Our Product Pick

A preview of its third-generation of POS has been shared by Sunmi (Alpharetta, GA and Shanghai, China). A trio of products will be introduced in Q3: Sunmi V3 MIX, Sunmi T3 PRO, and Sunmi T3 PRO MAX. A lightweight tablet-format solution, Sunmi V3 MIX has 10" high-resolution touchscreen and attached 3" thermal receipt printer. As desktop, Sunmi T3 PRO has flip-screen 15.6" main display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 5G Octa-Core CPU, detachable customer display, and support for 802.11 Wi-Fi 6E. Intended for larger installations and high-end restaurants, Sunmi T3 PRO MAX adds 21.5" widescreen main display and high-speed 3" thermal receipt printer. As part of this new product family, Sunmi has upgraded its Sunmi OS to Android 13.

Sunmi Previews Third-Generation POS

COMPANY BUSINESS

Oracle Casts Workstation 8

A roll-out of Oracle Micros Workstation 8 Series shows ultra-thin profile, 14" projected-capacitive, anti-glare touchscreen, and stylish platinum finish. In fanless design, Workstation 8 has Intel Celeron Quad-Core CPU, 8 GB RAM, 128/256 GB Storage, and Windows 10 IoT Enterprise or Oracle Linux for Micros O/S. It measures 13"/329 mm (Width) x 8.5"/216 mm (Depth) x 0.7"/17 mm (Thick) and weighs 2.4 lbs./1.1 kg.

As configurations, with an IP rating, it offers low-profile stand or vertical stand with weighted base, either with 7" customer-facing touchscreen display. A peripheral expansion module--set on the countertop or enclosed in the vertical stand--extends the basic connectivity of USB and Ethernet, and, on select models, there's 802.11 Wi-Fi and RFID. A temperature range of 32 to 122 Degrees F/0 to 50 Degrees C accommodates various installation environments in foodservice.

"In the Oracle Micros Workstation 8 Series, form meets function," proclaimed Simon de Montfort Walker, EVP and GM for Oracle Food and Beverage (Austin, TX). "It's elegant and lowers the physical barrier between staff and customer. More importantly, it's the result of in-depth studies on the needs of customers and staff. It can be modified to fit its surroundings, and comes with a new simple out-of-the-box installation process." As software, there's Oracle Micros Simphony POS and Payment Cloud.

Oracle Micros Workstation 8 POS

App Love for Kiosks

Another reseller for foodservice kiosks by Samsung, in the form of ISV Applova. In formats of countertop, floor-stand, and wall-mount, these "all-in-one" kiosks--fully customizable--include necessary hardware such as touchscreen, card terminal, and receipt printer. In making the announcement, Applova emphasized compatibility with Clover POS.

"Applova kiosk solution allows restaurants to engage with their customers in a way that elevates the experience for everyone involved--including their customers and staff," proposed Dinesh Saparamadu, CEO and Founder of Applova (Palo Alto, CA). "Our kiosks have proven to reduce queues, increase consumer spending, drive customer engagement, and repeat orders through loyalty programs, all while providing substantial business ROI." Another channel partner in this area for Samsung: ISV Grubbrr (Boca Raton, FL).

"Elevating dining experiences is more than serving quality meals--restaurateurs must deliver fast service and build meaningful connections with their customers," observed Chris Mertens, VP of U.S. Sales, B2B Displays, Samsung Electronics America (Ridgefield Park, NJ). "Samsung's partnership with Applova gives restaurant owners more opportunity to achieve these goals as it ensures patrons have more convenient and memorable interactions using the all-inclusive kiosk." In May, Samsung introduced its new kiosk with 24" display, 11th Gen Intel Core Processor, and Windows 10 IoT Enterprise.

Applova Embraces Samsung Foodservice Kiosks

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

MicroTouch Hits Mach 2

An expansion of the product family at MicroTouch (Holland, MI) highlights two new Mach All-in-One (AiO) Touch Computers. A Model M1-156IC-AA2 has 15.6" full high-definition, 8 bit, LED and features projected-capacitive touch sensor and optical bonding with an etched anti-glare surface. A Model M1-215IC-AA2 has similar technology in screen size of 21.5". A resolution of 1920x1080, contrast ratio of 1000:1, and aspect ratio of 16:9 for each (as well as 400 nits brightness for 15.6" Touch Computer and 315 nits brightness for 21.5" Touch Computer).

As computing, Mach AiO features MediaTek's latest processor, the Genio 700 (MT8390), 8 GB RAM, and 64 GB Storage. Significantly, it runs Android 13 O/S with Google GMS Certification under the Enterprise Devices License Agreement (EDLA). In slim, durable design, Mach AiO offers the full suite of ports--e.g., USB, Ethernet, Video, and Audio--and Bluetooth/BLE and 802.11 Wi-Fi. Optional peripherals include 2D barcode scanner, multi-color LED status bar, 8 MP camera, and three-track MSR (Magnetic Stripe Reader).

"Exceptional response to our Mach products underscores MicroTouch's commitment to superior performance and modern design," indicated John Dixon, VP of Business Solutions at MicroTouch. "Our new Mach Android Series will amplify that success and ensure customers' investments are future-proofed." A network of MicroTouch ISVs offer solutions for retail, hospitality, and corporate end-users.

MicroTouch Mach All-in-One (AiO) Touch Computer

Shiji Wines and Dines

A new mobile ordering solution for restaurant customers has been launched by Shiji (Atlanta, GA and Beijing, China). Entitled Shiji Digital Dine, it works in conjunction with the company's Infrasys POS. As functions, it enables customers to view menus, place orders, and make payments directly from their smartphones. As its target market, Infrasys POS identifies hospitality food and beverage, with installations in prominent hotel chains such as Hyatt, Peninsula Hotels, and Shangri-La.

As one major benefit, integration with the hotel's Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Property Management System (PMS) allows efficient data exchange across different departments. Also, inclusion of personalized recommendations are designed to increase guest satisfaction and generate additional revenue. As accompanying hardware, Shiji offers its HK5900, HK950 Series, and HM618 Tablet.

"Shiji is committed to leading digital transformation in Hospitality F&B," declared Kevin King, COO at Shiji. "Our Infrasys Cloud POS and Shiji Digital Dine solutions empower hotels and resorts worldwide to enhance operations and create unforgettable guest experiences." A worldwide conglomerate, Shiji has 5,000 employees in 80 subsidiaries and brands in over 23 countries, serving more than 91,000 hotels, 200,000 restaurants, and 600,000 retail outlets.

A New Mobile POS: Shiji Digital Dine

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ALLIANCES

Sato's Green Thumb

An acquisition brings the tag and label printing business of Stafford Press (Redmond, WA) to Sato (Charlotte, NC and Tokyo, Japan). Established in 1992, Stafford Press serves as one of the leaders in on-demand inkjet horticulture tagging and labeling. It claims the highest market share in this space, with strong customer base in the U.S.

In making its announcement, Sato cited three primary objectives for its purchase. First, it expects to further expand its horticulture tag and label business in North America. Secondly, it intends to add inkjet printing to its existing range of thermal, laser, and RFID-based products for horticulture. Lastly, it will grow its Auto ID solutions business with manufacturing and fulfillment presence on the West Coast of the U.S.

"Stafford Press is an excellent addition to the Sato family," enthused Steve Sundstrom, President of Sato America. "It complements Sato America's business and provides new avenues and markets for growth. Dave and Kim Long [Founders and Principals of Stafford] have built a great company with a great team." As its label and tag brands, Stafford Press has SameDay and WestHort.

Sato Buys Stafford Press for Horticulture Labeling

Revel Mounts Up

A partnership sees IPort (San Clemente, CA) supplying its tablet stands and enclosures for the iPad-Based POS by Revel Systems (Atlanta, GA). A new line of Revel Premium Stands will include IPort's full-featured Connect Pro. It facilitates networking, charging, security, and presentation, with table-side or wall-mount configurations.

"IPort's platform and products provide the perfect balance of choice and selection to allow restaurant concepts to deploy iOS hardware," contributed Chris Lawson, Head of Sales and Partnerships at IPort. "We are excited to partner with Revel who allows the industry to run their restaurant on iOS, the most user-centric platform for mobile tools." Spun off from audio technology firm Sonance, in 2004, with the first in-wall dock for iPod, IPort supports all current models of iPad.

"Revel Systems is dedicated to offering our restaurant and retail clients ground-breaking solutions to harness the power of the iPad in their establishments," projected Chris Lybeer, Chief Strategy Officer at Revel Systems. "Our partnership with IPort delivers a top-tier experience for our customers, ensuring iPads remain charged, secure, and easily accessible. Additionally, IPort products are extremely easy to install, which will streamline the implementation process for all Revel clients."

Revel's POS in iPad Enclosure by IPort

Code Corner

An integration of white-label e-commerce platform, eGrowcery (Bloomfield Hills, MI), for ISV Auto-Star Compusystems (Medicine Hat, AB, Canada). A channel play, Auto-Star's Star-Plus software provides grocery, pharmacy, and natural health retailers with functionality for customer loyalty, inventory control, payments, reporting, and delivery. Its new relationship with eGrowcery strengthens its efforts and reach in e-commerce. "Retailers understand the importance of controlling the relationship with the consumer, and our partnership with Auto-Star helps them to do just that," expressed Patrick Hughes, CEO of eGrowcery. "Together, our solutions create a complete platform for both connecting with shoppers and operating a very efficient digital retail ecosystem." Robert Symmonds serves as President and CEO of Auto-Star Compusystems.

Auto-Star Integrates With eGrowcery

______________________

A "unified supply chain" has been addressed by the re-imagined Active Yard Management by Manhattan Associates (Atlanta, GA). A digital twin representation of warehouse and transportation in this single-cloud, native platform furnishes real-time insights and dynamic updates to help logistics teams identify risks and opportunities, according to the company. It provides visibility to every dock door and yard position, the trailers at each location, trailer status, the contents of those trailers, real-time progress of inbound and outbound warehouse operations, and information related to pending arrivals. "Infusing the yard decision process with intelligence from both warehouse and transportation drives optimal yard execution, more efficient warehouses, and faster and smarter transportation networks," remarked Blake Coram, Director of Product Management for Manhattan Associates.

Manhattan Active Yard Management

ENVIRONMENTS/PLATFORMS

Your Meal Ticket: COGS

A next-generation of the MarketMan foodservice inventory and purchasing platform, by Meal Ticket, includes two premium features: "Suggestive Ordering" and "Cost of Goods Sold Over Time." Utilizing predictive analytics, Suggestive Ordering optimizes inventory levels by anticipating demand without overstocking or understocking. It incorporates factors such as sales, recipes, reported waste, and trends.

"Predictive analytics is one of the many innovative technology advances available to run a foodservice more efficiently that has not yet been widely adopted. It is like a computerized crystal ball that leverages historical data and real-time events to predict future outcomes," reported Wink Jones, CEO of Meal Ticket (Boise, ID). "Using this advanced technology, MarketMan takes the enormous amount of data collected from various sources, including point-of-sale and other third-party systems, and identifies patterns to enable owner/operators to make data-driven decisions about pricing, menu development, and inventory management, as well as future costs and demand."

As its name suggests, Cost of Goods Sold Over Time tracks inventory and menu efficiency over several time frames. According to Meal Ticket, this capability is crucial to understanding and controlling Cost of Goods Sold (COGS). It drills down to item levels and individual locations. An extensive list of partners in POS facilitates integration of MarketMan.

Meal Ticket Divines "Cost of Goods Sold"

In the "Loop" With iOS

A new standalone app for in-store returns, based on iOS, has been offered by Loop (Columbus, OH). As designated "Loop POS," it expands the company's established omnichannel presence for returns management in the online shopping arena (which primarily supports Shopify). It aggregates in-store and online data on the Loop Platform, enabling brands to make informed decisions on inventory, return policies, and payment methods.

"Shopping at brick-and-mortar has really picked up again in the last year and we saw a gap with how our merchants manage in-store returns," noted Mike Indigaro, VP of Merchant Success at Loop. "We wanted to elevate the customer experience for all shopping journeys by providing the same seamless, bespoke returns experience in-store as we do online." As such, it also facilitates Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP).

"We've seen brands spend over 65 hours a month on in-store return-related order management," continued Indigaro. "Through initial beta testing, we've found that brands could save up to 780 hours annually." As elements, Loop includes features such as Exchanges, Shop Now, and Bonus Credit. It estimates it has helped merchants retain more than $900 million in revenue over the past five years.

Loop Debuts iOS App, "Loop POS," for In-Store Returns Management

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
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

Unwrapping The Paper Store

A technology upgrade for specialty gift and greeting card retailer The Paper Store has drawn upon Jumpmind Commerce. Headquartered in Acton, MA, The Paper Store has approximately 100 sites, primarily in the Northeastern U.S. It replaced its self-described "legacy, monolithic POS" with Jumpmind's cloud-based, microservices, omnichannel POS.

"We are delighted to partner with Jumpmind on this crucial technology transformation," relayed Tom Anderson, CEO of The Paper Store. "Their cloud-native, mobile POS solution aligns perfectly with our vision to deliver a great customer and store associate experience." Other customers of Jumpmind include American Eagle, Ann Taylor, Big Lots, Build-A-Bear, Petco, Reitman's, and Urban Outfitters.

"The Paper Store has a long legacy as a family-owned specialty gift business and is focused on their relationships with the local communities they serve," related Joe Corbin, President and CEO of Jumpmind (Columbus, OH). "With Jumpmind Commerce, they will be able to better meet the needs of their customers today and tomorrow." Recently, Clifford Perlman joined Jumpmind as VP of Growth and Partnerships. His resume includes Aptos Retail and Epicor Software.

The Paper Store Chooses Jumpmind Commerce

Rolling With the Punchh

A deployment of the customer engagement platform, Punchh by PAR Technology (New Hartford, NY), for convenience store chain, Stinker Stores. A near century old, based in Boise, ID, Stinker has 110 sites in Colorado, Idaho, and Wyoming. It cited the capacity of Punchh to help segment and accurately target key groups of customers to build loyalty, especially for products they might not normally purchase. Another benefit: measurement of campaign Return on Investment (ROI).

"Customer experience is our biggest priority and Punchh will help us continue to turn customers into Stinker fanatics," reflected Billy Colemire, Director of Marketing for Stinker Stores. "The platform is not only powerful, but easy to use, making it a no-brainer to adopt." Added Savneet Singh, CEO of PAR Technology, "With Punchh, Stinker is now able to capture a new level of customer data."

In April 2021, PAR Technology bought Punchh (Austin, TX) for $500 million. As one of the leading providers of customer loyalty solutions, Punchh serves 275 global enterprise brands, including Yum! Brands, Denny's, TGI Friday's, and Casey's. In addition to Punchh, PAR fields its Brink and PixelPoint POS Software and ParTech POS Hardware.

Stinker Stores Adopts Punchh Customer Engagement From PAR Technology

Channel Factoid

I Am AI

-By 2024, 40% of enterprise applications will have embedded conversational AI, up from less than 5% in 2020.

-By 2025, 30% of enterprises will have implemented an AI-augmented development and testing strategy, up from 5% in 2021.

-By 2026, generative design AI will automate 60% of the design effort for new websites and mobile apps.

-By 2026, over 100 million humans will engage robo-colleagues to contribute to their work.

-By 2027, nearly 15% of new applications will be automatically generated by AI without a human in the loop. This is not happening at all today.

Source: Gartner Group (Stamford, CT)

Accelerated Adoption Across Enterprises

A Message From the Editor

We look forward to continuing our mission, and welcome your suggestions and thoughts on improvements. Wishing you and your family health, happiness, and prosperity in 2023!

Michael Kachmar, Editor

HELLO GOODBYE

An Acolyte of Bixolon's System

A new hire at Bixolon America (Torrance, CA) has Chad Guenther named as Director, Systems Integration. He joins the company from Custom America, where he served as Customer Service and Sales Support Manager, then Director-Engineering, Sales Support, and Service. Earlier, he served as Marketing Development and Technical Sales Manager, and subsequently, Solutions Architect, at Oki Data Americas.

At Bixolon, Guenther will oversee the integration of the company's label printers for customers. "We're extremely pleased to welcome Chad to Bixolon America," commented Paul Kim, President of Bixolon America. "Chad's expertise in printing technology and the trends impacting the thermal label printing industry will be invaluable to our team."

Chad Guenther, Director, Systems Integration, Bixolon America

Andy in Charge

An elevation to President, CEO, and Chairman for Andrew "Andy" Deignan at MagTek (Seal Beach, CA). In his extensive tenure at MagTek, he most recently served as VP of Global Marketing and Strategy. He replaces Mimi Hart, who served as President and CEO from 2003 to 2020 and Chairman of the Board from May 2020 to June 2023.

As part of this transition, Deignan has reorganized the company and promoted several members of the leadership team. Steve Harvey, former VP of Human Resources, has been named COO and Nedal Almomani, former VP of Engineering, has been named CTO. Also, Satish Govindarajan has joined MagTek as Chief Sales and Strategy Officer. He most recently served as PayPal's Director of Enterprise Omnichannel Product Engineering and Global Operations.

"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead such a talented team," stated Deignan. "Together, we will build upon our first fifty years to drive innovation with a focus on authentication, data security, operational efficiency, and the customer. Our goal is to transform and accelerate our business to achieve sustained revenue and profits while elevating our position as a trusted authority for securing payments and other identity-centric, high-value online transactions."

Andy Deignan, President, CEO, and Chairman, MagTek