Author: Heidi Orpilla

3B Apps Chooses Star Micronics Printers for a Solution That Provides SMB Restaurants with a Competitive Edge

It can be a challenge for small and medium sized (SMB) restaurants to compete with their large chain competitors when it comes to mobile technology. 3B Apps has a mission of offering affordable mobile apps to restaurants of all sizes so they can offer their customers the convenience of mobile ordering — and to level the competitive playing field.

The Situation

3B Apps creates branded apps that are designed with the restaurant’s logo, images, and menus, which are formatted for easy ordering and payment. When a customer places an order, it is sent to an iPad in the restaurant’s kitchen where it automatically prints. This function of the solution streamlines online orders for the restaurant, reduces the need for additional labor to enter the order, and eliminates errors that can occur when orders are rekeyed.

The right printer, however, is essential for the greatest efficiency. In a loud, busy kitchen environment, it’s crucial to ensure the kitchen staff doesn’t miss any orders. 3B Apps needed to find printers that offered a level of dependability that wouldn’t leave kitchen staff wondering if they had missed an order or if an order had failed to print.

The 3B Apps team evaluated options for printers to integrate with their apps that would give restaurants the dependability and enhanced workflows they are looking for.

Source: 3bapps.com

The Solution

After testing numerous printer solutions on the market, 3B Apps chose two of Star Micronics’s printer models, the TSP100III and the SM-T300i, for several key reasons: the ability to integrate Star’s API, the features of the products, affordability and customer support.

3B Apps incorporates the Star Micronics TSP100III thermal printer into solutions for the majority of its customers. This high speed (250 mm/s) printer features easy setup, “drop in and print” paper loading, multiple connectivity options and easy Bluetooth pairing.

For 3B Apps’ customers that need increased mobility and durability — in food truck applications, for example — the Star Micronics SM-T300i provides the functionality they need from an ultra-rugged mobile thermal receipt printer. This printer, MFi certified for use with iOS devices, is easy to use and maintain, making it the perfect “kitchen gadget.”

Click here to download the full success story.

December 20, 2018
What is the Future of Receipt Printers?
Receipt printers play an integral part in the customer experience. Every transaction at the point of sale (POS) generates a receipt; these paper (or digital) takeaways are proofs of purchase and potentially so much more. A good receipt printer enables store owners and managers to print coupons, raise brand awareness, and issue customer surveys. As receipt printer technology progresses, you can expect even more functionality, higher quality printing, and faster connections.

What does the future hold for receipt printers? These six features will become even more important as businesses evolve.

1. Front-Loading Paper Design

Front-loading printers are designed for easy loading and low maintenance. It’s inevitable that cashiers will need to change the printer paper at least once while there’s a line waiting. Quick access for a paper swap can shave time off the wait, which keeps the line moving.

2. Multiple Connectivity Options

Consumers expect always-on connectivity for uninterrupted service, so don’t limit yourself. Purchasing a printer that has multiple connectivity choices, including Ethernet, Wi-Fi, traditional USB, lightning USB, Bluetooth, and CloudPRNT, allows for versatile, reliable use throughout retail locations. Mobile checkouts are mainstays in busy retail operations, so multiple connectivity choices will ensure your receipt printer is always up and running.

3. Easy Software Integration

The days of downloading multiple drivers, clicking around to integrate printers and software, getting frustrated and finally calling tech support is over. No one has time to sit on the phone to troubleshoot problems, so expect to see plug and play setups, with everything you need right in one box and online.

4. Hardy and Compact, but Still High-End and Stylish

Bigger isn’t better, and in the future, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a receipt printer that takes up a lot of real estate on a checkout counter. Instead, expect stylish, compact designs, even for printers that are tough enough to work in any modern environment.

5. Thermal Printing

A thermal receipt printer is quiet and uses a printhead to apply heat that transfers characters and images to receipt paper and labels. Thermal receipt printers have a higher resolution than impact printers, so they print crisp, clear images. For merchants that want a nicer looking receipt, or print coupons and marketing information, thermal printers may be the right choice.

6. Value-Added Services Included

You want more control from your POS system over services that were previously managed through third-party companies, such as surveys, promotions, coupons, and even digital signage. Star Cloud Services was created to bring next-generation customer engagement solutions to retailers by transforming their receipt printers into cloud-connected devices. This gives business owners total control over the what and how of communicating with their customer base.

Star Cloud Services include:
- AllReceipts: a free cloud-based, digital receipt application that allows customers to store and manage receipts on their mobile devices
- PromoPRNT/Promotion creator: a simple coupon creator that designs promotions for receipts
- PromoPRNT/scheduler: schedule the duration of a coupon campaign by selecting a time, date, and printer for each coupon/promotion
- Customer surveys: a direct line of communication with customers, printed on the receipt, to get their feedback on how your business and products are performing
Business owners shopping for a new receipt printer shouldn’t choose one that’s obsolete before it’s even out of the box. Look for a printer that is a front-loading device for fast paper changes, and one with myriad connectivity options for mobility and flexibility. Don’t let your receipt printer limit you — choose one that includes value-added services that gives you control over how and when you communicate with customers.

The Future of Printing with Star
December 18, 2018
TallySoft and Star Equip Specialty Retailers to Enhance Customer Experience

Specialty retailers are facing more competition from big box retailers and e-commerce businesses than ever before, and they are exploring technology options to support efficient, profitable operations – but at the same time delight customers with great shopping experiences. TallySoft’s Retail Management system, TallySales™, is strategically designed to deliver both.

TallySales combines the art and the science of retail to provide retailers in niche markets with exactly what they need to operate successful businesses. The flexible, fully scalable, Windows-based touchscreen point of sale (POS) and retail management system provides easy-to-use tools for day-to-day functions as well as data analytics aimed at more effective customer loyalty, marketing, inventory control and labor management. TallySoft serves clients across the United States and internationally with its state-of-the-art software and highly responsive customer service.

The Situation

The TallySoft network of resellers provides one-stop shopping for retailers looking for complete solutions. In addition to TallySales software, the TallySoft network can provide POS hardware, payment processing, security, internet service, installation, and POS peripherals.

The TallySales solution often includes a mobile component that enables retailers to provide better customer experiences and increase sales potential. It also provides its retail clients line-busting capabilities during the peak season, even with limited counter space. But at the end of every transaction, TallySoft clients needed the ability, whether at the counter or on the sales floor, to provide the shopper with a receipt.

The Solution

TallySoft evaluated printers for its solutions, not only looking at functionality and performance, but also considering support. “TallySoft is a software company and dealing with hardware issues and support is something that we like to leave to the hardware experts. Star’s support team has won rave reviews from our customers with getting the customer’s questions and issues resolved quickly,” said Mike Stephenson, COO of TallySoft.

TallySoft also found that Star’s portable printers, such as the SM-S230i, are the perfect solution for TallySoft customers leveraging mobile POS solutions. The compact and lightweight SM-S230i 2-inch portable printer is easy to connect via Bluetooth or USB. This thermal printer also features a durable design for use on a busy retail sales floor, even during the periods of high-volume traffic and sales. “Customers love Star portable printers for mobile devices. They allow sales associates to step out from behind the counter and engage customers on the sales floor,” Stephenson said.

Click here to download the full success story.

Learn More About Star’s Portable Printers

December 13, 2018
The Power of Offline Marketing in Retail
GDPR: The Renaissance of SMB Receipt Marketing

Today, because more than half of retail sales are influenced by digital – and GDPR influences data collection – a new trend is emerging: Retailers are turning to offline marketing.

GDPR (or the General Data Protection Regulation) has had implications for foreign small businesses and retailers, and now similar regulations are coming to the United States.

While large retailers may have the funds to dedicate to safeguarding their big data, SMBs tend to have smaller budgets and fewer staff to manage such procedures. How do these stores continue to successfully communicate with customers – and stay protected against regulation?

Receipt Marketing: A Secret Weapon to Boost Customer Engagement

Independent retailers may create email marketing campaigns or implement a basic loyalty program, but there’s another thing they could be doing: receipt marketing.

Apart from customer service at physical stores, what’s the one thing shoppers always take away with them? A receipt, which is an intuitive and significantly underutilized marketing channel!

Customer retention, loyalty and engagement are all built upon developing relationships, being memorable, standing out and creating a connection. What if a cute or funny message on a receipt could do that? What if coupons, discounts, QR codes and thoughtful messages on receipts could build rapport with your audience?

It’s Cheap, Easy, Safe and Humanizing

Because digital marketing doesn’t always produce results for brands with a strict budget, offline marketing that reaches all customers could be a more rational place to invest your customer engagement dollars.

Just think of the possibilities! Your messaging can be timely and feature endearing calls-to-action that brighten your customer’s day. And the best part? This type of offline marketing has no privacy infringements – just enticing offers and a personal touch that makes SMBs feel genuine.

Customer Incentives for Return Business

Receipts can be a great place to highlight special offers to boost future store, restaurant and kiosk traffic.

Offline Meets Mobile: QR Codes

QR codes embedded on receipts, cards and in-store posters mean offline marketing can sync up with mobile offers.

Persuasive Discount Offers and Time-Sensitive Offline Messaging

Receipt marketing is a great way to reach a lot of eyeballs at an extremely low cost. Discounts with time-sensitive offers can create some of the best results and are a part of the most persuasive loyalty campaigns.

PromoPRNT: The Free Offline Marketing Tool

Ready to get your offline marketing tactics rolling? Star Micronics has developed PromoPRNT, a complimentary, easy-to-use receipt marketing program for SMBs, local retailers and independent stores. With PromoPRNT, you can:
- Make and schedule custom receipt offers and promotions
- Manage receipt promotions from the cloud
- Increase customer retention and drive loyalty marketing campaigns
- Make each customer visit unique and make the experience more memorable
For small businesses, offline advertising will never really die because it drives repeat business in the age of e-commerce. With GDPR and look-alike regulations hitting the retail industry, offline marketing is a low stress, low cost and high ROI way of communicating with your customers … with a nearly 100% read rate!

Learn more about PromoPRNT
December 11, 2018