Our Product Pick

A hands-free wearable scanner solution for supply chain, DuraScan Wear DW930, has been fashioned by Socket Mobile (Fremont, CA). In small, lightweight form, designed to be worn either right- or left-handed, DuraScan Wear DW930 furnishes Class 2, 1D barcode reading with range of 1.2" to 180"/3 cm to 457 cm. It supports iOS, Android, and Windows 10/11 with linking via Bluetooth 2.1+EDR. A rechargeable Li-Ion battery provides up to 13 hours of standby time. A flexible trigger arm places the scan button in the most comfortable position for each worker, with audible good-read feedback. Application developers have access to Socket Mobile's CaptureSDK (Software Development Kit).

Socket Mobile's DuraScan Wear DW930

COMPANY BUSINESS

A Modest Proposal by Lightspeed

"I'm proud to share the next big announcement in our suite of product innovations. We are unifying Lightspeed Payments with our flagship POS products: Lightspeed Retail and Lightspeed Restaurants," writes JD St-Martin, President of Lightspeed Commerce (Montreal, QC).

"Since 2020, the world of payments and commerce have been colliding at an accelerated rate. Where we previously lived in a world of best-in-breed relaying on integrations, we now see more and more one-stop shops and end-to-end solutions with embedded financial services."

"To keep our platforms running smoothly while keeping pace with these changes, we've been splitting our resources to provide you with the best of both worlds. On one hand, we've been maintaining Lightspeed POS's connection with other third-party payments providers. On the other, we've been developing Lightspeed Payments: our own, exceptional, global payments platform."

"But offering both comes with costs and complexities. So we're choosing to focus solely on Lightspeed Payments, because we believe the long-term benefits we can bring to your business by embedding our payments service outweighs the short-term inconvenience of switching partners. That's why we are inviting you to be at the forefront of this new offer by adopting our unified Lightspeed Payments & POS."

A Unified Platform for Payments and POS Decreed by Lightspeed Commerce

Epson: Pizza, Pizza

A centralized order system for local pizzerias puts the OmniLink m-Series thermal receipt printers from Epson America (Los Alamitos, CA) into the Slice Register (New York, NY). Introduced in 2021, Slice Register holds the largest community of independent pizzerias in the U.S., with end-users in over 3,000 cities and all 50 states. It integrates touchscreen tablet and necessary peripherals for POS, and supports Slice Ordering.

In 5"/128 mm cube-shaped format, offering top or front load configuration, the m-Series from Epson America has 3"/80 mm print width and maximum print speed of 20"/500 mm per second at 180 dpi. As interface options, in support of iOS, Android, and Windows, models address USB-A, USB-B, USB-C, Ethernet, Bluetooth, and 802.11 Wi-Fi. Also, there's IPX2 water resistance and Epson's Server Direct Print.

"Slice is empowering pizzerias to better serve customers," attested Mauricio Chacon, Group Product Manager, System Devices Group, Epson America. "By centralizing offline and online orders with the Slice Register and m-Series, local pizzerias can get better business insights, streamlined operations, and all the necessary tools to build lasting and thriving businesses." Added Robin Mast, Restaurant Technology Manager, POS Division, for Slice, "Epson m-Series printers are sleek, compact, dependable and integrated seamlessly with the Slice Register."

Epson's m-Series Printers Certified for Slice Register

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

Toshiba Takes Sides

A new industrial label printer by Toshiba America Business Solutions (Lake Forest, CA) offers duplex linerless functionality. In direct-thermal and thermal-transfer modes, with 4"/102 mm print width, Model DL1024 prints shipping label and packing list onto one dual-sided linerless label. In eliminating the plastic pouch, label liner, and need for second label, it boosts productivity and sustainability, notes Toshiba.

In dimensions of 16"/40.6 cm (W) x 36"/91.4 cm (D) x 31"/78.7 cm (H), weighing 75 lbs./34 kg, Model DL1024 has ruggedized components suitable for warehouse environments. It features maximum print speed of 6"/152 mm per second at 203 dpi resolution. At rate of 24 labels per minute, it holds 3,000 media roll capacity. As another benefit, an intuitive 10" touchscreen LCD serves as control panel.

As consumables, Toshiba recommends the Linerless DuplexPackSlip Label from Premier Print & Services Group (Chicago, IL). A print-and-apply configuration, with all-electric, servo-driven tamp applicator, is available from Panther/ProMach (Covington, KY). "We're pleased to partner with both Premier and Panther while creating our DL1024 duplex linerless thermal printer, a first-of-its-kind industrial printer steamlining both hand- and auto-apply applications," proclaimed Bill Melo, VP of Marketing and Strategic Business Development at Toshiba America Business Solutions. As MSRP per Toshiba: $9,000."

Toshiba Presents Duplex Linerless Thermal Printer

Here Comes Hardware - SpotOn

A family of hardware for POS has been unveiled by leading ISV SpotOn (San Francisco, CA). As SpotOn Restaurant, it features formats with three touchscreen sizes: 15.6" for Station, 10" for Countertop, and 6.5" for Handheld. As proprietary and patent-pending, this hardware will be bundled with SpotOn Software in Q4. As part of this roll-out, SpotOn will partner for payment processing with Worldpay from FIS.

Offered in multiple configurations, the Station may include attached or detached guest-facing display and base- or side-mounted payment reader. Intended for environments with more limited space and smaller menus, the Countertop may include an optional guest-facing display. As features, the Handheld has flipping of the screen for bill presentation and payment, as well as optional barcode scanner for loyalty purposes. All three terminals, of course, handle payments via contactless and DIP.

"The industry is evolving quickly, so it was critical that we worked with our clients and Restaurant Advisory Council members to design a suite of hardware that responds to the real needs of the modern restaurateur," declared Bryan Solar, Chief Product Officer of SpotOn. "With their collaboration, we designed devices that are sleek and subtle with the flexibility to adapt to the unique needs of each environment. We also put a lot of focus on helping to streamline service, making it easier for staff to deliver better, faster, more personalized experiences for their guests."

A Bundle of Software and Hardware Called SpotOn Restaurant

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ALLIANCES

In SpacePole's Orbit

A new distribution agreement between SpacePole (Norcross, GA) and Ingram Micro (Irvine, CA) covers the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. A part of Ergonomic Solutions in the UK, SpacePole provides an extensive family of technology mounting hardware, including for payments/POS. In making its announcement, it cited, in particular, its support of the HP Engage One, Engage Go, and Engage One Pro handled by Ingram Micro.

An earlier relationship saw SpacePole distributed by The Phoenix Group (O'Fallon, MO), which Ingram Micro purchased in 2017. With its focus on electronic payments, The Phoenix Group brought relationships with vendors such as Dejavoo, Equinox, Ingenico, MagTek, PAX, and Verifone--as well as key injection, software downloads, and repair/replacement--for Ingram Micro. Also of interest to readers, SpacePole has recently hired two Channel Account Managers: Adam Foltz and Jay Loeber.

"We are delighted to be able to expand our business relationship with Ingram Micro," commented Aaron Johnson, GM at SpacePole. "Our tablet and mobility solutions provide enterprise benefits throughout the supply chain, and Ingram Micro has that reach for opportunities beyond the shop floor or front of house. In addition, the close relationship both companies have with HP also makes this agreement mutually beneficial." Also in two-tier distribution, in addition to Ingram Micro, for SpacePole: BlueStar, ScanSource, and Synnex/TD.

Ingram Micro Distributes SpacePole Mounting Solutions

Tabit Sets OpenTable

An integration for Tabit Technologies (Miami, FL) adds the power of online reservation network OpenTable (San Francisco, CA). A full-featured restaurant system, including formats of POS, Tabit dubs itself as "Mobile First." According to Tabit President and Co-Founder Nadav Solomon, "This partnership with OpenTable marks a valuable opportunity for restaurant owners/operators to close the loop on their internal communication and create better experiences for guests."

Integration was completed in late 2022 and went live in February 2023. It's now offered to all restaurant customers of Tabit and OpenTable. As benefits, Tabit identifies: merger of booking data and spend data; identification, characterization, and prioritization of guests; and real-time communication between servers and front-of-house staff.

"Tabit's integration with OpenTable has been a game-changer for our guest management operations," reported Ryan Scarpa, GM of Yolo, part of The Restaurant Group (New York, NY). "Our servers now have direct access to the guest's profile, so they can tailor their dining experience from celebrations and allergy considerations to food and seating preferences. The digitization of chit sheets with real-time data gives our staff access to key customer information at the right time."

A Partnership Between Tabit and OpenTable Furthers Guest Personalization in Hospitality

Code Corner

A new feature, appropriately entitled Shared Item, splits the cost of individual menu items across multiple tickets in Aldelo Express Cloud POS. Similar in implementation to the Aldelo Express Split Physical Check, Aldelo Express Shared Item helps restaurants manage large parties, notes Aldelo. "By adjusting guest checks to accommodate shared purchase items, restaurants alleviate customers from the trouble and stress of splitting costs after an order has been submitted, which makes the restaurant an attractive setting for larger group dining," detailed Jeff Moore, VP of Operations with Aldelo, L.P. (Pleasanton, CA). Aldelo Express Cloud POS is offered at zero additional cost to merchants using Aldelo Pay and approved Aldelo Partner Merchant Services. Also, at zero additional cost, users may receive the Masa+ Suite of Online Restaurant Solutions, such as Digital Menus, Gift/Loyalty, and QR Codes.

Aldelo's Shared Item Function

_______________________

An all-in-one platform empowering merchants to create customized order, pay, and loyalty solutions has been fielded by CardFree. As friction-free and platform-agnostic, according to the provider of mobile payment technology, so-called CardFree Checkout provides one API (Application Programming Interface) to streamline Delivery, Order Ahead, In-Store Ordering, Text-to-Pay, and Pay-at-Table. It accepts popular digital wallets such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Venmo, and offers built-in protection to identify fraudulent activity pre-transaction. "Oftentimes restaurant operators feel that they are locked into the payment interface provided by their ordering platform provider or POS vendor, so, like all CardFree products, Checkout gives restaurants freedom and flexibility," expounded Jon Squire, CEO and Founder of CardFree (San Francisco, CA). "Our fundamental belief is that our partners' success is our success, and this is another tool to help drive transactions and ease consumer adoption with almost no incremental technological lift."

Agnostic CardFree Checkout Platform

ENVIRONMENTS/PLATFORMS

Putting the Sezzle in BNPL

A new format in its solution for Buy Now/Pay Later (BNPL) shopping has been debuted by Sezzle (Minnesota, MN). As so-called "Pay-in-2," it allows shoppers to pay 50% down at the time of purchase and the remaining 50% two weeks after. It joins previous "Pay-in-4" from Sezzle, which splits payment into four segments over six weeks, with the first at the time of purchase. Either format has no interest charges. (Also offered by Sezzle: payment plans in installations of up to 48 months.)

"We are pleased to launch the Pay-in-2 product and offer our customers a new option," relayed Charlie Youakim, CEO and Co-Founder of Sezzle. "Many consumers get paid every two weeks and we believe giving shoppers this option will allow them to better manage their budgets. Concurrently, for merchants, offering Pay-in-2 should lead to higher approval rates and increased shopper conversions. It's a win-win."

The Pay-in-2 product will open new markets, such as grocery, monthly subscriptions, and other higher frequency categories, where splitting into two payments makes sense, according to Sezzle. As similar to Pay-in-4, it gives consumers an opportunity to build their credit scores if they opt-in to the companion program, "Sezzle Up". In this scheme, the shopper's payment history is reported by Sezzle to credit bureaus.

Sezzle Launches "Pay-in-2" Buy Now/Pay Later

XY "DOM-inates" Fulfillment

As an expansion of its omnichannel retail solution, XY Retail (New York, NY) has launched its "cutting-edge" Distributed Order Management System (dubbed XY DOM). As part of the developer's cloud-based, microservice-featured, mobile-first platform, XY DOM seeks to streamline, simplify, and optimize this function via central control. It covers distribution centers, stores, dark stores, and third-party logistics.

It also facilitates the returns process by managing return locations, product information, and return-processing rules. To further enhance the customer experience, XY DOM supports a variety of delivery options, such as In-store Pick-up, Ship-from-Store, and Curbside Pick-up. An expansive seamless experience for businesses and customers will drive loyalty and reinforce positive brand image, according to XY Retail.

"With its robust set of features and customizable options, XY DOM is the ultimate solution for businesses looking to boost efficiency, drive customer satisfaction, and excel in an increasingly competitive market," enthused Susan Jeffers, CEO of XY Retail. "Leading retailers have already embraced XY DOM and are experiencing remarkable improvements in their order management processes and customer satisfaction." Also with offices in Milan, Italy, XY Retail focuses on luxury apparel.

XY Retail Launches New Distributed Order Management System

Key Advertiser Links

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

POS & Peripherals
Aldelo
Electronic Payments
Elo
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

INSTALLATIONS

Up in the AI

An early roll-out of its Artificial Intelligence Foundation Cloud Service by Oracle Retail (Austin, TX) has boosted inventory management at specialty retailer WH Smith North America. A leader in the airport marketplace, WH Smith North America (Las Vegas, NV) has more than 300 stores in the U.S. and Canada, with brands such as Harley-Davidson, InMotion, LEGO, and Tumi. It implemented this AI function in 16 weeks.

"We have a great track record of fast and successful implementations with Oracle Retail," indicated Josh Bellendir, CIO at WH Smith North America. "We engaged Columbus Consulting (Columbus, OH) to evaluate planning solutions to replace our aging technology, and we chose Oracle and Retail Science Simplified (Atlanta, GA) for their combined retail expertise and speed to market." Started in 2015, Retail Science Simplified, or RetSci, focuses on AI and Machine Learning.

"WH Smith North America is one of the first customers to deploy our Oracle Retail Cloud with AI Foundation," identified Mike Webster, SVP and GM at Oracle Retail. "With these applications, WH Smith North America can scale data models across its operations and benefit from powerful predictive and prescriptive analytics to better forecast demand, improve inventory accuracy, and reduce markdowns and over-stocks to help increase customer satisfaction and profits." A partner, BTM Global (Minneapolis, MN), earlier installed Oracle Retail Store POS at WH Smith North America.

Specialty Retailer WH Smith North America Embraces Oracle Retail Artificial Intelligence Foundation Cloud Service

Tray Explores Arctic Circle

A deployment of Tray (Scottsdale, AZ) for burger-and-shake chain Arctic Circle Restaurants includes first-time self-service kiosks as well as POS. Based in Salt Lake City, Arctic Circle has 70 locations in Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Nevada, half of which are corporate owned and half franchised. It plans to roll out Tray in all of its corporate locations by the end of 2023, with franchisees given the option of using Tray.

"Tray's POS system provides the advanced features and capabilities that we need to run our business more efficiently," testified Joe Evans, Chief Marketing Officer of Arctic Circle Restaurants. "The system's ease of use and ability to integrate with our existing hardware and systems made it the clear choice for our restaurant chain." Also, he praised the detailed sales reporting and business analytics of Tray.

"Arctic Circle's forward-thinking and customer-centric focus, coupled with our cloud-based POS system and self-service kiosks, will not only streamline operations and reduce costs, but also help to drive customer loyalty through improved experiences," concurred Brian Whitney, Chief Revenue Officer for Tray. Established in 2013, Tray has integrations with 20 hardware suppliers, including Kitchen Display Systems (KDS), and 50 software companies. In addition to Arctic Circle, customers include fast-food brands such as Applebee's, iHOP, and Brooklyn Dumpling Shop.

Arctic Circle Restaurants Deploys Tray POS and Self-Service Kiosks

Channel Factoid

The ISV Challenge

Integrated Software Vendors
Used at POS By SMB Merchants
31% - FinTech ISV
17% - Incumbent ISV
16% - Transitioning to ISV
38% - Incumbent Legacy

Value-Added Financial Services
Deployed/Planned by SMB Merchants
40% - Corporate Cards
37% - Fraud Management
33% - Accounting Solutions
31% - Access to Borrowing
31% - Payroll
26% - BNPL/POS Lending
25% - Invoicing/Vendor Mgmt.
24% - Expense Mgmt.
19% - Insurance

Source: "2022 Merchant Acquiring Survey" by McKinsey & Company (New York, NY)

50% of SMB Merchants Now Use ISVs as Payment Providers

Gone Fishing

Posted by apg (Minneapolis, MN):
"After 33 years of hard work and dedication, it's time for Mr. Bob Daugs to enjoy a well-deserved retirement. Your exceptional leadership and positive impact on many lives have been truly remarkable. Thank you for everything you've done, and here's to a future filled with adventure, relaxation, and everything you've earned. Happy retirement, Bob!"

HELLO GOODBYE

Tracking Craig Kaliebe

A hiring at Biztracker has industry veteran Craig Kaliebe named as Director of Business Development and Marketing. He joins the company from apg (the rebranded APG Cash Drawer), where he recently served as Distribution Sales Director. Earlier roles have included OEM Sales Manager/New Business Development for CognitiveTPG and Marketing Manager for ZF Switches & Sensors/Cherry Electrical Products.

"Craig brings a broad background in solution selling, and we're looking forward to him leveraging his industry contacts to lead our growth efforts with new customers and markets," remarked Kris Youngs, President of Biztracker. "His expertise in building strong business relationships will serve us well in our growth objectives." A solutions provider of POS and Auto ID, Biztracker addresses retail, hospitality, supply chain, and government applications.

"I've seen Biztracker's rapid progress over the past five years and have developed a strong appreciation for their leadership and innovation," shared Kaliebe. "I am excited to join the team and help accelerate the growth. I'm looking forward to working with our industry partners to help our customers optimize their business."

Craig Kaliebe, Director of Business Development and Marketing, Biztracker

A Player at PayTrace

A new VP of Sales has been enlisted by PayTrace (Spokane, WA): Jason Rivera. A leader in business-to-business (B2B) payments, PayTrace, as readers will recall, was purchased by North American Bancard (Troy, MI) in March 2022. With two decades of working in the banking and fintech sectors, Rivera has served in roles such as National Sales Manager at MerchantE and Division Manager at Heartland Payment Systems.

"I'm looking forward to implementing and improving sales processes while building a strong sales culture that utilizes each team member's strengths," expressed Rivera. "I'm genuinely impressed by the level of talent currently in place. Every member of the team is ready for growth." As specific goals, he identifies increased investment in technology and growing its partner base, in particular, with ISVs.

"Having Jason on our team is a game-changer for PayTrace," stated Greg Castro, President of PayTrace. "Our teams are already growing from his wealth of experience in payments, understanding of team dynamics, and his knowledge of partner needs in the market." As part of North American Bancard, PayTrace has been certified for payment processing on NAB's wholly-owned Electronic Payment Exchange (EPX).

Jason Rivera, VP of Sales, PayTrace