Our Product Pick

A compact, user-friendly 2" thermal label printer, Model TD 2300, has been shipped by Brother Mobile Solutions (Westminster, CO). It measures 4.7"/119 mm (W) x 8.8"/224 mm (D) x 6.2"/158 mm (H) and weighs 3.2 lbs./1.5 kg. As specifications, it furnishes resolution of 203 or 300 dpi and maximum print speed of 6 or 8 ips. A range of networking configurations includes USB, Serial, Ethernet, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. A sealed screen and keypad resist spills, paired with robust metal components for durability. "The compact size of the TD 2300, combined with the ability to share space and power with a tablet, provides the kind of flexibility our customers need," enthused Raul Palacios, Director of Product Management, Brother Mobile Solutions.

Brother's TD 2300 Label Printer

COMPANY BUSINESS

Flying Sola

A consolidated brand identity and new company name has been introduced for the former Fidelity Payment Services, and its gateway, Cardknox: now set as Sola. Alongside this rebrand, payments industry veteran Michael Reed has been brought onboard as Sola CEO. Most recently, he served as Payments Division President at Deluxe. Earlier, he was with Barclays, Bank of America, and First Data Corporation.

"In an ever-evolving payments landscape, Sola stands out for our comprehensive, omni-channel solutions, including payfac capabilities, that allow businesses to accelerate their growth with minimal friction," declared Reed. "This rebrand marks a pivotal moment for Sola, and I look forward to continuing the legacy of exceptional service and industry expertise exemplified by Fidelity Payment Services and Cardknox. We have always been one team and company, but by bringing together these two brands, we are positioning ourselves for continued long-term growth, innovation, and customer focus."

Established in 1996, Fidelity Payment Services supports "tens of thousands of merchants" through its network of ISVs and Agents. In 2022, it was purchased by software-focused PSG Equity (Boston, MA). As Chairman of the Board, former CEO David Ilowitz remains at Sola.

Michael Reed, CEO of Sola (Rebranding of Fidelity Payment Services and Cardknox)

APIs Head North

A collaboration between North (Troy, MI) and Tilled (Boulder, CO) focuses on embedded payments for adoption by ISVs in the U.S. and Canada. In support of processing by North, it allows access to the PayFac-as-a-Service Platform by Tilled, with integration tools for ISVs such as Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), Software Development Kits (SDKs), and White Labeling. (Also, Tilled has raised another $12.5M in funding from UPC Capital Ventures, Boulder, CO.)

"Over the past year, Tilled has been honored to partner with some of the most prominent organizations in payments," noted Caleb Avery, CEO and Founder of Tilled. "Our strategic partnership with North marks a significant milestone in our mission to elevate customer offerings through turnkey PayFac-as-a-Service solutions. By combining Tilled's cutting-edge technology with North's expansive distribution channels, we're setting a new standard in the payments industry."

"[It] enables ISVs to scale with confidence," indicated William Lee, CRO at North, "providing customers with a secure, efficient, and highly customizable payment experience while reducing the complexity of payment operations." In August, readers may recall, North American Bancard, led by Marc Gardner, Founder and CEO, rebranded as North. Payment companies that will now be "by North" include Point & Pay, CWA Merchant Services, Electronic Payment Exchange (EPX), Inovio Payments, Money Machine, and PayTrace.

Tilled and North Ease Embedded Payments for ISVs

Worth Your While

2025

NRF Big Show
National Retail Federation
January 12-14
New York, NY

RSPA Inspire
Retail Solutions Providers Association
January 26-29
Curacao

NGA Show
National Grocers Association
February 23-25
Las Vegas, NV

Promat
MHI - Material Handling Institute
March 17-20
Chicago, IL

ETA Transact
Electronic Transactions Association
April 2-4
Las Vegas, NV

NRA Show
National Restaurant Association
May 17-20
Chicago, IL

ALL IN THE FAMILY

An Ensemble at Posiflex

A major new product release by Posiflex (Hayward, CA)--one of four--showcases its new Mozart BT Series POS. In "orchestrating" modularity, Mozart BT offers choice of dual display sizes (15" or 15.6"), in either portrait or landscape configuration, and multiple processor possibilities (Intel Celeron J6412 or Intel i3/i5/i7). It has stylish, award-winning design, integrated thermal printer, and Windows 10/11 Iot Enterprise.

A second new product, the Opera MT-6200 Mobile Tablet Series, offers screen size of 8" or 10.1" and runs Windows 10/11 Iot Enterprise (with Intel N6210) or Android 13 with GMS (with MediaTek MT8786). Carrying built-in barcode scanner and NFC module, with front- and rear-facing cameras, Opera MT-6200 has programmable buttons on both sides of the screen and unique, anti-slip design. It supports wireless Bluetooth 5/5.2 and Wi-Fi 5/6.

A pair of additional products complete this roll-out. In innovative clamshell design, the ZT POS Series features ultra-slim frame, easy access to internal components, and clean cable management. As with the Opera MT-6200 Tablet, it charges simply via USB Type-C. A fourth new product, the Posiflex Gen 9 Base, integrates thermal printer for the RT, XT, or ZT Series POS, as well as optional customer-facing display.

"Adapting to the shifting demands of retail customers, Point-of-Sale technology is a necessity," projected Doyle Ledford, SVP of Posiflex. "Posiflex has decisively met this challenge with groundbreaking products that enhance operator efficiency while surpassing customer expectations. With these additions, Posiflex continues to cement its status as a top-tier innovator in Point-of-Sale."

Posiflex New Mozart BT Series POS

Rolling With Epson

A selection of self-adhesive linerless media from UPM Raflatac has been certified for label printers by Epson America (Los Alamitos, CA). In the OptiCut Direct Thermal (DT) Linerless Series, UPM's RL50, RL52, RL53, and RL54 are now "Epson Tested" for Epson's Model TM-L100. Also, UPM's RL50 for Epson's Model TM-L90II. As both BPA/Phenol-Free and Carbon Neutral, the OptiCut Series also effectively minimizes adhesive build-up to reduce eventual printer malfunction, states UPM.

"We are very pleased with the innovative UPM Raflatac media products that have been tested for use with our TM-L100 and TM-L90II printers," remarked Ian Livesay, Associate Product Manager at Epson America. "UPM Raflatac's OptiCut DT Linerless labels are designed for demanding conditions with advanced features to deliver speed, efficiency, and accuracy in operations. Using tested labels helps ensure that print quality and print-head life will be maintained, which is critical to our customers."

In October, UPM Raflatac launched its latest new product, OptiCut WashOff. "As retailers, hospitality, and logistics companies are increasingly shifting towards returnable and reusable containers, we are pleased to introduce our new wash-off solution for direct-thermal printing," contributed Andoni Rodriguez, Director of Logistics, Retail, Office, and Linerless at UPM Raflatac. A major label producer, UPM Raflatac has factories in 12 countries, including one in Mills River, NC.

Epson Certifies Linerless Media by UPM Raflatac

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 21

Week of September 30

Week of September 16

A Message From the Editor

As we complete another year--approaching 20!--our mission remains constant: to fill the need for timely, focused, non-biased news in the channel for POS & Auto ID (and now Mobility). If anything, that need grows more pressing in the face of new technologies, go-to-market strategies, business models, and consumer expectations. We look forward to continuing our mission, and welcome your suggestions and thoughts on improvements.

Michael Kachmar, Editor

ALLIANCES

Datacap - Swimming With Bluefin

A partnership between two leaders in channel-focused payments, Datacap Systems (Chalfont, PA) and Bluefin (Atlanta, GA), addresses customer data security in the hospitality segment. Employing Payment Card Industry (PCI)-validated Point-to-Point Encryption (P2PE), it reduces the customer's PCI-DSS (Data Security Standard) compliance burden by more than 70% and PCI control scope at the POS by more than 90%. (According to industry estimates, up to 31% of hospitality organizations have reported data breaches, with 89% affected repeatedly in one year.)

"The Datacap team understands the critical importance of protecting payments and data from compromise across all channels," cited Andrew Monroe, CRO at Bluefin. "By integrating Bluefin's PCI-validated P2PE with Datacap's industry-leading payments solutions, we are empowering hospitality providers to benefit from enhanced security, streamlined compliance, and seamless payment experiences." An early player in P2PE, Bluefin offers its ShieldConex, PayConex, and Decryptx.

"Partnering with Bluefin allows Datacap to offer hospitality ISVs the highest level of security for their merchants' transactions without compromising the user experience," expressed Justin Zeigler, Director of Product at Datacap Systems. "With Bluefin's PCI-validated P2PE, our partners can confidently focus on delivering exceptional guest experiences while reducing the PCI-DSS scope and compliance costs." Exclusively distributed through VARs and ISVs, Datacap's technology, including its flagship NETePay, is platform and hardware agnostic.

A Partnership Provides P2PE Data Security for Hospitality

In the Lobby - Clip-On POS

A streamlined system for purchases in the so-called hotel lobby market has been fashioned by the teaming of GrabScanGo (Cerritos, CA) and MagTek (Seal Beach, CA). A lightweight version of an app for iOS, an "App Clip," as described by Apple, it enables guests to purchase snacks, drinks, and travel essentials in their hotel lobby using their iPhone and Apple Pay. It processes transactions through MagTek's Magensa Payment Protection Gateway.

In order to participate, guests scan the code for the App Clip prominently displayed at the market. It immediately appears on their iPhone, allowing them to scan codes on product packages for purchase and add them to their shopping cart. When ready, they check out with Apple Pay. Unlike traditional app-based methods, this new system requires no app installation or account creation, says GrabScanGo.

"Our Magensa Gateway enables our customers to securely accept both card-present and card-not-present transactions in one comprehensive solution," observed Andy Deignan, President and CEO of MagTek. "Integrating GrabScanGo's revolutionary App Clip with Magensa demonstrates how payment transactions can be simple, fast, and secure--three key elements needed to build customer loyalty." Earlier, in January, GrabScanGo endorsed the DynaFlex Kiosk by MagTek.

A New App Clip From GrabScanGo and MagTek

Code Corner

Punchh Drunk

Availability in general has been promoted for the Punchh Wallet by PAR Technology (New Hartford, NY). A customizable digital wallet for loyalty, payments, and guest data, it reduces the need for multiple vendors, driving operational efficiency and boosting revenue for restaurants, suggests PAR Technology. It supports the use of in-app features such as saved payment and stored-value card capacities as well as out-of-app options such as digital passes and Apple Wallet and/or Google Wallet. Advocates include chains such as Salsarita's Fresh Mexican Grill and Smoothie King. "Punchh Wallet isn't just about streamlining processes, it's about solving complex technological challenges that have hindered restaurants." proposed Savneet Singh, CEO of PAR. "Since its launch earlier this year, it has already demonstrated remarkable success, for example, by helping brands achieve a 6.5x lift in customer frequency."

PAR Punchh Wallet

A Treasure Map

A solution for accurate inventory tracking of gemstones in the jewelry vertical has been unwrapped at Jewel360 (Provo, UT). It ties into the database of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the industry leader in gem identification and grading (i.e., developer of the "4C's": Color, Clarity, Cut, and Carat Weight). With this new inventory capability, Jewel360 automatically populates stone details and highlights the applicable GIA Report. It will be available to all customers of Jewel360. "Keeping track of gemstone details is, traditionally, a time-intensive process for jewelers, and because of this, is oftentimes foregone," explained Nick Gurney, GM of Jewel360. "The new service with GIA provides jewelers an easy way to track the details of their inventory, enabling them to better serve their customers."

Jewel360 Specialty POS

ENVIRONMENTS/PLATFORMS

Valor Charts AWS

A migration to Amazon Web Services (AWS) has been completed for payment provider Valor PayTech (Jericho, NY). Established in 2019, Valor PayTech offers its gateway, hardware, and related software for payments in retail, restaurant, field service, and business-to-business. Utilizing the channel of VARs, ISVs, and ISOs, it recently was ranked as #130 in the 2024 Inc. 5000 and #14 in Financial Services.

"Our decision to migrate to AWS was driven by a desire to provide our merchants with a faster, more resilient, and scalable platform," relayed Eric Bernstein, CEO of Valor PayTech. "With AWS, we've seen a 30% improvement in transaction processing speeds, which means faster checkout experiences for our merchants and their customers. Additionally, the increased redundancy has boosted our uptime to 99.99%, offering merchants unparalleled reliability." An additional factor mentioned: secure transaction data via payment cryptography.

Also, Valor PayTech has engaged Josh Johnstone as its VP of Marketing. His experience includes senior marketing leadership roles at POS Portal/ScanSource. "Josh's extensive background in the technology and payments sector, along with his proven success in leading high-performing marketing teams, aligns perfectly with Valor's mission," emphasized Bernstein. "His expertise will be invaluable as we continue to innovate and elevate our brand in a rapidly changing industry."

At Valor PayTech: Eric Bernstein, CEO (At Left), and Josh Johnstone, New VP of Marketing (At Right)

A Date With SMB

A suite of software for service-oriented businesses in the SMB has been assembled by Aurora Payments (Las Vegas, NV). Entitled "Calendarise," and spanning functions from initial scheduling to payments to customer relationship management, it builds upon the company's established products in service-oriented vertical markets and the Arise Payment Platform. As end-users, Aurora identifies businesses in the SMB such as nail salons, hairdressers, pet care centers, day spas, and tattoo parlors.

A cloud-based software, Calendarise is also presented in companion iOS or Android App. As part of its product suite, staff may check their schedules and earnings in the Aurora SalonSoft App. A customer-facing Booked by Aurora App allows self-scheduling, payment, or purchase of gift cards. In the area of hardware, the Aurora All-in-One bundles 21" touchscreen, cash drawer, thermal printer, scanner, and card reader.

"Calendarise is the next logical step in our product suite," shared Brian Goudie, CEO of Aurora. "SMBs thrive with a strong customer base, and Calendarise gives such service businesses all the tools they need to manage client relationships and payments in one application. It ensures client loyalty through integrated marketing campaigns and reliable and convenient appointment management from any device." Established in 2005, Aurora Payments, which markets via VARs, ISVs, and ISOs, currently serves 27,000 merchants with $12B in annual processing.

All-in-One Service Business Software Bundle by Aurora

Key Advertiser Links

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

POS & Peripherals
Bixolon America
Electronic Payments
Epson America
FEC POS
HiStone
HP
Ingenico
Optima Systems
POSBANK USA
Posiflex
Sam4s/Shin Heung Precision
Star Micronics
Toshiba
Tri-Tech
Washburn Computer Group

Barcode Printers
Bixolon America
Brother Mobile
Epson America
GoDEX Americas
Woosim Systems

Cash Drawers/Cash Handling
apg/APG Cash Drawer

Data Collection
MobileDemand
Star Micronics
Unitech America

Integrated Payment Solutions
Charge Anywhere
Datacap Systems
Electronic Payments
Ingenico
North American Bancard

Receipt Printers
Bixolon America
Brother Mobile
Epson America
Star Micronics
Woosim Systems

Stands, Mounts, Cradles
apg/APG Cash Drawer
Star Micronics

INSTALLATIONS

NCR's Pit Stop

An upgrade in store systems and POS for convenience-store chain Speedy Stop has rolled out NCR Voyix. With two dozen locations in Texas, Speedy Stop will deploy NCR Voyix' Edge, RPOS Software, Self-Checkout, and Kitchen Product and Management Systems. It utilizes legacy hardware: site controllers, all peripherals, and Verifone POS.

"Our software-first approach allows us to integrate with existing hardware while delivering a cutting-edge software platform," related Eric Schoch, EVP and President of Retail for NCR Voyix (Atlanta, GA). "This will empower Speedy Stop to run their stores with the speed and efficiency of a digital channel while maximizing uptime, enhanced resilience, and superior security." It addresses in-store and forecourt.

In September, NCR Voyix completed sale of its digital banking business for approximately $2.5B to Veritas Capital (New York, NY). "Completion of this transaction represents a significant step forward for the company as we narrow our focus on our core restaurant and retail businesses to drive enhanced long-term value for shareholders," reflected David Wilkinson, CEO of NCR Voyix. An independent company in digital banking, designated as Candescent, will be led by CEO Brendan Tansill. He was President of Digital Banking at NCR Voyix.

NCR Voyix Deployed at Speedy Stop in Texas

Paytronix Plays Jax

A new loyalty program and accompanying mobile app at fast-casual chain PepperJax Grill draws upon Paytronix (Newton, MA). With integration across online ordering, catering, and gift cards, PepperJax Grill Rewards has been implemented at the chain's 29 locations across Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and South Dakota. It replaces their previous system, and allows customers to earn rewards at every touch-point.

"With the implementation of Paytronix, PepperJax is now able to seamlessly connect with our customers, delivering a more personalized experience and an enhanced, better-functioning rewards program," summarized Emma Thompson, Marketing Manager for PepperJax Grill. Added Andrea Mulligan, Chief Customer Officer at Paytronix, "As members engage with the brand, PepperJax Grill can now ensure a fully customized digital experience that resembles the way they prepare meals. Guests build their own experience--from their order to their rewards."

Just recently, Paytronix announced its acquisition by business management software firm, The Access Group (Loughborough, UK). Founded in 2001 by Executive Chairman Andrew Robbins, Paytronix was previously purchased by Great Hill Partners in 2017. At present, its platform has been deployed in over 50,000 sites across 1,800 brands and has processed more than 40 billion consumer transactions. It will retain its name, reportedly, while boosting The Access Group in the U.S.

Fast-Casual Chain Embraces Paytronix Loyalty Solution

Channel Factoid

Stacking the Deck

While Card Use Dominates,
New Payment Methods Grow

-E-Wallets: 52.4%, Down 1.1%

-ACH: 52.2%, Up 16%

-Gift Card: 28.5%, Up 23.9%

-BNPL: 16.4%, Up 2.5%

-Peer-to-Peer: 23.2%, Up 65.7%

-Crypto: 6.3%, Up 57.5%

Source: Survey of Merchants in "2024 Chargeback Field Report" by Chargebacks911

E-Wallets Lead the Pack

Short Takes

-A purchase of Alice POS (Sherbrooke, QC, Canada) by Harris Computer Systems (Ottawa, ON, Canada), part of Constellation Software (owner of Acceo).

-A round of $10M in Series B Funding, led by Tiger Global, for restaurant self-service hardware vendor, Checkmate (New York, NY).

-A new relationship between community financial services company Citizens & Northern Corporation (Wellsboro, PA) and Clover POS.

Another Outlet for Clover POS

HELLO GOODBYE

A Cue at Qu

As its Chief Product Officer, Qu (Rosslyn, VA) has enlisted Brett Smith. A three-decade resume in product portfolio management for restaurant POS includes executive roles at vendors such as PAR Technology, Shiji Information Technology, Oracle Food and Beverage, and Micros. He serves as Board Member for the Restaurant Association of Maryland.

"Qu embodies the meaning of market disruption," submitted Smith. "The team's forward-thinking mindset and focus on building solutions for today's market challenges--not chasing legacy systems and approaches--is what makes Qu stand out. I'm delighted to be part of a company that's constantly pushing boundaries and driving real change."

"As Qu embarks on its next phase of explosive growth, Brett's leadership will be vital in expanding our product vision and delivering unmatched value to our customers," commented Amir Hudda, CEO of Qu. "We're excited to leverage his expertise to accelerate our journey and enhance our position as the go-to platform for quick-service restaurants." In October, Qu's Unified Customer Platform was chosen by Golden Chick for its more than 230 locations in Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi, and opening soon, Nevada.

Brett Smith, Chief Product Officer, Qu

A Player at Partner Tech

A move to Senior Sales and Business Development Executive at Partner Tech (Anaheim, CA) for industry figure Lora Coggins. For ten years, Coggins served as Channel Sales Executive for Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions. An earlier position has included Account Representative for Toshiba TEC America, with responsibility for BlueStar.

"We're thrilled to welcome Lora Coggins to Partner Tech USA as our new Senior Sales and Business Development Executive," posted Partner Tech. "Lora brings over thirty-five years of food and retail industry experience, with a strong background in POS and Self-Checkout. Lora will focus on developing business with customers in Tier 1 and Tier 2, while strengthening our relationships with the channel community."

"Lora has served on the Board of Directors for the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA) and was recognized by The Shelby Report in 2023 as one of the 'Women of Influence in the Food Industry,'" continued Partner Tech. "Her insights, industry connections, and passion for Partner Tech's innovative products make her an incredible addition to our team." This fall, Partner Tech has debuted its 10" Model M10 POS Tablet and its Model PS-137 Alfred Stand-Alone Kiosk.

Lora Coggins, Senior Sales and Business Development Executive, Partner Tech USA