Author: Brianna Moriarty

Star Micronics and Marijuana Software to Offer a Simple E-Commerce Solution for Cannabis

OMMPOS adds an online ordering plugin for cannabis dispensary customers using Star Micronics mC-Print3 with CloudPRNT

Somerset, NJ – July 8, 2020 – Star Micronics, a leading manufacturer of mobile, point of sale (POS), and customer engagement technologies, is proud to announce that OMMPOS.COM from Marijuana Software, LLC has certified a number of Star Micronics hardware peripherals to support their POS software and online ordering solution for cannabis dispensaries. OMMPOS supports Star’s mC-Print3 receipt printer, TSP743II label printer, Star’s CD3 Value Series of cash drawers, and mG-Scales, to offer the full hardware and software POS solution to their cannabis dispensary customers. OMMPOS has decided to expand their offering even further to help their customers during the COVID-19 outbreak by offering a simple solution for online ordering.

OMMPOS is offering their new online ordering feature for cannabis dispensaries at $15 per month, and $1 per order, making it a cost effective and competitive solution in the market. The online ordering plugin offers an API that allows current OMMPOS customers to transfer their current menu in their POS to their new e-commerce website seamlessly, using templates to custom brand their website with their own domain name. The API also allows cannabis dispensaries using other POS software to use the OMMPOS online ordering feature. The solution is compatible with WordPress and Wix for full website customization.

When OMMPOS users set up their e-commerce website, customers can then place their order for pick-up or delivery through that site. When customers place their order, the order gets sent to Star’s mC-Print3 receipt printer using CloudPRNT. CloudPRNT will work with the OMMPOS software to store and create print jobs, and communicate status with the printer. The store owner or service providers do not need to maintain an SSL certificate for this CloudPRNT printers since the printer communicates with the server as a client.

“We are excited to be able to offer this powerful, easy-to-use solution for online ordering. It used to take a lot of technical know how to set up a website shopping cart, and until now it has been very difficult for dispensaries to keep the inventory on their website accurate,” says Raja Afrika, Co-Founder of Marijuana Software, LLC. “Now, with our push button solution, anyone can instantly add a shopping cart to their existing website or use our instant website option if they don’t already have one. Our online ordering solutions supports delivery and curbside pickup as well as online payments with CanPay.”

July 8, 2020
Star Micronics and C-Trax to Offer a Simple POS Solution for Cannabis Dispensaries

C-Trax, paired with Star Micronics printers, helps cannabis dispensaries and CBD retailers to streamline business operations

Somerset, NJ – June 10, 2020 – Star Micronics, a leading manufacturer of mobile, point of sale (POS), and customer engagement technologies, is proud to announce that C-Trax has added support for Star’s mPOP, along with the mUnite POP and 2D Imager to offer a complete point of sale solution for cannabis dispensaries and CBD retailers. With C-Trax and Star Micronics, hemp retailers have the ease of mind knowing that their sales and store management are being done right.

C-Trax is the only point of sale that has been designed with the hemp retailer in mind. Designed with franchises and multi-store management in mind, C-Trax brings easy to use POS functionality tied together with a comprehensive back-office management solution. In addition, C-Trax is the first cannabis point of sale software to be fully integrated with payments solutions.

Star Micronics mPOP is ideal for retail businesses with a lower volume of cash transactions. The all-in-one receipt printer and cash drawer is sleek and compact, taking up less valuable counter space, and allowing retailers to operate from a modern, tablet point of sale. The latest addition to the mPOP offers Flat Bill cash management, with a stacked cash till, offering management for 4 bill and 4 or 6 adjustable coin slots. Additionally, the mPOP comes with its own custom tablet stand, helping to manage cables and keep your point of sale sleek and clean.

“There is enough to worry about as a cannabis retailer, maintaining equipment shouldn’t be one of them,” states Sean Tolliver, CEO C-Trax. “Our partnership with Star Micronics helps us relieve some of the pressure by providing a reliable and cost-effective hardware solution.”

June 10, 2020
Star Micronics Launches Star Empower Program for Resellers

The new Star Empower Program is designed to help resellers grow revenue while offering top-of-the-line POS solutions

Somerset, NJ – June 5, 2020 – Star Micronics, a leading manufacturer of mobile, point of sale (POS), and customer engagement technologies, is proud to announce a change to its channel program with the release of its Star Empower Program, enabling its resellers to competitively offer best-of-breed POS solutions from Star Micronics.

Designed to benefit all resellers by their types of business models, the Star Empower Program will enable its partners to grow their businesses and increase their solution margins. The program aims to support resellers’ efforts to sustain business during today’s market challenges.

The Star Empower Program is open to all Star Micronics solution resellers and will offer discounted pricing to registered partners. The program also provides access to the Star Partner Portal, where partners can register special projects, request demo units, review historical purchases, access a variety of marketing collateral, and more.

The program will also offer Loyalty Benefits to eligible resellers and software partners that prioritize Star’s solution offerings. Loyalty Benefits will include exclusive marketing and business development assistance designed to increase partners’ brand visibility and revenue. To learn more about the Star Empower Program, please visit https://starmicronics.com/partnerportal.

The Star Empower Program will officially launch July 1, 2020, and a pre-registration period will begin on June 8, 2020 to enable partners to take advantage of the Program’s benefits as quickly as possible. By pre-registering for the Star Empower Program, resellers will be able to take advantage of special pricing and sign up for Loyalty Benefits starting on the program launch date of July 1, 2020. Resellers can pre-register for the program here: https://empower.starmicronics.com/register.

“Star is excited to launch our Star Empower Program. Listening to the challenges of our reseller and distribution partners, I am confident this is the right program at the right time,” said Michael Hanson, Executive Vice President at Star Micronics. “The program captures our ‘Always Leading, Always Innovating’ spirit and will increase the synergy with our channel partners by enhancing product value and restoring channel integrity while rewarding our loyal partners’ commitment to our success.”

June 5, 2020
Star Micronics and IndicaOnline to Provide a Simple Solution for Cannabis Delivery

IndicaOnline responds to customer requests to offer cannabis delivery services using Star mobile printers during COVID-19 outbreak

Somerset, NJ – May 4, 2020 – Star Micronics, a leading manufacturer of mobile, point of sale (POS), and customer engagement technologies, is proud to announce that IndicaOnline has added support for Star’s SM-S230i and SM-T300i mobile printers for their new delivery feature for cannabis dispensaries. During the COVID-19 pandemic, both medical and recreational cannabis dispensaries have been deemed essential businesses in many states, driving the demand for online ordering and delivery services for cannabis.

IndicaOnline has developed an advanced cannabis delivery solution with a user-friendly application. The delivery software suite includes end-to-end route mapping, dispatcher mode, and real-time GPS tracking to shorten consumer wait times. Smart order assignment removes the guesswork from dispatching orders, and IndicaOnline’s best-in-class mobile courier application has enterprise navigation APIs, unparalleled reliability, and advanced security encryption. Mobile checkout has never been easier as drivers can upload documents, verify age, calculate change, and either print or email receipts.

Star’s SM-S230i and SM-T300i help IndicaOnline to deliver printed receipts to customers using their delivery services. In many states, it is required that customers must have a printed receipt for cannabis purchases, whether medical or recreational. Both printers are Bluetooth enabled, making them easy to take on the go. The SM-S230i offers a smaller footprint, with 2-inch receipts, while the SM-T300i is rugged for tough environments, and offers a standard 3-inch receipt.

“IndicaOnline is excited to partner with Star to offer cannabis delivery drivers a Bluetooth receipt printer that is portable, reliable, and durable,” says Steven Lynn, Director of Marketing for IndicaOnline. “We understand how important it is for delivery services to stay compliant while serving customers during this pandemic, and know this solution will be instrumental.”

May 4, 2020
Star Micronics and Worldnet Payments Partner to Provide a Contactless Payment Solution to Merchants

Worldnet’s GoChip software, paired with Star’s printing technology makes it easy for merchants to adopt contactless payments amid COVID-19 outbreak

Somerset, NJ – April 30, 2020 – Star Micronics, a leading manufacturer of mobile, point of sale (POS), and customer engagement technologies, is proud to announce that Worldnet Payments has added support for Star’s mC-Print3 receipt printer. Worldnet Payments delivers frictionless end-to-end payments – from advice on architecture, to support in rollout and merchant migration – helping to ensure a truly frictionless integration experience for customers.

Worldnet’s GoChip SDK is EMV® certified with major processors and provides Integrated Contactless/NFC and EMV® options. The Cardholder-Not-Present suite covers eCommerce, in-app payments, Virtual Terminal and Tokenization solutions, allowing merchants to accept any payment, anywhere, with all major credit and debit cards as well as digital wallets.

The technology has been designed from the ground up to deliver seamlessly integrated omni-channel payments. Many businesses are finding it hard to manage all their payments touch points — multiple gateways, hardware providers, merchant accounts, and so on. By partnering with Star Micronics, the joint venture can deliver integrated solutions that help your customers advance and grow their business. The Star mC-Print3 offers a sleek and connected receipt printing solution with high-speed printing, a splash-proof design, and peripheral HUB.

“Commerce is changing faster than ever before and this change in consumer payment behaviour has given us an opportunity to deliver a truly differentiated customer experience by innovating the payments experience” said Conn Byrne, Worldnet Payments’ Senior Vice President of Sales. “We are excited to partner with Star Micronics for a one-stop hardware and software payments solution.”

April 30, 2020
Contactless Payments: A Safer, More Efficient Payment Alternative
Social distancing and minimizing human contact are topics that are on everyone’s mind these days, and for good reason. Consumers and businesses alike are leveraging strategies to limit any possible exposure to outside germs – and one of those strategies is contactless payments.

Contactless payments – or processing transactions via the tap of a credit/debit card, smartphone, or smart watch – are undoubtedly an effective way to keep business flowing while keeping your employees and your customers safe. But an added bonus is that contactless payments are growing in popularity around the world and are sure to serve you well into the future. Read on to learn more about contactless payments, how to get started accepting these modern transactions, and additional tips on how to keep safe during this challenging time.

What are Contactless Payments?

Contactless payments can take many forms. According to Investopedia,

“Contactless payment is a secure method for consumers to purchase products or services using a debit, credit, or smartcard—also known as a chip card—by using RFID technology or near-field communication (NFC).

To make a contactless payment, tap your card near a point-of-sale terminal that is equipped with the contactless payment technology. Since contactless payments do not require a signature or a personal identification number (PIN), transaction sizes on cards are limited. The allowable amount for a contactless transaction varies by country and by the bank.

Contactless payment is also referred to as tap-and-go by some banks and retailers. Examples of non-credit or debit card contactless payments include transit cards, Apple Pay, Android Pay, and Google Wallet.”

While these payments may seem like a recent trend, the technology has been in existence since the 1990s – however, at that time, only a small number of merchants used this payment method.

Benefits of Contactless Payments

Hygienic: Contactless payments are a cleaner alternative to paying with cash or using a pin pad on a credit/debit card terminal. Simply put, there’s less opportunity for contamination.

Fast: A major benefit of contactless payments is how speedy they are because no PIN is required, and your employees don’t need to manage cash transactions. By speeding up transactions, you can successfully line-bust and keep your customers happy.

Improved customer experience: Like we just mentioned, contactless payments create a streamlined, easy, and quick experience – something consumers are sure to love.

Secure: While some people are under the impression that contactless payments are not as secure as a chip card transaction, contactless payments provide the same EMV security provided by chip cards.

How Popular are Contactless Payments?

According to a 2018 report, in the US 26% of all consumer transactions (that’s 50 billion purchases!) are made with cash, but contactless payments are building in popularity around the world and the US is bound to follow the global trend. For example, contactless payments account for approximately 20% of all transactions in Australia, Canada, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.

It seems the US is already on that path – TD Bank has seen a surge in contactless transactions following the coronavirus outbreak, and it’s likely that consumers will continue paying for their purchases in this quick and easy way well after the pandemic has ended.

Star Micronics has the POS hardware you need to enable modern payments including contactless, pay-at-the-table, and more.

How to Implement Contactless Payments

Are you ready to get started with contactless payments, if you haven’t already? Here’s what you need to know.

Most banks offer contactless credit and debit cards, as well as the terminals that are required for, and equipped for, processing contactless transactions. These terminals have a contactless payment symbol to show customers that contactless payment methods are accepted, but you may also communicate to your customers that you accept these payments in person, through social media or email, by placing a sign at the point of sale, or via receipt marketing.

Some retailers set a low limit for contactless systems to prevent fraud, but some do still allow large transactions, with a required signature.

When it’s time to pay, customers hold their card, smartphone, or smart watch 1” to 2” from the contactless symbol on the terminal. When the payment has been accepted, the terminal will alert the customer with a beep, green light, or checkmark.

Free Resources During COVID-19 & Beyond

Now more than ever, safety is a priority in retail and hospitality environments. Star Micronics is proud to offer a line of solutions and resources for businesses during this challenging time, designed to keep consumers and employees safe, as well as mitigate business impact caused by COVID-19.

Visit Our Health & Safety Toolbox

More Ways to Stay Safe

Clean your POS: Consult your various hardware manufacturers regarding safe cleaning protocols.

Leverage online ordering: As dine-in service and brick-and-mortar options have essentially come to a standstill, it’s a great time to leverage online ordering if you haven’t already. Click here to discover tips on how to do just that. Have you been wondering if you’re ready for online ordering? Don’t worry, we have the answer.

Offer curbside pickup: Take your exposure limitation even further by offering curbside pickup. Click here to discover how your restaurant can implement curbside pickup.

Communicate with your customers: Last – but certainly not least – always communicate with your customers. Even though consumers are following quarantine and social distancing policies, they still desire to be in the loop with what you’re doing as a business, so be sure to keep them in-the-know with any relevant specials or safety procedures.

At Star Micronics, our hearts go out to anyone impacted by COVID-19, either directly or indirectly, especially to those who are sick, to whom we extend our heartfelt wishes for a full recovery. To learn more about what we are doing as an organization to reduce the global impact of COVID-19, in terms of health and business, please click here.

To browse all of our blog posts covering tips for small businesses during COVID-19, please visit our #StarForSmallBiz blog collection.

What can Worldnet’s Omnichannel Integrated Payments do for you?

Worldnet is proud to offer a simple omnichannel integration that brings your eCommerce, Back Office and Cardholder Present payment solutions together, and presents all that data directly into your software solution, ERP, or CRM system.

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April 23, 2020
Star Spotlight – NRF 2020 Edition: eMobilePOS
NRFis a wonderful show for multiple reasons – it’s where over 40,000 retail industry professionals gather to share ideas, build partnerships, and experience the year’s latest technology. Speaking of partnerships, one of Star’s favorite reasons for being at Retail’s Big Show is the dedicated time we give to catching up with our many retail software partners.

In today’s blog post, discover how one of Star’s POS software partners, eMobilePOS, is expanding mobile payments into even more verticals this year. Learn more about our partnership in the below video interview filmed at NRF 2020 and stay tuned for even more partnership interviews in our upcoming Star Spotlight NRF 2020 Edition blog posts.

What Does eMobilePOS Do?

e-Nabler, the company behind eMobilePOS, is a pioneer and leader in mobile POS and cloud-based software-as-a-service. The full-feature mobile POS and inventory management software fits all the functionality of a traditional POS workstation into a Android, Apple iOS, or Windows tablet or smartphone.

e-Nabler was founded by Joel Vazquez in 2001 and the company was one of the first to offer a full-featured mobile POS solution for Windows Mobile. In 2010, the application became available on iTunes as the first complete mobile POS app for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Today, the eMobilePOS software is available for Android, Apple iOS, and Windows tablets and smartphones. The company is headquartered in San Juan, Puerto Rico with a sales office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

eMobilePOS seamlessly integrates with leading accounting, POS and ERP systems such as QuickBooks, Sage, Microsoft Dynamics RMS, Retail Pro and SAP, making sure that information is always up to date.

With hundreds of satisfied customers and thousands of users, eMobilePOS is a thoroughly tested and hardened solution, providing reliability and plug’n’play installation. Customers include everything from brick and mortar stores, mobile retailers and restaurants to field service organizations and wholesale distribution companies. To date, eMobilePOS has processed more than 3 billion sales transactions.

^{Source: https://www.emobilepos.com/}

What are Some of eMobilePOS’s Key Products?
- Mobile POS: eMobilePOS’s unique mobile POS solution has the ability to transform Android, Apple iOS, and Windows tablets and phones into feature-packed POS devices which include businesses’ favorite legacy POS components, but in a flexible and stylish package (and with an affordable price). Features include: EMV chip, PIN, check, gift card, and NFC-based payment acceptance; interoperability with QuickBooks, SAGE, and more software; out-of-the-box certified peripherals; and more.
- Tablet POS: The eMobile POS tablet POS solution for iOS and Android – which can be a standalone solution or be integrated with a business’s favorite software – allows businesses to track sales in real-time, manage loyalty programs, customize the interface with branding, and more, all at an affordable cloud-based subscription price.
- iPad Kiosk: Self-service is immensely popular, and it’s not going away anytime soon. eMobilePOS allows businesses to easily take advantage of all the benefits self-service has to offer by transforming an iPad into an easy-to-use interactive kiosk. With an intuitive user experience, customers can easily place and customize orders, select add-on products, apply coupons, earn or redeem loyalty rewards, and pay for their order.
What’s New with eMobilePOS in 2020?

One exciting piece of news from eMobilePOS this year is the addition of a mass transit POS application to their solution lineup. This new solution serves mass transit operators, as well as smaller operators like ambulances, taxis, ferries, buses, and commuter rail. eMobilePOS’s solution supports passengers on board who would like to pay with any kind of payment method, including credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and more. Receipts for tickets are printed on Star mobile printers, with QR codes for conductors to validate.

Learn more about how Star and eMobilePOS enabled mobile credit card payments for Greater Boston commuter rail.

What Star Products Does eMobilePOS Integrate?

mPOP

Compact and sleek design
Printer – cash drawer – scanner – device stand
Compatible with iOS, Android, and Windows
Two cash drawer options: vertical bill (4 bill and 6 or 8 adjustable coin slots) and flat bill (4 bill and 4 or 6 adjustable coin slots)

mC-Print3

3-inch thermal printer
Modern, space-saving, connected
Bluetooth, USB, Lightning, LAN, CloudPRNT
SteadyLAN® Technology (mCP31L and mCP31LB)

TSP654II

High reliability and performance
High-speed printing (300mm/s)
Swappable interfaces: serial, parallel, USB, LAN
Bluetooth and AirPrint connectivity available

SP742

Reliable kitchen printer
Internal power supply
Available with Apple MFi certified Bluetooth
Available with CloudPRNT online ordering support

SM-S230i

2-inch portable printer with compact, lightweight design
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR / USB 2.0 full speed
Barcode/graphics printing supported
Magnetic stripe reader

SM-T300i

3-inch ultra rugged mobile printer
Apple MFi certified
Long battery life
3DES encryption and optional magnetic stripe reader

SM-T400i

3-inch ultra durable mobile printer
Apple MFi certified
Small and lightweight design
3DES encryption and optional magnetic stripe reader

mG-S8200

Legal for trade, NTEP-certified
Bluetooth, Serial, USB
Wired and battery-operated power supply
Measures substances up to 18lb

Stay tuned for our upcoming NRF 2020 Star Spotlights, coming soon. In the meantime, learn more about how Star and our partners have teamed up to provide solutions by browsing our Success Stories.

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April 17, 2020
Star Micronics and Joe Coffee to Provide Mobile Ordering Solution for Coffee Shops

Joe Coffee, paired with Star Micronics printers, helps local coffee shops to offer mobile ordering and loyalty programs to customers

Somerset, NJ – April 14, 2020 – Star Micronics, a leading manufacturer of mobile, point of sale (POS), and customer engagement technologies, is proud to announce that Joe Coffee has added support for Star’s TSP143III and TSP654II printers for mobile ordering in coffee shops. Making it easier for customers to get their beverages from their favorite local coffee shop, Joe Coffee uses Star printers to allow coffee shop owners to accept and print mobile orders.

Joe is the largest and fastest-growing mobile order ahead network for indie coffee shops in the U.S. With the Joe Coffee app, customers can order and pay ahead and have their coffee ready to pick up when they arrive. The app also makes it easy for customers to receive promotions and earn loyalty points at their favorite local coffee shop. With Joe Coffee, any coffee shop – big or small – can go digital, sell more coffee, and earn more customer loyalty.

Star Micronics TSP143III and TSP654II both offer reliable and high-quality receipt printing. Available with both Bluetooth or USB connectivity, the TSP143III and TSP654II are easy to set-up and connect so coffee shops never have to worry about missing an order. They are also both compatible with iOS or Android, and come equipped with Star’s PromoPRNT Cloud Service. PromoPRNT allows coffee shop owners to add promotions to their receipts at no additional cost.

“It’s imperative that Joe can integrate seamlessly into any coffee shop or cafe workflow,” says Nick Martin, Co-Founder and CEO of Joe Coffee. “Our partnership with Star Micronics empowers us to configure ticket printing for coffee shops of all shapes and sizes including cafes with full-service kitchens. Star is the only manufacturer capable of fulfilling the high volume of orders we generate for shops in our network with the speed and reliability we require.”

April 14, 2020
Star Micronics and ADDMI to Offer QR Code Online Ordering and Point of Sale for Restaurants

ADDMI and Star have teamed up to help restaurants simply implement online ordering solutions with QR codes

Somerset, NJ – April 6, 2020 – Star Micronics, a leading manufacturer of mobile, point of sale (POS), and customer engagement technologies, is proud to announce that ADDMI has added support for Star’s TSP143III receipt printer, TSP654SK label printer, CD3 cash drawers, and mUnite tablet stand. ADDMI strives to offer restaurants a complete solution to run their business from the hardware, to the point of sale, to online ordering.

ADDMI believes in creating products and services that are a win-win for both our customers and their customers. With ADDMI, restaurants are getting a simple and fast, yet robust point of sale system that easily enables online ordering with QR codes, helping restaurants to streamline operations and increase revenue. ADDMI is designed to help restaurants save money on their daily operations, while increasing the amount of orders coming in at the same time.

Star Micronics offers a full suite of hardware solutions for restaurants. Star’s TSP143III receipt printer is reliable and simple to operate, and the TSP654SK label printer offers repositionable linerless labels, helping to improve order accuracy. Paired with Star’s CD3 Value Series cash drawers, and the mUnite stand for cable management, restaurants can save counter space and have a robust solution to keep operations flowing.

“ADDMI is an innovator in the POS space, providing a super-efficient ordering process with QR codes, and streamlining business operations throughout the entire ordering process,” says Andy Lim, CEO of ADDMI. “Our immediate goal is to provide a powerful, affordable, and quick solution for restaurants to provide online ordering for pickup, and Star has been an instrumental part of helping us to provide that experience.”

April 6, 2020
Star Micronics and OrderOut to Provide an Online Ordering Solution for Clover POS

OrderOut, paired with Star Micronics CloudPRNT printers, helps Clover to provide seamless online ordering to their restaurant customers

Somerset, NJ – April 2, 2020 – Star Micronics, a leading manufacturer of mobile, point of sale (POS), and customer engagement technologies, is proud to announce that OrderOut is using the Star mC-Print3 to bring online ordering solutions to Clover POS restaurants. OrderOut works with third-party online ordering platforms and the restaurant point of sale (POS) to consolidate all platforms onto one device.

OrderOut provides direct integration into the Clover POS system, eliminating the need for separate tablets for each third-party online ordering system being used at the restaurant. When online orders are placed, OrderOut detects the order and instantly transfers it to the kitchen printer. The platform also automatically accepts orders based on your current menu and availability, and maps the restaurant menu from the POS and food delivery services directly into the OrderOut system.

Star Micronics mC-Print3 with CloudPRNT technology makes accepted and printing online orders easy for restaurants and food service operations. OrderOut and Star have teamed up to offer restaurants using Clover POS the full online ordering solution and delivery services, along with the Star printer for only $59 per month.

“We are pleased to continue our partnership with Star Micronics along with our integration into Clover,” says Zack Martin, CEO and Co-Founder of OrderOut. “Merchants, specifically restaurants, are getting an amazing solution that will streamline their third party food delivery operation. It’s amazing to partner with some of the most trusted names in the hospitality industry, and we look forward to enabling restaurants across the country to be more efficient and successful.”

We understand that this is a difficult time for businesses– especially those in the restaurant and hospitality industries, and are providing our services at a discounted rate to help your restaurant’s third-party food delivery operation. Click here to see if your restaurant qualifies.

April 2, 2020