Point Of Sale And Payment Processing News From September 2013
Each month, Business Solutions reports news on business in the channel. This month in Point of Sale and Payment Processing, an RSPA committee begins highlighting technology in connect magazine, a company begins teaching a digital signage training program, and businesses announce new products and new product features.
RSPA Committee Contributes To connect Magazine
The Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA) has announced that its Strategic Technology Solutions (STS) committee will begin making regular contributions to connect Magazine, RSPA’s monthly print publication. In each of its upcoming contributions, the STS committee will highlight a category of technology solution that the committee feels RSPA members should be aware of and consider embracing. Each solution profile will begin with an explanation of the technology solution, then proceed to take a deeper look at topics including how it can be sold to an end user, how long it takes to install, why it is important to know about an “as-a-Service” business model, and how it might enhance the value proposition to customers. The STS committee will work in collaboration with representatives of distributor and/or ISV companies to develop the profiles.
Ingram Micro Teaches Digital Signage Training, Expands Promark GSA With New Vendors
Ingram Micro announced a new Digital Signage Certified Expert (DSCE) training program designed for its channel partners. Available through its ProAV/Digital Signage business unit, ProAV trainers and educators from Brawn Consulting, as well as Ingram Micro’s technology solutions engineer and DSCE certified instructor Tom Jones, facilitate the new certification and training program. The one-day DSCE training courses are offered in person or online. The course curriculum covers topics including prospecting and identifying the right digital signage solutions, measuring and demonstrating ROI and business value of digital signage, mastering the fundamentals of digital signage system design, and marketing, selling, and pricing digital signage solutions.Ingram Micro also announced the addition of several new vendors to the General Services Administration (GSA) schedule of Promark, an Ingram Micro company. The vendors include Panasonic, Falconstor, Jabra, and Whiptail, which represent in-demand technology categories such as communications, data protection, networking, ruggedized computing, storage, and virtualization. This GSA schedule, along with Ingram Micro’s Public Sector program, supports resellers who conduct business in the public sector.
VeriFone Launches POS Software Platform For Tablets
VeriFone Systems has introduced GlobalBay Merchant, a new point of sale software platform currently available for iOS. Included are support from VeriFone’s 24/7 help desk and automated on-boarding processes. It integrates with VeriFone VX payment terminals and consumer-facing MX multimedia payment devices. The software can be used to access VeriFone’s PAYware Connect gateway, which is capable of routing transactions to all major processors. Other features of the software include support for multiple stores, multiple devices, and multiple employees. Merchants can track inventory, schedule appointments, and track employee time, commissions, and tips. Channel partners can create their own pricing schedules, including flat monthly, discount rate, or per-click fees. VeriFone provides payments infrastructure, including secure encryption and tokenization. VeriFone PAYware Mobile secure audio reader for iDevices enables configuration of tablets with the POS solution.
Harbortouch Releases iOS App
Harbortouch has released a free iOS app that provides the company’s retail customers with a tool to import their store’s inventory into their Harbortouch POS systems. The app — designed for merchants that do not have digital files of their inventories — is compatible with all iDevices. It uses a single line scanner that plugs directly into the mobile device. The app uses an interface for the merchant to enter each item in the store and pulls product information from multiple retail databases to minimize manual entry. Once the items are entered, the merchant can submit the database to Harbortouch.
GoPago Kicks Off National Reseller Distribution For Android-Based Tablet POS
GoPago has signed over 20 reseller organizations across the country for its new national reseller distribution initiative. The resellers will reach out to merchants with GoPago’s products including Android tablet POS, mobile POS, and “m-commerce,” the consumer facing mobile storefront app. The company’s Reseller Central Portal provides information to sell the products, including training materials, installation guides, and other best practices. GoPago continues to add resellers, VARs, and ISOs to the distribution team.
GenPOS Offers New LCD Touch Screen Monitor
GenPOS now offers the Eclipse T17R. It is a 17-inch, LCD touch screen monitor featuring a video graphics array (VGA) plus digital visual interface (DVI) video output as well as dual-touch interface, and USB and RS232 serial connectivity. Like other monitors in the series, it is offered with Eclipse UDT “Ultra-Durable Touch” technology, which provides scratch resistance to the touch screen, and it is backed by a 3-year warranty from GenPOS.
Star’s DK-AirCash Receives Apple MFi Certification
Star Micronics has received Apple MFi certification for its DK-AirCash accessory that enables secure cash payments in mobile POS. Cash drawers have traditionally had manual controls (key operated) or wired connections to PCs or printers. The DK-AirCash enables the control of the cash drawer through Ethernet, Bluetooth, and now MFi certified Bluetooth connection. With MFi certification, DK-AirCash SAC10EBi-24 US model is compatible with iDevices in addition to devices running on Android and Windows platforms.