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Author: Star Micronics

  • Star Micronics Launches New Solutions Line at NRF 2022

    Star Micronics Launches New Solutions Line at NRF 2022

    At NRF 2022, Star’s latest in their famed TSP100 line-up of POS printers, the TSP143IV, sat pretty on a shining podium, ultra-connected and feature-rich.

    Somerset, NJ – January 27, 2022 – Star Micronics recently exhibited at the National Retail Federation (NRF): Retail’s Big Show where they not only displayed their traditional line of products, but also introduced their latest lines of receipt, label, and kiosk printers, scales, and stands as well. Perhaps their most anticipated product launch was the latest generation of TSP100 printers, the new TSP143IV. This cutting-edge printer offers advanced connectivity and a sleek design to enhance any retailer’s point of sale system.

    Other new product launches include scales specifically designed for restaurants and retailers, and a new line of stands with modern functionalities, designed to clean up any retail counter. Proving once again that Star Micronics is not only your go-to provider of receipt printers but a one-stop shop for all your POS hardware solutions.

    In lieu of a traditional press conference, Star Micronics has chosen to promote the show’s events via video. This has allowed them to ensure the safety of their team, as well as the health and safety of the dedicated reporters and employees at the show.

    “In 2022, we’re so excited to introduce you to our expanding printer product portfolio, along with our complimentary solution products we are launching this year. I think our solution products would be perfect for your business because they’re simple and easy to use with the right features that you and your customers need.”

    Mike Hanson, Executive Vice-President of Star Micronics America

    About Star Micronics

    Star Micronics, a world’s leader in point of sale, has designated a portfolio of printing, secure cash management, scanners, scales, stands and customer engagement solutions for any retail or hospitality establishment in POS and mPOS environments. Embracing the mobility wave, Star’s complementary SDKs allow users to utilize Star in tandem with Android™, iOS iPad®, and iPhone® devices to generate receipts, Chit and label for its printers. In addition, Star Micronics is always leading and innovating, enabling web-based printing solutions, including remote cloud printing, wireless cash drawer solutions, proximity-based printing, and secure cash management. For more information, visit www.starmicronics.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or LinkedIn.

    Love industry news? Check out our podcast:



    Rising Stars Podcast

    Media Contact

    Christin Dorner

    Star Micronics America, Inc.

    cdorner@starmicronics.com

    848-216-3318

  • Tech That Helps The Restaurant Labor Shortage: A Quick Guide

    Tech That Helps The Restaurant Labor Shortage: A Quick Guide

    When dining rooms abruptly shut down during the pandemic, restaurants quickly adapted. By either establishing new processes or shifting to new business models entirely, once-elegant spaces gave way to outdoor dining. Indoors were reconfigured for social distancing or managing delivery and curbside pickup. Plexiglass dividers became standard. But, after all of the effort and investment, restaurants are still operating below 2019 levels. The only constant seems to be change.

    The pandemic is partly to blame for the slow recovery. Customers have been hesitant to return to in-person dining. But it isn’t the only challenge restaurants must overcome — the labor shortage is arguably an even bigger issue. Though the leisure and hospitality sector added 2.6 million jobs in 2021, employment in food services is still 653,000 below where it was before the pandemic really hit. On top of that, many employers are now dealing with high turnover, losing and taking on workers at a greater pace than usual.

    shutterstock_1983755087-e1656373761469

    Restaurant Labor Shortages

    The ongoing labor shortage is impacting the entire range of restaurant segments, forcing operators to make changes to stay in business. From an operations perspective, this may mean offering in-person dining at fewer hours per day or fewer days per week and seating fewer patrons. Businesses may also abbreviate menus to make food prep workloads more manageable with a smaller staff. These measures may help keep the doors open, but they add up to fewer table turns and less revenue.

    Employees are also feeling the pinch. They may be working longer hours and taking on more responsibility. Employees have options, however. They don’t necessarily have to stay in their current jobs. Some will leave, enticed by competitive offers and attractive signing bonuses. Others may opt to explore careers in different industries altogether, ones that offer stable hours and better benefits. In any case, departing employees make the situation even worse for the co-workers and restaurants they leave behind.

    Point-of-Sale-System-Tablet-2

    Furthermore, customers have quickly realized that eating out just isn’t the same as it was. The waits are longer. Favorite foods are no longer on the menu. The staff seems rushed and maybe even less friendly. At a time when restaurants need to rebuild, they can’t afford negative customer experiences. They can’t afford to keep hiring new people just to watch them leave. They can’t afford fewer tables turned and lower revenues. 

    So, how can restaurateurs take their power back?

    Tech That Helps Overcome Labor Shortage Challenges

    In the face of all of these problems, perhaps investing in new restaurant tech can help. Here are five technologies that can ease the burden of operating short-staffed in a constantly changing environment. What’s even better is that this tech can improve the customer experience while future-proofing your restaurant at the same time.

    Self-Service Kiosks

    Freestanding and table-top kiosks allow guests to place their own orders when ready.  As an added advantage, self-service kiosks have been shown to increase customer spending by an average of 20 percent, according to recent studies. Researchers attribute higher average tickets to customers’ ability to scroll through menu choices at their own pace, giving them privacy and control of their ordering experience. These unattended solutions are programmed to optimize the customer experience with smart displays and upselling suggestions, increasing the potential for impulse menu selections. 

    From an operational standpoint, kiosks cover the relatively simple task of entering orders into the restaurant’s system, freeing managers to reassign employees to higher-value activities, such as food prep or curbside pickup management. Additionally, kiosks with advanced capabilities can automatically update menus when items are 86ed, or even tailor selections to returning customers, personalizing their experience.

    Kitchen Display System (KDS)

    Modern KDS technology is designed to help fewer people manage more orders. An effective KDS routes information to specific food prep stations automatically, eliminating service interruptions and paper trails, keeping kitchens and food prep areas organized and efficient. 

    KDS makes real-time data accessible to busy staff, further balancing workloads and boosting productivity. When part of an integrated system, staff can also print to-go box labels as part of the workflow, keeping orders organized, reducing excess waste, and optimizing back-of-house operations.


    TSP654SKII-Bl-Re
    The TSP654IISK thermal receipt, label, and linerless sticky paper printer by Star Micronics is capable of printing orders directly from the cloud, compatible with many popular POS and kitchen display systems.

    Online and Mobile Ordering

    When a restaurant implements online and mobile ordering solutions, employees no longer have to step away from other important tasks to take orders. Online and mobile ordering also minimizes human error from staff reducing waste and losses due to misinterpreted orders. 

    Additionally, when the online ordering solutions are integrated with the point of sale (POS) system and kitchen display system (KDS), work is immediately prioritized and scheduled, ensuring all food prep occurs at the right time. Fewer items are missed, and orders are ready for the customer efficiently and on time.

    Furthermore, online and mobile ordering solutions drive repeat business and customer loyalty by providing customers with an easy, convenient way to order. It also gives restaurants valuable data they can use to personalize future orders on any channel.

    Woman-Using-Smartphone-Featured-Image

    Contactless Pay at the Table

    Pay-at-the-table solutions increase table turns by eliminating the back and forth to stationary POS terminals, including the time it takes to wait in line to use them. Instead, wait staff can accept credit, debit, and touchless payment methods on the spot, allowing guests to check out with a tap or a swipe of a card on contactless-enabled devices. Portable receipt printers complete pay-at-the-table transactions, with staff providing receipts immediately after payment. 

    Another option for creating a quick, touchless payment experience is to print a QR code on the customer’s receipt, allowing guests to pay privately, securely, and conveniently from personal devices. Like contactless pay-at-the-table, QR code payments make settling the check a one-step process, saving time and helping staff provide service to more customers.

    Antimicrobial Covers


    Antimicrobial_Covers_40119_37950620_DH-416-BRS
    Antimicrobial covers are sold by Star Micronics to help keep germs off high-traffic surfaces.

    With ongoing health and safety concerns, antimicrobial covers add another layer of confidence, not only for staff but for customers as well. This helps people feel safer in your establishment. Available in multiple shapes and sizes, protective covers are easy to affix and remove, leaving zero residue. Once applied, anything from door handles and panels to elevator buttons are less likely to harbor and spread bacteria and germs. Antimicrobial covers protect workers and customers without needing constant staff attention and supplies.

    In businesses where there’s a shortage of staff, antimicrobial covers can help keep workers healthy and on the job, too.

    Smart Investments Deliver Value Now & In The Future

    As the restaurant industry continues its slow yet steady road to recovery, it’s vital to make smart investments. Restauranteurs want to ensure survival through this labor crisis, but they also need to think long-term. By automating mundane tasks, technology can help restaurants increase operational efficiency, greatly improving customer experience. Plus, they’ll be able to function whether fully staffed or not. 

    When restaurants settle into the new normal, the technology used during the crisis will only continue to bolster customer dining experiences, proving strong ROI. 

    Those who last are the ones who act. Which technology will you be looking into?

    Find Out More About Star’s Future-Proof POS Solutions:



    Contact The Star Sales Team

  • Star Micronics: Proud To Be At NRF 2022

    Star Micronics: Proud To Be At NRF 2022

    Although it isn’t an easy job, the National Retail Federation (NRF) is taking extra safety precautions this year so exhibitors and guests can physically gather again. As they put it, NRF 2022: Retail’s Big Show “brings together industry visionaries to tackle retail’s biggest topics and forecast what’s next,” and that’s the exact insight we need right now. 

    NRF hosts the people changing the direction of the retail industry, and Star couldn’t be more excited to take part. Not only will we be unveiling our new lineup of POS solutions hardware, but we’ll be having fun doing giveaways each day as well!


    Come by Booth #6527 and say Hi!

    New Tech: Star’s Single Suite POS Solutions

    Star Micronics is not just a printer company. Sure, we specialize in top-of-the-line thermal receipt printers, breaking the barriers of what a POS printer can do, but really, Star is a full solutions provider. 

    We carry everything needed for a complete POS system. No more mismatched hardware or having to go to multiple companies for integration assistance.

    With Star solutions, it’s easy to get up and running right away, knowing you’ve partnered with an industry leader. 

    In short, we couldn’t be more proud to unveil our whole new lineup of complete POS solutions at NRF 2022, and here is a sneak peek:

    The TSP143IV

    As the star of the show, our latest thermal receipt printer is the perfect blend of innovation and value. Ultra-connected with a much smaller footprint, this printer has all the tech you want without the cost.

    mUnite Tablet Stand Collection

    Next, we’ve got a new leading line of tablet and printer stands, made for a multitude of markets. Perfect for securing POS valuables, there’s everything from next-level countertop models, to standing kiosks and wall-mounts for the booming self-service industry.

    Star Scanners

    Star also has a brand-new line of precision QR and barcode scanners, quick on paper or screen. With desktop, handheld, and wireless models, trust you’ll spend more time taking care of your business and less time waiting for the beep.

    mG-T Series POS Scales

    The best for last, we’ve got our new mG-T Series scales, made for everyday use. Simple to connect to your POS station, these scales are ideal for grocery stores, delis, frozen yogurt shops, or any bulk items sold by weight. They’re also great for cannabis cultivation and packaging.

    A Special Message from Mike Hanson
    Executive Vice President of Star Micronics America

    Featured In-Booth Partners

    Evoke

    People-centric company at the forefront of interactive digital technology

    Acadia POS

    Expansive platform with eCommerce capabilities and customizable settings

    Kiosk Group

    Over 30 years experience designing best-selling kiosk software

    A Word From Christophe Naasz
    Director of Business Development at Star Micronics

    Star Giveaways at NRF 2022

    With so many chances to win, you’ve got to at least try for one!

    Biz Card Giveaway


    mG-S POS Scales by Star Micronics

    • Come by Booth #6527, drop your business card, and be entered into our daily giveaway drawing! 
    • Each day at NRF 2022, you have a chance of winning an awesome prize if your card is drawn between 4pm-5pm. Good luck!

    Hashtag #StarNRF2022 Giveaway

    We hope to see you at the show!

    Learn more about our complete POS solutions:



    Contact Our Friendly Sales Team

  • Star Micronics Receipt Printer Integrates with Fatwood Barbeque Food Truck for a Sweet Mobile POS Solution

    Star Micronics Receipt Printer Integrates with Fatwood Barbeque Food Truck for a Sweet Mobile POS Solution

    Fatwood Barbeque, a local restaurant in Alamogordo, NM with a brick-and-mortar restaurant and food truck, offers customers a unique experience on the Holloman Air Force Base with their classic barbeque. They’re known throughout the local area and always have people coming in for a bite.

    Download the full case study >

    The Challenge

    The obstacle Fatwood BBQ faced was the consistent bottleneck line of customers coming to the truck to place their orders. Like many food trucks and other small establishments, the Fatwood team would relay orders by shouting to each other, complicating order management as volume increased. This backed everything else up, making customers wait longer and longer.

    Management knew this problem had to be addressed before it soured customer sentiment.

    Boosting employee efficiency while retaining customer satisfaction quickly went to the top of their list. They needed to ensure that staff could manage a large number of orders on a regular basis to continue increasing revenue.

    “I’m a huge believer in speed and efficiency in the food business and that’s what I wanted for the POS.”
    David Quinlan
    Owner of Fatwood Barbeque

    The Solution

    The TSP143III thermal printer by Star Micronics integrated with a point-of-sale and online ordering software application, allowing Fatwood to eliminate bottleneck lines and make operations a truckload easier.

    Find out how Fatwood BBQ reached its business goals.



    Download the Success Story

    Get your tongs on this winning pair: Addmi software and Star’s TSP143III printer.


    The TSP143III thermal receipt printer by Star Micronics.
    The TSP143III thermal receipt printer paired with Addmi POS software is one sizzlin’ solution!

    Interested in integrating with Star Micronics?



    Contact Integrations Now

  • How to Start a Ghost Kitchen

    How to Start a Ghost Kitchen

    Launching a business in the restaurant space carries a lot of risks. The nationwide restaurant failure rate is challenging to track, but the National Restaurant Association estimates a 30% failure rate in the restaurant industry. With high failure-to-thrive rates, rent, and other overhead costs, plus difficulty filling dining rooms, it’s easy to see why entering the industry is so daunting. However, many restaurateurs have found a way around these challenges: ghost kitchens.

    A ghost kitchen is a professional food preparation and cooking facility set up to prepare delivery or takeout meals without the dining room. This solution has made entering the market more manageable, allowing for flexible working space, eliminating the costs of setting up and running a larger front-of-house operation. For these reasons, many restaurateurs and other entrepreneurs are looking into how to start a ghost kitchen, including what kind of point of sale (POS) technology they will need to get started. 



    Get the Ghost Here

    Planning a Ghost Kitchen

    Ghost kitchens lower the barrier of entry to the restaurant industry. However, there is still a significant amount of planning that goes into opening a ghost kitchen. For instance, you will still need to find a kitchen space to buy or rent from. The good news is, without a dining room, you can select from a workspace that may have lower foot traffic, which means cheaper rent. 

    It may still take you a while to design a menu, however, and you will have to decide between in-house delivery services or outsourcing with partnerships from UberEats, DoorDash, or other sources. And, of course, you will still have to invest in the usual kitchen essentials: food, utensils, and technology.

    POS Technology To Invest In

    As a ghost kitchen owner, your operations will be very different from traditional restaurant operations and will require a more comprehensive digital solution. To keep up with these unique demands, you will need specific technology designed for your kitchen.

    First, you will need an ordering and payment solution that will allow customers to order and pay for their meals online or via a mobile app. Next, you’ll need a kitchen display system (KDS) to get those online orders directly in front of your kitchen staff, keeping your line moving fast and efficiently.

    Also, you can keep your kitchen moving by sending orders to a mobile printer using linerless labels and sticking them directly onto the to-go packages. This minimizes confusion, shortens delivery and pick-up time, keeping the orders moving (be sure to use tamper-proof labels to assure food order safety as well). In addition, as a digitally advanced kitchen, you’ll need a POS system that integrates all of these solutions, making it easy and seamless to manage your operations on a day-to-day basis.


    The EZ POS tablet stand by Star Micronics. Shown in black with TSP143IV receipt printer.
    The EZPOS tablet display stand by Star Micronics

    If you use multiple delivery services and want to keep your POS system flexible by using a mobile tablet, it’s also a smart idea to invest in a tablet stand. It may quickly become one of your kitchen’s most essential tools, providing a home base for your point of sale and making it easier for staff to match up orders with corresponding delivery service providers. A proper stand should also help to protect your tablet, including any receipt or order printer you may have alongside it.

    Your go-to For Ghost Kitchen POS Technology

    Star Micronics provides flexible, futureproof POS technology designed to connect front and back-of-house operations with ease, keeping ghost kitchens operating at their peak. Star provides everything from portable printers, regular and sticky thermal receipt paper, durable tablet stands, and much more. Through one of our certified partners, you can get all of the hardware your ghost kitchen needs. 

    If you’re ready to find the best step up for your ghost kitchen and get ahead of your competition, contact Star today. Discover what our industry-leading technology can do for you and your restaurant business goals.


    The Growing Industry of Ghost Kitchens: The Tech You Need to Get Started ebook.

    The Growing Industry of Ghost Kitchens: The Tech You Need To Get Started

    Learn the essentials of starting a ghost kitchen and the technology restaurateurs will need to get started. 



    Download Now

    Love industry news? Check out our podcast:



    Rising Stars Podcast

  • How POS Value-Added Resellers Can Profit from Ghost Kitchen Startups

    How POS Value-Added Resellers Can Profit from Ghost Kitchen Startups

    As a POS value-added reseller (VAR), you are constantly looking for new opportunities to grow your business. Ghost kitchen startups offer just that opportunity. With 8,000 active operations across North America, ghost kitchens have moved past the proof-of-concept stage and are well on their way to becoming mainstream. In fact, a November 2020 report by Valuates Reports predicts ghost kitchens will generate $71.4 billion by 2027.

    VARs providing ghost kitchen solutions have the perfect opportunity to differentiate their businesses. You can expand beyond providing solutions to traditional restaurant models, help your clients enter this nontraditional space, and win back their declining revenue streams by offering ghost kitchen solutions.



    Download the Guide

    Products VARs Can Provide For Ghost Kitchen Startups

    For VARs looking to help clients open their new businesses, or expand current ones, these are the technologies that are essential:

    Mobile POS

    The first thing you will need to help clients obtain is a mobile point of sale (POS) solution. This point of sale system should feature wireless connectivity and integrations necessary to allow ghost kitchen operations to be flexible and efficient. This may mean that the POS software is used on a tablet so that managers can take their work with them as they review operations.

    Online Ordering and Payment

    Ghost kitchens are specialized kitchens designed to handle to-go orders. Thus, the POS system you provide must integrate with an online ordering and payment system. Bonus points if that integration comes with an easy-to-use mobile app!

    Printers & Paper

    Additionally, your POS solution should integrate with portable printers. Having a solution that can intake orders and print them instantly to keep operations running quickly is vital. Improve their operations even more by stocking them up on linerless labels and receipt paper for commercial-grade linerless sticky label printers, like the TSP654IISK, which allows online order labels to be placed directly on corresponding to-go boxes for frictionless operations that make food preparation and pickup a breeze.


    TSP654IISK Thermal Sticky Label Printer by Star Micronics
    The TSP654IISK sticky linerless label printer by Star Micronics

    Tablet Stands & Pole Mounts

    Provide clients a home base for their tablet and printer system with a durable and protective tablet stand. With the right stand, you can give clients style and function within a sleek, compact frame. The mUnite stand is highly configurable and easy to set up and use. These reliable steel tablet display stands and pole mounts support Star’s extended line of POS printers, in addition to all major Android, iOS, and Windows tablet models, affording protection to each device.

    Ready to Begin?

    Star Micronics provides flexible, futureproof POS technology designed to seamlessly connect front and back-of-house operations to keep ghost kitchens operating at their peak. They can help you provide clients with all the technology above and more! If you’re ready to start making a profit off of ghost kitchen startups, contact Star Micronics today.


    Ghost Kitchens: A Growing Market within the Restaurant Point of Sale Space ebook.

    Ghost Kitchens: A Growing Market Within the Restaurant Point-of-Sale Space

    Insights for VARs on why more restaurateurs and entrepreneurs are utilizing ghost kitchen business models and how to leverage existing technology to assist those clients.



    Download Now

  • Star Software Update: React Native StarXpand™ SDK and mC-Print Firmware

    Star Software Update: React Native StarXpand™ SDK and mC-Print Firmware

    Welcome to the Star Software Update, the regular series of blog updates where Star’s Integration Team informs you about the latest important Star Micronics software updates.

    What’s New:

    Star has released V1.1.0 of React Native StarXpand™ SDK for iOS and Android, available on Github. Updates to the firmware for Star’s mC-Print2 and mC-Print3 thermal printers were also made.

    For the full repository, click here >

    What is Included in the Software Update?

    Updates to StarXpand™ SDK



    • Updated React Native version to 0.66


    • Improved graphics printing speed


    • iOS: Supported for Xcode 13


    • iOS: Added support for the iOS simulator on Apple Silicon Mac


    • Bug fixes for both iOS and Android

    Click here for the list of our latest updates >

    Updates to mC-Print2/3 Firmware



    • Support for TLS 1.3


    • Update CloudPRNT protocol to the same level as HIX


    • Web configuration – multiple CA certification support when uploading on the same level as HIX


    • Updated pre-installed CA certification from V1.0 to V1.1

    About StarXpand™ SDK


    The StarXpand SDK for React Native helps streamline software development.

    StarXpand™ is an industry-first software development kit (SDK) for Star printer control for the popular cross-platform framework, React Native. The SDK supports the development of connecting to and controlling Star printers in applications that utilize React Native. 

    The StarXpand™ SDK will help shorten the development time and maintenance costs associated with printer connection and will be published on GitHub, a website where developers around the world publish and share program codes.

    Read more about this leading technology here >

    About Our mC-Print Thermal Printers


    mC-Print2-and-mC-Print3
    POS Printing in Style: mC-Print2 and mC-Print3

    Sleek and space-saving, our line of POS printers includes the sophisticated and compact mC-Print2 and mC-Print3, which use the latest in SDK technology for easy integration with any iOS or Android. These resilient thermal receipt printers boast multiple connectivity options, including USB, Lightning, Bluetooth, CloudPRNT, and LAN, which means you can change your POS software without changing your printer.

    Take a look at our extensive line of thermal printers >

    Next Steps

    Visit GitHub to access and learn more about the React Native StarXpand SDK updates here.

    Questions or comments?



    Contact Star’s Integration Team

  • Star Micronics Earns “Vendor of the Year” Award at the 2022 Ingram Micro Marketing Experience Event

    Star Micronics Earns “Vendor of the Year” Award at the 2022 Ingram Micro Marketing Experience Event

    The prestigious accolade celebrates Star Micronics’ partner-led strategy, exemplary level of engagement and focus on mutual business growth

     

    Nov. 4, 2021 – Somerset, NJ- Star Micronics is pleased to be named “Vendor of the Year” – Data Capture / Point of Sale – by Ingram Micro Inc. The annual Ingram Micro “Vendor of the Year” awards celebrate the success of more than two dozen emerging and established-channel focused vendor organizations across several categories including technology, markets, and communities. The awards were presented virtually in October 2021 at Ingram Micro’s 2022 Marketing Experience Event.

    “Ingram Micro is proud to work with Star Micronics and enable our mutual channel partners with technology, services and resources needed to differentiate their business and bring more value to their customers,” says Ingram Micro’s Executive Director of Marketing and host of the 2022 Marketing Experience Event Dennis Crupi. “Congratulations to Star Micronics and all of our 2021 Vendor of the Year Award Winners.”

    Pulling from the industry’s most comprehensive portfolio of vendor brands, the Ingram Micro team selected 30 “Vendor of the Year” recipients as part of the 2022 Marketing Experience Event. Earning the title of Vendor of the Year for DC/POS is commended by Ingram Micro for its unwavering commitment to the channel and excellence at all levels of engagement, enablement and execution.

    “Star Micronics continues to innovate and provide the solutions that our customers need,” says Mike Hanson, Executive VP of Star Micronics. “We’re incredibly honored to receive this award from Ingram Micro, and thankful for such a strong partnership.”

    To watch the Ingram Micro Experience event and Vendor of the Year awards, visit https://cvent.me/5xEz8k.

     

    About Star Micronics

    Star Micronics, one of the world’s largest POS providers, has designated a portfolio of printing, secure cash management, and customer engagement solutions for any retail or hospitality establishment in POS and mPOS environments. Embracing the mobility wave, Star’s complimentary SDKs allow users to utilize Star printers in tandem with Android™, and iOS iPad® and iPhone® devices to generate receipts for all its printers. Always leading, and always innovating, Star Micronics enables web-based printing solutions including remote cloud printing, wireless cash drawer solutions, proximity-based printing, and secure cash management. For more information, visit https://starmicronics.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or LinkedIn.

     

    About Ingram Micro

    Ingram Micro helps businesses realize the promise of technology. It delivers a full spectrum of global technology and supply chain services to businesses around the world. Deep expertise in technology solutions, mobility, cloud, and supply chain solutions enables its business partners to operate efficiently and successfully in the markets they serve. Unrivaled agility, deep market insights and the trust and dependability that come from decades of proven relationships, set Ingram Micro apart and ahead. Discover how Ingram Micro can help you realize the promise of technology. More at www.ingrammicro.com

     

    ###

    Media Contacts:

    Brianna Moriarty
    Star Micronics America, Inc.
    (848) 216-3292
    bmoriarty@starmicronics.com

    Marie Rourke
    WhiteFox Marketing Inc. (for Ingram Micro Inc.)
    714-292-2199
    marie@whitefoxpr.com

     

  • Labor Shortage Solutions: The Most Helpful Technology

    Labor Shortage Solutions: The Most Helpful Technology

    The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked many unexpected changes in the economy and the way we live our lives. At the beginning of the pandemic, jobs were lost – in April 2020, as a result of the lockdown, the unemployment rate peaked at 14.8%. But now small businesses are facing a similar yet entirely different challenge: there are millions of job openings but a shortage of workers. Read on to learn more about the labor shortage and how the right technology can help businesses not just survive but thrive.

    The Labor Shortage: Facts and Figures

    The current labor shortage is a historic one. According to CNBC, as of August 2021 there were 4.3 million people leaving their jobs, the highest level on records dating back to 2000. Additionally, per the most recent U.S. Labor Department Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, there were 10.4 million job openings as of August 2021.

    Service-heavy industries that traditionally required abundant manual labor, like accommodation and food services, are being majorly affected by the labor shortage. That puts you, a small business owner, under pressure to pivot your operations to keep up with consumers’ needs. Read on to explore how the right technology can help your business succeed during the labor shortage and beyond.

    Labor Shortage Solutions

    Self-Service Kiosks

    Self-service kiosks can be extremely beneficial when your business is short-handed. A kiosk can enable your customers to take matters into their own hands (literally), avoiding potential long lines and bottlenecks.

    Kiosks allow customers to order their own meal at a restaurant, check themselves in to an appointment, and check prices or pay for their own purchase at a retail shop. All the while, kiosks allow precious available staff to dedicate themselves to improving the customer experience in more worthwhile ways, like providing more personal customer service, restocking shelves, preparing online and curbside orders, and more.

    Mobile Checkouts

    mobile checkout
    A mobile checkout at Target (source: thekrazycouponlady.com)

    In the retail and QSR space, long lines are a serious danger. According to a study conducted by payment platform Ayden, retailers lose a collective $37.7 billion in potential sales due to long checkout lines (and that figure is surely even higher now during the labor shortage).

    The answer? Mobile checkouts. Instead of requiring customers to queue up at a traditional point of sale, mobile checkouts enable staff to process payments anywhere in the store or restaurant as long as they have a mobile point of sale device and a mobile receipt printer. Implementing mobile checkouts not only help your business with line-busting, but they offer a more convenient method of payment for your customers and allow staff to be out and about in the building completing other tasks while also being able to ring up sales along the way.


    Full 2022 Product Catalog by Star Micronics.

    Reopening Toolbox

    Now more than ever, safety and convenience are priorities in retail and hospitality environments. As businesses reopen their doors, Star is proud to offer a line of solutions and resources designed to keep consumers and employees safe and satisfied.



    Visit Toolbox

    POS Software & Online Ordering

    If there’s ever been a time to upgrade your POS software and become a part of the online ordering scene, the pandemic is it. If you’re considering upgrading, be sure to choose a POS software that includes features like:

    • Online and brick-and-mortar selling capabilities
    • Mobile checkouts and mobile payment acceptance
    • Inventory management and menu management
    • Employee reporting, management, and payroll
    • Customer management and loyalty programs
    • Stock transfers
    • Detailed reporting

    Online ordering is not only widely sought after by consumers but can help you optimize your in-store and in-restaurant labor by having customers pay online and simply drop by to pick up their item or meal (or have it delivered to them). This can help keep your remaining brick-and-mortar business flowing, while allowing staff to package orders in-between ringing up customers or providing other customer support.

    Antimicrobial Film Covers

    Between the Delta variant and the upcoming flu season, avoiding germs is a priority for all shoppers and diners, whether they’re browsing your brick-and-mortar establishment or simply dropping by to pick up a curbside order.

    Help protect your customers and staff alike by applying antimicrobial film covers (like the ones from Star) to various surfaces in your store. Antimicrobial covers take seconds to apply, last up to 6 months, and can be placed on anything from door handles and checkout counters to restaurant tables and bathroom surfaces. Additionally, the covers provided by Star are thoroughly tested, EPA-compliant, and latex-free.

    The Labor Shortage: A Trying Time, but Also a Time to Improve

    The labor shortage is without a doubt one of the most stressful times the retail and restaurant industries have endured in recent years. However, the technology needed to help businesses through this challenge should be considering an investment in long-term success. Solutions like self-service kiosks, mobile checkouts, top-of-the-line POS software, and antimicrobial covers help you survive the now – and thrive in the tomorrow.

    From antimicrobial film covers to mobile receipt printers, Star has the right POS technology to boost your business – whether you’re fully staffed or short-handed.

    Full 2022 Product Catalog by Star Micronics.

    Star Micronics Product Catalog

    Explore POS printers, label printers, kiosk solutions, and accessories for retail, restaurant, self-service, and more.



    Download Now

    Disclaimer: NeverGerms® makes no claims regarding the safety or health of the general public or those interacting with its products. “NeverGerms®” and “Touch Less Germs®” are registered trademarks and not intended to have literal interpretation. NeverGerms products are manufactured by NeverGerms and distributed by Star Micronics. Although these products are designed to reduce microbe populations on commonly-utilized surfaces and have been tested by the manufacturer for their antimicrobial properties, Star Micronics cannot guarantee that they will eliminate all risk of germ, including virus, transfer from such surfaces. Star Micronics, as distributor, relies entirely upon claims made by manufacturer as supported by prior research. For further information, please visit www.nevergerms.com.

  • Star Software Update: Beta Windows USB Cash Drawer SDK Released

    Star Software Update: Beta Windows USB Cash Drawer SDK Released

    Welcome to the Star Software Update, the regular series of blog updates where Star’s Integration Team informs you about the latest important Star Micronics software updates.

    What’s New:

    Star Micronics has released the Beta Windows USB Cash Drawer SDK. This SDK is distributed as a DLL and a sample app is provided to demonstrate usage. This SDK is ideal for any industry that uses a cash drawer (retail, hospitality, etc.)

    What is Included in the SDK?

    The SDK for Star Micronics USB cash drawers (currently the SMD2 Max Series and CD3 Value Series) includes three functions:

    • Discovering connected cash drawers (up to 8 can be connected at once)
    • Checking open/closed state of the cash drawer(s)
    • Opening the cash drawer(s)

    About Star’s USB Cash Drawers

    Star Micronics has two series of cash drawers that feature USB connectivity. Learn more about them below:

    cd3-stacked

    Value Series Cash Drawers (CD3)

    Durable steel construction
    Black or white coated finish
    Cash till options for US and Canada
    13”x13” and 16”x16” models available

    Learn more >

    smd2-stacked

    Max Series Cash Drawers (SMD2)

    High quality steel construction
    Black or white coated finish
    Kensington lock capable for added security
    13”x17” and 16”x17” models available

    Learn more >

    Next Steps

    Visit GitHub to access and learn more about the SDK: https://github.com/star-micronics/starlabs-cashdrawer-sdk-windows

    Questions or Comments?



    Contact Star Integration Now