Our Product Pick

A new "high-end" terminal for POS, entitled FORGED, has been unwrapped at POSBANK USA (Plainview, NY). In fanless, single- or dual-hinge configuration, and stylish, ultra-slim bezel, it features 15" (1024x768) or 15.6" (1920x1080) projected-capacitive backlight touchscreen. A choice of Intel's 13th Generation CPU with Raptor Lake runs Windows 10/11 IoT Enterprise. A full suite of I/O are placed on the main system and bottom of the stand. In addition, options such as MSR, Barcode Scanner, and Customer-Facing Display are added via USB Type-C. In black or white, it has certification to IP-45 for water and dust.

POSBANK Introduces FORGED

On the Wire

A major move in the channel, with Zebra Technologies (Lincolnshire, IL) buying Elo (Knoxville, TN). Purchase price: $1.3B in cash.

COMPANY BUSINESS

Star Saves Space

A compact, high-resolution thermal label printer, the mC-Label2, has been unveiled by Star Micronics America (Somerset, NJ). In front-loading/front-exiting design, measuring 3.8"/98 mm (W) x 7.3"/185 mm (D) x 5.7"/145 mm (H), and weighing 3.5 lbs./1.6 kg, the mC-Label2 features 2"/50 mm media width. It has maximum print speed of 7"/180 mm per second at 300 dpi resolution. A slate of native SDKs (Software Development Kits) support iOS, Android, Windows, and MacOS.

Offered are two versions: All Media, for linerless, die-cut, continuous labels, and receipts; and LBL for die-cut labels and receipts. In addition, X4 Models furnish USB, LAN, Bluetooth LE, and WLAN; while Ci Models furnish wired-only USB-C, LAN, and USB-A. Accompanying the mC-Label2: Star's CloudPRNT Next, StarIO Online, and Star's Label Builder.

"The mC-Label2 brings the power of our labeling technology into an even smaller footprint," reported Jon Levin, Director of Product Management at Star Micronics America. "With 300 dpi resolution, support for multiple media types, and all communication interfaces, this printer meets the super precision needs of our customers without taking up valuable counter-space." As use cases, small-space retail, cannabis, pharmacy, and jewelers are cited, along with QSR. An mC-Label3, at 3"/75 mm, was introduced in 2024.

Star Micronics' mC-Label2 Printer

Now Streaming on POS

A new player, PamiTV (Clearwater, FL), hopes to bring dynamic in-store content to the checkout. A terminal for "point-of-purchase," designated PamiPOP, has been launched. A supporting collaboration in hardware and software for payment draws upon the VP3350 Reader by ID TECH (Cypress, CA), NETePay by Datacap Systems (Chalfont, PA), and MACH Touch Computers, in 10", 15", 21", and 27", by MicroTouch (Maryville, TN).

"While customers complete purchases, they are also exposed to curated marketing content and promotions, which deliver both impressions and meaningful engagement at the final stage of the shopping journey," as the announcement describes PamiPOP. "Designed to integrate smoothly into existing point-of-sale software ecosystems, the PamiPOP Terminal is plug-and-play ready, reducing installation time and enabling businesses to start accepting payments and running ads immediately upon installation." (A new way to monetization for VARs.)

"We're always inspired by the creative and powerful ways our partners bring ID TECH products to life," reflected Michael Crouse, VP of Sales, Americas at ID TECH. "The PamiTV solution takes the customer-retailer connection to the next level--delivering a secure, world-class experience that's truly one of a kind." A familiar figure in the channel for POS, Crouse previously served as VP of Sales at Pioneer POS and Director of Channel Sales at Custom Business Solutions. As Founder and CEO of PamiTV: longtime payments executive, Kevin Brown (Vantiv, First Data).

A PamiPOP Terminal Delivers Content

Worth Your While

Partner First Conference
ScanSource
September 8-10
Arlington, TX

WSAA
Western Acquirers Association
September 8-12
Scottsdale, AZ

FS/TEC
Informa -- Food Service Tech
September 14-16
Orlando, FL

VARTECH
BlueStar
September 15-16
Atlantis, Bahamas

Pack Expo
PMMI-Association for Packaging
and Processing Technologies
September 29-October 1
Las Vegas, NV

Money 20/20 USA
Ascential PLC
October 26-29
Las Vegas, NV

MJBizCon
Emerald X
December 2-5
Las Vegas, NV

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Ingenico Rolls #7

A new certification fits Ingenico's AXIUM SX5000: the latest Payment Card Industry (PCI) PTS Version 7. It represents the first self-checkout terminal to meet this updated certification for processing, according to Ingenico. Applicable until April 2035, PCI PTS Version 7 specifically focuses on safeguarding against physical tampering and malware. It includes security requirements for biometric sensors and PIN Entry.

In dimensions of 4.3"/110 mm (W) x 5.7"/146 mm (H) x 2.4"/57 mm (D), weighing 18.7 oz./532 g, the AXIUM SX5000 features 5" capacitive touchscreen (720x1280), with presence and luminosity sensors. It carries Cortex Quad-Core ARM CPU at 2 GHz, 2 GB/4 GB RAM, 16 GB/32 GB ROM, and Android 14. A full suite of ports and wireless communications facilitate connectivity. A camera reads QR Codes.

"Our proactive and forward-thinking approach to terminal design has enabled Ingenico to quickly secure this certification," remarked Patrick Blanc, CTO of Ingenico (Alpharetta, GA and Paris, France). "By anticipating future security standards during development, we were able to submit our security test report to the PCI Security Standards Council (PCI-SSC) at the earliest opportunity, demonstrating both our technological readiness and commitment to security excellence." A new payment processing partner for Ingenico: Aurus (Boston, MA).

Ingenico AXIUM SX5000 Terminal

iMin to the Max

A newcomer in the channel, iMin Technology (Atlanta, GA), has unboxed its "AI POS," in the form of Model Swan 2 Pro. It employs high-performance--ARM Octa-Core A55 CPU at 2 GHz with Neural Processing Unit (NPU), 4 GB/8 GB RAM and 64 GB /128 GB ROM, and Android 15--to furnish built-in capabilities such as: OCR Translation, Gesture Control, Voice Control, Simultaneous Interpretation, Touch Prediction, and User Monitoring. An Android Enterprise Silver Partner, iMin Technology, based in Singapore, offers commercial IoT, as well as POS.

As display, Swan 2 Pro has 15.6" capacitive touchscreen (1920x1080) and choice of customer-facing screens (10.1" or 15.6"). A thermal printer may be added, along with NFC+Scanner and NFC+Camera. As wireless, there's Bluetooth 5.4, LAN, and Wi-Fi 6. Industry-specific, pre-trained "optimization packs" for work functions with AI are included.

"The U.S. market represents a strategic growth opportunity for iMin," relayed Alfred Navarro, SVP of North America at iMin. "By leveraging our world-class product portfolio, proven multi-country deployment capabilities through our manufacturing bases in Malaysia and China, and partner-centric strategy powered by our well-structured and incentivized Global Partner Channel Program, we are committed to achieving long-term growth in collaboration with our partners." In POS/Auto ID, Navarro's resume includes time at Ingram-Micro.

AI-Enabled POS by iMin Technology

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A Message From the Editor

As we enjoy another year--our 20th!--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

A Ball in Your Kort

A "unified embedded payment experience," seeking ISVs, has been introduced in conjunction with Kort Payments (Toronto, ON, Canada) and PayFac-as-a-Service by Tilled Inc. (Boulder, CO). A bi-directional platform, this omnichannel solution will offer full payment-method optionality and vertical-specific functionality, according to the two parties. It follows Kort's purchase of the payment processing business--including merchants and resellers in the U.S.--of Paysafe Direct LLC.

"This partnership marks an important milestone in Kort's growth journey," indicated Joel Leonoff, Chairman of Kort Payments. "By combining our deep fintech expertise with Tilled's advanced platform, we're delivering a comprehensive solution that empowers ISVs to simplify operations, accelerate growth, and expand into new vertical segments and markets." Previously, Leonoff served as President/CEO at Paysafe, Inc. Similarly, Danny Chazonoff, President/COO of Kort, served as Paysafe COO and John Arnold, CTO of Kort, served as Paysafe CTO.

"Our goal at Tilled has always been to remove the traditional barriers software companies face when trying to facilitate payments," declared Caleb Avery, Founder and CEO of Tilled Inc. "Partnering with Kort gives us the opportunity to serve a wider market while offering a turnkey experience that's scalable, flexible, and built for the long term." In its latest round of funding, Tilled Inc. raised $12.5M from Canvas Ventures and UPC Capital Ventures. It brings total funding to nearly $40M.

Unified Payment Experience for ISVs

A Gathering Cloud

An "out-of-the-box" solution for speeding onboarding and streamlining payments has been fashioned by RetailCloud (Concord, CA) and Valor PayTech (Jericho, NY). It combines RetailCloud's 6IX Everyday License with Valor PayTech's VP800 Payment Terminal. (In addition to its 6IX POS for Mobility, RetailCloud offers ZeroPOS for Retail and ServioPOS for Hospitality.) It will sell the bundle via both direct and channel.

With support for all major payment types, including tap, dip, swipe, and QR Code, the Valor VP800 features dual capacitive touchscreens in staff-facing 8" (800x1280) and customer-facing 5" (800x480). It has Octa-Core Cortex A53 CPU at 1.8 GHz and Android 10. For mobility, it integrates 2"/50 mm thermal receipt printer and Bluetooth 2+EDR, Wi-Fi, and 4G Cellular. It meets Payment Card Industry (PCI) PTS 6x.

"At Valor PayTech, we are focused on building payment technology that helps our partners deliver better solutions to their merchants," mused Eric Bernstein, CEO of Valor PayTech. "Our work with RetailCloud is a perfect example of how smart integration can make payment acceptance easier and more efficient." Since 2019, Valor PayTech has $2B in processed transactions with over 250,000 connected devices.

RetailCloud Embraces Valor PayTech VP800

Code Corner

Green, Yellow, or Red?

An advanced, real-time check verification system has been launched by eCheckplan (Clearwater, FL). In reducing fraud risk and speeding up payment acceptance, it features integration with NACHA. A user-friendly dashboard with color-coded risk indicators (green, yellow, red) instantly alert merchants to potential issues with submitted checks. It functions as part of the company's payments suite. A virtual terminal allows merchants to accept payments by phone, e-mail, or directly from invoices--suitable for remote and high-risk businesses. "Our mission is to simplify secure payments for U.S. businesses," proclaimed Emma Margret, Process Head at eCheckplan. "By adding real-time verification and NACHA integration, we're empowering merchants to reduce chargebacks, improve approval rates, and protect their bottom line."

Real-Time Check Verification

A Brand New Bag

A consolidation sees Postec's Grocery Business bought by DCR POS. A combined entity will deliver an enlarged range of solutions, according to the two players, including mobile checkout, self-checkout, advanced loyalty programs, and electronic shelf labels (ESL). Additional features were scheduled for Q3 2025. Also, the entire staff of Postec's Grocery Business had been retained, along with its office in Roswell, GA. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. "Extending DCR with the Postec Grocery Business' staff and services is part of a bigger strategy of continual investment to provide new tools and the highest quality of service and support," noted Blake Gillum, President of DCR (Nashville, TN).

DCR Expands in Grocery

ENVIRONMENTS/PLATFORMS

A Little Bit nClose-r

A new product line of enclosures for payments with tablets by nClose (Moorpark, CA) work in combination with the latest DynaFlex II Go Payment Reader by MagTek (Seal Beach, CA). A simple "Go" Series has compact, mobile-friendly design, suitable for aprons with click-in hand strap, for the Apple iPad Mini A17/Mini 6 with back-mounted DynaFlex II Go. An "Elite" Series has employee/customer-facing side-mounted DynaFlex II Go for the Apple iPad Mini and iPad Air (11" and 13"). An optional quick release enables mobility for Elite.

Shipped in January 2024, the DynaFlex II Go accepts tap, dip, swipe, and QR Code. In dongle size of 2.8"/70 mm (H) x 2.6"/65 mm (L) x 0.8"/20 mm (D), it supports Windows 10, Android 4, iOS (with connectivity of Bluetooth LE, USB HID, and USB iAP2). It meets Payment Card Industry (PCI) PTS SCR 6x SRED, with MagTek's MagneSafe Architecture. An OtterBox Universe Adaptor or Docking Cradle provides mounting.

"We are really excited nClose has integrated one of our newest card readers," commented John Arato, Chief Sales Officer at MagTek. "We have a longstanding history with them incorporating our readers with great success. They have great solutions, and their custom cabling helps solve challenges integrators run into when developing POS." Another enclosure/sled partner has recently been added for MagTek: Handeholder Products, Inc. (Ann Arbor, MI).

Elite Series Enclosure by nClose for MagTek DynaFlex II Go and iPad Mini

Plug In, Turn On, Check Out

A fully commercially deployed retail self-checkout station that "requires no provisioning to install, move, or operate" has been rolled out by GrabScanGo (Cerritos, CA). A patented architecture removes the need to register each terminal, configure merchant IDs, and map hardware to specific locations, according to GrabScanGo. Addressing unattended "micro-stores" for food and sundries, GrabScanGo fulfills locations such as hotel lobbies, office campuses, and industrial properties--24/7.

As elements, this solution includes the GrabScanGo Terminal, with touchscreens from Elo (Milpitas, CA) and payment readers from MagTek (Seal Beach, CA). A GrabScanGo App has log-in, wallet, and purchase history. Access, described as "instant," may be granted by the GrabScanGo iOS App Clip. (An "Android Instant App" is scheduled.) A software suite addresses cloud-based inventory, pricing, and analytics.

"Our platform makes retail self-checkout terminals truly portable and scalable--drop it in, power it up, and it just works," contributed Wilfred Martis, Co-Founder and CEO of GrabScanGo. "This is a game-changer for retail operators and service providers." Established in 2019, GrabScanGo has achieved "approved supplier" with major hotel brands.

"Plug-and-Play" Self-Checkout by GrabScanGo

Key Advertiser Links

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

POS & Peripherals
Advantech-Aures
Bixolon America
Custom America
Electronic Payments
Epson America
FEC POS
HiStone
HP
Ingenico
POSBANK USA
Posiflex
Sam4s/Shin Heung Precision
Star Micronics
Touch Dynamic

Barcode Printers
Bixolon America
Brother Mobile
Epson America
Woosim Systems

Cash Drawers/Cash Handling
apg/APG Cash Drawer

Data Collection
Star Micronics

Integrated Payment Solutions
Aurora Payments
Charge Anywhere
Datacap Systems
Electronic Payments
Ingenico

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

Remote Device Management
42Gears
Canopy

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

INSTALLATIONS

Bottle POS - Liquor is Quicker

A recent integration will boost liquor stores, according to two new partners: Bottle POS (Peachtree Corners, GA) and DoorDash (San Francisco, CA). It allows liquor store owners using Bottle POS to tap into the vast consumer base of DoorDash while also satisfying the demand for delivery. It includes automatic auditing and updating of inventory.

A simple system gives liquor store owners control over their product selection and pricing. "We've been wanting to expand our store offering to include delivery for some time, and Bottle POS integration with DoorDash is making this a reality for us," testified Desmond Mason, Manager of Charles II Beer, Wine & Spirits (Acworth, GA). "We're eager for the opportunity this integration provides and look forward to serving our customers--old and new--in this new marketplace."

"This integration is a simple, effective way for our customers to expand their reach and better serve today's 'on-demand' consumers," expressed Kevin Patel, VP of Product at Bottle POS. "With Bottle POS powering $3B in sales and more than 150 million transactions annually, we enable specialty retailers to operate with the same efficiency and sophistication as large chains, while maintaining personalized experience and service." As readers will remember, Bottle POS is now part of vertical software holder, Quilt (Charlotte, NC). As is POS Nation.

Integration of Bottle POS and DoorDash

Unilever Makes Its "Marc"

A global rollout of 2D barcodes at Unilever, bearing the GS1 Digital Link, will be powered by Digimarc Corporation (Beaverton, OR). It readies the prominent maker of consumer packaged goods (CPG) for the GS1 Sunrise 2027, when, by December 2027, 2D barcodes must become standard at the POS. It also makes Unilever among the first companies to adopt the European Union's Digital Product Passport (DPP).

"We are proud to be leading the industry in pioneering how we help democratize access to product information," shared Aaron Rajan, VP-Consumer Technology at Unilever. "Deploying innovative solutions such as Digimarc Engage means that our superior brands not only keep pace with technological advancements but also shape the future of retail. Unilever's multi-phased rollout with ultimately integrate 2D barcodes across 45,000 products (SKUs), spanning iconic brands such as Dove, Vaseline, Hellman's, and Knorr." (It joins Puma, PepsiCo, and P&G embracing GS1 2D.)

At Digimarc, which pioneered digital watermarking for packaging, Carle Quinn, having joined as Chief People Officer in April 2024, now has been promoted to COO. Prior to Digimarc, she served as Global VP at both Citrix and SAP SucessFactors. "She has played a pivotal role in making Digimarc a leaner, more agile enterprise," said Riley McCormack, CEO of Digimarc. New at Digimarc: audio tracking for content authentication and protection, dubbed "audio watermarking."

A Global Rollout of Digimarc 2D Barcodes

Channel Factoid

AI: What's Cooking?
(Asked of Restaurant Executives)

AI Investment - Next Fiscal Year

Increase Significantly - 9%
Increase Somewhat - 73%
Stay About the Same - 16%
Decrease - 2%

AI Implementation - Stages

-First Wave:
Customer Experience
Inventory Management

-Second Wave:
Loyalty Programs
Labor Management

-Third Wave:
Food Preparation
Innovation/Concepts

Source: "State of AI in Restaurants Survey," Deloitte

Short Takes

-Fiserv (Milwaukee, WI) buys TD Bank's 3,400 merchant contracts, in order to supply the Clover POS.

-Giftify, Inc. (Schaumburg, IL) acquires restaurant digital marketing platform provider, TakeOut7 (Hartford, CT).

-Verifone (Alpharetta, GA) has integrated the payments platform of Deluxe Corporation (Minneapolis, MN) into its Victa Payment Terminals.

-Paytronix (Newton, MA) has expanded its reach in loyalty in Canada via partnership with ISV, Auphan Software (Vancouver, BC, Canada).

HELLO GOODBYE

On the Ramparts at Fortis

A pair of new hires at payments firm Fortis (Plano, TX) has Brad Bialas as Chief Commercial Officer and Kimling Lam as Chief Marketing Officer. In his resume, Bialas brings c-level experience for Moov, Xformative, SwervePay, and BluePay. As her credentials, Lam includes marketing leadership roles at players such as FIS, Worldpay, Checkout, and Adyen.

"Brad and Kimling represent the caliber of leadership Fortis needs as we scale to meet increasing demand for our embedded commerce offerings," enthused Greg Cohen, CEO of Fortis. "Their complementary expertise in commercial strategy and brand development will be instrumental as we deepen our partnerships, expand market presence, and deliver unprecedented value to software platforms and their business customers in the rapidly evolving market."

"The embedded payments market is at a pivotal inflection point, and Fortis uniquely combines technical innovation with genuine partner-centricity," stated Bialas. "I'm energized to scale an organization that has mastered the rare trifecta of cutting-edge technology, clear strategic vision, and a thriving ecosystem that's fundamentally changing how software platforms deliver value."

"By aligning our commercial and marketing strategies, we're elevating embedded payments from technical integration to business transformation," stated Lam. "Our partners need more than solutions--they need narratives that showcase how our innovation directly drives their growth and monetization opportunities." At press time, Fortis announced its acquisition of Serve First Solutions (Costa Mesa, CA), prominent payment processor for the B2B.

At Fortis: Brad Bialas, Chief Commercial Officer, and Kimling Lam, Chief Marketing Officer

An EMS "Nano" Second

A longer bench for Electronic Merchant Systems (Cleveland, OH) with Nathaniel "Nano" Short enlisted as Chief Revenue Officer. He joins the company from Paysafe, where he served as SVP of Global SMB Sales. Earlier experience includes Director of Operations at iPayment and Director of Employee Development at Flagship Merchant Services. (A professional soccer player at the outset of his career, as well.)

"From all of us at EMS, we're ecstatic to have Nano join the organization and our leadership team," celebrated Afshin Yazdian, CEO and Executive Chairman of EMS. "With his proven track record in sales and business development and payments expertise, we're confident we will see significant growth throughout our organization." At present, EMS fulfills payments and POS for 30,000 customers in the U.S.

"I'm incredibly excited to join the EMS team at this pivotal moment. There's tremendous potential in the people, the platform, and the market we serve," exclaimed Short. "Together, we can build something meaningful--an organization that drives growth with clarity, discipline, and purpose. I'm energized by the journey ahead and committed to laying the foundation for long-term success."

Nathaniel "Nano" Short, Chief Revenue Officer, Electronic Merchant Systems