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Tuesday, 30 June 2009
This article is the first in a series profiling the recent Self-Service and Kiosk Association Hall of Fame inductees.
The story has been told so often that it’s attached to Bradley Walker like one of his favorite bow-ties.
He went into a cybercafé in Eugene, Ore., in the late 90s and was struck by the utter lack of ingenuity. There were no directions for how to use the PCs, and the clerk wrote down his name and starting time on a piece of paper. Walker instinctively knew more was possible, that the computer itself should handle those tasks. And he began to see how he could create a company to help harness that technology to enhance customer experiences.
Not long after, Walker, 42, helped launch Nanonation in his hometown of Lincoln, Neb. A short decade and just more than 50 employees later, the company is considered a leading software-development firm in the digital signage and self-service industries, and Walker is its iconic face — and recent inductee into the Self-Service and Kiosk Association Hall of Fame.
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Nanonation's Bradley Walker receives his Hall of Fame award from David Drain, executive director of SSKA, at KioskCom in May.
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Walker says he is humbled by the honor, which requires nomination by a past recipient or member of the association’s advisory board. He also was surprised: Nanonation’s staff knew Walker planned to attend the KioskCom Self Service Expo and The Digital Signage Show in Las Vegas, where the awards were presented, so there was no reason to tell him about the nomination in advance.
“This is a great industry, and there are a ton of people who’ve made it their careers,” he said. “To be honored in a relatively short period is a big privilege.”
Walker, part of his family’s fifth generation in Lincoln, earned his undergraduate degree in speech communication at the University of Nebraska then went to work for the state’s department of labor as an economic research analyst. He knew early on that it wasn’t his future, but he was struck by how data and business rules could be applied to computers.
In 1989, he joined Healthcare Communications, which provided computer systems for small healthcare clinics. Six years later, after the company spurned his efforts to buy it, he started Unident, which did the same sort of work on the dental side. That company merged with Infocure, which spun off separate companies — Practice Works and Vital Works — to service doctors and dentists. The enterprise was eventually acquired by Kodak.
As Walker’s involvement wound down, he turned his sights to Nanonation, which he’d formed in 1998. “We began our R&D while we were going through the roll-up, and 90 days after the sale of Unident, we turned Nanonation on,” he said.
Walker attributes Nanonation’s success to understanding its niche. The company sits near the point where hardware and software meet: “Our premise is that companies use computers in a variety of ways,” he said, “whether it’s a kiosk or a desktop or a digital sign. It’s all really the same thing — a single-purpose computer platform that delivers a customer experience.”
Big-name clients include Harley-Davidson, Royal Caribbean cruise lines and Alamo Rent A Car. Nanonation recently developed a system for Royal Caribbean’s new luxury ship, the Solstice (part of the company’s Celebrity division), which uses one central point to control and link the myriad screens on-board. Walker said the deal, three years in the making, was particularly gratifying because of the client’s willingness to push the envelope of innovation.
The Alamo connection illustrates Nanonation’s aplomb, said Francie Mendelsohn, president of industry consultancy Summit Research Associates Inc. Alamo had an in-house check-in system that was simply disastrous, she said, and eventually turned to Nanonation. The company delivered a new system that works beautifully.
Mendelsohn said Walker is a worthy hall-of-fame inductee.
“He really put (Nanonation) on the map,” she said. “They produce really good work. They’ve got a really good team; Bradley surrounds himself with good people. And without sounding too corny, he is a really good guy. He is a businessman, but also caring. He is the kind of guy who, if you shake hands with him, you don’t have to count your fingers when you get your hand back.”
Walker still loves the challenge of product development and said he doesn’t see himself going anywhere for quite some time. He laughs now at how some people thought the Internet was a passing fad in 1998 and says he’s amazed at how it’s grown. He’s also stopped speculating about the future of technology, though he did say electronic medical records are long overdue.
His hardest lesson in business: “You can be absolutely wrong about your decisions, primarily as it relates to people. Anyone can make a wrong call. You have to be OK with that.”
For fun, Walker enjoys reading about military history and playing golf, though with two young children, he finds Frisbee golf more suitable to his schedule. He and wife Kimberley, a senior scientist for the Gallup polling organization, have a 10-year-old daughter, Cecilia, and a 6-year-old son, Raef.
He also enjoys being known for his signature sartorial touch: the bow-tie. He has 60 or 70, he said, and though they can be hard to find, he receives many as gifts. His father taught him to tie one when he was five, and he was hooked. He still wears a suit to work at least three days a week, always with the bow-tie that he said is easier to tie than it looks. “It’s a shoelace — two loops and pull them tight.”
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: SoloHealth, maker of the EyeSite vision-screening kiosk, has announced plans to expand into two new markets, more than doubling its installations. The kiosks will be placed in St. Louis and in one other new market and will be in 50 retail locations by next month, said company founder Bart Foster. EyeSite kiosks are currently deployed in 20 locations in metro Atlanta and Birmingham, Ala.
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Tuesday, 30 June 2009
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Global Axcess Corp., an independent provider of self-service kiosk solutions, today is providing an update on its latest sales initiatives.
According to a news release, the company has recently closed two ATM placement deals for a combined 61 new ATMs; expanded an existing client relationship by placing 65 new ATMs; renewed a major placement contract for five years; closed a bank-branding deal on select ATMs in Texas; renewed an existing financial institution-outsourcing deal on ATMs; and signed three pilot deals for it self-service kiosk business. Global Axcess expects the installation of the kiosks to begin this week.
"I am excited to provide an update on our progress in both our ATM sales and in our new self-service kiosk initiative,” said George McQuain, CEO of Global Axcess Corp. “In early 2009, we retooled and refocused our sales team to include the hiring of two seasoned sales professionals. As a result of these efforts, we now have a very robust sales pipeline and have seen an increase in the amount of requests for proposal relating to new business opportunities”
The company estimates the ATM sales to add or maintain $100,000-plus per month to its gross profit.
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
FRANKLIN, Tenn. — New research from the IHL Group says transactions at self-service kiosks will surpass $775 billion in 2009 and will grow to more than $1.6 trillion by 2013. The IHL Group is an analyst firm and consultancy that serves retailers and retail technology vendors.
"We expect continued double-digit growth in the revenue generated by self-service transactions, particularly as retailers, restaurants and transportation authorities offer more devices in more locations," said Lee Holman, lead retail analyst for the IHL Group.
"Most consumers have adapted to self-service as a way of life," Holman said. "The current recession is actually increasing the acceptance of the technologies, as they are a hedge against increasing labor expenses during a tough economic climate. They allow companies to schedule their workforce for high-volume periods without sacrificing service during non-peak times."
In the market study “2009 North American Self-Service Kiosks,” IHL examines the increasing use of six types of payment-accepting kiosks: self-checkout systems, ticketing, check-in, food ordering, postal and other retail applications. The report details the number and types of kiosks shipped historically and provides forecasts for each type of kiosk, both in terms of units shipped and revenue transacted.
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
NORTH CANTON, Ohio — Diebold Inc. has been listed among the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals’, or IAOP, 10 best outsourcing providers within the services industry in the group’s recently released 2009 Global Outsourcing 100 rankings.
According to a news release, Diebold improved its overall position from the 2008 rankings in its third consecutive year on the list. The Global Outsourcing 100 includes the world's top outsourcing service providers and consulting companies in a range of industries.
According to "ATM Fleet Refresh in the Shadow of the Financial Crisis," a recently published opinion piece by financial services technology analyst Jaroslaw Knapik of independent market analyst, Datamonitor, the outsourcing of ATM management is on the rise.
"ATM management outsourcing is a growing area and is being considered by many banking executives these days, especially by those who struggle to get capital for their investments but still have to compete for new clients, improve service levels and tackle their aging technology assets,” Knapik wrote. "Banks need to carefully analyze the total cost of ownership that is associated with the overall fleet management of ATMs, and benchmark it against vendors' rates for outsourcing services."
A North American survey of 80 IT decision makers within retail banks conducted by Datamonitor in the fourth quarter of 2008 found that business process outsourcing is high on CIOs' agendas as one of the major strategic goals for 2009.
Diebold was named to eight additional IAOP sublist honors, including Best 10 Leaders in No. of Centers Worldwide; Best 10 Most Company Presence; Best 20 Companies by Industry Focus: Services; Best 20 Leaders by Service Offered: Customer Relationship Management; Best 20 Leaders by Service Offered: Transaction Processing Services; Best Five Leaders by Region Served: South America; Best 20 Leaders by Region Served: India; and Top 10 List Climbers.
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
JERICHO, N.Y. — Incentient, a provider of self-service technology for the hospitality industry, today announced the launch of SmartTouch, a glass touchscreen panel with proprietary software that allows hotel guests in-room access to a full range of guest services without human intervention.
According to a news release, guests can use the system to order room service, schedule spa services, have their car retrieved from valet parking, or request services such as reservations at hotel-recommended restaurants, bell services, housekeeping and laundry pick-up. Guests are provided real-time updates on the status of their service requests.
The SmartTouch wireless glass panel is placed in the hotel room and offers rotating images of the hotel, selected food offerings based on time of day and an entire suite of services. Completely multilingual, the entire application can switch to the guest’s requested language with a touch of the screen.
The patent-pending operating environment requires no installation or disruption in the hotel room, and the system is a completely noninvasive, plug-and-play technology, according to the release. The screens service offerings and look and feel can be fully customized to match unique hotel brands.
“Hotel operators are being asked to provide an increasing number of guest services with fewer personnel,” said Jennifer Martucci, co-founder of Incentient. “Without systemic change, guests experience frustrations from hold times, unavailable personnel, language barriers and slow service, resulting in unfulfilled expectations. Incentient technology allows the hotel to increase service throughput to guests in these circumstances.”
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Home Media Magazine: Blockbuster Inc.’s just-rolled out Blockbuster Express rental kiosks will offer new releases for $1, not $1.99, as previously reported, according to a spokesperson.
Dallas-based Blockbuster, which plans to rollout 10,000 branded kiosks via a partnership with NCR Corp. through 2010, had originally offered first-day DVD and Blu-ray disc rentals for $1.99, with subsequent rental days for 99 cents, according to NCR. At $1.99 for the first day rental, Blockbuster Express would have charged a 50-percent premium compared to other kiosks, including those from industry leader Redbox, The New Release, DVDPlay and e-Play, among others.
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Monday, 29 June 2009
Recent years have been bleak for brick-and-mortar music retailers, and some would say that is a result of the iTunes and Netflix-led paradigm shift in how consumers obtain entertainment content.
But others counter that there are consumers who want an even different offering, one that meets them where they already are and gives them content on devices they already own. In fact, companies such as Frank Mayer & Associates, KIOSK Information Systems and NCR Corp. are banking on it. The three kiosk makers are working in partnership with entertainment companies Media Port, Mix & Burn and MOD Systems, respectively, to develop digital-download entertainment kiosks, either for placement at retail or in other verticals, such as travel and healthcare, for instance.
"We envision that they would be deployed in places where people are waiting and need access to entertainment," said Bob French, president of digital-download provider Mix & Burn. "We think that the target, the real prime opportunity is when someone is involuntarily waiting for something, either with transportation or at a hospital, for instance, and they just need something to do."
French and Mix & Burn have worked with KIOSK Information Systems to introduce the "MP3 Filling Station," a kiosk that houses more than 3 million DRM-free music tracks and is compatible with most download-ready media devices. The Frank Mayer/Media Port solution is similar, but its catalog also includes downloadable books, mobile games, ring tones, audio how-to manuals and whole movies and TV shows. NCR, Toshiba and MOD Systems are still developing their kiosk offering, but reports indicate the companies will offer digital downloading of both music and movies.
And though its actual future existence is still in question, Apple recently received a patent for an iTunes kiosk with the capability to detect compatible media devices and download music wirelessly.
The various digital-download solutions differ in some ways, but the basics are similar: All offer mostly DRM-free music tracks and can download to digital devices, SD memory cards and USB devices, and Frank Mayer and Media Port’s solution even burns and dispenses CDs. Users can choose to download individual songs, whole albums or their own compilations, and the price structures are generally the same as those one would find on iTunes other online music services. Some new releases go for $1.29, while most songs are 99 cents and others even dip down to the 69-cent level.
With the Frank Mayer/Media Port and KIOSK/Mix & Burn offerings, deployers can brand the kiosk’s enclosure and choose its hardware configuration — touchscreen, keyboard or a combination; whether to integrate cash acceptors; etc. Frank Mayer’s solution has been installed in Greyhound stations and a number of retail locations in New Zealand and Australia, and the company says it is currently conducting tests with three major retailers in the United States. The KIOSK/Mix & Burn solution has been deployed in three trial locations.
Will people use them?
What some in the self-service and retail industries are wondering, though, is whether these kiosks are answering a question no one is asking. Why, for instance, would a consumer go out of her way to download music at the neighborhood supermarket when she can do it just as easily, more comfortably, more securely and at her convenience at home?
French says he gets that question often.
“The answer is that this service is not meant to be everyone’s solution,” he said. “Your well-trained, highly computer-literate young person, for the most part, does not need this service, and I’ll admit that right up front. But there is a group of underserved people, the unbanked people and older people, who never really ‘got digital’ and need to be served.”
“It creates another channel,” said Ron Bowers, senior vice president of business development for Frank Mayer and Associates. “With the woes that the music industry has had, the opportunity for allowing the consumer to purchase products when they want to, the way they want to is really the strength behind this solution.”
But not everyone is so optimistic.
“There will always be people who aren’t technologically savvy and will be slower to adapt to the new technology,” said Francie Mendelsohn, president of industry consultancy Summit Research Associates Inc. “But going forward, that just not where the growth is going to be.”
Mendelsohn does say, however, that she could see such technology being successful in airports, especially if coupled with electronics-vending kiosks, such as those from Zoom Systems Inc. and Best Buy.
“What’s an iPod with no content? It serves no purpose,” she said. “But if you actually would be able to add the content, that would make a lot of sense.”
Thus far, the Frank Mayer/Media Port and KIOSK/Mix & Burn solutions are only deployed in the United States on a trial basis, and the NCR/Toshiba/MOD Systems kiosk is still in development.
Bryan Heathman, marketing consultant and author of “Conversion Marketing,” says there are three very important factors in the success of digital-download technology at retail:
1. Placing the kiosks in locations where the target audience has discretionary time.
2. Clearly knowing the target audience and which of these locations they frequent.
3. Delivering content in a multifaceted manner – USB, wireless, discs.
Frank Mayer and Bowers think the biggest key to the success of digital-download kiosks is simple: variety.
“This is a new channel opportunity, a new way to allow customers to purchase the way that they want to purchase, when they want to purchase,” Bowers said. “It’s not going to take the place of and put other solutions out of business, it’s just going to add more opportunity for the consumer.”
Friday, 26 June 2009
DULUTH, Ga. — NCR Corp. ranks No. 1 worldwide in the self-checkout market, according to Retail Banking Research Ltd., a strategic research and consulting firm headquartered in London.
The newly published “Global EPOS and Self-Checkout 2009” report from RBR shows that the adoption of self-checkout solutions has accelerated over the last two years. In addition, RBR predicts that the installed base of self-checkouts is due to nearly triple by 2012 to reach 250,000 units globally.
According to an NCR news release, more than 140 retailers from 12 different retail segments and more than 20 countries use NCR SelfServ Checkout. NCR attributes its market leadership to its continuous innovation and a consultative approach to helping retailers meet key business objectives with their self-checkout strategies.
“Two out of three self-checkouts shipped in the last five years are from NCR,” said Mike Webster, NCR's vice president and general manager for retail and hospitality. “This includes a ‘who’s who’ list of retailers. They value NCR’s relentless focus on improving store productivity and customer service levels. We are achieving this not only through innovations in the technology itself, but also the way in which it is deployed and managed.”
NCR believes the current challenging economic conditions will prove a stimulus for the wider adoption of self-checkouts. Industry initiatives, such as the introduction of GS1 DataBar barcodes, are expected to improve self-checkout ease of use even further. These new barcodes can be more than 50 percent smaller than current EAN/UPC barcodes, making them suitable for use on loose produce, such as fruit and vegetables. This can allow consumers to simply scan such items, rather than search for them on the screen or key in codes.
Friday, 26 June 2009
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — NCR Corp. has named Luc Villeneuve the new president of NCR Canada.
According to a news release, Villeneuve comes from the information-technology industry, where he has more than 20 years of experience. At NCR Canada, he will oversee sales, client services, marketing and the management of NCR Canada's financial and retail businesses, as well as travel, gaming, entertainment and healthcare.
"Luc's primary objective will be to help businesses in the Canadian financial and retail industries," said John Di Leo, region vice president of North American sales and marketing. "Luc will work with business to adopt and optimize self-service solutions to help lower their costs and open new channels of revenue. There is tremendous growth of the self-service market in Canada. Luc will have close contact with our customers in Canada, helping them to be successful with their self-service strategies."
Prior to joining NCR, Villeneuve spent five years at Sun Microsystems Canada as the vice president of sales. During his career, he has held senior executive sales and marketing positions at BCE, GE Capital ITS and CNC Global Ltd.
Villeneuve is bilingual and holds a business administration degree from Algonquin College. He is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario's Marketing Management Executive Program and is a certified Six Sigma practitioner.
Thursday, 25 June 2009
FRESNO, Calif. — Continental Prison Systems Inc., provider of the EZ-Card and Kiosk technology for cashless solutions, today announced a strategic alliance with FSH Telecom. Based in Chicago, FSH Telecom is a premier provider of telecommunications services for the detention and correctional markets.
According to a news release, under the strategic alliance, FSH Telecom has been awarded a contract for the Pima County Jail in Tucson, Ariz., to provide all of FSH's Telecom phone system services, as well as EZ Card and Kiosk's full complement of services. Pima County jail has 2,355 beds, and the facility releases more than 140 inmates per day. FSH and CPSI will implement the EZ Release Card and install three kiosks at the main jail facility's booking area, holding area and lobby. One kiosk also will be installed at the Mission Street Work Release Center for work release payments by accepting employer's checks, money orders, credit/debit cards and cash.
"CPSI is looking forward to launching its EZ Card and Kiosk products and services at Pima County Jail with the business association through FSH Telecom, a real leader in the phone system service business for the correctional industry," said Kirkton Shoop, vice-president of business development for CPSI. "This will be the first of many correctional facilities around the country that EZ Card and Kiosk and FSH Telecom join forces on."
Thursday, 25 June 2009
ITWeb: Vodacom, a provider of mobile communications and other services in Africa, is set to unveil a series of interactive kiosks that aim to attract and provide information to tourists in South Africa. The kiosks will showcase the “best of” the country and provide a focal point of information for visitors, in a bid to grow South Africa's reputation as a friendly and world-class destination.
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Wednesday, 24 June 2009
AVweb: Verified Identity Pass, the company that operates the Clear security-screening kiosks at about 20 major U.S. airports, announced it is shutting down Monday, forcing its customers to shuffle shoeless with the masses through the regular security lines. In a statement, the company said it couldn't reach a deal with its senior creditor to keep going. About 250,000 customers had paid up to $199 a year to zip through using the lines for the segregated kiosks, which used retinal scans and fingerprints to verify the identity of travelers whose security background information was on a database. The company says the private information will be deleted securely but, unfortunately, so will the fees that have been paid.
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Wednesday, 24 June 2009
BURNABY, British Columbia — TIO Networks Corp. has announced unaudited third quarter and nine-month financial results for the period ended April 30.
During Q3, TIO reported a net loss of $650,585, up from the $1.26 million net loss reported in Q3 2008.
But revenue was up 63 percent, totaling $5.7 million, during the quarter, and operating expenses were reduced by $162,995 from the previous year. According to a news release, the earnings make Q3 TIO's 27th consecutive quarter of transaction growth, and the company's network transaction endpoints also have increased and now total 12,959. TIO ended the quarter with a positive EBITDA of $180,000.
"Our base of recurring revenue continues to grow, as does our business-development pipeline," said Hamed Shahbazi, chairman and chief executive of TIO Networks. "We are confident that our current and new business opportunities will increase transactions and continue to drive strong revenue growth in the quarters and years ahead."
TIO will host a conference call today at 2 p.m. EDT to review the Q3 financial results. The toll-free dial-in number is 1-800-733-7571, and callers should request the TIO Networks conference.
TIO is a multichannel, expedited bill-payment processor, serving telecom, wireless, cable and utility bill issuers in North America.
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
At a time when many businesses are downsizing, Ed Crowley could probably use a few extra hands around the office. He has more than enough on his plate as he runs OneSource Interactive, the company he started about six months ago.
Based just outside Dayton, in Kettering, Ohio, OneSource works with hardware and software providers in the kiosk and digital signage industries to bring turnkey solutions and consulting services to its clients. Among the company’s offerings are standard and custom kiosks, digital signage and digital directory solutions, 3D and interactive LCD and LED displays, and a host of supporting hardware and software platforms for both indoor and outdoor requirements.
Crowley says his decision to start the company had much to do with the 10-plus years he spent traveling domestically and internationally during his career in the two industries. He tells of running across a kiosk design in Europe several years ago that helped him recognize a real opportunity for growth in the U.S. self-service market.
“I think the style of manufacturing, along with the quality and contemporary nature of these kiosks, has always been underappreciated and undermarketed,” he said. “I always just thought there wasn’t enough cool stuff in the kiosk market. When you go to other countries and attend other shows and events, you see some really neat things and you go, ‘Well, that may never fly in the States, but what if it could?’”
Bridging the gap
So Crowley decided to work toward merging useful, functional self-service devices with high-quality, modern, European-influenced design concepts.
At OneSource, he works with kiosk manufacturers EuroTouch Kiosks, Sprocket, Alveni and 5point (his former employer), along with a short list of other providers. To complete the solution, Crowley collaborates with the usual suspects in software development, including KioWare, Livewire, Netkey, Nanonation and Electronic Art, and to provide installation services and maintenance, he often partners with Rhombus Services.
“I have established relationships with virtually every manufacturer and service provider over the years, and I’m in a unique position now where I can really pick the best individual platforms for each specific customer,” Crowley said. “I can determine, ‘OK, this hardware vendor may be right for this deployment; this software vendor may be right for that deployment.’ So every opportunity will be based on the requirements of that opportunity.”
From start to finish, a kiosk rollout can be a tedious process, and the real benefit for OneSource’s clients, Crowley says, is that they get to leave it all up to him.
“We all know with the current economy there’s a huge crunch on bandwidth. Everybody is doing more with less,” he said. “This way, they can basically focus on their core business and not have to sweat the small stuff. Leave that up to the experts who have done many, many successful deployments over the years.”
But it’s not just his clients that benefit. Crowley also works closely with both SSKA, where he serves as vice president of vendors for the board of directors, and the Digital Signage Association.
“I always maybe felt a little guilty that I wasn’t able to give more time to the industry,” Crowley said. “I really feel that all these things are very important and worthwhile causes, and I’m trying to dedicate some quality time.”
And Crowley gets a little something out of the deal, as well.
“I can’t imagine doing anything else,” he said. “I’m very passionate about our evolving markets, and that same passion is being brought forward to offer new, contemporary, unique and exciting products and services to the market.”
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Pan-Oston, a leader in smart retail counter and checkout solutions, has introduced a kit that enables retailers, healthcare providers, airlines, hotels, libraries, businesses, government agencies and private service organizations to unobtrusively and directly assist hearing-aid wearers.
According to a news release, the Shop Hear and Service Hear upgrade kits combine sophisticated electronic induction loop circuitry with a system’s amplifier, microphone(s), power and connecting cables and signage to quickly convert any self-service or self-checkout counter to a hearing impaired-friendly point of communication.
The induction loop technology used in Shop Hear and Service Hear kits works with T-Coil technology, which is built into the majority of hearing aids. Deployers can identify the service positions by marking them with the internationally recognized symbol for T-Coil technology. By switching their hearing aids to the T position, customers enjoy direct, clear and confidential one-on-one communication without the interference of background noise or music.
Shop Hear and Service Hear upgrade kits easily integrate with virtually every existing counter or checkout/service technology available today. Companies and organizations using the Shop Hear or Service Hear kits will provide a valuable community service to a large segment of the population and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, said Jim Vance, president of Pan-Oston.
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — In an entry posted today on his blog, BarryJudge.com, Best Buy’s chief marketing officer announced a test of video game trade-in kiosks in several of the retailer’s Texas locations. Last month, Wal-Mart announced a similar test in 77 of its stores, in partnership with entertainment kiosk company e-Play.
“As we continue to explore new ways to make our customers happy, Best Buy is moving into the used games market. This week, several of our Dallas and Austin stores will test a kiosk-based model that allows customers to insert their used games into a kiosk that will scan it for functionality, and immediately issue a voucher that is instantly redeemable for a Best Buy gift card."
Monday, 22 June 2009
The NEXTEP SYSTEMS automated ordering solution and the company's dramatic growth were featured in the June 18 edition of The Detroit News. The complete article can be viewed here.
Monday, 22 June 2009
BRADENTON, Fla. — SteriLyfe LLC has introduced the latest addition to the STERISTATION line of hand sanitizing/advertising kiosks. STERISTATION Jr. has a smaller footprint than its predecessor, as its height and base areas have been reduced by 40 percent. The kiosk is 50 inches tall and 15 inches wide at its base and has a one-piece design that allows for easy set-up.
According to a news release, the STERISTATION kiosks offer advertising space for custom signage and graphics and can be a revenue-generating vehicle for retailers, who can integrate coupon dispensers, brochure holders, business card dispensers and menu boards if desired. The kiosks are made from lightweight, recyclable plastic and come standard with built-in, touchfree hand-sanitizer dispensers, which are connected to five-liter cartridges that can handle more than 5,000 uses.
"Now more than ever is the time to use the first line of defense and the No. 1-recommended tool against the spread of infections and disease in all public places," said David J. Stob, president of SteriLyfe. "Areas such as restaurants, schools, buffet lines, hospitals, airports, train stations, food courts, shopping malls, cruise ships and sports areSteriLyfe intros small-format hand-sanitizing kiosknas are just a few of the numerous areas STERISTATION can be placed for providing a hand hygiene tool with the added benefits of advertising and promotion."
Monday, 22 June 2009
BURNABY, British Columbia — Self-service bill-payment provider TIO Networks Corp. will report its third-quarter 2009 financial results June 24. A conference call for investors and analysts will be held the same day at 2 p.m. EDT. Complete financial results will be available prior to the call at www.sedar.com.
Hamed Shahbazi, TIO’s chairman and chief executive, and Derek Lai, acting chief financial officer, will review the quarter and provide a corporate update.
To participate in the conference call, dial 1-800-733-7571. Callers should request the TIO Networks conference.
Friday, 19 June 2009
EMMAUS, Pa. — Global media company Rodale Inc. announced today the introduction of a digital kiosk to aid shoppers at the Boston Public Market at Dewey Square, sponsored by Rodale and located along the Rose F. Kennedy Greenway. Designed by creative technology leader Obscura Digital, the kiosk, anchored in the center of the Dewey Square Farmers Market, is available for use by the public on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. through Oct. 15.
“This kiosk represents a happy marriage between digital technology and a traditional farmer’s market,” said Steven Pleshette Murphy, president and chief executive of Rodale. “Deep content and useful features will help visitors get the most out of the market, and by providing a digital display in support of farmers and shoppers, as opposed to distributing paper marketing materials, we demonstrate our commitment to environmentally sound best practices.”
The kiosk will feature digital content that includes information about Rodale’s history, its magazines and international activities, Rodale.com, and the work of the Rodale Institute and the Rodale's Farmers Market Network. Rodale’s recipes and top-selling books, such as the New York Times bestseller “The End of Overeating,” Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth,” “Eat This Not That” and “The Flat Belly Diet” will be featured on the kiosk.
Other kiosk features include a calendar of events highlighting Boston Farmers Market activities, the harvest season, farmer information and vendor Web sites, farm locations in 3D Google maps, interesting farm facts and a glossary of terms. Users will have the ability to e-mail information such as recipes and shopping lists from the kiosk.
“The new kiosk underscores Rodale’s leadership role in the organic food movement, its sponsorship of the Boston Public Market at Dewey Square and the RFK Greenway Conservancy and supports the ongoing effort to inspire people to shop locally and live healthy,” said Nancy Brennan, executive director of The Rose F. Kennedy Greenway Conservancy.
Based on Rodale’s commitment to support both farmers and shoppers with a wealth of in-depth information, Obscura designed a highly interactive touchscreen kiosk. By combining a 42-inch LCD panel with Obscura’s customized touchscreen overlay and custom interface, Obscura created a friendly and intuitive experience for shoppers to navigate through a wide range of valuable content.
Friday, 19 June 2009
SEATTLE — MOD Systems Inc., a provider of digital media delivery systems for retailers, today announced that senior vice president of business development, Brad Gleeson, will participate in a session called “Digital Den” at the Entertainment Supply Chain Academy, or ESCA, in Los Angeles. Also speaking at the session will be executives from such companies as Yahoo! Connected TV, Edgecast, BuzzMedia, BluFocus and more.
The “Digital Den” session, hosted by Parks Associates, will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Pacific on Wednesday, June 24, 2009, at the Luxe Hotel in Los Angeles.
During this rapid-fire session, executives from eleven companies looking to monetize and find their footing in the emerging world of digital content delivery and home entertainment will offer brief individual presentations. Each presenter will describe the transition of content delivery from the traditional physical distribution model to where it stands today and how it may change in the future. Presentations will cover delivery models ranging from open source online video and interactive broadcasting to MOD Systems’ digital delivery in retail.
Gleeson currently serves as the senior vice president of business development for MOD Systems. Before joining the company, he founded and acted as managing partner of TargetPath LLC, a consulting company providing management, strategic planning and business development consulting to digital signage, specialty display and out-of-home media clients. Gleeson also has held senior positions with Planar Systems Inc., Active Light and CineLight, national value-added distributors that were among the first to sell plasma and large LCD monitors in the U.S.
Friday, 19 June 2009
IRVINE, Calif. — American Industrial Systems Inc. has introduced a low-cost 15-inch industrial panel PC, powered by an Intel Atom N270 processor, to answer the demand of today’s budget-conscious economy.
According to a news release, the product’s modular design allows several mechanical mounting solutions, including open-frame, panel-mount bezel, IP65/NEMA4 bezel and rack-mountable bezels. It features low power consumption, integrated touchscreen and IP65 dust/water protection. Utilizing the Intel Atom processor provides efficient, reliable performance at a fraction of the cost. AIS’s industrial panel PC solution is meant for applications such as automation control, HMI, testing equipment, process monitoring, kiosks and digital signage.
The units are encased in a steel chassis, protecting the components from harsh industrial environments, including shock/vibration, extreme temperatures and excessive use. The optional IP65/NEMA4X bezel provides water and dust protection for dirty or wet environments. Standard VESA mounts or mounting clips are available for easy mounting to any fixture. Pricing for the PC starts at $699.
Thursday, 18 June 2009
DELFT, The Netherlands — Home furnishings retailer IKEA has deployed 18 Xen X5 customer loyalty-registration kiosks in six of its Belgian stores. The kiosks offer customers the convenience of signing up for the IKEA FAMILY program in-store, and loyalty customers benefit further by being the first to know of upcoming promotions, sales and events via on-screen information targeted solely at them.
"We are very happy with the IKEA FAMILY registration kiosks that are installed in all Belgian IKEA stores,” said Tim Schroons of IKEA Belgium. “They allow us to have a much more efficient way of recruiting new IKEA FAMILY members without the presence of a coworker being required. This versatile solution allows us to recruit new members and have existing members print out a temporary card or update their customer profile in a user-friendly way."
According to a news release, Quant Marketing created the concept for the kiosk solution during its marketing-led IT projects in 2008 and selected Protouch as its hardware partner. The kiosks feature 19-inch touchscreens, 80mm receipt printers and keyboards.
“We are really excited to be involved in Quant’s kiosk solution for IKEA,” said Tom Quarry, managing director of Protouch. “It is great to see our touchscreen kiosks working so well within the project by improving IKEA’s operations and enhancing in-store experience for its customers.”
IKEA may continue the rollout in other European locations.
Thursday, 18 June 2009
CHICAGO — Flyte Systems, a provider of airport travel information displays and digital signage content for the hospitality industry, convention centers and related businesses, has announced it will launch its newest FlyteTouch PLUS system with local traffic, weather and other essential travel information enhancements for hotel guests. Currently, FlyteTouch provides real-time, airport flight information on an easy-to-use touchscreen panel.
According to a news release, FlyteTouch PLUS delivers total end-to-end travel information that gives guests greater confidence in their travel plans and enables hotels and other travel companies to stand out from competitors. The system is available with either a desktop or large touchscreen display. The new FlyteTouch PLUS system provides instant touchscreen flight information for one or more airports and offers multiple travel information modules including:
• Boarding pass printing
• Real-time local Doppler weather radar display
• Local traffic condition updates
• Regional train or bus schedules
• Evacuation procedures
• First-responder directives
"Flyte Systems developed the new FlyteTouch PLUS travel information system based on its work with hundreds of hotels and other businesses to deliver the total travel system guests are asking for," said Brian Reynolds, president of Flyte Systems. "Our real-time airport flight information displays and kiosks provide a valuable service to travelers, and now we are enhancing our services to deliver local information on ground transportation, weather and regional safety-related issues."
Thursday, 18 June 2009
PLEASANTON, Calif. — NextWindow, maker of optical touchscreens for all-in-one PCs and large-format displays, has been awarded two key technology patents, one in the U.S. and another in China. The newly granted patents, which refer to optical touchsystems incorporating light emitters, reflectors and detection methods, help cement NextWindow’s leadership positions in the Chinese manufacturing and U.S. sales markets.
According to a news release, the U.S. patent (No. 7,538,759) is titled, “Touch Panel Display System with Illumination and Detection Provided from a Single Edge.” NextWindow previously was granted this patent in Australia, and requests for patents are pending in Canada, Europe, Hong Kong and Japan.
The Chinese patent (No. 200480009926) is titled, “Touch Panel and Method of Optically Detecting the Presence of an Object in relation to the Touch Screen.” A request for this patent also has been filed in Australia, the United States, Europe, Japan and Korea.
“NextWindow has invested significant research and development resources in the optical touchscreen space, and these patents represent the latest additions to our growing IP portfolio extending around the world,” said Al Monro, chief executive NextWindow. “That the patents were granted in critical international markets where a number of our customers and partners are based also is significant, given the importance of gaining competitive advantage at this very dynamic time in the rapidly growing touchscreen market. Likewise, the new patents demonstrate NextWindow’s ongoing commitment to innovation, dating back nearly 10 years.”
NextWindow has been growing its patent portfolio since 2000. The company previously was granted patents for its optical touchscreen technology in the United States and Australia, and several other patents relating to its optical touchscreen technology are pending throughout the world.
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
Supermarket news: According to research from the University of California, self-checkout systems allowed the sale of alcohol to minors nearly 20 percent of the time. The study says the reasons for this finding include the failure of some self-checkouts to lock until an employee has verified the user’s ID and the ability of customers to override a system by swiping a credit card or scanning other items. The study also found a lack of adequate supervision of self-checkouts, with only one employee working the self-checkout area in 60 percent of store visits and no employee at all in 5 percent of the visits. In addition, although store personnel are supposed to check IDs for anyone who looks under the age of 30, the study says 32 percent of consumers under age 30 were not asked to show identification.
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Wednesday, 17 June 2009
TROY, Mich. — NEXTEP SYSTEMS, a leading provider of automated deli ordering solutions, recently announced release 4.0 of its Deli 1-2-3 self-order product suite. The product incorporates significant new features, including support for handheld line-busting tablets, repeat orders on the kiosks and online ordering, interface to Invatron PLUM scale system and interface to ScaleVision scale system.
Customers who prefer touchscreen kiosk ordering now can look up and quickly repeat previous orders using either their loyalty card or mobile phone number. With Repeat Orders, ordering from the deli takes shoppers less than 30 seconds. The Invatron PLUM and ScaleVision interfaces provide synchronized product pricing and inventory management through Deli 1-2-3. When a retailer updates pricing and availability in its point-of-sale and scale systems, it is immediately reflected on the kiosks, tablets and online ordering interfaces.
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
ATLANTA — Ariane Systems Group, a provider of self-service check-in/check-out solutions within the EMEA regions, announced today that it has established a definitive agreement to structure a joint venture with TAOS Technologies LLC and its affiliates to develop and deploy hospitality-oriented self-service technology solutions within North America. The new venture will be called Ariane Systems North America and will be based in Atlanta.
Ariane Systems specializes in product manufacturing and software development and offers a wide range of software products and customized service solutions recognized within the hospitality market.
TAOS Technologies’ expertise lies in the deployment and support of custom-developed software and guest-facing technologies, including self-service check-in/check-out solutions in North America. TAOS Technologies is partnered with some of the largest hoteliers in the world for the development of IT solutions and provides requirements gathering, R&D, hardware/software integration, project management, supplier management, site installation and ongoing help desk support services.
“Leveraging the existing resources, processes and systems of both parties will provide both customer-facing and back office hospitality solutions at a depth and breadth not yet seen in North America,” said Jeff Councilman, president of TAOS.
The North American integrated offering will combine Ariane Systems Group’s software development components, including licensing and maintenance agreements, with TAOS Technologies’ hardware and service solutions offerings. Ariane Systems North America will be led and managed by TAOS Technologies LLC in Atlanta.
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
MINNEAPOLIS — How quickly are banks adopting digital signage? What obstacles are they encountering? What can the industry learn from banks that have already pioneered this emerging medium?
Those topics will be explored in "Digital Signage in Retail Financial Services: What John Ryan's European Survey Means for Your Bank," a webinar slated for June 29, from 10 a.m. until to 11 a.m. EDT. Hosted by Bob Steele, vice chairman of John Ryan, the webinar will review the results of John Ryan's survey of European and South African bank-marketing executives.
The webinar also features two guest panelists — Paco Underhill, founder and chief executive of Envirosell and best-selling author of "Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping," and Mike Hiatt, former director of Walmart's Smart Network — who will discuss the implications of the John Ryan survey.
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
NATICK, Mass. — Self-service solution investment by North American retailers, hospitality operators, and healthcare providers exceeded $2.8 billion in 2008 and is expected to grow 15.3 percent annually through 2013, according to VDC Research Group’s recently published “Self-Service and Customer Interaction Management Solutions: North American Market Opportunities and Requirements.” The report evaluates the current and emerging opportunities for self-service within the North American market. While North American enterprises are becoming increasingly cautious regarding their adoption and investment in most IT categories, spending on SS/CIM solutions is expected to be stable for the next 6-18 months and grow rapidly soon thereafter.
Across all three vertical markets, enterprises are finding themselves subject to overwhelming pressure to improve turnover, reduce costs and enhance customer experiences. Self-service solutions are being deployed for their unique ability to support all three goals with a one-point solution.
The value propositions associated with self-service solutions are cementing these technologies as one area that enterprises will continue to evaluate and invest in over the next few years.
“The most successful self-service solutions will continue to be centered on a multidimensional value proposition that includes an emphasis on cost management, enhancement of the stakeholder experience and corporate branding,” said auto ID and transaction automation analyst Rory Gardner. “This is in addition to the basic performance attributes of these solutions that include ease of use, reliability and security.”
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
Solid State Information Design is an independent communications consultancy that slots neatly between technology providers and procurers, working with one or both to achieve higher-impact, higher-value implementations. For organizations assessing out-of-home interactive systems we provide needs audits, research and customer experience design. Solid State also teams with providers to augment their strategic consulting capabilities or strengthen their market edge with branding, message design and sales support.
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
Finextra.com: NCR Corp. says a new plant in Brazil, in which the company will invest more than $37 million, will produce cash machines for the Brazilian, Latin American and Caribbean markets, with production slated to begin by the end of the year. The new plant will take over production currently outsourced to a local contract manufacturer. Brazil is the third largest ATM market in the world and is expected to grow 16 percent by 2012. NCR says the new factory will look to design and engineer specific products to meet the needs of Brazilian financial institutions, including capabilities for biometric ID and check printing.
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Tuesday, 16 June 2009
PORTLAND, Ore. — Solvport, a Portland, Ore.-based ATM and kiosk services provider, today announced the expansion of the technical help-desk services it provides to Automated Systems America Inc., a nationwide full-service ATM company based in Glendale, Calif.
Solvport has provided field service and phone technical support for Automated Systems America’s ATMs for four years and now will provide help-desk services for the company’s newest product, the Money Source Cash Advance kiosk. The agreement marks Solvport's first entry into servicing ATMs and kiosks in the casino and gaming industry. Service to be provided includes 24/7 help-desk support for the cash advance kiosks and client-support terminals located in casinos throughout California.
"Casinos demand premium service. They require 24/7 support, immediate service and quick resolution of any issues,” said Kent Cain, senior vice president and chief operations officer for Automated Systems America. “[We] have depended on Solvport for over four years to provide all levels of service for our portfolio of ATMs. Because of their superior performance, we were confident Solvport will deliver the level of support needed for our customers in the demanding casino environment."
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
FRESNO, Calif. — Fresno Yosemite International Airport today announced the installation of a MYPVDATA kiosk. Using the kiosk, airport staff and travelers, as well as those in the local community, can access a real-time view of how the 2.4 megawatt-capacity solar array at the airport is performing.
According to a news release, the kiosk is connected directly to the MYPVDATA solar monitoring, management and performance system to deliver real-time performance data of the solar system. The new kiosk will help increase public awareness and education about Fresno Yosemite Airport's commitment to improving its environmental footprint through the use of solar energy.
The airport's solar system was established using a solar power purchase agreement, or PPA, with system developer and operator Solar Power Partners Inc. The system is installed on a 20-acre site and was constructed with APS single-axis trackers that enable the modules to follow the movement of the sun. The solar-generated electricity is conveyed by underground conductors to the airport's main power supply and integrated into the airport's electrical center.
In addition to its physical location at the airport, the kiosk’s user interface also can be accessed online at http://webkiosk.mypvdata.net/c/fresno_airport/index.php. The kiosk’s users will find photographs and specifications of the system, as well as real-time reports on daily, weekly, monthly and lifetime energy production, CO2-emissions reductions and the equivalent savings, in terms of trees planted or miles driven by American cars. In the last 30 days, the MYPVDATA kiosk reports that the Fresno Yosemite Airport solar panels have generated 524,948 kWh of solar energy, which is the equivalent of planting 2072 trees or driving 303,837 fewer miles.
MYPVDATA tracks energy production, solar use and savings achieved with pinpoint accuracy. As soon as a problem is detected, whether it is caused by environmental, component or lifecycle factors, SPP's operators are notified and can dispatch a maintenance crew to quickly remedy the problem, thus limiting downtime and maintaining a steady stream of energy production. The new kiosk solution located at the airport provides an easy-to-understand view of the system for the public.
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
CHELTENHAM, Gloucestershire — U.K. supermarket chain Tesco will trial DVD-rental kiosks from The Movie Booth this month, according to an announcement from The Movie Booth. Tesco has later plans to deploy one of the kiosks in each of its Irish stores, assuming the successful completion of the test rollout. The first tests will launch in the retailer’s Wexford and Dublin stores mid-month.
“The retail industry has proven to be the ideal place for our product to be successful,” said Carlos Marco, managing director of The Movie Booth. “It’s a great compliment to existing trade, but also offers an entirely new service area. It’s proven massively popular in the U.S., and we hope that our recent good news will enable us to match that level of success here in Ireland.”
Irish retailers such as Centra, Vivo and Supervalue already have deployed DVD-rental kiosks from The Movie Booth.
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
MILWAULKEE — Frank Mayer & Associates Inc. has introduced an interactive digital-download media kiosk that allows convenient access to more than a million music tracks, movies, TV shows, ring tones, games and more.
Frank Mayer & Associates partnered with MediaPort, a leader in retail digital-media distribution, to create a custom kiosk enclosure where customers can mix and create CDs, DVDs or downloads personalized with artwork and messages. Features of the kiosk include tailored retail/product branding, an easy-to-use touchscreen interface, seamless retail integration and a variety of payment options.
“In today’s competitive retail market, companies are looking for convenient in-store solutions which drive traffic and create loyalty and new opportunities,” said Ronald Bowers, vice president of new business development for Frank Mayer. “The Retail Digital Media kiosk offers a host of intuitive options at the touch of finger and within minutes provides customer satisfaction and loyalty.”
Monday, 15 June 2009
Reality Interactive is a full service digital merchandising solutions provider. We assist in all phases of projects with the ability to provide turnkey solutions including Defining Business Objectives, Interactive Design, Application Development, Deployment Planning, and Post-deployment Support.
Friday, 12 June 2009
I attended the NACStech show recently held in Grapevine, Tex. and PCI compliance was certainly on the minds of the attendees, exhibitors and show management. Indeed, seven workshop sessions pertained to PCI.
For those not familiar, PCI stands for Payment Card Industry, and when PCI is mentioned, people typically mean compliance with the PCI Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). Retailers, including convenience stores, have been scrambling for months to understand the PCI DSS and make sure they are compliant.
Compliance is mandated by the payment card brands such as Visa and MasterCard. In simple terms, the standard is to protect consumer’s credit card data to prevent fraud. Secure networks, encryption, restricting access to cardholder data and having a security policy are all involved.
Who has to comply? According to the PCI Security Standards Web site, "All entities that transmit, process or store payment card data must be compliant with PCI DSS."
Jeff Lenard, vice president of communications for the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), which produces NACStech, said one of the themes of the show was "making scary go away." Attendance was down, as has been the case for most trade shows and conferences this year, but Lenard estimated the attendance to be about 1,000 with 90-plus exhibitors.
Lenard said that the retailers have had to address two scary topics at this year’s event – credit card fraud and social engineering. Social engineering, according to Wikipedia, "is the act of manipulating people into performing actions or divulging confidential information." Lenard talked about how security breaches can really hurt your brand.
When asked about the impact of digital signage at c-stores, Lenard said, "Signage at the pump is huge. Changing a sign manually takes time and money." Also, you can "show in-store promotions and boost sales."
When asked about kiosks, he commented that using "kiosks for ordering food takes labor out of the question." As to other advantages, he pointed out that younger people are used to it, you can offer service in multiple languages and "kiosks always know to upsell."
From the show floor
Citizen’s booth featured one of its latest products, the CT-S2000 Memory Printer with 32 MB of memory. It can print out journal data on demand, is six times faster than impact printers, have fewer moving parts, comes with a three-year warranty and there are no ribbons to buy.
Dresser Wayne, manufacturer of fuel dispensers, rolled out pay-at-the-pump in 1986. The big push this year is on security. On May 15, Dresser Wayne announced the iX Pay Secure Payment retrofit kits for Dresser Wayne and Tokheim fuel dispensers. The kits help retailers comply with the PCI Encrypting PIN Pad (EPP) requirements.
Gilbarco Veeder-Root had several interesting products on display:
- An Express Ordering food kiosk, using IBM Anyplace Kiosk hardware
- Intelligent Device Management (IDM), which consolidates remote monitoring of all devices and gives a retailer the ability to monitor anything in the store: heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, even the back door. One can track how many people are coming and going, manage lighting levels and generate alarms when something’s amiss.
- Applause Media System, a screen housed within the fuel pump itself, rather than on top, featuring rich content and the ability to print coupons on demand. New to the Applause system is the addition of video and audio.
NEC featured several products: its Twin POS 5500, digital signage and tablets for mobile communication between stores and within stores. For example, headquarters can notify stores if a product has been recalled. In addition, the tablet serves as an inventory management tool. NEC also promoted the fact that it provides business and IT consulting.
Working with Ingenico, Orpak makes retrofit pay-at-the pump devices for PCI compliance.
The Pinnacle Corporation, which makes automation technology for c-stores, had a clever sign in their booth that read: "There are only 3 certainties in life: Death. Taxes. PCI Compliance." What also caught my eye was a food ordering kiosk. Pinnacle makes kiosk software to backend software so it ties into the POS.
Radiant Systems, a manufacturer of hardware and software for POS, had on hand a new 17-inch all-in-one kiosk terminal featuring an encrypted magnetic card reader and dual core chip. James Hervey, in global product marketing, also pointed out that the unit is passively cooled. Radiant has a solid state version (no moving parts) and makes an outdoor version as well.
Also in Radiant’s booth was Intelio, demonstrating its activation unit for car washes. At $12,000, John Carroll, president & CEO, said that his system was the same cost as a typical car wash activation unit, but featured full motion video and remote management for the operator.
VeriFone’s MX800 series standalone terminals and PIN pads can be used for various applications, such as movie rentals, price checkers, applications for credit and surveys. All terminals are PCI compliant and the MX870 combines color, video and digital sound with secure payment capabilities.
Wincor Nixdorf featured its cash management systems. Chad Wagner of Wincor pointed out that their product offers cash recycling, a fast bulk note acceptor and one slot for checks and cash giving the operator convenience and security. The machine can be configured to face the customer or the employee. By having a cash recycler, Wagner said, a store can reduce the amount of cash kept in the store by as much as 60 percent. "It could eliminate the cash drawer," he said.
Friday, 12 June 2009
NEW YORK — Hercules Networks, a technology firm that produces Automated Charging Machines, or ACMs, has been selected by AT&T to provide ACMs for the TDBankNorth Arena, home of the Boston Celtics. The cell phone-charging kiosks are to be branded with AT&T’s logo and color scheme.
According to a news release, arena customers will be able to use the AT&T Charging Station to get a free rapid 10-minute charge. While they wait, they can watch the LCD screen that sits at eye level and plays AT&T’s latest commercials.
“AT&T has always been at the forefront of exciting sponsorship opportunities and has once again hit the ball out of the park with this one,” said Hercules Networks’ CEO Paul King. “Giving consumers a service while promoting your brand is a win-win, and something they pay attention to and remember. We are excited to bring this concept to other stadiums and venues.”
Hercules Networks has a line of ACMs that charge consumers cell phones while they are on-the-go. A rapid 10-minute charge gives the consumer a quick boost of juice and gives advertisers a captive audience.
“In today’s changing world, it is hard enough to have someone captive for one minute. We offer 10 minutes of captive, uninterrupted messaging,” King said.
Friday, 12 June 2009
DAYTON, Ohio — NCR Corp. has announced it will work with global shipping leaders FedEx and DHL to help manage parts inventory for NCR Services in the Americas and Asia-Pacific markets.
According to a news release, under the new program in the Americas, parts will be stored at the FedEx Supply Chain Services Global Distribution Center located near the airport in Memphis, Tenn. When an NCR service technician needs a part not locally on-hand for a service call on an ATM, point-of-sale system, kiosk or other self-service technology, the location of that part near an airport hub and more frequent outbound flights will speed delivery to the technician. This will enable NCR to reduce repair time and enhance weekend parts availability.
A similar program will take place in the Asia-Pacific market. Until now, service parts replenishment for this region primarily has been supplied from locations in the U.S. and Europe. In partnership with DHL, NCR service parts now will be warehoused and distributed directly from the DHL logistics hub in Hong Kong, thus enhancing the service support NCR provides to customers in this fast-growing area.
“Service parts logistics is key to NCR’s ability to deliver the right part at the right time at the right place,” said Nancy Daniels, vice president of NCR Global Services Parts. “By putting the parts our customers need closer to the end of the runway, we can improve our speed of response, thus improving system availability for our customers.”
The transition from NCR’s existing parts distribution center to FedEx and DHL will begin immediately, and NCR expects the transition to be seamless for its customers.
NCR’s existing facility in Peachtree City, Ga., which houses parts operations functions such as inventory planning, parts call-center support and other parts-related functions such as depot services will be unaffected by this change. This facility will also continue to support lower usage parts warehousing and distribution. Similarly, the NCR parts facility in Maastricht, Netherlands, continues to provide regional support for customers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Friday, 12 June 2009
OSLO, Norway — BBS, a leading provider of electronic security, payment and information services for retailers and financial institutions in Norway, Sweden and Denmark, has acquired Sagem Denmark A/S and Sagem Manison Finland from Ingenico Group. The acquisition is pending required approval from The Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway.
Sagem Denmark is a worldwide supplier of encrypting PIN pads for use in ATMs, kiosks and other unattended payment solutions. As a result of the acquisition, BBS is likely to strengthen its position in the Nordics through the addition of 150 qualified employees and a large portfolio of customers in the region.
“One of our ambitions is to become the leading provider of merchant solutions in the Nordics. With the purchase of Sagem Denmark and the subsidiary Sagem Manison Finland, this ambition will be achieved," said Ola Forberg, CEO of BBS. "Today we are the one and only Nordic supplier that can meet the demands of the retailers to have one common payment solution across the Nordic region. This position has been further strengthened through the acquisition."
“We are very pleased with the disposal of Sagem Denmark and Manison Finland to BBS, along with the strategic partnership for terminal distribution in Nordic countries,” said Philippe Lazare, CEO of Ingenico Group. “This is a great opportunity to reinforce our commercial position in this region, thanks to BBS leadership in these countries.”
Sagem Denmark already is positioned in the Danish market, and, according to a news release, the company has produced and sold the most frequently used payment terminals in Denmark since 1984. Sagem’s customer portfolio includes several Nordic retail chains and fits well with BBS’ existing operations in the Danish market.
“This is a new business area for BBS, which we, together with the employees of Sagem Denmark, will develop further. We believe encrypting PIN pads can become a strong global business area,” said Forberg.
“I believe that the alliance with BBS will create value for both Sagem Denmark and our customers, who will be working with the leading player on the Nordic market,” said Kaj Christiansen, CEO of Sagem Denmark. “At the same time, it allows Sagem Denmark to further expand our global business of payment security products.”
According to the release, Sagem Manison is a substantial player in the Finnish market and the fastest growing payment solutions company in the Nordic countries.
“Already today, we have several customers who request one Nordic solution with adjustments for the Finnish market,” said Forberg. “The solutions provided by Sagem Manison will fulfill this requirement, compliment our Nordic focus and establish us with local presence in Finland.”
Thursday, 11 June 2009
Atlanta-based SoloHealth was recently featured on CNBC's "The Tech Effect," demonstrating its eye exam kiosk.
"We think SoloHealth is right at the cornerstone of a couple of major growth trends: one is consumer-directed health care, the other is self-service technology," said Bart Foster, CEO and founder of the company.
Thursday, 11 June 2009
Home Media magazine: Each of the 248 Albertson’s grocery stores nationwide now have redbox kiosks, the DVD-rental kiosk company said Wednesday.
“Albertsons has been a valued customer of Coinstar for a number of years, and they offer several of our 4th Wall products to their shoppers, including self-service coin counting, skill crane machines, bulk vending and DVD rental,” said Gregg Kaplan, president and COO of redbox parent Coinstar.
Upping its total kiosk count to more than 15,000 nationwide, redbox kiosks have been installed at the final 116 Albertson’s locations in Arizona, Florida and New Mexico.
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Thursday, 11 June 2009
BEIJING — NCR Corp. today announced a deal with China Southern Airlines to deploy 30 NCR TouchPort kiosks at the airline’s big-city hubs of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Changchun and Zhengzhou in China. This is the first deployment of airline kiosks in China for NCR, a leading global provider of self-service solutions.
According to a news release, NCR TouchPort kiosks utilize Common Use Self Service, or CUSS, technology, which allows different airline applications to run concurrently on a single self-service device. These are the first CUSS-compliant kiosks deployed by China Southern. NCR also will provide maintenance services for China Southern to provide optimum performance and availability for passengers.
“The deployment of self-check-in kiosks from NCR is an essential prerequisite for our partnerships with other airlines and offers the potential to provide travelers with additional services from a single location in the future, such as car rental and hotel check-in transactions,” said Huang Wenqiang, vice president of the IT department for China Southern.
Once installed, the NCR TouchPort kiosk will offer passengers the opportunity to check in, view seat assignments, make seat changes, review itineraries and print boarding passes. Additionally, for passengers who have already completed check-in via the Internet, the kiosk may be used to access the reservation and make changes if desired. The NCR TouchPort kiosk also is equipped with an integrated barcode imager to facilitate customer identification and an integrated passport reader to cater to international travelers.
China has become the world’s second largest airline market, behind the United States. With the surge in the number of travelers, airports and airlines are looking to deliver greater efficiency and convenience through self-service. A 2009 consumer self-service survey conducted by Buzzback Market Research for NCR reveals a clear connection between self-service and passenger preference worldwide, particularly in China, with 92 percent of Chinese respondents indicating they are more likely to choose a travel company that allows them to interact easily via kiosk, online and mobile self-service channels.
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
Digital Signage Expo: Tandberg and .advancedMethod have combined their respective technologies to develop the Instant Expert/Translation Station, an interactive video kiosk that variously serves as a connection to live experts or digital signage. The kiosk/video station will allow instant video contact with a subject expert or an interpreter at the touch of a button.
According to Seattle-based .advancedMethod, the system offers a retailer, mass transit hub or any other customer-facing facility the ability to have an “instant expert” on hand at any time. It can be used anywhere a retailer or organization needs more of a presence without hiring additional employees. The companies will demonstrate the product at InfoComm 09 next week.
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Wednesday, 10 June 2009
Gazette.net: A Washington, D.C.-area business has allegedly used kiosks to defraud 43 area churches. According to a lawsuit filed by the Washington, D.C., attorney general’s office, Urban Interfaith Network Inc., of Oxon Hill, Md., allegedly promised free kiosks to worship centers and then charged the religious groups thousands of dollars in leases for the machines. Several leasing companies also are being sued for billing the churches for allegedly fraudulent leases set up by Urban Interfaith, according to the filing. One church in Washington, D.C., has lost $62,000 in the alleged scam. Urban Interfaith’s customer list includes more than 580 churches nationwide.
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Wednesday, 10 June 2009
Chitown Daily News: The city of Chicago has deployed kiosks through which residents can help plan the city’s future growth. Installed by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, the kiosks are part of the city’s Go to 2040 campaign, which also includes a new Web site and a series of workshops to encourage resident ideas and feedback. The kiosks ask residents to answer a series of questions about growth throughout the region and allow them to construct their own scenarios for the future and compare them with other online suggestions. Software on the kiosks then analyzes how participants’ answers could impact the future. The agency’s final plan, expected next year, will include the public feedback.
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Wednesday, 10 June 2009
BLAYDON ON TYNE, England — Display technology designer Zytronic has applied its in-house glass processing capabilities and ZYBRID PCT-based touch sensors to enable ACE Interactive, a subsidiary of Aristocrat Leisure Ltd, to create the Indago video lottery kiosk for increased interactivity and excitement in lottery and casino games.
In addition to the Zytronic technology, Aristocrat’s Gen7 platform is a key component in the Indago solution. The Gen7’s advanced game engine features an Intel Embedded processor, which provides the power to drive richer game content with outstanding new features, while providing a perfect host for ongoing developments in server-based gaming.
Indago uses a dual 22-inch widescreen display to enhance the appearance and increase the playing features of modern game terminals. The upper screen captures attention and shows the state of play with stunning visual effects, while the lower touch-enabled screen allows each player to select and play a variety of games. The front panel is designed and manufactured as a complete unit for easy integration with the TruServ system.
By working closely with the Indago design team from the outset, Zytronic has created a stylish pure glass front panel with touch-sensor functionality embedded only in the lower display area, using its proprietary projected capacitive technology (PCT)-based touch sensing. Utilizing ZYBRID’s customization options, ACE Interactive was able to design a unique, bezel-free user interface, with discreet touch-sensitive and non-touch zones. The unparalleled level of durability offered by PCT, in comparison with other available touch-sensing technologies, allowed ACE Interactive to confidently offer customers a low-maintenance, reliable, touch-controlled unit for use in a wide variety of public areas.
“Zytronic has fulfilled our entire requirement for the Indago front panel, as a one-stop solution comprising many highly advanced concepts,” said Michael Koch, CEO of ACE Interactive. “Its overall quality also helped us to meet important acceptance criteria, such as EU emissions, immunity and safety standards.”
ZYBRID is drift-free product, which means that recalibration should not be required during the display lifetime. Its pure glass-fronted design provides a high resistance to damage and chemicals and, coupled with a zero-bezel design, easily can be wiped clean.
Unlike other touch technologies, a PCT touch sensor has no front-face-active elements, instead using an array of microfine capacitors — each one a fraction of the diameter of a human hair — laminated behind a protective front surface. This provides an extremely high light transmission and a strong, sealable and damage-resistant glass touch surface.
The Indago front panel uses Zytronic’s patented 64-channel touchscreen controller, which is designed for large format and widescreen displays. By providing inputs for 64 individual sensing elements, the new controller maximizes touch resolution throughout the entire area of Indago’s lower 22-inch screen.
“At ACE Interactive, we are committed to utilizing the most advanced technologies to enhance experiences for the gaming community,” Koch said. “Zytronic, with its outstanding knowledge and capabilities, is a perfect fit with our approach, and has played a major role in helping to develop Indago as a highly innovative product delivering unprecedented value for our customers.”
ACE Interactive has supplied Norsk Tipping AS — the Norwegian national lottery company — with TruServ, the company’s server-based gaming solution, which includes an exciting portfolio of ACE Interactive and Aristocrat games and the Indago kiosk. Norsk Tipping plans to roll out 6,500 Indagos between August 2008 and 2010.
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
LONG BEACH, Miss. — Off-premise ATM leader Triton has announced a new Remote Key Transport, or RKT, solution, which allows distributors to save money by loading keys remotely. Triton, the first ATM manufacturer to bring this cost-savings solution and security feature to the off-premise space, began deploying RKT in the United Kingdom in March. Triton’s RKT solution will be available in Canada and the United States this summer and in Australia and South Africa before the end of the year.
“Until recently, ATM deployers were required to have two technicians enter the keys into a keypad and send it out to the ATM site, or have two people visit the site so that each one entered only one half of the master key,” said Bob Douglas, Triton’s director of engineering. “Now, rather than having to pay two people to manually enter keys, Triton’s Remote Key Transport solution uses cryptography to allow distributors to remotely load keys directly from the host to the ATM across a public network.”
“This allows ATM owners, especially those with large ATM fleets or those that operate in markets like the United Kingdom, which mandates the use of RKT and requires that master keys be changed every year, to save a considerable amount of money while improving security and improving uptime,” Douglas said.
Merchants and cardholders also benefit from Triton’s RKT solution. By eliminating the human element from the key-loading process, security is improved, and merchants are better able to serve their customers with improved ATM uptime, since keys can be changed at any time remotely.
Tuesday, 09 June 2009
TROY, Mich. — NEXTEP Systems president and co-founder Tommy Woycik appeared Monday on Fox Business’ C-Suite Sit Down to discuss the company’s self-ordering kiosk technology. In an interview with the show’s host, Woycik focused on NEXTEP’s touchscreen ordering system for the foodservice industry. Possible applications include restaurants and buffets, airport foodservice operations and supermarket delis. In the segment, Woycik explains how the self-ordering technology promotes customer loyalty, saves customers time and accomplished an average 10 to 20 percent ticket uplift through suggestive upselling.
Click here to view a video of the interview.
Tuesday, 09 June 2009
NORCROSS, Ga. — Postilion, a division of S1 Corporation and a leading global provider of integrated solutions for self-service banking and payment processing, today announced that North Dallas Bank & Trust Co. has chosen Postilion to provide an integrated, multichannel solution supporting all of the bank's self-service and EFT channels on a single platform.
A customer for more than 10 years, North Dallas Bank has deployed Postilion Voice Banking and will upgrade its heritage solutions for retail Internet banking and business Internet banking. In addition, the bank will implement Postilion ATM driving and debit card issuance applications on the Postilion platform, enabling cross-channel integration and a single customer view.
"We are very excited to move to the new solutions and have already received positive feedback on the new look and functionality," said Greg Niemeyer, executive vice president of marketing and operations for North Dallas Bank. "As a community bank with a strong focus on the customer relationship, it is critical for our bank to directly manage those relationships consistently across multiple customer interaction points, regardless of whether that is at the ATM, via the Internet or through voice banking. Our partnership with Postilion enables us to deliver the latest in technology from a single vendor and maintain the same hometown trust and service our customers have come to expect."
Postilion's self-service banking solutions empower community banks and credit unions to deliver innovative customer touchpoint solutions that level the playing field with larger financial institutions. Postilion represents the next generation of integrated solutions for self-service banking, offering a comprehensive suite of tools. Financial institutions that initially license a single channel can leverage their original investment by enabling additional channel applications on a single platform. The multichannel-ready system ensures a consistent customer experience across all self-service channels, including ATM, card, business Internet banking, retail Internet banking, voice and mobile.
"We are pleased to partner with North Dallas Bank to deploy a best-of-breed multichannel solution. As the demands on financial institutions for a more integrated self-service experience grow, Postilion is uniquely positioned to support our customers with deeper cross-channel integration and streamlined back-office operations," said Pierre Naude, president of Postilion Banking. "With these tools, community banks like North Dallas Bank are well positioned to deliver the right mix of personal attention and customer self-service."
Tuesday, 09 June 2009
SAN DIEGO — Asteres Inc., a provider of automated prescription pickup kiosks and makers of ScriptCenter, announced today that it has named retail pharmacy veteran Mark de Bruin as CEO to lead its rapid expansion into the retail, healthcare and military markets.
“Leading three of the largest U.S. retail pharmacies, Mark’s strategic leadership and national operations expertise are key,” said Ron Taylor, Asteres’ chairman. “Asteres is growing, ScriptCenter markets are expanding and Mark brings the right experience at the right time.”
“I am excited to join Asteres, the leader in automated pharmacy pick-up,” said Mark de Bruin. “With solid technology, Asteres allows pharmacy patients the opportunity to pick-up their prescriptions quickly, while providing the pharmacist additional time to provide clinical consultation to patients.”
Mark de Bruin joins Asteres from Sears Holdings, where he was senior vice president and president of pharmacy. Formerly, Mark was the executive vice president of pharmacy for Rite Aid and vice president of pharmacy for Albertsons. Mark also held several senior positions at American Stores Company, including general manager, and served as Vice President of RxAmerica, a pharmacy benefits-management company. Mark has previously served as chairman of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores-Policy Council, chairman of the National Association of Chain Drugstores Pharmacy & Technology Annual Meeting and as a member of the Federal Medicaid Commission, appointed by HHS Secretary, Michael O. Leavitt.
Tuesday, 09 June 2009
Video Business: According to reports today, several high-profile record labels have signed with digital-download kiosk operator MOD Systems. The labels include EMI Music, Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music Group. The agreements, in addition to those MOD already has signed with several independent labels, give the company more than 5.2 million DRM-free music tracks to offer later this year on its retail digital-download kiosks. Using the kiosks, customers will have the ability to download content to digital devices, SD memory cards and USB devices. MOD also plans to offer more than 4,000 movies for purchase and download.
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Tuesday, 09 June 2009
SINGAPORE — Flextronics has announced it will hold its quarterly conference call to discuss first-quarter results on Wednesday, July 29 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific time (5:00 p.m. Eastern time).
A live webcast of the call can be accessed by logging on to the company’s Web site at www.flextronics.com. A replay of the broadcast also will be available on the company’s Web site after the call.
Monday, 08 June 2009
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — SITA, a specialist in air transport communication and I.T. solutions, today launched a small footprint, full-function check-in kiosk, as well as a self-service bag-tracing kiosk, at the International Air Transport Association’s Annual General Meeting in Kuala Lumpur. Both kiosks are made to be environmentally friendly.
The S3 kiosk
According to a news release, SITA’s AirportConnect S3 kiosk is a 140-pound, full-function check-in kiosk that has the smallest carbon footprint in the industry and a printer that can issue up to 5,300 boarding passes from a single roll. It also can print bag tags for self-tagging to speed up the bag-drop process. The company says two S3 kiosks take up the same space as one conventional model.
The AirportConnect S3 also is fitted with passport and document scanners to speed up collection of advanced passenger information and Electronic Travel Authorization Service data for visa validation.
The WorldTracer kiosk
SITA also is enabling a new kiosk with a Web link to its WorldTracer software, already used by more than 440 airlines and ground handlers. Last year, the WorldTracer database showed a mishandling rate of 14.28 bags per thousand passengers worldwide, compared to 18.86 per thousand in 2007.
The WorldTracer kiosk will allow passengers to check on the status of their delayed bags over the Web and to file “missing bag” reports without having to queue and talk to an agent. The kiosk will be launched commercially later this year.
“Passengers rank check-in baggage arriving on-time as second in importance for a pleasant journey after the flight arriving on time,” said Catherine Mayer, vice president of airport solutions for SITA. “Unfortunately, millions of checked bags are delayed each year, but this new WorldTracer kiosk will provide affected passengers with more convenience and peace of mind.
To use the kiosk, a passenger scans her bag tag and enters contact details. The machine then generates a claim, and the passenger can continue her journey without having to stand in line at a service desk. The unique claim ID number allows the passenger to stay informed of the status of her baggage, either through a dedicated Web site or a call center.
“Our WorldTracer application will be able to provide them with instant feedback on the status of their bags, 99.9 percent of which are successfully traced and reunited with their owners within 48 hours or less,” Mayer said.
Kiosks for check-in and issuing bag tags are fast becoming the most popular channel for passengers in North America and Europe, while worldwide, kiosk use is running at 30 percent for all passengers, including those in the Asia-Pacific region.
Monday, 08 June 2009
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — PharmaSmart International Inc. has announced the integration of its patient hypertension tracking portal, the Blood Pressure Tracker, with the Microsoft HealthVault.
According to a news release, Microsoft HealthVault users will now be able to access and share blood-pressure readings from PharmaSmart's network of pharmacy-based health kiosks.
"PharmaSmart, along with our retail pharmacy partners, is committed to offering the hypertensive patient a more convenient, easy-to-use and affordable way to track and manage blood pressure between visits to the doctor," said PharmaSmart president Fred Sarkis. "Our partnership with HealthVault makes it easier for millions of Americans to track their blood pressure and then share that information with their family members or healthcare provider."
More than 73 million Americans are diagnosed with hypertension, the nation's leading cause of death. These patients and their health providers are looking for better ways to monitor and manage hypertension between doctors' visits. PharmaSmart's pharmacy-based network of clinically validated blood-pressure kiosks leverages the expertise of today's full-service pharmacy to provide an affordable, convenient and long-term solution for managing hypertensive patients through active counseling.
"PharmaSmart's alignment with HealthVault represents a natural progression as we continue to invest in technology, partnerships and programs that elevate our core competency — world-class blood-pressure-management solutions,” said Lisa Goodwin, PharmaSmart’s chief technology officer.
By obtaining a personal smart card from their pharmacists, patients can test their blood pressure as frequently as they like and access their readings online via PharmaSmart's Blood Pressure Tracker patient portal. Users easily can copy their blood pressure data to their HealthVault record, which enables the secure storage, management and sharing of a wide array of health information.
"PharmaSmart and their retail pharmacy partners offer an innovative approach in the management of hypertension," said Dr. James Mault, director of the Health Solutions Group at Microsoft. "Aligning HealthVault's capability with PharmaSmart's pharmacy-based solutions improves the integration of blood-pressure data with other wellness information and delivers information at the point of care.”
Monday, 08 June 2009
Irish Independent: Movie Booth, a British DVD-rental kiosk maker, has signed a deal with U.K. retail giant Tesco to trial its machines in three of the chain’s Irish stores. Movie Booth, which is understood to have previously trialed one of its kiosks in one Tesco store, is expanding the trial to include one of Tesco's largest stores, at Clare Hall in Dublin, while another outlet in the capital will also have one of the machines installed. The third kiosk will be in Tesco's store in Wexford town.
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Monday, 08 June 2009
The Packer: Rochester, N.Y.-based grocery chain Wegmans has announced it will test a kiosk in one of its store’s produce sections this fall that will help customers learn the origin of the products they purchase. The kiosk, developed by Watsonville, Calif.-based Driscoll Strawberry Associates and created by YottaMark, will allow shoppers to scan a barcode and trace the origin of the berries they purchase. Wegmans hopes the pilot program will help ensure confidence in product safety.
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Friday, 05 June 2009
WXIA-TV (Atlanta): Georgia job seekers interested in applying for a job at NCR Corp.'s new global headquarters in Duluth, Ga., and its manufacturing facility in Columbus, Ga., will get some help for the state’s Department of Labor. NCR already has begun accepting applications for 870 job openings in Columbus, the Department of Labor said.
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Friday, 05 June 2009
SAN DIEGO — EMN8 Inc., a developer of consumer self-service order and payment systems for quick-service restaurants, has installed self-order kiosks at a Tulsa, Okla.-based Arby’s franchise, United States Beef Corp. (U.S. Beef). EMN8’s solution brings an interactive ordering experience to the consumer and integrates with the operator’s POS system for real-time, high-volume order processing.
“One of U.S. Beef’s key strategies is providing a superior customer experience,” said Jeff Turner, U.S. Beef’s senior director of information technology. “The EMN8 kiosk delivers on this strategy through an engaging customer self-service option. An additional technical aspect to our decision is a solution that fully integrates with our existing Radiant POS. EMN8’s experience, technology, and focus on integration ensured success in delivering an exceptional customer self-service experience."
Friday, 05 June 2009
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Tyco Electronics’ Elo TouchSystems exhibited a range of new touch technologies at this week’s Society for Information Display International Symposium, Seminar and Exhibition in San Antionio.
Elo’s latest innovations include IntelliTouch surface acoustic wave and CarrollTouch infrared technologies, as well as acoustic pulse recognition, or APR, technology that allows the touch performance to be easily defined.
"Elo invented touch technology over 35 years ago, and we've never stopped innovating,” said Mark Mendenhall, vice president of Tyco Electronics and general manager of Elo TouchSystems. “These new touch technologies join the extensive portfolio of Elo products developed to meet the changing needs and demands of our customers."
IntelliTouch and infrared multitouch
Elo product manager Abraham Shen says the multitouch IntelliTouch solution utilizes Elo’s surface acoustic wave technology for a precise, two-finger touch experience.
"Simply stated, the pure-glass construction of the new Elo multitouch IntelliTouch technology delivers an excellent image and high light transmission just like the single-touch IntelliTouch technology customers have trusted for years.” Shen said. “With stable, drift-free operation, these new IntelliTouch touchscreens will accurately recognize two-finger simultaneous touches.”
In addition to the IntelliTouch solution, Elo’s CarrollTouch IR technology allows users to interact with a computer's software. At the Wall Street Journal’s 2008 "D6: All Things Digital" conference, Elo's IR 19-inch multitouch monitor was featured in a brief demonstration by Julie Larson-Green, corporate vice president of program management for the Windows Experience at Microsoft Corp.
"The IR multitouch product has been modeled after the Elo CarrollTouch IR component line with the tested reliability of millions of screens in active use,” said Steve Haungs, product manager for Elo. “It provides a true two-coordinate report set with more to come in the future."
Both of these new technologies will be available for purchase on the 19-inch and 22-inch open-frame touchmonitors or as components later this year and for Windows 7.
APR ‘now even better’
Elo’s APR capability combines the optical quality, durability and stability of surface acoustic wave and infrared with the dragging properties of surface capacitive technology, and it features the advantages of resistive technology and the ability to work with water and other contaminants on the screen. The solution can be scaled from a 3.5-inch screen size to a 42-inch display.
Elo’s APR technology allows for fine-tuning using pre-defined usage models:
- “Point of Sale” is optimized for fast data entry.
- “Signature Capture” facilitates an enhanced drag.
- “General and Gaming” have parameter sets defined to maximize additional touch performance needs.
Friday, 05 June 2009
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Pan-Oston, a leader in smart retail counter and checkout solutions for more than 40 years, has introduced the newest model in its Utopia self-checkout product range.
According to a news release, Utopia’s Auto Attendant conversion kit is a self-checkout solution designed exclusively for independent grocers with four to six lanes. With the same footprint as a traditional cash stand, the Auto Attendant easily can bolt onto an existing lane.
“Pan-Oston’s new Utopia Auto Attendant self-checkout is an N.G.A. exclusive product,” said Frank DiPasquale, executive vice president of the National Grocers Association. “The Auto Attendant conversion kit gives our members with four to six lanes all the operating and customer satisfaction benefits of self-checkout at a very reasonable cost and the ability to reuse their existing checkout lane and peripherals.”
The Auto Attendant is built upon the market-proven Utopia self-checkout platform, a plug-and-go solution that works with both Microsoft.NET and Linux software; uses bank note recyclers; and offers grocers a choice between “scan, bag and pass” lanes, traditional modular units, in-counter or counter-top units and cashier-optional models.
Utopia works with 98 percent of POS software and has the lowest attendant intervention rates in the industry.
“Our Auto Attendant was developed to give smaller grocers all the benefits of self-checkout. By using their existing lanes and peripherals, the cost of entry is much lower,” said Jim Vance, president of Pan-Oston. “And with a bank note recycler in their Utopia Auto Attendant, they can reduce their cash-till requirements by thousands of dollars.”
Thursday, 04 June 2009
SINGAPORE — Taiwan’s FamilyMart, one of the largest convenience store chains on the island, has installed more than 2,200 Wincor Nixdorf self-service kiosks, a milestone for both companies. Established in 1988, the Taiwan arm of Japanese convenience store giant FamilyMart first implemented Wincor Nixdorf's iCORe kiosk in 2007 as part of a company-wide e-business initiative.
Customers can pay utility or other bills at the kiosk and purchase virtual electronic points to top up Internet gaming cards, which has contributed to as many as 1,000 transaction per kiosk every month for the retailer. FamilyMart says customer traffic at stores with installed kiosks has increased by an average of four percent.
Customers also can order traditional Chinese festival specialty food products (such as cakes and gluten rice dumplings), monitor and update credit card loyalty reward points that also can be exchanged for products in-store, print tickets or vouchers using a thermal printer, add credit to telephone cards and pay traffic fines.
"The speed and convenience of the iCORe kiosk has certainly helped to boost customer store visits and transaction levels,” said R.D. Chang, Taiwan FamilyMart’s General Manager. “We hope to increase the value of these kiosks to customers by using it as a platform to provide further services and product features in the future.”
Thursday, 04 June 2009
Taiwan News: Thanks to a loophole in a self-service check-in system, a passenger at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport was able to breach security and enter off-limits areas of the terminal for more than 40 hours earlier this week, the Aviation Police Office said Thursday.
From the passenger’s account of her actions, aviation police authorities learned of a loophole in the air carrier's self-service check-in system. According to an officer, the automated system mistakenly issued the passenger a boarding pass in the name of another traveler with the same surname and a reservation for the same flight.
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Thursday, 04 June 2009
SAN FRANCISCO — Ecast, a leader in place-based media, has launched “Touch Points,” a series of weekly podcast interviews exploring real-life deployments of customer-centric solutions in various industries. The current series, delivered in partnership with the KioskCom Self Service Expo and The Digital Signage Show, took place on the show’s floor in Las Vegas last month and brought together thought leaders from the retail, healthcare, consumer electronics and financial industries to discuss emerging trends, technologies and best practices for impacting the consumer experience.
The first podcast features Kari Blankenship, retail systems manager of major outdoor sporting-goods retailer Cabela’s, who discusses the company’s nationwide interactive kiosk deployment, designed to enhance the customer experience by extending the store’s online presence into its brick-and-mortar locations.
“From USPS veteran and leading retail consultant Margot Myers to Virgin Entertainment Group CIO Robert Fort, each speaker brings a wealth of knowledge and experience about the technology, ROI considerations and customer needs informing successful digital signage and self service implementations,” said Bob Cooney, VP of business development and manufacturing for Ecast. Cooney co-hosts the interview series with digital signage veteran Dan Hagen.
Ecast’s interview line-up is as follows:
Kari Blankenship, Cabela’s
Margot Myers, Platt Retail Institute
Laura Davis-Taylor, Retail Media Consulting
Nikki Baird, Retail Systems Research
Bart Foster, SoloHealth
Robert Fort, CIO, Virgin Entertainment Group
Ron Potesky, Ricoh
David Cohen, Firestone Financial
Jenny McGinley, Southern Cross Communications
Frank Olea, Olea Systems/Displays Inc.
Kirk Nelson, ArcaTech Systems
Jason Dennis, Walsh Wireless
David Allen Moss, Boondock Walker
David Drain, Self-Service and Kiosk Association, Digital Signage Association
Wednesday, 03 June 2009
DENVER, Colo. — IncentaHEALTH LLC, a Denver-based provider of corporate wellness programs, today announced that the U.S. Patent Office has awarded a patent to the company's health screening kiosk system and methods.
The patent (U.S. Patent No. 7,541,547) relates to some features of incentaHEALTH's private wellness kiosk that allow companies to offer health coaching programs to their employees and dependents. The kiosk enables users to privately weigh in, taking both a weight measurement and a photo of the user.
"The HEALTHspot kiosk is an integral part of our program to reduce employers' healthcare costs," said Todd McGuire, chief technology officer for incentaHEALTH. "Sadly, two out of three American adults are either overweight or obese. These conditions are a primary driver of healthcare costs. IncentaHEALTH provides a technology-based behavior change program to help employees improve their lifestyle through daily email coaching and incentives. This new technology transforms the way we can deliver evidence-based wellness programs. Based on this verified measurement of success, incentaHEALTH can pay incentives that reinforce lasting changes in an employee's habits regarding physical activity and nutrition."
Every three months, participants enter a private room to automatically record their weight and photo by logging into the kiosk and stepping on the scale. The participant's current weight and photo appear on the HEALTHspot kiosk display for review. Once confirmed by the participant, the information is encrypted and transmitted to the incentaHEALTH data center for secure archival.
Since the kiosk is Internet-enabled, participants can see their progress in real time. The results are only accessible by the participating employee. The employer never sees individual participant results. This private weigh-in takes approximately 45 seconds, and the HEALTHspot kiosk is available for use 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.
By participating in the incentaHEALTH wellness program, participants receive daily e-mail instruction on proper nutrition and exercise, targeted to the specific barriers and motivators of each participant. The emails also contain video instructions for performing each day's recommended exercises, as well as a comprehensive set of meal ideas.
Every 90 days, participating employees return to the HEALTHspot kiosk to track their performance. They receive a cash incentive from incentaHEALTH based on the percentage improvement in their weight (BMI). Participants can earn incentives for the entire duration of the year-long program if they maintain their success at each screening.
Wednesday, 03 June 2009
SURESNES CEDEX, France — IER, a France-based designer and manufacturer of self-service ticketing and boarding-control solutions for major transportation networks, has been selected by Swedish airport operator LFV Group to deploy IER’s new-generation self-check-in kiosks at Stockholm-Arlanda Airport.
According to a news release, the complete self-check-in solution, including 45 IER 918 kiosks, will be deployed at the airport over the next three years.
The IER 918 is the latest generation of common-use self-service kiosks and is designed to meet the new challenges of passenger travel and to take advantage of emerging trends, such as e-ticketing, 2D bar-coded boarding passes and the ability to read e-passports and to check-in airline passengers with or without bags.
The solution also will include the IER CUSS platform and monitoring system and an Internet check-in platform. The IER monitoring system will allow LFV to supervise its kiosk operations by providing a real-time overview of the entire installation.
A first rollout of 10 kiosks is planned by mid-August. They will be equipped with a full-page passport reader, 2D barcode and card readers, a boarding pass printer and a fingerprint scanner and will offer self-check-in to passengers traveling with Delta, Finnair, HögaKustenFlyg, Norwegian and several charter companies.
Wednesday, 03 June 2009
PADERBORN, Germany — Wincor Nixdorf has signed an agreement with NETTO Marken-Discount, a subsidiary of leading German food retailer EDEKA, to equip NETTO’s stores with 1,500 reverse vending machines. The deal makes Wincor Nixdorf NETTO’s primary supplier of reverse vending. According to a news release, the rollout already has begun and should be finished by the end of 2010.
“With this contract, the majority of the volume of reverse vending that has been tendered in Germany in recent months has gone to Wincor Nixdorf. This represents a positive development of the business in line with our expectations," said Dr. Herbert Machill, who is responsible at Wincor Nixdorf for business with retailers worldwide.
NETTO has ordered the Revendo 9000 system, which is suitable for all types of empty containers and will be used for the return of bottles and beverage crates. In addition, the Revendo system meets NETTO’s specific requirements, owing to its flexible and customizable background technology. Rigorous use of standard technology makes service work easier and also ensures high availability.
NETTO operates solely in Germany with a network of about 3,800 stores, more than 50,000 employees and sales of some 10 billion euros.
Wednesday, 03 June 2009
TORONTO, Ontario — ADFLOW Networks, a provider of Web-hosted digital signage and interactive kiosk technology in the self-service vertical, announced today it has been named to the 21st annual PROFIT 100 ranking of Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies by PROFIT Magazine.
This list recognizes the achievements of Canada’s entrepreneurial elite. Ranking Canada’s fastest growing companies by five-year revenue growth, The PROFIT 100 profiles the country’s most successful growth companies. Published in the June issue of PROFIT and online at PROFIT100.com, the PROFIT 100 is Canada’s largest annual celebration of entrepreneurial achievement.
“We are proud to be recognized for this prestigious award and to be classified among the rankings of Canada’s fastest growth companies,” said David Roscoe, CEO, ADFLOW Networks. “This award is a tribute to the loyalty and on-going support of our customers, the commitment of our employees and the strategic vision our company has maintained from the beginning.”
On average, 2009 PROFIT 100 companies grew their revenue by 2,262 percent over the past five years. The PROFIT 100 ranks the 100 fastest-growing companies in Canada by percentage revenue growth from 2003-08.
“The PROFIT 100 are an inspiration to entrepreneurs at all stages of growth, from startup to major corporation,” says Ian Portsmouth, editor of PROFIT. “Their business practices and product innovations are exemplary of how businesses can succeed in uncertain times.”
Wednesday, 03 June 2009
BELLEVUE, Wash. — Through a partnership with leading online gaming companies, Coinstar will launch a line of digital entertainment products at U.S. retail locations, the company has announced.
According to a news release, Coinstar has partnered with Aeria Games, Rixty Inc., Spare Change and Wild Tangent to offer more than 15 products that provide consumers flexible online spending options. The new prepaid offerings are expected to be available at more than 500 Cumberland Farms retail locations this summer, and Coinstar plans to roll out the program to additional retailers later this year.
“Coinstar is a leading prepaid provider, and we are always striving to offer our retail customers the latest and most market-relevant products available,” said Mike Skinner, president of E-Payment Services and Coin at Coinstar Inc. “With our digital entertainment products and services, retailers have the opportunity to reach the younger demographic that holds the majority buying power in this high-growth online gaming market.”
The digital entertainment product suite will include prepaid cards for Facebook and MySpace applications, online gaming, popular massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) titles, virtual world items and universal online spending. The cards will be available as part of the Coinstar Pay As You Go product suite. Additionally, consumers will be able to obtain the Rixty product through the Coin to Card free coin-counting program at select Coinstar kiosks beginning in the third quarter.
Coinstar’s complete Pay As You Go solution features national and regional prepaid wireless programs, long distance cards, gift cards, digital entertainment and one of the industry’s largest portfolios of financial services including reloadable and one-time use Visa and MasterCard branded debit cards.
Tuesday, 02 June 2009
Dayton, Ohio-based NCR Corp. confirmed this morning that it is moving its global headquarters to Georgia, despite a reported $31.1 million incentive offer from Ohio governor Ted Strickland. NCR spokesman Jeff Dudash says operations are already in the process of transition. In addition to the move, NCR will bring the manufacture of its SelfServ ATM in-house, and sales will be up and running in Columbus, Ga., by the fourth quarter of this year.
In a release issued by NCR thi smorning, the company says the move to Georgia came about "after extensive analysis of potential U.S. locations, using independent data on the available workforce, infrastructure, financial incentive and government tax structures."
"We're always adjusting our strategy," Dudash said of the company's decision to bring the manufacture of its SelfServ ATM line for North American sales back in-house. In January 2007, NCR signed a five-year deal with Milpitas, Calif.-based Solectron, later acquired by Flextronics, to outsource the manufacture of its ATMs and payment solutions in the Americas and its self-checkout systems globally.
"Last year we introduced the new SelfServ ATM family to North America, and as more customers introduce intelligent deposit and our sales grow, we believe that by manufacturing the ATMs ourselves, it gives us more flexibility and the ability to respond faster," Dudash said.
NCR will continue to work with Flextronics for ATM manufacturing in other markets, at least for the time being. And other equipment lines, such as NCR's line of teller cash recyclers, will continue to be manufactured by Flextronics.
"The decision to consolidate functions in Georgia and build a technology-focused corporate headquarters campus is right in line with our business strategy to drive growth, improve our innovation output, increase productivity and continually upgrade our focus on the customer, " said Bill Nuti, NCR’s chairman and chief executive. "We will decrease time-to-market for innovative solutions, improve our internal collaboration, deliver next-generation employee education programs and lower our current operating costs. NCR is already benefiting from Georgia’s pro-business environment through our existing operations. For example, we have recently created NCR University, working in partnership with world-class academic institutions in Georgia."
The news comes just two months after NCR announced job cuts and bonus reductions — adverse consequences of the downtrodden economy, NCR officials said.
The 345,000-square-foot facility, which is being renovated by the city of Columbus with stimulus dollars provided by the Economic Development Authority, will be leased from the city by NCR and is expected to allow the creation of approximately 870 jobs.
"Georgia is a global destination for international commerce, and I know our vibrant corporate community welcomes yet another headquarters location of a worldwide leader such as NCR," said Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue.
In total, NCR says it expects to create 2,000 jobs, both in Columbus and at the new corporate headquarters in Duluth, Ga. In Duluth, around 1,250 jobs are expected to be added. The entire corporate transition will take about five years, Dudash said, with the majority of the move taking place over the next 18 months.
Dudash could not confirm for how long NCR had been in discussions with Georgia officials about moving its global headquarters and manufacturing operations.
"Moving our global headquarters to Duluth goes along with some of the other lines of business we have moved to Georgia in the last 12 months," Dudash said. "For some time we've had our retail operations based out of Duluth."
Some functions, such as the company's data center and regional sales and service support, will remain in Dayton.
The move marks the end of a 125-year relationship with Dayton, where NCR first spread its roots as the National Cash Register Company.
Tuesday, 02 June 2009
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — CVS/pharmacy and Eastman Kodak Company have announced a new long-term agreement naming Kodak as the national chain’s provider of in-store photo-processing systems, including the KODAK Adaptive Picture Exchange, or APEX dry lab system, KODAK Picture Kiosk, and Kodak Service and Support.
The agreement enables CVS/pharmacy to build on its leadership position within the photo retailing category by providing customers with multiple in-store photo-service options and an expanded portfolio of premium, high-value photo products, such as KODAK Picture Movie DVDs and Photo Books.
“CVS/pharmacy has a longstanding reputation for quality products and services, and consumers recognize and trust the quality associated with the Kodak brand. We believe our strong relationship with Kodak will continue to resonate with our consumers and help us to continue our growth in this important category,” said Grant Pill, vice president for CVS/Pharmacy.
An integral strategy for CVS/pharmacy will be to implement Kodak’s latest G4X consumer kiosks in stores and to significantly expand its fleet of KODAK APEX dry lab systems. The KODAK APEX system is a modular, behind-the-counter thermal dry lab system, which combines a number of new products into one powerful, integrated and industry-leading retailer solution.
“CVS/pharmacy has been a great business partner for Kodak. This new agreement will build on our already successful partnership by enabling more growth in premium photo products and by broadening the reach of Kodak’s state-of-the-art APEX system at CVS/pharmacy locations,” said Mike Saturnia, vice president of sales for Eastman Kodak Company. “Kodak is proud to be working with this innovative retailer to optimize its photo services fleet with advanced dry lab and photo kiosk systems.”
In 2008, CVS/pharmacy was the first national retailer to offer customers both KODAK Picture Movie DVDs and Photo Books. These innovative photo-processing products turn customers’ photos into hard-cover books and movies in minutes using the KODAK Picture Kiosk. Both of these products are now available in more than 5,600 CVS/pharmacy stores nationwide.
Tuesday, 02 June 2009
TradingMarkets.com: NCR Corporation, has named Alex C. Camara as the company's new vice president and general manager of NCR Entertainment Solutions. The role includes responsibility for NCR's Blockbuster Express DVD rental operations. Camara previously was with Coinstar as senior VP and general manager of Coinstar coin and Entertainment. According to reports, he has more than 25 years of experience in leadership roles in operations, sales, supply chain, business development and general management within the retail industry and self-service technology.
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Tuesday, 02 June 2009
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Pan-Oston, a designer, developer and manufacturer of retail checkout products, including the Utopia self-checkout solution, today announced the formalization of a strategic partnership with Tolt Service Group, a nationally recognized single-source provider of managed services for all the technology equipment used in supermarkets and other enterprises.
"Utopia gives independent grocers the opportunity to work with a self-checkout solution that does not lock them into a long-term POS commitment, and now that we have partnered with Tolt Service Group there is a nationwide network of authorized Utopia self-checkout service technicians," said Jim Vance, president of Pan-Oston.
According to a press release, Pan-Oston and Tolt Service Group will work together to provide independent grocers better access to and service of self-checkout solutions designed specifically for their business sector.
Pan-Oston says Utopia’s proven self-checkout solutions are simple, easy-to-use, have the industry’s lowest intervention rates and work with 98 percent of POS software. Utopia also works with all of a store’s existing in-store peripherals and can increase customer satisfaction scores as well as positively impact store-operating margins.
"Our extensive daily interaction with POS and technology gives us a good understanding of what works well in Independent grocery stores,” said Mark DiGregorio, vice president of business development for Tolt Service Group. “Utopia self-checkout features best-in-class components and serviceability when compared to other self-checkout systems we’ve experienced."
Monday, 01 June 2009
In addition to recognizing deployments in the travel/hospitality, healthcare and retail verticals, the Self Service Excellence Awards at the KioskCom Self Service Expo honored a deployment in the entertainment/gaming category, as well as those with the best overall hardware and software solutions.
In the Best Entertainment/Gaming Deployment category, Ecast took home the award for its EQ solution, a high-definition digital signage display that delivers digital music, games, video, user-generated content, targeted advertising and social applications and offers myriad opportunities for promotion at the point of purchase.
The product, which aims to reinvent the concept of a jukebox and is deployed mostly in bar environments, is vertically oriented and features a 40-inch, full HD flat-panel touchscreen. The display can support any manner of content and is divided into three sections to offer various types of views. Interestingly, the device's form factor looks similar to a giant Apple iPhone, attracting users to explore its content even more. The display's hardware, enclosure and software are an all-in-one solution, with each facet of the technology supplied straight from Ecast.
The judges at the Self Service Excellence Awards were particularly impressed with the Ecast entry's use of new technology and innovative content to replace the traditional and dated jukebox in bars and clubs, as well as its relevance to deployers as a viable platform for advertising revenue.
Since its launch, 40 EQs have been deployed, and the company is forecasting 500 installments by the end of the year. But for now, EQ's makers are thrilled just to have received recognition from the industry.
"Receiving the self service award is especially gratifying because Ecast is celebrating its 10-year anniversary," said Suzanne Maineri, marketing manager for the company. "The recognition highlights a decade of commitment — and vision — toward leveraging broadband and interactive media to drive consumer engagement in the out-of-home market."
Taking home the award for Best Overall Software Solution was Netkey Inc., for its e-commerce kiosk program with Cabela's, an outdoor sporting goods retailer with more than $2.5 billion in annual revenue. As part of a 2008 strategic initiative toward channel integration (Cabela's distributes more than 130 million catalogs each year and offers more than 200,000 items on its Web site), the retailer sought to enhance the customer experience by extending its online presence into its brick-and-mortar locations with interactive kiosks.
Beyond the typical e-commerce capabilities, the kiosks support several customer-facing applications, including guided-selling, an in-store pick-up program and catalog order centers.
There are four types of Cabela's kiosks:
1. Outfitter kiosk: An assisted-selling and customer self-service tool that provides full touchscreen usability of the Cabela's Web site. Other applications include product-inventory views, marketing promotion registration, sweepstakes, catalog order, loyalty program registration, Cabela's credit card applications and store event news.
2. Promotional "flex" kiosks: Placed in high-traffic areas, the kiosk is designed to capture customer attention and support brand promotions.
3. Gun Library kiosk: Placed in Cabela's Legendary Gun Library to support and display thousands of vintage, collector and new guns available in-store. The kiosk's enclosure is designed to fit the unique gun library look and feel, and employees use it to help close a sale or provide the customer with information.
4. Catalog order center: A countertop kiosk located near the customer service counters that includes catalogs, a phone line to Cabela's customer service specialists and desktop Internet access with touchscreen capability.
Judges' comments indicate that the Netkey/Cabela's deployment was chosen as a winner thanks to the kiosks' ease of use and ability to achieve total customer satisfaction.
"The Cabela's kiosk offers the consumer new levels of convenience on the store floor, while at the same time helping Cabela's build customer loyalty and drive new sales," said Netkey CEO V. Miller Newton. "Netkey is pleased that its kiosk application and management software has played a key role in the success of the Cabela's kiosk program."
Lastly, Innovative Control Systems Inc. won the award in the Best Hardware/Enclosure Design category for its Auto Sentry outdoor kiosk. The device caters to the car wash industry, which struggled with declining earnings and a poor customer experience in the late 1990s. ICS developed the kiosk model to provide car wash operators with a reliable outdoor performance under a white ride of weather conditions, high-capacity service (approximately 100 transactions per hour), cash dispensing technology and a simple and intuitive user interface.
In addition to car wash deployments, the kiosk can easily fit a range of drive-through applications, such as quick-serve restaurants and parking garages. With more than 1,000 kiosks installed, ICS has one of the largest deployments in the country and has captured 75 percent of the express car wash market.
Judges of the Self Service Excellence Awards touted the kiosks' rugged design and ability to withstand the elements as nudging it above the other entries. David Cincera, vice president of marketing for ICS, said the company is proud of its achievement, considering the past award-winning deployments and its tough competitors.
"We are positively thrilled, because we are acutely aware of previous winners and the standards (the judges) accept in the kiosk marketplace," Cincera said. "We were competing in a tough area with high standards, and that combination just left us thrilled with receiving the award. It's a way of recognizing all of our people back in the company who have done so much hard work in developing and making this possible."
Monday, 01 June 2009
AJC.com: Rumors about NCR Corp. moving its global headquarters from Dayton, Ohio, to Atlanta are not being supported by NCR or government officials in Georgia. Neither on Sunday would comment on the alleged move. NCR announced a 900-job expansion into Peachtree City and Duluth in November 2008. The Dayton Business Journal on Sunday reported that local and state officials there are scrambling to discover if the $5.3 billion-a-year company has plans to relocate 1,300 employees and its headquarters to Georgia. Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, the newspaper reported, had attempted to speak with NCR chief executive Bill Nuti over the weekend, but the two were unable to connect. But according to a copy of Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue’s schedule, Perdue and Nuti spoke by phone at least twice in recent months. Perdue communications director Bert Brantley on Sunday declined to comment.
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Monday, 01 June 2009
Video Business: Kiosk operator redbox has hired its first senior-level video game executive, Mark Achler, and the company is planning its first large test of video game rentals this summer. Redbox is expected to try a variety of price points, and that it may test game sales and trade-ins through the kiosks. Achler says redbox will experiment with its current DVD machine to offer both movies and video games and another kiosk that will only hold videogames. This kiosk test will span a couple of markets.
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Monday, 01 June 2009
IRVINE, Calif. — Epicor Software Corp., provider of enterprise business software solutions for the mid-market and divisions of Global 1000 companies, has released the Epicor ITSM 2009, its newest version of the Epicor I.T. Service Management solution.
“Epicor ITSM 2009 is a benchmark of Epicor’s continued success in supporting the needs (of) today’s enterprises by providing tools and leveraging the latest technologies to enable optimal performance, greater flexibility and extended global support of I.T. service operations,” said James Norwood, vice president of product marketing for Epicor.
Polystar Instruments AB, a Swedish-owned telecommunications company developing test and surveillance equipment for operators and manufacturers, has seen great success with Epicor ITSM.
“We have experienced a huge improvement from using Epicor ITSM — our support technicians are more efficient and our clients are happier,” said Kent Revedal, vice president of customer care at Polystar T&M AB. “With many service-level agreements and 16 to 20 different response times for different case types and clients, it was impossible to keep track of all cases manually, but Epicor ITSM manages this for us. We look forward to taking advantage of the increased performance and enhanced portal capabilities available in Epicor ITSM 2009.”
Bolstered performance and stability to support I.T. service
Effective I.T. service-management centers on technology stability and minimized downtime. Epicor ITSM 2009 provides even greater stability and performance through the support of Windows Server 2008 and Microsoft SQL Server 2008, and the 64-bit versions of Windows Server 2008 and the Windows Vista operating systems, connecting Epicor’s sophisticated I.T. service-management solution with Microsoft Corp.’s newest technology foundations.
Greater global connectivity through portal enhancements
Geographic borders continue to shrink in an increasingly connected world economy. In order to support geographically distributed I.T. personnel and their customers, Epicor ITSM includes an enhanced self-service and field-service portal, available in numerous languages, to put self-service in the hands of employees in the field and around the globe. Epicor ITSM, including ITSM portal, provides for the following language packs: Chinese, Dutch, English, Estonian, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Russian and Spanish. Epicor ITSM 2009 also is expected to support Arabic, Polish, Portuguese and Swedish later this year.
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