Our Product Pick

A set of enhancements appears in the Memor 30/35 Mobile Computer by Datalogic (Eugene, OR and Bologna, Italy). As computing, supporting Android to Version 18, there's Qualcomm QCS4490 CPU in the Memor 30 and Qualcomm QCM4490 CPU in the Memor 35. Also, 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB SSD. In data collection, there's scanning with range of up to 3.2'/10 m via the company's advanced technologies ("Halogen" and "Deepsight"), multi-side patented reader for RFID, and 8-MP front and 13 MP rear cameras. As connectivity, there's Bluetooth 5/BLE, IEEE Wi-Fi 6, and 5G WAN. Additional benefits include 6" screen, long-running 4880 mAh battery, "Green Spot" Confirmation Feedback, and Wireless Charging.

Datalogic's Memor 30/35

COMPANY BUSINESS

PAR for the Course: It's POS

A sharpening of focus in POS for PAR Technology Corporation (New Hartford, NY), which has sold its government operating segments: PAR Government Systems Corporation and Rome Research Corporation, for the combined total of $102M. As acquiring parties: Booz Allen Hamilton (McLean, VA) for PGSC and NexTech Solutions Holdings (Tampa, FL) for RRC. Under its subsidiary ParTech, PAR offers its Brink Software, PixelPoint Software, EverServ Hardware, and Punchh Loyalty.

"Today's announcement represents a milestone in advancing PAR's goal to become the world's largest technology provider to enterprise foodservice," declared Savneet Singh, CEO of PAR Technology Corporation. "[It's] part of our efforts to divest non-core assets and reinvest capital where it will receive the highest return." A Partner in CoVenture Holding Company, Singh was named CEO of PAR in 2018.

A bit of history seems appropriate: PAR was founded to consult in the area of high-tech government technology in 1968 by John Sammon. About 10 years later, it applied its research and development prowess to develop commercial standalone terminals for POS for McDonald's Corporation. After beta testing at several restaurants, McDonald's named PAR as their official vendor in POS. It remains one of PAR's customers.

Savneet Singh, CEO, PAR Technology Corporation

Shift4 in Overdrive

Another pair of acquisitions in restaurant and hospitality has been announced by payment processor Shift4 (Center Valley, PA). In the first, Shift4 has taken Revel Systems (Atlanta, GA), with approximately 18,000 merchant locations, for $250M. In an analyst call, Jared Isaacman, Founder and CEO of Shift4, identified an opportunity to "pursue existing customers [of Revel] switching over to payments." Also, Revel POS, which is iPad-based, will be integrated into Shift4's SkyTab.

In its second buy, Shift4 will expand in Europe by purchasing majority stake in Vectron Systems AG (Munster, Germany). Vectron has approximately 65,000 POS locations, with 300 resellers of POS. Shift4 will acquire additional ownership of Vectron via imminent public tender offer. In his remarks, Isaacman cited "an incredible amount of demand" for an all-in-one solution of payments and POS across Europe.

A string of recent additions by Shift4 includes, in April 2023, Focus POS (Houston, TX) and, in October 2023, Appetize (Los Angeles, CA). Interestingly, Shift4 itself has been the subject of acquisition talk. In November 2023, Isaacman wrote in his shareholder letter that "the board received multiple formal offers from strategic parties."

New Customers for SkyTab by Shift4

Worth Your While

RetailNOW
Retail Solutions Providers Association
July 28-30
Las Vegas, NV

Partner First Conference
ScanSource
August 19-20
Greenville, SC

VARTECH
BlueStar
September 16-17
Orlando, FL

FSTEC
Foodservice Tech/Winsight
September 16-18
Grapevine, TX

Money 20/20
Ascential PLC
October 27-30
Las Vegas, NV

Pack Expo
PMMI-Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies
November 3-6
Chicago, IL

MJBizCon
MJBizDaily
December 3-6
Las Vegas, NV

ALL IN THE FAMILY

TSC Gets Snug

A new industrial label printer from TSC Auto ID (Brea, CA), the Model MB241 Series, has been designed to solve space limitations in settings such as post office service counters. In dimensions of 9.8"/248 mm (W) x 10.8"/274 mm (H) x 17.2"/436 mm (D), weighing 20 lbs./9 kg, it also features bi-fold media door to further reduce operational space and large 8" O.D. label roll capacity. Its all-metal thermal printhead mechanism and heat line management technology ensures consistent, high-quality printing across various media types, such as hangtags, according to TSC.

With maximum print width of 4"/102 mm, the MB241 Series features auto-switch printer language emulation (TSPL, EPL, ZPL, DPL). Models MB241 and MB241T have 12"/305 mm per second maximum print speed at 203 dpi, while Models MB341 and MB341T have 9"/228 mm per second maximum print speed at 300 dpi. A full suite of I/O's are standard (USB 2.0, USB Host, Serial RS-232, Ethernet), with optional GPIO (General Purpose I/O), Bluetooth 5/BLE, and IEEE Wi-Fi 5.

As accessories, the MB241 Series offers cutter, linerless kits, liner rewinder kit, and peel-off kit. A remote printer monitoring and management function is achieved via Internal Embedded Webpage, TSC Console, and SOTI Connect. TSC Standalone Creator furnishes template LCD UI, and TSCPRTGo acts as an extended display for mobile printing.

TSC Auto ID's MB241 Series Printers

Star Tips the Scales

A new entry in its mG-T line of POS scales, the mG-TUDB Series, has been unwrapped at Star Micronics America (Somerset, NJ). With USB-C, Serial RS-232, and Bluetooth 5/BLE (thus the designation "TUDB"), it supports Android, iOS, and Windows. Another new feature: its optional pole-mounted display, with backlit LCD screen, powered by the scale, which allows customers to view transaction details as they happen.

A trio of models are offered, including the T12UDB (capacity of 12 lbs./6 kg), T30UDB (capacity of 30 lbs./12 kg), and T60UDB (capacity of 60 lbs./30 kg). All have platter size of 13.5" x 10.4" (343 mm x 264 mm). As expected, there's certification to Legal for Trade by the NTEP and Measurement Canada. In the case of remote locations, such as farmer's markets, the scale may be powered by power bank through the USB-C.

"Our new mG-TUDB Series represents a significant leap forward in our POS scale offerings," related Bill Shuff, Product Manager at Star Micronics. "With its modern connectivity and user-friendly design, the mG-TUDB is the ideal POS scale, providing accurate, efficient transactions." In addition to its scales, and extensive line of thermal printers, Star Micronics supplies barcode scanners, cash drawers, enclosures/stands, consumables, and health/safety labels and guides.

Star Micronics' mG-TUDB POS Scale

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A Message From the Editor

As we eagerly enter 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

Aloha Gets Grubbrr-y

A partnership with Grubbrr (Boca Raton, FL) powers an Aloha Kiosk by NCR Voyix (Atlanta, GA). A rising solution provider, also marketing mobile ordering and kitchen display systems, Grubbrr focuses in large part on self-service/kiosks. As one of its major partners in this area, since 2021, it lists Samsung Electronics America (Ridgefield Park, NJ).

"Aloha Kiosk by NCR Voyix, powered by Grubbrr, was designed to address many of the hurdles facing restaurants, including creating operational efficiencies, driving additional revenue, and creating an enhanced customer experience," projected Sam Zietz, CEO of Grubbrr. "Together, Grubbrr and NCR Voyix will enable restaurants to successfully navigate the turbulent headwinds in the industry, in particular, labor challenges and increasing cost of goods." Added Benny Tadele, EVP and President of Restaurants for NCR Voyix. "Aloha Kiosk is integrated with the NCR Voyix Commerce Platform, with seamless flow of data and ability to unlock unique omnichannel ordering experiences."

Also, NCR Voyix has released Aloha Pay-At-Table, powered by an ISV dubbed "Sunday." Use of this app involves the guest's smartphone and tabletop QR Codes. As benefits, NCR Voyix cites higher gratuities, improved server efficiency, and streamlined guest experience. Launched in 2021 during Covid-19, and based in Paris, France, Sunday now serves more than 2,000 restaurants in Europe. Led by Christine de Wendel, Co-Founder and CEO of the U.S., Sunday has offices in Atlanta, GA.

Aloha Kiosk by NCR Voyix, Powered by Grubbrr

A Crop of Sensors

An enhanced solution for supply chain management in the food supply industry has been fashioned by Trustwell (Salem, OR) and Wiliot (Caesarea, Israel). A leader in compliance labeling, food safety, and transparency, Trustwell will add the IoT capability of Wiliot. Using small, intelligent, battery-free sensor tags, now with Bluetooth, Wiliot helps to track food products from their origin to the end consumer.

"Our partnership with Trustwell enables new enterprise apps that use the third generation of Radio Frequency Identifiers (RFID), which we call 'Ambient IoT Pixels," expressed Steve Statler, CMO and Food Safety Lead at Wiliot. "For food suppliers, this adds new levels of automation and efficiency, eliminating manual scans and exceeding compliance. Together, we trigger automated alerts for temperature and handling issues that compromise shelf-life and freshness as well as safety. Trustwell's apps are among the first that can unlock these benefits."

"Our work with Wiliot is one transformative step for us and our clients, merging our supply chain expertise with smart connectivity and sustainable practices tailored for the full food supply chain," confirmed Katy Jones, CEO of Trustwell. A Trustwell Connect Platform combines FoodLogiQ supply chain management software with Genesis nutritional analysis and label development. (In 2023, FoodLogiQ combined with Genesis to form Trustwell. It now has 2,500 food company customers.)

An IoT Solution for Food Supply Safety From Trustwell and Wiliot

Code Corner

AI Upselling

A new feature, Smart AI Upsell, has been added to the online ordering, payment, and loyalty platform from CardFree (San Francisco, CA). As its name implies, it analyzes the restaurant customer's order, takes into account buying trends and tastes, and suggests suitably paired items. Significantly, CardFree has promised to make Smart AI Upsell accessible, via Application Programming Interface (API), for anyone--regardless of who they use for their online ordering. "There is a lot of excitement about AI in the restaurant and hospitality space, but also a lot of noise and confusion," noted Jon Squire, Founder and CEO at CardFree. "We've taken the time and energy to talk to our partners and focus on an AI deployment that's beneficial to the bottom line, today. As AI progresses, we'll start to see things like cook times, order frequency, back-end inventory, and other critical operational aspects leverage AI, so we're expanding into those areas with our own products."

CardFree Offers Smart AI Upsell Via API

Loss Prevention

Addressing loss prevention in retail, ControlTek (Bridgewater, NJ) has unwrapped its new solution, designated Enhanced Exit RFID. It monitors store exits, high-theft areas, and restricted zones, offering retailers an ability to respond quickly to potential theft incidents. It provides real-time notifications, sending immediate alerts via e-mail or SMS when items are taken from the store or moved into unauthorized areas such as employee-only zones or back-of-house exits. It may be customized to generate notifications based on specific parameters, such as the sudden movement of high-theft items or when multiple items exit the store simultaneously. "Enhanced Exit takes retailers' loss prevention strategy to the next level with the integration of RFID," enthused Tom Meehan, President at ControlTek.

Enhanced Exit RFID by ControlTek Fights Theft

ENVIRONMENTS/PLATFORMS

Verifone: No Scanning at the C-Store

A push into self-service for convenience stores sees payment processor Verifone (San Jose, CA) partnering with Mashgin (Palo Alto, CA). It ties kiosks from Mashgin with the site management solution, Verifone Commander. It consolidates running payments, fueling operations, and loyalty programs via one central Commander Site Controller. With Verifone, Mashgin may support all fuel brands and networks.

At present, its kiosks are deployed at more than 4,000 locations in the U.S., including convenience stores, corporate cafeterias, airports, and two-thirds of major league sports stadiums, according to Mashgin. As technology, AI and Computer Vision are utilized to identify foods and goods with 99.9% accuracy and to ring them up simultaneously. Customers place their items on the Mashgin kiosk tray and are instantly ready to pay--without the need to find and scan barcodes.

"Our goal is to enable as many retailers as possible to cut lines and empower their staff by adding this convenient self-checkout option," relayed Jack Hogan, SVP of Partnerships at Mashgin. "Integration with Verifone's industry-leading Commander System will make Mashgin an attractive option for tens of thousands of convenience retailers." A longtime market leader in this space, Verifone currently serves more than 50,000 sites--one-third of convenience stores in the U.S.

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Mashgin Brings AI and Computer Vision Kiosks to Verifone's Commander Site Controller for Convenience Stores

Nacha's Best Seller

A new resource for addressing data security in payments has been offered by the industry group, Nacha (Herndon, VA). Appropriately tagged as the "Security Incident Response Procedure Guide for Companies," developed by Nacha's Payments Innovation Alliance, and given for free, it provides procedures and actions to take when any company reasonably expects breaches of personal or proprietary data. It accompanies Nacha's Cybersecurity Tabletop Exercise for the SMB.

Upon identifying and evaluating suspected incidents or breaches, it helps personnel in determining whether to trigger notifications to stakeholders such as customers, individuals, regulators, credit-card brands, the media, and/or consumer reporting agencies. It is particularly useful for companies assessing risk on a case-by-case basis, as it allows for consideration of specific circumstances surrounding the risks and data involved in an incident, according to Nacha (which governs the thriving ACH Network). It may also serve as the starting point for company security discussions.

"Time is of the essence when responding to a suspected incident or breach. The types of data lost or stolen, the extent of the data loss, and the governing federal and state laws are key considerations for a company's response," counseled Matt Luzadder, Managing Partner, Chicago Office, Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, and Co-Leader of the Nacha Cybersecurity & Payments AI Project Team. "All organizations are different, so the Guide should be customized in consultation with information technology, compliance and legal advisors, and tailored to fill an organization's structure and industry."

Nacha Offers Security Incident Response Procedure Guide for Companies

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

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
Miura Systems
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

Silverware Bespoken Across Canada

A win for Silverware POS (Markham, ON, Canada), with roll-out by Oliver & Bonacini (Toronto, ON, Canada). This "bespoke" dining group has 30 fine-dining restaurants and 11 event venues across Canada. In addition to countertop, installation includes mobile and online ordering as well as scan-and-pay for contactless payments. A major benefit: Users can be trained on Silverware in about 15 minutes, according to the two parties.

"The demands of today's diners are changing," remarked Charlotte Newbury, Associate Director of Business Operations for Oliver & Bonacini. "At high-end restaurants, people expect personalized service. At more casual places, diners may prefer self-service, without waiting to pay their bills. To support this mix, we needed point-of-sale that was flexible, user-friendly, and provided access to the back-end."

"Most servers think 'you've seen one POS, you've seen them all,'" continued Newbury, "but that is not the case. Our people tell us they especially like the fact that pricing labels change automatically; when lunch is over and Happy Hour begins, price changes don't have to be input manually. The bottom line is Silverware simplifies our operations, and their support is outstanding."

Oliver & Bonacini Deploys Silverware POS

A "Box" of Touch Dynamic

As hardware for its overhaul of POS, Jack in the Box, and its software partner Qu, have called upon Touch Dynamic. As readers learned last month, the quick-service restaurant chain, envisioning its "store of the future," picked the Unified Commerce Platform by Qu (Bethesda, MD). It will involve 2,200 locations of Jack in the Box (based in San Diego, CA).

As hardware partner, Touch Dynamic will provide its Model Razor All-in-One POS Terminal and Model Pulse Ultra All-in-One POS Terminal. It will also provide peripherals such as receipt printers and cash drawers. Now underway, installation is projected to span until the end of 2025.

"We are thrilled to be able to utilize our multiple distribution centers to help expedite our solutions to the various Jack in the Box locations across the country," indicated Craig Paritz, President at Touch Dynamic. "We pride ourselves on the detailed planning and deployment involving our dedicated team of technicians to ensure smooth transition and minimal disruption." In addition to its location in South Plainfield, NJ, Touch Dynamic will employ its new distribution center in Houston, TX.

Touch Dynamic Supplies POS for Jack in the Box

Channel Factoid

Tech - Help Wanted

-The tech sector added 2,181 jobs in May, increasing employment to nearly 5.6 million workers in the U.S.

-New job postings for tech occupations reached 209,000 in May, an increase of nearly 27,000 from April. In total, there were nearly 427,000 active tech job postings in May.

-Job postings for positions requiring skills in AI totaled more than 26,000, or 12% of all tech openings.

-Several tech occupation categories saw double-digit increases in job postings in May, including: data scientists (+24%), database administrators (+18%), software developers (+17%), web developers (+15%), network architects (+12%), and tech support specialists (+10%).

-Three states saw tech job postings grow by more than 2,000 for May: Texas (+2,978), California (+2,804), and Illinois (+2,062).

-Increases of more than 1,000 job postings occurred in four other states: Florida, Georgia, Michigan, New York.

-A number of metro markets experienced significant increases in tech job postings, including Lansing, MI (+37%), Indianapolis, IN (+35%), Providence, RI (+30%), Chicago, IL (+29%), and San Antonio, TX (+28%).

-Of all active job postings in May, 45% did not specify that candidates have four-year college degrees, perhaps signaling that employers are widening their search for tech talent.

Source: "CompTia Tech Jobs Report"

An Increase in Job Postings

HELLO GOODBYE

Adyen Spreads Out

An increased presence in Canada for fintech player, Adyen (headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands), which has opened its new offices at 40 Temperance Street, Toronto, ON. Since the start of 2020, Adyen has established its presence in Canada, with 26 employees and notable merchant customers such as Moose Knuckles (clothing) and Mejuri (jewelry). As part of its current expansion, Ayden has enlisted Ilona Fagyas as Head of Sales in Canada.

With over 15 years of sales management experience in Canada, Fagyas has led efforts at financial institutions such as TD Bank, Chase Bank, and most recently, as Head of Sales, Canada, for PayPal. "Opening of Adyen's Toronto Office represents a significant milestone of Adyen Canada as we continue to expand," observed Sander Meijers, Country Manager, Canada, at Adyen. "The progress in payment technology has prompted many organizations and businesses to remodel their technology stack and operations for greater flexibility and convenience in payments. Adyen is at the center of this transformation."

"The payment technology industry in Canada is ripe for change, and I have long admired how Adyen provides Canadian businesses with seamless payment experiences in one, single solution," emphasized Fagyas. "I'm excited to join the Adyen team in its mission to make payments more accessible for Canadians across the country, and ultimately, scale the business to new heights."

Ilona Fagyas, Head of Sales, Canada, Adyen

A "Bryte" Future

A promotion at Bryte Payment Solutions (Jacksonville, FL) has named April Cahill as COO. She has been with Bryte since 2018, previously serving as Asset Manager/Vendor Relationships. Established in 2016, Bryte Payment Solutions focuses on retail and restaurants.

"April continues to demonstrate our mission and core values, daily," shared Dave Humphrey, President of Bryte. "Her contribution to Bryte is invaluable and I couldn't be more confident that I am in this move. Her personal goals line up perfectly with the direction of Bryte and her connection to our staff is nothing short of impressive."

"I am honored to take on this new role at Bryte Payment Solutions, and eager about the opportunities ahead," commented Cahill." I look forward to working closely with our talented team to continue driving our mission of providing our merchants with the best possible payment processing experience and achieving new levels of success." Earlier, in April, James Ringstaff, former Director of Operations, was promoted to VP of Products and Services at Bryte.

April Cahill, COO, Bryte Payment Solutions