Category: Solutions & Use Cases

How Back of the House Restaurant Technology is Evolving
There’s no doubt about it: people love to dine out. In fact, there are over 1 million restaurants in the United States alone, and it’s estimated that those restaurants produced $863 billion of sales in 2019. At the same time, the hospitality industry is undergoing the same digital transformation as nearly every other industry: for example, online ordering is growing 300% faster than in-dining spend!

To accommodate these advancements, back of the house restaurant technology is evolving to keep up. Read on to learn more about the transformation taking place in kitchens around the world – and how it’s not as complicated as you think to keep up with modern hospitality trends if you choose the proper back of the house restaurant technology.

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Restaurants across the world are being prompted to streamline their operations to meet the demands of today’s latest hospitality trends. These new technologies include online ordering, self-service kiosks, and other updated kitchen technology. Let’s explore each trend and how your restaurant (or your customer’s restaurants) can adapt to take advantage of these opportunities.

Online Ordering

One of the most prevalent technological changes to the restaurant industry is online ordering. Did you know:
- 31% of consumers say they use third-party delivery apps at least twice a week.
- 67% of customers who have placed an order online will visit the restaurant more frequently versus those who have not.
- Restaurants that utilizes an online-ordering system are able to grow their delivery revenue 30% more than those who do not.
- Millennials order takeout via an app or website more than any other age group, with 79% of Millennials doing so in the last year.
- Two-thirds of consumers say that they are more likely to visit a restaurant if they have previously ordered from them online.
- Partnering with an online ordering service is a great way to reach new customers – one service has claimed that 92% of its orders come from entirely new customers.
So, what does a restaurant need to do to accommodate online orders? The first step is to choose a third-party online ordering service. Some popular options include DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber Eats, and more (Star is partnered with all three of those – and is proud to partner with nearly every other online ordering service provider, as well).

Partnering with an online ordering service can be very straightforward. Most simply ask that the restaurant provides information about itself and uploads its menu, and then the service provider will send out the necessary equipment to get started.

Many services allow the restaurant to either use its own drivers or leverage on-demand drivers, and some may even include special perks like professional photoshoots, marketing opportunities, website tools, and more.

Considering back of the house restaurant technology when choosing your service provider is of utmost importance. Be sure to choose a service which provides a feature-packed printer that is:
- Full of Connectivity Options: Star’s printers include multiple connectivity options including:
  
  Star’s mC-Print2-and-mC-Print3
  - CloudPRNT: CloudPRNT allows the printer to communicate directly with the online ordering service’s server, which means no need for an additional tablet, software, or SSL certificate at the local level. Enjoy all the benefits of online ordering without additional hassle and clutter!
  - SteadyLAN^TM: Star’s mC-Print series features SteadyLAN, which allows for direct data transfer between Apple iOS devices and the printer via the Lightning cable. For the first time ever, enjoy direct ethernet connectivity to iOS devices from the wired ethernet port of the printer.
  - USB Hub: Star’s mC-Print series also features a USB hub which allows for connectivity of up to three peripherals, like 1D and 2D scanners, cash drawers, line displays, kitchen buzzers, and more.
- Durable: The kitchen can be a messy place. A good rule of thumb is to choose a printer that is IPX2-rated, meaning it is splash-proof and insect-proof.
- High Performance: Choosing a high-quality and high-performance printer will serve you well in the long run. Look for a printer with a high print speed (like 250mm/s), a high print resolution (203dpi), and a simple user experience.
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Self-Service Kiosk Orders

Arguably, the second most popular trend emerging in the hospitality market is self-service kiosks (it’s estimated that 41% of the industry is now using kiosks) – and for good reason. There are many benefits for both the customer and the restaurant when it comes to self-service kiosks:
- More Sales: Customers spend more money when they order from a kiosk, thanks to kiosks prompting them with options such as additional toppings, which can add up over time. In fact, McDonald’s has seen a 20% increase in drink orders alone since implementing kiosks!
- A Better Customer Experience: Implementing kiosks means shorter lines and enhanced order customization and accuracy for your customers. Additionally, your employees can spend more time giving customers a high-quality experience since they won’t have as much pressure to quickly process all of the orders.
- Cost-Efficient: On top of making more money, you’ll avoid the time and money that is wasted when orders need to be re-made due to inaccurate manual order-taking.
It may surprise you, but you can implement self-service kiosk technology without making big changes to your current restaurant operations! If your staff is trained on processing printed kitchen tickets, it’s possible to keep your back of the house operations the same –you can keep them by choosing a connected kitchen printer that can retrieve digital orders. Save time, money, and keep your workers happy by keeping your back-of-house processes the same.

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Star’s SK1-311 Kiosk Printer[/caption]

Star is proud to partner and integrate with many of the industry’s leading kiosk manufacturers. With a large variety of kiosk printers designed to meet different kiosk styles and requirements, there’s a good chance we have the right kiosk solution for you. Please contact our sales team to learn more, whether you’re a kiosk manufacturer searching for the right printer, a reseller or ISV looking for the right solution to offer your customers, or a restaurant on the hunt for a kiosk solution to meet your specific needs.

Other Updated Kitchen Technology

There are even more modern advancements happening in restaurant kitchens besides online ordering and kiosks. One example? The kitchen buzzer.

Star’s mC-Sound Kitchen Buzzer

Modern kitchen buzzers – like the Star mC-Sound – include many new features like:
- High quality sound (89dB)
- Easy-to-use, pre-recorded melodies
- The ability to record custom user speech
- Compatibility with Windows, iOS, and Android SDKs
- The ability for the sound converter tool to be integrated
- And more!
Back of the house restaurant technology is evolving – but you may be surprised how easy it can be to update your existing technology and take advantage of today’s trends, which can add more money to your bottom line and create a better customer experience.

Whether you want to offer online ordering, deploy self-service kiosk technology, or more, be sure your new processes are backed by high-quality hardware featuring future-proof connectivity options and integrations with your favorite service providers. Always leading, and always innovating, Star is proud to offer a portfolio of back of the house restaurant technology designed to meet today’s needs.

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January 16, 2020
Star Micronics Launches SteadyLAN™ for iOS to Provide Reliable Network Access for iPad POS

An industry-first solution to support stable store operation with one simple cable connection

Somerset, NJ – Jan 13, 2020 – Star Micronics, a leading global manufacturer of mobile, point of sale (POS), and customer engagement technologies, is excited to announce SteadyLAN, an industry-first solution designed to provide power and network access to iPad POS through one Lightning cable connection.

SteadyLAN is a patent pending technology available on certain mC-Print Series printers. It provides wired Ethernet service to an iPad connected to a networked printer via the Lightning cable (iOS10 or later required). SteadyLAN is available on the following mC-Print models: mCP21LB, mCP31L, and mCP31LB.

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 iPad POS systems. By connecting the SteadyLAN-compatible printer to the Internet via wired LAN and connecting the printer and an iPad with a Lightning-USB cable, the iPad can use the Internet without Wi-Fi communication. At the same time, the iPad can communicate with the printer via Lightning USB and can simultaneously be charged from the printer.

“We’re incredibly proud to announce SteadyLAN, as it will make unstable Wi-Fi signals a thing of the past,” said Jon Levin, Director of Product Management at Star Micronics. “We expect this new solution to greatly improve business operations in retail and restaurant POS settings, mobile ordering, and more.”

January 13, 2020
Star Micronics to Unveil New mPOS Solutions at NRF 2020

Additions to the mCollection, SteadyLAN, kiosks, hospitality solutions, and more to be demonstrated at booth #5419

Somerset, NJ – Jan. 6, 2020 – Star Micronics, a leading manufacturer of mobile, point of sale (POS), and customer engagement technologies, is excited to attend NRF 2020 where it will demonstrate the latest additions to its mCollection, cutting-edge solutions for retail and hospitality, and leading self-service kiosks at booth #5419.

Star is excited to unveil two new mCollection products at NRF 2020: a new model of mPOP^TM featuring a Flat Bill cash drawer, as well as SteadyLAN, an industry-first technology for tablet POS which provides reliable power and network access through one cable connection. The mCollection also includes a variety of mPOS solutions including the mC-Print2 and mC-Print3, as well as mUnite stands, mG-Scales, and peripherals such as barcode scanners and customer displays. PromoPRNT, Star’s value-add receipt marketing tool, will be demonstrated along with these technologies.

In addition to Star’s newest technologies, there will be three mock stores in Star’s booth: two retail shops featuring Star’s mPOP, mUnite Stands, mC-Print2/mC-Print3, cash drawers, and mobile printers; and a coffee shop featuring Star’s TSP654IIBi, mG-Scales, cash drawers, mUnite stands, and self-service kiosks.

Several Star partners will be featured in its booth, including Elo, eMobilePOS, Erply, ImageHolders, Kiosk Group, nCLOSE, PredictSpring, Sitoo, Sophatar, SuiteRetail, and Vend. A variety of giveaways will be available in the booth, including bags of coffee, custom-designed tote bags, and gloves.

“The Star team is looking forward to both reconnecting with current partners, and building new connections, at NRF 2020,” said Christophe Naasz, Director of Business Development at Star. “We’re excited to show the industry our latest mPOS solutions which are paving the way for retailers in the new decade.”

January 6, 2020
The Benefits of Leveraging Kiosks for Self-Ordering in Hospitality
The airline industry was one of the first to revolutionize the check-in process with the implementation of self-service kiosks. The technology helped to decrease guest wait times and enabled labor to be reallocated to areas of greater need. Today, self-service kiosks have transitioned from an innovation found at the airport to an expectation held by consumers of the hospitality industry. In a recent survey by PYMNTS, it was revealed that kiosks are seeing the strongest growth, and that 41% of the industry is now using kiosk technology to serve guests.

Self-service kiosks provide businesses the opportunity to both meet consumer expectation and demand, while at the same time growing the bottom line. Kiosks have been proven to help increase order size, improve accuracy, decrease labor costs, and more, which is why so many restaurants are adopting this solution. As this tech takes off, make sure your business is positioned to capitalize on self-ordering applications.

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.

Visit Self-Service Toolbox

Increased Upselling Capabilities & Average Ticket Size

In the high-tech age we live in, customers have become increasingly comfortable ordering from a screen. Kiosks allow customers to take their time and order precisely what they want, how they want it, without feeling pressure from the counter or customers next in line. According to the Kiosk Marketplace, research indicates that most customers prefer self-service devices to waiting in line or at a table for service.

So, what’s encouraging guests to open their wallets for a bigger order at the screen? The primary driver is upselling. You may have trained your cashier to upsell, but chances are staff members aren’t asking guests to purchase additional items every time. With kiosks, an opportunity to upsell is never missed.

Self-service kiosks can automatically prompt guests with tantalizing options that pair well with the selections they have chosen. Something as simple as additional toppings like cheese or sour cream— which may cost an additional $0.30 to $0.70—really adds up over time. When McDonald’s implemented these kiosks, they saw a 20% increase in drink orders alone.

Don’t let the opportunity for those larger sales pass you by.

Enhanced Order Customization

With kiosk technology, upselling can be personalized. Kiosks can learn from the buying habits of repeat customers, making better recommendations based on what guests like. Loyalty programs are easily managed with kiosks, allowing guests to quickly see rewards points and how they can use them as they build their order. This added personalization creates a great sense of value for your customers, keeping them coming back time and time again.

Upselling isn’t the only customization tool that self-service kiosks can provide. They also put the power directly in the hands of your guests to customize every item. They’ll be able to see every option available to them, including gluten-free or vegan options. Whether they want to add or remove toppings, swap sides, upgrade their drink, or elect a light or healthier version, they can easily make those adjustments with a few quick clicks.

A cashier can only provide all this information when guests request it. Static menu boards only allow so much information on each item, topping, and sauce choice available. With kiosks, the customization is endless. Self-service kiosks allow businesses to meet guest expectations.

Improved Order Accuracy

As customization increases, so too increases the need for accurate order entry. Imagine you run a coffee shop, and a guest comes in and quickly rattles off, “One large iced coffee, double espresso, skim milk, light ice, mocha drizzle with extra cinnamon, no whip.” The guest might have gotten the entire order out before your cashier was able to even select the size. Your employee might require the order being repeated several times or risk entering it incorrectly—a costly mistake if it becomes a common occurrence.

Now imagine that your guest has the ability to enter an order directly into a self-service kiosk. Every detail is entered correctly, then reviewed before checking out.

Guests have the reassurance that their order was entered precisely how they want. Self-service kiosks deliver orders directly to the queue, which significantly increases order accuracy, saving your business time and money associated with correcting improperly made orders.

Reduced Labor Costs

Implementing kiosks doesn’t mean that you are eliminating cashiers and traditional cashier terminals. Some guests will still want to order from a cashier, especially if they want to pay with cash. With less pressure for cashiers to process orders quickly to meet the demands of a fast-growing line, cashiers can now take more time with customers, delivering a better customer experience. In addition, your business may now need fewer cashiers to take orders, allowing you to reallocate the labor time you save at the front counter to other areas where labor consistently falls short.

Customer Insights

Self-service kiosks provide business owners with valuable data. You’ll be able to get insights into popular menu items, busiest times of the day, and popular order modifications and add-on items. This data can empower you to determine what items to strategically promote on the kiosks, when additional staff might be necessary to assist guests with kiosks, and more.

For example, if you notice that guests are often opting for a specific add-on item, this might direct you to make a price increase on that add-on item to test what that item’s ideal price point is for delivering the best profit margin. You’ll be able to track how that price change has had an impact on sales and your revenue stream. These small adjustments can have long-term impact to your bottom line.

Additionally, you may notice that sales are slow for certain menu items during certain days or times. Changing the promotions that are displayed on the kiosk screen can bolster sales during slower times.

Reduced Wait Times

Guests don’t want to wait. Long lines are a major deterrent, and with the countless options available to consumers seeking quick service or fast casual establishments, wait times could make or break your guest experience—and you may never get the chance to make it up to the guest who waited too long.

Kiosks offer a fast, easy way for guests to enter their own order, make their payment, get their (correct) order, and be on their way. This seamless process improves the guest experience and your business will reap the rewards.

In addition, since cashiers will have to spend less time entering orders and processing payments, they can focus more on providing the best customer service possible. They’ll be available for guests to ask questions, ensure needs are met, and walk guests through any technical or user errors on the kiosks. The human element won’t be lost, simply transitioned into more of a service role, and less of a data entry one.

Stay Competitive

The hospitality industry is constantly evolving—always seeking the latest and greatest means to attract and retain customers. The competition is becoming more complex, as consumers have more options than ever. From high-end dining, to fast casual, home delivery services, meal kit, and grocery delivery options—the contenders aren’t backing down.

Kiosks can help you contend with competitors in the hospitality industry, providing you with the edge you need to not only stay afloat, but also to become a successful establishment in the industry. With improved speed and accuracy, you’ll see higher customer satisfaction out of the gate. Plus, with the data it can provide, you’ll be able to fine-tune your offerings and prices, so your bottom line is always looking its best.

Make Sure Your Kiosk is Complete

In order to process customer transactions, your kiosk needs to be outfitted with a reliable receipt printer. You’ll want to make sure that the printer is ergonomically designed to fit a wide range of kiosks. You also want to make sure the kiosk printer is fast, so lines aren’t held up from slow printing.

A few qualities that make printers ergonomic and fast that you will want to look for are:
- Looping presenter: This helps reduce paper jams and an output sensor detects if the customer has taken the receipt or not. The printer ejects uncollected receipts or foreign objects prior to printing the next receipt.
- LED presenter: This helps deliver printer maintenance information to staff members and customers, such as receipt available (green light) or paper jam issue (red light).
- Bezel: A bezel will ensure a seamless, professional aesthetic for the paper exit. It can be integrated with the LED feature for further visual appeal and maintenance functionality.
- Paper roll holder: The paper roll holder should support different sizes of receipt paper rolls depending on the application of the kiosk printer its frequency of use.
- PromoPRNT & Cloud-connected: A PromoPRNT, Cloud-connected kiosk printer will provide additional value-add services to your business. With PromoPRNT, you will be able to offer customers promos and coupons on printed receipts. Cloud connectivity will enable device management features and other benefits.
Looking to learn more? Here are 8 features kiosk manufacturers should look for when choosing kiosk printing mechanisms.

The correct kiosk printer is just a click away. Download our full eBook now to discover which kiosk printer on the market fits your needs!

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December 19, 2019
Your Guide to Choosing Eco-Friendly Receipts
This is the fifth and final part of “Keep the Receipt,” a five-part blog series about the various advantages paper receipts offer to businesses and consumers, and why you should elect to choose to offer – and accept – paper receipts.

Sustainability is more than just a buzzword. It’s more important than ever to do your part to help preserve the environment. While some people’s first impression of receipts may be that they are not environmentally friendly, there are some steps you can take to ensure you are choosing eco-friendly receipts.

Choosing receipts – and a receipt printer supplier – that practice environmentally friendly measures is an easy and important way to do your part while still providing printed receipts that many customers still prefer and business operations require.

Discover The Value of Receipts: Printed and Digital.

Here are three tips to help you choose eco-friendly receipts:

Star is proud to provide BPA-free, recyclable premium grade printer paper rolls. Authentic Star paper rolls are easily recognized by the Blue Core.

1. Choose BPA-Free Receipt Paper

Studies have shown that 90% of receipts contain the chemical BPA (Bisphenol A). While there is conflicting evidence about whether or not the level of BPA found on a receipt is dangerous to human health, why not skip the worry and choose BPA-free receipt paper?

When you choose the right high quality, BPA-free receipt paper – like Star’s – you can also rest assured that your paper is working efficiently with your printer to extend the life of the print head, provide longer paper lengths for fewer paper changes, and prevent jams and clogs. These paper rolls also support Star’s warranty compliance and are offered in convenient pack sizes.

2. Opt for Recyclable Receipt Paper

Tying into the above point about choosing receipt paper that is free of BPA, it’s also important to choose receipt paper that is recyclable. There are forms of thermal receipt paper that should not be recycled, but guess what. You can recycle BPA-free receipt paper like Star’s!

According to the American Forest & Paper Association, over 68% of paper was recycled in 2018, and the organization hopes to hit 70% in 2020. Why not contribute to that effort by choosing recyclable, eco-friendly receipts?

3. Choose an Environmentally Friendly Supplier

While choosing BPA-free and recyclable receipts is important, it’s just as crucial to choose a receipt printer (and paper) provider that prioritizes the environment.

Some examples of environment friendly initiatives to look for in a receipt paper and printer manufacturer are:
- Paper reduction tactics: Paper usage is a receipt printer’s largest negative burden on the environment. Choose a manufacturer that takes that fact into consideration and designs ways to reduce the severity of receipt paper’s ecological impact while maintaining user comfort and familiarity. Some examples of these tactics include options for reduced top margin, receipt length and width compression, digital receipts, and more.
- Energy efficiency: Although the cost to power a receipt printer is minimal, business owners can still benefit from energy efficient solutions. Be sure to choose an ENERGY STAR-qualified manufacturer. The ENERGY STAR qualification is a highly respected achievement, and in order for a product to obtain the qualification, it must meet strict energy requirements set by the government.
- Sustainable packaging: Every little step helps, so choose a printer manufacturer that uses recyclable packaging and provides electronic manuals.
- Environmentally friendly manufacturing: Look for a supplier that monitors and conforms to international laws and standards, obtains certifications, and investigates new ways to make products safe for people and the environment. Some examples of these environmental initiatives include:
  - ISO 14001 Conformity
  - RoHS (Restriction of use of Hazardous Substances) Compliance
  - WEEE (Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Compliance
  - Yearly Environmental Activity Reporting
  - Green Procurement Guide and Survey Issuance, which is distributed to suppliers and enables the manufacturer to mandate and monitor the exclusion of particular materials during manufacturing processes
  Star is proud to offer all of these eco-friendly features – and more! Click here to read more about our environmentally friendly practices.
Ready to make the switch to an eco-friendly printer manufacturer?

Star’s 5 Best Printers
December 3, 2019
Do You Really Need a Receipt?

This is the fourth part of “Keep the Receipt,” a five-part blog series about the various advantages paper receipts offer to businesses and consumers, and why you should elect to choose to offer – and accept – paper receipts.

The world has become digital – very quickly. In 1990, only 0.25% of the world population had a cell phone, and as of February 2019, it was estimated that more than 5 billion people have them. In today’s technologically advanced society, you might wonder if you still need a receipt. And guess what. You do!

In today’s blog post, we’re going to explore why you still need a receipt, whether it’s for a traditional reason like confirming a tip amount, or if it’s part of an omnichannel retail experience, like to be used with cashback apps. Without further ado, let’s explore why shoppers do indeed need a receipt.

While receipts are important, Star Micronics provides retailers with much more than just receipt printers – explore our full suite of Retail POS Solutions.

In the hospitality business? Check out our Restaurant and Kitchen Solutions and QSR Solutions!

7 Reasons Why You Need a Receipt

1. Immediate Itemized Information

Simply put, receipts are great at providing information. Many times, digital receipts provide basic transaction information, like a grand total, transaction date, and payment method. But with paper receipts, it’s a given that you’ll receive full itemized, line-by-line details – within seconds of payment.

Besides basic transparency into what you paid for, this line item information can be useful to confirm you received the correct discount/promotion, and can even come in handy if you accidentally set off the alarm at the store and need to quickly provide proof of purchase for a specific item (we’ve all been there).

2. Tip Amount Confirmation

It’s not unheard of to be charged the wrong amount for the tip you leave on the bill at a restaurant, bar, or other establishment. While most of the time the information was simply entered incorrectly by mistake and it is easy enough to correct the issue directly with the business, that’s a hassle that not many people have time for. By keeping your paper receipt and filling out the tip amount on your personal copy, it becomes easy to double-check the amount on your credit card statement and correct any issues that may arise.

3. Warranty/Return/Exchange Policies

When you want to check if your product is still under warranty or able to be returned/exchanged, you want that information to be easily (and quickly) accessible. A surefire way to promise that is by keeping a paper receipt for the purchase in question. While some systems allow for that information to be stored automatically, that process is tied to the credit card used for the original transaction. This can present problems if you no longer have the card, lost the card, or didn’t use a card for the original purchase. Keep reimbursement, return/exchange, and warranty issues simple by keeping the paper receipt for those important items!

4. Cashback Apps

Who doesn’t want a little extra cash? Luckily, there are a variety of easy-to-use cashback apps on the market today, like Ibotta, Fetch Rewards, Shopkick, and more. How do these apps work? It’s easy: you simply make purchases normally, and then scan your receipt to receive rewards. It’s a pretty great reason to keep the receipt, if you ask us.

And speaking of savings, if a business prints on-receipt promotions, those can be a great way to save money on future purchases and can be easily kept in your wallet so you don’t forget them during your next shopping trip.

5. Instant Account Information

You might see a pattern emerging: paper receipts are simply the best at providing fully detailed transaction information – instantly. That pattern also applies to providing account information instantly.

Take, for example, a bank ATM. You need to take some cash out, and you want to check your account balance. An easy and private way to do that is to retrieve a receipt from the kiosk printer, which lists your current account information. When you do that, there’s no need to engage in a second step (like opening an app or logging on to a website) to get that account information, and it’s easy to quickly look back on that information at any time.

6. Recordkeeping

Paper receipts are simply the best for recordkeeping! First, and arguably most crucial, it’s important to keep proper records for tax purposes. According to Investopedia, it’s important to hold on to receipts, “so you have a record of even the smallest expenses you incur for business, charity and your health. As those expenses add up, they can start to lower your tax bill.” On a business owner-level, the IRS has further details regarding what kind of records you should keep.

Receipts come in handy for other kinds of recordkeeping, too, like expense tracking for business trips, and personal budgeting. It’s also important to get a paper copy of gift receipts to make returns and exchanges easier/possible for your friends and family.

7. Private and Personal

The information provided on a receipt is personal, and in an ideal world, it is private. However, in a world filled with cybersecurity concerns (there is a hacker attack every 39 seconds!), it comes as no surprise that some consumers may feel hesitant about that information being stored in their email inbox.

A paper receipt stays right where it should – in your wallet! With a hard copy receipt, there’s no need to worry about your sensitive information getting into the wrong hands.

So – what do you think? When do you need a receipt? What other ways can they be useful? Let us know in the comments!

Be sure to tune into our fifth Keep the Receipt blogs, which will take a deep dive into the sustainable features of Star receipts.

Learn more about the Value of Printed and Digital Receipts

November 12, 2019
7 Easy Holiday Promotions for Small Businesses
The holiday season has arrived! For millions of consumers that means preparing for family dinners, decorating homes, and of course, buying gifts for friends and loved ones. Is your small business ready to not just survive the holiday shopping season, but thrive in it?

In this blog post, we’ll take a deep dive into current holiday shopping season data, and share seven easy holiday promotions for small businesses.

Discover all of Star Micronics’ Retail Solutions.

Holiday Shopping Season Data

First, let’s explore just how much shoppers are spending on the holidays, what they’re purchasing, and where.

According to the National Retail Federation’s winter holiday survey:
- Holiday shoppers plan to spend 4% more this year
- Consumers say they will spend an average of $1,048 this holiday season for items such as decorations, candy, gifts, and more
  - $659 is expected to be spent on gifts,
  - $227 is expected to be spent on non-holiday purchases, like food and decorations,
  - And $162 is slated to be spent on non-gift purchases for themselves and their families
- Shoppers between the ages of 35 and 44 plan to spend the most at $1,158.63
- 91% of consumers plan to celebrate the winter holidays this year
- 73% plan to use their smartphone or tablet to research or make a purchase
- 19% are early bird shoppers who started in September (or earlier!)
- Women are significantly more likely than men to wish for gift cards (67% vs. 50%)
- 48% of shoppers plan to leverage buy online, pick up in store (BOPIS)
- Holiday sales are forecasted to grow between 3.8% and 4.2%
- Holiday sales will increase to a total of between $727.9 billion and $730.7 billion this year, excluding automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants
7 Easy Holiday Promotions for Small Businesses

From Small Business Saturday to New Years, the Star team has taken it upon ourselves to provide easy, ready-to-use holiday promotions for small businesses to leverage – all you need is a Star Micronics receipt printer!

With Star’s free, cloud-based marketing software, PromoPRNT, you can easily customize premade templates which print on the bottom of the receipt, sure to be seen by those who are holiday shopping (and those who plan to be in the near future). All you need to do is add your store name, and any other applicable information (a special product to promote, store hours, etc.) Promotions can be used to simply inform customers of an upcoming sale, or direct them to your website, social media accounts, and more.

Learn more / register for PromoPRNT.

The below templates for Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday, New Years, and a general winter sale are now available and ready for you to customize in PromoPRNT:

Contact Star Integration Now
November 5, 2019
5 Reasons Why You Need a Coffee Shop POS System
Did you know that in the United States alone, nearly 70% of consumers drink at least two cups of coffee per day? That’s a lot of java to serve, and even more customers to provide with a fast, personalized (and profitable) experience. Luckily, managing all of those caffeinated purchases can become easier than you ever thought possible when you choose the right POS for coffee shop for your needs.

Let’s explore 5 reasons why you need a coffee shop POS system – and some features to look for:

1. Empower Staff to Keep the Line of Customers Moving Fast

At the end of the day, providing your customers with what they need in a timely manner will make or break your business. To keep your customer queue moving quickly and efficiently, be sure to select a coffee shop POS system with a user-friendly interface to let your baristas take orders fast and without errors.

What does that look like? It looks like a POS system that accepts all kinds of payments (including cash, mobile payments, credit and debit cards, reward points, and more).

While the speed of each individual transaction may not seem that important at times when store foot traffic is low, the speed in which your coffee shop POS system processes payments makes a big difference during busy hours.

2. Customers Can Customize Their Own Drink

We live in the age of, “I’ll take a small iced coffee, 2 pumps of no-sugar caramel syrup, light on the soy milk, and a double shot.” That’s right, today’s customers want things their way, and we can’t blame them. What we can take some blame for, though, is misunderstanding those orders, wasting product, and losing money as well as the customer’s patience.

But don’t worry – your coffee shop POS system can help with those complicated customized orders! If your POS app has a modifier feature, like for example, Poster POS, taking custom orders becomes easy for your baristas. It’s a win-win: give your customers their favorite drinks without delays, and accurately track inventory in your POS when customers order different milk alternatives and toppings.

3. Make the Most of Your POS Using its Marketing Features

A big part of creating coffee shop customers that keep coming back for more is by marketing to them. When there’s a choice between a coffee shop that has a special coupon/sale, or a coffee shop that only has set, standard prices, the customer will most likely choose the discounted cup of Joe.

Create the customer retention you crave by setting up a unique happy hour promotion for each day right in your coffee shop POS system! These built-in deals allow your baristas apply discounts without any additional bother and can create more sales during traditionally slow hours. You can also let customers know about your special deals (and loyalty programs, social media accounts, and more) by promoting them on your receipt.

4. Know and Sell Your Most Profitable Drinks and Desserts

Without a feature-packed coffee shop POS system, it can be hard to answer questions like:
- Which of my products has the highest profit margin?
- Which of my items is the most expensive to make?
- Which product is most popular? And during which days and times?
You guessed it – you can use your POS system to answer all of these questions and more. Food costs and margins can be calculated automatically in your POS, as well as sales data which allows you to understand and analyze your top products. Use this valuable data to rotate items on your menu based on their profitability and popularity!

5. Securely Store Your Business Data in the Cloud

Last but not least, keep all that data safe and just a click away by choosing a cloud-based coffee shop POS system. Gone are the worries of your data being lost if your hardware breaks! And there’s an added benefit of working in the cloud: you’ll become a more flexible manager with access to your coffee shop management system from any computer and any place in the world.

Star Has the Coffee Shop POS System Solutions You Need – Learn More Now!
October 29, 2019
What to Consider When Purchasing a Cash Drawer
To some, a cash drawer might just look like, well, a cash drawer. But when it comes to choosing a cash drawer as a business owner, cash drawers become a bit more complex. How will it fit in your space? Is it big enough to accommodate your day-to-day transactions? What kind of till do you need? The list of considerations goes on and on.

Star is here to make the cash drawer selection process a bit more transparent and easier for you. Let’s explore the five key things to consider when purchasing a cash drawer:

1. Connectivity

First, let’s discuss connectivity options when it comes to cash drawers.

The most common type of connectivity for cash drawers is a printer driven interface, which means the cash drawer is controlled through the printer’s DK port. The DK port, which stands for Drawer Kick, sends a 24V DC signal to open the cash drawer and is used in the majority of cash drawers.

Another way to open a cash drawer is quite obvious: manually with a key. Most cash drawers have both DK port connectivity, and manual key access.

Lastly, there are also wireless cash functions controlled by Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. These cash drawers are not as common, and tend to be more expensive.

2. Size and Style

The next topic to consider is one of the most important: how big of a cash drawer do you need, and what kind of cash drawer should you choose to match the look and feel of your counterspace and other POS components?

On the market, there are normally two different sizes for cash drawers: a smaller option (typical 13” x 13”) and a larger option (typically 16” x 16” and larger). When choosing a cash drawer size, be sure to keep in mind considerations such as if you have items (like a keyboard) that needs to fit on top of the drawer, or if the drawer needs to be a specific height to fit under a counter.

You may also choose a cash drawer color to match the other parts of your POS. For example, if you have a white receipt printer and white tablet-based POS/stand, choosing a white cash drawer will help provide a sleek look to your counter.

How Star Can Help Even though each store is unique, balancing cash drawers is one thing every store has in common. Star Micronics offers the tools you need to make balancing your cash drawer as simple and painless as possible. For more information on the solutions we offer, contact Star Micronics today! Star’s Cash Drawer Solutions

3. Cash Flow

Next on your list of considerations is cash flow. What kind of currency do you accept? Do you accept a lot of physical coupons? What about checks?

Cash drawer tills (the part of the cash drawer that holds the money) come in several different sizes and bill/coin layouts. Some tils have room for the US standard (five bill and four coins). Other tills come with room for more coins or more bills depending on if larger, higher value bills, such as $50 and $100, are accepted. There are also available tills for Canadian and Latin American currencies.

Handle a lot of coupons, checks, and higher value bills? Be sure to choose a cash drawer with media slots, or slots on the front that feed into a hidden space underneath the till, to securely store these items.

4. Durability

Next on the list of considerations (and something that is very important) is durability.

What type of material is the drawer made of? Is it made of steel, or a different material? Cash drawers like Star’s, which are made of steel, are highly durable which not only makes your investment more worthwhile, but is also a security feature.

Another thing to consider is how many cash drawer opens is included in the product’s warranty? Be sure to choose a warranty that includes at least 1 million opens.

5. Security

Last but certainly not least on your list of considerations should be security. There are a few different security options to look for:
- An additional lock that secures the drawer itself to the counter.
- A locking till cover, so when you need to take the till to the back office at closing time, cash can’t be stolen during transport.
- A universal key, so that cash drawers are easier to open in a rush and during an emergency there is no need to look through a huge key ring for the correct key.
- A manual release options, so you can open the cash drawer no matter what. Manual release is quicker than waiting for a Bluetooth signal and even faster than some DK port signals.
Meet Star’s Cash Drawers

With three lines of cash drawers with a variety of features and price points, Star Micronics is proud to offer cash drawers for any budget or application. Learn more about each series below:
- Value Series: The Value Series includes cost-effective cash drawers that integrate seamlessly into any retail or hospitality environment with a standard printer communication interface and bottom exit cable, hidden from the customer’s view. The cash drawers also feature four lock functions: locked, closed, online (opens electronically), manual open, and locked open.
- Choice Series: Choice Series cash drawers include features businesses already know and love, but with added features such as extra strength to support touch tablets and POS terminals, a secure dual-drawer cable to enable the Choice Series to work as either cash drawer 1 or cash drawer 2, a foldable hinged key which minimizes the possibility of breaking off in the lock, and over 10 different lock set options for added security.
- Max Series: Max Series cash drawers are the premier choice for retailers. Featuring durable, high quality drawers with Kensington lock compatibility and sleek Star branding, the cash drawers are designed to securely manage cash while delivering professional looks. The cash drawers also feature four lock functions: locked, closed, online (opens electronically), manual open, and locked open.
Explore all of the cash drawers now.

Cash Drawers
October 24, 2019
Star Micronics Launches the Reliable, Stylish, and Cost-Effective mCP30 POS Printer

Affordable and equipped with must-have features

Somerset, NJ – Oct 21, 2019 – Star Micronics, a leading global manufacturer of mobile, point of sale (POS), and customer engagement technologies, is excited to announce the debut of the mCP30 POS printer, the latest addition to the mC-Print3 family.

This high-quality and cost-effective printer features the reliability Star Micronics products are known for, and is a simpler edition to the mC-Print3 family. With the removal of the USB hub which other mC-Print models include, the mCP30 simplifies the user experience for small- to medium-sized restaurant and retail operations without compromising on power, speed, or sophistication.

The mCP30 is still equipped with a stylish, front-loading design, Print Flat Technology, and a variety of connectivity options, including USB, LAN, and CloudPRNT/WebPRNT, making the printer perfect for any application.

With a compact design, the mCP30 works well in any environment where space is limited. It is easy to integrate through the StarPRNT SDK, and is compatible with Star Micronics Cloud Services.

“When designing the mCP30, we leveraged feedback from our end user customers and ISV partners to create an affordable printer,” says Jon Levin, Product Integration Manager at Star Micronics. “This new, well-appointed printer features the connectivity options businesses need – at an affordable price.”

October 21, 2019