POS, Payment Processing, And Data Collection News
By The Business Solutions Network
Zebra Rolls Out Omni-Channel Solution, New Printers
Zebra has introduced two new desktop printers that connect via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to help employees update product pricing, shelf labels, and coupons in alignment with the store’s merchandising and pricing strategies.
The ZD410 2-inch direct thermal printer is designed for small work spaces and for printing high-quality labels, receipts, and tags in applications including pharmacy prescription labels, shelf labeling, price markdowns, and scale labels. The ZD420 is a desktop thermal transfer printer with a ribbon cartridge designed to reduce the time required to load a printer ribbon. The unit also provides information to the user including type of ribbon and the amount of ribbon remaining in the cartridge. Both printers are Link-OS-enabled.
Additionally, Zebra’s new Price Management Execution solution synchronizes in-store and online pricing, allowing retailers to execute the right price at the right time, providing seamless and competitive prices to in-store shoppers. Zebra believes this solution will allow companies to quickly adapt pricing strategies and capture 18 percent to 35 percent of profit opportunities that would otherwise be lost due to labor or execution constraints.
SATO Launches Retail IoT Solutions
SATO Global Solutions (SGS), a SATO company that develops Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, has collaborated with Intel to develop a data-driven, end-to-end IoT platform that enables retailers to accelerate the commercial benefit of data and IoT. The solution allows retailers to realize nearly 100 percent inventory accuracy while boosting workforce efficiency. Additionally, it enables digital engagement applications.
The platform brings together a range of retail technologies and capabilities, including RFID readers that track individual items in the store; the ability to leverage additional sensors with the Intel Retail Sensor Platform; a store-based gateway that gathers and filters data; and a cloud platform with Big Data analytics. The SGS IoT platform integrates these components into a retail solution that standardizes the collection, storage, and analytics for store-based events involving inventory and customer interactions.
Designed to be future-proof and expandable, the solution leverages Intel’s industry-standard, open-software platform. It will allow retailers to host a full suite of retail applications by integrating other sensor technologies as well as third-party data or applications to meet their unique demands.
Honeywell Forms Global Strategic Alliance With NCR Corporation
Honeywell announced a memorandum of understanding with NCR Corp. to form a global strategic alliance to develop new service solutions combining the core competencies of both firms. The alliance will focus on delivering technology solutions to customers in key sectors, including retail, supply chain distribution, public sector, and federal government information services. With this partnership, Honeywell and NCR will collaborate in markets in North America and Europe and will also evaluate opportunities in high-growth regions such as India.
Honeywell brings to the alliance its core competencies in data capture technologies, distributed smart printing solutions, and wireless mobility computing platforms, while NCR leverages its software and hardware expertise in consumer transaction technologies. Exactly how this alliance will manifest itself remains to be seen.
Elo, Verifone Bring EMV, NFC To Self-Service
Self-service technologies that only support traditional payment methods are a challenge for retailers who want to also accept EMV, NFC, mobile wallets, and loyalty programs in self-service and endless aisle environments. Retailers’ ability to support these capabilities in such environments often requires costly and time-consuming installation of fixtures, arms, and stands used to attach updated payment technology to the POS. To address this need, Elo recently announced the ability of its self-service platform to integrate with the Verifone e355, bringing support for loyalty programs and emerging payment methods (including EMV, NFC, and mobile wallets).
Typically used to convert any smartphone or tablet into secure payment and commerce endpoints, the Verifone e355 is a device that can support all methods of payments and loyalty programs while integrating with retailers’ legacy back-end systems to connect online and offline sales channels. Connecting the device through Verifone’s Secure Commerce Architecture (SCA) also simplifies the EMV certification process for merchants and prevents sensitive payment data from becoming exposed to POS malware.
Visa Gives VARs More Time For QIR Certification
Visa updated its policy issued in October requiring Payment Card Industry (PCI) Qualified Integrators and Resellers (QIR) certification to give acquirers, merchants, and VARs more time to comply. Level 4 merchants still need to use PCI QIRs, but resellers now have until Jan. 31, 2017, to become certified.
The original policy required newly boarded Level 4 merchants to use only PCI QIR certified resellers and integrators beginning in March of this year. The updated policy states, effective March 31, 2016, acquirers must communicate to all Level 4 merchants that as of Jan. 31, 2017, they must use only PCI QIR certified professionals for point of sale application and terminal installation and integration. Also, as of Jan. 31, 2017, all Level 4 merchants using third parties for POS application and terminal installation and integration must use only PCI QIR professionals.
Although this affords some breathing room to merchants and VARs just coming out of a busy holiday shopping season and year-end activities, there is still a reason for VARs to act now to work toward PCI QIR certification.
The Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA) is helping to facilitate PCI QIR certification and has even offered steep discounts in the past. Visit the RSPA’s Professional Development/Certification page (http://www.gorspa.org/professional/) to learn more.
Code Creates Cable To Bring Bluetooth Scanning To Mobile Devices
You might have experienced this challenge with your customers. They have an Android, iOS, or Windows mobile device they want to use, but it lacks standard USB and RS232 ports with which to connect bar code readers. To address this need, Code created the T500, a Bluetooth-enabled cable. Whether a tablet is being used for checkout or for self-service applications like price checking or admission, the T500 gives customers the ability to wirelessly connect a variety of readers (from handheld to presentation-style scanners) to an iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab, or Microsoft Surface.
Support for multiple Bluetooth protocols gives application developers numerous options for using a reader and T500 with their application: plug and play with the Bluetooth keyboard options, or leverage Code’s software development kit for a higher level of control.
APG Cash Drawer Automates Till Counting
APG Cash Drawer recently unveiled its SMARTtill automation technology, which enables retailers to reduce cash loss and decrease the time and cost of cash handling, while improving in-store productivity and customer service. The SMARTtill technology automatically counts the cash contents of each individual coin and note compartment after every transaction. The information is then available electronically and can be used to automate, audit, and improve store management. Retailers no longer need to issue floats for each cashier, count their cash at the beginning or end of shift, or perform random till checks. All of this can be done in real time, anytime in the cash office. According to Stephen Bergeron, VP of global marketing at APG Cash Drawer, the automation technology can, along with other benefits, help retailers reduce shrink by as much as 90 percent within 9 to 14 months.
Creditcall, ID TECH Bring Attended, Unattended EMV Solutions To Market
Creditcall has partnered with ID TECH to provide EMV chip-card acceptance to retailers, kiosk, and vending operators. ID TECH’s card readers will be supported by Creditcall’s EMV SDK, ChipDNA for Windows, and Linux, which can be integrated by developers, simplifying the upgrade to EMV.
With ID TECH’s new Augusta or Augusta S combination chip-card/mag-stripe reader for retail POS, and ID TECH’s Vend III for unattended solutions, merchants now have their choice of peripherals to meet EMV requirements in a variety of settings.
Developers can apply the Windows and Linux SDKs in semi-integrated environments. iOS and Android EMV SDKs are available for tablet- and smartphone-based mobile POS solutions in addition to Creditcall’s SDKs for e-commerce and m-Commerce transactions.