This Week’s Product Pick

Nordic ID (Fayetteville, GA) has added UHF Gen2 RFID capability to its Morphic data collection/voice communication device. The RFID reader supplies output power of 100 mW, bringing read range of approximately 28 inches. The Nordic ID Morphic offers full functionality from its small, ergonomic package (measuring 2.2 in. x 5.8 in. x 1.1 in., and weighing 6.7 ounces with battery). Designed for use inside and outside the four walls of the enterprise, the device runs Microsoft Windows CE 6.0 with 256-MB RAM and 128-MB Flash ROM and offers the full range of communication proficiencies, such as Cisco CCX4 WLAN/WWAN, Bluetooth 2 + EDR, and GSM/GPRS. Features include 2.2-inch QVGA touchscreen, 21 keys, adjustable backlight, and energy-saving function. In addition to RFID, laser scanners and two-dimensional imagers are available. In addition, Nordic’s remote management system allows software to be upgraded in the field. “With the Nordic ID Morphic RFID, the retail environment has a champion performer that optimizes intuitive use and small size while providing robust features offering the fast track to productivity and return on investment,” stated Jorma Lalla, CEO of Nordic ID, with headquarters in Finland. “Until now, smart RFID readers have been bulky, expensive devices.”

Nordic ID Morphic

Worth Your While

Self-Service Expo & Digital Signage Show
KioskCom
April 14-15
Las Vegas

NACStech
Association for Convenience and Petroleum Retailing
May 5-7
New Orleans

FMI Show
Food Marketing Institute
May 10-13
Las Vegas

WERC Annual Conference
Warehousing Education and Research Council
May 16-19
Anaheim, CA

NRA Show
National Restaurant Association
May 22-25
Chicago

POS Partner Invitational
Ingram Micro Data Capture/POS Division
May 26-28
Chicago

U Connect Supply Chain Conference
GS1 US & VICS
June 7-10
San Antonio, TX

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Heads Up from Source Technologies

Source Technologies (Charlotte, NC) has offered its ServPoint KSK kiosk head unit on an OEM basis. The 12-inch, infrared touchscreen computer delivers the processing power necessary to drive numerous peripherals and run complex graphics, according to the vendor. It will be marketed through the Source Technologies’ Partner Program and has been designed specifically for deployment in custom assemblies.

“No other component manufacturer brings the level of firsthand expertise in self-service technology deployments like we do at Source Technologies,” declared Sarah Burkhart, Director of Product Marketing. “We are intimately familiar with the demands placed on self-service technology in a variety of end-user applications. We want to share this expertise and knowledge with other kiosk manufacturers to raise the bar for self-service kiosks industry-wide.”

Source also announced “End of Life” for its OEM 13.5K MICR toner cartridges for the Optra S family of printers. The company has offered its last-time buy opportunity for the MICR toner cartridges and special promotional pricing for customers migrating to new Source Technologies branded secure MICR printers. Orders will be fulfilled on first-come, first-served basis to March 31, 2010. After that, the company said it will have very limited capabilities to guarantee product availability and delivery dates.

OEM Kiosk Touchscreen from Source Technologies

Lightweight Dolphin Released by Honeywell

Honeywell Scanning & Mobility (Skaneateles Falls, NY) has deepened its product line with the Dolphin 6500 lightweight mobile computer. Designed for in-premise needs in retail, supply chain, and light industrial environments, the Dolphin 6500 features 3.5-inch color touchscreen display, two distinct keypads (28-key numeric or 52-key alphanumeric), the Marvell XScale PXA300 624-MHz processor, and integrated 802.11b/g and Bluetooth 2.0 communications. Additionally, the lightweight form factor and ergonomic design of the 6500 lends itself to single-handed scanning, which enables users to multi-task.

In line with other Honeywell Dolphin mobile computers, the 6500 comes with Adaptus Imaging Technology, which provides users with high-performance data collection for one and two-dimensional barcodes, digital images, and electronic signature capture. It runs the Microsoft Windows Embedded CE 5.0 O/S and carries an IP-54 environmental rating. Finally, Shift-PLUS power management technology provides 10 hours of battery life, meaning an average work shift suffers no charging interruptions.

“As one of the leading providers of retail solutions, Magstar has chosen to participate in Honeywell’s Independent Software Vendor (ISV) Program, due to the breadth and depth of capabilities and functionality of the company’s products,” related Steven Greenwood, VP of Magstar (Toronto). “We have chosen to certify Honeywell’s Dolphin 6500 with our Total Retail solution as it will allow us to deploy one common device across all retail segments, including POS, inventory management, and warehousing. With the Dolphin 6500, our users can simplify their customer loyalty programs, as associates can look up customers’ loyalty accounts with just a simple scan of their license, increasing overall customer satisfaction.”

Dolphin 6500 from Honeywell Scanning & Mobility

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ALLIANCES

Agilysys Finds the Time

Agilysys (Cleveland) will offer the TMx labor management solution from TimeManagement Corporation (Minneapolis) to its hospitality customers who use the Eatec inventory and procurement system, the InfoGenesis POS system, and the Visual One property management system, all by Agilysys. The TMx Data Transfer Module allows the integration of scheduling, time and attendance, human resources, and labor forecasting functions into the Agilysys platforms, according to the two parties. Customers in virtually every type of hospitality setting will benefit: restaurants, hotels, resorts, casinos, cruise lines, and sporting and entertainment venues.

Specifically, the bundled approach facilitates sharing of data--such as sales totals, transactions, meal counts, occupancy, and arrivals--thereby improving access to such information and reducing redundant data entry. Further, TMx utilizes the data fields within the customer’s system to create labor forecasts and other benchmarks; transfer employee time records; and allocate tips, sales, and other collectibles. Additional benefits include performance-based scheduling, embedded workflow for employee hiring, and multiple time-capture solutions.

“The TMx labor management solution offers a low-risk, high-performance way to address labor costs, which are typically the hospitality customer’s largest controllable expense,” observed Barrs Lewis, President of TimeManagement Corporation. “Having the Agilysys systems for foodservice management, Point of Sale, and property management tightly integrated with TMx enables our joint customers to reduce labor costs, improve decision-making, and align corporate best practices into their daily activities.”

TMx PC Clock and Employee Self-Service Kiosk Combination

The Persistence of Memory Card Payments

Visa has endorsed the contactless payment solution from DeviceFidelity (Richardson, TX), which is based on the MicroSD memory capabilities of today’s mobile phones, and the two companies plan to begin test marketing in Q2. The proposed system marries Visa’s contactless payment scheme, Visa payWave, with DeviceFriendly’s In2Pay product to achieve contactless payments from any mobile phone with suitable memory card slot. When used in conjunction with Visa’s global transaction processing network, VisaNet, it will provide real-time fraud monitoring and encryption as well, according to the two parties.

The In2Pay solution fully conforms to MicroSD, the industry standard for memory chips, and fits into the common card slot found in many mobile devices in the market. In2Pay utilizes an onboard, software-controlled antenna and dual-interface contactless smart card chip that supports Visa payWave, as well as other contactless applications popular with consumers such as transit, identification, and access control. In2Pay also extends compatibility for MasterCard Paypass, American Express Expresspay, and Discover ZIP, incidentally. Founded in 2007, DeviceFidelity is led by Deepak Jain, formerly of Gemalto.

“Visa’s goal is to develop innovative ways to bring the value of Visa digital currency to mobile users around the globe,” pledged Dave Wentker, Head of Mobile Contactless Payments at Visa Inc. “Through our collaboration with DeviceFidelity, Visa is helping to accelerate the adoption of contactless payments and pave the way for the global deployment of NFC-enabled devices.”

MicroSD Memory Card From DeviceFidelity

Code Corner

Mercury Payment Systems (Durango, CO) and Retail Pro International (Folsom, CA) have launched their fully integrated PA-DSS compliant payment processing solution for Retail Pro’s POS system. The interface was jointly developed by both companies to meet the needs of Retail Pro’s diverse customer base in the U.S. and Canada, and supports credit, PIN debit, and gift cards. With Retail Pro and Mercury, retailers get unlimited free gift-card transactions for one store or an entire chain. Online transaction reporting and ACH funds transfer streamline program management with automated cross-store reconciliation. Continuous payment processing despite any outage is achieved by an Internet back-up scheme. Mercury will now be working with Retail Pro and its resellers to upgrade legacy system users to PA-DSS compliant versions of Retail Pro software by offering marketing assistance and financial incentives. “The Retail Pro/Mercury integration enables value-added services our retailers can use to grow their businesses,” said Mike Bishop, Retail Pro’s Director of Business Development. “For example, Mercury makes it easy for retailers to add a new profit center with a robust gift card program.”

NCR Corporation (Duluth, GA) released its upgraded NCR Netkey digital signage solution, designed to simplify content management, deliver richer content, and exploit Microsoft Windows 7 for Embedded Systems. Available as either licensed software or SaaS subscription, the new edition marks the first market move since NCR bought Netkey in November 2009. Key enhancements include its new zone editor, which simplifies design and lets companies create attractive, easy-to-read layouts. Many new preconfigured applications also have been added, such as weather, clock, and marquee templates. Users also gain greater flexibility and more content control through expanded playlist management. “Users of digital signs want high-impact applications that help them better connect with their customers through more personalized and dynamic content,” suggested Dusty Lutz, GM of NCR Netkey. “The new additions to our software will help companies realize this goal.”

INSTALLATIONS

DT Research on the Menu

Specialty’s Café and Bakery has fielded the WebDT hospitality signage suite from DT Research (San Jose, CA) in an effort to drive sales and build brand. Not surprisingly, the WebDT appliances are managed with WebDT Content Manager software, allowing restaurant operators to navigate the design, scheduling, and posting of menus and multimedia presentations for consumers. Specialty’s Café and Bakery operates 27 stores in California, Washington State, and Chicago, and promotes made-from-scratch sandwiches, salads, and soups.

Specialty has deployed WebDT SA1000 signage for digital menu boards paired with 42-inch displays behind service counters. The static menu boards maximize space efficiency by handling both breakfast and lunch, with content changed accordingly. Moreover, WebDT SA3000 signage has been paired with 42-inch displays mounted in dining areas to engage customers with dynamic content ranging from targeted promotions to social networking opportunities. Each location has between two to four menu boards and one to three dining area screens, RRN.Com was told.

“With digital signage we are able to better communicate our brand and enhance the dining experience for our customers,” noted Angela Pace, VP of Marketing for Specialty’s Café and Bakery. “We are already beginning to see the value generated by these screens in the sites where we have rolled out the solution and expect this to continue as we expand and install digital signage in our stores.”

Content Can Be Managed Through Any Web Browser

Ruby Tuesday Playing at Micros

Who can hang their name on Ruby Tuesday? Micros, apparently, which has expanded its footprint in the popular restaurant chain with Micros iCare for Coupon Management. Ruby Tuesday, which shares the name of the classic Rolling Stones song quoted in the previous sentence, already runs Micros Restaurant Enterprise Solution (RES) 3700 POS in all of its locations (896 at last count, including franchisees), as well as having implemented mymicros.net at the enterprise. Now it has turned to Micros (Columbia, MD) to keep pace with its marketing group’s requirement for rapid deployment of new coupon offers across all locations.

Micros iCare delivers tools that allow Ruby Tuesday to deploy bulk coupon offers as well as create individual offers for its “So Connected” members--all from one enterprise database, according to the two parties. With the ability to validate item-specific coupon rules at the time of redemption, Ruby Tuesday also has increased control and detailed reporting. Finally, the bundled solution--customer loyalty, POS, and business intelligence--obviously eliminates integration issues. She’ll tell you it’s the only way to be, sang the Rolling Stones, in another context.

“Micros has been a great technology partner as our business has grown and has truly been fundamental to Ruby Tuesday’s success,” explained Nick Ibrahim, SVP and Chief Technology Officer for Ruby. “We look forward to a strong and expanded partnership with Micros as its technology allows us to continue to offer our customers an unmatched dining experience.”

“So Connect” Loyalty Program Rewards Customers

[Editor’s Note:  Micros RES has also been chosen as the exclusive preferred POS platform by Planet Smoothie, the dessert, beverage, and yogurt concept with 125 locations. In addition, Micros RES has been designated as an approved solution for Five Guys Burger, the hot restaurant group with over 500 locations and 1,500 units in development.]

Key Advertiser Links

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

POS & Auto ID Distribution
BlueStar

POS & Peripherals
FEC USA
Logic Controls
Posiflex Business Machines
POS-X

Barcode & Mobile Printers
Datamax-O'Neil

Cash Drawers
APG Cash Drawer
MMF Cash Drawer

Data Collection Terminals
CipherLab
Datalogic Mobile
Datalogic Scanning
Honeywell Scanning & Mobility
Janam Technologies

Data Collection Software
Wavelink

Integrated Payment Solutions
Datacap Systems

Receipt Printers
Bixolon America
Citizen Systems America
Epson America
Star Micronics

Screen Protection
3M Optical Filters

Self-Service Kiosks
Zebra/Motorola

Thermal Printers
Seiko Instruments USA

STARTS & STOPS

Next for RFID: Equipment Leasing

Here’s an interesting submarket for RFID. Fluensee (Englewood, CO) has positioned its AssetTrack for use as value-add by equipment leasing and financing companies, including banks. The new program combines the company’s real-time asset-tracking software with hardware and professional services. Fluensee’s AssetTrack incorporates multiple Auto ID technologies--RFID as well as barcode, GPS, and sensor--to effectively follow and manage fixed and mobile assets within an organization. It may be customized to address the needs of specific industries.

The technology satisfies many unique requirements for the equipment financing market, according to the developer. Lessees increase their return on assets, or ROA, through more disciplined equipment utilization analysis, improved maintenance, and lease provision compliance. Lessors benefit from automated portfolio-management that helps reduce labor required for routine functions such as lease perfection, mid-term equipment inspection for lease restructuring, and end-of lease transactions. Financers also gain greater portfolio return on equity, or ROE, through reduced collateral risk, improved end-of-lease return condition coordination, enhanced regulatory and accounting compliance, and improved property tax tracking--all of which boost internal control and improve customer service, according to the solution provider.

“Fluensee’s AssetTrack solution is a win-win for both lessees and lessors,” maintained Tim Harvie, CEO/President. “Lessors gain critical competitive advantage by providing solutions to customers to better track and manage leased assets, and lessees get the bundled, end-to-end system that allows better visibility and optimization of assets. Most importantly, AssetTrack helps build trusted relationships between the two groups that will improve the long-term success of each company.”

Tim Harvie, CEO/President of Fluensee

[Editor’s Note:  Fluensee also has hired Craig Kavanaugh as its new Director of Sales. Kavanaugh was responsible for Channel and Western U.S. sales for Intelleflex, another player in RFID. In years past, he helped start Motorola/Symbol’s PartnerSelect program.]

New Riders of the RedPrairie

RedPrairie (Milwaukee) has been purchased by New Mountain Capital, LLC, one of the large New York-based private equity firms. RedPrairie specializes in workforce, inventory, and transportation, as many RRN.Com readers know, and has 20 global offices and more than 34,000 customer sites in over 40 countries. Financial terms of the definitive agreement were not disclosed.

“Our objective is to be the leading provider of productivity solutions for manufacturers, distributors, and retailers,” commented Mile Mayoras, RedPrairie’s CEO. “Our relationship with New Mountain Capital will allow us to reach our strategic goals quickly, efficiently, and with certainty. We believe there are significant opportunities to provide more value to our customer base by expanding our product portfolio and entering new markets.”

“We are delighted at the prospect of being able to add RedPrairie to our family of companies,” added Alok Singh, Managing Director of New Mountain Capital. “They have consistently, over their long history, been committed to the success of their customers. We aim to work closely with RedPrairie’s management team and help them accelerate their growth and strategic development, making them an even more valued partner to their customer base.”

Mike Mayoras, CEO of RedPrairie

Channel Factoid

The number of U.S. convenience stores fell 0.2% over the past year and stands at 144,541 as of December 31, 2009 according to the NACS/Neilsen TDLinx 2010 Store Count. This is the second straight year the count has declined, and only the fourth time in the last 15 years. Still, the industry has shown remarkable growth over the last three decades: in 1979 there were only 57,700 such stores in the U.S. Interestingly, the industry continues to be dominated by single-store operators, who account for 62% of locations. Although the overall industry store count declined by 334 stores, for example, one-store operators increased by 452 stores. Somewhat surprisingly, motor fuel sales remain central to success. Of the $624 billion in total sales posted in 2008, fully $450 billion was represented by fuel. “In addition to fluctuating gas prices, consumer purchases with payment by credit cards--and the associated interchange fees paid to the card companies by retailers--have been the real problem for the industry and for single-store operators,” reported Todd Hale, SVP of Consumer & Shopper Insights at Neilsen. Still, convenience stores far outnumber competing channels in the U.S. Neilsen TDLinx gives the following breakdown as of December 31, 2009: 35,612 supermarkets, 37,654 drug stores, and 27,247 mass merchandise/dollar stores.

HELLO GOODBYE

Putting Trust in Leos

Trustwave (Chicago), one of the leading practitioners of payment card industry compliance, has hired Greg Leos as VP, Payment Partner Programs, with responsibility for all new business development related to the company’s Level 4 Merchant Compliance efforts, including TrustKeeper 3.0. Leos has nearly 15 years of experience in the payments space. Before joining Trustwave, he spent three years at RBS WorldPay, most recently as SVP of Small Business. He also has participated in the Electronic Transactions Association (ETA) ISO Advisory Committee for the past two years.

“Acquirers, ISOs, and processors are searching for a proven compliance partner to help them manage their merchant portfolio through the PCI-DSS validation process,” postulated Doug Klotnia, EVP of Product and Strategic Sales at Trustwave. “Greg’s experience in the payment space, coupled with Trustwave’s industry-leading technology, is a powerful combination for any acquirer, ISO, or processor looking to implement a successful compliance program.”

Remote Technologies Names CEO

Remote Technologies, Inc. (Portland, OR), which supplies its end-to-end business management and security solution to the quick-service restaurant community, has named Abe Schryer as its new Chief Executive Officer. Schryer has been charged with expanding the company’s reach into new markets that might benefit from improved franchise operations. His working experience includes IP networking, physical security, building automation, and telecommunications. He also helped launch the EZUniverse business management solution for quick-service.

“Remote Technologies has an outstanding services portal platform and virtually unlimited potential to deliver anywhere, anytime remote management to our quick-service restaurant target markets and other industry segments as well,” Schryer stated. “I am very excited to be onboard and look forward to continuing to service and support our customers with the express purpose of adding value to their businesses.”

Showing Confidex in Hoffman

Confidex (Tampere, Finland), which manufactures UHF Gen2 RFID tags for asset tracking, has appointed Tim Hoffman as Senior Manager, Channel Sales North America, with responsibility for building and managing long-term partner relationships on these shores. Hoffman brings more than 20 years of experience in Auto ID. Prior to joining Confidex, he worked in RFID sales and business development at Zebra Technologies. Before that, he performed similar functions for the Omron RFID Group.

“We are excited to have Tim join the Confidex team to build on the important contribution our channel partners had in making 2009 a great year for Confidex,” said Bill Compitello, Director of Sales for the Americas. “Tim brings a wealth of experience in building strong and effective relationships with channel partners and we look for Tim to continue his impressive track record with Confidex.”