Retail, Grocery, And Hospitality IT News For VARs — October 16, 2014
By Phillip Britt, contributing writer
In the news, anticipation builds over the launch of Apple Pay, and mobile payment adoption is expected to grow. Also, Intel is developing software to protect point of sale (POS) data, and holiday sales are predicted to exceed last year’s numbers.
Apple Pay Close To Launch
9to5 Mac reports a Panera Bread internal memo states Apple Pay will launch on Oct. 20. The leaked memo provided information to employees on adopting the technology. Apple Pay is a new mobile payment option in Apple iPhone 6 based on NFC (near-field communication).
Explosive Mobile Wallet Growth Predicted
Transparency Market Research reports that the mobile wallet market will grow to $1.7 trillion by 2018, driven by the growth of smartphones, NFC technology, and POS terminals. The Asia-Pacific market is expected to have the fastest growth, at 31 percent per year. However, the report cautions that concerns over security and privacy could hinder growth. According to a PCR interview with Tech Data UK, POS activation cards will die out, to be replaced by print to receipt (PTR) software download codes. PTR enables 16-digit activation pins to be printed onto the purchase receipt. The distributor told PCR that digital distribution is the future for software sales in retail.
Increases in Mobile Pay at Quick Service Restaurants
Due to millennials’ desire for up-to-date technology and convenience, McDonald’s is working with Apple’s new Apple Pay platform according to Bidness Etc. Now, using the newest iDevices, customers can pay for their meals inside the restaurant or at the drive-through, and the transaction will debit the card connected to the user’s iTunes account. Subway is following suit by working with Softcard, and Starbucks has been in this game since 2011. Starbucks’ success with its mobile pay technology has grown to 14 percent of its revenue since its launching.
New Intel Technology Aims To Protect POS Transaction Data
ZDNet reports that Intel has developed new technology designed to protect transaction data in POS devices from any malware that is running on the same devices. According to Intel, the technology prevents any software running on a Windows platform from seeing sensitive transaction data. The technology is expected to be available for retailers sometime next year
Analysts Predict Increased Holiday Sales, Help
According to the National Retail Federation, there is a valid potential for holiday season sales to increase a whole percent more than last year’s figures. This year the NRF is looking at a 4.1 percent increase at $616.9 billion over 2013’s 3.1 percent increase that season. This is part of the average growth of holiday season retail success over the last ten years which also takes into account this year’s projected numbers. This year would be the first holiday season that sales would increase more than 4 percent. This would also increase the number of holiday help employees hired this season. Last year 768,000 seasonal workers were hired while between 730,000 and 790,000 workers are expected to be hired this season.
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