Star Micronics, a leading manufacturer of mobile, point of sale (POS), and customer engagement technologies, is proud to announce that RezPlus has added support for Star Micronics mC-Print3. RezPlus is an all-in-one solution that has been proven to reach more diners, increase revenue, delight guests and enhance restaurant branding with an online experience that mirrors brick and mortar service.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, fine-dining restaurants are searching for ways to transform to a digital experience, including reservations, online ordering, website design, gift certificates and more. Developed for restaurateurs and proven over 15 years, RezPlus delights restaurant guests and wins the approval of restaurant staff and managers. With Star Micronics mC-Print3 with CloudPRNT, RezPlus makes it easy for restaurants to move to an online model and modernize their business.
Star’s mC-Print3 is the ideal receipt and kitchen printer for restaurants as it offers a splash-proof model with hub functionality to connect additional peripherals. With CloudPRNT, restaurants can have online orders print directly to the printer by communicating directly with the RezPlus designed online ordering service.
“RezPlus understands the challenges that so many of our restaurant customers are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic and is providing solutions to help them adapt to what is an unprecedented business environment,” says Rachel Repp, Business Development Manager for RezPlus. “Star is helping to make these solutions more accessible through the CloudPRNT technology that is allowing for fine-dining restaurants to easily implement an online ordering service.”
In a COVID-19 landscape, retailers must work extra hard to stay successful. With social distancing restrictions in place for a majority of businesses, it can be difficult to achieve the in-store success that many strive for. Retailers now must carefully strategize to ensure they are primed to maximize in-store foot traffic.
Not only that, but they need to manage it effectively. Retail store owners are tasked with ensuring foot traffic remains at a high enough level to turn a profit, but operate at a safe enough capacity to reduce the likelihood of an outbreak. It’s quite the balancing act.
The number one priority is keeping customers and staff safe. The second priority is offering enticing in-store experiences that incentivize customers to come to your store. Here are three essential technologies critical to managing retail store foot traffic:
Mobile Point of Sale
Mobile point of sale is quickly becoming critical for successful in-store retail operations. With it, you gain all the value of a point of sale terminal, but with the added mobility of a tablet or iPad. You can equip sales associates with this technology and allow them to check out customers on the sales floor and in the checkout line.
If you don’t have the labor resources for this, you can mount tablets in strategic locations throughout the store. Paired with a fast, modern thermal receipt printer, customers can pay for their purchases at these kiosk-like mounted tablets and be on their way without ever having to wait in line. You’ll boost your overall customer satisfaction while simultaneously increasing sales, especially if you leverage upselling prompts.
Mobile point of sale systems are also crucial for “click and collect” applications, which allows your retail business to operate a curbside pickup service. Customers can make purchases online and check out curbside using a mobile tablet. For even smoother operations, pair this with a mobile receipt printer.
If the pandemic has caused you to run operations with limited staff, self-service kiosks can provide you with an additional option for how to service customers. Kiosks are great for filling in additional labor needs, but they’re also great for keeping customers safe. Kiosks can help customers make their own purchases while also reducing face-to-face contact.
On top of that, kiosks can be leveraged in a number of ways, like inventory lookup. Customers can search for products using kiosks and place orders for pickup at a later date. That way, you can offer an in-store experience that mimics the one they get through your online sales channel.
This helps your sales associates as well as your customers. You won’t have customers flocking the customer service counters and waiting in long lines for easily-answered questions. Your sales associates will be freed up to tend to more complex customer needs.
Just make sure you keep a staff member nearby to help customers operate kiosks if they are unfamiliar with the technology, and to sanitize it after every use.
Shop by Appointment
As stated above, it’s likely that you’ve had to limit the number of people within your store at any given time. This is especially crucial in areas that are currently experiencing outbreaks or are at a higher risk for them because of their location.
To help with this, many retailers are taking a page from salons and beginning to schedule appointments. Shop-by-appointment technology helps you schedule customers so that you only have a specific number of customers in your store at any given time.
Customers can still enjoy the experience of browsing in-store, but with the added peace of mind that they are as safe as they can be while shopping. This also provides you with an opportunity to personalize the in-store experience. Think more deeply about the experience you’re providing your customers in-store. What are you doing to take it above and beyond simple browsing? What additional incentives can you offer to customers to motivate them enough to pay for an appointment in your store?
To elevate this experience, consider your aesthetic. Are you providing a clean, buttoned-up aesthetic when the customer walks in? Does your store send a message of cleanliness to help customers feel safer?
Consider the Tech You Offer:
Does your store offer the kind of customer-focused technology, like point of sale and peripherals, that can help you improve customer service and offer more conveniences? Make sure your technology fits your space and can stand up to multiple cleanings. Form is just as important as function here.
Finding the right technology is essential for both driving and managing in-store foot traffic. Star Micronics offers advanced technology designed to help you accomplish that. Our industry experts are here to help, offering guidance and support every step of the way.
For more information on the technology we offer, contact an expert at Star Micronics today.
Contactless payments have been increasing in popularity, even before COVID-19 rocked the world. According to Statista, contactless payment revenue in 2018 was $48 billion. There’s no doubt, however, that the pandemic has accelerated the adoption of contactless payments amongst consumers and businesses alike. According to a report earlier this year, 27% of businesses reported an increase in contactless payments following the beginning of the pandemic, and Juniper Research predicts that by 2022, over half of point of sale (POS) transactions will be contactless.
It’s quite apparent that in order to thrive in the new normal, restauranteurs need to adopt a contactless payment strategy if they haven’t already done so. Read on to explore how contactless technology works, four of the top contactless payment solutions on the market today, the many benefits of contactless payments, and how Star Micronics can help you roll these technologies out to your restaurant customers.
How Does Contactless Technology Work?
Contactless technology largely relies on radio frequency identification (RFID) and near-field communication (NFC) technologies. Inside contactless cards, there is a chip that emits radio waves that are picked up by the contactless payment terminal (also known as an RFID reader). The terminal will pick up the signal emitted by the card, communicate with the card, and process the payment. The customer is then alerted that the payment has been completed (or not) by the terminal.
Similarly, if a customer is paying with a mobile phone or other smart device, the device uses NFC to transmit data to the terminal, and again the terminal will alert the customer that the transaction was successful or unsuccessful.
4 Must-Have Contactless Payment Solutions
Even as restaurants have reopened their doors, safety is a priority to diners and business owners alike. The below contactless payment solutions are popular amongst consumers and are important for restauranteurs to adopt in order to thrive in the new normal.
1. Contactless Debit and Credit Cards
It’s important for restaurants to deploy payment terminals that feature NFC capability so that they can process contactless debit and credit card transactions. These terminals, as well as debit and credit cards capable of contactless payments, have a contactless payment symbol on them to indicate contactless transactions are supported. When it’s time to pay, customers simply hold their card one to two inches away from the contactless symbol on the terminal and voila – the payment is made.
2. Mobile Wallets
Mobile wallets like Apply Pay and Google Wallet – which are available on a range of devices including smartphones, smart watches, fitness trackers, key fobs, and more – work similarly to contactless debit and credit cards. Diners simply hold their device in close proximity to the contactless payment terminal to complete their transactions.
3. Pay at Table
Another great contactless payment solution for restauranteurs is pay at table. According to Mobile Payments Today, 69% of diners think that waiting for the check is the most frustrating part of the dining out experience. Help your restaurant customers improve their diners’ experiences by integrating pay at table into your POS software. Pay at table functionality can enable guests to simply check-in through the restaurant’s app where their bill can be associated to their mobile device, creating a seamless transaction where diners can pay at any time and there is no reason for a server to touch their card or cash.
4. QR Codes
Restaurants looking for an easy, affordable contactless payment method need not look further than their receipt printer! If restauranteurs have receipt printers capable of printing QR codes, like Star Micronics printers, they can print QR codes that diners simply scan with their smartphone camera, which then opens the restaurant’s app or website where customers can pay their bill.
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.
Safe: It probably goes without saying, but contactless payments are safer than traditional payment methods thanks to less human contact and fewer opportunities to come in contact with other people’s germs and viruses.
Secure: Despite the belief that mobile contactless payments are less secure than traditional payment methods, the opposite is true. According to Fast Casual, “Mobile payments are processed without the transfer of sensitive information. Apple does not store consumer information on their servers, and Google encrypts the financial data they receive. The security measures on the phone itself — face recognition and fingerprint scanning, for example — protect card information in the event of a lost or stolen phone.”
Convenient: Who doesn’t love convenience? Contactless payments process in about half the time of the more traditional process of inserting a card’s chip into a card reader.
Profitable: Did you know that consumers who use mobile wallets make purchases at a rate 23% higher than those who pay with physical cash or card, and spend 2.4% more per transaction, according to researchers at the University of Illinois? It’s true – and we’re sure that by offering safe and convenient contactless payments, your restaurant customers will experience happier diners who are more likely to return to the business.
Star Micronics and Contactless Payments
One design. One integration. One provider. For all payment peripherals.
Star Micronics is proud to accommodate the latest POS trends, including contactless payments. By providing sleek, easy-to-integrate POS hardware, Star Micronics merges the priorities of software providers and payments companies, while offering restauranteurs an easy, reliable, and compliant solution.
From all-in-one POS hubs to mix-and-match POS hardware combinations, Star Micronics provides the features restauranteurs need and the connectivity to bring together applications and payment processing. Star Micronics’ experienced team works with major players in the payment and restaurant POS industry to bridge the gap in the payments world and provide win-win business scenarios for all involved parties.
Ready to learn more about how Star Micronics’ hardware powers today’s payments?
As a retail business owner, you are busy and your plate is full of responsibilities. From managing inventory to recruiting staff, you have a lot of tasks to juggle and one of the last things on your mind might be your point of sale (POS) technology. So, how exactly do you know when it’s time for a retail technology upgrade? Read on to explore four common ways to determine when it’s time to refresh that tech.
1. You’re Not Online
Did you know that online shopping started all the way back in the mid-1990s? According to Money Magazine,
“Toward the end of 1994, Money magazine published a story about the sharp rise in consumers shopping from home. That year, some 98 million consumers made $60 billion worth of purchases from home, nearly all of it through phone orders prompted by mail catalogues and TV shopping channels. Another home-shopping option had suddenly arrived on the scene that year, too–an “on-line shopping service [that] requires a PC or Macintosh that’s equipped with a modem.” The article explained how such curious services worked:
‘For ordering, many of the “computer stores” offer shoppers an 800 telephone number to call. Others are set up so a shopper can click on a box next to the desired gift, type in payment information and the shipping address and then hit a “Submit Order” button. Some companies even let shoppers pick out the wrapping paper via computer.’”
Obviously, online ordering has come a long way since 1994 – and the COVID-19 pandemic kicked the trend into high gear. It’s simply not an option to not be online anymore. According to Zoovu.com, Target’s digital sales increased by 275% in April 2020 alone, and there has been a 500% rise in curbside pickup year-over-year. This trend extends past large retail chains; people understand the hardships many small businesses have faced during this unprecedented time and are looking to support their local mom-and-pops during the new normal.
If you aren’t online yet, don’t panic. There is a chance your current POS software provider offers e-commerce capabilities, and if they don’t, set aside some time to research an affordable and easy-to-use solution. From a POS hardware perspective, establishing an online store can be easier than you think. Certain online ordering printers, like the Star Micronics mC-Print3, are equipped with retail technology enabling the printer to automatically and directly retrieve orders from your online store. What does this mean for you? No extra tablet to purchase and install in your store and no additional timely training for your staff.
2. Your Marketing is Lackluster
Another task that can easily slip through the cracks for small business owners who wear multiple hats is marketing. While it may sound daunting, if you are equipped with the right retail technology, marketing can be easy.
From a software perspective, many POS software providers offer integrated, easy-to-view sales and marketing data right in their dashboards. These analytics can be used for sales reporting, loyalty programs, email marketing, and much more.
From the hardware end of things, did you know that with the right receipt printer, you can print promotions on your receipts for free? These promotions can easily and quickly be customized to communicate upcoming sales, your social media accounts, now hiring messaging, and more. You can design and schedule the promotions from anywhere using a simple online-based dashboard – even if you have multiple store locations.
3. Your Customers Can’t Pay the Way They Want To
The days of traditional cash and credit/debit card transactions are over. The COVID-19 pandemic has launched the retail world into a new way of doing things, and consumers demand modern payment methods that either reduce or eliminate contact with common surfaces and other people.
Is your store set up to accept contactless payments? Contactless payments – or the processing of transactions via the tap or close placement of a credit/debit card, smartphone, or smart watch – are growing in popularity as a safer and more efficient way to make purchases.
If you are looking to implement contactless payments, rest assured the process can be quite simple. Most banks not only offer contactless credit and debit cards, but also the terminals that are required for processing contactless transactions. These terminals have a contactless payment symbol on them showing customers that contactless payment methods are accepted. You may also tell your customers that you accept contactless payments in person, through social media or email marketing, by placing a sign at the point of sale, and through receipt marketing.
4. You Have a Dated Aesthetic
They say looks aren’t everything, but when it comes to retail technology, aesthetic makes a big difference. You might be used to seeing your POS hardware every day but try to take a look at it with a fresh set of eyes. Does it look clunky? Does it match the environment of the rest of your store? Does it complement the personality and vision you have in mind for your business?
If you find that your POS hardware looks a bit outdated and takes up too much space, it’s time to consider a refresh. In terms of style, POS hardware has come a long way in recent years. Tablet POS systems are now the norm, and not only provide a modern, clean appeal, but can provide an even better customer experience as well with features like tilting tablet stands that can be used to capture customer signatures. There are options on the market for modern-looking printers, cash drawers, scales, and more, too.
mCollection: Changing the Face of Retail
Whether just a couple parts of your retail technology environment need an upgrade, or you’re looking for a complete overhaul, the Star Micronics mCollection has you covered. A true one-stop shop, the mCollection includes receipt printers built for online ordering, tablet stands featuring clean cable management, stylish and durable cash drawers, and a full range of accessories like scanners, customer displays, and more.
Designed with ease-of-use in mind, the mCollection is integrated with the retail industry’s top POS software providers, like Shopify, PredictSpring, Square, Vend, and more.
It goes without saying that today’s restaurants have needed to adapt to the changes that occurred in the hospitality industry following the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. As a reseller, your restaurant customers turn to you to provide full solutions – especially in recent times. Did you know that the restaurants tools and technology that you can provide now will continue to be needed, and can help restaurants succeed, for years to come? Read on to explore four restaurant tools you can offer that are designed to help businesses survive during a crisis – and thrive in the long term.
Online Ordering and Multiple Delivery Methods
It’s not exactly news that online ordering has been prevalent for years now, but the rapid growth in its popularity during COVID-19 is undeniable. Did you know that according to Adobe Analytics, the number of orders placed online and picked up at retail stores alone rose 208% during April 2020 compared to April 2019? And when it comes to food specifically, 31% of adults polled in the United States in May 2020 claimed they spend more than usual on food takeout and delivery.
As a reseller, it’s important to provide the necessary restaurant tools needed for online ordering, curbside pickup, and food delivery. What do these tools look like? From a technological perspective, be sure to offer online ordering printers that are easy to install and use, and are integrated with today’s popular online ordering service providers. An added bonus is if the printer features technology like Star Micronics CloudPRNT, which enables the printer to communicate directly with the online ordering service so that restaurants do not need to invest in and fuss over a new tablet – the printer will simply automatically print new online order tickets as they are received.
Once the order is received and prepared, a restaurant’s priority is ensuring the food is delivered promptly and securely. Offering tamper-proof food labels for takeout and delivery orders to your restaurant customers can provide peace of mind to both the diners and business owners.
The flexibility and added safety of online ordering and delivery will likely continue to be a customer favorite well into the future. According to Rewards Network, 42% of restaurants added delivery as a result of COVID-19, and 31% of them plan to continue to invest in delivery services. By offering a full online ordering solution, you will help your restaurant customers succeed for years to come.
Contactless Payments
Another trend that was on its way to becoming mainstream, but got a serious boost during the pandemic, is contactless payments. These payments, which are made by credit and debit cards and smart devices like smartphones and smartwatches, use radio-frequency identical or near-field communication (NFC) to enable secure transactions without the need for consumers to make any physical contact with cash or payment terminals that can harbor germs. Instead, customers simply wave or tap their card or device near a payment terminal that accepts contactless payments.
While many consumers turn to contactless payments as a way to avoid unnecessary contact with common surfaces during the COVID-19 pandemic, the added convenience of this method of payment is sure to make contactless payment options alluring well after the pandemic passes.
Speaking of contactless, another tip you can share with your restaurant customers to enable an even safer transaction is to turn their restaurant receipt printer toward their diners so that the diners can collect their receipt themselves, further eliminating potentially dangerous contact. If your restaurant customers use Star Micronics printers, you may also share the official Star Micronics Printer Cleaning Guide with them.
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.
Avoiding contact with other people’s germs is something that has become a priority to the public at large. What’s a restaurant tool that can help with that? Sneeze guards!
Sneeze guards – or acrylic or glass screens designed to protect people or food from droplets caused by coughing, sneezing, or talking – have been around for decades but have gotten a refresh and become mainstream at restaurants and retailers of all sizes and types during the pandemic. Instead of simply being found at salad bars and buffet lines, sneeze guards are now located at the point of sale to protect employees and customers alike.
Although they may sound simple, not all sneeze guards are the same. Here are some key features of a convenient and high-quality sneeze guard:
Easy to install
A lightweight and portable design, with no countertop mounting or drilling required
High compatibility with features like an adjustable mounting pole and compatibility with the restaurant’s existing POS or mPOS terminal
The ability to be easily relocated for future store redesigns, flu seasons, and more
Last but not least, self-service kiosks are restaurant tools that boost safety during a pandemic – and enable success in a post-pandemic world.
During these challenging times, safety is a priority, and did you know that self-service kiosks can help protect a restaurant’s employees and customers? Not only do the kiosks reduce face-to-face contact between an employee and a diner, but they can also feature antimicrobial glass that effectively reduces bacteria’s ability to multiple as well as a simple, one-piece glass screen design to eliminate the nooks, crannies, keys, and buttons that can contain germs and viruses.
While safety and cleanliness will always be a priority, self-service kiosks also have long-term business-boosting benefits for restaurants. Did you know that:
Customers spend 30% more when ordering through a kiosk
20% of customers who had not intended to order a beverage would buy one after it was offered on the kiosk screen
Kiosks enable diners to customize their orders, something that 72% of them expect when dining out
To conclude, the restaurant tools that benefit and safeguard restauranteurs now – like online ordering technology, contactless payments, sneeze guards, and self-service kiosks – will likely continue to be in high demand from both your restaurant customers and consumers, even in the post-pandemic world. As a reseller, set your restaurant customers up for success by offering the right one-stop shop solutions today.
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.
Star Micronics, a leading manufacturer of mobile, point of sale (POS), and customer engagement technologies, is excited to announce the upgrade of the TSP654IISK with taken sensor to its line of label printing solutions.
The TSP654IISK is designed to work with liner-free labeling applications. The repositionable thermal labels can stick to virtually any surface and can be removed easily if needed and reapplied leaving behind no residue. Ideal for restaurant takeout, delivery, and drive-through services, liner-free labels can be used for a modified item only or the entire order by attaching it to the bag. The labels stay with and track an order through the entire preparation process, improving order accuracy and creating a better bottom line. Additionally, the labels maintain image integrity because they are engineered to preserve thermal images in demanding applications.
The printer’s taken sensor helps users avoid missing any orders and allows for flexible, efficient kitchen operations. The sensor’s paper holding function delays printing the next order’s data if the previous ticket has not been taken, allowing users to manage each order efficiently, especially during busy times when many orders are received. The taken sensor also includes a forced paper ejection setting, which forces the next order to print after a certain amount of time, in the event that a user forgot to remove a ticket. Lastly, the taken sensor features an option for a hold paper reminder, a buzzer which continues to sound until a ticket is taken. The taken sensor can be disabled for compatibility with older printer models.
Designed with connectivity and ease-of-use as a priority, the TSP654IISK includes USB, Ethernet, CloudPRNT/WebPRNT, Bluetooth, serial, parallel and wireless connectivity options, as well as compatibility with the StarPRNT SDK for iOS, Android, and Windows.
“The online ordering market is flourishing, and we expect to see that trend continue as the world adapts to the new normal,” said Michael Hanson, Executive Vice President at Star Micronics. “The TSP654IISK meets both business’ and customers’ demands by enabling streamlined restaurant operations as well as greatly improving order accuracy.”
Looking for the latest repositionable sticky label printer from Star? Find it here.
Are you a Google Cloud Print user? If so, you are probably aware that Google Cloud Print is no longer supported, as of January 1, 2021. Migrating to a new service sounds daunting but it doesn’t have to be. Read on to learn more about Google Cloud Print, its depreciation, and why Star Micronics’ CloudPRNT technology is an ideal Google Cloud Print alternative.
“Google Cloud Print is a Google service that lets users print from any Cloud Print-aware application (web, desktop, mobile) on any device in the network cloud to any printer with native support for connecting to cloud print services – without Google having to create and maintain printing subsystems for all the hardware combinations of client devices and printers, and without the users having to install device drivers to the client, but with documents being fully transmitted to Google. Since July 23, 2013 it also allows printing from any Windows application, if Google Cloud Printer is installed on the machine.
Google Cloud Print integrates with the mobile versions of Gmail and Google Docs, allowing users to print from their mobile devices. Google Cloud Print is listed as a printer option in the Print Preview page of Google’s Web browser, Google Chrome, in Chrome 16 and higher. Printers without built-in Cloud Print support, often referred to as ‘legacy’ or ‘classic’, are supported through a ‘Cloud Print Connector’ integrated with Google Chrome versions 9 and higher.”
The End of Google Cloud Print
In November 2019, Google officially announced that Google Cloud Print will no longer be supported starting on January 1, 2021. Why the change? Google has claimed that improvements in native Chrome OS printing, as well as a wide market of comparable print solutions has contributed to its decision to terminate Google Cloud Print.
Google recommends that all users find an alternative print solution and migrate print services prior to the end of the 2020 calendar year. To learn how to disable your Google Cloud Print services, please click here.
CloudPRNT as a Google Cloud Print Alternative
If you’re a software provider who uses, or is looking to use, Google Cloud Print with receipt printers, don’t worry; Star Micronics has an easy cloud printing solution (or replacement) for you. Star Micronics CloudPRNT technology is not just a Google Cloud Print alternative, but an even better solution.
About CloudPRNT
Quick to integrate. Easy to deploy. Scalable.
Star Micronics’ CloudPRNT is an innovative technology enabling users to print to Star printers directly through a cloud service. The CloudPRNT printer retrieves and prints orders and data from any web-based point of sale (POS) system integrating Star’s communication protocol.
CloudPRNT works with web-based applications to store and create print jobs, and communicate status with the printer. Cloud POS services post information using a JSON format, while the Star CloudPRNT printer pulls this information on a defined interval. CloudPRNT is built on the solution provider/ISV’s server, in the preferred language and architecture.
Star’s CloudPRNT technology provides benefits to businesses of all types by eliminating the need for an extra tablet to send information to the printer. Instead, the web-based POS is able to communicate directly with the printer. As an added benefit, businessowners and service providers do not need to maintain an SSL certificate for the CloudPRNT printers since they communicate with the server as a client.
By adopting web-based POS systems, organizations can embrace the latest technology, boost efficiency, and more. Using CloudPRNT, cloud-based POS systems have a new and easier solution to offer businesses, allowing them to seamlessly integrate online transactions into their operations.
CloudPRNT printer communicates directly with the server
The server can control peripherals connected to the printer (e.g. cash drawer, scanner, digital display, buzzer/sounder)
Multi-interface supporting POS (native) and web-based POS systems (cloud)
Hosted by the solution provider/ISV – can be built in desired language/ architecture
Suitable for any business using web-based applications
Labels
Orders
Receipts
Ticket
Scheduling
And more
CloudPRNT Compatible Printers
CloudPRNT is compatible with a variety of Star Micronics printers, including 2” and 3” thermal receipt printers, thermal label printers, impact kitchen printers, and 4” wide-format thermal printers.
3” thermal receipt printer Bluetooth, USB, Lightning, LAN IPX2 splash-proof design Peripheral device connectivity Fast charge and communication via USC-C® power delivery port SteadyLAN® technology
3” thermal receipt printer Swappable interfaces: serial, parallel, USB, LAN High reliability and performance High-speed printing of 60 receipts per minute (300mm/s) External power supply included Compatible with PromoPRNT
Repositionable, liner-free thermal label solution Improves order accuracy up to 99% Liner-free yields 60% more labels/roll than diecut 80mm and 58mm paper support High reliability and performance at a low cost Optional vertical stand
Reliable kitchen printer Apple MFi Certified Bluetooth, serial, parallel, USB, LAN Internal power supply High-speed throughput: 13 receipts/tickets per minute “Drop-In and Print” paper loading All accessories included (except cable)
3” receipt and label printer Apple MFi Certified Bluetooth, serial, parallel, USB, LAN Up to 0.15mm paper thickness Black mark label support Rear paper feed Vertically mountable
4” wide-format thermal printer Apple MFi Certified Bluetooth, serial, parallel, USB, LAN Ultra high speed: 37 receipts per minute (180mm/sec) Wide paper format: 4.4” (112mm) “Drop-In and Print” paper loading Barcode capabilities
CloudPRNT: Ideal for Online Ordering
Interesting in CloudPRNT as a Google Cloud Print Alternative?
When the COVID-19 wave first began rippling across the globe, many underestimated the full impact it would have on retailers. Now that we are in the throes of it, we are finally recognizing how different the brand-new business climate that we’ve found ourselves in really it. Consumer behavior has shifted in major ways, and retailers all across the country are trying to navigate how to operate and eventually reopen in this brave new world.
What retailers are truly looking for is guidance and leadership. Like everyone else, retailers feel like they are trying to develop clairvoyance in the face of overwhelming uncertainty. Without having experience a pandemic like this before, it is difficult for them to determine how to reopen safely and successfully.
Resellers are in a unique position to provide that guidance, as well as the tools retailers need to set themselves up for success.
1. eCommerce Point of Sale Integration
Social distancing is top-of-mind for everyone these days. As such, consumers are drastically reducing the amount of time they’re spending in brick-and-mortar location. They prefer shopping online from the safety of their homes instead. It’s going to be crucial that you offer retailers solutions that integrate with eCommerce.
2. Shop-by-Appointment and Curbside Pickup
Consumers are shopping less. Concerned with spending a lot of time in brick-and-mortar locations, and the number of other customers they’ll come into contact with, they’re hesitant to venture out. Because of this, some retailers have started implementing shop-by-appointment operations, which helps control the number of customers within the store at any given time and helps provide peace of mind to shoppers.
Similarly, curbside pickup is booming for many different retailers. This functionality was traditionally used in restaurant takeout operations but has quickly been adopted by retail to help boost brick-and-mortar operations while continuing to keep their customers safe.
3. Mobile POS Technology for Line Busting and In-Aisle Payments
With how easily this strain of the coronavirus can be spread from person to person, it’s critical that retailers take additional measures to keep customers from congregating throughout the store. This includes checkout lines, which are especially ripe for spreading viruses due to the close contact.
Star’s mobile printers allow retailers to conduct transactions throughout the store to keep customers from gathering in one area. Click here to view all of Star’s mobile offerings.
4. Self-Service Kiosk
For a virus that can be spread easily through face-to-face contact and tiny respiratory droplets, it is critical that retailers especially strive to reduce the amount of contact between their customers and their employees. When sanitized properly and regularly, self-service kiosks can help. These devices curtail the spread of infection by limiting the amount of face-to-face contact between staff and customers, helping them feel safer shopping in stores.
5. Protective Shields
Offering protective shields that retailers can install at the checkout counter can help them provide some additional protection during the most vulnerable and high-risk time of the shopper’s journey: the point of sale. This is the time where shoppers and employees come in close contact and lines can develop at the counter. It can be difficult to maintain the recommended distance of six feet for this reason. Because of the risks associated with the point of sale, it is necessary for retailers to install additional protection.
Click here to learn more about Star’s POSShield protective sneeze guard for retail checkout counters.
6. Contactless Payment Options
Ultimately, the goal of any retail operation right now is to be able to operate effectively without exposing anyone to the virus. The virus can easily be picked up and carried on hands, so for retailers, implementing contactless payment options will go a long way in preventing its spread.
The success of your customers directly reflects your own success, so during this time, helping them succeed is paramount. Star Micronics is here to help! We provide the critical solutions that can help your customers overcome their most pressing business challenges – such as online ordering printers, portable printers for mobile payments, self-service kiosk printers, protective barriers for the point of sale, and more.
Our free eBook provides all information needed to retail resellers, at a glance.
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.
The rise in demand for self-service kiosks is undeniable – in 2019, the market was valued at $28 billion and it’s expected to reach $68 billion by 2025. During this period of such vast growth that also happens to be occurring as the world navigates the new normal, what are the hottest self-service kiosk trends in the hospitality industry?
In this blog post, we’ll explore three self-service kiosk trends that restaurant ISVs can capitalize on – while providing peace of mind to restaurant staff and consumers alike.
1. Simple, One-Piece Screen Design
Style has always mattered when it comes to self-service kiosks, but since COVID-19 has rocked the world, hygiene is becoming even more of a priority. As the globe adapts to the new normal, providing solutions that help people stay safe is going to become not just an ongoing self-service kiosk trend, but a need.
Did you know that leveraging a one-piece, bezel-free kiosk screen design can provide aesthetic and hygienic benefits? A single, completely flat glass touch interface for customers to use can easily be cleaned and avoids mechanical keys and buttons which can contain germs and viruses.
The simple screen design is possible even if the self-service kiosk’s use case requires some grooves to help users feel their way across a surface, thanks to the ability for the glass to be precision machined without giving up the sleek, safe, and easy-to-clean one-piece design.
2. Antimicrobial Glasses/Coatings
Now that we’ve discussed the benefits of a bezel-free screen design, how can you go about making sure that glass stays as clean and germ-free as possible? The answer is antimicrobial glasses and coatings.
Antimicrobial glass – or glass that includes an ionic silver component that effectively reduces bacteria’s ability to multiply – exists on the market today. Additionally, this glass is designed to be scratch- and crack-resistant, helping to prevent cracks and crevices that bacteria can call home.
Just like self-service kiosks are growing in popularity, so is antimicrobial glass. It’s projected that the North American antimicrobial glass market alone will grow over 6% – to $270 million – by 2023. Additionally, the food and beverage market is expected to see a growth of over 7% over by 2023.
Free Self-Service Kiosk Resources
The future of many industries lies with self-service solutions. That’s why Star Micronics is offering free online ordering resources for resellers and software developers who are helping customers future-proof their businesses with self-service solutions.
Contactless payments – or payments that can be made by consumers via a quick tap of their credit/debit card, smartphone, or smart watch – are in high demand, especially during the new normal. Luckily, there are many ways for restaurants to take advantage of the trend even if they do not want to adopt a payment terminal that accepts NFC (near field communication) payments.
A more affordable option for restaurants that are looking to easily take advantage of contactless payments so that their customers don’t need to touch a card or pin pad to pay is by taking advantage of QR codes printed on receipts. Whether the receipt is printed at the point of sale terminal or at a self-service kiosk, providing the customer with a printed QR code enables them to simply scan the code with their smartphone which then opens a direct link between the restaurant and the customer, where they can complete the transaction. This method is easy, cost-effective, and contactless.
“As restaurants, independent retailers and micro-businesses begin their recovery efforts from the COVID-19 pandemic, a growing number of merchants are embracing QR code technology as a simple, low cost alternative for payments and customer interaction as demand grows for a safe and cost efficient payments solution.
While widely popular in China and other overseas markets, QR codes have generally lagged NFC as the preferred methods of digital payment technology in the U.S. However for a growing number of micro-businesses and boutique merchants, they are giving QR codes a hard look as the safest, fastest and most cost efficient path to get customers willing conduct in person transactions.”
QR codes aren’t just for payments, either – restaurants can take their business to the next level with them. Restaurants can create QR codes that when scanned direct customers to join a loyalty program, visit social media accounts, access special promotions, and more. And when restaurants use a Star Micronics printer, they can easily customize and design these promotions and QR codes for free with PromoPRNT.
Star Micronics Self-Service Kiosk Printers
Always leading and always innovating, Star Micronics is proud to offer a full range of self-service kiosk printers that accommodate multiple paper widths, operating systems, and more. The compact, reliable, and high-speed printers are designed to bring any restaurant self-service solution to life.
Kiosk Printer Family Features:
2”, 3”, and 4” paper sizes
Compact or modular footprints
Available with multiple accessories including bezels, presenters, large paper roll holders, and more
Support Windows, Linux, Android, Mac, and iOS
Print receipts, tickets, coupons, or adhesive labels
Interfaces include serial, USB, parallel, and Ethernet
Available with StarPRNT emulation, allowing software developers to take advantage of the full stack of Star Micronics technology, like StarPRNT SDKs and Star’s powerful line of drivers
The new interface will enable Android, Windows, and Mac devices to leverage SteadyLAN®™ technology
Somerset, NJ – August 10, 2020 – Star Micronics, a leading manufacturer of mobile, point of sale (POS), and customer engagement technologies, is excited to announce the release of a new version of the mC-Print3 with a new interface including a USB-C® connection.
With the growing adoption of the USB-C® standard, Star Micronics has added new mCP31C and mCP31CB models to the mC-Print3 family, equipped with a USB-C® port supporting standard communication as well as USB Power Delivery to USB-C® devices such as Android™ and Windows phones and tablets, PCs and Macs. The mCP31C and mCP31CB also allow a USB-C® tablet to charge while connected to the printer.
The MCP31C interface includes one USB-C® port, two USB-A® ports, one Ethernet port supporting Star Micronics’ CloudPRNT and WebPRNT technologies, and one DK-Port. The MCP31CB interface includes the same connection options as the former model, as well as Bluetooth (non-MFi).
The addition of the USB-C® connection will allow Android, Windows, and Mac devices to leverage Star Micronics’ SteadyLAN® technology. A world first solution, SteadyLAN® provides stable wired Ethernet service and power to a device connected to a networked printer via the USB-C® cable. SteadyLAN® is also available for iOS devices on the mCP21LB, mCP31L, and mCP31LB mC-Print3 models.
An industry-leading thermal printer for retail and hospitality, the mC-Print3 provides a simple user experience, is easy to integrate, and features a sleek IPX2-rated splash-proof design. The mC-Print3 is compatible with Star Micronics PromoPRNT receipt marketing technology and is a part of the Star Micronics mCollection, a line of mPOS hardware including printers, cash drawers, scales, tablet POS stands, and more.
“We are very excited to launch this new version of the mC-Print3,” said Jon Levin, Director of Product Management at Star Micronics. “The addition of a USB-C® connection will allow modern host devices to enjoy the reliable network connection and power supply that SteadyLAN® provides, all through one USB-C® cable.”
customers from congregating throughout the store. This includes checkout lines, which are especially ripe for spreading viruses due to the close contact.
vulnerable and high-risk time of the shopper’s journey: the point of sale. This is the time where shoppers and employees come in close contact and lines can develop at the counter. It can be difficult to maintain the recommended distance of six feet for this reason. Because of the risks associated with the point of sale, it is necessary for retailers to install additional protection.
