution of 1920x1080, aspect ratio of 9:16) may be configured as countertop, stand-and-plate, or wall mount. All-in-One functionality is provided, including thermal receipt printer (Models TM-88VI or TM-m30 by Epson America), payment terminal (Models IPP 320/350 by Ingenico or Models VX 805/820, P400, or Lane 300 by Verifone), and 1D/2D barcode scanner (Model CF3680 by Honeywell).

With system thickness of 2.3 in., Pavilion carries Intel Whiskey Lake U i3 CPU at 2.2 GHz, 32 GB RAM, and Microsoft Windows 10 Enterprise/Professional. A full suite of ports is provided (USB, Serial, LAN, Cash Drawer, VGA, DC Jack, Power Button). Additional benefits include: speaker, storm keypad, 5-MP camera, proximity sensor, RFID/NFC, 15.6" second display, and service via back panel. As wireless, there's Bluetooth 4/BLE and 802.11 WLAN. It comes in black or white.

"An ideal choice for business owners looking to engage with customers and to automate tasks," in the words of Craig Paritz, President of Touch Dynamic. "A variety of mounting options, peripheral integrations, and intuitive use make the Pavilion an ideal fit for virtually any environment." A player in the channel of VARs/ISVs, in addition to self-service kiosks, Touch Dynamic offers tablets and All-in-Ones for POS.

Self-Service Pavilion Kiosk From Touch Dynamic

At the Table at TouchBistro: Loyalty

An integrated loyalty and marketing solution will be launched by purveyor of iPad-based POS, TouchBistro (Toronto, Ontario, Canada). It follows acquisition of TableUp (Boston, MA), already running in 600 restaurants in the U.S., on the part of TouchBistro. Matt Zibell, Founder and CEO of TableUp, will be in charge of launching and supporting the new TouchBistro Loyalty. An introductory version rolls out shortly.

As replacement for its third-party solutions, TouchBistro Loyalty enables restaurants to create unified customer profiles that give insight into customer behavior and spend across all channels, including in-restaurant dining and online ordering for pick-up or delivery, which can then be leveraged to drive customized campaigns using the built-in marketing solution (promotions via e-mail or in-app). A full platform, TouchBistro has POS, inventory, payments, reservations, staff scheduling, and back-office. It supports 25,000 restaurants worldwide.

"Now, more than ever, restaurateurs need an effective and affordable way to promote their restaurants to new and existing customers so they can bring them back again and again. Through our acquisition of TableUp, we can fully integrate such capability into TouchBistro to help restaurants turn one-time customers into loyal patrons," expounded Alex Barrotti, Founder and CEO of TouchBistro. "The TableUp team are experts in restaurant customer relationship management (CRM), loyalty, and guest engagement, and like all of us, are deeply passionate about the industry and the success of their customers." Established in 2010, TouchBistro raised $119 million in 2019 in Series E Funding.

A Launch of TouchBistro Loyalty

Key Advertiser Links

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

POS & Peripherals
Aures
CRS, Inc.
Electronic Payments
Harbortouch
HP
Ingenico
Pioneer Solution
POSBANK USA
Posiflex
ShopPOSPortal

Barcode & Transaction Printers
Bixolon America
Brother Mobile
Godex Americas

Cash Drawers
APG Cash Drawer

Data Collection
CipherLab
Code Corporation
Janam Technologies

Integrated Payment Solutions
Datacap Systems
Electronic Payments
Ingenico
International Bancard
North American Bancard
PAX Technology
Sound Payments

Receipt Printers
Bixolon America
Citizen Systems America
Epson America
Star Micronics

Stands, Mounts, Cradles
Gamber-Johnson

INSTALLATIONS

Stacking the Pizzas

As its new provider of point-of-sale, Pizza Inn has chosen RetailStack (Knoxville, TN). A subsidiary of the Rave Restaurant Group, based in Dallas, TX, Pizza Inn, and sister Pie Five, have more than 200 locations worldwide. In the U.S., it centers on the South. As an omni-channel solution, the RetailStack Commerce Platform includes point-of-sale, digital transactions, back-office, and "above store" management.

"With feedback we received during testing, RetailStack is undoubtedly the right system for our franchisees," concluded Mike Burns, COO for the Rave Restaurant Group. "RetailStack has experience working with other large multi-unit brands, so we know their platform will succeed. A decision to roll out RetailStack was unanimous among Pizza Inn's Franchise Leadership Council. We look forward to evolving our brand."

"Our platform makes brands more competitive by streamlining integrations that are becoming more popular in the industry, like third-party delivery, curbside pick-up, and loyalty," proposed Ben Farmer, CEO of RetailStack. In particular, in making its choice, Pizza Inn cited an "innovation pipeline, efficiency of development process, and open support for future integrations," on the part of RetailStack. In addition to restaurants, RetailStack supports retailers and convenience stores.

Pizza Inn Orders Up RetailStack

Your Parking Spot at DLS

Diversified Labeling Solutions (Itasca, IL), a wholly owned subsidiary of TSC Auto ID Technology, now offers parking citation and pay-station consumables. It includes thermal print media such as custom citation rolls for mobile printers as well as pay-and-display/pay-station rolls (e.g., Cole Technologies, Digital Payment, Luke, Parkeon, Ventek). It also offers custom printed citation books and remittance envelopes.

Citation and ticketing materials may be pre-printed with up to 10 colors to include branding such as logos or seals as well as remittance information, sequential numbering, or security features. Given their deployed environments, these products are designed to withstand exposure to direct sunlight, heat, and moisture. As with the company's labeling consumables, citation and pay-station supplies will be distributed nationally from all five of its distribution centers: Itasca, IL; Arlington, TX; Duluth, GA; Reno, NV; and Riverside, CA.

"We are delighted about the opportunities these new law enforcement and parking supplies offer our distributors," emphasized Jim Kersten, CEO of Diversified Labeling Solutions, which also goes by DLS. "These products also provide an opportunity for DLS to showcase our custom printing and small roll capabilities, while leveraging the thermal printing expertise of TSC." As readers may recall, DLS was purchased by printer vendor TSC Auto ID Technology (Brea, CA) in February 2019.

Citation and Parking Paper Supplies by Diversified Labeling Solutions

Channel Factoid

-More than three-quarters of shoppers in the U.S. (76%) report feeling at least "somewhat comfortable" with the new health and safety measures placed in stores, and 37% report that these health and safety measures make them feel significantly "safer."

-More than half of shoppers in the U.S. (60%) say they have already returned to so-called non-essential retail stores. Older consumers, ages 55+, are returning to such non-essential shopping at a rate of 51%. Young consumers, ages 16 to 24, are returning to such non-essential shopping at a rate of 54%.

-Of those comfortable returning to physical stores, 28% of U.S. shoppers reported spending less money and less time shopping than before the pandemic, while 20% are spending more money--but once again, less time--on in-store shopping than before the pandemic.

-Only 22% of shoppers in the U.S. expect their shopping habits to "return to normal" by the end of 2020 (29% of males and 16% of females), while 24% don't expect to fully resume their in-store shopping habits until the summer of 2021. Additionally, 16% predict it will be the end of 2021 before shopping norms can resume.

-Optimistic in the U.S. are males in the Southeast, where 34% believe normalcy will return by the end of 2020. Most pessimistic in the U.S. are females in the West, where 24% don't believe their consumer shopping habits will ever return to pre-pandemic norms.

-Only 10% of the global population think their shopping habits will never go back to what they were pre-pandemic.

-"The findings from this survey reinforce that initiatives such as overhead messaging and digital signage that inform shoppers of the steps being taken to ensure a clean environment are of paramount importance to increase comfort levels in-store," opined Scott Moore, Global CMO at Mood Media. "Additionally, it's clear that, for now, many consumers want a more efficient in-and-out experience, so retailers must find ways to help guide shoppers to what they need faster--and get them through the payment process with greater ease."

Source: "Shopper Sentiments: A September 2020 Global Mood Survey," Conducted by Mood Media (Austin, TX).

Shoppers Show Increased Comfort in the Store

HELLO GOODBYE

A Flowering at POSBANK USA

POSBANK USA (Carson, CA and Plainview, NY) has named Don Flowers as its Director of U.S. Channel Sales. As recent experience, his resume includes Director of Hospitality Channel Programs for Oracle (2019) and Sales Operations Program Manager for NCR Corporation (2017 to 2018). Earlier, he spent more than 13 years with Micros Systems, as Director of Business Development/Hospitality Solutions International (2000 to 2011) and Operations Manager (2012 to 2013).

"POSBANK has been providing quality products that improve customer profitability for more than 15 years. Don's expertise in the market will greatly strengthen POSBANK's commitment to the customer's success in the coming years," stated POSBANK USA's CEO. A full family of self-service kiosks, peripherals, and All-in-One POS by POSBANK USA.

"I understand the high service level that hospitality and retail professionals expect from their solution providers, and it remains the driving force for me in ensuring my partners and customers receive the service they need," related Flowers. "POSBANK USA's mission to deliver best-in-class solutions and services that empower customers is underscored by their customer-focused, people-oriented values, and their commitment to trust and integrity mirrors my own. I'm thrilled to join POSBANK USA."

Don Flowers, Director of U.S. Channel Sales, POSBANK USA

Sending the Bill

An aspiring integrated payments provider, linked2pay (with lowercase), has engaged Bill Lodes as its Chief Revenue Officer. He most recently served as EVP of Business Development and Strategy at First American Payment Systems (2015 to 2020). Previous roles have included Director of Developer Partnerships at TSYS Acquiring Solutions (2013 to 2015), Director of Account Management and Marketing at PayPros (2010 to 2013), and Account Manager at Intuit (2005 to 2010).

"This is a pivotal moment for linked2pay," observed Robert "Jay" McShirley, CEO at linked2pay (Oxnard, CA). "As our organization looks to expand, our top priority remains identifying qualified leaders. Bill's proven success in driving revenue growth is a natural fit for linked2pay in its evolution into an end-to-end software payment company. We look forward to drawing from his expertise in new business strategies."

"I am excited to join the linked2pay family, a company I have long admired," contributed Lodes. "I believe the company is well positioned for incredible growth." As sister companies, linked2pay has transmodos for automated check processing and paycosmos for merchant services. As its channel, paycosmos has Agents, Resellers, ISOs, and Developers.

Bill Lodes, Chief Revenue Officer, linked2pay