Our Product Pick

An enterprise mobile computer, with 5G WAN and Wi-Fi 6E and built in support for Apple VAS and Google Smart Tap, has been unboxed at Zebra Technologies Corporation (Lincolnshire, IL). In phablet form, with 6" projected-capacitive touchscreen (1080x2160), the Model TC22/TC27 has Qualcomm 5430 Hex Core CPU, 6 GB/8 GB RAM, 64 GB/128 GB Memory, and upgrade to Android 16 O/S. As data collection, there's choice of 1D/2D integrated scan engine or advanced 1D/2D scan engine with Intellifocus. It offers added tools such as Zebra Mobility DNA, Device Tracker, Workstation Connect, and RFID Sled. "A powerful, purpose-built device that's affordable and comes with all the features and add-ons needed to future-proof operations," relayed Julie Johnson, GM and SVP, Enterprise Mobile Computing, Zebra Technologies.

Zebra's TC22/TC27 Enterprise Mobile Computer

COMPANY BUSINESS

At Play at Worldpay

A definitive agreement sees FIS (Jacksonville, FL) selling the majority stake in its Worldpay Merchant Solutions business to private equity firm GTCR (Chicago, IL) with valuation put at $18.5 billion. As minority partner, FIS will retain 45% ownership in Worldpay. In addition, GTCR will invest up to $1.25 billion in additional growth capital for Worldpay. In its latest full-year results, the Merchant Solutions business accounted for approximately one-third of consolidate revenues of FIS, or $4.8 billion.

"This transaction allows FIS to partially monetize our Merchant Solutions business at an attractive valuation and provides certainty for all stakeholders," declared Stephanie Ferris, CEO and President of FIS. "It also allows us to simplify and drive greater focus on delivering innovative, next-generation financial technology and software solutions. At the same time, Worldpay will become a privately held company and benefit from the resources and expertise of GTCR, which has committed additional capital to allow Worldpay to pursue inorganic growth in the rapidly evolving payments space."

"This new separation path positions Worldpay for immediate success, combining the benefits of a well-established global brand and group of talented payments professionals with the energy of an independent startup, all backed by a world-class private equity firm," proclaimed Charles Drucker, incoming Worldpay CEO. "I'm excited to be working with my former colleagues and GTCR to win in the marketplace and position Worldpay for long-term success. With the support of GTCR, and continuing to partner with FIS, I believe that Worldpay will create and define the future of merchant payment solutions."

Charles Drucker, Incoming CEO, Worldpay

In Tune With LUNA X

A next-generation all-in-one POS has been unveiled by HiStone (San Jose, CA and Qingdao City, China). A Model LUNA X HK568 has standard Intel Elkhart Lake Quad-Core J6412 CPU, 4 GB/16 GB RAM, and 128 GB/512 GB SATA SSD. A Model LUNA X HK568U has standard Intel Tiger Lake UP3 11th Generation Core i3 CPU, 8 GB/16 GB RAM, and 128 GB/512 GB SATA SSD. As O/S, there's Windows 10 or Linux.

With hinge for screen rotation as well as adjustable screen height, in black or white case, LUNA X HK568/HK568U measures 12.5"/317 mm (L) x 15.2"/386 mm (W) x 8.1"/205 mm (H) and weighs 14.3 lbs./6.5 kg. It has widescreen 15.6" true-flat projected-capacitive touchscreen (1920x1080). A suite of ports includes 4x USB 2.0, 2x USB 3.0, 1x Gigabit LAN, 3x RJ-48 Serial, 1x RJ-11 Cash Drawer, 1x HDMI, and 1x Audio.

A full range of peripherals--card reader, barcode scanner, thermal printer, stand, etc.--accompany the LUNA X HK568/HK568U. As second display, it offers either 10.1" or 15.6" touch or non-touch (or 2x20 VFD). As wireless, there's 2.4 GHz/5 GHz 802.11 Wi-Fi (and Bluetooth 5 in the HK568U). "HiStone's HK568/HK568U represents a significant milestone in our journey to provide the most reliable and high-grade solutions for the retail and hospitality industries," asserted Mohamed Berihi, Business Development Director at HiStone.

HiStone's New LUNA X HK568/HK568U POS

Worth Your While

RetailNOW
Retail Solutions Providers Association
July 30-August 1
Orlando, FL

VARTECH
BlueStar
September 11-12
San Antonio, TX

FSTEC
Foodservice Tech/Winsight
September 13-15
Dallas, TX

20th WSAA
Western States Acquirers Association
October 31-November 2
Carlsbad, CA

MJBizCom
MJBizDaily
November 28-December 1
Las Vegas, NV

ALL IN THE FAMILY

In Unitech's Pocket

A pocket-sized reader for RFID in retail environments, Model RP902 MFi, has been unwrapped by Unitech America (Cypress, CA). At 4.3"/109 mm (L) x 2"/51 mm (W) x 1.1"/28 mm (D), weighing 3.7 oz./106 g, RP902 MFi (Made for iPhone/iPad) scans tags of EPC Global Class 1 Gen 2 and ISO 18000-6C at 865 MHz and 928 MHz. With Bluetooth 5, it features read range of 6.6 ft./2 m and 27 dBm signal.

With support for iOS Utility and Software Development Kit (SDK), RP902 MFi has display screen, three buttons (Trigger, Function, Select), three indicators (Visual, Audible, and Vibration) and USB I/O. A 1150 mAh Li-Ion battery furnishes 75,000 scans over 12 hours. As ruggedness, it has an IP-65 rating for water and dust and 3.9 ft./1.2 m drop resistance.

Via support for the company's TagAccess Software, RP902 MFi offers multiple functions such as Ready & Write, Find Tag, Lock Tag, and Kill Tag. It allows for the simultaneous scanning of multiple RFID tags, even if they are located close together or in different orientations. Also, users may manually pair the device via its Bluetooth. As applications, Unitech America cites inventory check, cycle counting, and asset management.

Model RP902 MFi Bluetooth UHF Reader by Unitech

Age of NEO

A release of the Model VP3350 all-in-one mobile payment device kicks off introduction of the Neo 3 Platform of Products by ID Tech (Cypress, CA). In dimensions of 2.6"/67 mm (L) x 2.8"/71 mm (W) x 0.5"/14 mm (D), with Payment Card Industry (PCI) PTS 6.X SRED Certification, it accepts EMV Contact, EMV Contactless, and MSR (Magnetic-Stripe Reader). It includes Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay, along with supporting the loyalty programs Apple VAS and Google Smart Tap.

It features connectivity for the range of mobile uses via Apple Lightning (with MFi Certification), USB-C, and Bluetooth/BLE. An optional stand supports traditional countertop POS. A 400 mAh Li-Polymer battery accompanies the Bluetooth/BLE and Apple Lightning Models. As operating temperature range: 0 to 55 Degrees C/32 to 131 Degrees F.

"Launch of the VP3350 is monumental in that it delivers to the market the first of many solutions from ID Tech's NEO 3 Platform of Products," emphasized Karen Roberts, SVP of Products at ID Tech. "The beauty of the VP3350 is that it fits the need of the growing mobile and tablet-based POS." Also in Neo 3: the AP6800 Android-based unattended payment terminal, the Kiosk V unattended contactless reader, the VP6825 unattended payment terminal, the VP7200 contactless solution with QR scanner, and the VP8810 and VP8810P countertop terminals.

ID Tech Debuts NEO 3 Payment Family

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 June 26

Week of June 12

Week of May 15

ALLIANCES

It's Here at LaaS

A new partnership will empower merchants with so-called Loyalty-as-a-Service (LaaS). It combines the automated loyalty and customer engagement capability of Enroll & Pay (Solana Beach, CA) with the fintech portfolio of iPOS (San Juan, PR). It allows merchants of all sizes to effortlessly design, launch, and manage customized loyalty programs, according to the two parties.

In this integration, the customers' credit cards are utilized as loyalty identifiers as well as for payment. All future card payments are seamlessly tracked and rewarded in real-time. In addition, transactional data is automatically synchronized with customer loyalty information. (In addition to its iPOSpays gateway, iPOS offers Dejavoo terminal hardware, DeNovo cloud-based POS, and SPin semi-integrated EMV.)

"iPOS Systems has been great to work with," testified Brian Booth, CEO and Founder of Enroll & Pay. "Integration is key to several of our current partnerships and will open doors for others looking for a quick and easy loyalty solution." Earlier, in June, Enroll & Pay entered into similar partnership with ISO Eagle Processing (Smithtown, NY).

A Partnership in Loyalty-as-a-Service

Stripe Cultivates Tulip

A pursuit of omnichannel specialty retailing has Tulip (Kitchener, ON, Canada) joining forces with Stripe (San Francisco, CA). Under this collaboration, customers for Tulip's POS gain access to the Payment Infrastructure of Stripe. It includes necessary capabilities such as Buy Now/Pay Later. A further benefit cited: easy onboarding.

"We are delighted to embark on this transformative journey with Stripe," reflected Roberto Grandillo, EVP of Product Management at Tulip. "Integration of Stripe into our next-gen POS system marks a significant milestone in revolutionizing the retail payments landscape. With Stripe, we are empowering retailers to provide an even more frictionless and fully integrated omnichannel experience for their customers."

Started in 2013, and delivered as SaaS (Software-as-a-Service), Tulip has major strategic relationships with Apple and Salesforce. It furnishes the entire spectrum of POS, Mobile POS, Endless Aisle, and Pay-by-Link. As customers, it boasts prominent apparel brands such as Mulberry, Saks Fifth Avenue, Kendra Scott, Kate Spade, Coach, and Michael Kors. (FYI: John Affaki serves as Stripe's Terminal Business Lead.)

Omnichannel Apparel Retailing by Tulip

Code Corner

An update for its Sound POS has been released by Sound Payments (Jacksonville, FL). It ensures the system is compliant with recent regulations on cash discounting and dual pricing for cash and credit announced by Visa. In this phase of updates, mark-up on debit card use will be eliminated, non-cash adjustment will be capped at 3% (down from 4%), and the customer receipt will show both the adjusted price and the original price. "Our resellers have been asking and we are listening," projected Cesar Carrasco, National Sales Manager for Sound POS. "I truly enjoy working with all our partners and can't wait to share more updates that are on the horizon for Sound POS this year."

Updates for Sound POS

______________________

A new bridge enables restaurant operators to combine diner booking data from OpenTable (San Francisco, CA) with spending data collected at SkyTab POS by Shift4 (Allentown, PA). It empowers the restaurant to quickly identify which guests are new, regulars, or top spenders, and then use this information to celebrate their most valued patrons, and perhaps, turn new guests into regular customers. In addition, real-time insights, including when guests are seated and which course has been served, helps minimize wait times and improve table turnover rates. As part of this relationship, OpenTable now appears on Shift4's Marketplace. "Our collaboration with OpenTable provides restaurateurs an easy way to improve their top and bottom lines while learning more about their customers so that they can enhance the dining experience," suggested Mike Russo, CTO at Shift4.

Shift4 Ties to OpenTable

ENVIRONMENTS/PLATFORMS

SpotOn: Kids Won't Wait

A new functionality, designated as "Seat & Send," introduced by SpotOn (San Francisco, CA), allows guests on the restaurant's reservation system or wait-list to browse and pre-order food and drinks from their smartphones. It utilizes the functionality of SpotOn Restaurant, SpotOn Reserve, and SpotOn Order. A digital link to the menu is sent to waiting guests, with their order immediately sent to the kitchen upon seating.

"As a parent to three young kids, I am enthusiastic about how Seat & Send adds convenience and speed without sacrificing quality," shared Bryan Solar, Chief Product Officer at SpotOn. "As soon as I sit down, my order is fired to the kitchen, which means my kids are fed sooner, and the restaurant gets that table turned faster. It's the type of 'win-win' outcome that we strive to provide our restaurateurs and their guests."

Also, SpotOn has been named the Preferred Technology Partner of the Texas Restaurant Association. Established in 1937, the Texas Restaurant Association represents the state's $87 billion restaurant industry, which currently encompasses upwards of 55,000 locations and workforce of over 1.3 million employees. Earlier endorsements of SpotOn by similar restaurant advocacy groups have taken place in Georgia, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

SpotOn Debuts "Order While You Wait"

Asking Lilly About POS

An aspirant called NextGen Food Robotics Corp. (Vancouver, BC, Canada) has tied its proprietary AI App, dubbed Lilly, into POS. (At this time, it has declined to identify the specific company in POS.) In addition to developing AI, NextGen employs automated food robots and manufacturing lines in its newly built 20,000-sq.-foot prep facility.

Via its advanced search engine, and upcoming integration, Lilly will survey millions of grocery stores and restaurants across the U.S. and Canada, ensuring the delivery of accurate Point-of-Interest (POI) Data. It then will have the capacity to track status and sales of more than one billion products. So, it can provide end-users with ordering availability, prices, and even individual item customizations and modifications.

It will support major food apps such as Uber Eats, DoorDash, Skip The Dishes, and Yelp. In addition, Lilly's delivery function has been expanded through integration with over 30,000 third-party delivery providers, courier services, and stores with their own drivers. It seems time for the channel to consider its role in robotics in the food industry.

A Growing Role for Automation in Food Industry

Key Advertiser Links

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

POS & Peripherals
Aldelo
Bixolon America
Electronic Payments
Epson America
FEC POS
HiStone
HP
Ingenico
Pioneer Solution
POSBANK USA
Posiflex
POS Nation
Sam4s/Shin Heung Precision
Star Micronics
Sunmi
Toshiba

Barcode Printers
Bixolon America
Brother Mobile
GoDEX Americas
Woosim Systems

Cash Drawers/Cash Handling
apg/APG Cash Drawer

Data Collection
Janam Technologies
MobileDemand
Star Micronics
Unitech America

Integrated Payment Solutions
Datacap Systems
Electronic Payments
Ingenico
Miura Systems
North American Bancard
Payment Logistics
Sound Payments

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

Stands, Mounts, Cradles
Star Micronics

Touchscreens
MicroTouch

INSTALLATIONS

CBS Holds BBQ

A deployment of NorthStar POS from Custom Business Solutions (Irvine, CA) has been completed at Hard Eight BBQ. A family-owned "authentic pit-smoked meat" chain, Hard Eight BBQ has five locations around Dallas, TX. A cloud-based solution, CBS NorthStar includes features such as integrated online ordering, advanced analytics, new customer displays, and loyalty programs--all embraced by Hard Eight BBQ.

"The decision to partner with Custom Business Solutions and implement the NorthStar POS system came after careful consideration," reported Matthew Perry, COO of Hard Eight BBQ. "NorthStar is helping improve our speed of service with quicker processing through the lines. We believe NorthStar is an investment that will help us keep our personal touch of service and provide an even better service for our high-volume locations."

A busy time at Custom Business Solutions. In June, CBS engaged with Restaurant Loyalty Specialists. "We're thrilled to partner with CBS NorthStar to help provide value-added services to customers that not only increase retention rates but also reaffirm CBS NorthStar's position as a customer-centric innovator," commented Olga Berkovich Lopategui, Founder of Restaurant Loyalty Specialists. Also, CBS has been named, once again (for 2023-2025), to the Toshiba Partner Advisory Council.

Hard Eight BBQ Chooses CBS NorthStar POS

A Deep Dive at Adyen

As an early adopter, Adyen (San Francisco, CA) has finalized testing and certification of the new FedNow Service by the U.S. Federal Reserve. Scheduled to launch this week, FedNow will streamline cash flow by enabling instant funds movement among financial institutions. It will sit at the forefront of payments and payout services, according to the Federal Reserve, by securely and reliably operating 24x7x365.

"Businesses are always on the lookout for faster and more efficient ways to move money. The FedNow Service solves that very problem and we are pleased to be an early adopter of the service," indicated Davi Strazza, President of Adyen North America. "As one of the only fintech companies with a local branch license, we are qualified to join the Federal Reserve's new instant payments infrastructure. Combined with our suite of products on payments and embedded finance, we can offer businesses a wide variety of powerful tools to thrive in today's competitive market."

"We are elated that early adopters of all sizes across the country are making strides in their operational readiness for live transactions through the system," expounded Ken Montgomery, VP of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and FedNow Service Program Executive. "Completing certification is a key milestone for participating organizations to validate their ability to deliver instant payments." Elsewhere, Adyen has rolled out, in collaboration with the Oracle Payment Cloud Service, its software-based "Tap to Pay on Android."

Adyen Enters Federal Reserve's FedNow Service

Channel Factoid

Signals From Buyers

Frequency of Purchasing
New Retail Solutions

1%: More than Once a Year
24%: Once Every 1-2 Years
46%: Once Every 3-4 Years
22%: Once Every 5-7 Years
4%: Once Every 8-10 Years
3%: Greater than Every 10 Years

Satisfaction With Current POS
(Scale of 1 to 10)

3: 0-1%
5: 2%
6: 3%
7: 10%
8: 35%
9: 42%
10: 8%

Source: "Implementation vs. Rewards of Tech Investment," by FreedomPay and Cornell University

A Message From the Editor

As we progress through another year--our 18th!--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

HELLO GOODBYE

A Turn at Toshiba

A leadership transition at Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions (Research Triangle Park, NC) has Eugene Shvartsman promoted to SVP, Americas Sales. He replaces industry veteran Bill Campbell, who shifts to an executive advisory role. Over the past three years, Shvartsman has lead Americas Services Sales at Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions.

"I am confident in Eugene's leadership based on his determination to uncover 'win-win' solutions with our clients and partners and his deep understanding of the industry. I am confident he will draw on both skills to ensure a seamless transition," commented Rance Poehler, President and CEO of Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions. "Eugene is committed to our company's values and the deep focus we place on respect and establishing trust as a strategic partner to drive success for our customers and the retail industry at large."

"I look forward to expanding our customer network, building on existing relationships, and supporting our sales organization to drive growth for Toshiba," expressed Shvartsman. "At Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions, our passion is retail, and we are devoted to empowering retailers to evolve with generations of consumers by delivering a dynamic ecosystem of innovative and agile solutions to improve business performance, increase operational control, scale fast, and delight consumers with rewarding experiences."

"I want to thank Bill for his nine years of service to the company, and I'm grateful for the growth we've had under his leadership in that time," added Poehler. "His many contributions and successes have always focused on one thing--relationships. Because of this, I am so encouraged by his commitment to supporting this smooth transition while continuing to advise our company as we continue our growth trajectory."

Eugene Shvartsman, SVP, Americas Sales, Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions

A "Trace" of ISV

As part and parcel of its new channel effort, Tom Lizzio has been named Director of ISV Sales at payment processor PayTrace (Spokane, WA). His resume, prior to joining PayTrace, includes roles as Lead of Global Strategic Partnerships Embedded/ISV/B2B at BlueSnap, Account Executive, then Senior Strategic Partnership Manager, at EVO Payments, and Inside Sales Representative at Panasonic North America.

"I'm excited to leverage my background to help develop our ISV Partnership Program," affirmed Lizzio. "I'm inspired to collaborate with partners who wish to grow and expand their offerings, and to share success stories about the innovative ways that embedded payments are impacting business growth."

"Adding Tom to our team is a definite accelerator for PayTrace," stated Lindsay Mowery, SVP of Sales for PayTrace. "Our ISV Partnership Program is already growing from his wealth of experience in embedded payments and his knowledge of partner needs in the market." In March 2022, PayTrace was acquired by North American Bancard (Troy, MI).

Tom Lizzio, Director of ISV Sales, PayTrace