Point Of Sale, Payment Processing And Data Collection News From August 2015

By The Business Solutions Network

Each month, Business Solutions reports news on business in the channel. This month in point of sale, payment processing and data collection news, Ingram Micro adds key injection services and creates a payments playbook, ZyXEL unveils a router-access point-printer combination, MMF POS introduces an illuminated cash drawer, Mercury launches its Security Pays education initiative, Moneris introduces mPOS payment devices, Honeywell unveils an iPhone sled, Sterling launches a lead generation website, and ScanSource adds its “As-A-Service Suite.” In addition, Amber Systems announces that it has integrated chip card processing from Moneris into its software, Epson and NCR partner for a restaurant labelling bundle, Agilysys announces that its POS solutions will be available through the channel, and ASI launches new cloud software.

Ingram Micro Adds Key Injection Services, Creates Payments Playbook

Ingram Micro recently expanded its value around EMV-compliant solutions by adding the ability to load new software and secure key encryption data directly to payment terminals and devices on the behalf of its channel partners.

The company recently passed the electronic payment industry’s PCI PIN Security Requirements and Accredited Standards Committee’s TR-39 audit. With these new services and authorizations, Ingram Micro is able to provide key injection services in-house at its secure facility located within its distribution center.

To further simplify the sales cycle and help increase profitability, Ingram Micro channel partners also have access to the “Electronic Payments Playbook” and multi-vendor solution bundles, which include end-to-end professional services from assessment and deployment to equipment disposal, solution testing, and certification audits.

ZyXEL Unveils Router, AP, POS Printer Combination

ZyXEL Communications recently announced its new 3-in-1 unified access gateway, the UAG50, which functions as an integrated hotspot gateway router, wireless access point (AP), and POS thermal printer. Designed for coffee shops, restaurants, cafes, or any public areas requiring hotspot wireless access for up to 50 devices, the all-in-one solution eliminates the need for multi-device deployment. Generating user accounts and passwords for internet access and authentication setup with the UAG50 is done with the press of a button. Access control features allow network owners to service guest accounts as well as block unauthorized users. With advanced billing, businesses are given the flexibility to offer Wi-Fi either for free with a terms of service redirect page, when a purchase is made, or as a paid service. Different billing terms can also be set based on access time per minute, hour or day, offering business owners full control over their Wi-Fi networks.

MMF POS Introduces Illuminated Cash Drawer

Low-light ambiance is a key design element in many bars, nightclubs, and restaurants, and, according to Ivelisse Gomez, MMF POS’ new product development manager, performing transactions at a dark POS station can lead to increased errors during those transactions in low-light environments.

It’s for that reason that MMF POS created its new PayVue Illuminated Cash Drawer. The drawer uses an energy-saving LED light source to clearly light the inside of the drawer for improved bill and coin identification and placement during transactions.

Mercury Launches Education Initiative

Mercury Payment Systems, a Vantiv company, recently unveiled its Security Pays initiative, designed to educate payments partners and business owners on how to protect their businesses from the multitude of security threats facing them today.

“Securing payment data is more important than ever for businesses,” says Matt Taylor, group president integrated payments and emerging channels, at Vantiv. “Research shows that 80 percent of security attacks happen at small businesses, and 60 percent of the small businesses that are hit by a data breach go out of business within six months of the breach. We want to help our payments partners — and the businesses they serve — to take steps to be more secure. When it comes to security, it’s crucial to be proactive.”

Through the Security Pays initiative, Mercury is supplying resources to POS ISVs to accelerate security software integration work into the Mercury payments platform. The program also includes incentives for developers, dealers, and their staffs to focus on practicing secure behaviors as well as selling more secure solutions.

Moneris Unveils mPOS Payment Devices

Moneris has announced the availability of the PAYD product family for the U.S. market. PAYD Pro and PAYD are two smartphone-based mobile POS (mPOS) solutions that empower merchants to process secure payments from anywhere.

PAYD Pro pairs the PAYD app with a portable Bluetooth-enabled PAYD PIN pad, enabling businesses on-the-go to turn their smartphone or tablet into an mPOS device that supports EMV-chip and signature, contactless, and swipe debit and credit card transactions.

The PAYD app allows businesses to enhance cash flow, access real-time reporting, and send digital receipts via email. It provides merchants with the flexibility to increase their customer base outside of an established storefront environment.

PAYD is an mPOS solution that processes credit card transactions via swipe technology. Using the same PAYD App, merchants can plug the PAYD card reader into their smartphone or tablet and accept credit payments on the go.

Honeywell Unveils iPhone 6 Sled

Honeywell announced recently the launch of the Captuvo SL42 enterprise sled that enables businesses to deploy Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus devices in business environments. Designed for applications in healthcare, retail, direct-store-delivery, and field service environments, the Captuvo integrates with the Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus devices to deliver protection from drops, full-shift battery life, and data capture capabilities of damaged or poorly printed bar codes or of bar codes on a mobile screen.

Sterling Aims To Create More Leads For Its Partners

What VAR doesn’t love leads and want more from their vendor partners? With that in mind, Sterling Payment Technologies recently launched a lead generation website called ShopPOS.com. The goal of ShopPOS is to bring POS resellers and developers more business by connecting them with merchants looking for the right POS system.

ShopPOS has invested in a content strategy and Google advertising to drive merchants to the website. As a result, merchants looking for a POS system will find POS resellers in their geographic area who have completed a company profile on ShopPOS. Once on the website, merchants will find educational articles and materials to help in their buying decision.

By completing a company profile, POS resellers will be eligible to receive leads from merchants looking for expert POS help.  ShopPOS staff will qualify each lead with information such as type of POS system, budget, timeframe for purchase, as well as confirm their interest in other business technologies.

ScanSource Launches “As-A-Service Suite” Program

ScanSource POS and Barcode has launched the ScanSource As-A-Service Suite. The program provides resellers with solutions to the complex challenges posed by the transition to as-a-Service and managed services business models, in three ways:

• FlexAbility — This finance tool from ScanSource streamlines customers’ services, software, and hardware into one monthly invoice and allows resellers to decide how they structure sales.
• POS As-A-Service Bundle — By bundling best-of-breed products with maintenance and service contracts, ScanSource can provide resellers the ability to offer end users reliable, predictable outcomes at a fixed monthly cost with no up-front capital commitments.
• Managed Retail Solutions — With this tool, resellers can own all of the IT solutions in the retail store — and manage them remotely from one comprehensive dashboard.

Amber Systems Technologies Addresses EMV

Amber Systems Technologies (AST) announced that it has integrated EMV chip card processing from Moneris into its Vigore POS restaurant management software. The integration enables Vigore POS users to begin accepting EMV credit and debit cards in time for the October 2015 liability shift. In addition, as more EMV chip cards are issued and customers start paying with them, restaurants and retailers that use Vigore POS can be ready to accept the new cards.

Epson, NCR Partner For Restaurant Labeling Bundle

Epson America and NCR Corp. announced the integration of the Epson TM-L90 Plus LFC printer with NCR Sticky Media solutions.  This solution is designed for restaurants to improve efficiency, order accuracy, and consumer satisfaction.

Coupled with patented NCR Sticky Media solutions, Epson’s TM-L90 Plus LFC printer enables customers to print order details and add appropriate labels to orders so food service operators can ensure that the right order is delivered to the right consumer. NCR’s family of liner-free adhesive labels offers automatic media type and paper width detection, eliminating the need for special adjustments by the operator.

Agilysys To Sell Through VARs

Agilysys recently announced that its cloud and mobile hospitality solutions will be offered for resale through solutions providers. Resellers will begin training with Agilysys in Q4 2015. Agilysys plans to co-train reseller partners along with its employees, and to support partners with professional services or project management resources, as needed. Agilysys’ SaaS solution was built in the cloud with all of the same functionality of the company’s on-premises products.

Agilysys’ InfoGenesis POS software solution can be integrated with its rGuest Pay Gateway secure payment processing solution that includes validated point-to-point encryption (P2PE) and tokenization, as well as addressing specific verticals by adding rGuest Stay (property management system), rGuest Seat (table management and reservation), rGuest Buy (ordering and self-serve kiosk), and rGuest Analyze (a reporting and analytics tool). Resellers can also provide Agilysys WMx workforce management, and Eatec foodservice inventory and procurement solutions.

ASI Launches New Cloud Software

Action Systems Inc. (ASI) is launching a new product family, RM Duet. This is an iOS/iPad, cloud-based product that complements ASI’s client/server-based Restaurant Manager application software. The software will provide features and functionality for table service, quick service, and delivery applications. There is fault tolerance built in to handle situations when access to the cloud is lost, providing restaurant users with a seamless experience. RM Duet beta sites have recently been installed and gone live with several more sites scheduled to be installed before commercial release.