Kiosks in the Ridemakerz store in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Ridemakerz, a build-it-yourself toy car store, opened their first store in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Ridemakerz is being financially backed by Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc. and allows customers to build custom designed toy cars.
As part of the "Ride-building" process, customers have access to a kiosk called the Personalized Station, where each car's information can be uploaded to a "My Garage" section of the Ridemakerz website and shared with friends. The kiosk software was developed by Nanonation and is on the same platform as the software in Build-A-Bear in-store kiosks.
"The kiosk allows customers to extend their experience on to the Web," said Dave Watkins, developbear supbearvisor for Build-A-Bear Inc. "They can get a title for their Ride, create a custom license plate and have a way to share the Ride with their friends."
Ridemakerz is receiving $3 million in investments and $15 million in back-office support from Build-A-Bear Inc. Build-A-Bear is also providing the IT infrastructure, Watkins said.
Clickz.com: If patent filings are anything to go by, contextual advertising powered by Google will start appearing on digital billboards in a shopping mall near you.
The Mountain View, Calif. search marketing giant has filed a patent application for technology that lets local stores tie their stock control computers to a Google-powered ad network, a strong hint that the company is planning to expand expansion beyond Web, print and radio advertising.
FRANKLIN, Tenn. · When it comes to paying for goods and services, consumers continue to take matters into their own hands, according to IHL Consulting Group. The group found in a recent study that North American consumers are on pace to spend more than $525 billion at self-checkout lanes, ticketing kiosks and other self-service machines in 2007, an increase from $438 billion in 2006.
"We expect that expenditures made at self-service kiosks will rise by about 20 percent this year and another 18 percent in 2008," said Greg Buzek, president of IHL Consulting Group. "Demand for self-checkout systems and other kiosks should push the dollar value of transactions to nearly $1.3 trillion by 2011."
In the IHL study, "2007 North American Self-Service Kiosks," IHL examines the increasing use of five types of self-service kiosks where payment is accepted: self-checkout systems, ticketing kiosks, check-in kiosks, food ordering and postal kiosks.
Edmonton Sun: As questions mount about Canada's mission in Afghanistan, a traveling exhibit featuring informational kiosks is making its way across the country to inform citizens. The exhibit includes an informational kiosk called "Protecting Canadians · Rebuilding Afghanistan," which highlights Canada's contribution to the war-torn nation.
This Week in Consumer Electronics: Sony Electronics plans to test new vending kiosks that showcase and sell Sony products, including MP3 players, digital cameras, PlayStation games and PSP players. The kiosks will be maintained and operated by Zoom Systems.
At the KioskCom Self Service Expo in New York City, Motorola today is exhibiting the MK4000 micro kiosk, an interactive, full-service multimedia kiosk.
The company says the micro kiosk is ideal for retail applications such as loyalty and gift card functions, merchandise locating, price and inventory checks, product information access, CD and/or DVD listening stations, product ordering or viewing “how-to” videos. Motorola also says the solution is well-suited for applications in the transportation, hospitality, entertainment and healthcare verticals.
The MK4000’s features include:
A choice between laser barcode scanning or imaging technology
Networking options, including wireless and Ethernet support
A slim profile, at 2.43 inches by 6.17 centimeters
Flexible mounting options – shelves, walls, tables and end-caps
12.1-inch color LCD touchscreen
Microsoft Windows CE operating system
Compatibility with Motorola’s Mobility Services Platform (MSP)
Stereo speakers, microphone and headset jacks
Motorola says the micro kiosk solution can help retailers create a better shopping experience and retain valuable customers:
The MK4000 enables the deployment of intuitive, on-demand, rich multimedia applications that provide your customers with instant and constant access to information — when and where they need it — eliminating wait times that can result in lost sales, well as customer attrition.
According to a report from Britain's Daily Mail Online, Tesco has opened the country's first all self-checkout store. Tesco Express, located in King's Langley, Northampton, has five self-checkout terminals and no traditional checkout lanes, the report says, a model Tesco refers to as "assisted self-service."
The U.K.-based chain already operates stores in the assisted-checkout model in the United States, with its Fresh & Easy brand in California, Nevada and Arizona.
Self-service adoption in European countries has traditionally lagged behind that of North America, though, and the Daily Mail reports that some in the United Kingdom are critical of the new model:
Local Liberal Democrat County Coordinator Richard Church, who represents the Kingsley ward, said he was unimpressed with the self-scan store.
He said: 'If you like to speak to a real person when you do your shopping, you won't like it. At the moment, there are helpful assistants to tell you how to swipe the barcodes and make your payments, but that won't last.'
But a Tesco spokesperson told the Daily Mail that staff always will be available to assist customers:
It's a lot quicker, but some people have never used them before, so a member of staff is there to assist. If needs be, there can be five members of staff assisting customers. We have had no negative feedback so far.
The Daily Mail says Tesco is the biggest supermarket employer in the country, with a workforce of more than 220,000.
New survey results from NCR Corp. and BuzzBack Market Research indicate Canadian shoppers want more self-service in retail.
According to an NCR news release, nearly 40 percent of Canadians surveyed say they would welcome a self-service kiosk in retail stores to help them locate products, as opposed to having to track down a staff member. Additional survey results indicate Canadians are using more cash, researching products on the Internet more frequently and shopping multiple retailers to find the best price, all of which is part of a broader trend of shoppers adjusting to an uncertain economy, NCR says.
Additionally, 35 percent of Canadians say their likelihood to use self-service has increased over the past year. That consumer desire for self-service is a trend retailers should take advantage of, NCR says:
Retailers who adopt a broader range of self-service technology improve service and enhance the customer experience by redeploying staff in areas of their store where customers need more personal attention. This delivers great cost savings by allowing retailers to invest in the areas that matter most to the customer. For example, self-checkout systems decrease customer queue time by 40 percent.
The survey of more than 500 Canadian respondents is part of NCR's larger 2009 self-service study, which assessed 8,400 consumers around the world and found that 85 percent prefer to shop with a retailer that offers the ability to interact via the online, mobile and self-service channels versus one that does not.
Posted by: Caroline Cooper AT 01:27 pm | Permalink |
Self-service provider NCR Corp. has announced it will make ADFLOW Networks an authorized reseller for its SelfServ 60 customer-facing touchpoint kiosk. According to a news release from NCR, the deal will bring NCR's self-service solution together with ADFLOW's digital signage and software technology to create an interactive retail kiosk.
Steve Kartonchik, ADFLOW's executive vice president of sales and marketing, says the solution will enable retailers to better reach customers at the point-of-decision:
Capturing attention and engaging customers through interaction at the point-of-decision is critical in achieving true one-to-one marketing. NCR, which leads how the world connects, interacts and transacts with business, and ADFLOW Networks, with its innovative assisted-selling solutions, offer retailers a means to redefine the in-store customer shopping experience while increasing sales, boosting store productivity and enhancing operational efficiency. We are delighted to be working with NCR to deliver these exciting solutions to the marketplace.
NCR says the solution also will utilize ADFLOW's Retail Analytics reporting system, giving retailers valuable insight into customer buying behavior.
ADUSA, a self-order kiosk provider, has announced that Schnuck Markets Inc., owner and operators of more than 200 grocery stores and pharmacies, is adding to its fleet of ADUSA's S4G Fresh Foods kiosks. According to a news release from ADUSA, Schnuck installed the kiosks in its new St. Louis store, Culinaria, which opened last month.
Larry Maggio, director of marketing services for Schnuck Markets, says shoppers have responded positively to the Fresh Foods ordering kiosks deployed in its other stores:
A growing number of our customers are using the kiosks to place their orders, and the response continues to be very positive. They are really taking advantage of the added convenience and the easy access to all of the products we offer in the fresh foods and made-to-order areas of our store.
Turnkey kiosk provider Self-Service Networks has announced an agreement with Tanger Factory Outlet Centers to deploy Self-Service Networks' GiftWise kiosks across five of Tanger's shopping centers.
Laura Atwell, vice president of marketing for Tanger Outlets, says in a news release that the kiosks will provide an additional gift card point of purchase that's more convenient for shoppers:
We are excited to add the GiftWise solution to our gift card sales strategy. GiftWise gives us an effective way to expand the visibility of our gift card program, while offering improved convenience for our shoppers.
Self-Service Networks says the all-weather turnkey solution includes installation services, technology support, on-site maintenance, a customized GUI and integration with Tanger's gift card solution program manager.
Intel has announced in a news release that it is developing two new retail self-service devices.
In addition to a back-to-back kiosk that allows customers to browse catalogues of inventory, read product reviews and check social networks for wish lists from friends and family, Intel has created a self-checkout terminal that it says offers customers unique options:
Mobile phone integration allows shoppers to send grocery lists to their phones and retrieve and scan electronic coupons. The rich graphical user interface can also be used as a kiosk, providing customers with useful information like a receipt look-up option. The kiosk also provides effective cross-selling opportunities for the grocer and frees resources to help customers on the floor.
According to the release, both products feature the Intel vPro platform with intel Active Management Technology that the company says offers low maintenance costs, remote manageability and average energy-cost savings of 70 percent.
Motorola Inc. has introduced the MK4000 micro kiosk, which it says can feature a variety of customer- and employee-facing self-service applications.
In terms of the retail vertical, Motorola says in a news release that the MK4000 is ideal for applications such as price-checking, gift card balance inquiry, product ordering and coupon printing. The kiosk also can feature customer check-in applications for environments such as airports, car rental agencies, sports stadiums and theme parks.
Motorola says the MK4000 also is ideal for the hospitality and healthcare verticals, as well as for use as an employee-facing workforce-management tool:
For example, employees can view training videos or presentations on new products or policies, punch in and out and access on-demand information to assist customers.
When not in use, the MK4000 also can display brand messaging and advertisements and offer customers value-add information.
The MK4000 features a 12.1-inch touchscreen, stereo speakers, a variety of scanner-integration options and microphone and headset jacks. The device is a mere 2.5 inches thick and is compatible with Motorola's Mobility Service Platform.
Bowling Green, Ky.-based Pan-Oston has introduced the newest model in its Utopia line of self-checkout products.
According to a news release from Pan-Oston, the new model is the smallest of the modular Utopia self-checkout systems and gives retailers the option of using their existing peripherals, such as monitors, scanners and printers, with the new solution.
Jim Vance, Pan-Oston's president, says the new lane's flexibility will be a long-term advantage for retailers:
Our modular line was designed to give independent grocers all the benefits of self-checkout along with their favorite feed, takeaway and bagging system. And, maybe even more beneficial is the fact that the lanes can be easily changed by adding (or) removing cabinet, hardware and software components as well as features, so they never become obsolete.
Sam's Club and eSoles Custom Footbeds are taking eSoles' 3D TruCapture kiosk scanning systems to Sam's locations across the United States in a series of "road shows." According to a news release from Sam's Club, members can have their feet scanned at the eSoles-staffed kiosk and either purchase eFit custom footbeds on-site or order ePro custom footbed for home delivery within a week.
The road show tour has stopped at three Sam's locations thus far — two in Arizona and one in Arkansas — and is confirmed to hit seven more stores in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Missouri and Nevada through October.
According to the release, special "Preferred Club Member" pricing is available to Sam's shoppers during the road shows.
Vienna, Va.-based Lucidiom has introduced its newest photo kiosk model, the APM 3700.
Lucidiom president Steve Giordano Jr. says the new model incorporates features that the company's retail customers have indicated are important to them:
A major issue for retailers today is the look and feel of their shops, and the sleek and skinny APM 3700 is designed with that in mind. Space, security, aesthetics and noise levels were all considerations for this latest APM model. For instance, the APM 3700 is 30 percent smaller in depth and will accommodate just about every retail fixture. It also boasts cable control — all the cables and cords can be contained within its shell, allowing retailers to better merchandise their fixtures without concern for bothersome cables.
According to a news release from Lucidiom, the APM 3700 also features mounting screws for extra security, a built-in magnetic stripe reader, and a brighter screen and larger hard drive than previous models.
AVinci Media Corp. today announced a deal with Walgreens that will add aVinci’s photo DVD application to photo kiosks to 7,000 Walgreens stores nationwide. The product, called My Personal Movie, allows customers to transform their digital images into personalized DVDs in minutes.
Mona Kelly, divisional merchandise manager of Walgreens’ photofinishing and front-end services, says shopper response to the new technology has been “sensational.” She shared one example from a customer:
"Thank you for creating a beautiful testament to our family! I viewed it by myself before giving it to my husband, and I cried my eyes out! When the girls gave it to their dad, he cried, too! It turned out perfect! This is a wonderful service — especially for us novices, it was easy and affordable."
The product includes customization options for weddings, vacations, holidays and baby themes and popular music to lay over the movie. Each DVD can hold up to 100 photos and comes with a personalized case.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Agilysys Inc., an IT solutions provider, and Wine Market Assistant LLC, a software solution provider, today announced a partnership to deliver a turnkey kiosk solution to grocery and beverage retailers. The solution will assist customers with ratings and reviews for wine, beer and spirits.
"As we continue to experience difficult economic conditions, it is extremely important for retailers to differentiate themselves from their competition and focus on enhancing the overall customer experience," said Paul Civils, senior vice president and general manager of Agilysys Retail Solutions Group. "Agilysys understands the issues our customers are facing today, and by partnering with Wine Market Assistant we are able to provide our customers with another great offering aimed at increasing cross-departmental sales and the bottom line."
According to a news release, the enterprise-class merchandising solution is multifunctional, suggesting complementary items, offering product ratings and reviews, proposing recipes or recommending a retailer's targeted promotional opportunities to customers. Using this solution, customers can either scan an item such as a wine bottle, meat or seafood or browse the kiosk to seek suggestions on product pairings or recipes. Additionally, retailers are able to utilize the solution to offer promotional opportunities to their customers.
"We are excited to partner with Agilysys to deliver this valuable solution," said Jon Holland, partner of Wine Market Assistant. "By combining our software offering with Agilysys' hardware, integration and support services offerings, we are able to supply a complete, self-service, multiuse kiosk solution to grocery and beverage retailers."
The kiosk’s additional functionalities include real-time updates on product information and the ability to provide store managers with usage reports detailing customer shopping inquiries and trends.
DULUTH, Ga. — NCR Corp. has announced its No. 1 position in the hardware maintenance and support category in retail infrastructure support for 2006-2008, according to Gartner Inc.’s “Market Share: Infrastructure Support, Worldwide Market Share” database, published in May.
Gartner also reported that NCR ranked No. 7 worldwide in financial services infrastructure support and No. 10 worldwide across all verticals in infrastructure support for the same time period. More than 175 service vendors were evaluated for the report, and the database’s rankings are based on worldwide revenues.
“Maximizing system availability and managing total cost of ownership has taken on supercritical importance in today’s challenging economic and competitive environment,” said Christine Wallace, senior vice president of NCR Services. “These challenges are uppermost in the minds of the NCR Services teams that work with businesses around the world. Our dedication to making things easier for our customers, enabling them to move faster and helping them transform their businesses is reaffirmed, in my opinion, by these latest Gartner rankings.”
NCR offers a complete portfolio of services for retail, financial, travel, healthcare, hospitality, entertainment, gaming and public sector organizations. These services help businesses design, deploy, support and manage their technology solutions, whether those solutions are from NCR or other vendors.
With customer care centers and field offices around the world and more than 13,000 NCR consultants and technical support experts, the company manages nearly 80 million service actions annually.
The Northern (England) Echo: An Asda supermarket in Whinfield, Darlington, in the United Kingdom was the target of hooded thieves Sunday. In the early morning hours and as store workers were occupied by a delivery, the perpetrators used pickaxes to break into the store and then emptied the contents of the self-checkout machines.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.”
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.
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.”
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.”
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.
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."
Furniture World: Homemakers, a wholly owned unit in the Berkshire Hathaway family of businesses, drove more traffic into its 215,000-square-foot store using a kiosk-based scan event than at any other time in the past year. The kiosks run promotional events to help retailers drive consumers into the store and up to the kiosk to collect personal data for marketing and credit application services. Mail America’s partnership with in-store technology leader, Showroom Technology, enables the kiosks to tie together barcoded print promotions with a consumer’s in-store experience. The barcode scan events can be insured for up to one million dollars, enabling retailers to get creative and develop promotions that catch the attention of today’s cautious consumer.
The Hartford Courant: Stop & Shop has deployed new hand-held scanners in several of its Connecticut stores. The purple devices allow customers to keep a running total of the groceries they've scanned and then pay at a self-service station without having to take everything out of their shopping baskets again. Modiv Media Inc., which manufactures the Scan It! system, claims that the portable scanners can shave an average of 12 minutes from a trip to the grocery store, and might also increase the number of times people shop. Supermarkets stand to get more business, too. Shoppers buy an average of 10 percent more during every visit and increase the frequency of their visits by another 10 percent when using the scanners. At that rate, a company representative said, the system pays for itself in a year.
BELLEVUE, Wash. — Coinstar E-Payment Services, a subsidiary of Coinstar Inc., has announced that Stripes, a convenience store chain operated by Susser Holdings Corp., now carries Coinstar’s full range of Pay As You Go products and services at more than 500 locations in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.
According to a news release, 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. The Pay As You Go product suite offered at Stripes includes a customized mix of prepaid wireless, long distance and financial services.
“Coinstar partners with retailers to determine the optimal product and merchandising mix to match shopper demographics and behaviors,” said Mike Skinner, general manager of Coinstar E-Payment Services. “After analyzing Stripes’ shopper demographics, we adjusted our product offerings to feature a larger selection of financial services, including — for the first time in its stores — reloadable prepaid MasterCard and Visa debit cards, and will be further expanding the product offering over the coming months.”
With a full range of customizable technology platforms, Coinstar removes the challenges traditionally faced by retailers offering prepaid products. Retailers can benefit from seamless solutions such as terminals, kiosks and integrated host-to-host options designed to grow with retailers as their operations and businesses expand.
New York Times: Sales clerks still ask customers, “May I help you?” on the floors of many department stores, but some shoppers may soon choose to be served instead by a computer kiosk with clever software. The new kiosks aren’t the stodgy kind that have long dispensed boarding passes, train tickets and family snapshots. Instead, they have sleek lines and large touch screens — as well as software that, depending on the application, can recognize customers, know what they’ve bought in the past, point out bargains and even let them try out virtual clothing, hair colors and cosmetics onscreen.
ST. JOHNS, Newfoundland — Newfoundland Labrador Liquor Corp. and Dalcom Consulting Inc. have installed Wine Market Assistant's information station self-service kiosk in two stores.
According to a news release, the Wine Market Assistant kiosk enables NLC to provide premium self-service to customers by providing educational information plus beverage and recipe pairing suggestions. Customers obtain product information, ratings and reviews for wine, beer and spirits by scanning a bottle or browsing the kiosk. Customers can also browse and print recipes to pair up with their wine selections.
The customizable configuration of this powerful tool results in a rich environment for selling beverages and provides a value-added service for their customers with matching recipes. The kiosk also has the capability to provide targeted promotional opportunities to the customer at the point of decision, including registering for the NLC Newsletter and for upcoming events.
E-consultancy.com: Sears Holdings is integrating a new branding strategy called "ShopYourWay" across all of its channels, including in-store, online, mobile, electronic kiosks and PDAs. The branding has already launched on Sears.com and soon will be introduced to Kmart.com. The full range of Sears and Kmart products will appear on each site and will increase the options available to consumers. The strategy also includes in-store Internet kiosks. Sears.com sells roughly 100,000 tools online, while its stores offer only some 7,000 to 8,000 options. With the ShopYourWay functionality, in-store shoppers also will have the opportunity to order out-of-stock items through the kiosk.
Retail Solutions Online: As the global recession tightens its grip, many retailers are taking a second look at the ways self-service can help them curb expenditures. In addition to cutting costs, self-service solutions can also improve workforce efficiency and customer satisfaction. The effects of self-service are not always positive, however. In some cases, the technology can decrease the interaction between the retailer and the consumer and reduce the opportunities for upsell. How can retailers know if self-service is right for them? John Roach, editor of Retail Solutions Online, weighs in.
SEATTLE -- NCR Corp., a member of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, and Toshiba Corp., a manufacturer of consumer electronics devices, have jointly announced that they will showcase MOD Systems' digital download solution at Retailtech Japan 2009 in Tokyo.
According to a news release, the MOD Retail Enterprise System is a solution for secure digital video downloads to SD memory cards with instant playback on a dedicated SD card player. It's part of an initiative by MOD, NCR and Toshiba to give a consumers a faster, more portable way to download movies, TV shows, music and other digital content at a wide variety of retail locations for playback on various consumer electronics devices.
MOD Systems expects to launch its video download solution in 2009 at selected U.S. retail locations. Deployments in international markets are expected to follow.
"For too long, digital media delivery to consumers has been a direct-to-home model, leaving physical retailers out of the equation," said Mark E. Phillips, chief executive of MOD Systems. "We're very pleased to work with our partners to debut this solution to retailers in Japan. We think this mobile consumer market presents a tremendous opportunity to deliver digital entertainment using SD cards, a highly portable form factor."
MOD Systems' entertainment catalog includes 4,000 video titles from independent and major studios, and nearly four million music tracks. In January, the company announced the first major U.S. studio agreements to distribute digital video from Warner Brothers and Paramount Digital Entertainment via downloads to SD cards in retail stores.
See also:
Ask the Experts: DVD kiosks or digital download kiosks?
Convenience Store Decisions: R3 Omni and NCR Corp., a member of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, have joined forces to enable sports fans to purcase merchandise from the NFL, MLB, NASCAR and U.S. Olympics and Colleges via self-service kiosks. The R3 Omni applications, which run on NCR SelfServ 60 hardware, allow consumers to browse a vast selection of products, choosing the ones they want, purchase them and specify how they would like the products to be delivered.
NATICK, Mass. -- VDC Research Group, a consulting firm that studies the self-service industry, and a member of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, has released a report that provides detailed global forecasts for retail-based kiosk solutions.
According to a news release, "Volume 11: Retail Based Kiosks" sheds light on how the global economic crisis is affecting self-service in the retail space. Retailers are finding themselves under increased pressure to cut costs, improve operational efficiencies and enhance the customer experience. These objectives are consistent with the benefits provided by self-service solutions, which are fast becoming a center of convergence for transaction automation, branding and customer support.
In 2007, the global market for retail-based kiosks approached $525 million, according to the release. VDC anticipates that revenue shipments for retail-based kiosks will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 9.0 percent, approaching $800 million by 2012.
"Although the current economic climate is delaying investment in self-service technologies, the global markets for these solutions are expected to continue to grow in direct response to rising customer comfort levels, clearly defined value propositions and proven ROI metrics," said Rory Gardner, transaction automation analyst for VDC Research Group. "These self-service solutions are a necessary component to any enterprise's customer interaction program, and are viewed as robust and expandable platforms on which an interprise will extend their self-service capabilities."
Retailwire.com: As an ever-increasing number of retailers implement kiosk and digital signage systems into their business models, many of them are realizing the benefits of the new technology. Others fail to comprehend the advantages that self-service has to offer, such as providing new channels of communication and improving collaboration with other departments. Retailwire.com has compiled a list of six imperatives that every self-service and digital signage deployment should accomplish.
DUSSELDORF, Germany -- Wincor Nixdorf has received an order from real,- SB Warenhaus GmbH to deliver and install reverse vending self-service systems, according to a news release.
The retailer's German stores will be equipped with a total of 120 systems in a rollout that is expected to conclude this year. According to the release, this order means that Wincor Nixdorf has become the primary supplier of reverse vending to real, - SB Warenhaus GmbH, a METRO Group company. It also strengthens Wincor Nixdorf's position as a supplier of self-service and automation solutions for retail chains.
The contract conclusion was preceded by a very intensive project phase, in which Wincor Nixdorf laid the foundation for its relationship with the retailer through an internal optimization of the individual processes. The retailer has ordered Wincor Nixdorf's Revendo 7000 system for processing cans and disposable PET bottles, and the Revendo 8000, which accepts every kind of returnable container: glass bottles, PET bottles, cans and entire beverage crates.
At EuroCIS 2009, Wincor Nixdorf will demonstrate how its reverse vending systems can be integrated in the IT infrastructures of retail stores. The presentation will focus on the secure processing of transaction receipts. Through automatic posting of the receipts at the POS system, retailers can ensure that an individual transaction receipt issued by the reverse vending system is only paid or credited once. This results in a significant reduction of inventory discrepancies. And at the end of the day, an overview of transactions can be produced at the touch of a button.
Another feature, according to the release, is intelligent couponing -- the generation of discount coupons based on the type of empties returned. This generates considerable advantages for sales control of the store's beverage assortment. These functions are enabled by the open, standards-based interface concept in Wincor Nixdorf's Revendo systems, which ensures seamless communication between the reverse vending systems and the POS.
Customers can also use the system's donation function to donate to the cause of their choice, according to the release.
NATICK, Mass. -- The challenges of selling retail automation solutions during a recession were apparent at the 2009 National Retail Federation conference in New York City, according to a news release from VDC Research.
One prevalent theme at the show, according to the release, centered on customer-facing solutions -- especially the intersection of mobile commerce, self-service and customer intelligence solutions. A growing collection of suppliers and operators offered variations on strategies that incorporated one or more elements of multi-channel marketing and/or self-service operations, and the technologies that support them.
2009 will see continued integration of m-commerce and self-service to deliver a fresh approach to customer engagement. Changes in consumer priorities, budgets and access to information will put pressure on retailers to meet the expectations of these customers. Self-service solutions - including those with mobile components -- are being considered a high potential tool to enable associates, and customers themselves, to enhance experiences.
The release cites Intel's proof-of-concept system as technology that offers interactive digital signage and either a manned or self-service POS system. The proof-of-concept system can be deployed as interactive POS terminals or self-service kiosk.
At the same time, the release noted the significance of Source Technologies' launch of its ServPoint family of self-service kiosks. The ServPoint family is available in a wide range of configurations and can be designed to address several applications and vertical markets from a largely common platform.
Fujitsu was also named in the release as a self-service innovator at NRF. The company unveiled several of its new U-Serv self-service kiosk solutions. The solutions ranged from its entry-level solution, the U-Serve 50, to its higher-end solution, the U-Serve 75. According to the release, Fujitsu's U-Serve product line, "offers the necessary flexibility to address multiple vertical markets and applications." Applications that were on display at the show included self-service ordering, movie/event ticketing and guided/assisted selling.
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. -- Versatile Systems Inc. has announced that Mohawk, a commercial and residential flooring retailer, has made it easier for consumers to see their credit availability through an in-store credit kiosk that processes information quickly, while giving customers privacy and security.
According to a news release, this credit information system has helped stores across the country increase the number of store credit applications as well as increase the size of the average sales ticket.
The credit kiosk, created by Versatile Systems, features a touchscreen and built-in computer that allows the consumer, without store assistance, to connect to the lender and apply for credit. An answer, either approved or not, is provided in seconds. The kiosk provides credit line information encouraging shoppers to look beyond their initial purchase intent.
The credit kiosks are available in a custom cabinet with graphics or as a tabletop mount.
"We know that store credit is one of the most valuable selling tools for our industry," said Mike Zoellner, vice president of marketing services for Mohawk. "Studies show the average ticket sale with a branded store credit card is $2,600, compared to $600 for a cash sale or $750 for a bank card. Also, the initial purchase on a new private label credit card is typically higher than a store's average ticket sale."
NEW YORK -- Magstar Inc., a mid-size enterprise retail solution developer, announced its new Magstar Total Mobile POS solution, a lightweight POS handheld that will allow retailers to notably improve customer service levels while adeptly handling lane-busting, basic POS transactions and customer returns. Magstar Total Mobile POS will give retailers and their customers the freedom to operate throughout the store and in outside store areas via a secure wireless network.
Magstar Total Mobile POS is a portable touchscreen tool capable of real-time lookup of items, pricing and CRM information. At the same time, it is able to fully integrate all sales activity back to the feature-rich Magstar Total POS solution, which then automatically feeds the data to the Total Retail enterprise solution.
After scanning items in a shopping basket using Total Mobile POS, sales associates can provide shoppers with a quick receipt that, when presented to a cashier, recalls all items for quick checkout. When incorporating the mag-stripe/PIN attachment to the mobile device, customers using credit or debit cards can be processed immediately without the need to enter a checkout lane.
Learn more about the exhibitors at this year's NRF show at Retail Customer Experience: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
NEW YORK -- A retail kiosk unveiled by Intel Corp. could lower a store's total cost of ownership while improving customer satisfaction at the same time.
Revealed at the NRF 98th Annual Convention & Expo in New York, Intel's proof-of-concept exhibits the latest in digital signage and point-of-sale technology in a kiosk form factor, and demonstrates how technology can enhance the retail shopping experience.
Accommodating consumer preferences for self-service fueled by e-commerce trends, the kiosk demonstration includes features that match the perks of Internet shopping, such as suggestive selling and real-time inventory access, as well as showing promotions, product details and customer reviews. These features, in turn, facilitate sales associate up-selling and cross-selling opportunities, which will increase a retailer's bottom line and customer loyalty.
The POS demo is based on the 45nm Intel Core 2 Duo mobile processor that is inside hundreds of millions of today's laptops and PCs. Compared with legacy POS platforms, the processor in the demo can enable more than a 70 percent reduction in required power use while still providing as much as double the amount of raw processing performance as previous generations of processors. As such, energy savings from this POS system are passed on to retailers by way of lower energy bills.
"Intel-based technologies will ensure retailers are well-positioned to move through the current economy into a successful and profitable future, while giving their customers more information faster and easier than ever before," said Joe Jensen, general manager, Intel Embedded Computing Division. "We hope the combination of improving a customer's retail experience, while also arming sales associates with more accurate information and reducing operations costs, such as electricity bills and maintenance, is a compelling proposition for the world's retailers to take advantage of what Intel technology innovation has to offer."
The proof-of-concept platform features Intel vPro technology with Intel Active Management Technology and offers lower maintenance costs, improved power management and security options such as system diagnosis. Intel vPro technology allows administrators to manage systems remotely, making it possible to turn off all systems overnight to increase energy savings and reduce the need for technicians to go on-site for system maintenance, resulting in decreased carbon emissions and lower operational expenses for retailers.
The modular design of the proof-of-concept system promotes easy upgrades to next-generation CPU platforms so retailers can remain in sync with the latest technology advancements. The POS demo is customizable with a removable PC board and individual modules that can be added on, taken off, interchanged or replaced to meet evolving business needs.
Mediaweek: Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. is taking the plunge into a deeper level of self-service. The retailer is rolling out Modiv Media's scan-and-bag system in an additional 50 stores. The system involves the use of hand-held personal shopping assistants which can be used by shoppers to scan grocery items as they are taken from store shelves.
geeksugar.com: If attendees of next week's National Retail Federation Show in New York City have trouble with their hair or makeup, there's a good chance they'll find the solution on the show floor. IBM will introduce their first ever "Virtual Mirror" kiosk at the company's booth. The kiosk can take a digital image of a shopper and scan in various makeup and hair coloring products they may be interested in purchasing. The result is an image of the shopper's face as it would appear wearing the various products.
This week, Hanesbrand Inc., the nationally recognized provider of clothing, has plans to open the Disney Design-A-Tee retail outlet at Disney World's Downtown Disney in Orlando, where customers will be able to design their own t-shirts on interactive touchscreen kiosks, according to a report filed by the Orlando Business Journal.
SelfService.org recently spoke with Matt Hall, vice president of external communications for Hanesbrand Inc. Hall said there will be eight t-shirt making stations at four kiosks deployed throughout the 1,100 square-foot store. Users will have the opportunity to select from various t-shirt sizes and styles and will be able to choose from a catalog of over 100 artwork images featuring a variety of Disney characters, which can be included on the shirt.
Once the user has designed the t-shirt via the touchscreen, the design will be processed and electronically communicated to the store's t-shirt printing machine. The artwork will then be printed on the shirt, which can be ready in as little as 15 minutes, though Hall said the wait may be longer if a large number of customers are using the kiosks at once.
Hall said the Design-A-Tee store is currently the only deployment to be given the green light, but if the kiosks are successful, his company might roll out more.
"We think it's a pretty big idea, so we think there will probably be an opportunity to expand within the Disney network," Hall said, adding that Hanes has a marketing partnership with the entertainment giant.
He said his company took its time developing the kiosks, as there were significant challenges to overcome.
"It's taken us two years to get the technology to work - to be able to print on multiple colored shirts," Hall said. "It's not only white shirts. You can print on dark shirts. And we're using water-based ink, so it's environmentally friendly."
A grand opening for the store will be held on Friday, Jan. 9, 2009, according to a news release from Walt Disney World Resort. The event will be accompanied by balloon decor, confetti cannons, a giant t-shirt cake and a special visit from Mickey Mouse.
ABERDEEN, N.C. -- Meridian Kiosks is set to unveil its new swipe & GO! line of self-checkout kiosks at the National Retail Federation's "Big Show" in New York later this month. The kiosks, a joint solution between Meridian and NEXTEP Systems will be displayed in the Hewlett Packard booth.
According to a news release, the kiosk line is designed to fit in any environment have a rapid ROI. The focus of the brand was to make self-checkout simple, quick and reliable.
"Lines in stores are never a good thing," said David Annas, vice president of operations at Meridian. "I have witnessed many lost sales due to customers that don't want to wait to pay for items and just leave or turn away at the door."
(Makita City, Philippines) Business Mirror: IBM is predicting that five developments in the next five years will dramatically change consumer lifestyles. Among them: the proliferation of handheld so-called "personal shopping assistants." These self-service devices would enable shoppers to scan and bag items as they're shopping, eliminating most of the check-out process. IBM believes that most consumers will own a personal shopping assistant by the end of the five-year period.
The (Singapore) Business Times: A recent U.S. consumer survey commissioned by IBM demonstrated a 50 percent growth in the use of self-service technology in the past year, with 70 percent of respondents indicating they expect businesses to offer more self-service options. If these figures are accurate, then success in the retail market hinges upon the stores' ability to deploy effective and relevant self-service options. The same is true of the Asian market. Nicholas Tan, general manager of IBM Singapore's general business unit, sounds off on the statistics.
Mass High Tech (MHT): Eduardo Alvarez, founder of Vigix Inc., has teamed up with MIT's Media Lab and Ideo Inc. to create a vending kiosk that dispenses popular consumer electronics, including iPods, cell phones and related accessories. The plan is to deploy the vending kiosks in high-traffic locations like airports or malls. Unlike similar kiosks deployed by Zoom Systems, Vigix kiosks can be restocked by third-party courier services, such as UPS.
AMonline.com: Self-Service Networks, a provider of turnkey self-service solutions, has announced GiftWise, a complete program for selling, activating and dispensing gift cards within the retail setting. GiftWise bills itself as a self-service program that offers a consistent experience while decreasing operational costs. Users purchase their gift cards at an interactive kiosk, equipped with a touchscreen interface.
POSEN, Ill. -- Corporate Safe Specialists is upgrading its MenuSOS kiosk software platform to support more applications, including .net framework 3.05, Windows Presentation and Communication Foundations (WPF and WCF) and SQL Express.
Corporate Safe Specialists kiosk solutions are designed to help small- and medium-sized businesses quickly implement self-service systems with a lower initial investment. MenuSOS is offered as an enhancement to the CSS kiosk platform, which, according to a news release, is the only kiosk system to accept credit/debit cards and cash, validate and count currency, and store it directly to a business rated safe. Notes are deposited directly into a business rated safe and CSS kiosk security can be made ready for armored car pick-up.
MenuSOS offers rapid self-configuration through a scripted, user-friendly process that non-technical users can complete within a few hours. Restaurant and retail establishments would then have a working kiosk platform that would provide benefits to both the business ower and customers.
According to the release, customers will now have the ability to order and pay for products and services through a touchscreen interface. The design objective for the user interface was a superior customer experience that shed associations with order entry via a personal computer.
Business owners are able to service a greater number of customers without hiring additional staff. The MenuSOS will also enable small business owners to offer their customers the self-service options that have become increasingly popular at larger competitors. The MenuSOS module can also be used as a digital chalkboard to communicate daily specials and other information to customers.
San Francisco Chronicle: Air travelers at the San Francisco International Airport will soon be able to pay restitution for the carbon emissions caused by their trip. This spring, the airport plans to unveil self-service kiosk stations where users can purchase carbon offsets. The experimental program will make the airport the first in the nation to offer such a plan.
"We'd like people to stop and consider the impacts of flying," said Steve McDougal, executive vice president for 3Degrees, a San Francisco firm that sells renewable energy and carbon-reduction investments and is teaming up with the airport and the city on the project.
(Albany, NY) WRGB, Channel 6: The New York State Consumer Protection Board is reviewing plans to deploy self-service recall notification kiosks in area Target stores. The kiosks would enable shoppers to check if a particular product has been recalled. Although the board says it supports any program that will help to protect consumers, it wants to review the new system to ensure it meets state requirements.
CNN: A pair of German researchers have designed a prototype kiosk that gives iPhone users their first taste of the semantic Web. The semantic Web is just one component of what many tech analysts are calling "Web 3.0" -- the next generation of online interaction. Generally, it refers to an emerging Internet experience in which all things on the Web will be described with descriptor languages so computers can "understand" what they are. An object marked as baseball bat could be identified by the computer and the Web could immediately display related data, such as information on catchers' mits, baseballs, uniforms, etc. After the user places his iPhone on the kiosk surface, a circle appears around it displaying -- among other things -artists and albums similar to the MP3 tunes loaded on the iPhone.
ComputerWeekly.com: HMV, the popular music and movie retailer, is continuing to roll out its "next generation" store, complete with self-service kiosks that allows consumers to download music onto USB sticks. The kiosks also enable users to search for product information, including trailers, album-track listings and in-stock availability of a product. HMV is testing the kiosks at a few stores and is tracking customer usage through Christmas. HMV is counting on the kiosks to help it compete with online retailers such as Amazon.com and Play.com.
TORONTO -- Macy's Convenience Stores Inc., Ontario's largest c-store operator, has partnered with Signifi Solutions Inc. to launch a pilot program in which Signifi's Movie Spot kiosks will be deployed in selected Macy's c-stores in Ontario.
Movie Spot is a new network of DVD rental kiosks in Canada that focuses on deployment locations such as convenience stores, grocers and other popular retail destinations. Movie Spot kiosks can hold up to 1,000 DVDs and typically feature about 300 different movie titles. The cost of a Movie Spot DVD rental is CAN $1.99 a night (U.S. $1.65).
"We are excited to work with Signifi's Movie Spot to offer our customers even greater value and convenience," said George Kioussis, director of merchandising and marketing at Macy's Convenience Stores Inc. "Today's time-starved consumer demands convenience above all else. We believe this proposition not only offers tremendous value to our current loyal customer base, but it can also become a differentiator in our channel, increase foot traffic and attract new customers."
TUCSON, Ariz. -- DIY Technologies, a custom software development company that actively targets the do-it-yourself home-construction/home-maintenance industry, has announced the release of 3-D Visualizer, its latest Web-based 3-D deck designer and visualization tool.
According to a news release, the 3-D deck visualization tool allows users on the Internet, in the store and at a kiosk to create complex deck designs in 3-D, while in real time change decking and railing materials to view the impact of different materials, styles, colors and textures on the look of their custom deck design. Adding features such as walls, windows, doors and deck accessories further allows users to visualize completed deck projects.
"The release of the 3-D deck visualization tool is a major milestone in true intra- and Internet-based tools," said Michael Heisler, president of DIY Technologies. "The user can immediately see the impact of selecting different materials and colors, as well as still provide them with a customized specification kit."
The kit includes material and cut lists, instructions and building permit information, which provides everything that is required based on the deck type or the residential zip code. The kit can even provide a list of contractors.
DIY Technologies has already begun deploying the 3-D Visualizer to home centers, composite decking manufacturers, railing manufacturers and providers of outdoor deck accessories.
Cnet Australia: Art afficionados now have a new means of obtaining classic artwork reproductions on canvas or silk. Canon and Foto Riesel, a photographic retailer, have opened their first "digital darkroom" concept store in Sydney, Australia. The store, which is located next to Foto Riesel's main outlet on Kent Street, allows consumers and professionals to print high quality images on a range of Canon printers and plotters. An art-on-demand touchscreen kiosk is one of the key features of the new store. The kiosk allows users to select from an image bank of more 7,000 artworks by artists such as Claude Monet and Gustav Klimt.
New Hampshire Public Radio: Most people would be surprised to learn that more men use self-service checkout aisles than women. People might also be intrigued to hear representatives of NCR Corp., one of the largest providers of self-service solutions in the world, say that no cashier ever lost his job to a self-service device. Those are just some of the claims to come out of an NHPR report on the state of the self-service checkout industry. A transcript and audio recording of that report are available online.
DAYTON, Ohio — NCR Corporation and Toronto-based Autologic Innovations have partnered to offer the automotive dealership industry in Canada an innovative self-service solution to provide easier and faster tracking of vehicle inventory and free up more time for customer service.
The new self-service tool provides dealerships with on-demand vehicle location and status — whether for inventory management or for customer test driving — and helps them improve operational efficiency while simplifying the customer test-drive process.
Autologic Innovations is an independent software developer and integrator of turnkey, real-time vehicle inventory management solutions. The company's Track-A-Lot software application integrates RFID, Wi-Fi and other wired/wireless technology, and the Internet. The latest enhancement to its Track-A-Lot system leverages the NCR EasyPoint Advantage kiosk.
All vehicles on a dealership lot are equipped with semi-active RFID tags. Staffers then use the NCR kiosk to read, record and track the tags associated with each vehicle. This allows dealers to not only improve vehicle monitoring and inventory management, but also enhance their theft prevention processes and eliminate the need to have staff manually count vehicles located in on- and off-site lots.
When a customer wishes to take a test drive, the salesperson simply waves the vehicle key fob (which contains the vehicle information number) at an RFID reader on the NCR kiosk, and the information is recorded in the Track-A-Lot system. The employee then uses the kiosk touchscreen to input the customer's name and driver's license number to complete the transaction.
"Automating this process through self-service can help dealerships transform their business — improving staff efficiency and reducing paper as employees no longer need to make a hard copy record of each driver's license prior to the test drive," said Paul Gautier, national director of Retail Channels for NCR in Canada. "More importantly, employees spend less time searching for vehicles and more time with customers, which can ultimately help increase sales."
PARK RIDGE, N.J. - The Hertz Corp. has expanded Simply Wheelz by Hertz, which according to a news release, puts travelers in the driver's seat with faster, easier and more affordable access to today's most popular rental cars. The program will be expanded to Los Angeles and San Diego Airports in California and Miami International and West Palm Beach Airports in Florida. In addition Simply Wheelz will be available at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas.
First launched in September 2007, the expansion is based upon the success of Simply Wheelz in Orlando. With low, competitive rates starting as low as $99 a week through December 15, 2008, Simply Wheelz offers an easy-to-use Web site for reservations (www.SimplyWheelz.com), and a self-service rental kiosk to rent vehicles. Simply Wheelz accepts third party reservations, via travel agents and online booking channels, and reservations via its Web site.
"Following the consumer popularity of our pilot program in Orlando, it's only natural we expand Simply Wheelz into additional leisure destinations," said Mark P. Frissora, chairman and chief executive of The Hertz Corp. "While there are numerous economic headwinds facing the American public, people continue to travel. Trip dynamics are evolving, and Simply Wheelz targets the 60 percent of leisure travelers who now book their car rentals online, as well as those primarily focused on price."
Designed for online customers looking for a low price from recognized companies, Simply Wheelz makes car rental economical and hassle-free. Customers reserve one of the six vehicle types (from economy to fullsize plus SUVs and convertibles) offered and, when arriving at the Hertz airport location, rent cars using a self-service rental kiosk. The kiosk scans a bar code from a printed online reservation or the renter's driver's license, the customer selects a few additional options, such as child seats or GPS and insurance/waiver options, and then a vehicle is assigned and the kiosk prints the rental agreement. Once the rental transaction is completed, customers go can to their car and proceed off the lot.
(Springfield, Mo.) News-Leader: "If only I would have had this service 30 years ago," said a retired patron as he watched manager Jim Miller show a young job-seeker how to navigate JobView, a new touchscreen kiosk housed in the reading room on the main floor of the Midtown Carnegie Branch Library. Certainly there are plenty of area men and women who will make good use of JobView now, said Kathy Shatto of the Missouri Career Center. This project, the first JobView kiosk in a Missouri library, was funded through a Community Block Development grant using federal, state and local money.
The Salt Lake (City) Tribune: Although Salt Lake City motorists can easily miss the subtle "Wine Store" lettering on the front of the new state store, shoppers are anxious for the store to open. The new store boasts an inventory of more than 5,000 wines in a 12,000-square-foot location that doubles the size of the state's only other major wine outlet. And the new store offers a state first: a kiosk equipped with computers programmed to help shoppers choose the right wines.
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Pan-Oston, a leading designer, developer and manufacturer of retail checkout products, including lanes, counters and self-checkout solutions, as well as other retail display products, is teaming with National Grocers Association, the national trade association representing the independent sector of the retail and wholesale grocery industry, to deliver products and services which increase efficiency, reduce costs and allow the independent sector to maintain its competitive position.
"We are thrilled to be working with Pan-Oston. This agreement represents a great opportunity to create value and efficiency for our members and achieve the necessary economies of scale to compete," said Frank DiPasquale, senior vice president and executive director, National Grocers Association. "Pan-Oston's Utopia self-checkout is a proven self-checkout solution for independent grocers, and their new Ergolane checkout is the first major check lane design innovation in over four decades."
The agreement establishes an exclusive partnership program whereby N.G.A. members are pre-approved to receive member benefits such as economy pricing, unique programs, technology and support services on all Pan-Oston retail checkout and display products inclusive of the patent-pending Utopia self-checkout solution.
"The National Grocers Association values the existence of independent retailers as a central requirement of a competitive grocery market and pursues strategic initiatives to support their member opportunities to increase efficiency, reduce costs and maintain their competitive position," said Jim Vance, Pan-Oston's president. "N.G.A. members now have an affordable
self-checkout solution with Utopia and access to our broad array of front-end and other grocery display products at Tier One prices."
Fermanagh (Ireland) Herald: Fermanagh shoppers got a little more than they bargained for when they were offered the chance to learn how to use the Internet, as well as a range of interactive services, while doing the weekly shopping. As part of the nationwide campaign, "Get Online Day," Tesco Enniskillen and digital inclusion initiative, EverybodyOnline, joined forces to help people step into the virtual world and discover what the Internet has to offer. Members of the EverybodyOnline team were on hand in Tesco Enniskillen to show shoppers how to use the free public touchscreen Internet kiosk.
Video Business: NCR Corp. says it is plans to roll out hybrid machines that both dispense pre-recorded DVDs and provide digital-movie downloads in retail locations. NCR has partnered with MOD Systems to deliver kiosks that will allow consumers to download content onto SD memory cards for playback on various compatible devices. The companies expect to start installing these kiosks at unspecified retailers during the first quarter of 2009. Neither NCR nor MOD has said what films and TV content will be available.
SYDNEY, Australia — Kodak and Myer have announced a new partnership that makes Kodak the official supplier of photo-lab service for Myer customers.
According to a news release, the service will be rolled out nationally to all Myer stores and will be called "Kodak at Myer."
The partnership, which was finalized on Oct. 16, will see an initial nine Myer stores fitted with Kodak digital picture labs and kiosks.
"Kodak is delighted to be announcing this new partnership with Myer," said Grant Smith, general manager of Kodak Australasia's Consumer Digital Group. "We were selected as the preferred partner for Myer after careful consideration and evaluation of all the available options. Both companies felt strongly about the synergies in our respective brands, including the onus that we both place on quality in terms of the products and services we offer and the values on which we run our businesses."
Kodak at Myer will offer Myer customers both in-store and online services with dedicated photo labs or at Kodak kiosks located throughout the store, or through a dedicated online portal on the Myer Web site.
Available services include: specific print styles including varying sizes, colors and the addition of borders; monthly and annual calendars; collages; greeting cards; picture CDs and Kodak's new Picture Movie DVD, which was launched earlier this year.
In addition to the traditional photo printing services, a complete collection of memorable photo gift ideas such as coffee cups, key rings, beer coolers, t-shirts, fridge magnets, puzzles, photo books and even canvas prints are also available. Customers will be able to choose to have the products delivered to their home or to pick up in store.
EAST HAVEN, Conn. — Netkey, provider of solutions for self-service kiosks and digital signage, has received validation from IBM for its Netkey Software Platform for the Ready for IBM Retail Integration Framework program.
The IBM Retail Integration Framework leverages open standards, including Association for Retail Technology Standards, Open Application Group Integration standards and global GS1 System standards, to unlock communications between services, information sources and business processes, making the store and the enterprise one landscape.
The IBM Retail Integration Framework initiative brings together platform-independent software vendors that deliver proven solutions designed and built for the retail industry. Through this initiative, IBM works with select business partners to validate solutions that meet the requirements of next-generation, open-standards-based store environments.
The Netkey Software Platform is a scalable suite of applications and management software modules designed to help retailers quickly develop and operate media-rich kiosk and digital-signage systems. As a long-standing IBM business partner and independent software vendor, Netkey has several solutions that have been validated by IBM for use with the IBM Anyplace Kiosk.
"In today's challenging economy, retailers are increasingly turning to self-service kiosks and digital signage as valuable tools to enhance the customer experience, improve employee performance, and generate sustainable returns," said V. Miller Newton, chief executive of Netkey. "Achieving Ready for IBM Retail Integration Framework status reflects the power of the Netkey platform as the software foundation for highly scalable digital-media systems that create brand differentiation and deliver real business value."
To achieve validation, Netkey developed tight integration with IBM WebSphere and IBM Tivoli middleware. Retailers now have the option of using IBM WebSphere middleware as the application server for the Netkey-powered kiosk or digital signage network. The Netkey Platform will pass kiosk or digital-signage media-player alerts to the IBM Tivoli Enterprise Console for simplified monitoring and management of store devices.
Los Angeles Times: There's nothing more discouraging for the weary air traveler than to arrive at the airport only to remember that his iPod contains nothing but 1950s polka music. How will he survive that overseas flight? Previously, the only solution to this quandary was for him to download new songs using Wi-Fi on his computer and then transfer them to his iPod (unless he has a phone that lets him purchase songs from it). But now, travelers can go to InMotion kiosks at 20 airports across the country (including LAX) and buy digital music, then plug their iPods or other devices into the kiosk and download the tunes.
VANCOUVER, Canada — The current global economic crisis may actually be good news for some businesses. According to a news release issued by DVDNowKiosks Inc., deployers of DVD rental kiosks may find themselves on good footing as the economy sours.
The state of the economy has society realizing that the times are changing, and DVD rental kiosks are offering a way for people to adapt to these changes.
In order to overcome financial strains, the general public will have to cut down on unnecessary forms of entertainment that can be costly for the average family. DVD-rental kiosks allow consumers to movies at home for a low fee. With soaring gas prices, DVD-rental kiosks are extremely accessible, as most of them are located within grocery and convenience stores, allowing for a one-stop shopping trip.
Robert MacIntosh is a regular customer at one of the DVDNow Kiosks in Las Vegas and has been able to rent movies more frequently because of the low rental cost.
"The kiosk I use is located in a corner store, so while I'm there picking up dinner, I can grab a movie on the way out," MacIntosh said. "It saves me a lot of time."
The rental of movies appears to be at one of its strongest periods in history because of the country's economic downturn. Even consumers who used to be inclined to purchase films are now renting instead, and as the winter approaches, this increase in rentals will be even more evident as people will want to stay indoors with their families.
As the rental industry continues to prosper, many savvy investors are making a relatively small investment in DVD rental kiosks in anticipation of large returns.
"We can't control the economy, but we can control the way we react to it, and, whether we prosper or lose," said Scott McInnes, chief executive of DVDNow Kiosks. "No one hopes for a recession, but I am pleased that our DVDNow kiosk owners are in a position to do very well regardless of the state of the economy."
T3 Online: U.K. entertainment retailer HMV has announced plans for one of its "next-generation" stores to be opened in London. HMV's next-generation stores will be focusing on digital music, providing customers with interactive digital kiosks that allow them to preview, purchase and download MP3s that can then be stored on any USB stick or memory card. These kiosks, although not likely to make CDs redundant, could affect CD sales, as lack of packaging should in theory means lower prices for customers. If HMV wants its music-download kiosks to compete with the likes of iTunes, however, a pricing war with the download giants might be necessary.
Furniture World: Showroom Technology announced that Jerome's Furniture, one of its Top 100 home furnishings retail customers, saw a 20 percent increase in average sales tickets using the SHOW/PRO kiosk system. Having installed SHOW/PRO kiosks in each of its five San Diego stores, Jerome's Furniture incorporated the consumer self-service kiosk system into its sales process, pre-approving consumers for in-store credit and registering customers for incentives. The result was a significant increase in average tickets for customers who first used the kiosk system to gain credit approval. When consumers know their own purchasing power, and the retailer's sales associates do as well, sales tickets tend to be larger.
BROOKFIELD, Wis. — Fiserv Inc., a provider of information technology services to the financial industry, announced that it has partnered with PayScan America Inc., obtaining exclusive rights to license PayScan's patented barcode bill payment process. By utilizing the PayScan barcode bill payment process and the Fiserv CheckFreePay Link platform, CheckFreePay will be able to offer an enhanced retail payment solution that will enable walk-in consumers to pay their household bills quickly and easily at retail checkout lanes and self-service kiosks.
This enhanced retail payment solution will use a "smart barcode" on the bill to record processing rules, including relevant payment data from a customer bill such as the account number. By scanning the bill at an existing retail point-of-sale terminal, a cashier or consumer can easily submit a payment without manual data entry.
"We believe in-lane bill payment services will transform the walk-in bill payment landscape," said Paul Harrison, senior vice president and general manager of Fiserv's CheckFreePay business. "For retailers, it will provide a more efficient walk-in bill payment process that leverages point-of-sale barcoding to reduce the chance for error. Billers could realize reduced processing costs, while their customers will enjoy a more convenient payment experience."
"Retail locations provide a convenient and cost-effective option for the 40 million consumer households that prefer to pay their bills in cash and in person," said Jennifer Roth, research director, global payments, TowerGroup. "Offering in-person, in-lane bill payments at retail point-of-sale registers will serve traditional walk-in bill payment customers, but will also appeal to consumers who typically pay by mail. This represents the next step in delivering automated efficiency and convenience in the walk-in bill payment market."
Today, retailers that offer walk-in bill payment services generally do so at customer service counters or other, separate locations within the store, because they cannot effectively handle bill payment in-lane. CheckFreePay Link with the in-lane bill payment option will offer retailers a solution that will allow consumers to pay their household bills while purchasing groceries and other household items in the checkout lane, creating a better customer service experience for consumers.
(Springfield, Mo.) News-Leader: AT&T Inc. has announced the opening of the recently remodeled retail store in Springfield, Mo. The store, which is more than 4,800 square feet, represents the company's new design concept. The company invested more than $400,000 in updating the store. One of the new store features is the Guided Selling Kiosk. The kiosk includes a rate plan recommendation tool that customers can use independently or with the assistance of an AT&T representative.
TMCnet.com: Qwest Communications, a telecommunications carrier providing wireless and wireline services, has launched 11 interactive retail kiosks to provide customers a virtual playground to test-drive different communications services, including wireless, video and fiber optic Internet services, under one umbrella. The kiosks are available in various shopping centers in Colorado, Iowa, North Dakota, Washington and Arizona. Qwest says it has plans to place the kiosks in 31 additional locations across the 14 states where it offers communications services.
Brand Republic: Retailer Debenhams has announced plans to trial a new touchscreen service in stores that is expected to grow sales of electrical goods by converting shoppers from browsers to buyers. Debenhams' flagship new Westfield London store, which opens Oct. 30, will trial the touchscreen kiosks that provide customers with advice and recommendations on electrical products. The shopper selects the category of electrical products and specifies price, feature/functionality and brand preferences. A selection is then presented to the customer so she can print out the products recommended.
NEW YORK CITY — Fifteen years and some 5,000 custom solutions later, Louisville, Colo.-based KIOSK Information Systems has unveiled its first standard-model outdoor kiosk.
Dubbed the KIOSK Element, the NEMA-rated self-service device made its first public outing yesterday at the New York City edition of the KioskCom Self Service Expo, co-located again with The Digital Signage Show.
The turnkey kiosk can work as a stand-alone or a through-the-wall, and can accommodate any feature mix with peripheral options, including an outdoor credit-card reader, keyboard, receipt printer and barcode scanner. Two high-brite LCDs (one 17-inch and one 19-inch) allow for second-screen advertising and attract-loops for branding, quick consumer adoption and faster ROI. An overhead customer shelter also is available.
“The benefit the KIOSK Element introduces is a new economy of standardized design in outdoor self-service, eliminating the key barrier of entry for many viable deployments,” said Tom Weaver, chief marketing officer for KIOSK, in a release.
“While the major ticketing and entertainment companies have paved the way for outdoor self-service, there are also a number of hospitality, rental, check-in and parking applications that are nicely positioned to reap the benefits of a much improved price point.”
NEW YORK — One of the newest kiosks on hand at the KioskCom Self-Service Expo Wednesday was Curiosk Marketing Solutions’ wine kiosk. The kiosk is being piloted in in Florida, New Jersey, Toronto, and Ontario, Canada.
The wine kiosk allows a retail customer to scan a bottle of wine to get additional information about the wine, ensuring a wise purchase. Using a touchscreen, in less than a minute, users can select wines, get tasting notes and food pairing information, and create a preset or typed personal greeting to attach to the bottle of wine if given as a gift.
“The initial response from consumers using it is the wow factor,” said David Weinberg, president of Curiosk. “When they see the information and how easy it is to get, they’re excited. Then when they realize they can print a card, they’re ecstatic because it’s one-stop shopping. If they’re going to a dinner party, they can buy the wine, get the card.”
NEW YORK — The KioskCom Self Service Expo opened in the heart of Midtown, Manhattan, with two significant announcements from NCR Corp.
NCR pulled the sheet off its new point-of-decision kiosk — the NCR SelfServ 60, which is designed to provide an interactive experience for the consumer in order to buoy them along through the purchasing process.
According to a news release distributed at the show, the NCR SelfServ 60 is customizable to help enhance a business’s brand. Deployers can choose from a number of configuration and design options, such as brand color and logos. Multiple mounting options also are available.
Photograph by Travis Kircher
The NCR SelfServe 60 integrates Intel vPro technology, has a slim, sleek form-factor, and represents a leap forward from its predecessor, the EasyPoint 42.
The NCR SelfServ 60 integrates Intel vPro technology, including the next-generation Intel Core 2 Duo processor and Mobile Intel GM45 Express chipset. With these technologies, the kiosk can run more advanced, engaging self-service applications, NCR says, creating an enhanced experience for consumers and the opportunity for companies to offer increasingly complex transactions.
Intel vPro technology maximizes system availability for businesses with “out-of-band” manageability and serviceability — meaning diagnostics can be accomplished remotely.
Donna Stevens, product manager for kiosk infrastructure at NCR, says the new SelfServ 60 is a substantial improvement over its predecessor, the EasyPoint 42.
“Nowadays, people want kiosks to have a slim, sleek form-factor to really show off that modern iPod look, and really capture the aesthetics and the marketing and the branding that (our) customers want to portray to their self-service customers – to the consumers,” Stevens said.
“The EasyPoint 42, while an all-in-one integrated footprint, didn’t have the feature functionality and the slim form-factor that this new unit has, because of the new technology and our ability to integrate that.”
During the show, Peter R. Charpentier used a SelfServ 60 kiosk to demo a retail application that lets users speak live, one-on-one, with customer-service representatives in remote locations. The customer-service representative, who just so happened to be on the West Coast, appeared on the screen during a demo at the show to greet show goers in New York.
That application is the result of a reseller agreement between NCR and Experticity. The agreement, also announced during the expo, allows NCR to resell the Experticity multichannel technology platform worldwide.
Attendance numbers for KioskCom are not yet available, though Lawrence Dvorchik, general manager of the show, says he expects a 32 percent increase in pre-qualified, pre-registered attendants from last year. KioskCom runs Oct. 15-16 in the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York.
USA TODAY: NEXTEP Systems' self-order dining kiosks are getting recognition from a leading mainstream newspaper. An article in USA Today highlights the efforts JFK airport is making to improve the traveling experience, including adding "civilized dining" services. To help facilitate the dining experience, the airport has deployed NEXTEP's self-order touchscreens, allowing travelers to order their food quickly and easily.
GRAFTON, Wis. — Merchandising and visual marketing company Frank Mayer & Associates Inc. is introducing its SlideBuy Shopper Information System Oct. 15-16 at the KioskCom Self Service Expo in New York.
According to a news release, the universal system combines a touchscreen monitor with customized software to create a powerful presence on the retail shelf. The SlideBuy System allows for customizable frames, software and can accommodate various monitor sizes. Placed on existing store shelving, the SlideBuy glides back and forth allowing easy product access.
"The innovative design takes product information directly to the shelf without displacing existing product," said Allen Buchholz, executive vice president of sales for Frank Mayer & Associates.
The (Sunbury, Pa.) Daily Item: New technology in place at the Monroe Marketplace Giant Food Stores location in Pennsylvania allows customers to find products and get special offers by using the interactive Shopping Solutions kiosks. The kiosks can be used to locate an item and print a map, or place a deli order or access a shopping list made from home. Customers can even find meal ideas with more than 2,500 recipes that can be printed from the kiosks.
Supermarket News: Schnuck Markets, which runs 103 supermarkets, has rolled out ShoptoCook Recipe Solutions Center kiosks to 27 stores following a pilot in one store last year. Each store features three kiosks, including one each in the meat and wine departments. Schnucks plans on rolling out the kiosks to additional stores in October. The kiosks provide printed recipes, wine pairings and information on a variety of health conditions.
HILLSBORO, Ore. — MTI, a provider of interactive merchandising technology and an association member, continues to innovate handheld electronics display solutions with the release of Freedom Universal 2.0.
According to a news release, Universal 2.0 is the latest addition to MTI's Freedom platform, which provides shoppers the ability to handle and demonstrate live, fully-powered electronic devices while providing unmatched security and merchandising flexibility to retailers. Building on the real-world intelligence gathered from thousands of existing Freedom deployments, MTI designed Universal 2.0 with both modern retail environments and unparalleled consumer experience in mind.
Like MTI's other Freedom platforms, Universal 2.0 continues to provide power and security to a broad range of handheld products such as digital cameras, camcorders, GPS products and mobile phones. However, Universal 2.0's new design provides a significantly reduced footprint, never distracting from or diminishing the "hero" effect of today's ever-smaller, must-have products. The new design also includes a host of new features such as: an integrated rotating 360-degree swivel to prevent cable twist and greatly increase retractor life; 270-degree viewable LED light ring to spotlight product and provide visual security; and enhanced security modules that feature advanced battery back-up capabilities.
Universal 2.0's programmable multi-color light rings not only enhance the look of the display, but can seamlessly connect with MTI's SKU activated merchandising system (Intuition Lift) for interactive content and color-guided product selection based on user engagement.
This system triggers sku-specific information based on customer interaction. Depending on the product displayed, messaging can drive sales through simulated ownership experiences, explanation of hidden features and benefits, product comparisons or suggestive selling of accessories. This interactive experience has been shown to both increase sales and decrease product returns, as an educated shopper becomes a more confident owner.
Freedom Universal 2.0 is also backwards compatible, allowing it to work seamlessly with Freedom 1.0 components, including smart cables, making it a more enhanced, low-cost upgrade option for retailers already using MTI's Freedom Universal line of displays.
(Phoenix) KPNX-TV, Channel 12: From its place in the Scottsdale Fashion Square in Scottsdale, Ariz., it looks like a new mini bank set-up shop. "It's a 10-by-10, state-of-the-art, stand-alone, self-contained audio and video recording studio," says Anna Madrid, vice president of business and development for MyStudio.net. At $300,000, the MyStudio kiosk is a million dollar idea that could turn into a goldmine for the developers, performers or the next reality TV star. "The technology behind this is just amazing," Madrid said at the unveiling of the company's first kiosk. "You don't look like you're in front of a green screen. It has a three-dimensional quality to where you really look like you're in the video your capturing."
GlobeSt.com: Self-service is good service. That's the conclusion from Bruce Kopp, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Fujitsu Transaction Solutions Inc., a Richardson, Texas-based subsidiary of Fujitsu Limited. Fujitsu is one of several manufacturers that recently launched a cashier assisted self-service checkout option. It says its Hypermarket U-Scan Genesis Payment Station "combines the best features of self and full-service checkout" options. And just last summer, IBM announced first-of-a-kind self-checkout technology that allows consumers to shop for and check out purchases practically anywhere in a store. It also announced a new release of software to help speed the self-checkout process, a new entry-level kiosk and an expanded global self-service alliance program to reach new markets and industries.
BBC: Tesco shoppers will now be able to use self-service checkouts in Welsh following recent demand from customers. Tesco says a program initiated over the summer to convert its self-checkout systems to include a Welsh option is now complete.
SEATTLE — MOD Systems, a provider of digital media delivery systems for retailers, has announced that Toshiba Corp., NCR Corp. and others, have agreed to invest $35 million, giving the companies minority stakes in MOD Systems.
The investment is part of an initiative to leverage breakthrough portable digital storage technology that offers the potential to revolutionize how consumers download movies, TV shows, music and other digital content at a wide variety of locations, and then replay it on multiple devices, according to a news release. The initiative will combine technologies developed by the companies, and is aimed at meeting the explosive demand for easier access to high-quality digital entertainment and other content.
Under the initiative, consumers will download digital content to Secure Digital cards and portable devices such as mobile phones through kiosks and other self-service devices deployed, integrated and maintained by NCR at retail stores, airports, quick-service restaurants and other outlets. Toshiba will develop dedicated set-top boxes for the service, and develop and market high-capacity SD cards for the system, improving the speed of downloads in the future.
The kiosks and other self-service devices will use the MOD Retail Enterprise System for "multichannel" digital media delivery, which enables digital content to be managed and distributed securely using portable devices and portable storage media, including SD memory cards.
"This technology and initiative have tremendous potential," said Bill Nuti, chairman and chief executive of NCR. "We continue to see opportunities to extend our experience in self-service to promising new industries like entertainment. Our initiative with MOD Systems is designed to offer consumers one of the fastest, most convenient ways to access high-quality digital entertainment."
MOD Systems provides retailers with a complete digital media system for consumers to load entertainment to portable devices and storage media, or burn content to an optical format (CD/DVD). The MOD Retail Enterprise System, deployed with leading global retailers, supports all content types and distribution scenarios including manufacturing-on-demand, delivery in optical or digital format, and hybrid online and in-store systems. Video entertainment content will be provided by major and independent studios, which will provide approximately 4,000 titles at the launch of the service. Initial content downloads will be in standard definition, and the service may also be applied to downloads of high definition content in the future.
"Digital media has not been able to truly impact sales at retail and therefore has not become truly pervasive and accessible to all consumers," said Mark E. Phillips, chief executive of MOD Systems. "Our goal of creating richer retail destinations for digital entertainment will be furthered with Toshiba and NCR as strategic partners. We are humbled and excited to have leaders in consumer electronics and self-service accelerate our vision for entertainment in retail."
The Chronicle of Higher Education: Soon students will be able to buy electronic textbooks at the college bookstore, using kiosks that will download files and burn them to CDs. The kiosks will also offer the latest Hollywood movies, which the machines will be able to burn onto DVDs on demand. The National Association of College Stores announced today that it has formed a spinoff company, NACS Media Solutions, to broker the deals with publishers to support the new, on-demand service.
The (St. Joseph's University, Philadelphia) Hawk: PrintPODs, kiosks for high-quality printing on the go, have arrived on Saint Joseph's University's campus in Philadelphia. Global Print Systems Inc., the maker of the PrintPOD, is running a landmark trial program for its remote printers at Saint Joseph's. Three PrintPOD machines are currently installed, one on the second floor of Campion Student Center and one at each of the two Lancaster Court Apartment buildings.
Bangkok Post: The Betagro Group plans to offer a smarter point-of-purchase electronic traceability system that not only enables consumers to verify the quality of the group's pork products, but also prints cooking tips and recipes. Since the beginning of this year, the group has successfully installed 11 ''Spy on Me'' kiosks, part of the innovative point-of-purchase e-traceability system at supermarkets under The Mall Group, Emporium and Siam Paragon.
(Australia) PC Authority: The Espresso Book Machine has made its worldwide book chain debut, and can print, glue and bind cheap paperbacks on demand in seven to 14 minutes while you wait. Developed by former Random House editorial director Jason Epstein, the Espresso Book Machine was launched in the U.S. in 2006, and in 2007 was named by Time Magazine as one of the "Best Inventions of the Year."
Retail Week: Outdoor specialist Blacks is testing an in-store kiosk that gives customers travel and healthcare advice, as well as product recommendations for foreign travel. The kiosk, which is located at the retailer's High Street Kensington store, is branded with the logo of its supplier, Lifesystems, and displays a version of the content available on Lifesystems' Big Planet Web site.
New Media Age: As head of Woolworths-owned Entertainment UK Digital, Matthew Porter explains the concept behind the company's retail digital media kiosks — self-service devices that enable the user to download music, movies and television shows. "The aim was to make the kiosk as simple as possible to use," says Porter. "Customers have access to a selected range of content, not the full Digital Vault database, because we wanted to ensure a shorter dwell time at the kiosk and so increase the number of people accessing it." The kiosks are being rolled out in the Middle East following a deal with the Al-Fozan Group's consumer electronics retail brand Zonik.
The Greenville (S.C.) News: Pak It N Self Storage announces the installation of an Insomniac self-service rental kiosk at their facility behind Burger King on Fairview Road in Simpsonville, S.C. Pak It N is the only self-storage facility in the upstate with an Insomniac kiosk. Now Pak It N is open for business 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. If you decide to empty your garage in the wee hours of the night, or late on a weekend or holiday, you can rent a unit at Pak It N Self Storage and move your stuff in immediately, without waiting on the staff to arrive the next business day. The Insomniac is an ATM-type machine that allows turn-key rentals of storage units, sells and dispenses locks and accepts payments from current customers.
The Houston Chronicle: Tucked along the front wall of some grocery stores, right there with the coin counters and carpet cleaners, is another machine — one designed to draw business from Blockbuster and Netflix, but also to keep DVDs viable as more consumers get movies over the Internet. Depending on the brand of grocery store and the part of the country, shoppers are increasingly likely to see a $1-a-night DVD rental kiosk, including those installed by a Houston-based company, The New Release, as they push their carts toward the exit.
Progressive Grocer: Giant Eagle Inc. has deployed more than 30 intelligent self-service ordering systems in more than 30 of its GetGo c-stores that are expected reduce lines and wait times by allowing customers to place orders directly at the sandwich counter. The IBM-powered AnyPlace Kiosk that Giant Eagle is now using relies on NextChoice's NextWave self-service software suite, which unifies customer ordering and payment with the collection and management of transaction data and preferences.
The (London) Register: Cybercrooks are targeting self-service checkout systems in U.K. supermarkets to cash-out compromised U.S. credit and debit card accounts. Discussions on underground forums suggest that store chains including Asda and Tesco are being targeted. Rather than buying groceries, which would be hard to sell, the scam relies on getting "cash back" payments or buying high-value items, according to a BBC investigation. However, a spokeswoman for Tesco told El Reg that cash-back transactions are not authorized from self-service terminals.
STRATHAM, N.H. — NextChoice, the Smart Self-Service company, has announced that Giant Eagle has taken delivery of its intelligent self-service kiosk ordering system.
Powered by new IBM AnyPlace Kiosks, NextChoice's flagship NextWave Intelligent Self-Service software suite is allowing customers in more than 30 Giant Eagle GetGo stores to place orders directly at the sandwich counter, significantly reducing lines and waiting time, while simultaneously allowing customers to shop in the store for additional grocery items.
"We are pleased with the results thus far," said Jon Fischer, business area director of Giant Eagle retail operations. "By integrating into our IBM point of sale, NextChoice enables us to efficiently produce the right amount and variety of products to best meet customers' needs. In addition, we gain greater central management of our own promotions and menu design, enabling us to more quickly bring new initiatives to market."
The NextChoice Self-Service offering unifies customer ordering and payment with the collection and management of customer transaction data and preferences into one fully integrated, centralized solution platform.
"This is an excellent example of NextChoice working with leading technology companies like IBM to deliver solutions that help our mutual clients win in the marketplace," said Dick Andersen, chief executive of NextChoice. "It's all about providing client value, about providing integrated offerings that help them enhance the buying experience for customers patronizing their stores."
ECT News Network: As the general population becomes more comfortable with high-tech gadgets, retailers are looking for ways to incorporate them into the shopping experience. An assortment of devices, including touchscreens, kiosks and so-called "smart" shopping cards, are now available to help customers buy smarter and faster, reducing the need for customer service while boosting satisfaction.
Business of Cinema.com: The seven-screen multiplex Fame Malad in Mumbai, India, has introduced a specially designed ticket ATM kiosk, which provides tickets on the spot. This machine is the first of its kind in the western region. The ticket ATM kiosk has been in use for a week now, however the official launch is likely to take place Aug. 28.
WCBS (New York City): If you're on the outside looking in at Manhattan's Ralph Lauren Rugby Store not only can you find out how much the new fall looks cost but now you can buy them all without ever stepping foot inside the store. WCBS highlights this popular digital merchandising project in this video segment.
DAYTON, Ohio — NCR Corp. today unveiled NCR Prescription Drop-off, a secure self-service kiosk solution that makes it simpler for retail pharmacy customers to drop off and pay for prescriptions during and after business hours.
On display this week at the 2008 National Association of Chain Drug Stores Pharmacy & Technology Conference in San Diego, this multichannel solution helps customers avoid lines and eliminate multiple trips to the pharmacy by simplifying routine transactions. New prescriptions are submitted via kiosk while refill requests can be made via kiosk, phone or Web. Once the request is made, the patient receives a barcoded receipt and the request is forwarded to the pharmacist. When the order is ready, an e-mail, phone or text alert is generated and sent directly to the customer, who presents the barcoded receipt to the cashier or pays for the prescription on the kiosk.
According to a 2007 study conducted by Wilson Health Information, an independent health-care consumer research company, convenience is one of the top three drivers of pharmacy customer satisfaction along with price and overall professional services. The same study also found that short lines, convenient store hours and 24-hour pharmacy access are key drivers to customer satisfaction.
A leader in self-service solutions across industries, NCR is extending the dependability, ease of use and convenience of its self-service solutions to new areas, including health care.
"Retail pharmacies face a significant challenge when it comes to meeting consumer demands and building loyalty," said Chakri Toleti, vice president of health care industry marketing for NCR. "Self-service technology gives pharmacies the opportunity to minimize wait times for their customers — a key factor for increasing satisfaction and overall convenience. It also enables pharmacists to spend less time receiving prescriptions, which frees them up to focus on more productive tasks, such as answering medication-specific questions."
The pharmacy drop off solution also allows pharmacies to target the distribution of relevant health information to customers. When picking up prescriptions, customers have the option of printing information about specific drugs or conditions at the kiosk or requesting that this information be sent to them as an e-mail.
Progressive Grocer: Increasing wait-times are fueling consumer demand for self-service options at the pharmacy counter, according to consumer research that claims seven out of 10 pharmacy shoppers expressed interest in having a kiosk to pickup and drop off their prescriptions — including when the pharmacy is closed — according to a new study by pharmacy research firm Wilson Health Information LLC. In the The WilsonRx Pharmacy Satisfaction Survey, more than 70 percent of pharmacy shoppers said they wait in line five or more minutes to pick up their prescriptions, a 10 percent increase from last year.
MediaWeek: Paul King, the chief executive of Hercules Networks, was all set to be a lawyer. Three years ago, his bags were packed for Northwestern University, but he couldn't shake his "big idea": a network of cell phone and PDA recharger kiosks that would be as ubiquitous as ATMs. Days before he was supposed to show up at Northwestern, King changed his career plans and became an out-of-home media entrepreneur instead. "My parents disowned me for a little while," recalls King. "But I knew I only had one shot at this."
Kitchen & Bath Design News: Kimball Distributing, a leading distributor of luxury appliance lines with showrooms in Denver and Salt Lake City, has added Viking appliance kiosks to each of its showrooms, the company announced. The kiosks offer touchscreen access to Viking appliances, and display color choices, configuration options, product finishes, available accessories and pricing information for many of the Viking products that Kimball distributes.
ABERDEEN, N.C. — Mediaport Entertainment Inc., a provider of digital media content and global distribution, now provides the capability to offer digital entertainment in partnership with Meridian Kiosks, according to a news release.
The kiosks are full-service solutions that bring the ability to sell a library of more than one million songs from all the major recording labels, including the newest releases, which are updated on a weekly basis. The point-of-sale systems allow customers to burn or download custom mix selections or full album content to CDs, mobile phones, USB storage devices, flash cards and compatible digital music players in minutes. Other digital-on-demand products with download capability, such as ring tones, audio books, games and a movie downloads, also will be added later this year. Customers now can purchase their digital content on the go.
The advantages of deploying this technology, according to the news release, include:
Customers spending more time in the deployer's location.
Customers return to the deployer's location because they know they can get their favorite selections via a self-service experience.
The customer can burn to a CD, DVD or download to a compatible portable music player, digital device or USB drive.
The deployer can make additional money on the devices; Mediaport will help the deployer source and brand them.
SMARTHOUSE: Sanity Entertainment has launched the first online music subscription service in Australia for Microsoft's Windows Media Player, and one that will be available through retail kiosks soon. According to the company, for $29 AUD (U.S. $25) a month, subscribers can download up to 300 music tracks each month, which equates to 3,600 tracks per year. The cost works out to be less than 10 cents per track, which compares to the recently released BigPond Music, which charges $1.49 AUD (U.S. $1.29) per track.
The Irish Independent: Tim Hortons, the coffee and doughnut chain with self-service kiosks in Ireland, has reported growth in Canada and the United States. The chain, which is involved in a joint venture with food group IAWS, said second-quarter profit rose as it opened more restaurants and charged higher prices. Internationally, the company said the number of Tim Hortons sites in Ireland and the U.K. has expanded to 213 licensed locations, comprised primarily of self-serve kiosks.
Progressive Grocer: Total transactions at self-checkout units in Strack & Van Til, a grocer, have surpassed $1 million, according to Progressive Grocer. Strack & Van Til installed self-checkout units in six stores in May. The chain was the first to install Pan-Oston's Utopia self-service check-out solution, which was developed specifically for independent grocers.
PaidContent.org: Jim Keyes is very passionate about setting the record straight about Blockbuster, after being declared dead at every point during the last decade. The year-old CEO of the video retailer is eager to clear up the misinterpretation about Blockbuster's competition with Netflix, only being a brick-and-mortar store, its now-abandoned quest to buy Circuit City and its recently-announced partnership with NCR to develop digital download movie kiosks. A complete transcript of the interview is only a click away.
MANCHESTER, England — MaxBox Digital Retail Ltd., a provider of leisure, entertainment and retail kiosks, has announced a partnership that makes Advanced Integrated Systems in Jamaica as exclusive distributors for the Caribbean. Advanced Leisure already has placed its first order for 300 kiosks, according to a news release.
The three year distribution deal gives the company exclusive rights for distribution of MaxBox digital retail kiosks and all of its applications across the whole of the Caribbean.
AIS initially will focus on Jamaica to deploy the first order of 300 MaxBox kiosks, capitalizing on the long-standing links they already have with Jamaican companies across all business sectors, including government, retail, tourism and banking. They then plan to expand into other parts of the Caribbean.
Read Biography of Maxbox founder.
The AIS project team from Jamaica will join MaxBox in Cheshire in September for an intensive training and development session on software/hardware and application development and marketing of the MaxBox.
"We are very excited about achieving the official exclusive distributorship in the Caribbean for MaxBox," said Stacey Halsall-Peart, chief operating officer for AIS. "We firmly believe that with our existing government, tourism, banking and retail clients, AIS will be able to offer another great solution to our clients for either sales or data capture. AIS specialise in putting together IT solutions and MaxBox now gives the opportunity for communication directly with the consumer, not just business to business. The initial order of 300 kiosks will get us started with our immediate clients, but we can really see this taking off in the Caribbean and hope to have 500 placed before Christmas."
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — ImageXpres Corp. has announced that it has officially launched the first member of a new class of interactive digital kiosks, designed to bring high-impact digital advertising content, accompanying discounts and rewards to consumers at high-traffic locations such as airports, shopping centers, restaurants and vacation resorts, according to a news release.
The ImageXpres iPowerStation Kiosk incorporates a number of unique features, including an eCharging Station that can recharge cellphones, iPods and laptop computers for free while simultaneously providing the consumer free online access, e-mail access (send and receive), and photo sharing at the kiosk.
The featured advertisers provide consumers discount coupons and rewards, in return for viewing the digital thirty-second advertisement(s).
"The ImageXpres iPowerStation Kiosk and accompanying LitePix Digital Advertising Screens signal the beginning of a new systems architecture for digital interactive kiosk systems from ImageXpres," said John Zankowski, ImageXpres president and chief executive. "This is the first of several new kiosk systems we have been developing for the past year, and one that should prove to be very attractive to paid advertising customers desiring to reach large numbers of consumers where they shop, where they work and where they travel about during the day."
Like previous LitePix Digital Displays, ImageXpres offers several options for retailers to own, license or revenue-share the iPowerStation Kiosk systems, wherein digital advertisements are created and managed by ImageXpres technical support personnel on ImageXpres network servers.
Physorg.com: A quick stop at the supermarket: Balancing bananas, peppers and tomatoes in her arms, the consumer rushes from the vegetable counter to the self-service scales in order to print out the respective price label. But what was that number again, the one you had to enter for the tomatoes?
Soon there will be an end to this constant running back and forth between the vegetable counter and the scales. Working on behalf of the industrial weighing company Mettler-Toledo, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Information and Data Processing IITB in Karlsruhe have developed a webcam module for self-service scales.
"The scales automatically recognize which fruit or vegetables are to be weighed and ask the customer to choose between only those icons that are relevant, such as tomatoes, vine-ripened tomatoes and beefsteak tomatoes," states IITB scientist Sascha Voth. Customers can confirm the correct variety on a touchscreen.
Progressive Grocer: Following a successful pilot in one of its flagship supermarkets last year, Brookshire Grocery Co. has installed recipe information kiosks in the meat departments of 10 additional stores in Texas and Louisiana. According log data from the kiosk supplier, the units are already proving popular. "We see customers printing out recipes and we're translating that to products being sold in the store," said Gary Butler, chief information officer of the Tyler, Texas-based chain of 156 stores. "Chances are that when they print out a recipe, they don't have all of the ingredients."
ContactMusic.com: The introduction of Blu-ray movies at DVDPlay rental kiosks at Safeway-owned supermarkets in California has been described as "a great experience" by Tom Szwak, vice president of video for DVDPlay. "Throughout 2009, we look forward to seeing the number of kiosks we operate in their stores expand." DVDPlay is the first major video kiosk operator to offer the high-definition Blu-ray disks for rent.
The (New Delhi, India) Business Standard: In an attempt to enhance the role of e-commerce in the retail space, India Transact, a kiosk maker, plans to install multifunction kiosks to help customers carry out transactions. The company has partnered with Hindustan Petroleum, and is in talks with business process outsourcing service providers such as Accenture and multiplexes such as Cinemax to base these kiosks. India Transact would be investing Rs 50 crore (U.S. $11.9 million) in the next six months for this purpose.
I4U News: Best Buy has announced the official launch of its Best Buy Express automated kiosks in airports around the U.S. The launch of the kiosks is part of a pilot program to offer familiar products at the same prices found in stores. Products that will be available in the kiosks will include computer accessories, digital cameras, flash drives, MP3 players, headphones, speakers, unlocked phones, portable game devices, gift cards, travel adapters and chargers. The kiosks will be found in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis and San Francisco. The kiosk rollout will continue through the beginning of September.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Alex Richardson, president of the Digital Technology Alliance, reacted late Friday afternoon to the indictments of 11 suspects allegedly involved in the infamous TJX card breach.
On Aug. 5, 2008, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted the suspects for the alleged theft and sale of more than 40 million credit and debit card numbers. Officials called the hack the largest card-compromise scheme ever prosecuted in U.S. history.
"It's good news and it's bad news," Richardson said of the indictments. "The good news is that it appears that we've got the bad guys and we have techniques to do research — technology research — to find the bad guys. It was a challenge, given the technology and given the international nature of the group."
"The bad news is I'm shocked to see how many faulty security procedures were in place in blue chip retailers," Richardson said. "They're not following standard PCI, they're not following computer standards and they're certainly not following our new S3 Storefront Security Standards. So I'm surprised how many other stores were still doing that. I guess the question is, now, who else is vulnerable?"
BELMONT, Calif. — Microtech Systems has announced the launch of the X100 Robot, a kiosk that automates digital content burning onto popular consumer media, including CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs, according to a news release. It also prints photo quality artwork onto the disc surface.
The X100 robots are targeted at retailers looking to increase their revenues by offering more titles to their customers without inventory carrying costs.
"This is an exciting time for content publishers. Consumers now have access to virtually unlimited choices in entertainment titles," said Microtech's Jon Hodges, vice president of sales.
The X100 was released earlier this year for on demand disc production of video DVD titles. The X100 is a perfect digital delivery platform, that when properly configured, can provide access to hundreds of thousands of DVD titles. Content providers and retailers finally have a solution that provides virtually unlimited content choices to consumers.
The X100 has key features that make it the perfect choice for on-demand entertainment fulfillment in a retail environment.
Industry standard copy protection for DVD video titles — The X100 can be equipped with disc recorders capable of producing industry standard CSS (copy scramble system) copy protected DVD discs.
Interactivity — The touchscreen enabled X100 can be used for consumers to make product selections directly from the production machine. Alternatively, the X100 can be installed back counter and accept order fulfillment requests from industry-leading retail kiosk partners.
Integration with the market leaders — Microtech Systems partners with all the major content and technology leaders, providing access to the long tail of content to consumers, satisfying demand for more entertainment choices, and increasing profits at the same time.
ATLANTA — SoloHealth, the deployer of the award-winning EyeSite eye-testing kiosk and an SSKA member, has been selected as a top 20 semifinalist in the 2008 Forbes.com "Boost Your Business" $100,000 entrepreneurial contest.
SoloHealth, along with 19 other companies throughout the U.S., is now in the second round of the contest. To advance, online voters will determine the "top five" by going to the Forbes Web site, watching the companies' 30-second videos and voting for their favorite entrepreneur now through Sept. 30. The top five winners will then go to New York later in the fall to compete in the finals.
SoloHealth caught the judges' attention with its EyeSite kiosk, developed in partnership with KIOSK Information Systems and Netkey Inc. for use in high-traffic retail and commercial locations. EyeSite uses sophisticated optical software and an interactive video interface to give users a quick, easy and accurate way to test their vision.
EyeSite is currently in a test market phase in the Atlanta area, with 15 units planned for placement at major retail and commercial locations.
"To be a top 20 finalist in the Forbes.com Boost Your Business contest is an incredible honor and opportunity for SoloHealth," said Bart Foster, chief executive and founder of SoloHealth. "Should we win the contest's top prize, we'll use the capital to invest and grow our business in 2009. With more EyeSite kiosks in place we'll be able to reach more people about the importance of vision exams and eye health."
According to Foster, people go to the dentist three to four times more often than they get an eye examination — every 36-48 months, about half as often as recommended.
Earlier this year, SoloHealth's EyeSite kiosk won three Awards of Excellence, including "Best in Show" at the Kiosk.Com Self Service Expo and The Digital Signage Show in Las Vegas.
DAYTON, Ohio — TNR Entertainment Corp., the second-largest operator of DVD kiosks in North America under the New Release and MovieCube brands, has named NCR Corp. as its exclusive supplier of self-service technologies and services.
TNR has approximately 2,200 DVD-rental kiosks deployed in the grocery channel.
TNR says it intends to place volume orders for NCR Xpress Entertainment DVD vending kiosks this year and in 2009.
In addition, TNR signed a multiyear Managed Services agreement with NCR, focused on kiosk high availability, which is critical in the consumer self-service market. With its suite of Managed Services, NCR is able to offer a turnkey solution that allows enterprises to deploy quickly and focus on growing their businesses.
NCR also announced it has made a minority equity investment in TNR. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
"NCR's technology, combined with its development resources and global services capabilities, will help provide TNR the resources we need to continue our success going forward," said TNR president and chief executive Tim Belton. "This agreement will help unify our fleet of kiosks onto a single software platform, improve our quality of service to consumers and enable TNR to meet growing demand from our channel and distribution partners."
The NCR Xpress Entertainment portfolio includes a multichannel software platform and a high-capacity DVD-vending kiosk that enables rentals, sales of shrink-wrapped media or a combination – with a capacity of nearly twice that of competing units on the market today. Other NCR Xpress Entertainment options include digital download kiosks, as well as bare-disk handling capabilities and support for other types of digital media such as music and video games.
NCR also offers the ability for consumers to interact via the Internet or their mobile devices.
Phoenix Business Journal: ESoles Custom Footbeds of Scottsdale is partnering with Trek Bicycle Corp. of Wisconsin to launch a line of customized cycling footwear. Trek's Bontrager brand next week will introduce cycling shoes with eSoles customizable footbeds, the companies announced Tuesday. ESoles' eFit footbed will be used in all Bontrager shoes and can be customized through a kiosk scanner designed to identify the need for specific inserts that will be available for an additional charge.
NORCROSS, Ga. — Postilion, a provider of software solutions for self-service banking and payments and a division of S1 Corp., announced in a news release that Marks & Spencer has completed the implementation of a gift-card program based on Postilion solutions.
Marks & Spencer is a high-end fashion retailer with more than 600 stores located in the United Kingdom and 240 stores worldwide.
The Postilion Card Issuer solution enables retailers to manage the entire life cycle of their gift cards, including traditional paper vouchers, gift-card certificates and electronic vouchers. This comprehensive solution controls the issuing, authorization and account management for individual gift cards and batches of gift cards that can be offered as corporate incentives. Cards can be identified either by a magnetic stripe or a barcode and value is only loaded at the time of purchase. For multi-national retailers, such as Marks & Spencer, Postilion also provides the ability to issue and manage gift cards in multiple currencies, with the currency type loaded at the point of sale.
Following a successful pilot in the company's Irish stores, the Marks & Spencer gift-card program was launched in all UK stores in November 2007.
"Gift cards are proving increasingly popular with consumers in the U.K., and the project with Marks & Spencer serves to highlight this," said Grant Wyatt, general manager of Postilion Europe. "We see a growing awareness in the retail community of the benefits of running a gift card program in-house. Not only does this provide the retailer with greater control and flexibility, but as volumes of gift-card sales increase, the cost advantage of running these programs in-house becomes obvious."
Fox News: The Department of Justice has indicted 11 people allegedly involved in the hacking of nine major U.S. retailers and the theft and sale of more than 40 million credit and debit card numbers. Officials are calling the hack the largest card-compromise scheme ever prosecuted in U.S. history. Those charged include three U.S. citizens, one Estonian, three Ukrainians, two citizens from the Peoples Republic of China, and one from Belarus. One individual is just identified with an online alias. The 11 charged allegedly targeted retailers TJX Companies, BJs Wholesale Club, OfficeMax, Boston Market, Barnes & Noble, Sports Authority, Forever 21 and DSW. An informant, who also has been charged in the indictment, was allegedly able to tap into computer networks using a technique called "war driving," where he would drive around looking for open computer networks.
GLENDALE, Calif. — Nero, creators of liquid media technology, and Polar Frog Digital, a provider of innovative on-demand video services for DVD and downloadable solutions, has announced an exclusive U.S. agreement to bring on-demand video DVD creation and distribution to retailers and consumers, according to a news release.
Together, Nero and Polar Frog Digital are extending digital entertainment content beyond its traditional confines, enabling on-demand DVD production for online and traditional retailers and making the much-touted commercial DVD kiosk delivery model a reality.
"The Kiosk format and ability to manufacture commercial DVDs on-demand brings countless benefits to retailers in terms of reduced overhead and increased customer satisfaction," said Kurt Scherf, vice president and principle analyst with Parks Associates. "Many have argued that digital downloads would serve this need, but while consumers have seen the benefits of downloads, there are still limitations to how they can be used across devices."
While there has been significant industry discussion on the importance of on-demand video DVD manufacturing, the use of proprietary standards and file formats has inhibited the ability for other organizations to bring a viable solution to market. Nero is able to deliver on this new content frontier because of its commitment to aligning and developing with industry open standards, such as those put in place by the DVD Forum, and platform interoperability.
Polar Frog Digital is the only on-demand company to offer the ability to burn, buy, download and rent multiple medias. This is made possible by their adoption of Nero’s vision for liquid content distribution and creation options for consumers. With the Polar Frog solution consumers have the ability to choose where and when they want to buy their media. Agnostic delivery options will serve to expand the sales of media in traditional and nontraditional retail channels alike.
Each year thousands of movies, television programs, educational and special-interest titles are created. However, due to shrinking shelf space and cost of manufacturing, only a fraction will become available on DVD, and fewer still will remain available six months after release. By using kiosks, retailers can stock an entire physical DVD inventory in as little as two square feet of store space. Gone are the days of needing to anticipate how many copies of a new title release to have on hand or worrying about DVD theft. With a kiosk format, inventory "shrinkage" can be eliminated and retailers are able to offer their consumers an unlimited quantity and assortment.
"On-demand manufacturing of commercially released DVD video content will revolutionize both the retail marketplace and the way that consumers experience and access video,” said Todd Rosenbaum, chief executive of Polar Frog Digital.
With the joint Nero/Polar Frog Digital solution, consumers will have access to a full range of commercial video copy-protected content with Content Scrambling System (CSS) encryption.
Available in late 2008, the offering will be based on Polar Frog Digital's patented "DVD On Demand" software and licensed library of digital movie and television content. This library is the world's largest database of on-demand content available at retail.
ITBusinessEdge.com: Which does more to create a more enjoyable experience for customers in a retail environment: a self-service kiosk or a salesperson? Ann All, a blogger for IT Business Edge, argues in favor of the kiosk. Read about her recent experience at Target and discover why she's so enthusiastic about Staples' deployment of Experticity kiosks.
The Dallas Morning News: Retail giant Best Buy has teamed up with Zoom Systems, a supplier of kiosk vending, to deploy its first-ever vending kiosk in an airport environment at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. But don't look for sodas and candybars here. This kiosk dispenses iPods, headphones and other high-end electronic goods.
CHATSWORTH, Calif. — Provision Interactive Technologies Inc., a subsidiary of Provision Holding Inc., has announced that it has signed an agreement with LocalVision Digital Advertising to bring the company's advertising portfolio to Provision's 3DEO Media Center, according to a news release.
The partnership will bring LocalVision's advertising to Provision's 84 screens, including Fred Meyer Stores, in the greater-Portland area, adding more than 5 million new impressions per month to Provision's screens. LocalVision's top-tier brand advertisers now will be able to feature their messaging on Provision's fast-growing network of 3DEO Media Centers located in retail locations. The advertisements can be in a variety of forms, including 3D holographic videos and digital coupons.
"The collaboration between Provision and LocalVision is a great partnership in the rapidly expanding out-of-home digital advertising market," said Curt Thornton, president and chief executive of Provision. "National advertisers can now place their brands' messaging on 3DEO Media Centers and reach consumers at a time and place where they are most likely to be receptive and take action."
Consumers report that advertising on digital signage catches their attention more than any other media, including television, according to a 2007 OTX Digital Out-of-Home Media Attitude and Awareness study.
Provision's 3DEO Media Centers in Fred Meyer Stores use Provision's patented Holo 3D technology which projects full-color, high resolution videos into space detached from the screen, without the need for any special glasses. The kiosks will be a destination for shoppers looking for promotions, sweepstakes or coupons for products and services.
Geek.com: Scent has proved to stir strong emotional reactions in people. So it should not be surprising that advertising companies often use smells to attract consumers. Now an advertising firm in Japan is using the power of that attraction to bring consumers to restaurants. Recruit Co Ltd., a company in Japan, is using a kiosk with a 42-inch LCD screen and a scent diffuser that emits the smell of delicious cooked food in an underground mall in Tokyo.
DNA Money: Ever really wanted a particular book, only to be told that it is out of print? Well this may not be such a problem any longer thanks to the new Espresso Book Machine. The ATM for books, as it is nicknamed, is able to download a book from the Internet, print, trim and bind it, all in seven minutes. "Books are here to stay and this is a great invention which will give more choice to readers," said Vince Gunn, chief executive of Blackwell, the book chain with more than 60 shops in the U.K. Blackwell will be the first to install an Espresso machine in October this year.
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Read also: New book vending kiosk prints, glues and binds books in seven minutes.
Wired Blog Network: Consumers in the market for a new pair of eyeglasses may soon have a new self-service tool to point them to the perfect fit. The Foco Otica On-line self-service optical center from Brazilian design group Hok Inovação mashes three key technologies into one: a virtual reality system, image capturing tech and an eye-pupil measurement system that tracks users' eyeballs to a super precise measurement. Through immediate visual examples and face and eye customization, a user can try on different types of glasses in the course of a few seconds.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — eSoles Custom Footbeds, a provider of semi-custom and custom footbeds, has announced the global launch of its 3D TruCapture Kiosk Scanning System in conjunction with the unveiling of its eFit semi-custom footbed. eFit is the world's first semi-custom footbed to be assembled in-store in less than five minutes, following a scan of the consumer's foot by a kiosk scanning system, all for a reasonable price tag of $70.
The global launch follows years of development and sales of the company's flagship ePro custom footbed, which has helped improve the performance and results of hundreds of professional athletes including NASCAR and former Formula 1 driver Scott Speed, PGA tour player Mark Hensby, international professional road cyclist George Hincapie, professional triathlete Chris Lieto, NFL linebacker Karlos Dansby and more than 20 U.S. Olympic athletes.
"The eSoles 3D TruCapture Kiosk Scanning System is the first self-service kiosk in the world to allow consumers to utilize such sophisticated foot scanning technology in such a user-friendly way," said Glen Hinshaw, chief executive of eSoles. "Now with two footbed options, the eFit and the ePro footbeds, consumers have the choice of the ultimate semi-custom or custom foot support tailored to their budgets and needs. No other product globally has the technology and options that eSoles will provide countless retailers looking to enhance their customer experience and sales."
Through their years of fitting people with ePro footbeds, eSoles has retained the largest database of foot images in the world, allowing it to perfect the development and science behind its eFit semi-custom footbeds. By using its database and comparing it to scans that are performed by its 3D Kiosk, the patented eSoles technology can direct store personnel to construct an eFit semi-custom footbed by fitting it with unique modular components that are tailored to the customer's foot.
Replacing art with science, the 3D TruCapture Kiosk Scanning System is the only one of its kind that scans the foot with a Bio-Dynamic air pillow to get a truly three dimensional scan and includes a touchscreen computer monitor, a pressure mat, an air bladder foot receiver and a 3D image scanner and printer. The self-service kiosk can be used in virtually any retail setting and allows consumers to receive a complex scan of their foot. The kiosk then creates a personalized printout that the consumer can present to a participating retailer to purchase either an eFit footbed in less than five minutes or an ePro footbed within a week. The ePro product, ranging in price from $250 to $300, is a fully customized footbed that the customer can order from the company's production facility in Scottsdale, Arizona, and receive within five to seven business days.
CHELTENHAM, England — Nisa, a retail brand in the U.K., recently has announced news of a trial of DVD-rental technology in one of its biggest U.K. stores, according to a news release.
In response to the growing demand for product diversification in the retail sector, Nisa have launched a DVD-rental kiosk in a Cardiff, Wales, store with a plan to roll the product out across the group should the trial prove successful. This is in addition to recent kiosk launches in both Threshers and Spar stores in England. The DVD kiosk retail complement model has proved extremely successful in the United States with Wal-Mart launching the kiosks in all of its stores across the country.
With the growing demand for convenience in the home entertainment industry, traditional DVD rental stores have seen a downturn in trade that has led to both independent and national store closures. However, DVD-rental kiosks have been touted as a modern, convenient alternative to traditional DVD rental. One Gloucestershire-based company recently has launched kiosks in some of the U.K. and Ireland's leading retail groups with a view to developing the product into an essential part of the modern retail outlet.
Carlos Marco, managing director at The Movie Booth, said, “We have been working in this sector for several years now and what we have learned is that the retail industry is by far the best market for our product. We are now well-placed in many of the biggest retail names in the business, and expect kiosks placed in supermarkets, off-licences and convenience stores to be the most successful that we launch.”
The kiosk deployed in Nisa Extra signals the group’s intention to place DVD kiosks in stores across the U.K. as a means of increasing the range of in-store product offerings. The kiosks also have recently launched in Centra and Applegreen stores in Ireland, and have spread to off-licences with the first Movie Booth kiosk being launched in a Threshers store last week. Store owner Deborah Harris said, “I see many people going to supermarkets to buy DVD’s that they will only watch once or twice, and they are expensive. Oswestry’s DVD store closed down several months ago and there was nowhere to rent a DVD in town. With money being a squeeze at the moment, it’s now a fact that people are spending more time at home with their friends and family. The kiosk enables us to fill that gap in the market.” The Spar group will launc its first DVD kiosk at the end of July in Formby, Liverpool.
The expansion of DVD vending across the retail sector mirrors the growth that has occurred in the United States in recent years. In America, DVD-rental machines now outnumber the amount of traditional DVD rental stores, and the 7,000 machines in operation have been placed predominantly in grocery and convenience stores.
Wired: Time to sell those ten-year old DVDs. NCR reached a licensing agreement with e-Play to manufacture DVD kiosks that can be used for rentals, sales or trade-ins of old DVDs. Right now the kiosks are available as part of a pilot program in Columbus, Ohio (including the airport), but e-Play plans to expand the program to include stores in Georgia and North Carolina.
StorefrontBacktalk: Staples' Canadian operation is undergoing one if its largest pilots ever, testing two-way live-video kiosks at 34 of its locations. The kiosks remotely control hardware, scanners and payment-authorization devices. The experiment is expected to continue through early 2009. If fully deployed, much of the cost will be spent on software licensing from Experticity, which offers the software behind the two-way kiosk project.
BOSTON — Modiv Media has released the newest generation of in-store media delivery and self-service shopping, melding advanced behavioral and contextual media targeting capabilities to provide real-time offer and promotional message delivery. Modiv Shopper 5.0 and Modiv MediaHub 1.0 are now using Microsoft Atlas AdManager to enable the delivery of media to retail customers based on in-store activity, including basket contents and in-aisle location.
Modiv Shopper delivers relevant media to shoppers through a wireless handheld self-service scan-and-bag solution. Modiv MediaHub is the campaign management and analytics solution powering media delivery to multiple touch points enabled by Modiv's solutions. By integrating Microsoft's ad-serving technologies into Modiv MediaHub, Modiv Shopper expands its targeting opportunities to include media based on real-time activity in-store. This augments the highly relevant 1:1 offer delivery based on shopping and redemption history, which has propelled the Modiv Shopper solution to its early successes at Stop & Shop supermarkets.
For example, a shopper buying hot dogs can now be delivered a message to "remember to buy the ketchup" or every shopper walking down the carbonated beverages aisle before the big game can be offered a savings for cola or chips. These new capabilities give brands an unprecedented opportunity to communicate at the moment of decision with a grocery shopper while significantly improving the self-service shopping experience for the customer.
"Companies such as Modiv Media are engaging retail shoppers in new and innovative ways, introducing a way for advertisers and agencies to communicate with target audiences at the moment of decision in highly relevant and measurable ways," said Scott Ferris, general manager of the Advertiser and Publisher Solutions Group at Microsoft. "Microsoft is committed to working with companies like Modiv Media who create these new opportunities to help advertisers and agencies quickly build their brand and product sales."
The Red Tape Chronicles: Does the success of self-service spell the end of customer service? Bob Sullivan, a blogger who covers Internet scams and consumer fraud for MSNBC.com, takes a look at the retail store of the future and wonders whether store associates even will be necessary.
ABERDEEN, N.C. — Darien Lake Theme Park Resort has selected Meridian Kiosks for its Orange County Choppers promotional giveaway.
The promotion focuses on the park's new thrill ride, the Orange County Chopper MotoCoaster. As part of its partnership with the park, OCC built a custom chopper inspired by Darien Lake, which was featured on an episode of American Chopper. Darien Lake Theme Park Resort guests will have the opportunity to win an exclusive Orange County Choppers production bike, painted with a unique Darien Lake design, by entering information on the Meridian Enterprise kiosks.
"We are excited to partner with Darien Lake Theme Park Resort as we present resort guests with an opportunity to win a custom OCC bike," said David Annas, vice president of operations for Meridian Kiosks. "From wayfinding to food ordering and ticketing kiosks, the theme park industry presents a multitude of options for self-service solutions."
The Jackson (Tenn.) Sun: Poplar Corner Service Station in Jackson, Tenn. is one of a dwindling number left in the United States that offers full service. The service station remains a throwback to the past, a place where people can get their cars filled with gasoline by employees who also check the oil levels and tires and clean the windshield. With the influx of self-service gas stations, however, stations like Poplar Corner will soon be a thing of the past.
NEW YORK — Big Apple Worldwide Inc., a holding company focused on serving the hospitality, leisure and retail market, has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Big Apple Wallcovering, has released the newest version of its "No More Books" software for e-commerce and retail sales.
According to a news release, the new software version puts Big Apple Wallcovering in a position to market its technology to retailers interested in selling products through self-service and online channels.
Licenses of the upgraded "No More Books" technology are being marketed to other home décor manufacturers and resellers. The new version has been modified to improve the shopping cart operation, make more products available through a more powerful search engine.
The "No More Books" kiosk program was created to eliminate the need for heavy, expensive sample books that wallcovering manufacturers have used for years. Big Apple Wallcovering has placed the kiosks, which take up only 4 square feet of space, in retail outlets around the United States, selling wallcoverings from various manufacturers.
"We see this new technology as a potential revenue generator to drive our company forward,'" said Neal Jablon, president of Big Apple Worldwide Inc.
St. Louis Business Journal: Macy's is ready to Zoom. The country's largest department store chain, with 800 stores nationwide, including eight in the St. Louis, Mo., area, has decided to more than double its bet on automated retail. Macy's will install more than 250 new Zoomsystems kiosks, which it dubs e-Spots, in stores around the country.
RICHARDSON, Texas — Fujitsu Transaction Solutions Inc. introduced the Hypermarket U-Scan Genesis Payment Station, which combines in-person customer service with self-service convenience.
The concept joins the U-Scan Genesis Payment Station with Fujitsu’s iPAD handheld mobile computer, along with any standard checkout conveyor belt, to separate customer transactions into two components — scanning and payment.
The capability lets customers unload items from their carts onto the cashier-operated conveyor; the cashier then scans items using an iPAD or an integrated Metrologic scanner/scale; and the items are passed to a collection area for bagging. Concurrently, the customer tenders payment at the U-Scan Genesis Payment Station, thus allowing the next customer to unload his or her items.
"Already deployed in Hypermarkets across Europe, the Fujitsu U-Scan Genesis Payment Station concept moves customers through the checkout at a faster rate, thus reducing queues. When customers spend less idle time waiting in line and can get to the conveyor belt to unload items, the perceived time spent waiting in line is dramatically reduced, which improves customer satisfaction," said Marc Janssens, vice president of international sales at Fujitsu Transaction Solutions. "This innovative combination of self-service technology, mobile handheld devices and traditional checkout conveyor belts offers a unique hybrid approach that maintains face-to-face cashier customer interaction, while fully automating the tendering portion of the transaction."
Cashiers do not have to manage tills, thus eliminating common cash overages/shortages, till counting and downtime associated when additional lanes are opened by back-up cashiers. Also, with the cashier focusing more on the itemization process and the customer, both on-hand inventory accuracy and customer service are positively affected.
In addition, this concept allows retailers to deploy fewer checkout lanes overall, and when complemented by U-Scan self-checkout systems for small- to medium-sized baskets, it offers increased self–service quality, high throughput and faster recovery times.
TORONTO, Ontario — ADFLOW Networks, a provider of Web-hosted digital signage and interactive kiosk solutions, has announced that it has provided Koodo Mobile, Canada’s newest mobile service provider, with the latest in interactive kiosk and digital media software technology for their Koodo Mobile retail locations across Ontario.
Mike Drennan, director of retail store operations for Koodo Mobile, said the Koodo launch has surpassed their initial expectations.
"Our customers love the interactive kiosks and our sales representatives are using them as a sales aid," he said. "ADFLOW’s adaptable interactive kiosk technology provides us with a sound solution that involves our customers from initial engagement through to the transaction process."
Targeting the youth market, Koodo Mobile envisioned a captivating and enticing sales-driven customer shopping experience within their retail locations that would connect to this younger demographic. Koodo Mobile’s interactive kiosks feature easy-to-use touchscreens which engage consumers at the point of purchase, informing and educating shoppers on products, services and promotions.
To support this new brand launch, Koodo Mobile commissioned ADFLOW Networks to provide their patented Dynamic Messaging System with interactive touchscreens, content triggering system and LED reader board integration, within newly designed in-mall sales kiosks.
"Digital media is a key enabler for customer engagement," said Wayne Ruttle, vice president of sales, national accounts for ADFLOW Networks. "Customers can select a mobile device at the workstation and then interact with a touchscreen that informs and educates them regarding the many product features, plans and promotions available for that specific mobile device or service. Once a decision has been made, an on-site sales representative can assist in completing the sales transaction. Customers want to shop this way and retailers want to sell this way — it is a win-win for both."
Furthermore, through these new customer-centric information stations, Koodo Mobile has the ability to enhance the total shopping experience, quickly react to market changes in rate plans and pricing models and provide their customers with the latest mobile products and services. Interactive content is centrally updated and broadcast remotely to all networked screens and kiosks via ADFLOW’s latest content management software.
CUPERTINO, Calif. — Solidcore Systems Inc., a provider of software to detect and prevent unwanted change, today introduced its S3 Control PCI Device edition, which enables retailers to achieve Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard compliance with reduced time and expense.
The new solution eases the burden on merchants using Windows Embedded grocery, retail and hospitality self-service systems to meet the PCI DSS requirements and to document compliance, according to a news release. The PCI Device edition also protects sensitive bank card data by prohibiting viruses and malware from penetrating point-of-sale terminals, servers, ATMs and kiosks.
Device manufacturers and merchants have been in a difficult position of retrofitting fixed-function retail devices with more costly security applications that degrade device performance, such as antivirus software. Solidcore addresses these challenges with its S3 Control PCI Device edition, which is a small footprint, low-overhead change prevention solution that runs transparently on Windows Embedded devices.
"It has become essential for retailers to control access and ensure software integrity across the entire in-store electronic payments and POS environment," said Ray Carlin, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Retalix, and president and CEO of StoreNext Retail Technologies. "Solidcore has combined extremely effective lock-down protection with rapid deployment, and this enables our supermarket customers to protect data and sustain PCI compliance with reduced effort and cost."
BlogCritics Magazine: Imagine going into a bookstore and buying a book out of a machine. It would be like looking through a jukebox or an ATM where you would browse for titles. You would make your choice and wait for it to be printed for you right there. Sound like the wave of the future? That’s just what the Espresso does. The Espresso is a $50,000 vending machine that can print, align, mill, glue and bind two books simultaneously in less than seven minutes with full-color laminated covers.
ATLANTA — When more than 6,000 north Georgians took a simple vision test using EyeSite, a self-service vision screening kiosk, inside a Wal-Mart store in Cumming, Ga., earlier this spring, the results showed that 30 percent of the participants had never visited an eye care professional for an examination. In addition, 80 percent of the people who used the kiosk were recommended to see an eye care provider, according to a news release.
These statistics come as no surprise to Jenny Pomeroy, chief executive of Prevent Blindness Georgia. PBGAs mission is to double the number of Georgians who seek regular eye exams by the year 2020.
"We know that people go to the dentist three to four times more often than they get an eye examination," said Pomeroy. "The concept of an EyeSite kiosk is a wonderful vehicle to deliver eye health messages to the public, such as information about glaucoma and for reminding diabetic patients that they need an annual dilated eye exam."
The EyeSite kiosk is the brainchild of Atlanta entrepreneur Bart Foster. His start-up company, SoloHealth, is in the early stages of testing the self-service vision screening device in several markets. SoloHealth plans to launch its kiosks in high traffic retail locations, such as Wal-Mart stores.
Internet Retailer: New Orleans is one of 14 sites for new "concept stores" from Borders Group Inc. The stores will feature Web-based services including computer kiosks where shoppers can use digital and Internet tools for researching a trip and booking their travel. Self-service Borders.com stations will enable shoppers to access Borders' new e-commerce site in the store. Shoppers can check the availability of a particular title and its location in the store, or order products from the site. Books, music and movies ordered at the kiosk can be shipped directly to a customer's home or to the store for pick-up. The New Orleans store is expected to open in October.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — RealTime Shredding Inc. is introducing magnetic strip and smart card software on its self-service shredding kiosk, giving businesses the ability to provide 'shred cards' to their customers and partners.
The new offerings for the Self-Service Shredder come in response to retailers' and other business' growing interest in non-cash-based systems, while meeting demands for innovative ways to brand and provide loyalty benefits to customers.
The magnetic strip card is ideal for businesses with a single kiosk, according to Amanda Verrie, RealTime Shredding's president. A business can provide cards with a set number of shredding minutes and/or sessions to customers, partners and others. Non-profit organizations even can sell shred cards for fundraising, says Verrie. With a shredding rate of up to 200 sheets of paper a minute on the Self-Service Shredder, a business could offer substantial use with just a few minutes of time on a card.
Smart cards are good options for repeat users and for businesses with multiple kiosks, adds Verrie, including retailers and businesses with several branches, such as banks. For the individual user, she says, the ability to use the Self-Service Shredder at any of the business' locations makes it easier and more convenient to keep up with shredding on a regular basis.
"The business benefits significantly from a customer's increased visits to their location," she said.
The new software offers key branding opportunities for kiosk owners, says Verrie. RealTime Shredding can customize shred cards with a business' logo, photo and contact information. For businesses that do not own the Self-Service Shredder but still want to help fight identity theft, the software provides the ability to provide shred cards for use in a local kiosk. RealTime Shredding also now offers the Self-Service Shredder kiosk in custom colors, providing additional branding opportunities.
CHELTENHAM, England — In the coming weeks, shoppers in the U.K. and Ireland will be able to benefit from the deployment of robotically operated DVD rental kiosks, and one machine being launched as a trial in a Tesco Ireland store initially could see the concept rolled out in 2008.
The kiosks, which offer users touchscreen access to a range of new release movies, also will be launched in Centra and Applegreen stores with an expected deployment across both the U.K. and Ireland, should the trials prove successful, according to a news release from The Movie Booth.
The Movie Booth is a new brand, based in the U.K., which supplies DVD rental kiosks to retail stores throughout the U.K. and Ireland. The kiosks enable users to rent movies on a pay-as-you-go basis, offering a modern alternative to the traditional high street DVD rental store.
"Customers use a touchscreen system to select and rent their movies, and it takes three steps to rent a film from the kiosk," said Carlos Marco Rider, managing director of The Movie Booth. "These new kiosks have been designed with the end-user in mind and have several features which make renting a DVD a simple process. The partnerships we are developing with retailers should ensure we achieve substantial coverage across the U.K. and Ireland by the end of 2008."
Video Business: MOD Systems and Domino’s Pizza are in talks to give consumers the opportunity to have their pizza and movie delivered by the same person, according to participants at Wednesday’s Entertainment Supply Chain Academy. MOD Systems has been testing music manufacturing-on-demand to CD and/or portable device through kiosk installations at Best Buy. But retailers, including pizza chain Domino’s, see value in offering impulse-produced DVDs as a new revenue stream. The idea is that a Domino’s customer could order a pizza plus a movie of their choice and both would be churned out at the storefront for home delivery.
ContactMusic.com: The music industry needs to adapt to the "digital landscape" as downloading increases, experts have claimed. A survey published by the British Music Rights (BMR) organization this week found that a huge proportion of 14- to 24-year-olds admitted to downloading music illegally, with some fans downloading thousands of songs per month. Music retailer HMV plans to combat this trend by deploying music download kiosks and social access points to improve the customer experience of obtaining music the legal way.
The Washington (D.C.) Business Journal: Tourism in D.C. rakes in $5.5 billion a year, and local businesses are getting help from interactive kiosks to get a taste of the booming industry. The D.C. Chamber of Commerce paired up with Digital City Kiosks this month to publicize names and services of restaurants, hotels, retail and entertainment businesses in the area. The interactive kiosks, provided by the Alexandria-based virtual concierge service company, are located in 10 D.C. spots that include the D.C. Visitors Center and Residence Inn Dupont Circle.
The Detroit (Mich.) Free Press: Nino Salvaggio, a specialty grocer best known for its fresh produce and imported gourmet foods, is applying fast-food restaurant technology to its deli department to reduce the other thing it's known for — long lines. The kiosks are at the front of the store so as customers come in they can order their sliced meats and cheeses. They can pick up their order 10 minutes later in the deli.
dBusinessNews: Kimball Distributing Inc., a distributor of luxury appliance lines with showrooms in Denver and Salt Lake City, has announced that it added Viking appliance kiosks to each of its showrooms. The kiosks offer touchscreen access to Viking appliances—from its flagship ranges to cooktops, from refrigeration to grills. The kiosks display color choices, configuration options, product finishes, available accessories and pricing information for many of the Viking products that Kimball distributes.
Nutraceutilcals World: While hot beverage machines aren’t exactly a good fit for the gym and health club crowd, Bessemer City, N.C.-based Vendweb.com thought a cold nutraceutical drink machine might be. The company’s Nutri-Vend 1000 is capable of dispensing any powder-based nutraceutical drink mix—be it protein, weight loss, low-carbohydrate meal replacement, high carbohydrate meal replacement, recovery or energy supplement—in the form of a chilled beverage. The company guarantees great tasting, healthy nutraceutical and energy drinks delivered cold to the consumer in 30 seconds, all at the touch of a button.
DAYTON, Ohio — Unified Grocers Inc., a U.S. cooperative grocery wholesaler, has teamed with NCR Corp. to support and promote the NCR Advanced Checkout Solution (ACS) POS software solution to its approximately 3,000 independently owned retail grocery customers in the western United States.
"This relationship provides Unified with a consistent and reliable POS solution that can be extended to all of its retail customers," said John Saccomanno, director, NCR Food, Drug and Petroleum Industry Marketing. "By using ACS, Unified’s customers will benefit from a POS software solution that helps drive maximum operational efficiencies and enhances consumers’ shopping experiences."
Joining Unified and NCR in the strategic relationship are NCR RealPartners SNCR and Team Business. These NCR resellers will facilitate the execution of the program, as well as the delivery and support of the ACS solution to Unified’s retail customers.
ACS is designed to enhance customer service and help retailers improve labor productivity, retain profitable customers and quickly adapt to changing business environments. Offering superior promotional flexibility, ACS can be customized for larger retailers or packaged for smaller retail formats, such as independent merchants, making the software a strategic choice for Unified and its customers.
MINNEAPOLIS — iMOZI has announced a partnership with the Nash Finch Company to rollout DVD kiosks in a number of its corporate banners, as well as within its independent retailer affiliate stores.
iMOZI’s kiosks provide automated and digital self-service solutions. The DVD vending kiosks are located at the front of each store and each kiosk holds up to 750 DVDs, with about 200 different titles.
"This concept truly delivers a value-add to the shopping experience, while helping the retailer to drive repeat visits and customer loyalty," said Soheil Samimi, president of iMOZI. "As one of the most frequented and regular destination for many consumers, we believe that the supermarket of the future can certainly continue to become a major destination for getting movies and other media."
LUBBOCK , Texas – iMOZI has announced a partnership with United Supermarkets LLC to roll-out DVD kiosks across the chain’s locations in Texas.
iMOZI’s kiosks provide automated and digital self-service solutions. The DVD vending kiosks are located at the front of each store and each kiosk holds up to 750 DVDs, with about 200 or so different titles.
"The iMOZI DVD rental kiosk is a new way for United Supermarkets to be involved in the changing movie rental business and more importantly provide a service which our customers are looking for," said Tandy Arrant, category manager for the chain. "This is quick, fun, self-service, and a perfect fit for the busy lifestyles of our guests looking for one place to shop and pick up all their needs."
iMOZI, a kiosk technology and distribution company, provides a full turnkey solution for retailers to host or operate self-service media solutions.
The (Everett, Wash.) HeraldNet: A man accused of ripping off about $450,000 from grocery store coin-counting machines in three states has been charged with five counts of theft. Prosecutors allege that Michael Burns, 40, wore his Coinstar Inc. uniform when he walked into stores and used inside knowledge as an employee to break into the kiosks, court records show.
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Pan-Oston has announced that Phil Lempert, better known as The Supermarket Guru, has agreed to be the national spokesperson for the Utopia self-checkout kiosks and other Pan-Oston retail checkout and store fixture solutions.
"I do not normally endorse products or services and those I do need to meet extremely high standards," Lempert said. "Pan-Oston’s Utopia self-checkout solution is the most customer friendly and store operations friendly self-checkout system available on the market today and the only solution for the independent grocery trade."
The Utopia self-checkout solution is a Microsoft or Linux-based self-service checkout solution that can integrate with any POS software. The kiosk is also PCI compliant, incorporates soft programming, delayed mediation, VPN access, biometric security as well as a Banknote Recycler.
The Puget Sound (Seattle, Wash.) Business Journal: Starbucks Corp. is experimenting with selling espresso drinks from a machine, sans barista. The company, through its Seattle's Best Coffee label, has teamed up with Coinstar Inc. and a small Bellevue company, Concordia Coffee Co. Inc., on automated, self-serve espresso kiosks in grocery stores in eight states. The machines grind their own beans and crank out lattes, mochas, chai teas, hot chocolates and drip coffees. There are 86 machines installed in Albertson's stores and other groceries in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Illinois, Wisconsin, Maryland and Tennessee.
Ars Technica: Retail chain FYE has announced the testing of a kiosk in two of its stores. The kiosk allows customers to browse and purchase MP3s from a retail store, and also provides a way to get the music back onto a computer at home. The idea is simple: patrons are able to browse a catalog of songs at an FYE Tunes kiosk in a store for single tracks or complete albums, then build a playlist. The customer can then either pay to have the songs burned to CD or downloaded as DRM-free MP3s to an iPod or other USB-compatible player for $.99 per track.
TROY, Mich. — NEXTEP SYSTEMS, a provider of automated ordering solutions, has announced record sales growth for its self-order kiosk and online ordering solutions. First quarter 2008 results were up 300 percent when compared to first quarter 2007. With a month yet to go, 2008 second quarter results have already doubled second quarter results for 2007.
NEXTEP also recently announced self-order projects with Little River Casino Resort, Silver Diner, Randazzo's Fresh Markets, Citizens Bank Park, and Berry Chill.
"After years of successful pilots, we are now seeing the start of full-scale adoption of self-order kiosks for high volume food and beverage operations." NEXTEP president Tommy Woycik said.
Marketing Daily: Macy's, which has been testing vending kiosks that dispense consumer electronics, says it's rolling its e-Spot automated shops into more than 400 stores. E-Spots sell such brands as Sony, Canon, Apple, Bang and Olufsen and MyVu, with prices ranging from $14.99 to $349.99. The company says it has been testing them with ZoomSystems for two years.
BELLEVUE, Wash. — Coinstar E-Payment Services, a subsidiary of Coinstar Inc., has announced that its full range of Pay As You Go products and services will be available in TravelCenters of America full-service travel centers.
The lineup of Coinstar Pay As You Go products includes prepaid wireless, long distance, gift cards, financial services such as prepaid re-loadable and one-time gift debit cards. These products and services will be available at more than 230 TA and Petro locations.
TA and Petro have already installed other Coinstar products, including amusement vending equipment, in more than 85 locations as well as a number of coin counting locations.
NEW YORK — On the heels of a successful two-year pilot of personal electronic automated retail shops with ZoomSystems, Macy’s announced the rollout of this technology to more than half of its full-line department stores around the country. The new e-Spot automated shops offer the latest consumer electronics at a customer’s fingertips with touchscreen technology that processes the transaction and completes the sale in a matter of minutes. The machines will offer widely demanded brands including Apple, Sony, Canon and MyVu.
"Personal electronics are a massive business in today’s texting, downloading, photo ‘tagging,’ YouTubing world," said Chris Mizer, senior vice president of Macy’s Customer Operations. "And arguably more so than ever before, people’s tech taste is as much an extension of their personal style as their choice of shoe or apparel brands. As we continue to expand the Macy’s brand as the premiere shopping and lifestyle destination, it became increasingly obvious that our customer was looking to us for this caliber of electronic product. They wanted one-stop, no-fuss shopping, and we are responding."
The products available from e-Spot include iPods (Touch, Classic, Nano and Shuffle); Canon 7MP and 8MP digital cameras; Samsung 7MP digital camera and 1GB Camcorder; MyVu Personal Media Viewers; Sony, V-MODA, Bang and Olufsen and Harman Kardon headphones; and mobile accessories by Belkin. Products range from $14.99 to $349.99.
Providing instant gratification faster than online purchasing, e-Spot automated shops can complete a transaction in less than two minutes for knowledgeable, decided customers. The machines also have extensive product information and comparisons that allow customers with less-certain needs to be as thorough as necessary to feel comfortable.
"Customers tell us they love the no-pressure environment e-Spot provides," said Mizer. "Getting product information easily without pressure, and not waiting for someone with a key to unlock a cabinet or get the product from a back room — this is the type of comfortable shopping environment that today’s technology buyer appreciates."
CHICAGO — FansEdge, a provider of licensed sports products, has announced the opening of a new store in Aurora, Ill. that will use multiple marketing channels, including kiosks and other interactive technology, to tout its products.
The store, which is 2,500 square feet, includes licensed apparel, memorabilia, collectibles and hard goods such as blankets, tailgating items, etc. In addition to its wide product selection, the store also includes interactive kiosks for ordering products.
Customers may order items for various sports teams in different colors, sizes and styles, by simply using the kiosk. The kiosk then transmits a purchase order, and depending on the item, it will be delivered to the store within 24 hours or, at the customer’s request, to their doorstep if they live in the Chicago area.
FansEdge stores also include a touchscreen interactive window display. Through this display, mall patrons can utilize the façade of the store to browse the complete FansEdge inventory, as if they were in the store.
The Retail Bulletin: Tesco's Fresh & Easy chain has uniquely adopted an all-self-checkout model that was initially questioned but is gaining increasing customer acceptance, according to the grocer's internal research. As many as 90 percent of its customers indicated that they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the checkout experience, and in a separate independent survey some 60 percent of shoppers found the arrangement favorable while another 27 percent stated that it doesn't matter what format the checkouts take.
Adweek: Microsoft's Surface interface was unveiled a year ago, around the same time that Apple launched the iPhone, which uses a similar "natural-user" interface on a simpler, smaller scale. But it's only now that consumers are getting their first glimpse of its potential. "With Surface, Microsoft is pushing the digital world to a new level with cool technology, but they need to convince other companies who develop applications to come on board," says David Daoud, an analyst with IDC. "The problem is, developing more applications will be challenging."
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — The first major installation of Pan-Oston’s Utopia self-service checkout solution is underway in the 30-outlet Chicago-area grocery chain Strack and Van Til. According to a news release, Utopia, developed by Pan-Oston, is simple to install, manage and update. The unit also is scalable, PCI compliant, and integrates with any POS software.
"It’s as if they designed it just for us," said Henry Bykerk, director of information systems for Strack & Van Til. "The installation of our Utopia solution was as simple as Pan-Oston promised. Within three hours of delivery we scanned our first item."
The (Everett, Wash.) HeraldNet: He's accused of stealing around $450,000 from grocery store coin-counting machines in three states. Local police believe Michael Burns, 39, ripped off the machines while working for Coinstar Inc. They allege Burns, of Maple Valley in King County, wore a company uniform when he walked into stores and used inside knowledge to break into the kiosks, according to court documents. When police arrested Burns on Friday, they confiscated around $130,000 in cash along with high-priced electronics and a new Harley-Davidson motorcycle, the documents said. Detectives still haven't accounted for thousands of dollars more that are missing. Police were alerted after loss prevention officers at Bellevue-based Coinstar discovered thefts at several of their kiosks.
IrishDev: Xerox Ireland announced the Xerox Photo Kiosk, developed in partnership with Imaxel. This solution is designed for storefront locations that want to offer a one hour or less, local print service for personalized photographic applications such as calendars, photograph albums and books, posters and photo cards.
WEST CHESTER, Pa. — MEI, a developer of unattended payment systems, launched its Cashflow Banknote Recycler for self-checkout operations in all retail applications.
The Cashflow BNR is a point-of-sale cash-recycling device that combines the functions of a traditional bill acceptor and dispenser into one device, significantly reducing the cash float required for undisrupted self-checkout operation.
The MEI Cashflow BNR has a compact footprint, operates at a high speed and has been designed for reliability. With the ability to recycle up to four denominations, the BNR allows self-service systems to run on less cash for longer periods of time. The modular design enables closed-loop cash management, and cash handling improves with its cash loader module that enables the device to serve customers immediately.
Several self-service equipment OEMs are currently preparing for field tests of new terminals using the Cashflow BNR.
News.com.au: Woolworths and Safeway supermarkets will soon have self-service checkouts at more than 70 stores around Australia by the end of June. The first units will appear in stores in the next few weeks.
LAS VEGAS—It was triple vision for SoloHealth at KioskCom’s Self Service Excellence awards ceremony as its innovative EyeSite kiosk won two of three categories where it had been entered and snagged the day’s grand prize, the Best of the Best, for receiving the most votes of entries in all categories.
David Drain (left), executive director of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, congratulates IBM's Cortlandt Johnson, who was inducted into the association's hall of fame.
Users of the EyeSite kiosk enter sight-related information on a touchscreen, such as the person’s age, the date of his last eye exam and whether he wears contacts or glasses. The kiosk then presents a series of stimuli for both near and distance vision. A printout of the results and a video analysis help the user determine the next steps for eye care.
In addition to overall best, the application was voted best healthcare application and best new innovation in a kiosk deployment. Manufacturer KIOSK Information Systems and software vendor Netkey submitted the kiosk for the Self Service Excellence awards, which were presented on the first day of KioskCom Self Service Expo.
For the first time, the Self-Service and Kiosk Association announced its Hall of Fame inductees as part of the awards ceremony. They were Cortlandt Johnson and Janet Webster. Johnson’s background includes helping Eastman Kodak develop the first photo kiosk and being a leader of self-service technology at IBM. He also helped found the association. Webster, who manages self-service for the United States Postal Service, is responsible for the deployment of 2,500 Automated Postal Center kiosks. For 2005, she was the recipient of the 2005 Kiosk Industry Leader of the Year Award in the Deployer category.
Below are all entries and winners of the KioskCom Self Service Excellence Awards.
Best Retail Deployment • Cabelas - Best Retail Deployment, submitted by KIOSK Information Systems
• Self-Service Networks: Electronic Gift Card Dispenser, submitted by Self-Service Networks
• WINNER: Self-Service Networks: Thule Interactive Point-of-Purchase, submitted by Self-Service Networks
Best Financial Services Deployment • Alltel BillPay Kiosk, submitted by Source Technologies
• Automated Commerce Machine (ACM), submitted by Pay-Ease LLC
• WINNER: Multi-Function Financial Services Kiosk, submitted by INFONOX
Best Goverment/Education/Non-Profit Agency Deployment
• WINNER: Automated Commerce Machine (ACM), submitted by Pay-Ease LLC
• Barcelona City Council Service Kiosk, submitted by FOCUS ON EMOTIONS
• SWANSON SERVICES CORPORATION COBRA KIOSK, submitted by Source Technologies
Best Travel/Hospitality Deployment
• Northwest Airlines Mobile Website, submitted by Northwest Airlines
• WINNER: PDC Smart Kiosk, submitted by MEI
• SITA S2 AirportConnect Kiosk, submitted by SITA
Best Entertainment/Gaming Deployment
• Dave & Buster's Loyalty Kiosk, submitted by KIOSK Information Systems
• WINNER: Foxwoods Resort Casino Promotions Kiosk, submitted by Livewire International
• SanDisk Digital Media Download Kiosk, submitted by Nanonation
Best Healthcare Deployment • WINNER: EyeSite Kiosk by SoloHealth, submitted by Netkey and KIOSK InformationSystems
• Patient Passport Express, submitted by D2 Sales
• Phreesia - The Patient Check-in Company, submitted by Phreesia, Inc.
• RemoteNurse Patient Monitor, submitted by Elo TouchSystems
Best Food Service Deployment
• Mandalay Bay - Bayside Buffet, submitted by NCR Corporation and MGM
• WINNER: Prepayment Kiosk by School-Link Technologies, submitted by MEI
Best Other Industry Deployment
• BMW ICS (Indoor Communication System), submitted by Reality Interactive
• EyeSite Kiosk by SoloHealth, submitted by Netkey, KIOSK Information Systems
• WINNER: Ford SYNC Kiosk, submitted by Frank Mayer & Associates, Inc., Wireless Ronin Inc.
Best Overall Software Solution
• BMW ICS (Indoor Communication System), submitted by Reality Interactive
• WINNER: Dave & Buster's Loyalty Kiosk, submitted by KIOSK Information Systems, St. Clair Interactive
• Showroom Technology SHOW/PRO V3 Kiosk, submitted by Netkey
Best Hardware/Enclosure Design
• Automated Commerce Machine (ACM), submitted by Pay-Ease, LLC
• BMW ICS (Indoor Communication System), submitted by Reality Interactive
• WINNER: CVD's, submitted by CVD, Inc.
Best New Innovation in a Kiosk Deployment • WINNER: EyeSite Kiosk by SoloHealth, submitted by KIOSK Information Systems & Netkey • Live Nation - Interactive Mobile Phone Digital Signage, submitted by Nanonation
• Phreesia - The Patient Check-in Company, submitted by Phreesia
• Qflix, submitted by Sonic Solutions
Best of the Best EyeSite Kiosk by SoloHealth, Netkey & KIOSK Information Systems
Industry Deployer of the Year
David Forbes, exec director, IT, AT&T, for his work using kiosks and digital signage to enhance the customer experience for mobile customers.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Source Technologies, a provider of transactional and interactive kiosks, is demonstrating its full line of self-service solutions for bill payments, services, retail, hospitality and financial services industries at this week’s KioskCom Self Service Expo and The Digital Signage Show.
Source Technologies will also showcase products currently used by Alltel and Swanson Services Corp. Alltel's BillPay Kiosk and Swanson's tamper-resistant Cobra Kiosk have both been selected as finalists for the KioskCom Award. Source Technologies' clients have received the award for three consecutive years.
PORTSMOUTH, RI — Self-Service Networks, a provider of turnkey self-service solutions, will exhibit their award finalist solutions at KioskCom Self Service Expo and Digital Signage Show in Las Vegas on April 16-17.
The Electronic Gift Card Dispenser, a gift card sales kiosk deployed with Comdata/SVS, and the Thule Interactive Point of Purchase, a point-of-decision selling solution, have both been nominated as finalists in the Best Retail Deployment category for the Self Service Excellence Awards.
The Self Service Excellence Awards honor innovation in self-service, business solutions and interactive digital media. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony during KioskCom Self Service Expo on Wednesday, April 16th, at 4:15 p.m.
Additionally at the show, Self-Service Networks will exhibit solutions for wayfinding, human resources, corporate communications, bill payment, ticketing, digital signage and financial transactions.
RFID Journal: Food retail research and consulting company Food Information Service Europe is in discussion with retailers in the Netherlands and Belgium to deploy prefabricated automated stores that sell high-end food or other items to customers. The prefab stores incorporate self-locking doors, RFID technology and cameras, so that no staff is required. The concept, known as Food Store 24, was inspired by a similar system employed at the Laxomat self-service convenience stores operated by Laxbutiken, a Swedish restaurant operator specializing in salmon.
WEST CHESTER, Pa. — Cash transactions cost retailers far less than the average two percent fee incurred from signature debit and credit transactions. MEI has released a new toolkit that makes it easier for retailers to accept cash transactions in their kiosks and self-checkout systems. MEI designed the Point of Service Toolkit (MPOST) — an industry first — to reduce the integration time of bill validators by at least 50 percent.
Integrating a bill validator using an MPOST toolkit and a USB interface now is as easy as integrating a card reader — a plug-and-play approach. The toolkit includes a flash download capability, an easy-to-use-library, advanced error handling, automatic device and currency detection and configuration, unit auditing and test and demo programs.
“MPOST reduces the costs and technical challenges of introducing cash acceptors into a self-service system,” said Dave McLaughlin, engineering director for MEI's retail channel. “Cash has been shown to increase the revenue of self service devices, and we have developed this software tool to ease integration and help retailers realize the full benefits of their self service units.”
For more information about MEI and its products, visit www.meigroup.com or call 800-345-8215.
LAS VEGAS — Verizon Wireless is breaking new ground in the U.S. wireless retail experience with the introduction of a new store design in more than 280 company-owned stores.
The stores offer consumers a high-tech and hands-on experience with wireless voice, data, music and video services. The store features a bright new design and integrates a number of innovative self-service systems and operational enhancements designed to streamline the sales process and enhance the customer experience.
Verizon Wireless has already rolled out the design in more than 100 locations nationwide and plans to introduce the new design in more than 180 additional locations by the end of the year.
Some of the store’s new features include:
A demo zone where customers can explore, experiment and learn using interactive touchscreens or be guided by product-savvy sales staff
More than 55 working models of handsets, PC cards and other devices for customers to try
A greeter kiosk that allows customers to check in once they enter the store and list their wireless needs, so representatives can quickly assist them
A bill payment kiosk that allows customers to make account payments quickly and easily using checks, cash or credit/debit cards
Customer service and technical support departments, making it easy for customers to get account information, access customer service and address technical issues from trained in-store staff
Most but not all of these features will be incorporated in new stores depending on overall space at the locations. Existing stores also incorporate some of these features, such as the customer service and technical support departments and greeter and bill payment kiosks.
Baseline: The major data breach affecting Hannaford Brothers grocery chain isn’t record-setting in terms of the volume of records exposed — the 4.2 million records breached is dwarfed by the 94 million records exposed during the TJX breach. But the Hannaford breach is groundbreaking in its own way, because this massive security incident is the first publicly-reported exposure to hit a retailer that claims to have been certified as compliant with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI).
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A preliminary analysis of the effect of radio frequency identification on retail-inventory accuracy demonstrated that an automated, RFID-enabled inventory system improved accuracy by about 13 percent in test stores compared to control stores. The investigation, conducted by researchers in the RFID Research Center, a research unit of the Information Technology Research Institute in the Sam M. Walton College of Business, also revealed that manual inventory adjustments by store personnel significantly declined in test stores due to the automated, RFID-based system.
"Inventory accuracy is one of the keys to an efficient and effective supply chain," said Bill Hardgrave, director of the research center and principal investigator. "Yet, inventory accuracy, which determines important processes such as ordering and replenishment, is often poor, with inaccuracy rates sometimes as high as 65 percent. Our results suggest that RFID technology makes a difference. The 13-percent improvement found in this study can significantly reduce unnecessary inventory, and the value of this reduction for a company like Wal-Mart, with all of its suppliers, can be measured in millions of dollars."
Inventory accuracy is a chronic problem in the retail industry. Retailers focus on what they call "perpetual inventory," a name to describe an estimate of inventory, based on various systems and methods of tracking items. As Hardgrave mentioned, previous research has demonstrated huge gaps between perpetual inventory — what managers think is on hand — versus the actual number of items in a store, either on shelves or in a stock room. Studies have found that retailers generally have accurate inventory information on only 35 percent of their items.
Perpetual inventory can be understated or overstated. Understated, sometimes called hidden inventory, means that perpetual inventory shows fewer items than what are actually in the store. Conversely, overstated, also known as phantom inventory, describes a store in which perpetual inventory shows more inventory than items on hand.
Incorrect manual adjustments by personnel, stolen products, damaged or spoiled products not recorded as such, returned products not properly accounted for, incorrect shipments from distribution centers and cashier error are the six major causes of inventory inaccuracy, which can lead to out-of-stock items or excess inventory. Because of inventory inaccuracy, systems may order unnecessary product or fail to order product that is needed. Hardgrave emphasized that the net result of inventory inaccuracy, as reported in other research, is an estimated 10 percent reduction in profit.
Focusing only on understated inaccuracies, the Arkansas study involved 16 Wal-Mart stores — eight test stores and a matching set of eight control stores. Test stores were selected from the existing set of approximately 1,000 RFID-enabled Wal-Mart stores. Control stores were then chosen based on a set of criteria used to determine a comparable profile, including demographics, size of stores measured by square feet, annual sales and the absence of known impacts such as annual inventories, remodeling or resets, market trials and other known disruptions. The research sample contained a mixture of Supercenter and Neighborhood Market stores.
For 23 weeks — from May through October 2007 — a national inventory auditing group hand-counted all individual items in the air freshener category in all 16 stores. A single category was chosen to provide the opportunity to tag all cases in that category. The daily inventory of a particular store started at approximately the same time each day, and the auditors followed the same counting pattern — starting at bottom left and working to the right and then up. Stores were counted between the hours of 4 and 8 p.m.
Test stores were equipped with RFID readers/antennas at various backroom locations — receiving doors, sales floor doors and box crusher. Control stores had no RFID technology. Test stores were provided with a perpetual-inventory adjustment system, dubbed "auto PI," that automatically adjusted understated inventory. Other than the auto-PI system in the test stores, which worked automatically without human intervention, no additional manipulations were introduced, meaning both sets of stores operated business as usual, and store personnel were instructed to carry out their jobs in the same way they would in normal situations.
RFID, via the auto-PI system, served as a supplement to the existing process of adjusting inventory so that results of the study would demonstrate how effective RFID is beyond existing processes. Control store personnel did not modify or stop their manual adjustments. Finally, to establish a baseline for perpetual-inventory accuracy, inventory was counted for 10 weeks before auto-PI system was turned on.
Data revealed that the percentage of understated items off by more than two units fell by 13 percent in the test stores compared to control stores. Furthermore, the RFID-enabled auto-PI system doubled the number of inventory adjustments, suggesting that only half of all manual adjustments are caught in a given retail store. Hardgrave emphasized that increasing the number of manual adjustments to equal those captured automatically by the system would accordingly increase labor dedicated to this task and thus distract workers from stocking shelves or assisting customers.
"Instead, as demonstrated in our study," he said, "perpetual-inventory accuracy was improved with no additional labor."
Seattle Post-Intelligencer: AT&T says it will start using Microsoft Surface computers in selected retail stores later this month, becoming the first to roll out the interactive digital screens. AT&T said its retail customers will be able to place specific mobile phones on Surface's 30-inch screen to learn about features, accessories and rate plans. They also will be able to compare two phones at a time, and use their hands to navigate a high-tech wireless coverage map.
EXTON, Pa. — Scala, a provider of end-to-end solutions for the digital signage market, has announced DDS Poland, a Scala Certified Partner, has won the prestigious POPAI Bronze Statue Award for its implementation of their Beeblue Bluetooth-activated kiosk for Samsung.
DDS Poland’s award entry was a self-service kiosk for Samsung. The kiosk employs the BeeBlue Integrated Bluetooth Marketing Solution for Bluetooth proximity, creating a 100 meter hot spot for Class 2.0 Bluetooth devices. Driven by Scala InfoChannel, the kiosk displays two channels of brand advertising and interactive product information. The kiosk presents two screens, a 22-inch LCD displaying brand advertising and product information, the lower screen is an interactive 17-inch or 19-inch LCD screen allowing customers to interact with the kiosk. The kiosk features directional sound systems or headphones, distance sensors and RFID sensors. The kiosk provides customers with music, videos, wallpaper images, coupons and promotions all ready for download directly from the kiosk.
Samsung’s goal was to show the features of their new mobile handsets. Interested customers are attracted to the kiosk with the promise of free content, using DDS’s Beeblue Bluetooth proximity solution, while learning more about Samsung’s products and services. Kiosks are deployed in mobile phone stores and other locations where the public would be likely to be attracted.
The first kiosks were deployed in December 2007 and Samsung has 12 kiosks in service while they prepare for their next deployment.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — This March, 26 backlit media advertising displays and four interactive media kiosks with property directories will be installed at the Mesa Riverview shopping center in Mesa, Ariz. An extended market rollout is being considered for later this year.
The program provides opportunities for advertisers to reach consumers where they shop while making a positive impact on the environment. A significant portion of revenue generated by advertising placement will help fund local environmental programs such as solar panel installations, hybrid car fleets, lighting retrofits and greening projects. As a result, the program will directly affect quality of life, at no cost to consumers.
The program is the result of a partnership between environmental media company EcoMedia, Kimco Realty Corp. and technology provider Aerva.
"This is an ideal partnership that combines Kimco's desire to bring new advertising opportunities and technologies to their tenants with our mission of using advertising dollars to do something they have never done before: Clean up the environment," said Paul Polizzotto, chief executive and founder of EcoMedia. "This effort is a win-win for everyone, including Kimco retail tenants, consumers and more importantly, the environment. The more signs that are installed, the more environmental benefits we can deliver to local communities."
The integrated program offers advertisers opportunities to reach consumers via three components:
1) Retail backlit displays featuring a 40-inch wide by 50-inch long graphic area, installed in highly-visible and highly-trafficked locations such as pedestrian walkways.
2) Video advertising that is incorporated into a 10-minute programming loop featuring high-impact EcoMedia content that informs, educates and entertains consumers about environmental issues.
3) Interactive, on-demand mobile coupons delivered directly to consumers' cell phones via text messaging, providing shoppers on-demand access to promotional offers from retailers and manufacturers.
FRANKLIN, Tenn. — The PC-based electronic point-of-sale market in Europe/Middle East/Africa experienced a 4 percent shipment increase in 2007 and continues to show strong growth potential in 2008, according to a new study released by IHL Group. Taking advantage of normal cyclical upgrades in Western Europe and enjoying strong oil revenues in Russia and the Middle East, the region is poised to remain strong even while shipments slow in North America.
The largest boost in 2008 will come from replacement of systems installed in the late 1990's (just before the Euro conversion and Y2K) in the Large Format Food & Drug sectors and Hypermarkets. Also helping will be shipments to Russia and the Middle East, which have seen tremendous growth in their retail infrastructures as oil reached and surpassed $100 per barrel. These trends will continue for several years in the more technically mature EPOS markets (for example, Germany, France and the UK), and long-term for the other EMEA countries, according to the 2008 Europe/Middle East/Africa Retail POS Terminal Study from IHL Group, a global research and advisory firm that serves retailers and retail technology vendors.
"Retailers continue to see the EPOS as more than just a method for accurately recording sales," said Greg Buzek, president of IHL. "Added functionality at the till, whether in the form of capabilities such as customer returns, inventory look-up, or workforce management, helps retailers see EPOS as THE central system in the store, and they are willing to invest in it accordingly."
According to the study, retailers in the Food & Drug and Mass Merchant segments are experiencing heavy consolidation, while those in the Convenience and Hospitality segments are seeing rapid expansion. Security is also weighing heavily on retailers' POS purchase decision-making process. Retailers want POS systems that are PCI-compliant, in order to avoid data breaches such as those experienced recently by TJ Maxx, Hannaford Brothers and other retailers in North America.
CHICAGO - One of the most eye-catching retail applications unveiled at this week's GlobalShop expo was tucked in the back of the Epson booth.
A nude mannequin stood against a black backdrop; about 15 feet away, a touchscreen kiosk showed a variety of clothing and accessory choices. When the user selects a shirt or dress or necklace, they are then presented with a variety of colors - and once a color is selected, that item is projected onto the mannequin.
With just a few more touches of the screen, shoppers can "try on" any number of combinations of products, colors and styles.
Watch this site in the coming days for a full wrap-up of GlobalShop 2008, and a slide show of photography from the show floor.
Thaindian News: City-based Technology Frontiers has announced it is targeting growing malls and retail chains for its digital kiosks. The touchscreen digital kiosk allows users to book airline and cinema tickets and also does online banking, mobile phone recharge and gaming.
HICKORY, N.C. — Freedom Shopping Inc., a consumer RFID solution provider, has announced the availability of a retail offering that plugs into existing cash registers and point-of-sale terminals to enable RFID check-out, inventory tracking and security.
The core of the solution is a software wedge (Freedom-ID) that operates on the POS terminal. It communicates with a counter-top RFID reader pad and/or other readers in the check-out lane. Inventory is monitored with mobile RFID readers; security gates also are RFID-enabled. Data is passed to existing cash registers and POS infrastructure at all points in a SKU format so it can be instantly integrated. Consumer privacy is protected using a variety of technical safeguards.
“This is a real breakthrough and should enable RFID’s adoption at the point-of-sale to occur rapidly,” said Rob Simmons, CEO of Freedom Shopping. “This fundamentally changes the way stores will operate — sales increase, labor costs decrease and ‘intelligent security’ reduces shrinkage We have been operating in stores for 3 years and know firsthand there is significant ROI for retailers. However, the biggest surprise is how much shoppers love it — it is the ideal check-out experience.”
The Freedom-ID solution was featured at Microsoft’s RFID Solution Days, an invitation-only conference for key personnel deploying RFID and related technology suppliers, held February 17th and 18th in Bellevue, Wash. Freedom-ID has integrated with Microsoft’s BizTalk RFID platform for data visibility and device management.
Freedom Shopping’s item-level RFID stores and OEM products use UHF (Ultra High Frequency) EPC Gen 2 technology and tags.
OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. — Redbox, a DVD rental kiosk featuring new release rentals for $1 per night, has announced an agreement with Walgreens to expand the presence of redbox to approximately 2,000 Walgreens stores nationwide. Currently available at nearly 250 Walgreens locations, redbox will install kiosks at approximately 1,800 additional Walgreens stores during 2008 and 2009.
The expansion of redbox to Walgreens locations nationwide follows the successful test of DVD-rental service in Chicago, Houston, Phoenix and Columbus, Ohio-area Walgreens.
Redbox recently announced plans to feature redbox kiosks at the majority of Wal-Mart locations nationwide. Redbox kiosks currently are available at more than 6,800 locations nationwide, including leading grocery stores, select McDonald’s restaurants and Walgreens and Wal-Mart locations in select markets.
The Associated Press: Marijuana vending kiosks in Los Angeles violate international treaties and should be shut down, the U.N.-affiliated drug control board said recently. At least three Los Angeles medical marijuana dispensaries have installed vending machines to distribute the drug to people who carry cards authorizing marijuana use.
PADERBORN, Germany — It’s one of the Holy Grails of retail: A shopper fills her cart with groceries, sidles up to a check-out counter, and virtually instantly, without a single item being taken out back out of the cart, the items are itemized and totaled.
RFID technology is currently the best technological bet to make that happen. But exactly when is a matter of no small contention.
Even on the floor of Wincor World, the annual trade fair sponsored by Wincor Nixdorf, there is gaping chasm between the optimism of some, who put the advent at about 10 years, and the belief of at least one Wincor executive, who in essence says not in our lifetime.
Score one for the optimists. Maybe. Wincor Nixdorf in partnership with IT component manufacturer Wanzel has developed a prototype grocery cart called the RFID-Tango.
According to spokesman Rainer Eckert, the cart and its software platform clear at least one of the major barriers.
The problem solved by the RFID-Tango is called bulk-reading. RFID chips broadcast their signal a thousand times a second. One reader attempting to comprehend can get confused trying to separate the various voices. Imagine trying to listen to a dozen voices at once. The bulk-reading solution developed by Wanzel manages to tell voices to “shut up” when it has finished reading them—up to a 100 items in one cart—and reexamines the set of signals constantly to listen for additional items or to detect whether any items have been removed from the cart.
Eckert admits the remaining challenges are not insignificant.
First, as has been discussed ad nauseum in stories about RFID adoption, the price of RFID transmitters must come down. Currently, chips are under four cents each, with a 24-bit chip. The goal is to get them under two cents, which would make the technology less costly than barcode printing, which costs about two cents per package, owing to the exacting standards of bar width and readability. In addition, current transmitters are metal-based, which limits the recyclability of the package. The goal is to make them polymer-based. Then, not only will the transmitters be recyclable, they can be imprinted onto the package as part of the offset printing process.
Second, retailers and RFID component manufacturers must agree on standards such as naming conventions and broadcast guidelines, as well as develop and roll-out a mammoth data transmission and storage infrastructure.
In about a decade, Eckert believes those problems will be solved, similar to the solutions that evolved to implement barcode scanning. But whether it 10 years or 15 or five, he’s confident it will be in this century.
Shortly after announcing the launch of MaxBox Digital Retail Ltd., a rebranding of MaxBox’s original home, Felix Corp., the new company is showing signs of life thanks to two deals that will bring a minimum of 2,000 MaxBox kiosks to Ireland and Australia.
MaxBox closed the Ireland deal last week at the ATEi/ICE trade show in London. Ireland-based Cyberhut Ltd., a provider of automated Internet terminals to the retail sector, signed a three-year contract to distribute a minimum of 1,000 MaxBox digital retail kiosks across northern and southern Ireland. MaxBox also plans to announce a similar deal to release another 1,000 kiosks in Australia, said Andy Egan, chairman and chief executive officer of MaxBox Digital Retail, in a phone interview.
These announcements come just a month after Egan’s resignation from Felix Corp. over business differences with the company’s board chairman. However, Egan said in reality he was pushed out and eventually fired. He attributes his downfall at Felix to the chairman’s impatience with the MaxBox’s rollout.
“He wanted to do something that was more quickly and the MaxBox has always been something that has come out more slowly,” Egan said. “Finally, they weren’t supportive anymore, which I thought was ridiculous.”
Thanks to mortgaging his home, car and a few other personal items, Egan, the founder of Felix Corp., bought back the trading arm of the company from its administrators on Jan. 11.
“I think I personally have more in the kiosk industry now than anyone else in the world,” he said only half-jokingly.
One stumbling block to taking back the MaxBox portion of Felix was that the company’s administrators had already begun to yank the already deployed MaxBox kiosks. However, Egan said some of the location’s owners refused to give up their machines. As for the ones that did get removed, the company is working to get those back in place.
MaxBox has also renewed talks with KIOSK Information Systems to install MaxBox software to new and existing kiosks in the United States.
Egan said his goal in obtaining the MaxBox property again was to finish what he started. Though he said the rollout will probably continue at a slow pace for now, he expects that once a big name retailer comes on board, the number of kiosks in deployment will increase rapidly.
“I think it will still come slow for us,” he said. “But I think 2008 is the year we will get some traction.”
Associated Press: The city that popularized the fast food drive-thru, Los Angeles, has a new innovation: 24-hour medical marijuana vending machines. Patients suffering from chronic pain, loss of appetite and other ailments that marijuana is said to alleviate can get their pot with a dose of convenience at the Herbal Nutrition Center, where a large kiosk will dole out the drug around the clock.
MINNEAPOLIS — Wireless Ronin Technologies, a Minneapolis-based digital-signage provider, has announced that Alteris Group, a Michigan-based marketing communications company, will launch a Ford Motor Company interactive digital program using RoninCast software.
The digital signage system will promote and demonstrate the latest Ford SYNC in-vehicle technology designed by Microsoft in collaboration with Ford engineers. The initial deployment is 50 units for use in public events.
Ford will utilize the interactive RoninCast digital signage system at auto shows and other special events to demonstrate and promote Ford SYNC features and benefits. The system integrates 50-inch and 32-inch touchscreens with fabricated Ford SYNC branded enclosures. The program simulates the key SYNC features with on-screen virtual guides that interact with the audio "voice" of SYNC to demonstrate hands-free calling, play audio tracks from an MP3 player and USB drives.
"The Ford SYNC product is a unique technology that will greatly enhance the customer explanation experience for Ford's customers," said Alteris Group Co-owner, John Thompson.
Progressive Grocer: Stew Leonard's has rolled out a deli self-order kiosk from Lombard, Ill.-based ADUSA Inc., provider of self-ordering solutions for grocery supermarkets, restaurants and foodservice operations, in its Yonkers, N.Y. store. The kiosks will allow customers to self-order the full range of items available at the service deli, among them meats, cheeses, party trays, and, eventually, sandwiches — reducing, or completely eliminating, the time that a customer has to spend waiting in line.
Business Week: Consumers are using their plastic instead of their spare change to snap up luxury items such as digital cameras, cologne and even software from automated kiosks in airports, malls, supermarkets and other high-traffic areas. ATMs, flight check-in kiosks and subway-ticket machines have made consumers much more comfortable with using their credits cards at self-service devices.
RFID Journal: Portuguese book retailer Byblos has deployed an item-level RFID system in its new Lisbon store, Byblos Amoreiras, to track 250,000 books, games and videos. Byblos opened the 50,000-square-foot store with the best technology available to enhance customer experience. The store's system includes 40 RFID-enabled kiosks where customers can learn about books and print out their sales-floor location.
NEW YORK — VeriFone Holdings Inc. has announced the MX800 Series Price Checker, a multifunctional customer interaction kiosk that can deliver multimedia promotions, double as a gift card registry or loyalty program enrollment kiosk or enable a variety of other customer-facing applications. The MX800 Series Price Checker will be available in the second quarter of 2008.
The Verifone device combines with MX800 payment systems to deliver a PCI PED-approved price checker, one that is capable of accepting secure payments from consumers.
Integrated with VeriFone's MX870 or other MX800 Series payment system, the MX800 Series Price Checker will increase customer interaction by offering self-service customer applications and multimedia promotions anywhere throughout a store. The system can provide consumers with services including price checking, product locator, product information, gift card lookup or reload, gift card purchases and bill payments.
MEBANE, N.C. — ArcaTech Systems, a supplier of transaction automation solutions, has introduced a solution for the control and remote capture of cash in retail environments.
Both currency and coin recycling devices are used in the Arca8000D, an integrated cash-control system that allows retailers to control the cash-handling process and obtain provisional credit for cash that remains secured within store locations. Designed specifically for retail cash management, this system dispenses and reconciles cashier tills, sorts and counts deposits and enables remote cash capture, the electronic deposit of cash values.
The Arca8000D is a cash recycler and high-volume, bulk storage system for banknotes. A bulk coin recycling and bulk storage device also can be added for till management and coin handling.
Remote cash capture systems allow funds to be electronically deposited to retailer-specified accounts. Cash can be transported to the financial institution at a later time.
"Retailers know that more employees handling cash means more mistakes and discrepancies," said Jim Halpin, ArcaTech's Retail Solutions Director. "Our automated cash control system will eliminate human error and reduce shortages and deposit variances."
Nashville Business Journal: Edgenet Inc., a Brentwood, Tenn.-based company that provides software for retailers in the home-goods industry, has released Edgenet Vision, a software platform that can display 3-D renditions of real products in virtual-room settings. Consumers can utilize the software online, or on an in-store kiosk.
NEW YORK — Tyco Electronics' Elo TouchSystems demonstrated one of the first network powered multifunction and multimedia touch stations incorporating power-over-Ethernet technology from Digi International at the NRF 97th Annual Convention & Expo.
Incorporating a unique low power design featuring Digi's POE technology and Elo's design for LED backlighting and power distribution board, the new POS multifunction touch station from Elo TouchSystems is intended to eliminate local cabling with power provided from an Ethernet network connection.
This "no-power required" station will add flexibility to the deployment of many retail applications such as price checkers and digital advertising without using separate power connections or adding infrastructure. Eliminating the need for local power can result in lower costs wherever deployments are made. With this unique design concept, retailers can place a variety of POS devices wherever they want in their stores, without having to add separate electrical power.
"Digi's POE zero-client technology coupled with the Elo TouchSystems multifunction touch station initiates an exciting alliance of technology strengths," said Steve Popovich, vice president of business development, Digi International. "The deployment of display technology and integrated peripheral devices without local power is unique in the retail industry."
NEW YORK — Source Technologies, a provider of integrated solutions for managing financial transactions and other secure business processes, has announced the availability of TreoSystems' interactive iPAL product locator system for large-format retail stores on their new interactive kiosk. The new kiosk was on display at the National Retail Federation Annual Show & Expo.
"Today's consumers are very open to using self-service applications when they realize how it benefits them," said Robert Johnson, TreoSystems' co-founder and chief executive officer. "We designed iPAL with this in mind, offering an extremely powerful yet simple-to-use tool for not only customers, but employees as well. Source Technologies offers a wide range of interactive, self-service kiosks that are a perfect platform for our system. We are pleased to partner with them to help retailers provide the highest level of service and convenience for their customers."
Source Technologies' interactive kiosks feature an open, Windows Embedded operating system that supports a virtually unlimited number of applications, maximizing the value and usability for retailers. TreoSystems' iPAL product locator system is an integrated set of software tools developed specifically to help both customers and store staff find items faster and easier in large retail operations, such as discount superstores, home centers, department stores, supermarkets and other specialty stores.
"Customers are increasingly familiar with self-service kiosks to speed their retail shopping experience. By integrating our kiosk hardware with TreoSystems' product locator application, retailers can offer customers the option of locating products quickly using an interactive kiosk display," said William Bouverie, CEO of Source Technologies. "Using the iPAL product locator, a customer entering a large store can quickly locate a specific product on the sales floor. The customer finds what they are looking for faster which makes their visit to the store more enjoyable, eliminates frustration and increases their likelihood to return again."
NEW YORK — Micro Industries, a company specializing in interactive retail computers, has announced the Touch&Go Messenger 65, a 65-inch addition to its line of 32- and 46-inch high-definition computers. The new device was displayed at the National Retail Federation’s annual Show & Expo Monday and Tuesday.
"The Messenger 65 provides a large-format, all-in-one computer system to retailers for direct-to-consumer, in-store, interactive marketing applications," said Michael Curran, Micro Industries' chief executive officer. "It's big enough for use in open retail environments ranging from huge airport complexes to large stores and malls."
Manufactured in the company's Westerville, Ohio, plant with Advanced Retail Technology, the new Messenger 65 is powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo processor. The computer is retail-ready for interactive consumer applications, digital signage, store maps, advertising, messaging, product information and demonstrations.
Grocery Retail Online: For shoppers in thousands of stores worldwide, the ability to scan, bag and pay for items has become synonymous with NCR's FastLane — today's version of the self-checkout solution that NCR Corp. introduced 10 years ago. Though the concept of self-checkout had been toyed with since the late 1980s, it was 1998 when Ball's Food Stores, based in Kansas City, Kan., first installed NCR's self-checkout solution.
NEW YORK — Modiv Media, a retail interactive media delivery solutions company, and Motorola's enterprise mobility business has announced Stop & Shop customers are the first to use the Modiv Shopper, a portable shopping assistant powered by Motorola's MC17 mobile computer. The handheld device, known as "easySHOP" by Stop & Shop, gives consumers the option for "scan-and-bag" service and provides targeted savings to Stop & Shop customers.
A version of the mobile device was displayed at the National Retail Federation’s annual Show & Expo Monday and Tuesday.
The deployment of the Modiv Shopper in about 100 Stop & Shop stores allows shoppers to save time and money through self-service. Shoppers benefit from speedy checkout, instant price checks and running totals. Customers also receive tailored promotions based on their individual shopping history, redemption history, in-store location tracking and just-scanned items in aisles.
NEW YORK — Source Technologies Inc., a Charlotte, N.C.-based provider of integrated solutions for managing intelligent self-service kiosks, and Direct Source Inc., a Chanhassen, Minn.-based provider of retail kiosk integration, deployment and services, have announced a partnership to provide tier-1 retailers with new interactive self-service kiosks.
According to a news release, the new kiosks and modular customer applications are being showcased at the National Retail Federation Convention & Expo in New York this week.
"The retail industry is rapidly developing a need for self-service technology beyond price-checking and self-checkout," said William Bouverie, chief executive of Source Technologies. "Our interactive kiosk is the first to provide multiple, unique self-service functions in a single, all-inclusive device."
The kiosks offer retailers a flexible device that performs multiple consumer services, including price checking, product location, gift-card and -registry transactions, store mapping, coupon dispensing and frequent shopper tracking. Additionally, the kiosks support digital signage and assisted selling, and they can be deployed in any new or existing retail environment.
"Retailers recognize the potential benefit of multifunctional kiosks and are ready to move toward more consumer-friendly self-service devices," said Brad Fick, president of Direct Source.
Business Wire: CheckFreePay, now part of Fiserv Inc., has signed a deal with Ready Credit Corp. to implement the CheckFreePay bill-payment service at all ReadySTATION kiosks in the United States. The bill-payment service is expected to be available at the kiosks, which use the NCR EasyPoint Xpress kiosk platform, in early spring.
AUSTIN, Texas — Wincor Nixdorf International has announced the U.S. introduction of its TP.net software solution — an advanced, end-to-end platform that provides retailers with unprecedented control and visibility into every part of the store system. By utilizing the Microsoft .NET Framework, Wincor Nixdorf’s TP.net enables U.S. retailers to respond quickly to business requirements with unprecedented ease.
At the store level, TP.net solution helps retailers meet operational challenges with a single product suite that provides seamless connectivity for multistore management, customer loyalty, intelligent rules-based pricing and promotions, and advanced checkout concepts. TP.net centralizes the management of the entire customer shopping process with a hardware-independent approach to retail software.
Wincor Nixdorf’s TP.net solution has a user base approaching 50,000 in 26 countries. The U.S. introduction offers American retailers an alternative to legacy or Java-based systems already in the market, allowing them to reduce development time for customized components with minimal impact on the core framework.
Tad Shepperd, vice president of retail for Wincor Nixdorf USA, says the introduction of TP.net is ideally suited for the American retail market, which is transitioning away from proprietary systems to more open end-to-end IT solutions.
“Current retail IT strategies are capitalizing on the inherent benefits of open systems and managed services, following years of heavy investment in proprietary solutions that have turned out to be costly, as well as impractical to upgrade and manage throughout their lifecycles,” Shepperd said. “We are finding that retailers are turning to us as a single source for best-of-breed retail solutions; however, they appreciate our open approach that allows our software solution to run on any hardware platform.”
DAYTON, Ohio — A recent NCR Corp. survey showed that 64 percent of consumers consider the ease of returns as somewhat or very important. Now NCR’s new self-service solution, NCR FastLane Self-Return, enables retailers to provide more convenience to their customers during the often time-consuming and frustrating merchandise-return process.
Deployed by a major European retailer, NCR FastLane Self-Return will be demonstrated Janl. 13-16 at the 2008 National Retail Federation Convention & Expo in NCR’s booth.
“The ease of returning products is a significant factor in a consumer’s purchasing decision. Our research finds that over half of consumers would prefer to shop at stores that offer a self-service solution to help speed returns,” said Mike Webster, vice president of NCR's self-service solutions. “The first solution of its kind, NCR FastLane Self-Return provides retailers with a new vehicle for enhancing the consumer experience and building customer loyalty, while also improving staffing and operational efficiencies.”
In a typical retail environment, the solution allows shoppers to return goods for a refund on their own by first scanning the item(s) and entering relevant product information. Next, the item is inspected by a store associate who can approve the return. A reimbursement is then issued in the manner the item was originally purchased — debit, credit, cash or gift card.
LONDON — Retec Digital announced that it has developed a touch-enabled digital sign used for wine retailing. Retec says the touchscreen is designed to impact the customer’s enjoyment and knowledge of wine, increase sales, reduce dependency on staff and make a positive impact on the retailer’s bottom line. The company, which already has partnered with Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda, IBM UK Ltd., Boots and Argos, is currently in talks with a number of large retailers for deployments in 2008.
A screen shot of Retec Digital's Wine Selector.
The units have been designed to help shoppers make the best purchasing decision based on what they look for in a wine, be it taste, price or occasion. Recommendations of which foods accompany and compliment each wine also are incorporated into the solution.
“Wine is very personal,” said Matthew Stubbs, a master of wine who helped design the solution. “Each batch is unique in quality, price and most importantly of all flavor, and it can be extremely difficult for retailers to train staff adequately and consumers to ensure their purchase suits their personal palate or, indeed, occasion.”
DAYTON, Ohio — Gift cards have become one of the easiest and most appreciated forms of gift-giving, although standing in a long line of shoppers to purchase one may take some of the joy out of giving. But thanks to a self-service offer from NCR Corp., gift card purchases may soon be more convenient for consumers.
NCR Xpress Gift Card, which allows retailers to extend their gift card programs to self-service kiosks, will be demonstrated Jan. 13-16 in the NCR booth at the National Retail Federation’s Annual Convention & Expo.
“Gift cards are increasingly becoming one the most popular gifts throughout the year, providing flexibility to both the gift giver and receiver. However, shoppers find they still have to wait in the same long lines to purchase and load the cards,” said Mike Webster, NCR vice-president for Self-Service Solutions. “By offering a self-service approach to purchasing gift cards, retailers can provide their customers with quick and convenient service while also freeing sales associates to assist with more complex or revenue-generating activities.”
In an NCR survey conducted by Opinion Research Corp., two-thirds of consumers said they expected to purchase at least one gift card during the holiday season. Those who purchase at least one gift card will buy, on average, more than seven gift cards per year.
NCR Xpress Gift Card can work with any NCR EasyPoint kiosk and can be integrated with any point-of-sale system. NCR’s Professional Services and Human Factors Engineering groups work with each retailer to customize a gift card program tailored to fit its specific business needs.
BOSTON — Modiv Media has announced a technology, sales and marketing partnership with Fujitsu Transaction Solutions Inc. As part of the agreement, the two companies will jointly market and sell Modiv’s DeliVision, a deli kiosk that features self-service ordering and coordinated media. An interactive demo of Modiv’s DeliVision will be at the Fujitsu booth at the National Retail Federation’s 97th Annual Convention & Expo on Jan. 14-15, 2008, in New York City.
Modiv’s DeliVision provides coordinated queue management, self-service kiosk ordering, operations analysis and targeted promotions delivery. The coordinated offers and advertisements are located on the touchscreen self-service kiosk, the deli department's overhead electronic display monitor as well as on the printed-coupon tickets from the kiosk and the queue ticket dispenser. Modiv DeliVision relies on Modiv MediaHub, a campaign management and analytics engine, to coordinate the timing and delivery of the offers and advertisements across these touchpoints.
As part of the solution, shoppers enter their deli orders via the touchscreen on the Fujitsu U-Serv kiosk. Retailers can opt for multiple wireless U-Serv kiosks around the deli or throughout the store to increase visibility and usage. Shoppers can select a specific category, such as turkey or cheese; item, including store or other well-known brands; weight and cut, such as thick, medium or thin. The associate-facing Fujitsu TeamPoS 3000 terminals automatically guide deli associates to fill both counter and kiosk requests in the proper order.
Modiv DeliVision is being used by several grocers, including select stores at Stop & Shop and Giant Landover, and has now processed more than 8 million orders since it was first deployed in 2006.
SouthCoastToday.com: A new way of grocery shopping has been introduced at the Super Stop & Shop in Fairhaven, Mass. It's called easySHOP. Customers carry a handheld scanner with them as they cruise the aisles, scanning the goods they buy and then bagging them right away if they wish, either in their own bags, or paper or plastic they pick up at the kiosk. At checkout — either at one of the self-service registers or a traditional, cashier-staffed one — they download the tally from the gun, pay and go.
DAYTON, Ohio — Consumers who hate to wait may soon be able to check out faster thanks to NCR’s RealScan 78OFX scanner. The scanner, included in NCR’s FastLane self-checkout solutions, will be on display at the National Retail Federation’s Annual Convention & Expo, Jan. 13-16, in New York.
“NCR led the industry with the introduction of its NCR RealScan 78OFX bi-optic scanner, setting a new standard for scanning performance in assisted-service lanes,” said Mike Webster, NCR vice president for Self-Service Solutions. “Advanced scanning technology is critical to providing a user-friendly self-checkout experience. This enhancement to NCR FastLane will help make self-checkout quicker and even more convenient for consumers.”
The NCR RealScan 78OFX provides technology to equip retailers with enhanced investment protection and operational efficiencies. The scanner offers NCR’s Optical Effects Technology, which sets a new standard for scan pattern density — a key factor in scanning performance — by generating more scan lines at greater lengths.
Assisted-service customers are citing improved speed and convenience at traditional checkouts with the NCR RealScan 78OFX. Foodstuffs Wellington Co-Operative Society Ltd., a New Zealand grocery company, deployed the NCR RealScan 78OFX in October 2007.
“By replacing our legacy scanners with the NCR RealScan 78OFX, we have experienced a significant improvement in first-time read rate and speed,” said Alistair Garvie, retail systems manager for Foodstuffs Wellington. “We have been thrilled with its performance.”
The NCR RealScan 78OFX provides features designed to make self-checkout scanning more accessible for consumers. For example, the LED “scan adviser” on the top of the scanner provides visual feedback to the user. The scan adviser, which also serves as a diagnostics tool, is particularly helpful for hearing-impaired users.
NCR RealScan 78OFX is available as an option on new NCR FastLane self-checkouts or as a field upgrade for existing units.
LONDON — Customers at selected Tommy Hilfiger Denim stores can now join the Hilfiger Hall of Fame by adding their pictures to an interactive storefront campaign that launched today.
The Tommy Hilfiger Denim store on Carnaby St. in London.
Hilfiger stores in London, Amsterdam, Cologne, Antwerp and Dublin now feature through-window touchscreens, providing an interface for passing shoppers to capture, stylize and submit their image as part of collage of images being shown on digital screens in the shop windows.
The digital storefronts enable customers to interact with the Hilfiger brand even outside of business hours. At the end of the campaign, customers will be able to return to the store and have their own T-shirt specially printed using the image they created as the design. The campaign also serves as mechanic for driving subscriptions to Hilfiger’s email newsletter, with users being asked to opt-in when uploading their images.
The campaign was created by Hilfiger’s marketing agency Ministry of Experience. Coupled with special UCS optical rear-projection screens from dnp, which deliver bright, sunlight-resistant images through the glass, and a camera behind the window, the systems allow passers-by to interact directly. Users can pose, then take their own photo, then manipulate and add effects ready to be printed onto T-shirts.
Pixel Inspiration, a digital-signage agency, developed the interactive software that powers the touchscreen displays and their attached cameras. The software is also responsible for managing the marks that users create, integrating the solution with the Hilfiger Web site and the in-store printer.
The (Grand Junction, Colo.) Daily Sentinel: The grocery shopping lists of parents of some Colorado students may now include grade reports or teacher e-mail messages, in addition to the standard fare of bread, milk and eggs. Six stores in the Grand Valley area contain kiosks where parents can gain a little insight into how their children are performing in school and stay connected with teachers.
DAYTON, Ohio — Retailers who have deployed NCR Corp.'s FastLane self-checkout kiosks can extend FastLane's capabilities to shoppers in other parts of the store, thanks to a new solution from NCR called NCR FastLane Order and Pay.
According to a news release, FastLane Order and Pay is designed to address a variety of self-service opportunities within a store — such as a deli or bakery section or an in-store food-service operation. In addition to food stores, it also can be deployed in general merchandise, convenience or other retail formats.
"With this solution, retailers can leverage their NCR FastLane investment by migrating additional transactions to self-service," said Mike Webster, NCR vice president for self-service solutions. "Because their customers will already be familiar with NCR self-checkout, they can use NCR FastLane Order and Pay with ease and confidence."
Introduced initially in Europe, NCR FastLane Order and Pay has been deployed in Italy by leading retailer Auchan, which operates supermarkets and hypermarkets across Europe. It also has been installed by one of the largest food and drug retailers in North America.
NCR FastLane Order and Pay features the familiar NCR FastLane interface without the scan and bag functionality. The touchscreen presents shoppers with a pre-set menu appropriate to its location in the store.
After entering choices, a consumer can use NCR FastLane Order and Pay to pay with cash, debit card or credit card and receive a receipt that he hands to a store associate before picking up his purchase.
NCR FastLane Order and Pay makes its North American trade show debut Jan. 13-16 at the National Retail Federation's Annual Convention & Expo in New York.
DAYTON, Ohio — NCR Corp., in partnership with ViVOtech, has introduced a suite of contactless payment terminals for the point of sale. These solutions enable mobile and contactless payment at a variety of customer touch points, including retail checkout, restaurant drive-thru and the diner’s table.
Demonstrations of the new technology will take place Jan. 13-16 during the National Retail Foundation's Annual Convention & Expo in New York.
“NCR’s unparalleled experience in payment transactions, combined with ViVOtech’s expertise in contactless technology, provides retailers with the latest contactless payment options and a platform for future near field communication applications,” said Greg Egan, NCR vice president for Retail Assisted Service Solutions. “This line of NCR RealPOS contactless readers is designed to help merchants achieve a successful contactless and mobile payments program, and provide a new level of service to their customers.”
The Associated Press: Stores spend $34.5 billion a year on all kinds of technology, from the cables and routers behind the scenes to in-store devices like price checkers, self-service checkout stations and electronic kiosks for customers, says the National Retail Federation. And with older equipment needing to be replaced, spending for high-tech upgrades is expected to increase.
Los Angeles Times: The Connecticut attorney general's office sued Best Buy in May, charging the electronics heavyweight with using deceptive in-store Web sites to trick customers into paying higher prices than available on the company's actual site. "We thought Best Buy had addressed this," Connecticut Atty. Gen. Richard Blumenthal said. "That's what they said to us. Apparently that's not the case.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Source Technologies has announced the availability of its suite of applications tailored for its line of interactive kiosks. These applications integrate with the kiosk to provide retailers with a comprehensive, self-service solution designed to better serve their customers.
Source Technologies' interactive suite of applications includes price checking, product locator, gift registry, store mapping, coupon dispensing and frequent shopper tracking.
"Source Technologies is one of the few vendors in the marketplace who can provide retailers with both the kiosk hardware and the software," said Snehal Vashi, vice president of software development. "Not only do we provide these applications, but we have the ability to create new ones as our customers' self-service needs change. We strive to make doing business easier by providing both hardware and an array of applications, and quickly creating new and innovative applications when necessary so retailers can rely on a single vendor for all of their self-service needs."
Source Technologies' interactive kiosks feature an open, Windows Embedded operating system, allowing retailers to maximize their kiosks by integrating multiple applications. These applications are created using Source Technologies' authoring platform that allows Source or their customers to rapidly create and deploy these applications. Retailers can offer many services to their customers through a single kiosk rather than deploying multiple kiosks to achieve a complete self-service, retail environment. Additionally, the applications support Simple Networking Monitoring Protocol, allowing the applications to be monitored remotely or deployed from a central location.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Source Technologies, a provider of integrated solutions that help companies manage secure, real-time information and transactions, has announced the availability of its first machine in a line of interactive kiosks designed to accommodate retailers' unique self-service needs. The kiosks can perform such services as price checking, digital signage, guided selling, product locator, store mapping, customer check-in, computer-based training and many other functions.
"Traditionally, retailers have been limited to single-function kiosks that perform price checking only," said Bryan Jorett, Source Technologies' vice president, Integrated Products Division. "Our interactive kiosks are distinctive in that they are the first to offer retailers a flexible device that performs multiple services for self-service beyond simple price checking. Retailers appreciate the multifunctionality of the kiosks because this allows them to maximize their investment and provides many new options for servicing their in-store customers."
In addition to its Windows Embedded operating system and field-installable components, Source Technologies' interactive kiosk features a screen larger than traditional price checkers. Though the screen area is 400 percent larger than other kiosks, the overall size of the kiosk still is compact and can be installed in very confined areas.
Source Technologies will debut the interactive kiosk at the National Retail Federation show, held in New York City from Jan. 13-15, 2008.
RICHMOND HILL, Ontario · The Home Depot Canada is changing the way customers shop for home improvement projects with the opening of its first project-orientated store in Richmond Hill, Ontario. The new 115,000-square foot store has been redesigned both functionally and aesthetically based on customer demand.
The project store features a new layout that creates a more project-oriented shopping flow; redesigned departments for greater access to project information and expertise; inspirational showrooms; project-oriented customer service; a new seminar area; self-service kiosks for homedepot.ca product orders; more than 40,000 products; a Tool Rental Centre, Installation Services and an 18,000 square-foot Garden Centre.
"The Home Depot has long been Canada's home improvement store, offering the selection, expertise and value customers expect when completing their projects. As the market leader in the industry, we are always challenging ourselves to look for ways to improve our business for our customers," said Annette Verschuren, president of Home Depot Canada and Asia. "By listening to those who shop our stores, we developed an innovative project store concept that is the next evolution in the home improvement shopping experience."
The Richmond Hill store will include new interactive kiosks to provide customers and associates with the opportunity to access homedepot.ca, complete special order transactions, book installations, complete credit card applications and look up a price and product information.
PADERBORN, Germany · Wincor Nixdorf International AG reports that it closed its fiscal 2006-2007 year Sept. 30 with a 10 percent increase in net sales. EBITA also jumped 16 percent year over year.
Wincor Nixdorf says it has achieved double-digit growth for the third consecutive year.
"We have further extended our market position as a supplier to the banking and retail sectors by drawing on our abilities as an innovator and by capturing new markets,"� said Eckard Heidloff, Wincor Nixdorf's president and chief executive. "We are confident that business will continue to progress on a solid basis."
According to a news release, Wincor Nixdorf's consolidated net sales hit $2.15 billion (U.S. $3.2 billion), up 12 percent from $1.9 billion (U.S. $2.9 billion) the previous year.
Business within the international arena proved to be the principal revenue driver for Wincor Nixdorf. In addition to continued strength in Europe, the company's net sales in Asia-Pacific and Africa, in terms of U.S. dollars, jumped 30 percent from last year. In the Americas, Wincor Nixdorf's business gained 17 percent in net sales, in terms of the U.S. dollar basis.
In Germany, net sales edged up about 1 percent. After a considerable boost to sales in fiscal 2005/2006, driven by investments in reverse-vending systems within the retail segment, business returned to more normal levels. Excluding Germany, net sales in other parts of Europe · Wincor Nixdorf's largest market, accounting for the largest proportion of net sales within the company as a whole · were up 14 percent.
"Our portfolio of services has given us direct access to global economic growth, while also opening up new opportunities in rapidly emerging countries," Heidloff said.
Wincor Nixdorf also now has subsidiaries established in Algeria, Thailand, Russia and India.
The company now has just more than 8,300 employees worldwide. Last year, Wincor Nixdorf's employee total was 7,787.
Wincor Nixdorf says it recruited 467 new employees from outside Germany, propelling its international headcount to 4,569.
"This approach is in line with our strategy of more pronounced international expansion," Heidloff said.
Personnel employed in Germany rose by 125 to 3,810 employees.
The majority of newly appointed employees have been assigned to in-house services units and the company's international production network. Part of the recruitment drive also was directed at sales-team growth.
Retail
Business in the retail segment showed slight growth, with net sales increasing 2 percent, hitting $787 million (U.S. $1.2 billion). Sales from FY 2005-2006 were flat.
"We are continuously expanding our portfolio by incorporating new high-end services, thereby broadening our structural base for value creation," Heidloff said. "Within this area, we have been focusing increasingly on the integration of large-scale software projects on the customer side as well as new forms of efficient operational management for branch IT systems."
Computerworld: Kiosks dispensing digital books at Dymocks stores across Australia and New Zealand are being developed by Advance Retail Technologies. Last month, Dymocks expanded its online offering to include more than 120,000 digital books, which customers can download either at home or using the in-store kiosks and a Dymocks-branded USB stick.
Hemscott: Multifunctional retail kiosks maker Felix Group PLC said it has begun a detailed review of the viability of the group's business model. The company said the results of its initiatives, including placing trial kiosks with High Street retailers to evaluate the commercial returns and adding applications to the portfolio of Max Boxes with the aim of achieving a near term break-even position at kiosk contribution level, have been disappointing, particularly when the cost and time of providing central support and marketing are taken into account.
AME Info: MxN Middle East has announced that it has just completed the supply of self-service kiosks to General Motors Middle East. The devices were launched at the ninth Middle East International Motorshow held in Dubai recently. The kiosks featured a survey that once completed would provide the customer with an opportunity to win a free car of their choice.
LONDON · DSGi PLC has announced a deal with Felix Group PLC to trial its MAX BOX kiosks in Dixons Tax-Free stores in London's Gatwick and Heathrow airports. Dixons Tax-Free operates at 25 stores across UK airports selling the latest technology products.
Felix Group hopes a successful trial will see a wider rollout of its kiosks across Dixons Tax-Free and Currys UK stores. The machines feature an array of digital services including a mobile phone top-up and charge service, 24-hour flower ordering facility, Christmas hampers, fun games and digital downloads.
"It's a fantastic opportunity for us to take MAX BOX to tech-savvy consumers in a busy environment," said Andy Egan, CEO of Felix Group.
"Mobile phone top-up and charging, and other digital services give us the opportunity to take care of all passengers' technology needs when they fly," said Sophie Woollard, Trading Manager of Dixons Tax Free at DSGi. "We are pleased to trial these services via MAX BOX to our customers."
ATLANTA · As stores prepare for the holiday rush, shoppers are bracing for the headaches and hassles of long lines, crowded aisles and harried store associates. The solution, according to a recent survey, includes the convenience of self-service. The majority of U.S. consumers, 64 percent, believe the holiday shopping experience would be faster and less frustrating if more retail stores offered self-service to shorten wait times.
Conducted for NCR Corp. by Opinion Research Corp., the survey asked consumers to evaluate their frustrations with holiday shopping and rate how self-service could bring more cheer.
"We're witnessing a transition in how consumers want to be served, and it involves gaining more personal control of the shopping experience," said Mike Webster, vice president and general manager, NCR Self-Service Solutions. "During peak shopping periods like the holiday season, consumers are adamant that the best customer service includes self-service."
When asked to identify the self-service options that could help alleviate holiday shopping frustrations, product locator kiosks topped the list at 68 percent. Not far behind was self-service return of gifts or purchases (66 percent), followed by self-service gift card kiosks (63 percent), Internet purchasing (59 percent) and self-service checkout (57 percent).
When asked what frustrates them the most during the holiday season, the majority of consumers (52 percent) cited long checkout lines. Other top frustrations include the time it takes to locate items (14 percent), poor staff service (10 percent) and inadequately stocked shelves (9 percent).
Mass-merchandising stores are home to the most frustrating shopping experiences during the holidays (38 percent), followed by clothing stores (20 percent), toy stores (15 percent), grocery stores (14 percent) and specialty shops (6 percent).
Zoom Systems, which designs and manufactures "robotic stores" that dispense everything from iPods to compact discs, recently placed several of its kiosks in the University of Kentucky Student Center.
Branded with the name Robots in Field, the machines dispense college-friendly fare like iPods and Neutrogena cosmetics and facial cleanser.
The machines have been a hit in airports, and companies from Sony to Macy's have embraced the technology. But if an editorial in the student newspaper The Kentucky Kernel is any indication, students might not be so welcoming. Read the full editorial here.
The writer edits Self-Service World.
Posted by: James Bickers AT 09:42 am | Permalink |
The (Australia) Age: One of Australia's largest book retailers has leapt into the 21st century with a move to sell digital books in text and audio formats. Digital touchscreen kiosks have been installed in the Dymocks flagship store in Sydney to market the e-book range and teach customers how to download them. Within months people, will be able to walk into the store with a memory card and buy e-books directly from the kiosk.
CHESHIRE, United Kingdom · Felix Group plc, the maker of MAX BOX, has teamed up with a number of small, independent food and beverage producers in the U.K. to create Christmas hampers.
Hampers created at Redhouse Farm Shop, at the Dunham Massey National Trust estate in Cheshire, are available across the U.K. via the network of MAX BOX kiosks. The company says it is keen to support local, independent bakers, farmers and cheese-makers.
"Working with MAX BOX means we can farm out great-quality, local products to a wider audience," said Jonny Hewitt, manager of Redhouse Farm Shop, which supplies and sources produce for the hampers. "It is important that local producers make the most of new technology to create extra revenue streams."
SAN FRANCISCO -- Zoom Systems raised $35 million in a fourth venture round of funding from Goldman, Sachs & Co., Sierra Ventures and Motorola Ventures, the only new investor in the round.
Zoom supplies automated robotic "stores" - think vending machines, but bigger - that are networked and centrally monitored. They allow shoppers to select name brand products via touchscreen, pay with a credit or debit card and receive their selection immediately via robotic arm.
The company installed its first robotic shop in March 2005. According to Zoom's Web site, the automated kiosk, "allows for an experience much like shopping online, but with the instant gratification of immediate product delivery." It plans to have about 300 in place by the end of the year.
Zoom Systems, founded in San Francisco in 2001, has raised $63.3 million so far, and it has 85 employees nationwide.
AMOnline.com: Carts Blanche LLC launched a mobile vending kiosk into the vending, concession and convenience retailing industries. VendaCarts is a mobile trailer equipped with up to eight built-in automatic machines or a combination of vending and service units such as ATMs.
PORTSMOUTH, R.I. · Self-Service Networks, provider of turnkey self-service solutions, has announced the release of its TIPP, the Thule Interactive Point of Purchase automated fit guide, and the Electronic Gift Card Dispensing kiosk. The two retail solutions were featured at the KioskCom Self Service Expo in New York.
TIPP, a self-service touchscreen kiosk, empowers Thule customers to match appropriate Thule rack systems for their vehicles and gear-carrying needs.
Through a partnership, Self-Service Networks has developed the Electronic Gift Card Dispensing kiosk. The kiosk is designed to reduce gift-card selling costs and shopper wait times. The EGCD vends embossed and non-embossed cards, and enables shoppers to purchase multiple gift cards in a single transaction.
Scotsman.com: Marks & Spencer is piloting self-service checkouts at its two flagship stores. If it is judged to be a success, the checkouts could be rolled out across all M&S branches in the UK. This is the first time any non-food retailer in the UK has allowed all products to be paid for through the self-service checkouts, which are already well used in supermarkets.
FRISCO, Texas · Fujitsu Transaction Solutions Inc. has announced that Canadian Tire will install Fujitsu's U-Scan Genesis self-checkout system at more than 100 of its 468 stores across Canada. Canadian Tire has been testing the U-Scan systems in a proof of concept that included both English- and French-language stores since October 2006. As a result, the company will begin a formal roll out of self-checkout systems in late 2007 or early 2008. This installation follows a 2005 Fujitsu roll out that replaced Canadian Tire's point-of-sale hardware with Fujitsu's TeamPoS 2000 M units.
U-Scan Genesis is the latest version of Fujitsu's U-Scan self-checkout family. Unveiled in January 2007, the enhanced system offers retailers more flexibility, scalability and reliability, Fujitsu said in a release. It features a compact footprint, and is available in 1-, 2- and 4-bag modular configurations. Fujitsu said the system is expected to expand rapidly into markets beyond the traditional grocery sector.
NEW YORK - Experticity, a provider of live video-assisted customer support solutions, has announced that its customer service platform has been designated as a "Ready For" IBM Retail Store Innovations solution partner. Experticity demonstrated version 4.0 of its video-assisted customer service platform on IBM's AnyPlace Kiosk at Self Service Expo at the Jacob Javits Center in New York.
"IBM is committed to helping a new generation of retailers embrace the future, and its AnyPlace Kiosks represent a radical new approach to self-service that Experticity is proud to be a part of," said DL Baron, founder and CEO of Experticity.
The announcement comes as part of IBM's Consumer Services Initiative, which includes a new self-service kiosk with built-in wireless capabilities and point-of-sale options, a new line of self-checkout systems, enhanced systems management capabilities and a services practice focused on delivering customer-facing solutions. IBM also introduced the Self Service Alliance program, intended to drive innovation and create new uses for self-service technologies through collaboration and standards-based technologies.
Experticity's 4.0 solution is one of the first products to be featured in IBM's global initiative and promises to fundamentally change the way service providers connect and interact with their customers.
The Star-Telegram: Barnes & Noble is adding computer kiosks at all of its stores so customers can look up authors or order out-of-stock books on the spot. At Target stores, customers can walk up to a kiosk to create and print gift-giving lists. Shoppers likely will see more kiosks as retailers continue to synchronize their Web sites and stores and look for ways to make it easier for consumers to shop any way they like.
LOS ANGELES · Olea Inc. a designer and manufacturer of interactive self-service kiosks, has announced it will support the new version of the IBM AnyPlace Kiosk. Currently, Olea offers two standard kiosks featuring the IBM AnyPlace Kiosk. Olea also provides full custom-design services focused on bringing customers application-specific hardware features coupled with a design branded specifically for their needs.
"We're very excited to be one of the first to offer this next generation IBM AnyPlace kiosk to our customers," said Frank Olea, vice president of Olea. "We have seen strong interest in 19-inch LCD touchscreens and even larger demand for a second screen on all of our kiosks over the past year. The new IBM AnyPlace gives us those options and more, including faster speed, lower energy consumption and wireless capabilities."
Through its relationship with IBM, Olea has expanded its reach internationally including customers in United Kingdom, Dubai, Kuwait and in the United Arab Emirates.
The Boston Globe: Reebok International Ltd. and the National Hockey League have announced the formal launch of a special hockey store in the New York building that houses NHL offices. Featuring such high-tech touches as e-commerce kiosks, the store will be as much about high theater as a place to buy sticks, skates and puck bags.
ATLANTA · Radiant Systems Inc. and The Spinx Company Inc. have announced an agreement to deploy Radiant point-of-sale and customer self-service technology to more than 40 Spinx-branded convenience and petroleum retail locations.
The Radiant solution includes Radiant point-of-sale and customer self-service software, P1550 hardware terminals, S4500 site servers, the Radiant Electronic Payment Controller and the Tiger Fuel Controller. The Radiant solution integrates to Spinx's PDI back office using the industry-standard PCATS-NA.
In addition, Spinx will deploy Radiant Loyalty Manager, allowing the retailer to interface its point of sale with its choice of loyalty programs.
Inside Retailing Online: While they've been a long time coming, self-service check-out points are certain to become commonplace in Australian retail outlets. A number of extensive trials and studies show shoppers are warming to the concept. One recent research study indicates that around 4 million Australians would be more likely to shop at a store that offers self-checkout facilities as opposed to ones that don't.
TalkingRetail.com: Meijer, the privately-owned Midwestern US supermarket chain, has taken self-checkout technology to a new level with the installation of self-checkout lanes for larger food shops. Meijer's new units are installed in the middle of the store's regular checkout lanes. Under the system, scanned items travel down a moving belt to the end of the checkout lane where customers can then bag them after payment has been made. Among the country's other leading grocery chains, Wal-Mart and Kmart have installed self-checkouts but Target, the market's second largest chain, is not using the technology.
Video Business: When online digital content originally debuted in the marketplace, many predicted the impending demise of retail. For many of us, though, those predictions bring to mind Mark Twain's famous quote: "The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated." If you recall, some predicted "bricks and mortar" banks would disappear with the introduction of the ATM. Instead, ATMs have radically changed the banking experience, and consumers rely on a mix of tellers, self-service ATMs and online banking to meet their needs. Digital entertainment in retail will follow a similar model. Though not all the pieces are in place today, the opportunities are becoming clearer, the technology more widely available, and business strategies and best practices are being developed.
The Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal: Customer-Facing Media, a maker of electronic kiosks that's targeting the supermarket industry, has bagged its first client: Supervalu Inc. The small company, founded by two brothers in 2002, reached an agreement with the grocery giant that will place its kiosks in 55 Twin Cities-area Cub Foods stores by the end of next month. After the Cub roll-out is complete, the firm expects its products to land in 543 additional stores either owned or supplied by Eden Prairie-based Supervalu. The firm hopes to have its kiosks in 2,000 stores by the end of next year.
The Australian: A major airline union will launch a global campaign on YouTube aimed at enlisting customer support against Qantas moves to slash the base pay of new customer service staff by more than $3,000. Union officials said the airline had argued that the introduction of self-service kiosks for passengers meant that new staff required fewer skills and were performing a different job, therefore they should be reclassified at a lower pay rate.
The Minneapolis-St. Paul (Minn.) Business Journal: Target Corp. has announced that it would debut in-store kiosks to help customers create shopping and gift-giving lists. Minneapolis-based retailer Target launched its TargetLists system - computer kiosks that contain lists of products a customer can generate. Customers can go online and browse products, create lists, then add items or track items purchased. The system also allows a user to share lists with others, and create lists for occasions like birthdays or holidays. The lists can then be printed out at in-store kiosks or at home.
BOSTON · Modiv Media Inc., a provider of retail interactive media delivery solutions, has announced the launch of Modiv Shopper, Modiv DeliVision and Modiv Mobile, a multitouch platform that delivers consumer-convenient media through in-store self-service solutions and on-the-go shoppers' mobile phones. The new products enable brand marketers and retailers to connect and engage with individual consumers when they are at their "moment of decision," making it possible to create truly personalized relationships. By reaching customers at the right times and right locations, retailers and brand marketers can better influence buying behaviors and drive sales throughout the shopping experience.
"More than ever, the way shoppers shop and the way media is delivered are changing," said Robert Wesley, president and CEO of Modiv Media. "Today, 40 percent of shoppers are using self-service checkout at retail stores when available, and 240-plus million U.S. mobile phone subscribers are beginning to use their mobile phones as personal convenience devices. Reaching consumer purchasers at these touch points · and at the most critical moments - is proving to be the best way to take shopping to the next level. Modiv Media's products let brand marketers and retailers reach the target they seek and give customers relevant coupons and offers the way they want to receive it."
Modiv Media's multitouch products are designed to orchestrate relevant retail messages and improve the customer shopping experience at exactly the right moment and exactly the right place to increase brand and store loyalty:
Modiv Shopper offers truly relevant consumer-driven media and retail operational efficiencies through a time-saving scan-and-bag handheld for shoppers. As shoppers walk through the store aisles with their own personal shopper handheld, they also save money with the targeted offers and advertisements based on their shopping history, redemption history, in-store location tracking and just-purchased items.
Modiv DeliVision enhances the deli customer experience and increases deli revenue with a solution that combines queue optimization, convenient self-service deli-kiosk ordering and targeted marketing. By consolidating electronic and in-person deli counter lines and orders, retailers improve operational efficiencies while customers receive additional promotions and options to fulfill their deli orders in a timely and cost-effective manner, leading to better customer satisfaction.
Modiv Mobile influences brand shopping decisions by delivering relevant information and promotions to on-the-go shoppers' mobile phones via opt-in campaigns and personalized offers. Delivering targeted and relevant alerts, coupons and promotions to customers' mobile phones help increase store sales and traffic while building strong one-to-one relationships.
The Consumerist: Best Buy has added a disclaimer that warns customers that the in-store kiosk doesn't display the same prices as the public Web site. In May, Best Buy was caught using a duplicate Web site to fool customers who tried to compare Internet prices with in-store prices.
HispanicBusiness.com: IBM, which already delivers self-service technology to Circuit City, Food Lion, Lowes Foods and a host of other retailers, is making another big push into the market with the international launch of the second-generation Anyplace Kiosk. Designed and tested at IBM's facilities in Research Triangle Park, the new Anyplace is faster, more versatile and comes with more customization possibilities.
eWeek.com: With Borders just seven months away from having to fly on its own without Amazon.com, the nation's second-largest bookseller has quietly launched its beta site. Eventually, kiosks will be involved: A customer wanting to plan a trip to Hawaii could go to the travel section and then to the Hawaii section. A nearby kiosk would use partner services to book flights, arrange hotel rooms and print out relevant brochures. Someone visiting the romance section might use a kiosk to access a dating service or possibly even connect with someone in that section, during a wine-and-cheese gathering for customers. But in the preliminary beta site triggered live on Sept. 6, only the most faint hints of the new strategy are evident.
The (Philadelphia) Intelligencer: A man, a "paid" stamp and a bathroom almost cheated the self-service ordering functionality of a Philadelphia area Wawa.
Customer Ronald F. Simon used a kiosk to order a few sandwiches, a drink and some other items. But instead of taking the receipt to the cashier to pay and have the receipt marked accordingly, Simon went into the store bathroom, emerged with the receipt freshly stamped, and tried to collect his food.
Employees didn't remember ringing him out and called police. They do not know how he managed to procure a Wawa stamp.
TampaBay (Fla.) Business Journal: Publix Super Markets has added kiosks in its GreenWise Markets that offer tips and recipes related to fresh foods and health-related products. The Healthnotes Connect Fresh Ideas kiosks are an extension of healthy living resources Publix offers in-store and online, such as nutritional shelf-tags to highlight certain foods that are especially healthy.
RFID Journal: 100 consumers who shop at the C1000 grocery store in Molenaarsgraaf, the Netherlands, have begun paying for transactions with mobile phones equipped with Near Field Communications RFID chips. The group is participating in a six-month pilot conducted by Schuitema, the nation's second largest retail chain, which · in an effort to improve efficiency at the checkout counter · is testing RFID in one of its 450 C1000 stores. In the Molenaarsgraaf store, RFID interrogators have been added to check-out terminals, a machine that accepts empty returnable bottles and kiosks used by consumers to make charitable donations.
RALIEGH, N.C. · IBM has announced that it has teamed with Man-Dell Food Stores to deploy new IBM Scan-and-Bag and point-of-sale technology in five Key Food locations the company owns in the New York City area.
Man-Dell replaced NCR ScanMaster systems with new IBM SurePOS 700 Series systems running the IBM 4690 operating system, and later added the powerful new "Scan-and-Bag" self-checkout terminals from IBM.
"IBM Self Checkout offers customers a faster, more reliable and more flexible shopping experience," said Scott Schubert, MIS director of Man-Dell Food Stores. "We estimate that 28 percent of our shoppers now use self-checkout on a daily basis, which proves that busy shoppers want a speedy 'in and out' experience, without dealing with long lines."
The Charlotte Observer: Loyalty cards are moving higher-tech. Popularized in the 1990s and now a fixture on American keychains, the cards have for years been used by retailers as a way to gain insight into their customers' shopping habits. In return, shoppers are given discounts on store merchandise. Now some retailers are tapping the technology associated with the cards to increase sales and better serve shoppers. San Francisco-based Pay By Touch says it has plans to bring loyalty card kiosks to some North Carolina grocery stores in November. Similar kiosks are eventually expected to appear in Charlotte-area CVS pharmacies.
Crave at CNET: Modiv Media is creating the next generation of grocery stores. Shopping at the grocery store is a weekly task that hasn't really been improved since its inception. Modiv Media is finally combining technology with one of the most common tasks we do today. Built by Motorola, the Personal Shopping Assistant (PSA) gets checked out from a kiosk at the entrance to the store and is linked to your rewards card for the store. It features an LCD screen to show you what is in your cart and make recommendations as you shop and scan.
Computer Business Review: Home retailer Argos says it expects to roll out kiosks to more of its stores through a new deal with Retec Digital and IBM. The order is for more than 300 kiosks, although Retec chief executive John Cole hopes Argos will eventually install kiosks in all 700 of its stores.
Information Week: TJX will be glad when this year is over. The $17 billion-a-year parent company of T.J. Maxx, Marshall's and several other discount retail chains has spent the past eight months dealing with the largest breach of customer data in U.S. history. Few details of the TJX debacle have been made public by the company or investigators, but it appears poorly secured in-store kiosks are at least partly to blame for acting as gateways to the company's IT systems.
Video Business: The largest video rental operator in France has developed a new system for renting movies for extended periods using a portable hard drive that customers can load up at an in-store kiosk then plug into a docking station connected to their TV set.
Video Business: Independent rental stores are trying new tactics, including lower prices, longer rental periods and more DVDs stocked for sale, in a stepped-up effort to battle the $1 pricing of Redbox and other kiosks.
LOUISVILLE, Colo.· KIOSK Information Systems has formally launched Self-Service Quotes, a Web-based interactive service that allows companies to enter unique configuration inquiries and receive quotes instantly.
According to a news release, users are guided through questions about project pricing, configuration, and service, software and option analysis for their self-service projects.
"The intent is to provide another level of customer service and simplified shopping," said Tom Weaver, vice president of sales and marketing for KIOSK. "Customers can experiment with multiple configurations and receive instant and accurate financial feedback as they process choices."
The quote generator is intended for deployments between one and 10 kiosks, with larger volume quotes coming from KIOSK's direct sales force.
Since the pilot program began in April, KIOSK says it has received thousands of requests for quotes worth a total of about $30 million.
SAN JOSE, Calif. · Zippi Networks Inc. has announced a partnership to deploy OpenTech Alliance's INSOMNIAC self-service kiosks at select Extra Space storage facilities. The deployment of these kiosks to storage facilities enables consumers to secure a storage locker without the need for an on-site manager to facilitate the transaction.
According to a news release, the Zippi Kiosk turns any public storage facility into an online sales drop-off point as well. The kiosk doubles as a convenient warehouse for Zippi affiliates who conduct regular sales at a specific location. Anyone with an item or items to sell on eBay or other online sales site can register the contact and item at the kiosk. A Zippi affiliate later puts the item up for auction online, completes the sale, and Zippi sends the original seller a check.
Media Buyer Planner: NBC Universal has reached an agreement with Premier Retail Networks in which NBC U will sell package deals, bundling time on its network with space on PRN's Supermarket Checkout TV.
Supermarket Checkout TV has a presence in more than 1,000 stores, including chains such as Shop Rite and Albertson's, and NBC U said the deal with PRN will yield 45 million impressions a year. More details of the deal, including ad specifics, are expected to be announced soon.
The New York Times: A Parisian bike program is gaining in popularity among American tourists. More than 10,600 bicycles are available for rental at 750 self-service docking stations throughout the city. The kiosks provide access in eight languages. By the end of the year, about 20,600 of the kiosks, which accept credit and debit, are expected to available throughout Paris.
Current.com.au: Australian retail giant Harvey Norman plans to roll out Fujifilm self-service digital photo printing kiosks within their stores nationally. In addition, they will place touchscreen music kiosks from Australia's Abuzz Technologies in their stores. "As Australia's leading electronics and IT retailer, it is only fitting that we meet this new area of demand," said Rutland Smith, Harvey Norman general manager.
DAYTON, Ohio · Dorothy Lane Market has signed a deal with Pay By Touch to place its biometric personalized marketing and payment systems in groceries by the end of July.
By including Pay By Touch, the store's loyalty program, Club DLM, is expected evolve to "Club DLM 2.U," through which upgraded members can receive personalized offers from a kiosk.
To date, grocers who have adopted Pay By Touch's personalized marketing system are Green Hills Market in New York, Foodtown in New York and New Jersey and Shop n' Save in Pennsylvania.
DAYTON, Ohio· Kanzaki Specialty Papers, Inc. has entered into an agreement with NCR Corp. to license NCR's simultaneous two-sided thermal paper technology. This license gives Kanzaki the ability to make, use and sell NCR's patented two-sided thermal paper worldwide.
Applications for two-sided thermal printing include, but are not limited to, point-of-sale receipts, ATM statement printing and banking receipts, event ticketing, lottery and gaming tickets, and self-service kiosk applications including airline boarding passes.
This Week in Consumer Electronics: Sony Electronics plans to test new vending kiosks that showcase and sell Sony products, including MP3 players, digital cameras, PlayStation games and PSP players. The kiosks will be maintained and operated by Zoom Systems.
WindowsforDevices.com: Hand Held Products released its latest Windows CE 5.0-powered self-service mini-kiosk for retail environments. The Image Kiosk 8570 features both a barcode reader and an integrated magnetic stripe reader. The company said the magnetic stripe reader distinguishes the Image Kiosk 8570 from the previously-announced Image Kiosk 8560. The new device is intended for non-payment transactions such as accessing loyalty card accounts or looking up gift card balances.
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation: Experticity is working to mitigate the effects of the current labor shortage in Alberta, Canada, by offering in-store online help through webcams. The Live Video Agent system is in 10 Calgary-area Staples stores.
Customer service reps are accessible through kiosks outfitted with webcams and microphones. Canadian news station CBC reports that Staples has seen more efficient customer service through the kiosks, and customers are receiving products such as business cards in half the time.
"If you can load-balance people where you need them and when you need them, you'd improve your customer service and increase your sales," said D.L. Baron, founder of Experticity, in the video.
To watch the CBC news report on YouTube, click here.
Talkingretail.com: Retailers are not meeting consumer expectations for automated services that offer convenience, according to research commissioned by IT company Fujitsu Services.
Fast Company: The future of automatic merchandising, as it's known in the trade, isn't in mass-produced cans of soda. Rather, it's in products and services created on demand and custom-tailored to consumer preferences.
"People feel like they're entitled to something that's made just for them," says James Bickers, editor of Self Service World magazine.
Forbes: Avanti Screenmedia won a one-year kiosk contract with Marks & Spencer, a London-based retailer. The deal follows the successful three-month trial in four M&S stores using interactive touchscreen kiosks. The company expects to expand into 40 stores.
STRONGSVILLE, Ohio — TheIBM Retail User Group and business partners reported success at its 30th annual conference. Based on attendee feedback, the conference exceeded their expectations in all areas.
"We believe that we achieved a good mix of education and networking, and addressed the key topics that all of us are facing in the competitive world that is retail,"� said Kelly Hewitt, president of the IBM Retail User Group. The forum delivered the retailindustries latest ideas, solutions and IT strategies to retail executives and IBM solution partners.
The May conference held in Las Vegas with an agenda developed by and for the retailers featured presentations by prominent retailers: Metro/real, Caribou Coffee, Home Depot, G.I. Joe's, Belk, Pathmark Stores, The Sharper Image, Safeway, Ahold, and John Lewis, UK. An additional 40 elective sessions were offered by IBM and their retail solution partners. The sessions addressed Technology Direction, IBM Hardware Updates, Store Architecture, Store Integration Framework, Enhancing Shopping Experience, Platform Migration, Front End Optimization, CISP Card Data Security, Data Governance and many more. Numerous brain storming and roundtable sessions were available.
The 2007 winner of the IBM Retail User Group's annual "Retail Innovation Award"� was Safeway Inc. working with Balance Innovations to create an Innovative back office cash solution.
Internet News.com: Motorola's latest foray into enterprise technology products is in full swing with the third-generation release of Motorola's MC17 mobile-computer device for retailers. Call it an unfettered kiosk designed to get shoppers to pick it up, play with it, and, most importantly, receive personalized marketing messages.
(Canada) Business Edge: Facing time-starved consumers and continuing labor shortages, retailers are looking to new technologies to change the way consumers shop. Various forms of interactive customer-service kiosks · some of which are being tested in Canada · could soon become the latest tool in a store owner's arsenal.
PALO ALTO, Calif. · HP Labs has released a retail-store-assistant kiosk that provides customers with personalized shopping experiences designed to give retailers better targeted marketing campaigns.
The kiosk is placed inside retail stores and customers log in with their loyalty cards.
According to a news release, the Retail Store Assistant also is designed to allow retailers to push excess inventory by offering personalized rebate deals and prevent items from running out by discontinuing promotions or discounting alternative products. A store also could opt for a model equipped with a camera, allowing shoppers to scan an article and talk to a specialized salesperson who answers questions and offers tips about how to use an item.
The kiosk is a research project for now, but HP is talking to retailers about live testing. The first kiosks could show up in retail stores in about two years.
To watch a demonstration video from a blog, click here.
SmallCap Investor.com: Trans World Entertainment Corp. execs say the company will focus on re-branding in an effort to turn around poor results. Part of the effort might entail its Mix and Burn mall kiosks, but officials say they don't have the "proper metrics" yet to make a decision. The company bought Mix and Burn, a kiosk merchant that offers CDs and downloads of customizable songs, during the first quarter of 2006.
ABCnews.com: The Connecticut attorney general is taking Best Buy to task for using a different version of its Web site on in-store kiosks than customers found accessing the Web at home. The maneuver allowed Best Buy to charge shoppers at its store more than they would have been charged at other computers, which the state attorney says amounts to illegal bait-and-switch activity.
PADERBORN, Germany·The Saturn store in Ingolstadt is the first consumer electronics retail store in Europe to install self-checkout systems from Wincor Nixdorf. Customers can scan and pay for purchases at one of four self-checkout stations.
Self-checkout systems are part of Wincor Nixdorf's total solution concept for automating the checkout process.
The Saturn installation runs the TPiSCAN software from Wincor Nixdorf, to which the POS application that Saturn developed in-house was adapted. Saturn has more than 120 stores in Germany and more than 175 in eight European countries, making it one of the leading consumer electronics retailers in Europe.
The introduction of the new self-checkout systems in the Ingolstadt store is an important step in strengthening the company's profile as a future-oriented specialty retailer.
"With these new self-checkout stations, we're offering our customers an attractive alternative to traditional staffed checkouts, although naturally we'll continue to offer those as well" said Wolfgang Hawlitschek, managing director at the Ingolstadt Saturn store. "We assume that our customers, many of whom are very interested in technological innovation, will be open to this new approach to checking out."
Saturn chose Wincor Nixdorf's Scan&Bag solution, which was developed especially for customers with smaller purchases. An integrated hand-scanner allows larger items to be scanned.
"Self-service solutions are a sensible addition to staffed checkouts in many types of stores, not just grocery retailing," said Joachim Pinhammer, director of retail marketing at Wincor Nixdorf. "We have developed automated checkout solutions for a variety of retail formats, including home improvement stores, mail-order companies, and now consumer electronics. Self-checkout can be adapted to the specific requirements of many different retail segments."
The Royal Gazette: Kiosks now make it easier for Bermudans to pay duty on items bought overseas. Developed in conjunction with KIOSK Information Systems, the self-service devices have been installed at LF Wade International airport.
ESSEN, Germany · Boots, a British health and beauty supplier, announced that it will launch an Advantage Card Extra Offer kiosk by the end of August.
According to a news release, the new kiosk, with a look and feel designed for women, will deliver points and money-saving vouchers to Boots Advantage Card customers. The kiosk is designed for retail stores.
Working with IBM and Retec Interface, Boots piloted the new kiosk, designed by design agencies Odd and Jupiter, for two months in Barnsley, England. The pilot saw a 30-percent increase in customer use and an approval rating of more than 85 percent.
Forbes: Davis Food Co-op, located in Davis, Calif., is offering its patrons ready access to its wine inventory through the self-service ReadyTouch kiosk. The point-of-decision kiosk is installed to benefit members with wine selection by providing wine notes, descriptions and pricing. A touchscreen interface and barcode scanner allow members to navigate and retrieve information on wines.
EastBay Business Times: Portland, Ore.-based Healthnotes, provider of wellness-driven marketing programs for retailers, has partnered with EatingWell magazine, Rodale Inc. and Hyperion Publishing to provide recipes from kiosks in 2,400 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Based on an interactive wellness program for food and drug retailers called Healthnotes Connect, the in-store kiosks incorporate hundreds of recipes from EatingWell magazine and cookbooks published by Rodale Inc. and Hyperion Publishing.
Dmnews.com: Outdoors retailer Cabela's, based in Sidney, Neb., says it expects introduce several customer-service options designed to enhance its capabilities as a multichannel merchant. Beginning January 2008, Internet kiosks and catalog-order desks will begin popping up at Cabela's, giving shoppers access to hunting, fishing and outdoor gear.
ATLANTA · Wine Market Tech announced the release of its Wine Market Kiosk application at the FMI Trade Show in Chicago.
Retailers can view the Wine Market Kiosk application at FMI May 6-8 in the NCR Corp. and StoreNext/Retalix booths.
Wine Market Kiosk is a second-generation wine, recipe and cheese-pairing kiosk that provides grocers and specialty-wine retailers with content from WinesandRecipes.com to support their wine-marketing programs.
Wine Market Kiosk enables retailers to select from three application modules to best suit their environments.
The new application is designed to be scalable to any retail environment and provides full integration with a retailer's PLU and POS servers.
With wine-industry sales expected to grow by 62.5 percent over the next three years, many retailers are actively developing strategies to expand total wine sales and market share.
"Wine Market Kiosk addresses the full scope of needs and requirements our grocery and wine retailers have asked for. This enables our retail partners to leverage the wine category, which is the ninth-largest category for retail grocery, and one which is highly profitable," said Jon Holland, president of WinesandRecipes.com.
PADERBORN, Germany · Wincor Nixdorf has had integration of its store software TP.net in SAP for Retail officially certified by SAP. Certification of the interfaces means that Wincor Nixdorf has taken a further step toward securing the future success of the software, which maps all store processes. The solution is already integrated in SAP and being run by many international customers.
TP.net is a platform solution for all checkout processes at retail stores and has numerous interfaces to merchandise-management systems from leading vendors such as SAP, Microsoft and Aldata for custom solutions. Seamless integration between the central ERP and local POS solution at the store is essential to creating end-to-end transparency in retailers' processes throughout the supply and demand chain.
"Wincor Nixdorf has traditionally been an active driver of standardization in retail IT. Wincor Nixdorf Retail Consulting and SAP have worked to certify this online data transfer with SAP and accomplished it within a very short time," said Dr. Michael Schulte, head of software marketing at Wincor Nixdorf.
Certification of the interface to SAP for Retail means that TP.net now has a further module for rounding out the solutions it offers for international retailing companies. It enables central parameterization, campaign design and analysis of key commercial indicators and, when linked to the central merchandise management system, is a necessary addition for providing seamless support for typical retail processes. Online communication between the local and central components of TP.net and direct integration with merchandise management means that retailers can respond effectively to internal and external influences and implement strategic measures promptly.
In the past three years, 37 retailing companies from 19 countries have decided in favor of the TP.net store software from Wincor Nixdorf, tantamount to more than 40,000 licenses sold worldwide.
"Clarendon Reports, the world's leading provider of technology market data for the retail and hospitality sectors, published its key figures for the retail software market for the first time 2006. These placed Wincor Nixdorf as a market leader in software applications for retail stores," said Schulte.
The study's assessment was based on sales generated from software solutions in 2005. According to Clarendon's Worldwide Data Book 2006, only Microsoft posted higher software sales, mainly from operating system software, in this segment in Europe. Wincor Nixdorf was ahead specifically in the areas of POS software and store support software, i.e. software applications that support store automation.
SEATTLE, Wash. · MOD Systems, a provider of in-store digital media solutions, announced it will demonstrate its integrated hardware and software solutions for managing, merchandising and fulfilling digital media at KioskCom's Self-Service Expo on April 25-27 in Las Vegas. MOD Systems will be featured in the IBM pavilion, booth No. 255.
MOD Systems will demonstrate its integrated system for retailers to manage, merchandise and deliver digital media to customers. The system supports a wide range of consumer devices and delivery options, including CD and DVD burning as well as downloads direct to media devices such as MP3 players and media-capable mobile phones. MOD Systems' new hardware appliances, the MOD Point-Of-Decision device and MOD Store Server Appliance, will also be on display.
Bradenton.com: According to sales research from USA Technologies, consumers spend 32 percent more per vending transaction when using their credit and debit cards. The data also found that the higher an item's price, the higher the use of credit and debit cards.
Birmingham.bizjournals.com: Coca-Cola United, The Coca-Cola Co.'s bottler based in Birmingham and the nation's third largest bottler, has begun installing in its vending machines USA Technologies' e-Port G6 to accept MasterCard PayPass contactless payments and traditional magnetic stripe credit card payments. The installations are part of a deployment of cashless vending machines and point-of-sale terminals by MasterCard and USA Technologies and is the largest rollout of contactless technology in Coke's Southeast market.
AUSTIN, Texas · Isochron Inc., a leading provider of machine to machine solutions for the vending industry, introduced the VendCast integrated vending management solution. This product gives vending operators insight and control of their vending operations through software and hardware devices that work together to improve operational efficiencies, drive new revenue and interact directly with consumers
The VendCast solution provides the tools a vending operator may need to manage their vending machines like a retail store: keeping the right products in stock and available for purchase with the minimum delivery costs, ensuring customers are able to pay for their purchases and keeping the cashbox secure.
VendCast works across a vending operator's entire machine base. VendCast offers interactive cashless purchase capabilities, software-only predictive forecasting and hardware-based consumer-demand and out-of-order monitoring. Vending operators add only the functionality that makes sense for a particular vendor, based on volume, location or customer preferences.
"The industry has lacked a unified solution that solves all the problems that are keeping vending machines from being true profit centers," says Jim Canter, chief technology officer at Isochron. "We've spent seven years studying those problems and have built a cross-industry solution platform that can add functionality seamlessly to any vendor, one component at a time."
Vending business managers can directly interact with consumers through their vending machines. Customer loyalty and rewards programs can be developed and target marketing messages created that directly interact with customers as they're making their purchases.
"This enterprise solution provides value and drives revenue at every level," said Bryan Godwin, chief executive of Isochron.
With VendCast, vending operators can add in-vendor intelligence, data collection devices, cashless technology and vendor access control. Every device is monitored and controlled through VendCast Manager, hosted software that can be accessed through any internet browser.
MIAMI · Touch-n-Buy Inc. has announced the deployment of Touch-n-Buy systems in Puerto Rico.
According to a news release, LTT Telecards Inc. signed a deal with Touch-n-Buy to market and distribute the first interactive kiosk for prepaid products and services to the island. Touch-n-Buy will provide back-end technology as well as various product lines to more than 500 retailers in the area. Touch-n-Buy does not display or store live inventory, instead it enables retailers to offer categories of prepaid products and services via an interactive kiosk.
Touch-n-Buy expects to bring retailers a competitive mix of international long-distance phone-card products as well as wireless-replenishment cards from Cingular, T-Mobile, Centennial, Movida and other wireless carriers.
ARLINGTON, Texas · The Pinnacle Corp. launched its self-service kiosk solution, Palm.kiosk, powered by Xpedient. The company partnered with Xpedient to capitalize on its expertise in the self-service kiosk industry within the convenience store market, the company said in a press release.
"We are pleased to introduce Palm.kiosk to the market," said Denise Lewis, palm POS solution manager. "Palm.kiosk will strengthen Pinnacle's food service offering and allow a platform to launch other kiosk-based functionality in the future using Xpedient's proven technology. This product is already established in the c-store marketplace making it a great addition to Pinnacle's broad product line."
Pinnacle Corp. will re-brand Xpedient's kiosk to market, sell and support the product as a Pinnacle product under the name Palm.kiosk.
Xpedient currently has over 200 foodservice kiosks installed in retail locations throughout the market, including key clients MAPCO Mart and Thorntons Inc.
The self-service kiosk is an extension of Pinnacle's Palm POS, adding even more integration convenience to their solutions offerings for current and future Pinnacle clients, the company said.
Palm.kiosk will be offered on multiple hardware platforms including Ultimate Technologies, NCR, Pro-Tech and Meridian, and will support all basic QSR requirements of the convenience store industry, according to the company.
Initially, Palm.kiosk will include foodservice order operation capabilities, but will be expanded to include additional functionality in the near future.
Currently, the kiosk offers integrated bump bar, kitchen video and consumer video systems, simple to use graphics-based corporate office authoring tools, remote support tools, and automated communication mechanisms to distribute setup and change information to store kiosk locations.
Retailers will also have the option of fitting their Palm.kiosk units with custom graphics to provide another mode of advertising and communication to their customers at the self-service kiosk.
Insidetxbiz.com: Sorbara's Shop n' Save, an independent grocery chain with five stores in the Pittsburgh area, has deployed Fujitsu U-Scan self-checkout systems from Plano-based StoreNext Retail Technologies LLC. The rollout project, which began in November 2006, was completed within six weeks.
RFID World opened in Dallas on Monday, with about 3,000 attendees and 200 booths. Plano, Texas-based Media Cart demonstrated its smart shopping cart in RFID-reader manufacturer ThingMagic's booth. Media Cart CEO Steve Carpenter called it a "kiosk on wheels," which will save shoppers time and money. He said the cart was created to help customers locate products in a store, learn more information about particular products and check out more easily. The carts were deployed March 27 in a northeast grocery store chain on a pilot basis.
The shopping cart is outfitted with a screen on the opposite end of the shopper with a control pad on the cart's handle. Using an RFID reader, the cart will display advertising in the bottom portion of the screen as it passes RFID tags mounted on shelves. For example, an ad for a particular brand of bottled water will appear when the shopper goes near the bottled water aisle. Shoppers can also use the barcode to scan items before placing them in the cart to keep a running total. Once the designated check-out lane is reached, the cart communicates wirelessly to the POS system for quick check out.
Other features include store map and product locator, recipes, shopping lists and cross promotions. The carts only cost retailers about $150 each since Media Cart's main source of revenue comes from advertising. Carpenter said the company has 31 brands participating in the pilot.
The writer is executive director ofThe Self-Service & Kiosk Association.
Dmnews.com: The North Face introduced a new in-store kiosk that is the first consumer-facing retail application deployed on Windows Vista and features full-screen video and interactive displays. Brick-and-mortar stores can deliver an unparalleled customer experience, which is why so many multichannel merchants are looking to grow their retail business. However, the expense inherent in operating stores also means that many don't stock a brand's full range of products.
Washingtontimes.com: Giant Food is converting seafood and floral departments in more than 25 percent of its stores to self-serve stations. About 55 seafood and 62 floral departments will be converted in "low-volume stores," said Giant spokesman Barry Scher.
WARRINGTON, England · Hand Held Products announced the launch of the Image Kiosk 8560 interactive mini-kiosk. The device allows a multitude of applications within the manufacturing, transportation and retail sectors, making it unique in the market. Users benefit from its self-service customer access, Windows CE integration, and real time communication while maintaining a low cost of ownership.
The Image Kiosk 8560, powered by Adaptus Image Scanning Technology 5.0 allows manufacturers to control access to secure areas, locate key assets in their inventory or check part numbers. This increases security and improve productivity while reducing costs.
It also allows transporters and airport professionals to control the access to lounges, for example, and enables users to check the status of their frequent flyer program or receive targeted promotions. It can be used at the check-in counters or departure halls to read 2D barcodes on boarding passes, or to display information and maps.
Retailers also enable shoppers to check prices, product information, store maps and loyalty program status on their own. They can display targeted promotional messages to influence the customer at the point of decision and increase basket value.
"Today's manufacturers, transporters and retailers are looking for ways to become more efficient and better serve their customer base," said Eric de Greef, business manager for mobility systems at Hand Held Products EMEA. "The Image Kiosk 8560 is the solution for users who value an ergonomic and durable solution, all at a low price point."
Las Vegas : idX and Teknovation released their Shop Robotic vending system at the 2007 GlobalShop show in Las Vegas . The sleek eight-foot kiosk was displayed vending everything from iPods to shampoo and laundry detergent. idX created the enclosure, while teknovation developed the vending software and vacuum distribution arm.
Teknovation president Jason Rawding says the vending kiosk rivals those of San Francisco-based Zoom Systems, although the Shop Robotic presents the products directly against the glass and under bright LED lighting.
The vending kiosk has been tested in a Ramada hotel in England , but Alister Comrie of idX says the company is planning to distribute the Shop Robotic in the US immediately.
WARRINGTON, England · Hand Held Products has announced the launch of its self-service Image Kiosk 8560, which scans barcodes and allows users to check information in real time.
According to a news release, the kiosk is designed to improve efficiency, productivity and customer service in retail, manufacturing and transportation.
The Image Kiosk 8560 is an interactive device that allows a multitude of applications. It's powered by Adaptus Image Scanning Technology 5.0, which allows manufacturers to control access to secure areas as well as locate key assets in their inventory and check part numbers. Also, it allows transporters and airport professionals to control access to lounges and enables users to check the status of their frequent flyer programs andreceive targeted promotions. It also can be used at the check-in counters and departure halls to read 2-D barcodes on boarding passes, or to display information and maps.
The Image Kiosk 8560 allows retailers to enable shoppers to check prices, product information, store maps and loyalty-program status. They can display targeted promotional messages to influence the customer at the point of decision and increase basket value.
Computerworld.com: Though Wal-Mart Stores Inc. expects the number of its stores using RFID to reach 1,000 in April, the retailer has come under fire from some analysts and users for failing to meet its plan for installing the technology in its distribution centers. A spokesman last week acknowledged that the company missed its goal of installing RFID technology in 12 of its 137 distribution centers by the end of 2006. The company is instead concentrating on RFID-enabling its retail stores, he said.
Rctimes.com: Imagine driving through a kiosk to rent movies, purchase snacks and beverages, grab health foods like fresh fruit, or to get cash from an ATM, all in one stop. The originator of the Get & Go Express 24-hour convenience center concept is Jeff Parsons. Parsons, 46, said he came up with the idea in 2001 while he and his family were on a trip to Florida, stopping in busy rest areas along the way.
Kitsapsun.com: The popularity of self-checkout lines might make baggers like Brian Bay seem to be a dying breed. His speed and skill earned him the title of America's best bagger at Associated Foods' National Grocer's 21st annual Best Bagger Championship in Las Vegas earlier this month. In Associated Foods stores, self-checkout lines are not being used to cut cashier costs, as "self-checkouts diminish the level of customer service," according to Associated Foods.
The Salt Lake Tribune: Just inside the entrance of Smith's Food & Drug Center in Salt Lake City stands a large vending machine filled with iPod music and video players, cell phones, digital and video cameras and accessories, such as chargers, speakers, headphones and protective covers for your electronic toys.
WHEC.com: In partnership with Fuji, Xerox is introducing a new digital-photo printer that creates photo books, calendars and greeting cards. The Docucolor 250 will be used in commercial labs, while a smaller version of the machine will be housed in digital-photo kiosks placed in retail stores like Walgreen's and Wal-mart. Xerox and Fuji have a relationship that goes back to 1962 when the two companies joined forces in the Asian marketplace.
Biz.thestar.com: Cadbury Schweppes and MasterCard are testing vending machines and kiosks in Dallas, New York and Chicago to answer a key question: Will people spend more at the machines if they can use plastic?
(Minneapolis) Star-Tribune: One of the biggest changes at the 2007 Twin Cities Food & Wine Experience in Minneapolis will be the appearance of four wine kiosks, where consumers may order bottles from among the 400 or so varieties being poured at the event. A new state law opened the door for these sales, during which customers choose not only their wines but the retail outlet where they can pick up the order (which still cannot happen on-site).
Canada.com: It may soon be possible to roll your item-laden grocery cart on a platform at the supermarket checkout and have all the items scanned and totaled instantly. To do this, each grocery item would carry an RFID tag -- no bigger than the present bar code -- containing information as to what it is and how much it costs.
Ecommercetimes.com: Traditionally, retailers have been reluctant to invest a portion of their budgets in ATMs, price check kiosks and self-checkout technology that can help organize and grow their businesses, claiming there was no guarantee that long-term benefits would outweigh the hefty initial costs. However, competition and more affordable and sophisticated offerings have spurred retailers to think twice before saying no.
MORGANTOWN, Ky.— Pan-Oston has installed its Utopia self checkout solution at an IGA store located in Morgantown, Ky.
The Utopia allows retailers the option of using an attendant and fits into existing store configurations. The hardware, software, cabinet design and user interface are fully customizable for individual clients. Enhanced features such as biometric authentication for store attendant access and transaction management through attendant controlled mobile handheld devices are also available on each machine.
"Our team has responded to the challenge of creating a unique and customizable self checkout solution. We have launched a ground breaking technology which will benefit both the retailer and consumer," said Jim Vance, president for Pan-Oston.
MONTREAL · More than 60 OfficeMax locations are using digital signage from ADFLOW Networks and Matrox Graphics, and more of the company's locations are expected to incorporate the technology through 2008.
According to a news release, OfficeMax's digital signs include a combination of ADFLOW's dynamic messaging system with the Matrox Millennium P650 multidisplay graphics card.
The signs have reportedly helped Office Max enhance customer service, promote merchandise and provide entertainment to customers as they wait in line.
"This vision required content to span two screens and switch to two individual content feeds. ADFLOW Networks and Matrox Graphics will continue to provide this innovative solution to the OfficeMax Network going forward," said David Roscoe, ADFLOW's president.
OfficeMax Advantage and mid-size stores will continue to incorporate in-store media into their environments, OfficeMax said. Each store will feature two 40-inch state-of-the-art LCD panels, designed and mounted to fit within a newly designed menu board that is located in the printing-service area.
Northjersey.com: A new kiosk deployed in New Jersey's Paramus Park mall allows customers to scan paint chips and matches the colors to a Benjamin Moore paint. It then directs customers to a local Benjamin Moore dealers and gives them coupons.
ARMONK, N.Y. — Slovenia's Mercator has successfully implemented IBM Corp. Self-Checkout solutions in its Celje, Slovenia, store to improve in-store traffic flows, speed checkout and increase customer service and loyalty.
According to a news release, the deployment is the first self-service implementation of this kind in Southeast Europe.
Mercator services 1,134 stores and restaurants in Slovenia. To optimize checkout flows and adapt to fluctuating customer numbers, the company decided to install four self-checkout systems that are combined with existing POS systems. With its open-ended Self Checkout solution, IBM has developed a configuration that accepts all baskets and carts, regardless of size.
"It was absolutely essential to make customer traffic smoother within the store by cutting down checkout waiting times and bottlenecks," said Aleksandra Kocmut from Mercator.
Mercator installed IBM systems as part of a pilot project that started last summer. It combines a standard cashier system, payment unit for payments in cash, control scales, and a touchscreen that offers complete support in the Slovenian language throughout the shopping process. The software was tuned by IBM and business partner Mikropis.
M2M Magazine: Texas Instruments newest line of RFID transponders are designed to perform in, and endure, high temperatures, extreme heat and contact with chemicals. The transponders are an alternative to less-durable tags and bar codes that break or wear when subjected to extreme conditions.
Baltimoresun.com: When a new Martin's Food Market opened in Maryland, it became one of the first grocery stores in the state to use hand-held scanners, allowing customers to total their items and bag them while they shop.
Brandweek.com: Catherine Muriel thinks she can replace coupon clipping with coupons that actually get used. Muriel is the new CMO at Pay By Touch, a provider of biometric authentication, personalized marketing and payment solutions.
While the company is best known for systems that let consumers pay for purchases with a finger scan, it is getting set to roll out a new program that will give consumers coupon discounts without having to carry actual coupons.
HOUSTON · DVD rental kiosks from The New Release, a.k.a TNR,can now be found in three new markets on the West Coast.
According to a news release, the owner and operator of DVD rental kiosks in grocery stores is continuing its nationwide expansion with the installation of 174 kiosks in California, Nevada and Arizona.
The new kiosks, owned and operated under The New Release brand, are located in 75 Ralph's supermarkets and Food 4 Less stores in Southern California. Another 90 sites are planned in other parts of the state later this year.
In addition, TNR has installed 26 rental kiosks in Arizona at Fry's stores throughout Phoenix and Tucson , and 15 more at Food 4 Less locations in Las Vegas and Henderson, Nev. An additional 91 kiosks are planned for Arizona this year.
"The Western United States is a huge market for us, and this phase is only the beginning of a major presence for TNR," said Jeff Karbowiak, chief operating officer of TNR. "Our relationship with Kroger has enabled us to enter these markets quickly with a substantial deployment of kiosks."
Additional West Coast expansion plans in 2007 include installing more than 50 kiosks for the first time in Washington and Oregon. TNR says it expects to triple its network of 1,300 kiosks across 30 states by the end of 2007.
LONDON · At the second-annual Screen Expo Europe in London, Thomson Out-of-Home Media Services vice president Julien Marcel discussed his company's holistic view of digital signage, before delving into a few specific plans for 2007.
Thomson, which operates in 30 countries and holds more than 50,000 patents, is a world leader in broadcast technology and out-of-home media.
Its clients include Disney, Universal, DreamWorks, ABC, NBC, CNN, Fox, Sky and Microsoft.
While he stopped short of giving specific figures, Marcel said out-of-home ad sales represent "hundreds of millions of dollars" for his company.
He then went into specifics on the revamped, next-generation Wal-Mart TV network. He noted that the current iteration of the network is fifth-ranked in the U.S. in terms of reach · the largest television network after ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.
The next generation will be entirely IP-based, he said, allowing for a much greater level of planning at the ad buying and scheduling level. He said it will roll out on 100,000 screens in the next few months, built around "multiple highly targeted channels."
Thomson made news earlier this month with the announcement of a partnership with CGEN, a leading out-of-home network in China. Marcel said OOH ad spending in China has zoomed from $5 million in 2003 to $360 million in 2006, now representing three percent of overall ad spend.
The company's first efforts in China revolve around the Big Cafe chain of premium Internet cafes, whose screens serve ads to more than 1 million visitors per day · primarily, he said, in the coveted 15-to-34 demographic.
Marcel also said the coming year would see a push by Thomson into the OOH market in Poland, which he dubbed one of the 10 fastest-growing ad markets in the world.
"In Poland, we find two critical success factors," he said. "Number one, there is a very strong presence of leading international retailers. Number two, it is a very strong ad market."
PRWEB.com: WinesandRecipes.com and Southwest Georgia Technology Services have announced they will develop and market a second-generation wine, recipe and cheese pairing kiosk. The new product will be marketed under the name Wine Market Kiosk.
This venture capitalizes on both companies' experience in the kiosk and retail industry along with the wine and food industry. The new application pairs content from WinesandRecipes.com with enterprise kiosk technology from Southwest Georgia Technology Services. The primary focus of this joint venture is to provide the Wine Market Kiosk to the grocery and beverage retail markets.
With wine industry sales expected to grow by 62.5 percent over the next three years, many retailers are actively developing strategies to expand total sales and market share. "Wine Market Kiosk addresses the full scope of needs and requirements our grocery and wine retailers need to leverage the higher growth and profit opportunities offered by the wine industry," said Jon Holland, WinesandRecipes.com president.
Wine Market Kiosk enables retailers to select from a variety of four application modules to best suit their environment. "By providing basic wine, cheese, recipes and meal-match modules, each retailer can determine which features and functions best meet their distinct image," said John Morrow, president of Southwest Georgia Technology Services.
The new application is designed to be scalable to any retail environment and provides full integration with a retailer's PLU and POS servers to ensure their store's wine inventory and prices are reflected on the kiosk.
Bowling Green, Ky. -- The Western Kentucky University Athletic Department has teamed up with Hitcents to develop satellite ticket locations in the Bowling Green area. This cooperative effort between the two partners may revolutionize where, when, and how customers can buy tickets for athletic events.
"Thanks to Hitcents, we are reaching out to over 10 million Topper sports fans each year with off-site ticket buying options," says WKU athletic director Dr. Wood Selig. "This technology is revolutionary and will assist us in our efforts to expand our footprint of support for our athletic events. It makes ticket buying easier without the additional charge typically associated with purchasing tickets off site. Fans get the best seat without having to call, order online, or travel to the ticket office."
Selig added that no other collegiate program in the nation currently has such a system in place, as the necessary technology and computer programming was originally and uniquely devised by Hitcents. Their goal was to provide a convenient and user-friendly method to purchase tickets in lieu of the other ticket purchasing methods.
"We have basically expanded our hours of operation and will be able to serve our customers much better throughout the year," Selig said. "We can place these kiosks in surrounding counties as well to gain a greater presence of mind for WKU athletics."
Fans can purchase tickets to WKU athletic events from the kiosks · which are designed and function in a similar fashion to ATM machines · at Greenwood Mall, Houchen's Market in Glasgow, and the Rockfield IGA on Russellville Road.
The interactive program allows customers to select which games they would like to attend and the number of seats needed. They will be presented with a list of the best seats available based on the fan's selected price level. After selecting the seats and swiping their credit or debit card, the customer will instantly receive their printed tickets and receipt. Visa, Mastercard, and Discover cards are the only forms of credit or debit payment accepted.
The kiosks also provide E-Fan information from WKU athletics. Fans can submit their e-mail addresses at the terminals free of charge to receive updates from the athletic department. They will also be sent a coupon which can be redeemed at the kiosks for a free ticket to any Hilltopper or Lady Topper basketball game this season.
The kiosks, which were installed in October, have already become a success according to WKU ticket manager Jim Cope. As more people found out about the stations, Cope said, the machines actually had to be reloaded with additional seat locations after a flurry of purchases before the men's basketball games against Eastern Kentucky and Southern Illinois. Several other athletic departments have inquired about the logistics and possibilities of using the program as well.
STRONGSVILLE, Ohio · The IBM Retail User Group announced that nominations for the 2007 Retail Innovation Award are now open. The Award will be presented at the Group's 30th annual conference in Las Vegas on May 20-24, 2007.
The Retail Innovation Award carries special meaning because the winner is chosen by the winner's peer group · the retail membership of the organization. The solution provider for the winning retailer is also honored with the Retail Solution Innovation Award.
Judging criteria will be based on creativity and uniqueness in the ability to enhance consumer experience, reduce the cost of doing business, speed up processes and expand competitive advantage.
Nomination forms are available at the group's Web site.
Seamark International is a leading supplier of ergonomic, space saving, durable point-of-sale solutions for the retail industry. Our products can provide you with unparalleled efficiency in your checkout areas, back offices and show room floors.
Waiting in line can be frustrating no matter where we are. But the most frustrating wait for Americans: cooling our heels at local department or division of motor vehicles (DMV) offices, closely followed by waiting to make purchases at retail outlets.
A survey conducted for NCR Corp. by Opinion Research Corp. also found that 39 percent of consumers are willing to use timesaving self-service alternatives to help reduce their wait times.
Although the DMV was number one on their "wait we hate the most" list, respondents in the "NCR Queue Review" survey dislike waiting for service in many other areas affecting daily life. Ranking third, fourth and fifth on the list were registering at clinics or hospitals; checking in for airline flights at airports; and ordering at fast-food restaurants or deli counters.
"Clearly, Americans want more control over their lives, and that includes being able to reduce the time they spend in nonproductive activities such as waiting in lines," said Mike Webster, vice president, Self-Service Solutions Division at NCR. "Fortunately, a growing number of retail, travel, health care and government organizations are providing alternatives · including self-service solutions · to help give that valuable time back to their customers, patients and clients."
The top reasons for consumers' frustration with waiting for service or waiting in line were: the lack of employees able to assist them (44 percent), a concern for being late (39 percent), not knowing how much longer they'd have to wait (33 percent) and the time it takes for each person ahead of them to finish (19 percent).
A day or two saved is quality time earned
The survey found that consumers figure they are spending more than two days per year waiting in line for service · time they believe could be better spent with friends or family or other forms of leisure. Nearly half (49 percent) of the respondents estimate they waste between 30 minutes to two hours each week waiting for service. Younger consumers seem especially cognizant of their lost time, with one-sixth (16 percent) of those aged 18-24 saying that in a typical week they waste two hours or more standing in line or waiting for service.
When asked how they would use time saved by using self-service technologies instead of waiting in line, spending more time with friends or family was the clear winner from a list of 10 possible alternative activities.
Self-service to the rescue
Consumers are seeking and embracing alternatives, such as self-checkout and other self-service technologies, to reduce their wait and help them get out the door faster. Thirty-nine percent of the survey respondents said they would be extremely or very interested in using a self-service kiosk or other self-service device if one was available to help them complete the activity at hand more quickly.
The availability of self-service can influence where a consumer goes for goods or services, with 43 percent of respondents saying they have chosen one provider of goods or services over another because it offered self-service. The survey found that minorities are even more inclined toward self-service technologies, with 55 percent of African-American and 57 percent of Hispanic survey respondents saying they have chosen one provider of goods or services over another because it offered the option of self-service.
"Self-service is emerging as the new ‘essential convenience,' like the Internet or the cell phone," Webster said. "More and more, we find it hard to imagine how we ever lived without it!"
DavisFreeberg.com: When I was a kid, people took the time to figure out a way to short-circuit Coke machines into giving away free sodas by spitting water into the slot for dollar bills. Considering that Zoom Systems is catering to a much higher end of the retail market with their iPod and cell phone kiosks, it shouldn't be much of a surprise that hackers have already figured out a way to get around the theft protections built into the Zoom vending machines.
NEW YORK · Circuit City chief executive Philip J. Schoonover announced a new company focus on self-service and assisted selling during his keynote speech Monday at the National Retail Federation's Convention and Expo at New York's Jacob K. Javitz Center.
Schoonover is widely credited with turning around Circuit City's sales by returning the company's focus to its core competencies. In his NRF presentation, "Information Transformation at Circuit City," he described his forthcoming self-service focus and its importance to satisfying customers.
"In order for strategy to win, it must be different," Schoonover said. "It must matter to the customer and the customer must be willing to pay for that strategy."
Schoonover showed two applications from the stage: an assisted selling tablet PC for sales associates, and a live-assisted kiosk through which customers can communicate via video feed with off-site experts.
In demonstrating the tablet PC, Schoonover played the role of a customer looking for a flat panel television while an employee used the tablet PC. Schoonover reviewed the details of his living room, which the employee sketched out on the screen. It included details like light sources in the room and the viewer's distance from the TV.
Based on the large amount of light in the room, the employee suggested an LCD screen, which is brighter than plasma. He then used the tablet PC to demonstrate the difference of 1080p resolution versus 720p resolution, using an application with a magnifying glass over graphical images of digital screens to illustrate the differing pixel sizes.
After qualifying the sale to a few sets, the employee next showed the TVs' product specs side-by-side. The tablet PCs also showed complementary items such as cables, and information on extended warranties and service packages.
Schoonover said the system provides relief to a vexing and persistent retail dilemma: training employees to be knowledgeable about complicated products, even when many of them are new or, often, seasonal. He said the average Circuit City employee is 23 and that turnover is "quite high."
"Our products are more advanced than ever and our customers are demanding help with their needs," Schoonover said. "This will help us enable associates, even new hires."
He next presented a video demonstration of the live-assisted kiosk application. The kiosk consisted of a big-screen touchscreen turned vertically. The remote assistant's streaming video feed showed on the top half of the screen. In the bottom, the remotely based assistant could show product information and photographs while conferring with the customer about a sale. If the customer agreed to a sale, the remote assistant could send the details of the transaction to a store associate's tablet PC for checkout.
Schoonover said the systems are being piloted in 50 stores. He thanked several companies for contributing to the project, including Cisco, Microsoft and IBM. The live assistant program closely resembled an application developed by Experticity, a Microsoft development partner, but Experticity representatives would not confirm or deny that they developed the Circuit City application.
Schoonover said the solution "took seven months of disciplined innovation."
"We are investing in technology to enhance our customers' experience," Schoonover said. "I hope you sense the engagement of our associates and strategic partners as we transform Circuit City."
NEW YORK · Versatile Systems Inc., manufacturer of instant credit kiosks for retail stores, has partnered with GE Money's Sales Finance unit to provide consumer finance solutions for their customers using Mobiquity Kiosks. Versatile was selected by GE Money after a technology review process.
"We have been looking for an innovative way to help our retail partners enhance the customer experience, improve sales and increase customer loyalty, with the highest level of security available," said Paul Boeckman, vice president of Strategic Accounts for GE Money · Sales Finance. "We are pleased to have Versatile's Mobiquity Kiosk as part of our suite of products and services offerings for our client partners."
Versatile has deployed its proprietary hardware and software in pilot projects with several GE Money Sales Finance retail clients, including Ivan Smith Furniture, Bassett, Sam Levitz, D&D Furniture and Stereo Advantage. All pilot participants have reported favorable results with increases in application volumes and sales, with many requesting additional units and moving forward with a full deployment of the Mobiquity Kiosk in their stores.
"Our dedication to quality customer service led us to the Mobiquity Kiosk," said Al Sepulvado, vice president of finance of Ivan Smith Furniture, located in Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana. "The ability to offer our customers instant credit has improved the customer experience overall and we were pleased to increase the number of kiosks in our stores."
YORK, Pa. · Livewire International announced the completion of a promotional system for T-Mobile USA Inc.
T-Mobile wanted to introduce its new Fave 5 service plans via "street-level" cross-promotions in addition to its traditional advertising methods. The idea was to engage the targeted consumers directly by giving them an opportunity to win prizes from its co-marketing partners, Sony, Samsung and the National Basketball Association. The result was an innovative campaign utilizing basketball-focused events staged at numerous malls and NBA arenas throughout the country.
Livewire was chosen to create a custom solution that allowed consumers to enter into a basketball shooting competition where the winner would have a chance of winning one of several giveaways (including a PlayStation 3, NBA '07 video game, Samsung phone, and NBA jerseys). The solution consisted of a wireless network of four IBM Anyplace kiosks (housed within large basketball-like enclosures) integrated with a central control computer and four remote display controllers.
Data entered by consumers into the kiosks was stored in a database on the central control computer. Web service technology provided distributed control of the display computers to drive digital signage mounted above shoot-to-win basketball games, as well as interaction with a 42-inch plasma display enclosed within a giant 10-foot high Samsung cell phone used to announce the game winner and initiate a "spin-to-win" giveaway.
Livewire, utilizing Microsoft's .NET Framework, created software that enabled participants to enter their contact information into the kiosk and choose icons representing themselves and their Fave 5. These icons were then displayed on the screens above four basketball games while players competed to make the most baskets during a 30-second countdown. At the completion of the game, an NBA-like ticket would be printed for each player showing their Fave 5 icons with additional information and offerings from T-Mobile. The winner's icons were then displayed on the cell phone and the player would push a button causing their icons to spin until their randomly selected prize was displayed.
"We were pleased to be involved in such an innovative project," said Dave McCracken, president of Livewire. "There are now three complete setups traveling around the country, sometimes being disassembled and reassembled in another location on the same night, and the feedback has been extremely positive; both on the promotion itself and the underlying technology."
Quality and convenience. Variety and selection. Increased profits with reduced expenses. The marriage of RFID technology and modern design has created a solution that will change convenience retailing as we know it. With innovative technology creating ways to enhance our lives and businesses every day, why should your business be the exception? Welcome to Freedom Shopping, the future of self-checkout.
NEW YORK, N.Y. · The MediaTile Company, provider of cellular digital-signage technology and turnkey narrowcast networks, announced that RAM Forest Products increased sales of deck accessories by more than 50 percent in Home Depot Canada stores last season.
According to a news release, Home Depot Canada expects to achieve faster ROI using MediaTile's Digital Signage End-Cap TV solution. MediaTile's cellular-based solution enables product vendors to deploy digital-signage networks in retail stores without any on-site network information-technology setup or ongoing management.
RAM Forest Products worked with MediaTile Canada to create a multimedia lifestyle advertising campaign called "Create The Deck Of Your Dreams." The campaign was deployed on integrated end-caps in Home Depot stores to connect with consumers and promote all elements that comprise a home-deck project.
"Using MediaTiles we were able to deploy an in-store broadcast network that dramatically increased our product sales for the 2006 season. Our totally integrated in-store approach provided us with maximum exposure, sales lift and return on our investment, so much so that we will significantly expand the program in 2007 with more stores and more integrated end-cap displays utilizing the MediaTile platform," said Keith Knowling, chief executive of RAM Forest Products.
ePaynews: Three out of five U.S. consumers surveyed by online security firm Truste say they would support adding biometric identifiers to credit and debit cards. Truste interviewed 1,025 U.S. consumers between Sept. 25 and Sept. 29, 2006. The survey found that 64 percent of respondents support adding biometric data to credit cards; 62 percent support adding it to debit cards.
SAN FRANCISCO -- Holiday shoppers make personalized gift cards at Macy's Union Square in San Francisco. The Macy's Custom Gift Card Kiosk by Cardways is being tested in select locations in San Francisco and San Jose this holiday to give customers a more personal gift card experience. For those shoppers not in the test cities, www.cardways.com provides personalized gift cards and greeting cards online where customers can choose from a variety of retailers.
Madison.com: Sears has opened 100 kiosk-enabled Land's End shops inside Sears' stores. The stores include a variety of merchandise not typical of Land's End, meant to extend that brand.
Chicago Tribune: Nau Inc., an environmentally friendly outdoor apparel company from Portland, Ore., has signed a lease to open what the company has termed a Webfront in Lincoln Park next spring. The new retail concept, slated to open in April, is the brainchild of a group of outdoor apparel veterans from Nike Inc., Adidas Group and Patagonia. Three other stores are scheduled to open at the same time in Portland, Seattle and Boulder, Colo.
The 2,000-square-foot outdoor apparel store will contain limited inventory and plenty of computer kiosks to encourage shoppers to research and order products directly from Nau's Web site, even if they are shopping in the store.
The idea is to keep costs down by having just enough merchandise in the store to allow shoppers to try on items and gauge the fit and to ship from a central warehouse directly to shoppers' homes.
The Retail Bulletin: Paxar has formed a new working initiative with thebigspace to market and roll out "magicmirror," a new interactive RFID mirror, to the U.K. retail market.
magicmirror combines a specially designed half mirror and digital technology to display information on a mirror surface. Integrating RFID technology and sensors that respond to people's presence, magicmirror allows customers to interact with personalized content.
When a customer brings an RFID-tagged piece of clothing in front of the magicmirror, it displays content which could include an in-depth description of the garment, size and color availability, mix-and-match style guides and suggested accessories. With the mirror, customers also can contact a salesperson by simply touching it in the fitting room, without the trouble of changing and leaving the fitting room.
METimes.com: Text-message payment is blooming in Vietnam. After Vietnam's recent entry into the World Trade Organization, tech firm activity is elevating. One of those firms is PeaceSoft, an electronic market site that has developed ATM- and text-message payment systems through which its users can purchase products online.
Hemscott.com: U.K.-based Cartucho, an ink-refill kiosk manufacturer whose main U.S. client stopped new installations earlier this year, is slowly climbing. Cartucho rebounded 2.25 pence at 5.87 pence following news the company has restarted installation of ink refill kiosks with a major U.S. customer and named David Scanlan as chief executive of its U.S. subsidiary. Cartucho, which has already installed 31 kiosks over the last two weeks for the customer, said both parties remain committed to completing the full contractual kiosk rollout during 2007.
TULSA, Okla. - Alamo Rent A Car announced it will roll out new self-service kiosks at rental locations throughout the United States. The new system cuts check-in time for customers by about 50 percent when compared to average counter check-in times.
The kiosk roll out comes after successful testing by customers in Dallas, Las Vegas and Jacksonville, Fla.
"Self-service eliminates one more hassle from family travel," said Jerry Dow, Alamo's chief marketing officer. "Customers are already comfortable using the check-in kiosk for flights, using a self-service kiosk for car rental is a natural progression."
The touchscreen kiosk allows any customer with a valid driver's license, major credit card and an existing reservation to skip the rental counter and check in directly at the kiosk. After a customer agrees to the terms and conditions, a receipt-sized rental agreement is printed and the customer is directed to his or her rental car on the lot. At the exit booth, the customer shows the booth agent his or her rental agreement and driver's license and then drives away.
The kiosk also allows the customer to review rental information, upgrade to a larger car class, add additional drivers, and purchase option items such as child car seats, a GPS unit, collision damage waiver and pre-paid gasoline.
By next summer, Alamo expects to have nearly 80 rental locations outfitted with the new touchscreen kiosks. Besides the test markets, the first locations to install the kiosks this month are Orlando, Detroit, Denver and Los Angeles. Boston, Philadelphia, Houston, St. Louis, Dallas, Miami, San Francisco and Atlanta will all have kiosks by March.
Newsday: The prevalence of self-service checkouts in supermarkets and retailers like Home Depot is due, many industry experts say, to their ability to save a shopper time. And products like the Shopping Buddy, a shopping cart containing a small computer device, boast a range of functions, including the ability to place a deli order in advance, give directions to products, and notify a shopper of sale items based on the customer's history.
"If you look at all those trends, they do tend to let the customer do more of the work," said Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis for market research company NPD. "We're in a society where people want things faster. The cashiers may not be well-trained or as customer-centric as the retailers or customers want them to be, and this is a way to take out any potential miscommunication between the customer and the clerk."
Storefront Backtalk: Safeway stores have started installing devices that will plug into existing POS units and use tactile keys to help visually impaired shoppers make purchases without having to read a screen.
The (Madison, Wis.) Capitol Times: Sears is highlighting its Lands' End brand in 100 stores, and is set to launch its 100th "store-within-a-store" by next week. The special departments feature a kiosk for online branding and shopping.
Huntsville (Ala.) Times: Jeff Sikes Mazda has opened the 56th Mazda Retail Revolution facility in the United States. About 100 Retail Revolution locations are now completed or are in the construction or planning process, said Jim O'Sullivan, president and chief executive of Mazda North American Operations.
The $2 million, 20,000-square-foot facility features computer kiosks with Internet access, for customers who want to comparison-shop among brands, a coffee cafe and interactive displays. The open-architecture showroom also features an elevated vehicle display.
TechWeb News: MOD Systems has developed software that lets consumers download and pay for digital content from kiosks directly onto portable media players - with no cables attached.
MOD Systems chairman Anthony Bay, who built and ran Microsoft's digital media division, said his company will support an unnamed electronics retailer that signed on to deploy kiosks using the software under a hosted services model beginning early 2007. The store will install between 40 and 50 kiosks in about six locations, redefining the layout of the stores' music section. MOD Systems will manage the content, licensing rights and billing.
Commercial Appeal: An electronic kiosk designed in Memphis measures forces on the bottoms of people's feet and uses the data to recommend one of 14 shoe inserts for foot pain or other problems. The new machine shows how Schering-Plough Corp., which bought the Illinois-based Scholl company in 1979, still uses the old doctor's blend of science and salesmanship in developing its foot care products. The machine recognizes common problems like flat feet and recommends that you buy one of the inserts, which hang on attached racks and differ in size, shape and density.
SYRACUSE, Ind. - RV manufacturer Ameri-Camp is beginning to use interactive kiosks to showcase its RV product lines, the company announced in a news release.
The Syracuse, Ind.-based company is employing the interactive information centers for use in dealer shows, meetings, RV sales centers and even inside the RV units.
Ameri-Camp worked with Video and Sound Productions to create, develop and produce interactive marketing, videos, CD-ROM's and information centers as part of its aggressive marketing strategy.
Ameri-Camp also introduced the information center at its recent dealer meeting and the concept received an enthusiastic response.
"Customer trends are adopting this technology and it's important we give them the latest tools to help in their decisions," said Dave Raphael, Ameri-Camp marketing director. "These interactive information centers are able to deliver information to customers in a fun, effective and affordable way."
The self-contained interactive kiosk features product videos and information, floorplans, picture galleries, page turning brochures and information on the Ameri-Camp company, all accessible from a touchscreen.
RV Manufacturing Enterprises LLC, under the name Ameri-Camp, manufactures a range of travel trailer and fifth-wheel recreational vehicles, and has dealers located throughout the United States and Canada.
The Register: The United Kingdom consumer group Which? is reporting security shortcomings in Tesco's self-checkout systems that appear to make it easier to pay for groceries using stolen debit or credit cards.
At around 200 of the supermarket's stores, shoppers can scan their shopping items themselves before paying for groceries using cards. The problem is that Tesco doesn't require customers to sign for purchases or enter a PIN code.
SoftPedia.com: Sony has deployed black, obelisk-shaped kiosks featuring PS3 game demos on high-definition Bravia digital displays in Japanese retail stores. Though games are not playable on the kiosks, they demonstrate the graphics that users can anticipate from the next-generation gaming systems.
LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. · Motorola Inc. announced it is the first mobile-device manufacturer to offer its products to consumers through robotic retail stores in a pilot program providing automated, on-demand retail solutions in key markets.
Leveraging small-format robotic stores operated by Zoom Systems, the new retail option will be placed in high traffic locations.
"Continuing our effort to reinvent mobile retail culture and transform the consumer experience, this on-demand retail solution is an interesting approach to the many extensions of our retail strategy," said Jason Few, corporate vice president of global retail for Motorola. "This pilot program is an opportunity to bring never-seen-before convenience to consumers who are looking for ways to make life easier."
These robotic stores will be branded "INSTANTMOTO" and are expected to be deployed in approximately 20 locations, from airports to malls, nationwide by November 2006.
The stores will house more than 25 Motorola products, including carrier-ready MOTORAZR handsets, Bluetooth-enabled headsets, cordless phones, car chargers and more.
The vending systems are now in the San Francisco International Airport and Macy's on State Street.
SNPX.com: A new report by Forrester Research entitled "Anyone Who Says RFID Is ‘Completely Secure' Is Selling Something,"� describes the main areas of vulnerability within an RFID deployment and provides recommendations in the form of steps companies should take to protect data. The same types of attacks to which any type of database is vulnerable could be levied against RFID middleware, it warns.
IT Week: Woolworths has signed a contract to install interactive kiosks in its shops as part of its multichannel push to enable customers to buy items on their own.
The kiosks allow customers to purchase products in-store and have them delivered to the door, which Woolworths hopes will improve customer experience and revenue. The machines are expected to be installed in time for Christmas.
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. - Steinhafels, operator of six furniture superstores in Wisconsin, announced it is adding kiosks from Versatile Systems Inc. to gather demographic information and enable customer credit verification with its consumer finance provider, GE Money. Versatile's Mobiquity kiosk system will be installed in all Steinhafels locations.
"For more than 71 years, Steinhafels has been providing the very best to our customers," said Mark Steinhafel, vice president of operations. "This includes selecting the best technology available, which will not only help our sales associates meet the needs of our customers in an efficient manner, but will also improve the customer experience, increase customer loyalty and advance our business model. Allowing both the sales associate and the customer to use the Mobiquity Kiosk system at the same time, both are assured that the information is accurate and up-to-date."
IRVINE, Calif. - CeroView announced a partnership with European kiosk manufacturer ULTIMedia to offer a line of budget-conscious kiosk solutions, including an information-based kiosk, digital-signage system and outdoor kiosk. All systems become a standard product offering for both companies.
"CeroView has collaborated with ULTIMedia for the past six years with clients such as NBC International, BMW and recently with QLinks America," said CeroView president Derek Fretheim. "Both companies share a common philosophy and quality perspective. We leveraged our collective experience to develop these new products."
The CeroView/ULTIMedia kiosk offer includes the following systems:
Jet kiosk, a freestanding system equipped with a 17-inch LCD touchmonitor with surface acoustic wave touch and a Celeron 3.0 ghz computer system for $1,750.
NAOS digital signage system equipped with a 32-inch LCD, Celeron 3.0 ghz computer system for $2,700, with an upgrade option of stainless steel for $3,200.
Agora outdoor kiosk system with a 17-inch daylight-readable LCD with touchscreen, static sign, Celeron 3.0 ghz computer system and climate-control system for $6,500.
"It is our objective to demonstrate to the world that you can have a very reasonably priced system that is of superior quality," said Eric Dumouchel, president of ULTIMedia. Each kiosk comes with a three-year warranty and uses tier-one components.
The Chicago Tribune: Grocery chain Jewel-Osco is testing a program that examines a customer's purchases and allows the store to offer significantly larger, targeted discounts on products they have purchased in the past. Jewel-Osco representatives are hoping the program will be a new weapon in its battle with discount giants like Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Costco Inc. that have been luring away customers for decades with low prices.
Shoppers first encounter a kiosk at the entrance to the store. There, they can swipe their Jewel-Osco Preferred Card and receive a sheet of paper containing discount offers for a dozen items they have purchased or might be interested in. Discounts are automatically processed at the checkout when the Preferred Card is scanned.
The offers change each day. A $4 discount on a bottle of Marq wine might be replaced two days later with a $3.50 discount for another brand of wine.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. · That consumers in North America are on pace to spend $150 billion more this year than last with self-service solutions makes David Drain, executive director of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, a happy man.
Quoting a new research study conducted by IHL Consulting Group, Drain said North Americans are on their way to spending more than $475 billion at self-checkout lanes, ticketing kiosks and other self-service machines in 2006 — an increase from $324 billion in 2005.
"Our mission is to promote the self-service industry, so definitely, this is good news for us," Drain said. "But we really feel this is only the beginning of what self-service technology is going to mean to consumers, retailers, corporations and commerce in general in the coming years. We've only just scratched the surface in terms of what can be accomplished."
In order to promote awareness, the Self-Service & Kiosk Association has launched a public relations campaign with the help of several high-profile entities, including Mazda, Subway, BMW, BEHR Paints and the City of New Orleans. The campaign, "The Best Service is Self-Service," extols the virtues of self-service technology through testimonials: Mazda and BMW promote new car offerings using kiosks; Subway shortens the customer wait time and increases profits; BEHR Paints promotes a kiosk that allows customers to choose paint colors, and the City of New Orleans implements a self-service permit system to help in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
"This sped up the recovery process " and helped us make better use of a limited workforce and budget," Greg Meffert, Chief Information Officer for the City of New Orleans, says in the campaign.
Drain said the campaign will appear online and in print publications, and will be promoted via direct e-mail campaigns.
"Our association membership is growing right along with self-service use in business transactions," Drain said. "We feel this is an important message not just for companies who currently deploy or plan to deploy kiosks or other self-service devices, but also for the general public. At some point, every consumer will likely use self-service, and it's important they understand the benefits."
The rapid growth of self-service solutions began in the 1980s with ATMs, and blossomed in the late 1990s as airlines began to install self-service terminals on a widespread basis. Today, self-service technology can be found everywhere — from supermarkets to truck stops to quick-service restaurants and retail.
For more information, visit http://www.selfservice.org/bestservice.php.
TBO.com: Get & Go Express is scheduled to open in Hudson, Fla., offering plenty of what shoppers are used to, from packaged munchies and fresh sub sandwiches to DVD rentals.
CXO Today: India's Intercode Solutions has launched MK2000 Micro Kiosk, a device designed to deploy and run multimedia and barcode-scanning applications throughout the retail environment.
The kiosk allows users to perform quick price-checking, store and product information searches. It also facilitates the overall reduction of the store's internal operation costs. The multifunctional device provides users with a virtual map of the store with details such as product location, cost, size, promotional offers, new products, etc. It supports customers as well as employees facing interactive applications, including those using digital signage, barcode scanning, audio and video.
PC Pro: Technology analyst Jon Honeyball is excited about the impending wave of supermarket self-service, which will usher in an era of hand-held price scanners and cart-at-a-time checkout gateways. These new devices will bring with them new kinds of social engineering and "per-person, per-shop pricing and decision manipulation."
"Now, with my Captain Kirk laser zapper, the device goes bloopety bloop when I scan in something that has a 'two for one' or some other offer," he writes. "And you know, I'm tempted to just pop in that extra item, because it's a saving, isn't it? Naturally, I'm being socially engineered. "It wants me to buy more of that tooth-rotting fizzy drink, so offers me a bargain."
Storefront Backtalk: In a dressing room in the huge Japanese department chain Mitsukoshi, half-dressed customers scan RFID-tagged jeans and then use an IP telephone to check inventory and call for more clothes to be brought in.
Workers at the $8.5 billion retail Tokyo-based chain traditionally waited outside dressing rooms, listening for instructions to bring more clothes. In the new experimental system, the workers can stock shelves while waiting for their VoIP phone to ring and for the customer to ask for something.
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Esprida Corp., provider of remote-management solutions, announced the launch of Healthnotes LiveConnect, a global in-store consumer marketing network of touchscreen kiosks, designed specifically for supermarket, pharmacy, and natural-product retailers.
Esprida developed Healthnotes LiveConnect - a secure, Java-based enterprise solution that's compatible with a broad range of IT infrastructures - in conjunction with Healthnotes Inc. to manage thousands of devices networked in retail locations worldwide.
"We're pleased to be part of an offering that delivers the most reliable and up-to-date health and wellness information to consumers," said Anila Jobanputra, president of Esprida Corp. "Esprida software brings expanded functionality to Healthnotes Connect that supports timely delivery of seasonal product information and opportunities for retailers to promote their products and services more efficiently,"
Healthnotes LiveConnect is a secure networking solution that helps retailers manage and optimize multistore deployments of Healthnotes Connect, a storewide marketing solution. Healthnotes Connect guides consumers at the point of decision with up-to-date product information, including recipes, foods, OTCs and supplements, as well as promotions and touch-to-print coupons.
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - IBM Corp. announced a new model of its Anyplace Kiosk, which will ship with Windows XP Professional pre-loaded. The Anyplace Kiosk is ultra-small and has on each unit a VESA·mount , which provides the ability to mount it nearly anyplace: on a wall, in a shelf, on an end cap, tabletop, or pole, or even in a floor-standing enclosure.
Features of the new Anyplace Kiosk include:
A choice of 12-inch (800 x 600), 15-inch (1024 x 768) or 17-inch (1280 x 1024) active-matrix LCD touchscreen interface
Infrared (IR) touchscreen technology
Intel Celeron M Processor 320 (1.3 GHz, 400 MHz front side bus, 512 KB cache)
40 GB hard disk drive (HDD), standard with Windows XP Professional preloaded
512 MB of memory (standard) expandable to 2 GB memory
Support for full-motion video and multimedia
A presence sensor that allows activation of the kiosk when consumers approach from up to 5 feet away
10/100 Ethernet LAN and Web connectivity
Environmentally hardened components for outstanding reliability
A VESA mount that allows for attachment of wall mount, tabletop mount, or floor mount.
CRM Buyer: NCR Corp. and Novell have announced a global agreement to offer Novell Linux Point of Service on NCR RealPOS retail point-of-sale terminals. The agreement between Novell and NCR makes a secure, reliable software platform and hardware combination available for retailers deploying Linux-based POS solutions. NCR's plans call for offering Novell Linux Point of Service on NCR EasyPoint kiosks and NCR FastLane self-checkouts in the future.
CRM Buyer: NCR Corp. and Novell have announced a global agreement to offer Novell Linux Point of Service on NCR RealPOS retail point-of-sale terminals. The agreement between Novell and NCR makes a secure, reliable software platform and hardware combination available for retailers deploying Linux-based POS solutions. NCR's plans call for offering Novell Linux Point of Service on NCR EasyPoint kiosks and NCR FastLane self-checkouts in the future.
New York -- Polo Ralph Lauren today unveiled an innovative interactive shopping experience allowing its customers to shop 24 hours, seven days a week from outside of their store with the touch of their fingers. Projected on the window of the Ralph Lauren Madison Avenue store (888 Madison Avenue) is a 67" image featuring the latest in touch sensory technology. Customers can shop even when the store is closed by clicking on the window glass, the ultimate in shopping convenience.
This cutting-edge technology is being launched in conjunction with the company's sponsorship of the 2006 US Open and highlights the stylish apparel and accessories created exclusively for this renowned tournament. Products featured in the window shopping assortment include Official Polo Ralph Lauren/USTA ball boy/girl uniforms, linesman jackets, and the widely popular big pony polo shirts. In addition, users can pick up tips from tennis pro Nick Bollettieri and read about famous feuds in US Open history.
"After watching Steven Spielberg's Minority Report, I really wanted to find a way of making that amazing technology a retail reality. We are thrilled to offer such a unique and exciting way for our customers to further explore the world of Ralph Lauren; with this initiative we are reinventing the concept of shopping anytime," said David Lauren, senior vice president, advertising, marketing and corporate communications of Polo Ralph Lauren.
Further advancing the interactive shopping experience at the US Open, Polo Ralph Lauren will introduce an on-site virtual store on the club level of Arthur Ashe stadium. Now, in addition to the 3,500 square foot store, shoppers can pick up their favorite US Open fashions at three free-standing kiosks featuring touchscreen technology.
The Madison Avenue window shopping installation will be accessible to the public from August 7th to September 10th and the on-site virtual store will be open for the duration of the US Open tournament. Additionally, all official Polo Ralph Lauren US Open apparel is available in Ralph Lauren stores worldwide.
Retail Week: Woolworths is expanding its multichannel offering with the launch of a new in-store collection service. The "Woolworths: You collect or we deliver"� service will enable customers to have products delivered to a specific store, as well as direct to their home. Orders can be placed either in-store or via the Web site. Woolworths also is installing special kiosks, allowing customers to browse, order and pay for goods themselves, in 100 locations in time for the busy Christmas period.
SYDNEY · Australian hardware and software developer 22Moo has begun development on it's iTunes kiosk, PodBuffet.
Currently the prototype will be powered by an Apple Intel based Mac Mini running a 15-inch TFT touchscreen with virtual keyboard software, a wireless Internet connection and a customized application for timed access to iTunes.
The kiosk also will feature multiple dock connectors and a female USB and firewire port for older iPods and Shuffle owners.
Users will be able to download videos and music to their iPods from places such as airports, train stations, hotels and shopping centers
PLANO, Texas · Knowlan's Super Markets Inc., an independent grocery chain that operates Festival Foods stores in Minnesota, has tapped StoreNext Retail Technologies LLC to upgrade IT systems at four of its nine stores. Knowlan's operates six Festival Foods and two Knowlan's stores; in recent months Knowlan's has installed StoreNext's Pricer Infrared Electronic Shelf Labeling (ESL) system for pricing management and accuracy at three of its existing Festival Foods stores.
The seventh Festival Foods store will open this fall with the Pricer ESL. The independent retailer also uses StoreNext's ISS45 POS software and Fujitsu TeamPoS 2000 POS hardware.
"We were interested in upgrading our ESL system and wanted to replace it with the most competitive system available," said Ed Doud, director of retail technology for Knowlan's. "We were looking for two things: pricing accuracy and efficiency. We shopped around and StoreNext's Pricer solution impressed us the most. It offered us the best in-store ESL system · with extremely aesthetic display tags, easy-to-use, swift price changes and accurate pricing. As promised, the installation and functioning of the system has been very smooth with quick acceptance by customers and staff."
RDS, StoreNext's dealer for Minnesota and North Dakota, is working in tandem with Knowlan's on the technology rollout.
"We are seeing more independent grocers use digital technology to enhance the shopper's experience, as well as store operations," said Ray Carlin, president and chief executive officer at Plano, Texas-based StoreNext. "The Pricer ESL system offers Knowlan's a better label design, longer life and faster wireless technology for quick price changes."
Knowlan's Super Markets Inc. was founded in the early 1900s and has since expanded to nine stores. The privately held regional chain, based in the twin cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, is recognized for outstanding customer service and a wide variety of prepared, natural and organic products.
Computing.co.uk: The value of sales of active radio frequency identification (RFID) systems is expected to soar in the next 10 years from $550 million (£300m) to $ 6.78 billion (£3.7bn).
The report from analyst IDTechEx says Real Time Locating Systems (RTLS) and disposable RFID sensor systems such as smart active labels will lead the growth.
Canada.com: Mediaport Entertainment Inc., which deploys unmanned point-of-sale kiosks, called MediaATMs, today announced an agreement to offer consumers music from Sony BMG Music's recorded music library through Mediaport's MediaATM retail kiosks, and website. The MediaATM, with its patent pending digital download technology, is an unmanned kiosk store that sells digital entertainment content like music, games, and videos, to customers in a just in time, user-friendly manner.
FRANKLIN, Tenn. - When it comes to paying for goods and services, consumers continue to take matters into their own hands. North American consumers are on pace to spend over $475 billion at self-checkout lanes, ticketing kiosks and other self-service machines in 2006, an increase from $324 billion in 2005, reports a new research study conducted by IHL Consulting Group.
SACRAMENTO -- Tower Records unveiled 'Tower Records Digital,' a music download store at Tower.com/Digital. As the most recent addition and the primary component of Tower's integrated digital media strategy, the digital music store complements its traditional retail stores, e-commerce, podcasting, and TouchView in-store kiosk presence.
Internetretailer.com: Pressed by competition to expand multi-channel shopping services through initiatives like in-store web-based kiosks and store pick-up of online orders, many retailers avoid the more costly work of integrating channel data and wind up disappointing customers, Gartner analyst Mark Riseley tells Internet Retailer.
"A lot of retailers are confused about what multi-channel retailing really means," says Riseley, who's based in London. Many either don't realize that multi-channel retailing requires integrated customer, product and inventory data shared across each selling channel, or they don't have the cross-channel organizational support for it, he says.
But without that shared information stored in a central database, retailers who reach out to customers in multiple channels can cause more problems than they expect, Riseley says. If an in-store kiosk isn't integrated with multi-channel order management and inventory management systems, for example, a customer might order something at the kiosk only to find out later that it wasn't in stock, Riseley says.
Canoe.ca: Indigo Books & Music (TSX:IDG), Canada's largest book chain, plans to unveil a new website this fall designed to improve its interaction with customers, the retailer's CEO said Monday.
The new-look site will be rolled on Nov. 1, and is part of an expanding "have it your way" approach to customer service, president Heather Reisman said at Indigo's annual shareholder meeting. The company is also upgrading its in-store kiosks.
"This is not just a small segment of the market," said Reisman. "This is everybody who understands that the Internet is the place to go for true value."
The company is also introducing Indigo EOutlet, a section of the chapters.indigo.ca website targeting true value shoppers through which it will sell bargain books and overflow product at a discount.
ePaynews: Touchscreen kiosk terminals are infiltrating North America's convenience stores as operators seek to reduce staff overheads and maximize floor space by automating routine tasks such as prepaid wireless top-ups, financial services and bill payments. The latest kiosks can dispense, activate and reload prepaid or stored-value cards or issue receipts for prepaid wireless top-up to reduce inventory costs, shrinkage and ordering or stocking time for each store. Customers welcome the ability to use the kiosks to conduct multiple transactions in a single visit such as topping up a prepaid phone, paying bills or cashing checks while picking up everyday purchases at the store.
To the consumer, a convenience store is a wonderfully simple thing: a place to buy some gas and milk, maybe a lottery ticket, perhaps a car wash. It is so deeply rooted in our modern culture, it is usually taken for granted (until, of course, your next trip to a town without one).
But what goes on behind the scenes is anything but simple. The typical c-store is a bewildering daisy-chain of systems, technologies and processes, usually from different vendors and working in proprietary ways.
This year's NACStech event at the Gaylord Opryland Convention Center , March 22-24 in Nashville , Tenn. , was host to most of those systems and technologies, from pay-at-the-pump terminals to foodservice ordering kiosks to POS systems. And this year more of them bore the logo that said they are approved for PCATS, the emerging technology standard that aims to make them all talk to one another.
PCATS, or the Petroleum Convenience Alliance for Technology Standards, is an offshoot of a project the National Association of Convenience Stores began in 2003.
"There are 19 reconciliation reports that a c-store manager has to prepare in an eight-hour shift," said Ed McGunn, president of show exhibitor Corporate Safe Specialists and a member of the PCATS board. "And that's usually an $8.50-an-hour employee who has to do it. It's no wonder there's such a high turnover in this industry."
And turnover isn't the only problem. A store full of proprietary technologies costs money to integrate, money to maintain, and represents a substantial amount of lost revenue and wasted time.
"In the past, all of the various devices that sit on a counter in a c-store didn't talk to one another," said John Hervey, executive director of PCATS. "Lottery terminals were standalone - if you sold a lottery ticket, you had to be sure the cashier then went over to the POS and entered the sale, because there was no link between
the two. Same thing with money orders and all those other devices."
Dresser Wayne 's iX Media series, which delivers rich media and coupons at the pump
The PCATS solution to this is the Open Site Architecture, a series of rules that allows conforming machines to "plug-and-play" into the store's network operation. Hervey said the Architecture is about 75 percent complete, and will likely be finished by the end of this year.
When that happens, c-store owners will be able to shop for components and technologies with an eye on the "PCATS-compliant" logo, knowing that any such tools they buy will work together.
Hervey said the ability to still shop among competing vendors will be a big plus for c-stores.
"In this industry, people like to buy a POS from one vendor that they consider best, and an accounting system that might be different," he said. "In the past, to make those two speak to one another, the retailer had to pay to have an interface written. When one of them changed, the retailer had to pay someone to make the changes on both sides of the equation."
Radiant's integrated POS and self-ordering solution
He added that operators will notice significant cost savings and revenue increases, both immediately and over time.
"Today, the lottery machine has a telephone line, the ATM has a telephone line, the kiosk for bill payment has a phone line, the tank gauge monitor has a phone line · when you put the architecture in place, you can share services and reduce a lot of expense," he said.
Another real-world example of ROI comes at the street · or more specifically, at the price sign. Assuming an average weekly change of $.05 in gas price, and assuming it takes 2 hours for a store manager to react to a price change and update the signage manually, a digital sign system that is integrated with the back-office (i.e. updated instantly to reflect higher prices) would net a small store an additional $62,000 in revenue a year.
On the show floor
Pay By Touch, NCR's biometric payment solution
At the NCR booth, attendees got a closer look at the biometric payment options offered by Pay By Touch, as well as NCR's 7405 Service Center kiosk, which dispenses money orders and prepaid products.
Xpedient demonstrated its food-ordering software solution, which has been successfully implemented with the Thornton 's SubWorks program.
Fiscal Systems showcased its rugged outdoor kiosk, used for truck fleet management programs. Kevin Struthers, Fiscal's vice president, said the device is in 70 travel centers, where truckers can purchase gasoline, get paycheck advances and even purchase showers. The trucking company can closely monitor and control where and when the drivers stop to refuel, in order to take advantage of lower taxes in different geographic regions.
Gilbarco brought its car wash kiosk, which acts as an extension of the in-store POS. Chris Whitley, Gilbarco's director of retail systems sales, said the integration with the existing card processing network saves money by eliminating the second network often needed at the car wash · and allows the retailer to take all major payment methods, including fleet cards.
Dresser Wayne brought a number of modern pay-at-the-pump units, including the iX Media series that displays rich media at the pump and prints coupons on receipts. The company also announced it had just received the "Partner of the Year" award from Microsoft's Windows Embedded Partner program.
VeriFone demonstrated its new Food Service Kiosk Solution, an extension of the VeriFone POS. The product is currently in beta testing.
Radiant Systems showcased a comprehensive suite of products that extends from POS to customer-facing terminals and digital signage. The company also turned heads at its booth with a virtual reality racecar game.
Hypercom's payment terminals included a number of contactless-compliant keypads. The Optimum L4100 model contains a 5.7-inch color screen, making it possible to bring rich media to the point of purchase.
Wincor Nixdorf was on hand with its comprehensive POS and customer-facing platform. The company recently made news when it became the first European firm to offer plug-and-play functionality for retail peripherals verified to run on Microsoft Windows Embedded for Point of Service.
Touch-n-Buy brought its semi-assisted prepaid product kiosk, a tabletop unit that lets customers customize a prepaid or stored-value product; the card is then printed at a small cashier-facing unit. According to Carlos Rodriquez, vice president, the Touch-n-Buy unit is deployed in over 5,000 c-stores.
Posted by: James Bickers AT 08:46 am | Permalink |
Posen, Ill. - Corporate Safe Specialists, one of the largest suppliers of retail safes and cash handling systems, and Brink's, Inc. have collaborated to bring retail customers one of the most advanced safe and cash control systems ever devised. The new Brink's Compusafe 3000 Series safe will give customers new ways to cut losses, improve customer service, and increase business efficiency.
Brink's proven hardware is now coupled with CSS's Advanced Cash Control System, the most dynamic cash management software in the industry. The combination of CSS's ACCS and the Brink's Compusafe 3000 Series results in an easy-to-use and robust system for managing information and reducing loss.
Color touchscreen images prompt customers every step of the way and the easy-to-use software puts customers at ease instantly. The system also features an open architecture that allows for integration at the point-of-sale (POS), with back office solutions and other in-store management devices such as cell phones and PDA's. The ACCS verifies what is in the safe and securely delivers that data when and where it is needed. The six language translation of the device makes this a true global cash management solution. The ACCS software results in an "information safe." The most advanced auditing tools are included to bring labor savings to any store by reducing reconciliation time at shift close. The advanced software provides event monitoring, end-of-day reports, and video monitoring.
"The teams from both companies have succeeded in improving a proven cash management tool by coupling it with the most advanced software, ready to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow's retail cash management needs," said Ed McGunn, president and one of the founders of CSS. "The real beneficiaries of this collaboration are the customers and helping our customers has always been our number one goal."
"The safe has always been an integral part of our Compusafe Service, adding to the convenience, simplicity, and security that makes Brink's CompuSafe the most trusted name in the industry," says Glenn Mason, vice president of Compusafe Service, Brink's. "With its advanced technology and superior performance, the Brink's Compusafe 3000 makes cash processing fast and easy so managers spend less time managing their cash and more time managing their stores - and that's efficiency that goes straight to the bottom line."
About Corporate Safe Specialists:
Corporate Safe Specialists (CSS) founded in 1988 by three respected safe industry veterans is one of the largest suppliers of safes to the retail and restaurant communities, including a high percentage of Fortune Five Hundred Companies. Since its inception, the company's main goal has been to protect the interests and profits of their clients. To accomplish this they have continually enhanced and grown their product line and services. In addition to their full line of fireproof, burglar-proof and electronic safes, the company is a pioneer in kiosks designed for specialty retailers along with other loss prevention products. For more information go to www.corporatesafe.com
York, PA — Livewire's next generation of its self-service electronic concierge technology made its debut recently at the Verizon Heritage Golf Tournament in Hilton Head Island. Kiosks located at the golf tournament to provide information about the event as well as local dining, retail, lodging, and entertainment establishments. Attendees to the event were able to purchase discounted tickets to next year's tournament through the kiosk. With its integrated digital signage, local venues were also provided the opportunity to display multimedia advertisements along with local weather forecasts and top news stories on an adjacent 32" LCD screen. Other similar Livewire-powered kiosks are deployed throughout Hilton Head Island at various malls, visitors' centers, and resorts offering concierge-style information.
With the release of its latest version of concierge software, Livewire has greatly enhanced the system's feature/functionality and content management capability for its clients to self-manage content on remote networked kiosks. Livewire, based on its vast experience in transactional self-service, has designed an infrastructure which allows great flexibility in how information may be maintained, displayed, and integrated with the sale of tickets, gift cards/certificates, and other general products. All data is maintained in a central database, with the ability to push content to individual or groups of kiosks. Livewire's transactional back-office system is built on Microsoft's .NET technology, and has been certified to run on Windows 2003.
In addition to display of typical concierge information such as operating hours, restaurant menus, events, coupons, and product information, Livewire has integrated dynamic mapping and directions, customizable sorting of venues, and phone dial-up via voice-over-IP. Digital signage is integrated with the solution, allowing display of multimedia ads using a rules-based scheduler, and a dynamic override capability based on customer interaction.
About Livewire International, Inc.
Livewire is an award-winning leader in interactive technology based in York, Pennsylvania. Livewire, a Microsoft Certified Partner, specializes in self-service solutions including ticketing, gift card dispensing, gift registries, electronic concierge, and human resource portals. Livewire provides integration into a multitude of devices such as kiosks, ATMs, and handheld devices, while providing the ability to remotely monitor each device and manage the content available from each unit. Livewire provides The Power to Connect. Visit www.livewirekiosk.com for more information, or call us toll-free at 877-595-4675.
ATLANTA — NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) and Matthias MoneyBoard Inc. today announced they have signed an agreement to offer a self-service coupon dispensing solution using NCR EasyPoint touch-screen kiosks. The Matthias MoneyBoard Coupons On Demand solution will be exhibited in NCR's booth at the 2006 Food Marketing Institute Show, May 7-9 in Chicago.
With the solution, product manufacturers and retailers can benefit from a streamlined coupon marketing, redemption and reconciliation program. The device is also designed to save consumers time and money without having to clip and carry coupons into the store. Placed at the entrance of the store, the device allows shoppers to select from a preprogrammed list of 72 brand-name items and print coupons in seconds.
"The coupons are placed at consumers' fingertips where purchasing decisions are made," said John T. Matthias, founder, president and chief executive officer, Matthias MoneyBoard Inc. "Advantages for manufacturers and retailers include gaining market share on new and existing products, selling overstocked items, influencing multiple purchases, softening the impact of price increases and increasing brand awareness and customer loyalty."
Manufacturers lease squares on the system, and control the maximum number of coupons redeemed and the savings amount. Up-to-date reports of redemption activity are available to manufacturers at all times on a Web account, allowing them to change, add or discontinue programs within 48 hours.
There is no charge to retailers to install or maintain the Matthias MoneyBoard device. Instead, retailers receive a weekly payment per redeemed Matthias MoneyBoard coupon.
"Combining Matthias MoneyBoard's comprehensive marketing package with the intuitive and manageable NCR EasyPoint kiosk creates an innovative solution designed to provide a unique customer service, as well as promotional opportunities for retailers and manufacturers," said Nelson Gomez, vice president, NCR Retail Self-Service Sales.
About Matthias MoneyBoard Inc.
Matthias MoneyBoard Coupons On Demand, the high-tech innovation in on-site coupon dispensing, manages coupon marketing for the manufacturers and retailers. Consumers select from 72 brand-name items and coupons print in 2.1 seconds. For more information, visit Matthias MoneyBoard Inc. at www.matthiasmoneyboard.com or call (888) 852-7878. 1.888.852.7878.
About NCR Corporation
NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) is a leading global technology company helping businesses build stronger relationships with their customers. NCR's Teradata data warehouses, ATMs, retail systems, self-service solutions and IT services provide Relationship Technology that maximizes the value of customer interactions and helps organizations create a stronger competitive position. Based in Dayton, Ohio, NCR (www.ncr.com) employs approximately 28,200 people worldwide.
NCR, NCR EasyPoint, NCR FastLane, NCR RealPOS, NCR RealPrice, NCR RealScan, NCR RealSolutions and Teradata are trademarks or registered trademarks of NCR Corporation in the United States and other countries.
DAYTON, Ohio — NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) today announced that it has named Peter Dorsman as vice president and general manager of the company's Systemedia business. Additionally, Lee Schram, senior vice president of NCR's Retail Store Automation business, has resigned from NCR to become chief executive officer (CEO) at another company. Dan Bogan, currently vice president of Americas Sales and Service for Retail Store Automation, assumes the leadership of the division on an interim basis. Both appointments are effective today.
Systemedia
Dorsman's experience includes his role as executive vice president and chief operating officer at Standard Register, a document and information solutions provider covering similar markets as Systemedia. Prior to that, he was senior vice president of Standard Register's Document Management and Systems Division.
Before his role at Standard Register, Dorsman served for nearly 20 years at NCR in various marketing and sales leadership roles.
"Peter has broad general management experience in the markets Systemedia serves," said Bill Nuti, president and CEO of NCR. "He is also a long-time veteran of NCR and we're excited to have him back on the team."
Dorsman succeeds Mark Quinlan, who is assisting in the transition.
"We thank Mark for his contributions to our Systemedia business," said Nuti.
Dorsman serves on the board of directors of Applied Industrial Technologies. He holds a bachelor of science degree from Syracuse University.
NCR's Systemedia business provides business products and services, such as receipt paper and printer supplies, for the retail, financial and manufacturing industries.
Retail Store Automation
Bogan has been with NCR for almost 30 years, rising through the company in progressively more senior positions within the retail business, including sales and service, marketing, industry marketing, and strategy. Prior to his current role as Retail Store Automation's head of sales and service for the Americas region, Dan was vice president of marketing and strategy for the business.
"Dan has long-term experience and expertise in the retail industry. With Dan's domain knowledge of the industry and NCR, we will continue to focus on making improvements in our operating model and leveraging our leadership in self-service technologies," said Nuti.
"We thank Lee for his many contributions to NCR over the past 22 years and appreciate his assistance ensuring a smooth transition over the coming weeks. And we all wish him well in his new endeavor," said Nuti.
NCR's Retail Store Automation business provides retail-oriented technologies such as point-of-sale terminals, bar-code scanners and software, as well as innovative products such as self-checkout systems and self-service kiosks to companies worldwide.
About NCR Corporation
NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) is a leading global technology company helping businesses build stronger relationships with their customers. NCR's Teradata data warehouses, ATMs, retail systems, self-service solutions and IT services provide Relationship Technology that maximizes the value of customer interactions and helps organizations create a stronger competitive position. Based in Dayton, Ohio, NCR (www.ncr.com) employs approximately 28,200 people worldwide.
Netkey customers J.C. Penney and The Home Depot are among the retail organizations highlighted for their innovative use of self-service kiosk technology in the following article found in the current (April) issue of Internet Retailer magazine.
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- HighJump Software, a 3M company, a global provider of adaptable supply chain execution solutions, today announced several customer wins and successes in the wine, spirits and beverage industry. HighJump Software's growing list of customers in this highly regulated industry includes Badger Liquor, Major Brands, City Brewing Company and Johnson Brothers Liquor Co. These companies rely on the adaptability of HighJump Software's solutions and industry-specific functionality for competitive advantage in managing unique inventory and distribution challenges.
Distributors of wine, spirits and beverages must master strict regulatory guidelines, seasonal variations in volume and multiple distribution channels. The robust functionality and adaptable architecture of HighJump Supply Chain Advantage suite enable companies to meet these demands for their own customers. The HighJump system enables increased productivity, supply chain-wide visibility and increased accuracy.
HighJump Software has worked with consulting firm CIBER to offer wine, spirits and beverage customers the valuable combination of flexible software and in-depth domain expertise. The relationship has resulted in many successful implementations.
Badger Liquor, a Wisconsin-based distributor of wines and spirits, selected HighJump Supply Chain Advantage suite to support management planning with real-time inventory and shipment data. Additionally, the flexibility of the HighJump system allows Badger Liquor to incorporate process changes quickly. "The HighJump system will enable us to achieve strong visibility, regulatory compliance and superior customer satisfaction," said Ron Sadoff, CEO, Badger Liquor.
Major Brands turned to HighJump Software for help in managing regulations and optimizing all shipping and receiving activities in its high-volume warehouse. With the HighJump system in place, the Missouri-based distributor of wine and spirits has improved customer service, fulfillment accuracy and replenishment speed. "Because of HighJump Supply Chain Advantage, we've increased operational efficiency and our ability to comply with state and federal beverage alcohol laws," said Patrick Quinn, vice president of administration, Major Brands.
"Not only are we helping our customers meet these particular supply chain challenges, but we're also giving them the tools they need to stay a step ahead of their competition," said Jon Kuerschner, vice president of applications, HighJump Software. "We're pleased to see results for our customers in terms of higher efficiencies, regulatory compliance and excellent customer service."
About HighJump Software, a 3M Company
HighJump Software, a 3M company, is a global leader in providing highly adaptable, best-of-breed supply chain execution solutions that streamline manufacturing and distribution from the point of source through consumption. HighJump's integrated solutions empower operational excellence in the warehouse and optimize the flow of inventory throughout the supply chain by facilitating collaboration with customers, suppliers and trading partners. These solutions combine robust, standard functionality; a best practices-based implementation methodology; and a uniquely adaptable architecture that facilitates fast, cost-effective system modifications. As an independent subsidiary in the 3M family of companies, HighJump leads the supply chain execution software industry in financial strength and delivers on an unmatched commitment to innovation and quality. For more information about HighJump, visit www.highjump.com.
About 3M - A Global, Diversified Technology Company
Every day, 3M people find new ways to make amazing things happen. Wherever they are, whatever they do, the company's customers know they can rely on 3M to help make their lives better. 3M's brands include Scotch, Post-it, Scotchgard, Thinsulate, Scotch-Brite, Filtrete, Command and Vikuiti. Serving customers in more than 200 countries around the world, the company's 69,000 people use their expertise, technologies and global strength to lead in major markets including consumer and office; display and graphics; electronics and telecommunications; safety, security and protection services; health care; industrial and transportation. For more information, including the latest product and technology news, visit www.3M.com.
Scotch, Post-it, Scotchgard, Thinsulate, Scotch-Brite, Filtrete, Command, Vikuiti and HighJump are trademarks of 3M.
Palo Alto, Calif. · The key to success in the Retail Wireless Infrastructure market depends on effectively optimizing functional roles across technology domains and providing one-stop complete suites or providing easily intergraded solutions.
New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (www.autoid.frost.com), reveals that the World Retail Wireless Infrastructure Market earned revenue of $2.70 billion in 2005 and estimates to reach $6.73 billion in 2012.
If you are interested in a virtual brochure, which provides manufacturers, end users, and other industry participants with an overview of the latest analysis of the World Retail Wireless Infrastructure Market then send an e-mail to Tori Foster - Corporate Communications at with the following information: your full name, company name, title, telephone number, e-mail address, city, state and country. We will send you the information via email upon receipt of the above information.
Wireless is a powerful enabling technology that promises to transform the retail ecosystem, provided it is coupled with the business processes and IT infrastructure that help improve performance. Hence, vendors must recognize the potential value of wireless in the store environment early and move aggressively to support the retail industry through research, involvement in industry-standards organizations and customer pilot projects. Most vendors are equipping themselves to help retailers make an incremental transformation of retailers' businesses to an integrated environment.
"Wireless technology is definitely not nascent and has proved it could be extremely beneficial to retailers, and moving on with future advancements, it could well be used favorably in conjunction with other technologies like RFID," notes Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Shyam Krishnan.
The technology faces a relatively lesser number of challenges or issues as compared to a nascent technology like RFID, and hence, retailers have more faith in the ROI that wireless infrastructure promises if implemented.
"Without too many vendors focusing on tapping the Asia Pacific (under-penetrated) markets, the awareness of the business benefits is low in some of these regions, though awareness that the technology exists, is prevalent," says Shyam. "The awareness factor plays a significant role, since this would be the first step towards the retail industry picking up speed in these quarters. With more global retailers setting up shop here, the scenario is likely to change."
The vendors are getting involved with these efforts and more vendor alignments with these global organizations could see these technological issues sorted out at the earliest.
The World Wireless Infrastructure Market in Retail is a part of the 9212 subscription service. This study provides an overview and outlook for the market and has been segmented into the World Retail Wireless Infrastructure market, the North American Retail Wireless Infrastructure market, EMEA Retail Wireless Infrastructure market and the Rest of the World Retail Wireless Infrastructure market. This research includes detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants.
Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company, has been partnering with clients to support the development of innovative strategies for more than 40 years. The company's industry expertise integrates growth consulting, growth partnership services, and corporate management training to identify and develop opportunities. Frost & Sullivan serves an extensive clientele that includes Global 1000 companies, emerging companies, and the investment community by providing comprehensive industry coverage that reflects a unique global perspective and combines ongoing analysis of markets, technologies, econometrics, and demographics. For more information, visit http://www.frost.com.
Heisei announces new lines of Wireless Pentium IV based Touch POS products incorporating LCD screens in compact mechanical design in Q2 2006.
The terminal has been designed to serve as a POS, Kiosk interactive training device with the built-in 6 USB 2.0, The built in Power USB port DC12V suitable for External CD/DVD/Combo, 3.5" HD-External Box, LCD monitor and Scanner. And also come with DC 24V suitable for Thermal Printer, Laser Printer, Office-machine and Projector to accommodates a wide range of peripherals at once without a separate power adapter .
The optional hybrid card reader (MSR 3-track + IC card + iButton) can handle both synchronous and asynchronous (T=0, T=1) types of card. This device can read single, dual, or triple track data for the magnetic card and can decode magnetic cards swiped bi-directionally. Interface is provided for USB connection. The device application can be updated to handle new card formats or user protocol changes after installation. With a versatile mechanical design. This hybrid card reader may be quickly installed or replaced without opening the cabinet.
The build in Multi Card Reader/ Writer that supports SD/MMC/CF/SM/MS/MMC memory cards. The device supports high-speed data transfer rate and four media slots can be used at the same time for data exchange. It's easy to use and easy to input the data.
Select now the new model Q-POS 815 series of reliable, fast and flexible solutions
You can find additional information about the Q-POS 815 by emailing your request, with contact information, to
ATLANTA, March 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- S1 Corporation (Nasdaq: SONE), a leading provider of customer-interaction software for financial services, announced today the release of the S1 Personal Banking 3.5 and Business Banking 3.5 solutions into its Managed Introduction Program. With enhanced international and affiliate banking capabilities as well as personal financial management and customer segmentation functionality, the new version of S1's applications will allow financial institutions to better service and sell to their customers while leveraging a common platform -- the S1 Enterprise Platform -- to reduce system maintenance and support costs.
With this release, S1 leverages its 10 years of experience in online banking, as the company took the world's first bank live on the Internet in 1995, and its extensive knowledge of leading edge J2EE technology to deliver robust capabilities that set new standards in self-service banking. As the newest release of its online Enterprise solutions, S1 has approximately 80 financial institutions around the world using the S1 Enterprise Platform and anticipates upgrading many of these customers to the new release after the Managed Introduction Program is complete.
According to Ross McKay, vice president of self-service banking products for S1 Corporation, "As the Enterprise products continue to mature and become more robust, the new release enables S1 to address the growing demand for a common platform for both retail and business online banking solutions. We are excited to begin working with the selected customers in our Managed Introduction Program to focus our attention on ensuring these customers' success as we roll out the release on a broader basis later this year."
Key Enhancements:
Banks hoping to tap into the rapidly growing multi-lingual market are now able to use S1 Personal Banking and Business Banking to offer these customer segments a compelling online banking experience. With S1, bank customers are able to choose their preferred language for interacting with their bank online, while reducing the bank's required support and maintenance.
With a single instance of the S1 Enterprise solution running, financial institutions can use the capabilities of the S1 Application Manager found in the S1 Enterprise Platform to segment their customers and customize online products and price points accordingly. This not only generates significant new revenue opportunities for the financial institutions, it also creates a more compelling experience for the bank's customers.
S1's Personal Finance Manager (PFM) provides banks' online users a single online banking environment that delivers seamless access to financial management tools such as the online check register that are integrated with real-time account information and reporting capabilities for personal financial planning. This enables banks to cultivate more active and loyal online customers that repeatedly use their Web sites to perform advanced banking tasks.
The applications' new e-Statements module, which allows users through an online interface to "opt out" of receiving paper statements, further extends the bank's ability to reduce the costs associated with the labor and postage.
The new Foreign Exchange (FX) module, a part of the S1 Business Banking solution, provides daily rate sheets, giving banks improved spread income opportunities as part of their FX offering. S1 Business Banking also offers another ACH payment method, adding the child support payment capability for employers to withhold these payments on behalf of their employees.
About S1 Enterprise
S1 Enterprise Personal Banking and S1 Enterprise Business Banking are among the company's seven major applications integrated on the S1 Enterprise Platform. These applications also include S1 Corporate Banking, S1 Enterprise Teller, S1 Enterprise Sales & Service Platform, S1 Enterprise Call Center, and S1 Enterprise Marketing Center. The applications can be implemented independently or collectively as an integrated solution.
About S1 Corporation
S1 Corporation is a leading global provider of customer-facing software for more than 4,000 banks and insurance providers around the world. Comprised of applications that address virtually every market segment and delivery channel, S1 solutions help integrate and optimize an institution's entire front office, resulting in increased operational efficiencies, revenue opportunities and overall customer satisfaction. S1 is the only provider with the proven experience, breadth of products and financial strength to empower financial services companies' enterprise strategies. Additional information about S1 is available at www.s1.com.
Contact:
Chris Watson
Vice President of Marketing of S1 Corporation,
1-404-923-6775,
or
Burnaby, BC, March 01, 2006 - Info Touch Technologies Corp. (TSX-V: IFT), owners of the TIO Network, today announced the deployment of 25 ZapLink kiosks at select Circle K convenience stores in El Paso, Texas. Through this expansion, Info Touch and Circle K now offer cash-preferred customers secure and convenience access to bill payment and financial transactions at self-service automated kiosks, 24-hours-a-day.
These kiosks enable cash preferred customers to securely access personal accounts and view balances on select billers without the need to have account number present. They can also pay a host of bills including wireless, utility and cable and update their accounts in real time. Payments are made by inserting the cash directly into ZapLink kiosk's bill acceptor. Once the cash is accepted, the payment is immediately posted through Info Touch's TIO network. Circle K customers can navigate through bill pay and other TIO applications in either English or Spanish and complete financial transactions by either printing or emailing their receipt to an email address of their choice.
"Zaplink and the TIO Network is an important part of Circle K's strategy to empower our customers with convenient and hassle-free ways to pay bills and manage personal finances", according to Dan Stiel, Manager of Financial Services for Circle K Stores, Inc. "Our customers in El Paso will discover our self-service Zaplink kiosks to be fast, friendly and reliable."
"El Paso, Texas is a growing Latino community and market research indicates that nearly half of the Hispanics are unbanked and more than 78% of El Paso's population is Hispanic. This data confirms there is market demand for non-traditional financial solutions", said Hamed Shahbazi, Chairman and CEO of Info Touch Technologies. "By delivering convenient access to affordable financial services, we improve the quality of life for residents of El Paso, and execute on our recurring revenue transaction business"
Since September 2001, Info Touch and Circle K have deployed approximately 300 Zaplink kiosks in 6 states, including Arizona, Florida, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas. Both companies' objective is to not only grow the number of locations but also the selection of billers and other financial services available.
About Circle K Stores Inc.
Circle K Stores Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., the leader in the Canadian convenience store industry.
In North America, Couche-Tard is the fourth largest convenience store operator and the second largest independent (not integrated with a petroleum company) convenience store operator. The Company currently operates a network of 4,898 convenience stores, 3,073 of which include motor fuel dispensing, located in eight large geographic markets, including three in Canada and five which cover 23 American states in the United States. Some 34,000 people work at Couche-Tard's executive offices and throughout the network.
About Info Touch
Info Touch Technologies, a strategic investment of Hewlett Packard, is building the "TIO Network" the largest and most convenient national multi-retailer network of financial services kiosks for the non-banked consumer marketplace in North America. The company leverages its core competencies in self-service bill payment processing, financial services aggregation and automation to create financial viability for its network and its location partners. Info Touch's Premiere (powered by Surfnet) is the preferred software platform for the delivery of automated services such as bill payment, money transfer, digital merchandising, PIN dispensing for pre-paid products and services, maps and directions, check cashing and electronic coupons. Info Touch clients include: Circle K, ExxonMobil, Alimentation Couche-Tard, Speedway SuperAmerica, Cricket Communications, COX Communications, Memphis Light Gas and Water (MLGW) and Qwest Communications. www.infotouch.net.
About the TIO Network
With more than 700 locations and 6 top tier corporate owned convenience store chains participating, the "TIO Network" is the largest national multi-retailer network of self-service financial service kiosks in North America. The TIO brand symbolizes safe secure access to key financial services with 'real time' updates for the cash preferred consumer.
For further information, please contact:
Behshad Hastibakhsh, Media Relations - Info Touch Technologies
Mequon, WI. D2 unveiled its new Brand Builder Series kiosk at The Self Service & Kiosk Show in Orlando last week. The Brand Builder Series is D2's newest stock, semi-custom kiosk and is available immediately.
This new kiosk line is durable, reliable and extremely flexible. The units are built to be a semi-custom solution for clients looking for a stock model that is versatile and can be customized to fit their specific branding needs.
The Brand Builder Series has an attractive design that D2 will customize with full color brand identification, creating a unique, brand specific unit to meet a variety of customer needs.
D2 understands the need for cost effective solutions, and created the Brand Builder Series for clients with tight budgets and/or schedules in mind. In addition, D2 continues to offer unique equipment configurations and outstanding branding options in its custom models as well.
About D2: D2 Sales, LLC is located in Mequon, Wisconsin.
It is a kiosk design and manufacturing firm specializing in brand focused, custom designed enclosures and environments.
For more information, please visit their website at www.d2sales.com.
Irvine, CA. — (February 15, 2006) — Worldlink Integration Group Inc., a national provider of technology deployment services, has joined the Retail Broadband Alliance, a forum that makes it easy for migrating to broadband networks to increase revenue, cut expenses, and improve customer experience.
Worldlink Integration Group is an organization focused on providing regional and nationwide technology deployment services such as installations, staging/configuration/imaging and project management services. Worldlink leverages redundant national technician coverage, a nationwide staging footprint and world class project management to maximize value to such clients as Sears, Jack in the Box, Petco, Ralphs, Aramark, Big 5 Sporting Goods, and many others.
"We are very excited about our inclusion in the RBA as we view it as a vital component to growing our channel strategy," said David Clarke, president and chief financial officer. "The RBA is a perfect venue for us to collectively work with complimentary organizations in providing complete value-based solutions on a national basis."
The Retail Broadband Alliance brings together companies that represent products and services used in the entire retail sales supply chain for data networks. The Retail Broadband Alliance now includes more than 150 companies. Retail merchants pick and choose the providers they want.
"New Edge Networks welcomes Worldlink Integration Group into the growing Retail Broadband Alliance," said Greg Griffiths, vice president of marketing for New Edge Networks. "Worldlink Integration Group represents yet another trusted choice for merchants who turn to the Retail Broadband Alliance for support in migrating to broadband."
About Worldlink Integration Group, Inc.
Worldlink Integration Group, Inc. is a leading provider of national technology deployment services primarily for regional and national retail customers. These technology deployment services encompass from the highly repetitive to the complex project managed activities their customers demand across the lifecycle of the customer's geographically distributed technology infrastructure. Worldlink has built its business providing flexibility and rapid execution to the benefit of their many satisfied clients, including such leading companies as: Big 5 Sporting Goods, Kmart, Petco, New Edge Technologies, CSK Auto, Gateway, Sears, Aramark, Jack in the Box, and Bartell Drugs. More Information: www.worldlinkintegration.com
Due to increasing demand for larger screens, Simple Kiosks have launched a low cost 17" solution designed for use in very high footfall retail and information environments.
"As a part of our market research we contacted some of our key customers and have already received serious enquiries. This is before we even launched," Simple kiosks MD James Oladujoye said. "One of the key reasons for this is that it is totally customizable, making the kiosk more appropriate to its surroundings, personalized and refined"
The kiosk boasts all the usual features such as credit card, coin acceptance and touch screen along with additional features including proximity sensors, smart card facilities and printer/ticket delivery. Its available in any color, in any quantity.
Call +44 (0)8707 414190. or email james@simplekiosk.com
SAN DIEGO, Calif., -- ShoptoCook, Inc. has announced that its unique Recipe-for-Sales Platformsm can now be enhanced with an interface to adjacent digital signage that can show video clips corresponding to products featured on the kiosk's touch-screen.
"We offer branded manufacturers a media channel that places their message where most meal planning takes place — in the perishable aisle," said Frank Beurskens, CEO of ShoptoCook, Inc., Buffalo, N.Y. "We use kiosk as a vehicle to promote branded ingredients in the context of a meal solution for a shopper."
Beurskens spoke here today at the Food Marketing Institute's annual MARKETECHNICS convention and trade show. The digital signage interface will be displayed at Booth 852 where he invited retailers and press to stop by for a demonstration.
ShoptoCook's GoCook Centersm uses a touch-screen kiosk located along the perishable perimeter in the supermarket's meat, seafood, produce, wine and cheese departments where meal planning takes place. The kiosk provides printed recipes and accompaniment ideas.
Linking the GoCook Centersm to a digital screen is designed to enhance the information provided on the kiosk about branded products featured in a recipe, or about a certain wine and cheese. Of example, after the shopper has either scanned a specific bottle of wine or inquires about wine by variety, a static image or video clip can be triggered on the plasma screen located near by.
"ShoptoCook continues to develop new media-based applications for the perishable perimeter, with the goal of engaging the consumer in the shopping experience," said Beurskens. "We understand the world of the shopper and we understand the world of technology."
ShoptoCook is installed in more than 200 AholdUSA divisions of Tops, Giant and Martin stores located throughout New York and Pennsylvania. The company also provides the in-store interactive solutions technology in all Bloom stores operated by Food Lion/Delhaize Group.
About ShoptoCook
ShoptoCook, Inc. offers digital solutions to reduce the daily stress of meal planning by providing an unlimited variety of fast, fun and fulfilling meal ideas while the shopper is in the store. ShoptoCook's GoCook Centersm touch-screen kiosks are located along the perishable perimeter where meal planning takes place. With a simple touch of the screen or item scan, shoppers can view and print recipes for a specific product or need on the spot. For more information, contact Frank Beurskens at (716) 362-3168 and or Dick Engl at (716) 362-3168 and . Also visit www.shoptocook.com.
Recent research from Venture Development Corporation (VDC) reveals a regional pattern in the uptake of imaging-based bar code scanning technology. In 2004 (the base year of our research), imaging technology in North America grew at more than double the rate of traditional laser-based scanning technology. In contrast, the Asia-Pacific region experienced strong growth in laser scanners in 2004. The growth of imagers in the North American market is a trend that appears to have continued in 2005 and is likely to spread across the regional and vertical markets in the coming years.
Although laser-based technology still comprises the majority of scanner revenues across all regions, the 2003-2004 growth rate for imagers in North America provides evidence that the gap between laser- and imaging-based scanner shipments may be closing. As with previous AIDC trends that originated in the US
In the North American market, imaging technology has been growing at a faster rate than laser technology for several years. However, the demand for imaging scanners may currently be competing more directly with laser scanners in both the handheld and stationary segments of that market (see Exhibits I and II). In the stationary scanning market, excluding POS scanners, laser scanners realized negative growth as imagers grew at record levels.
There appears to be a growing acceptance of imaging-based technology for multiple applications due the improved capability of the technology and competitive price points. Specifically, imaging technology is growing at a faster rate than laser-based technology due to the following factors:
decreasing unit prices of imaging scanners due to broader acceptance of the technology and increased adoption of 2D and PDF417 bar coding solutions, primarily within the transportation/logistics vertical market;
improved performance of imaging-based scanners as research & development efforts progress imaging technology, and more importantly the algorithm decoding software;
increased durability enabled by imaging-based solutions, as they do not contain the moving parts associated with laser-based technology;
heightened end-user familiarity with imaging-based technology outside of the AIDC context, such as digital cameras; and
growing supplier push for alternatives to laser-based technology due to prohibitive intellectual property rights surrounding that technology and the increased desire to capture market share in the growing imaging segment of the industry.
Although imaging-based scanners are beginning to capture incremental market share from laser-based scanners primarily in North America, that trend is increasingly prevalent in Europe. Currently both laser- and imaging-based scanning solutions are experiencing strong growth in Europe; however, imaging is gaining momentum, especially in the industrial/manufacturing vertical segment. The North American market may provide a preview of what is to come in the European (and eventually Asia-Pacific) markets.
About VDC Venture Development Corporation (VDC) is an independent technology market research and strategy consulting firm that specializes in a number of retail automation, RFID, AIDC, embedded, component, industrial, and defense markets. VDC has been operating since 1971, when the firm was founded by graduates of the Harvard Business School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Today, we employ a talented collection of analysts and consultants who offer a rare combination of expertise in the market research process; experience in technology product and program management; and formal training in engineering and marketing. VDC's clients include thousands of the largest and fastest-growing tech suppliers in the world and the most successful investors participating in the markets we cover.
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A major issue for retailers today is the look and feel of their shops, and the sleek and skinny APM 3700 is designed with that in mind. Space, security, aesthetics and noise levels were all considerations for this latest APM model. For instance, the APM 3700 is 30 percent smaller in depth and will accommodate just about every retail fixture. It also boasts cable control — all the cables and cords can be contained within its shell, allowing retailers to better merchandise their fixtures without concern for bothersome cables.
of MaxBox digital retail kiosks and all of its applications across the whole of the Caribbean.
Mike Drennan, director of retail store operations for Koodo Mobile, said the Koodo launch has surpassed their initial expectations.
hat it will launch an Advantage Card Extra Offer kiosk by the end of August.
EO Steve Carpenter called it a "kiosk on wheels," which will save shoppers time and money. He said the cart was created to help customers locate products in a store, learn more information about particular products and check out more easily. The carts were deployed March 27 in a northeast grocery store chain on a pilot basis.
Storefront Backtalk: In a dressing room in the huge Japanese department chain Mitsukoshi, half-dressed customers scan RFID-tagged jeans and then use an IP telephone to check inventory and call for more clothes to be brought in.
New York -- Polo Ralph Lauren today unveiled an innovative interactive shopping experience allowing its customers to shop 24 hours, seven days a week from outside of their store with the touch of their fingers. Projected on the window of the Ralph Lauren Madison Avenue store (888 Madison Avenue) is a 67" image featuring the latest in touch sensory technology. Customers can shop even when the store is closed by clicking on the window glass, the ultimate in shopping convenience.
