Our Product Pick

APG Cash Drawer (Minneapolis, MN) has brought its SMARTtill cash management system to the U.S. Gained from the merger with the U.K.'s Cash Bases, SMARTtill holds weighable coin and note departments. Each time the SMARTtill drawer is closed, the cash value (by denomination and total), plus transaction details (transaction number, cashier, date, and time) are electronically reported to the SMARTtill Manager. "After exhibiting at the National Retail Federation Show and the National Grocers Association Show, our excitement has been validated," Stephen Bergeron, VP of Global Marketing for APG/Cash Bases, told RRN.Com. "We are working with the ISV community to get the SMARTtill commands integrated into their POS applications. Simultaneously, we are developing our sales channel for SMARTtill." A long sales cycle may be expected.

APG's SMARTtill System

COMPANY BUSINESS

Hot to Trot With VARs

An emerging force in hospitality systems, HotSchedules (Austin, TX), has launched its Global Partnership Network. It consists of two tracks: the Global Developer Network for the HotSchedules IoT (Internet of Things) Platform, and the Global Channel Network for the HotSchedules App Portfolio. Presently in 150,000 locations, HotSchedules supplies solutions for labor management, inventory, recruitment, e-learning, and business intelligence--via the cloud, of course.

With APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) and SDKs (Software Development Kits), the HotSchedules Global Developer Network targets third-parties such as ISVs, VARs, and System Integrators (for iOS and Android). Partners may participate in the Developer Network as well as resell through the Channel Network. Both tracks feature three levels of partnership: Select, Advanced, and Master, with associated benefits in sales, marketing, and technical support. Tiers are based on the partner's "capacity, reach, and track record."

"As developers build new solutions for the IoT Platform, and as resellers grow the number of hospitality businesses that use it, this common framework will provide greater value to all partners and their businesses," declared Keith Dunphy, VP of Global Channel and Alliances for HotSchedules. In making its announcement, the firm cited Bob Schellenbach, President of Retail Control Solutions (Needham, MA), one of the leading VARs of POSitouch. "A great opportunity to improve your product offering and unlock new revenue streams," reflected Schellenbach. "Their team has been an absolute pleasure to work with."

Keith Dunphy, VP of Global Channel and Alliances, HotSchedules

A Lesson Plan From Lucova

A promising solution for mobile payments in higher education has emerged from Lucova Inc. (Toronto, ON, Canada). In conjunction with the base platform, dubbed "CampX," it offers customizable white-label apps for iOS and Android. Two colleges in the U.S., Missouri Valley College and Hannibal-LaGrange University, also in Missouri, have deployed this system, in partnership with Fresh Ideas Food Service Management. Lucova also has relationships with the Compass Group, Heartland Payment Systems, ITC Systems, and Volante.

Utilizing the student's smartphone, and Bluetooth, CampX provides storage of meal cards, sending of promotions and offers, and even mobile pre-ordering to "skip the line." At the checkout, staff may verify identity through the student's name, number, and "selfie." At the back end, the system gathers data analytics for food-service providers. Also solicited by Lucova, according to its website: stakeholders in payment processing, players in point-of-sale, integrators/developers, and third-party technologies.

"Students are early adopters of technology, especially when it makes their lives easier," elaborated Ara Ehamparam, Director of Business Development at Lucova. "We believe when technology is used in ways where it is hidden, but facilitates interactive, human experiences, or 'home away from home,' this will keep students engaged and lead to improved retention." Started in 2014, Lucova also pursues mobility for retail, restaurants, hotels, and stadiums.

White-Label Apps for the Education Sector

Worth Your While

Transact 16
Electronic Transactions Association
April 19-21
Las Vegas

WERC 2016
Warehousing Education and Research Council
May 15-18
Providence, RI

NRA Show 2016
National Restaurant Association
May 21-24
Chicago

RetailNOW 2016
Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA)
July 31-August 3
Grapevine, TX

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Agilysys Takes It Outside

Agilysys (Alpharetta, GA) has debuted its InfoGenesis Flex Series 3 Tablets. For use with InfoGenesis Flex 4.4.7 or 4.4.8, the Series 3 comes in 8" and 10" screen sizes. Provided by "an international third-party," RRN.Com was told, they employ commercial-grade components and Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro. Additional specifications include Intel Atom Quad-Core Z3795 CPU at 1.6 GHz, 4-GB RAM, and 64-GB SSD.

As features, the Series 3 furnishes capacitive touch, with 160-degree viewing angle for the 8" and 170-degree viewing angle for the 10" (with 800:1 contrast ratio). There's integrated MSR, Bluetooth 4.0+HS, and 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi. Both models are thin (about 0.5 inch) and lightweight (about 1.2 and 1.7 lbs.), and come outfitted with hand strap, Micro USB, and USB 2.0.

"The InfoGenesis Flex Series 3 are built for service from the ground up for the most challenging Mobile POS environments," enthused Jim Walker, SVP of Global Revenue at Agilysys. "Our rugged, weather-resistant mobility solution enables properties to generate new demand and uncover new revenue streams by serving customers in previously underserved areas, such as poolside and outdoors, and in the process, create lasting connections with guests." As ruggedness, it has an IP-65 rating for water and dust, drop resistance to 6 ft./1.8 m with optional protective case, and operating temperature range of 14 to 122 Degrees F. InfoGenesis and Windows are pre-installed, naturally.

InfoGenesis Flex Series 3 Tablets by Agilysys

Poindus Makes Its Point

A relative newcomer to the U.S., Poindus America (Chino, CA), has shipped its VariPOS 210 All-in-One Terminal. With compact footprint and sleek design elements, the VariPOS 210 addresses lower traffic boutiques, specialty stores, and fine dining restaurants, according to the vendor. It features 14" 16:9 widescreen display with projected capacitive touch technology and true-flat bezel. A die-cast aluminum casing in silver gray/white/black combines with optional color panels.

A fanless configuration and Intel Bay Trail Quad-Core Z3735 CPU at 1.33 GHz reduce power consumption, with 2-GB RAM, 64-GB SSD, and Micro SD. It supports Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro, and carries the full suite of multiple ports: USB 2.0, Serial, Cash Drawer, and Network LAN. In all, the VariPOS 210 weighs 6 lbs., 6 oz., and offers necessary add-ons for biometric fingerprint, customer-facing displays (2x20 or 10"), MSR, EMV, and RFID.

"One of the greater benefits of the VariPOS 210 is the mobility, combined with the capability to operate in environments without electricity," suggested Poindus America. "[You can] easily transport the system outside for sidewalk sales or for mobile sales such as an ice cream cart, or go for hours without the need to connect to an electrical outlet." An external battery pack supports such functionality. A recipient of the "reddot" product design award for 2016, the VariPOS 210.

VariPOS 210 From Poindus America

Join the Party at No Charge

Subscribe Today! Email:

Do you need to reach the POS & Auto ID resellers who really drive business? With the most targeted editorial environment, and on the most cost-effective basis?

E-mail Michael Kachmar for advertising information,
or call 973-270-3284

Did you miss one of our issues and suddenly realize your competitors know more than you do?

Hurry ! Use the links below to catch up :

Week of March 7

Week of February 15

Week of February 1

ALLIANCES-EMV

Advance of Veterans: Vantiv and Future POS

Another premium restaurant ISV, Future POS (Butler, PA), has collaborated to bring EMV to merchants with Vantiv Integrated Payments (Durango, CO). This semi-integrated solution works seamlessly with the latest version of Future Fusion and can be utilized with the Model VX 805 payment terminal from Verifone. It offers the full range of benefits, including end-to-end encryption, integrated gift card capacity, and the ability to accept contactless schemes such as Apple Pay and Android Pay. Vantiv Integrated Payments was formed by the combination of Mercury Payment Systems and Element Payment Services--both previously purchased by Vantiv--in February 2016, readers of RRN.Com will recall.

"Vantiv is proud to partner with Future POS, one of the leading independent software solutions serving the hospitality market," contributed Matt Downs, Head of Business and Channel Development for Vantiv Integrated Payments. "Future focuses on serving its resellers and restaurants with best-in-class technology solutions and offering an holistic approach to all types of fraud that restaurant operators face. We are like-minded about payments and POS security."

"An alarming trend we have seen is that the charge-backs to merchants that were supposed to be only for fraudulent cards has been extended to include virtually all charge disputes," advised John Giles, President of Future POS. "We actually had one restaurateur who had $15,000 in charge-backs simply because they didn't have an EMV reader and the cardholder disputed the charges. What was going to originally be an insignificant amount of charge-backs to restaurateurs has turned into a crippling amount of real liability in a very short period of time. We owe it to our customers to make sure they are protected from an onslaught of charge-backs, valid or otherwise."

Matt Downs, Head of Business and Channel Development, Vantiv Integrated Payments

Oracle Calls Forth Merchant Link

Merchant Link (Silver Spring, MD), one of the major players in payment processing, has issued EMV for Oracle Hospitality's Restaurant iPOS Suite, which spans 3700 POS, 9700 Hospitality Management System (HMS), Simphony 1 SaaS, and Simphony 2 SaaS. Up next, Merchant Link, an Oracle Gold Partner, will address EMV for Oracle Lodging. As most readers of RRN.Com well-know, Oracle (Redwood Shores, CA) purchased Micros (Columbia, MD) in 2014, creating its Oracle Hospitality.

"Our relationship with Oracle Hospitality continues to evolve as the payment industry, card brand associations, and merchants demand more and more in the way of security offerings," explained Dan Lane, CEO of Merchant Link. "A finished EMV product took massive undertaking, but the partnership we've had [with Micros] for the last twenty-three years has paid off. Our teams worked diligently to get it done and get it right."

As adjunct to its payment gateway, Mechant Link furnishes its family of security products. It includes TransactionVault (tokenization), TransactionShield (point-to-point encryption), and TransactionLink (EMV Chip-and PIN). As part of its go-to-market strategy, Merchant Link supports ISVs and VARs in POS (e.g., the Oracle Hospitality Partner Network). Overall, Merchant Link has more than 400,000 restaurant, hotel, and retail locations, with more than 6 billion transactions annually.

Merchant Link Supplies EMV for Oracle Hospitality POS Suite

Code Corner

ShopKeep (New York City) has added three new tools to its iPad POS App for the SMB: Site Booster, Gmail, and PEX. Befitting its name, Site Booster promotes online traffic, driving exposure for the business location, details, and offers. Merchants pay $4.99 monthly, or 28% discount. Gmail can be used for professional-seeming, branded e-mails (e.g., jill@your domain.com). It also allows business owners to hold video meetings with up to 15 employees. PEX helps control expenses via restricted, employee-assigned Visa Prepaid Cards. Here, merchants of ShopKeep will receive free two-month trials. Earlier, ShopKeep added MailChimp, QuickBooks, and AppCard to its iPad POS. "With the introduction of these new services, we're able to offer our customers everything they need from one source," stressed Andrew Gorrin, CMO at ShopKeep.

ShopKeep POS

ENVIRONMENTS/PLATFORMS

A Stitch in Time for Inventory . . .

Stitch Labs (San Francisco, CA), supplier of inventory control for retail, has added barcode functionality--scanning and printing--for greater automation and system efficiency. Additionally, through new partnerships with leading third-party logistics firms, or 3PLs, Stitch Labs has attempted to improve multi-channel fulfillment for its customers. Both barcoding and integration to 3PLs (such as DCL Logistics in Fremont, CA, and AMS Logistics in Morristown, NJ) are included in its $499 "Business" and $2,000 "Enterprise" Packages.

"It [the DCL capability] couldn't be more perfect," testified Mike Madrid, Founder of apparel maker, the Comfortable Club (Austin, TX). "All my e-commerce platforms land into one platform and then Stitch pushes it out to the 3PL." As integration partners, Stitch lists Amazon, BigCommerce, eBay, Etsy, Magento, ShipStation, Shopify, Square, QuickBooks, Xero, and WooCommerce.

"As our retail customers continue to scale, we recognize the need to expand our feature set by providing an emphasis on automation," shared Brandon Levey, CEO of Stitch Labs. "Mid-size retailers should be able to focus on growing their business and providing a seamless shopping experience for consumers, without having to spend precious time manually processing orders or worrying about remedying human errors." According to research conducted by Stitch Labs, two-thirds of inventory or fulfillment errors (63%) are caused by manual processes, and almost half of retailers (45%) routinely suffer from out-of-stock products after an order has been placed.

Stitch Labs' Inventory Management Tool

. . . And Whole Cloth of Barcode and NFC

An ability to utilize labels with multiple IDs, or URLs, has been announced by codeREADr (Boston, MA). Suitable for barcode or NFC, this technology builds upon the company's dual-function QR Code, and adds large numbers of IDs and URLs, which can now be captured, parsed, and validated with the password-protected codeREADr App. It also enables DataMatrix, PDF-417, and MaxiCode. Intended environments include asset tracking, anti-counterfeiting, product recalls, inventory, and event or facility access control.

"With this technology, enterprises can save money," asserted Rich Eicher, Sr., Director of Business Development for codeREADr. "It also improves data collection accuracy because the app parses the correct information based on the specific task, not on which barcode gets scanned. And, since the app is password-protected, only authorized app users can scan for any given task."

For each task, an enterprise defines which IDs need to be parsed from the string of IDs embedded in the label or tag. The parsed IDs are checked against the table of valid IDs (hosted on the customer's or codeREADr's servers, or downloaded for offline). If the target ID or combination of target IDs exist in the table, the information will be passed; if it's not in the table, the response will be invalid. In either case, the app user can be prompted to collect additional information, along with timestamp and location, all becoming part of the formal scan record.

New App From codeREADr Targets Specific Data Embedded in Multi-Function Barcodes and NFC Tags

Key Advertiser Links

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

POS & Peripherals
AnywhereCommerce
Bematech
ECR Software
Elo Touch Solutions
Harbortouch
Hewlett-Packard
Partner Tech
Pioneer POS
POSBANK USA
Posiflex
PowaPOS

Barcode & Transaction Printers
Brother Mobile
Citizen
CognitiveTPG
Godex Americas

Cash Drawers
MMF POS

Cyber Security for POS
Signature Systems/PDQ

Data Collection
CipherLab
Code Corporation

Integrated Payment Solutions
Cayan
Datacap Systems
Discover
Moneris
Vantiv IP

Keyboards & Mobile POS
Cherry Americas, LLC

Receipt Printers
Bixolon America
CognitiveTPG
Star Micronics

Thermal Printers
Seiko Instruments USA

Touchscreens & Monitors
Elo Touch Solutions

INSTALLATIONS

Stocking Up on POS

Unified Grocers has named North Country Business Products (Bemidji, MN) as one of its preferred VARs for POS. A combined hardware/software package of Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions (Durham, NC) and LOC Software Solutions (Laval, QC, Canada) will be offered. Founded in 1922, Unified Grocers is the largest retailer-owned wholesale grocery cooperative in the Western U.S., with 3,000 independent members and approximately $4.1 billion in sales for 2015. LOC's Store Management Suite will be utilized as the POS, Back-Office, and Host.

"We continuously evaluate technologies and technology providers to offer independent retailers access to innovative and cost-effective solutions that will allow them to better compete in today's fast-paced grocery industry," reported Mike Brown, VP of Retailer Services at Unified Grocers. "Our new relationship with Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions and LOC Software will certainly do that and more." A point person for North Country Business Products, Jeff Zimmerman, serves as Director of Grocery and Retail Sales.

"Our Toshiba team and 'Together Commerce Alliance' partner, LOC Software, are excited to join Unified Grocers," indicated Bill Campbell, VP and Head of Sales in North America for Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions. "The ability for Unified's independent grocers to realize the benefit of using the same technology platform as our larger chain clients will facilitate improved business performance, along with delivering superior shopping experience." As O/S: Toshiba's SurePOS ACE for 4690.

Toshiba's TCx 700 With 6th Gen Intel Core CPU

Salad Days for ParTech

ParTech, dedicated subsidiary in POS of PAR Technology Corporation (New Hartford, NY), will deploy its Brink POS Software for fast casual restaurant chain, Giardino Gourmet Salads. With 11 locations in Southern Florida, one in Nashville, TN, and nine more scheduled to open, Giardino emphasized the scalability of Brink POS in making its decision. A leading VAR, Retail Data Systems, with 25 offices in the U.S., counseled and supervised this project.

Via the cloud, Brink POS has one obvious benefit, of course: elimination of the need for back-office computing complexity. In support of its franchise growth plans, Giardino also will enjoy standardized menu changes and real-time reporting on costs, sales, and profits for individual stores. As an added benefit, Brink POS now integrates with the mobile loyalty platform from Punchh (Mountain View, CA), which boosts guest engagement and brings analytical tools.

"Brink POS offers optimal scalability through its simple deployment and enterprise management capabilities, making it an ideal solution for growing fast casual and quick-service chains like Giardino Gourmet Salads," relayed Matt Sutton, GM at Retail Data Systems - Miami. "We believe such partnerships, like the one we have with PAR, allows us to provide not only the best solutions, but also smoother installation, more in-depth training, and more efficient help-desk services for our customers." Earlier, ParTech completed deployment of its Brink POS, EverServ 500 Terminals, and PAR 24x7x365 Services at 15 locations in Colorado and Texas for Modern Market.

Recent Contract Wins for PAR Brink POS Software Include Fast Casual Chain, Giardino Gourmet Salads

Channel Factoid

According to the National Retail Federation's Easter Spending Survey, conducted by Prosper Insights and Analytics, total for this holiday will reach $17.3 billion. Those celebrating plan to spend an average of $146 per person, the highest level in the 13 years the survey has been conducted, and up significantly over last year's $140.62 per person and $16.4 billion. Consumers will spend $5.5 billion on food, $3 billion on clothing, $2.7 billion on gifts, $2.4 billion on candy, and $1.2 billion on flowers. With shopping lists in hand, consumers will head to discount stores (58.4%), department stores (41.4%), local/small businesses (24.7%), specialty stores such as greeting cards, florist, and jewelry (23.4%), and specialty stores for clothing (11.4%). Others will shop online (21.4%) or browse catalogs (2.4%). A number of different celebrations are planned: family and friends (57.8)%, holiday meal (55.6%), church (51.3%), and restaurants (15.6%). Exciting the children, 31.4% will hunt Easter Eggs. "Shoppers plan to compare prices, research the items on their list, and take advantage of promotions," reported Pam Goodfellow, Principal Analyst at Prosper Insights and Analytics.

HELLO GOODBYE

A Matter of Trust

Cybercrime fighter Trustwave (Chicago, IL) has named Michael Petitti as its new SVP of Global Alliances. Since 2011, he has served as Trustwave's Executive Director of the Asia-Pacific Region; before that, he was Trustwave's Chief Marketing Officer. A former member of the Board of Advisors and Board of Directors of the Merchant Risk Council, he started his career as Director of Marketing for VeriSign.

"With Mike's focus on the success of our alliance partners, Trustwave is in an even greater position to help credit card processors, acquiring banks, independent sales organizations, and card brand owners worldwide elevate their security posture and streamline the compliance process," commented Robert McCullen, President and CEO of Trustwave. "His years of company and industry experience are the perfect combination to help Trustwave further solidify its leadership in compliance and payment services through our industry alliances." As one indication of its interest in VARs and ISVs, Trustwave exhibits at the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA) Show.

"Some of the biggest and best companies in the business team with Trustwave not only for PCI compliance but also for tools that go beyond the traditional check-box approach to security," observed Petitti. "I look forward to working with our alliance partners and the industry as they shift to a security-centric model for constant, cost-effective protection beyond basic compliance requirements." At present, more than 3 million businesses are enrolled in the Trustwave TrustKeeper Cloud.

Michael Petitti, SVP of Global Alliances, Trustwave

Impresario of IoT

Panasonic System Communications Company of North America (Newark, NJ) has enlisted Brian Rowley as its Director of Marketing and Product Management - Toughbook and Toughpad. Before his move, he spent 12 years with Verizon Wireless, most recently as Director of Connected Devices/Personal Computing. In this role, he was responsible for identifying key strategic relationships to further the company's efforts in the Internet of Things (IoT).

"As our mobility business continues to grow and diversify, we know more and more job functions are becoming digitized, resulting in more actionable data from the field," remarked Jan Ruderman, VP of the Business Mobility Group at Panasonic System Communications Company of North America. "We also know that as mobility grows, connectivity becomes another critical concern for customers. Reliable mobility and connectivity are the future, and Brian can help us tell that story because he knows it so well."

"Businesses are in need of effective, high-quality mobility solutions, but the majority of devices on the market are ill-equipped to meet their respective needs," postulated Rowley. "Despite the crowded space, Panasonic has continually emerged as the most efficient, most powerful, and most respected solutions portfolio. I look forward to joining the company and seizing the opportunity to tell the customer-driven, purpose-built part of the Panasonic story."

Brian Rowley, Director of Marketing and Product Manager - Toughbook and Toughpad, Panasonic System Communications Company of North America