Category: Solutions & Use Cases

mPOS: How it’s Revolutionizing Payments
Mobility is rocking the point of sale world. From line busting to omnichannel marketing, it’s changing the way retailers and restaurateurs do business. The payments branch of the POS world has not been isolated from mPOS and its effects. In fact, as margins shrink and the competition in merchant processing grows fierce, the payment industry is rushing to adopt tablet POS systems. This is due to ISOs (Independent Sales Organizations) needing to add value to their solutions to stay competitive; tablet POS is a prime way to do this.

What’s more, with the EMV liability shift having gone into effect October 2015, now is the time to look into the latest and greatest in mPOS solutions and what they mean for your payment and transaction options. When you upgrade, you might as well go the extra mile and ensure that you’ve got the edge on your competition.

Hardware and Software Upgrades: EMV Liability Shift

EMV Acceptance

The Oct. 1, 2015 EMV liability shift is driving equipment upgrades across the industry. This shift means that retailers without payment processing equipment certified to the Europay, Mastercard, Visa (EMV) security standard — i.e., credit and debit cards featuring secure microprocessor embedded chips — are liable for any fraudulent activity committed with chip-enabled cards, instead of holding the card issuers liable. Javelin Strategy and Research estimates that U.S. businesses will invest $8 billion to become EMV compliant.

At an estimated cost of $150 to $1,000 per terminal, retailers must upgrade both their hardware and software systems to become EMV compliant. The good news is that vendors in the retail payment processing industry already have taken the crucial first step of ensuring their product offerings meet the latest standard. When undertaking your EMV upgrade, consider the following:
- Enlist your vendor: Check with your POS hardware vendor to ensure that your equipment is certified to be EMV compliant.
- Double-check the app: Is your software EMV compliant? From each of the Big Four card networks (American Express, Discover, Mastercard and Visa), you will need to secure EMV certification through your acquiring bank.
Now that you know what steps you will need to take, it’s time to determine your options, and to leap into the 21st century, not only to gain the edge on your competitors, but also to deliver a superlative customer experience.

Graduating from the Electronic Cash Register (ECR)

Upgrading from the traditional electronic cash register (ECR) to a mobile point of sale (mPOS) platform is one solution to addressing the new payments conundrum.

mPOS is your POS — unleashed. mPOS, also known as EPOS, generally includes a small, portable, handheld wireless device, such as a lightweight tablet or smartphone combined with a small, usually Bluetooth-based, swipe-and-chip-based payment device and payment app (and any other pertinent peripherals), so that employees can assist customers with transactions from any location in a restaurant or retail store. While traditional POS calls for fixed checkout areas, the accompanying long customer queues, and also takes up considerable floor space, mobile POS enables greater flexibility in the store or restaurant layout, while also enabling superior customer service.

One solution to the need for EMV compliance is to choose a modern tablet POS platform. Consider the following benefits of tablet POS versus ECR:
- Lower total cost of ownership: While the initial cost of a tablet POS may be higher than an ECR, the mobile platform will earn back more than its investment over time. ECR does nothing more than accept transactions. With tablet POS, you not only can conduct transactions (including cash payments and returns) and queue-bust during peak volume times, but you can also “save the sale” by looking up inventory information for stockouts. In addition, the tablet POS is built to be durable for any retail or restaurant environment.
- Easy to setup and use: Tablet POS is user-friendly and compatible with AndroidTM, Apple® iOS, and Windows® — the very same mobile software platforms your employees use on their personal mobile devices. In no time at all, your tablet POS can be up and running, and earning its ROI.
- Expanded features: ECRs offer few, if any, features beyond basic sale and return transactions. On the other hand, tablet POS offers Bluetooth and USB connectivity so you can add on peripherals that will be useful to your associates and to your customers. Some tablet POS hardware comes with a built-in cash drawer, scanner and receipt printer, so you simply need to pick the tablet that best matches your needs to go live with your new system.
- Cloud POS offers better data security: Tablet POS software backs up data to the cloud, enhancing your data security. With transactions backed up outside of the local tablet device, you can rest assured that your information is still available in the event that the equipment is lost or stolen.
- Versatility: Tablet POS gives you options. Restaurants using mobile POS can generate higher table turnover and accelerate order processing during peak hours. Users also have the option to dock your tablet POS as a fixed terminal to checkout customers primarily in one location. What’s more, your tablet POS can seamlessly integrate with loyalty and rewards programs, inventory software, or workforce scheduling and optimization applications.
The Benefits of mPOS are Endless

Discover more reasons why mPOS is a wise decision.

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How Do Payments Factor into the Equation?

Many modern mPOS and tablet POS don’t require upgrading — they’re already purpose-built to accept the latest advancements in payment technologies. To be EMV compliant, your mPOS needs a dip-in card reader that holds the card to read the embedded chip until the entire transaction is complete (unlike previous cards that just needed to be swiped).

NFC (Near Field Communications) enables touchless payment applications, such as AndroidTM Pay and Apple® Pay. Customers today expect to be able to pay without pulling out their credit or debit card. These proximity-based payments offer security benefits, as your business never actually receives the customer’s card number, thereby reducing your liability.

While many mPOS devices aren’t designed to accept cash transactions without forcing the associate back to a fixed station to dock the device, some of the latest tablet POS offerings are built with a sleek and secure, wireless drawer to store cash, receipts, and other essentials. This enables you to serve a wider variety of customers, and not just those seeking cashless transactions.

In order to complete transactions, you’ll need to print off receipts on-the-fly. Tablet POS can be easily paired, or connected, with wireless, mobile printers that can be carried by, or displayed closely to, the sales representative. These wireless, mobile printers deliver a neatly printed receipt quickly and quietly, offering an end-to-end transaction experience from anywhere in your restaurant or store.

Why Choose an Ergonomic Mobile Solution?

When considering mPOS, look at ergonomic mobile solutions. These solutions recognize that some businesses need peripherals beyond the basic tablet POS, such as a combination cash drawer/receipt printer. Here’s what ergonomic mobile solutions offer:
- Convenience: With an ergonomic tablet POS plus cash drawer/receipt printer, you can accept all payments anywhere, anytime. This is a big improvement over common mPOS, which traditionally only handles electronic payments.
- Space saver: Ergonomic solutions reduce your POS footprint significantly. With their small size and sleek profile, these platforms are attractive and unobtrusive in your retail or restaurant environment, freeing up space in which you can add tables or expand merchandise displays.
- Assist mPOS solutions: Because these ergonomic mobile solutions rely on Bluetooth technology for connectivity, they’re fully mobile when needed and rid you of tangled wires and a jumble of dongles.
- Full functionality: Ergonomic mobile solutions offer robust features and functionality for a wide range of applications.
- Receipt printer: Small and compact, a built-in printer lets you quickly and quietly print a receipt as soon as the transaction closes. Additionally, sometimes single accessories are needed without a full system. In this case, you should check to see if your system can support additional printers for your bar, kitchen, and other areas.
- Barcode scanner: If your tablet or mobile device lacks a barcode scanner, your ergonomic mobile solution easily accommodates an optional plug-and-play scanner for reading merchandise.
- Cash drawer: A secure cash drawer stores currency, checks, receipts and other important items. The size of cash drawer you choose will depend on the number of cash transactions you process a day.
- Software application: To get the greatest value of your ergonomic mobile solution, pick a software application that supports the latest payment options such as NFC and EMV. This will help you to avoid another technology upgrade in the near future.
- Tablet/device: When evaluating tablet and mobile device options on the market, be sure to select hardware that’s designed to process NFC and EMV payments, preferably without requiring add-ons or peripherals to do so. Choose a device that’s compatible with your preferred software application. Most software applications have a preferred operating system, however if you need a software application to be cross compatible, make sure to do your research and find a web-based solution.
- Digital receipt: More and more retailers want to deliver an in-store experience that provides digital support. There are innovative, downloadable apps on the market today that are supported by many POS systems. These apps allow your customers to receive a digital copy of their receipt on their smartphones. Some of these apps even allow functionality for customer satisfaction surveys, so retailers can always get a gauge on how they are perceived by their customers.
Conclusion

As the payments landscape proliferates at a dizzying speed, retailers and restaurateurs are now facing significant pressure to keep up with the latest technology, and let consumers pay how they want, when they want. mPOS — and tablet POS in particular — is emerging as an essential means of ensuring compliance with the new EMV standard while delivering the brand-building customer experience that your consumers have come to expect.

mPOP™: An All-in-One mPOS Solution

The sleek, all-in-one mPOP is an ideal solution for businesses looking to implement mPOS. The functions and connectivity of the mPOP make processing customer transactions smooth and effective for small shops, cafes, florists, bars, and many more. Aesthetically simple and elegant, the mPOP provides the ultimate point of sale solution for the new face of mPOS.

Key Features:
- Printer – cash drawer – scanner – device stand
- Compatible with iOS, Android, and Windows
- Cable management with multiple exit options
- Cash drawer: 4 bill and 6 or 8 adjustable coin slots
- Bluetooth 2.1 and USB connectivity
- “Drop-In & Print” paper loading
Learn More about mPOP
August 6, 2020
Why You Should Recognize Coupons as a Promotional Tool

Coupons? Really?

Yes, really. Coupons have been around for more than 100 years and they’re just as effective today as they were in 1887, when a hand-written coupon for a free glass of Coke was issued by the Coca-Cola Company. According to TIME Magazine, the coupon campaign was so successful that more than eight million free drinks were served between 1894 and 1913. By the 1900s, cereal companies jumped on the savings bandwagon and began issuing coupons.

Coupons as a Promotional Tool

More than a century after Coca-Cola first introduced coupons to consumers, they are still a win-win, making these discount offers the top-performing marketing and promotional tools for businesses. Your customers love saving money and receiving free items or services, and coupons give them an incentive to make repeat purchases. In fact, the “2K17 Valassis Coupon Intelligence Report” revealed that 84% of shoppers surveyed said that coupons influence what products they buy, while 86% of people said that they were persuaded to purchase a new product because they had a coupon for it. And once people try something at a discount and like it, they are more willing to pay full price in the future.

Digital vs. Print

More than 289 billion printed coupons were distributed in 2015, compared with six billion digital ones, according to statistics released by Kantar Media. And even though digital coupons and offers are growing in popularity, paper coupons are still dominating the savings landscape.

If you want to issue a coupon, are paper or digital more effective? If you are looking to get the most bang for your promotional buck, printed coupons provide a higher return on investment (ROI).

Although the redemption rate of digital coupons is a whopping 77%, which also means an increase in the number of sales and heightened brand awareness, these benefits come at a cost. Issuing digital coupons costs more than issuing paper coupons. You’ll shell out more money to mine data, collect email addresses, coordinate social media and develop an electronic marketing campaign. The higher redemption rate of digital coupons balances the costs, but the average ROI is still about 18% lower than the ROI from printed coupons.

On the other hand, print coupons make up 44% of coupon usage, according to Knowledge Network. And even though the popularity and ease-of-use of digital coupons for consumers make them an attractive option, research shows that 70% of shoppers still look for coupons in printed media and mailers.

A smart strategy may be to create a coupon campaign that integrates both the digital and print universes. A campaign that seamlessly marries the two solutions together will generate the highest return on investment since you’ll be increasing your reach and reaping the benefits of each method.

Who Wants Coupons?

The answer is: everyone. But you should pay especially close attention to the buying habits of millennials — customers born between the years 1980 and 2000. This generation, now the biggest in the U.S. wields tremendous buying power. This doesn’t mean consumers in this age group are big spenders — research shows they are cost-conscious and tech-savvy. Good branding or budget pricing isn’t enough to attract their business — millennial consumers love a good deal. According to research released by PPRI, 87% of shoppers in this age group used coupons last year. Of the people surveyed, 91% reported they used paper coupons, 85% used coupons that arrived in the mail and 48% took advantage of digital offers.

Why does this matter? Now that many millennials are established in the workforce and have disposable income, their buying habits have started to reshape the shopping landscape as we know it. Thanks to the buying power of this generation, off-price retailers like Nordstrom Rack and TJ Maxx are thriving as they provide millennials with the thrill of the (bargain) hunt, smart marketing and the right price points.

Yes, really.

Coupons are still the top-performing marketing and promotional tools for businesses. Learn more in our free eBook.

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What Else Can I Use Receipts For?

Although it seems like a minor detail, the receipt is the last thing a customer receives before leaving your store. It’s your final chance to make a great impression — so make sure your receipt is a personalized take-away that is an extension of your brand. Every receipt should be customized with your store’s logo, brand messaging, website and tag line so people can easily identify where it came from.

The receipt is also another vehicle to engage your customer. Including a customer service survey is a direct channel of communication that gives you an inside look at how your business and products are performing. Typically, customers are offered an incentive like a discount coupon, free item or a chance to be entered into a contest for completing the survey. These surveys help you understand your customers’ needs, evaluate employee performance and remedy any issues before they become a larger problem. Receipts can also be used to announce upcoming sales, promotions or special in-store events.

Finally, receipts can help you gauge the effectiveness of a promotion because they connect the promotion directly to a purchase. If a printed coupon for a new product is issued in a magazine and sales of that product jump as a result, you’ll know it’s a successful way to draw in new business, and it’s a strategy you should repeat. This is especially important when trying new promotional vehicles. if you want to try a digital promotion via Facebook or Twitter and the desired effect doesn’t materialize, you’ll know to allocate your marketing dollars elsewhere in the future.

There is a way that SMBs can reduce the cost of printed coupons: by using the receipts they already issue. Star Micronics’ Cloud Services has added a new solution, PromoPRNT, to its service lineup. Star’s Cloud Services was created to bring next generation customer engagement solutions to retailers by transforming their receipt printers into cloud-connected devices. Its newest offering, PromoPRNT, allows retail stores and small business locations to advertise their promotions in the most simple and effective way — printing coupons and promotional materials right onto the receipt that is issued to a customer.

What is PromoPRNT?

PromoPRNT is the newest tool merchants can use to raise product or service awareness, create unique discounts and monetize in-store traffic in an effective way. Thousands of SMBs have already started using PromoPRNT, which allows them to deliver promotions using nothing but their Star Micronics cloud-connected thermal printers. Printing coupons on customer receipts allows you to reach a higher percentage of shoppers for a fraction of the cost of a print or digital campaign and compliments the marketing campaign you already have in place.

Merchants can reduce the cost of printing coupons and digital campaigns through external services and engaging customers at the POS terminal. Retailers can choose from the templates of coupons, store offers and messages to customize their receipts, giving them ability to advertise and run promotions at their POS system. You also have the option to integrate barcodes of discount codes and include validation dates. The coupons or promotional messages can be deployed to every store printer from the comfort of your desk.

Printing a coupon on the receipt takes the guesswork and cost out of delivery–you can be sure the customer receives it. And as an added bonus, employees can talk about the coupon/promotion while they are processing the transaction and circle or highlight the promotional offer on the receipt so the customer doesn’t forget.

Learn more about PromoPRNT in the below video:

PromoPRNT is free and easy to use.

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July 21, 2020
Star Micronics Introduces Feature-Packed Choice Series Cash Drawers

The features businesses know and love – with added strength and benefits

Somerset, NJ – July 21, 2020 – Star Micronics, a leading manufacturer of mobile, point of sale (POS), and customer engagement technologies, is excited to introduce the Choice Series cash drawers to its line of cash management solutions.

Available in 14” x 16” and 16” x 16” sizes and glossy black and matte white finishes, with an optional stainless-steel front design, the Choice Series cash drawers are available in the sizes and styles businesses demand. Equipped with standard till sizes, the 14” x 16” cash drawer features a 4 Bill-5 Coin till and the 16” x 16” model includes a 5 Bill-5 Coin till, with additional sizes available to fit a business’ specific needs.

Stronger than their competition, Choice Series cash drawers feature a reinforced top creating added strength to eliminate bounce from touch tablets and securely support POS terminals. The Choice Series is a one-key cash management solution enabling both the cash drawer and locking till cover to be operated by a single hinged key. Managers will love the convenience of a single hinged key that will not break off in the lock.

Simply connect the cable included with your Choice Series cash drawer to the drawer kick of your POS printer and enjoy years of reliable operation tested to over 1 million cycles and backed by a three-year warranty. Available options for the Choice Series include under-counter mounts, locking till covers, over 10 different lock set options, and a secure dual-cash cable to enable the Choice Series to work as either cash drawer 1 or cash drawer 2.

The Choice Series complements two other Star Micronics cash drawer lines: The Value Series of affordable, standard cash drawers, and the Max Series of premium cash drawers with added security and design features.

“The combination of simple setup and operation, reliable and secure steel construction, and compatibility makes the Choice Series right for your business,” said Michael Hanson, Executive Vice President at Star Micronics. “Make your next sale a Star Bundle by adding a Choice Series cash drawer to Star’s expanding portfolio of customer solutions.”

July 21, 2020
Why BLE Thermal Printers are Ideal for DSD Applications
Direct store delivery (DSD), selling or distributing products directly to the point of sale (POS) or point of consumption (POC), is especially popular for food, drink, and other high-volume goods. Eliminating the “middlemen” in the supply chain is most efficient, especially when products have a short shelf life or are in high demand. Manufacturers ranging from Coca-Cola® and Budweiser® to Entenmann’s® and Hallmark Cards use DSD to get products right to the store — and to shoppers faster.

One of the elements essential to a successful DSD process is to add a mobile automation solution that supports receipt and label printing. Mobile DSD solutions give drivers more time to spend on merchandising, information gathering, campaign management, and other value-adding DSD-related services, instead of having to manually create invoices and receipts.

The ability to print on-demand is also extremely helpful. For example, a driver may find that an individual store’s needs have changed, and mobile printing can quickly and easily produce accurate, up-to-date invoices, orders, pick lists, receipts, labels, and more.

Your customers rely on you for solutions that enable their mobile sales teams to work most efficiently and maximize profits. Providing reliable on-demand printing in the field, however, hasn’t always been easy. Smart solution providers are offering their customers Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mobile thermal printers, an ideal choice for DSD applications.

What Makes BLE Printers Different?

BLE printers support a communication range similar to “classic” Bluetooth of at least 330 feet, with significantly reduced power consumption. This feature offers operational cost savings and prolongs battery life. But perhaps an even greater advantage is that BLE printers can work with any compatible iOS device (iPhone®, iPad®, iPod Touch®) without the need for pairing. With standard Bluetooth, only one printer can be paired with an iOS device, and each user must use that specific mobile printer every day. However, BLE allows any employee to use any mobile receipt printer since no pairing is required. This feature makes BLE printers perfect for bring your own device (BYOD) environments.

Benefits of BLE

There are several benefits your clients can expect when you provide a BLE mobile thermal receipt printer for their DSD applications:
- Easy to use: Because BLE mobile printers are shareable between multiple iOS devices, drivers can simply grab a printer and go without worrying about matching a particular printer to their devices. No pairing also means that drivers who aren’t tech savvy don’t have to go into their iOS settings and deal with configuring. Connections between the printer and mobile device are handled automatically by applications, so the user can just open an app and print from there. Ease of use also extends to fast and simple paper loading, with printers offering “drop in and print” roll changes.
- Smaller, Portable Footprint: A mobile printer needs to be compact and lightweight. Drivers use these printers all day, so they need something small and easy to carry. There are BLE mobile printers that fit easily in the palm of one’s hand and can be worn comfortably on a belt clip. Some weigh about 1 ounce or less, including the battery.
- Reliability: Productivity depends upon consistent device performance. BLE printers deliver high-quality print resolution, ensuring your driver has a clean and readable receipt every time. BLE printers also have high mean cycles between failure (MCBF) rates, with the ability to print millions of lines before requiring maintenance beyond paper changes. In addition, durable print heads can last for 30+ miles of printing.
- Battery Life: Related to reliability, don’t under estimate the importance of battery life. DSD drivers’ long shifts mean that printer batteries need to last. Look for BLE printers that offer at least 10+ hours of battery life. A good BLE printer will also have a USB port and cable for convenient charging with any mobile device USB power adapter or PC USB port.
Must-Have Features

When you are looking for the best BLE mobile printer for your customers, make sure it has the right features to meet the greatest variety of printing needs.
- Direct Thermal Printing: With thermal transfer or impact printing, the print head comes into contact with an ink ribbon to produce text. Direct thermal printing eliminates the need for a ribbon, as the print head contacts the thermal paper and produces text through a heat reaction. There are several reasons why direct thermal printing is the best choice for mobile printing and in particular for the fast-paced environment of DSD. The only consumable is the paper, which saves time and maintenance (no worries about having to change ribbons) and is more economical, providing significant cost savings. Direct thermal printing also produces a higher resolution than thermal transfer, creating crisp, legible receipts. They print faster as well, with some printers offering speeds of 1 to 2.5 inches per second. In addition, they operate quietly, which is a necessity when working in a customer’s store.
- Connectivity: Besides BLE 4.0 for use with any iOS devices, it’s helpful to also have standard Bluetooth 3.0 for use with Android and Windows devices as well as iOS. In BYOD environments, some users may not have an iOS device to take advantage of BLE, so having a backup means of connectivity is wise.
- Backlit Display: These printers may be used in bright sunlight conditions, and a backlit LCD is easier to read.
- Versatility: A good BLE printer should offer 1D and 2D barcode support to suit a range of printing needs. There are also BLE printers that offer adjustable paper width for greater flexibility. Some printers also provide special capabilities such as a “de-curl” feature for smooth and flat receipts.
- Durability: Mobile printers need to be able to withstand tough working conditions and various environments. An ingress protection (IP) rating will tell you about the level of the printer’s resistance to dust and moisture. The first digit refers to dust protection, and the second digit refers to protection against liquids (everything from raindrops to soda spills). The higher the digits, the greater the resistance. Also look for printers that have a drop test rating of 3 to 4 feet to see whether they can withstand a fall to pavement or a store floor.
And of course, it’s good to look for a product backed by a warranty that will help you maximize your profits as a value-added reseller.

Other Industries that Benefit from BLE Printing

BLE mobile thermal printing isn’t just for DSD applications. It will benefit any of your customers within an industry or corporation where employees use devices of their choice for BYOD environments. Any workplace that uses a pool of printers for a fleet of mobile workers will appreciate the “grab and go” convenience of not having to pair specific devices. A great example of this type of workplace is a taxi, limo, or rideshare service. BLE mobile printers can also be an economical choice for linebusting in retail stores or faster service in restaurants.

Give Your Customers the Best Choice

A BLE thermal receipt printer for DSD applications is the most sensible option for your manufacturer customers. Set their DSD drivers up for success with a printer such as the Star Micronics SM-L200 and the new Star Micronics SM-L300.

Providing solutions that address your clients’ pain points and increase their efficiency will help cement your role as a trusted business advisor. They need your guidance when it comes to technology — helping them find the very best solutions for their applications will establish you as a true partner that has their business’ best interests in mind, not just someone who sells technology.

Partnering with an industry leader in mobile printing technology can help you stay on the cutting edge of technology and provide your clients with state-of-the-art solutions that can give them new operational efficiencies and a competitive advantage.

About the SM-L200 and SM-L300

SM-L200

The SM-L200 supports Bluetooth low energy (BLE 4.0) technology for all iOS mobile devices such as the Apple iPad®, iPhone® and iPod touch®. Its compact and lightweight design make this two-inch portable printer perfect for a wide range of applications from queue busting in retail and hospitality to home delivery 58mm wide invoicing.

The SM-L200 is the first portable printer currently on the market which offers the ability to connect any Apple, iOS BLE compatible device without having to pair to it. With no limitation on the number of devices connected, BLE is the perfect solution for BYOD (bring your own device) environments that does not require any certification or prior authorization from your iOS operating system. In addition to the BLE feature for iOS, the SM-L200 is Bluetooth (3.0/ 4.0) compatible with all operating systems (Windows, Android, and iOS).

SM-L300

Always leading – always innovating, Star Micronics is proud to introduce the SM-L300, 3-inch portable printer. This addition to the SM-L series of Bluetooth low evergy portable printers allows users to connect to any Apple iPad®, iPhone®, or iPod touch®, iOS BLE compatible device without having to pair to it. With no limitation on the number of devices connected, BLE is the perfect solution for any environment using multiple devices for mPOS printing. In addition, it requires no certification or prior authorization from your iOS application. The SM-L300 is Bluetooth (3.0/4.0) compatible with all operating systems including Windows, Android™, and iOS.

Ready to learn more about BLE thermal printing? Get your copy of our free eBook, “Why BLE Thermal Printers are Ideal for DSD Applications” now!

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July 7, 2020
3 Benefits of a Tethered Connection Between a Restaurant POS Tablet and Receipt Printer

Restaurant technology is evolving extremely quickly. Gone are the days of taking orders by hand on a paper tablet and punching entries into a legacy point of sale (POS) system. Clunky POS terminals have been replaced by sleek tablet-based POS systems, complete with integrated sales, menu, and loyalty information.

As the hospitality industry leverages all of the benefits that mobile point of sale (mPOS) has to offer, one thing is more important than ever: connectivity. In today’s blog post, we will explore how a tethered Ethernet connection between a restaurant POS tablet and a receipt printer can benefit restaurants in three major ways.

1. Steady Network Connection

A tethered connection – or a direct connection from the POS tablet to a restaurant’s Ethernet network – is very important because it means one thing: reliable connectivity!

A steady network connection is an absolute gamechanger when it comes to any restaurant and retail business, as Wi-Fi signals tend be weak and unstable in physical brick-and-mortar locations. Why is this? According to Infovista,

“Wi-Fi signals are notoriously sensitive to the surrounding environment… Construction materials, nearby sources of interference, even the products on the shelves can attenuate Wi-Fi signals.”

When you choose a POS system that includes a dependable tethered connection that runs from the receipt printer through to the POS tablet, you eliminate the need to worry about Wi-Fi signals all together. Using this setup can also provide an added bonus: By selecting a receipt printer that provides both Ethernet connection and power to the tablet, restaurants can experience a true “two-birds-one-stone” situation in terms of streamlining their POS and boosting its reliability and functionality.

2. Prevent Downtime

When it comes to any business, and especially restaurants, time is money. Processing transactions and turning tables quickly means more profit for the business and happier customers who are more likely to return to the restaurant. When running a business smoothly is a top priority, one thing can be very dangerous: downtime.

If a restaurant relies on an unstable Wi-Fi network to process transactions and close tabs, downtime can unfortunately become a regular occurrence. Choosing a POS system with a receipt printer that provides both wired Ethernet access and power to the tablet means that restaurants can mitigate the risk of network downtime and keep business flowing smoothly because they are avoiding network disconnection, as well as the possibility of the tablet running out of charge.

Two of the most important things to patrons are a restaurant’s food and its service. Ensure you are providing smooth, timely, and high quality service by implementing tethered connections at the POS.

3. Space and Cost Savings

Just like avoiding downtime is critical to a restaurant’s operations, reducing expenses and creating a clean, cohesive aesthetic is also important. A tethered connection between the receipt printer and the POS tablet can help you do both of those things.

With a tethered connection between the receipt printer and the tablet, Ethernet connection and power are routed through one cable, so you have fewer cables and adapters to purchase and manage. This not only saves money but also provides a tidier, clutter-free look at the POS which is a place where you have the opportunity to make a positive impression on many customers, especially those that are simply popping in to quickly pick up their online ordering order.

Looking to modernize your restaurant and take advantage of online ordering?

Download our free eBook, “Is Your Restaurant Ready for the Growing Online Ordering Trend?” now!

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SteadyLAN® for Tethered Connections in Restaurant POS

If you are interested in the benefits that a tethered connection between the receipt printer and restaurant POS tablet can offer, look no further than Star Micronics’ SteadyLAN®!

Star’s unique SteadyLAN® technology (patent pending) makes unstable Wi-Fi signals a thing of the past! SteadyLAN, available on certain mC-Print models and designed for iOS, Android, and Windows devices provides direct cabled control of the printer and attached peripherals, as well as Ethernet provision to the tablet, from the wired Ethernet port of the printer.

For locations where Wi-Fi connectivity is not possible or unreliable, this new technology is a world-first, providing the stability of a cabled LAN connection for tablet POS systems. By connecting the SteadyLAN-compatible printer to the Internet via wired LAN and connecting the printer and a tablet with a Lightning-USB or USB-C® cable, the device can use the Internet without Wi-Fi communication. At the same time, the tablet can communicate with the printer via USB or LAN and can be charged from the printer.

To more about SteadyLAN, click here or watch the below video:

Which Printers Include SteadyLAN?

SteadyLAN is available on certain models of both the mC-Print2 and the mC-Print3.

mC-Print2

2” thermal receipt printer
Easy setup
Guillotine auto-cutter
Bluetooth, USB, Lightning, LAN, CloudPRNT
Cloud ready
SteadyLAN™technology available on model: mCP21LB

Learn more about mC-Print2

mC-Print3

3” thermal receipt printer
Simple user experience
Easy to integrate through common SDK
Bluetooth, USB, Lightning, LAN, CloudPRNT
IPX2 splash-proof design
SteadyLAN™ technology available on models: mCP31L and mCP31LB

Learn more about mC-Print3

Star Micronics is proud to offer a full range of restaurant POS solutions for tablet POS, online ordering, back-of-house, and more.

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June 30, 2020
Technology for the New World of Retail: Ultimate Checklist
The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed the way people shop, forcing retailers to reevaluate their processes and their technology. While there are uncertainties, we know stores just aren’t going to reopen and go back to normal.What will retailers do differently? What will shoppers expect? What new technology do retailers need?

Across the country, consumers are choosing to shop with retailers that offer cleaner stores, shorter checkout lines, curbside pickup, “Buy Online, Pickup In Store” (BOPIS), touchless payments, and more. As consumers adapt, they will become accustomed to these new conveniences, and eventually expect it. Retailers that start using newer technology to adapt and offer all these options will succeed.

Whether they want to or not, retailers have to change – not to just get through the pandemic, but to be successful in the new world of retail. There have been important lessons learned from COVID-19 for retailers, all of which should be taken into consideration moving forward.

10 Retail Technology Solutions for Today’s New World

Whether you are an essential retailer, or reopening your brick-and-mortar, here are 10 technology solutions to help retail businesses reopen and adopt to the new world of retail:

1. Online Shopping

If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the past few months, having an online storefront is vital. If you have a physical store, offer BOPIS and add curbside pickup as a delivery option on your site. Consider selling on third-party sites such as Amazon, Walmart, eBay, and Facebook to expand your market reach and increase online sales.

2. Curbside Pickup

While many retailers offer curbside delivery, it’s not always easy to manage, especially with lots of orders and/or limited staff. Develop a well-thought-out process to manage your orders and use text messages/emails to communicate the status of each order with customers.

3. Mobile Point of Sale

With current restrictions, it’s important to keep traffic flowing. With a mobile POS solution, you can process payments anywhere in your store to keep lines as short as possible (line-busting), as well as outside your store for curbside pickup.

4. Touchless Payments

As more brick-and-mortar businesses reopen and consumers return to shopping in stores, touchless solutions become more and more important. Consider offering Smart Wallet payment processing solutions, such as Google Pay and Apple Pay. This allows customers to pay for their orders without having to reach into their wallet or touch your credit card device.

5. Sneeze Guards

All stores should have a shield for virus protection. Some sneeze guards are designed for specific point of sale monitors, so check with your technology provider before buying a custom solution. They should be easy to install and relocate in case your store setup changes.

6. Security Labels

If you offer home delivery or curbside pickup, you can secure packages with tamper-proof labels (or seals). These labels provide visual evidence if a package has been tampered with. Your customers will appreciate it!

7. Email Marketing Automation

With fewer customers visiting brick-and-mortar stores, retailers need a way of communicating with customers and getting promotions out. If you aren’t already, use an email marketing solution. If your system allows it, personalize and automate your campaigns/promotions to drive up clicks and sales.

8. Self-Service Kiosks

If your store gets busy, add a few kiosks so customers can shop your store’s live inventory without having to walking around. Add kiosks outside your store if shoppers have to wait in a line to enter your store.

9. Robots in Retail

Since the pandemic, more retailers are considering robots to reduce human-to-human interaction. They can restock shelves and assist with customer service; at one Best Buy store, a robotic cart was spotted supporting curbside delivery. And they sure look impressive!

10. Scan-and-Go

For retailers willing to experiment, scan-and-go looks like a promising technology for mainstream retail, especially in the post-Coronavirus world. Similar to Amazon Go, customers simply grab items off the shelf and walk out, eliminating checkout lines altogether.

Tips for Purchasing New Technology

Before purchasing new retail technology, prepare a list of all the hardware and software you own, and what you think you may need. Even if it’s just a short list, it will help you plan a budget and compare solutions. When making your list, consider all mobile point of sale devices, credit card devices, receipt printers, cash drawers, scanners, servers, internet service, retail software, eCommerce technology, and more.

5 ways to save on new technology purchases:
1. Tax deductions: Save all receipts and ask your staff to save receipts too. Technology purchases for your business can be deducted on taxes.
2. Trade-ins: Before disposing of your unneeded hardware (which can cost money), ask your technology provider if they accept trade-ins, or sell/donate it to a store that needs it.
3. Financial assistance: Research grants and financial assistance offered by organizations to retail businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
4. Volume discounts: While you shouldn’t base new technology purchasing decisions solely on price, ask your technology provider if they offer volume discounts and/or have any current promotions.
5. Defer payments: Many technology providers are currently assisting retailers and helping them adopt new technology solutions by offering either deferred payments or even buy now, pay later models. For example, at Celerant, we are currently offering your first 3 months free for any new SaaS product to help retailers get started with new technology now, while not having to pay until later.
Are you Ready for New Retail Technology?

Celerant Technology is the #1 provider of innovative retail software.

To help retailers during this challenging time, Celerant is offering up to 3 months free on new SaaS retail software contracts; from now through June 30th.

For more information, click here

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.
June 24, 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
Restaurant Disaster Relief: Survive and Recover

When disaster strikes, how will your restaurant handle it?

In a world rife with natural disasters, recessions, and pandemics, restaurant owners must be flexible and agile enough to withstand uncertainty, while still having a plan in place to survive and recover whenever these events strike.

In these instances, it’s no longer about understanding customer desires and capitalizing on trends. It’s now about taking care of needs and ensuring the safety of your customers and your business.

In order to survive such dramatic shifts in customer demands, you need to combine agility and creativity.

Click here to download our free restaurant relief guide.

Evaluate Cost Centers and Cut Where Possible

Making cuts to any area of business can be difficult. Sometimes, however, it is inevitable. In order to protect your business, weather the storm, and be able to come out of a disaster ready to operate at full force, you must be able to make sacrifices somewhere. Review your labor and inventory data very carefully to understand where you can afford to make cuts and where you can’t.

Labor

In the event of recessions or pandemics, when fewer people are going out to eat, you’ll need to evaluate which positions are mission-critical.

Front-of-house staff

If customers aren’t able to enjoy a meal on your premises, it won’t be cost-effective to keep FOH staff at full force. Perhaps schedule employees for fewer days or shorter shifts. In extreme circumstances, furloughs may be necessary, though it is wise to refrain from letting employees go completely. Once the disaster is over, you may need them in order to operate effectively and you don’t want to burn those bridges.

If you have the right restaurant technology like a POS system, you can use the data and management tools it provides to help optimize labor and streamline tasks so you can reduce labor costs without cutting too many hours.

Inventory

It’s important to take inventory of everything to see what you have on-hand. Try to adjust your menu offerings to include meals or ingredients you have on hand and stretch your current inventory as far as possible to prevent waste and spoilage. You may need to create new specials and promotions to entice customers to order items that need to be moved quickly.

Invest in an inventory management system before old, wasteful habits come back. Now is the perfect time to assess your old processes and identify any sources of waste within your inventory so you can better optimize it. An inventory management system can help you increase inventory accuracy, reduce waste, cut costs, and improve the overall quality of your inventory management.

Now is also a good time to reach out to your vendors to see if they have been affected. You will want to know whether orders will need to be delayed or canceled under these circumstances.

Reconsider Your Go-to-Market Strategies

Your customers are likely spending a lot of their time online. That’s where you should be directing your marketing. With social media, post early and post often. The more you post, the wider the audience you will reach. Consider social media advertising, which can put your brand in front of new audiences instantly. Find local community groups on social platforms and join them to help get the word out about your business. It is important to both communicate and listen to customers on these platforms. When faced with disaster, it’s important to recognize that your customers’ needs evolve very quickly. For this reason, you must adjust your message to accommodate, and ensure that you are delivering that message through the most effective channels. Every restaurant should know their customers, and should be reaching out and communicating with them through a variety of methods.

It is beneficial for restaurants to have a loyalty program through which they can communicate with customers. These are easy to implement with the right technology, and can provide valuable customer data that you can use to engage customers. With Star Micronics PromoPRNT, promotion printing technology, restaurants can reward their loyal customers by printing coupons or promotions to be attached to their take-out or delivery orders that can be used for their next order.

Email marketing is also an effective way to boost your marketing efforts. If you are offering any new promotions that can address customer needs or save on packaging costs like family-style orders, leverage drip campaigns to your customer database. Implement a monthly newsletter or some other form of communication campaign to engage your loyal customers and keep your business top of mind. You can also do this to get the word out about online ordering, adjusted menu items, or changes in your hours of operation.

Focus on Existing Revenue Centers: Online Ordering, Pickup, and Delivery

Continuing to operate in some form or another could be your saving grace. You may be able to run your operation as a ghost kitchen, allowing customers to place orders through your website, mobile app, phone, or third-party service.

Every restaurant needs to exist online. Online and mobile ordering has become a necessity. Utilize your website as a tool to communicate with and engage your customers. Many sites are static and do not encourage customers to continue coming back. Dynamic websites allow chefs and owners to make changes and update menus daily or weekly, keeping customers engaged with new recipes, offers, and specials.

With solutions like Star Micronics CloudPRNT, you can get online ordering capabilities set up quickly and efficiently if you don’t already have them. This frees you up to redirect more of your efforts on pickup, to-go, and delivery. Reallocate some of your front-of-house staff to courier and delivery operations. For pickup, you can offer in-store, drive through, or curbside depending on your needs and capabilities.

Integrating online payments into your website can facilitate contactless pickup or delivery in the event of a viral pandemic. For contactless payments curbside, mobile receipt printers can be used to print receipts while tablets can be used to carry out transactions. You can also set up tools that text or call customers when orders are ready so they can run in and out to pick up orders without the need for face-to-face transactions.

Adapt to Overcome

When faced with disaster and uncertainty, you must do what you can to remain in business. That requires you to develop the agility and flexibility to adapt to new circumstances that arise and overcome the challenges that you face.

With any disaster, prepare for consumer preferences and expectations to change. It’s important that you align your technology to help you evolve alongside these changes. Star Micronics offers easy, intuitive solutions like CloudPRNT to help you incorporate online ordering quickly into your operations. For more information on how you can adapt to meet current events, contact the experts at Star Micronics today.

Our free Disaster Recovery Checklist has all the information you need, at a glance.

Download Full eBook with Checklist

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.

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

June 4, 2020
Star Micronics Introduces Tamper-Proof Labeling Solution for Restaurant Takeout Orders

The secure labels and optional dispenser securely seal delivery, catering, and to-go orders

Somerset, NJ – June 1, 2020 – Star Micronics, a leading manufacturer of mobile, point of sale (POS), and customer engagement technologies, is excited to announce the addition of a tamper-proof labeling solution designed to securely seal delivery, catering, and to-go food and beverage orders.

The labels, featuring a best-in-class tamper-evident design, are available in three sizes: 3” round labels to seal takeout bags; 2” x 4” labels to seal larger bags or to close the mouths of bags; and 0.75” x 7” labels to close drink lids. Each label size can be easily and efficiently applied by hand, and each roll delivers 500 labels. The labels come pre-messaged, reading “Sealed for Freshness,” but the message can be customized for large opportunities or recurring specific needs.

Designed with security as a priority, the labels provide added post-preparation quality control by delivering visual evidence if a label has been removed or repositioned. With proven on-packaging performance, the labels are an ideal solution to securely seal food for delivery or pickup orders.

Complete the labeling solution with dependable, easy-to-use label dispensers featuring a small tabletop design and a mechanical bench top that is constructed of steel for years of reliable use. Adaptable to fit any restaurant’s needs, the dispensers can fit multiple labels and can accommodate labels with up to a 7” diameter. Two sizes of dispensers are offered: 3” wide and 4.5” wide. Thanks to its unique cradle design that holds labels securely and separately, the dispenser can handle any core size and enables easy label roll changes. The dispenser can be used for single or multiple rolls, with label separators available for purchase as needed.

“We look forward to expanding our restaurant point of sale offering to include even more safe and secure solutions,” said Christophe Naasz, Director of Business Development at Star Micronics. “This simple yet effective label solution will put restaurants’ and customers’ minds at ease as the industry adapts and continues to prioritize safety.”

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

June 1, 2020
Why Resellers Should Offer Kiosk Service and Support
COVID-19 has quickly become one of the biggest challenges our modern world has faced. The pandemic has rocked the global community, and we as a society are adapting by redefining how we interact. Our daily habits which have been built over decades are changing to ensure the public’s safety, and as a reseller now is the time to consider how you can help your customers move forward safely and efficiently.

One of the most important factors in successfully navigating this new normal is learning about what tools are available to overcome the challenges presented by COVID-19, and one of these tools is the self-service kiosk. Because the kiosk industry is becoming more refined and relevant on a daily basis, it is becoming more important than ever for resellers to offer a full range of kiosk services, including everything from installation services to post-sale support.

In this blog post, we will explore why resellers should offer kiosk services and support, especially during such a critical time for businesses.

Why Should Resellers Offer Kiosk Service and Support?

Simply put, offering kiosk services is critical because the self-service industry is expected to boom as the world defines its new way of doing business and living life.

Self-service solutions were already on the rise, but now that contactless interaction is preferred and social distancing is ingrained in daily life, self-service is expected to flood our space. It is important to note that self-service is slated to grow in some verticals where it was never considered before.

Many technologies that previously only existed as concepts are now becoming valuable and accepted as building blocks for our new normal. Some of these technologies include:

Biometric Access Control: Access control solution providers are considering replacing fingerprint readers with contactless technologies like vein pattern biometric authentication. In addition to being less intrusive in nature, some of these solutions may also even be more accurate than their predecessors.

Contactless Interaction: Touch-free is here to stay, and fully voice-activated kiosks which allow users to interact in a safe, contactless manner and incorporate new AI technologies will likely increase in popularity.

Health Screening and Disinfection: With the pandemic comes a new set of public health priorities, and self-service solutions can help. Full-body thermal scanners can be used to prevent people with a fever from accessing populated spaces, and antibacterial gel dispensers can be integrated with existing kiosks to provide disinfection in use cases where, for now, contactless interaction is not an option.

Digital Signage Communication: In many regions, businesses are required to comply with new occupancy regulations, and automated digital signage kiosks can be used to communicate an establishment’s capacity.

As these technologies evolve and thrive, it is important to offer kiosk hardware that enables quick and easy installation and maintenance. For example, a kiosk printer that includes remote status monitoring and the ability to troubleshoot various aspects of its operation from a centralized location will bring value to virtually any business.

How to Offer the Right Kiosk Service and Support

It’s likely that these new self-service solutions will become the norm, and it’s important to consider that your service and support offerings may also need to change. A surefire way to do this is to not only offer cutting-edge technology but to confirm you partner with self-service manufacturers that prioritize innovation and are dedicated to continuously improving the technologies they offer.

One example of what this might look like is Star Micronics’ StarPRNT SDK which offers peace of mind to ISVs and end-users alike through the following features:

Future-proof development tools

Compatibility with all operating systems and platforms

Remote monitoring of kiosk printer paper status (low or no paper)

The ability to detect if the kiosk printer is offline or is experiencing operating issues

And more

In the self-service industry, many things are changing and will continue to change for some time. Kiosk integrators and manufacturers need to rely more than ever on fully customizable and easy-to-integrate components like world-class SDKs, platform-agnostic integration technologies, and best-in-class hardware for mission critical processes. Service and support for each of these factors is a key part of a sustainable solution and should be considered from day 1 when planning a go-to market strategy.

How Star Micronics is Innovating During COVID-19 and Beyond

As time passes and kiosk solutions become the new normal across the globe, Star Micronics is dedicated to continuously innovating to help businesses seamlessly navigate these changes. We will continue to integrate printing components with advanced tools like our universal SDK, as well as cloud-based and browser-enabled printing technologies, allowing the next generation of solutions to emerge.

As a reseller, consider consulting with experienced integrators and manufacturers like Star Micronics during every stage of your kiosk service and support project to guarantee you deliver solutions that help your customers seamlessly stay current with today’s new standards.

Meet the Star Micronics Kiosk Printer Family

Explore Star’s Kiosk Printer Lineup

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.

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
May 28, 2020