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Why Contactless Solutions will Be Indispensable for Retailers in 2021

If you could summarize the hottest retail technology trends from 2020, contactless solutions would undoubtedly make the list. Between the fact that retail technology is constantly advancing, and the COVID-19 pandemic that rocked the world earlier this year, contactless solutions will simply be indispensable for retailers in 2021. Read on to learn more about what exactly contactless solutions are, the importance of going contactless, and how to get started with contactless solutions so that you can not only keep up, but stand out, from your competition in the new year and beyond.

What are Contactless Solutions?

Simply put, contactless solutions are retail solutions that don’t require shoppers to come in contact with other people or any public surfaces, where viruses and germs can lurk. Two popular contactless solutions – especially in the new normal – are contactless payments and contactless fulfillment.

Contactless Payments

Contactless payments, which as a retailer you have surely seen, are payments that are made through EMV cards or smart devices like smartphones and smartwatches.

According to Investopedia,

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

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

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

When it comes time for customers to pay, they simply hold their card, smartphone, or smartwatch one to two inches from the contactless symbol on the payment terminal. When the payment has been accepted, the terminal will alert the customer with a beep, green light, or checkmark.

Contactless Fulfillment

Another common contactless solution is contactless fulfillment. For shoppers that would rather not shop in a brick-and-mortar location, contactless fulfillment solutions include curbside pickup and several online ordering options like traditional delivery and BOPIS (buy online, pick up in store). These solutions allow customers to safely receive their orders when and where they want, something that became highly demanded during COVID-19 and will likely continue to remain popular.

The Importance of Going Contactless

Maybe you already implemented some contactless solutions in 2020 or previous years, but in 2021 it will be crucial for you as a retailer to fully leverage these technologies and processes. As the world moves even further into its new normal, consumers will continue to seek shopping methods that minimize how much contact they have with other people and mitigate their risk of contamination.

Contactless payments have been around for some time and are already very popular globally – approximately 20% of all transactions in Australia, Canada, South Korea, and the United Kingdom are completed with contactless technology. The contactless payment trend is present in the United States, too. TD Bank saw a surge in contactless payments following the onset of COVID-19, and it’s likely that shoppers will continue to pay for their orders in this quick and easy way well after the pandemic ends.

Contactless fulfillment methods like delivery and curbside pickup/BOPIS, are also going to be a critical retail offering in 2021. According to Retail TouchPoints,

While the surge in contact-free pickup and delivery offerings has been tied to the current pandemic, it’s likely that their popularity will remain even after the crisis passes. Many retailers will need to figure out ways to incorporate these offerings on a regular basis while still keeping a tight rein on additional labor, operational and systems integration costs.

How to Get Started

Contactless payments can be surprisingly easy to roll out. Many banks offer contactless credit and debit cards, as well as the payment terminals that process contactless transactions. These terminals have a contactless payment symbol to show shoppers that contactless payment methods are accepted. To better communicate to your clientele that they may now make contactless payments, you may have your staff inform customers in person, communicate the update via social media or email marketing, place a sign at the point of sale, or promote the news on your receipts by using free receipt marketing software, like Star Micronics PromoPRNT.

When it comes to contactless order fulfillment, check in with your POS software provider to see if they offer online ordering and curbside pickup/BOPIS functionalities. To successfully roll these methods out, your POS hardware also matters. Be sure to use a receipt printer that comes with built-in online ordering technology, like the Star Micronics mC-Print3 that includes CloudPRNT technology which enables the printer to automatically fetch and print online orders without the need for an additional tablet in your store. Star Micronics printers are also integrated with many industry-leading retail POS software programs, meaning they are a truly an easy, one-stop shop solution for your retail store.

To wrap up, contactless solutions are already popular, and all signs indicate they will continue to be in 2021. While it may sound intimidating, it can be easy for retailers like you to adopt these solutions if you are working with the right, one-stop shop POS software and hardware companies. Keep your customers happy and safe, and stand out from competition for years to come, by adopting contactless solutions like contactless payments and contactless order fulfillment methods in the new year.

Star Micronics has full technology solutions to help prepare your retail store for 2021.

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December 30, 2020
How to Prepare Your Retail Store for 5 Challenges 2021 Will Bring

Most years, there are one or two emerging trends that are expected to become big over the following 12 months. And this can make it relatively straightforward for retailers to prepare for the changes. But of course, 2020 hasn’t been like most years. The COVID-19 outbreak has shifted customer behaviors more rapidly than ever before, and many of the effects of the pandemic are expected to roll over to next year.

This means that there’s no single way that retailers can prepare for 2021. Preparing to succeed next year means carefully considering what new challenges the pandemic has introduced to the retail world, and identifying innovative and effective ways to overcome these challenges to meet customer expectations.

So what challenges are retailers likely to face next year, and how can you prepare for them?

Let’s take a look…

Challenge 1: Fluctuating Demand

“While traffic has begun to rise again over the past few months, there will most likely be variability moving forward. With active cases in a state of flux, store traffic can be expected to do the same”.

That’s according to the National Retail Federation, which believes that the ebbs and flows of localized outbreaks will create ongoing variability in foot traffic. As local cases rise, foot traffic may slow either due to a personal preference to remain at home or due to changes in legislation. And as cases drop, it can be expected that many shoppers will flock to stores to grab items they need during periods of lower risk.

And this is set to create one of the biggest challenges for retailers in 2021; knowing when the store will require the greatest level of cover – and when it won’t – to ensure retailers are getting the most value from the workforce. The best way to prepare for this unique challenge is to prioritize data analysis and forecasting, using both real-time and historical data to facilitate improved employee scheduling.

Challenge 2: Evolving Customer Needs

It’s clear that the global pandemic has had a huge impact on what customers want from their in-store shopping experience. Post-pandemic shoppers want contactless payments, with research by Mastercard suggesting that 80% of shoppers now use contactless, citing ‘safety and cleanliness’ as the primary reason. Next year, customers are expected to place more importance on store sanitation than ever.

Improving your store’s existing hygiene and sanitation practices – and communicating with shoppers the changes that are being made to facilitate a safe and secure in-store shopping experience – is key to preparing to succeed in 2021. If you haven’t already dipped a toe into the world of contactless payments, now is the time to invest in new payment technologies or upgrade older technologies.

Challenge 3: Altered Spending Habits

COVID-19 hasn’t just sparked a health crisis; it’s sparked an economic crisis, too. The US unemployment rate rose from 3.8% in February 2020 to 14.4% just two months later, resulting in many people facing financial uncertainty and difficulties. In turn, this has created a major trend for shoppers to spend more cautiously, and many are taking a more savvy approach to shopping in a bid to lower their outgoings.

This creates a new challenge for retailers who will need to introduce innovative tactics to re-normalize spending. The secret to preparing for this challenge is to focus on getting traffic through the door with savings, offers, and promotional deals. Coupons can be a highly effective option, particularly printed coupons which research shows have an 18% higher return on investment than digital alternatives.

Challenge 4: A Need for Speed

One of the biggest impacts the pandemic has had on the retail sector is that it’s sparked a new trend for ‘shopping with purpose’, which replaces the former trend of leisurely browsing. That’s because shoppers have a new desire to spend less time in enclosed spaces such as busy stores where it’s not always possible to practice social distancing. Retailers should now focus on creating swift in-store experiences.

The best way to prepare for this 2021 challenge is to introduce advanced technologies such as self-service kiosks or mobile point of sale solutions which can reduce line length and in some cases even eradicate traditional queuing systems in a bid to get shoppers through the store faster. By spending less time in busy queues, shoppers can reduce the risk of viral spread and maintain a safe distance from others.

Challenge 5: Shifting Customer Preference

Many countries around the world were together making huge strides towards a greener future. And sadly, the pandemic has caused a significant setback. It’s reported that 129 billion face masks and 65 billion gloves are used – and disposed of – every month, and for hygiene reasons, single-use plastics are back in fashion. It’s reported that waste levels have grown by 30% as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Today, customers are actively looking to support retailers that do their part to protect the environment. And for those retailers that have not introduced eco-friendly processes, this presents a new challenge. The good news is there are lots of ways to prepare. One such way is to switch to eco-friendly POS solutions, such as receipt printers from responsible suppliers that use BPA-free, recyclable paper.

COVID-19 and Beyond

While the COVID-19 outbreak is expected to be temporary, the impact that the pandemic has had on the retail sector – and on the world – is not. The global crisis has introduced many long-lasting changes that will be witnessed throughout 2021, and beyond. That’s why preparing for the new challenges that have arisen in 2020 is so crucially important for retailers. These challenges are not one-offs; these are challenges that retailers are going to face long into the future, so taking measures now to facilitate great shopping experiences in the future is one of the best ways to ensure you don’t just survive, but thrive.

December 22, 2020
8 Must-Have Features for Cloud Kitchen Point of Sale
With the rise of ghost kitchens, some companies are tackling the ghost kitchen model’s challenges head-on for restaurateurs who are struggling to stay profitable in the current business climate.

As these companies purchase facilities and outfit them with the essential commercial grade appliances, they must also give careful thought to the restaurant POS technology chosen. The restaurant management software and hardware selected must streamline ghost kitchen operations as much as possible.

The ghost kitchen company is responsible for choosing technology to address tenets’ pain points as much as possible. Pain points like:
- Dual or multiple operations per kitchen
- No face-to-face payment processing
- And more
Discover eight must-have features for cloud kitchen point of sale.

Online Ordering and Delivery Management Software

Whether third-party or custom, a ghost kitchen needs a seamless online ordering solution for desktop and mobile. Choose a technology provider with the flexibility to integrate with third-party apps and accommodate custom solutions for delivery management. Using a third-party option like DoorDash or Uber Eats ensures access to a large market. It’s also simple to install and doesn’t require a large initial investment.

Forward-thinking companies should also explore custom solutions that integrate with digital display and barcode scanners to complete a full, delivery-only kitchen solution.

Proper Printers

Besides online ordering and delivery management software, ghost kitchens need a reliable impact printer for kitchen use that produces heat and humidity resistant, easy-to-read tickets fast. The SP742 Impact Printer from Star Micronics is explicitly built to work in environments where heat and humidity can erode the type on the kitchen orders, making it the perfect addition to any kitchen, ghost or non. For kitchens where heat and moisture aren’t an issue, consider our reliable mC-Print3 receipt printer.

Ghost kitchens also require a reliable sticky label printer and tamper-proof labels to go with their delivery-only operations. Star Micronics’s TSP654IISK thermal printer for sticky paper works with liner-free labeling applications, producing labels that stick to virtually any surface and that can be easily reapplied. Our tamper-proof labels are also a must-have to keep to-go bags and boxes properly sealed and secure.

Scalability, Reliability, and Flexibility

Scalability, reliability, and flexibility are crucial. For startup delivery operation, a simple tablet is often all that is necessary. From this host, the kitchen can receive the order and define preparation time and order delivery. However, once the operation is functional, many accessories are necessary for a smooth process. Tablets do not have ports to support the connectivity, and therefore a technology connecting hub is needed. The mC-Print supports a USB hub where many operation-streamlining peripherals, such as those listed below, can be connected.

Additionally, Bluetooth connectivity and hardwired tethered Ethernet connections, such as Star Micronics’ SteadyLAN® provide ultra-reliable internet connectivity.

Scanner

Provide your restaurateur tenants with scanners so they can better monitor their meal preparation process. Restaurateurs simply scan the order at every stage of order prep. Armed with this data, restaurateurs can give more accurate delivery time estimates to customers. More precise delivery estimates mean happier customers and a more efficient cloud kitchen operation.

Digital Display

Digital display is an excellent way for tenets to understand better what action must be taken with commands like accept, cancel, and delay order. It also provides next steps, such as Press #1 for the next step, or press #2 for order ready. Star’s digital display fits perfectly on top of the printer for a smaller footprint.

Buzzer

A buzzer will ensure that chefs know precisely when a new order comes into their kitchen. An ideal buzzer will enhance printer functionality by offering a better way to alert the tenet of incoming orders and more information about order type, source, and urgency. Choose a buzzer with high sound quality and speech recording capability for full understanding. A buzzer needs to be compatible with Windows, iOS, and Android SDKs for future flexibility. Users can choose from various sound types and volumes, and ISVs can assign individual custom sounds to different order types and playback sounds sent from a host device.

Bump Bar Connectivity

Bump bars are a crucial part of kitchen operations, bringing convenience and flexibility to the commercial kitchen. A small keyboard allows kitchen staffers to see and shift orders in the queue if necessary, bump bars work to decrease service times and efficiency, order accuracy and improve communication between staff. Any hardware and software you choose should have the ability to integrate with bumper technology so that operations are organized and visible.

Printed Promotions

Since many ghost kitchen operations are opening as a virtual restaurant, the entire customer experience is centered around delivery service. The to-go bag or box delivered to the customer’s door is the only tangible representation of the business; they can’t rely on their physical storefront to enforce their brand. Offering each cloud kitchen tenet the opportunity to create custom printed promotions that can be dropped into each to-go box is crucial to building their brand.

Printed promotions can include special offers or coupons for the next meal, customer service surveys with QR codes, samples of other dishes, or even links to the full menu. With PromoPRNT, tenets can create printed promotions that will drive customer experience and build loyalty.

It is crucial to choose restaurant management solutions that will help your tenets optimize their business. Ghost kitchens operate slightly differently from traditional ones and therefore require specific solutions to ensure their success.

Star Micronics’s hardware is perfect for ghost kitchen operations. We provide solutions that solve every day IT challenges to every day delivery-only kitchen challenges. If you’re ready to entice tenets to your facility with top-of-the-line technology that will meet their day-to-day business needs, connect with one of our distributor partners today.
December 17, 2020
How to Set Retailers Up for Success with a Technology Upgrade
Retail technology is always on the up-and-up, and in order to stay relevant retailers need to prioritize taking advantage of the latest retail technology innovations. As a reseller, it’s equally important for you to act as your retail customers’ trusted advisor and serve as a one-stop, solution-selling shop. Your customers expect their solutions to be reliable, come from one place, and have an easy installation process. So, what is the best way to set your retailers up for success by providing a technology upgrade? Read on to find out.

Assess Their Current Technology Landscape

First and foremost, it’s important to look at your retailer’s existing technology landscape. Take inventory of the different technologies they are currently utilizing.

Most importantly, don’t assume the path they want to take with their technology upgrade. Arguably the most important aspect of being a trusted advisor is simply listening. Ask your customer what they’d like to improve and fully understand their priorities before you propose a solution. Do they want to take advantage of online ordering? Do they want to change the look and feel of their point of sale (POS)? Do they want to leverage mobile payments for line-busting and curbside pickups?

Next, when you feel confident that you have fully identified the customer’s technology upgrade wish list, start thinking about how you can help them make their wishes become reality. If you identify additional areas for improvement based on your industry experience, let the customer know but do not force the sale.

Provide the Right Solution for Them

Once you have mapped out your retailer’s priorities and have agreed on their technology upgrade roadmap, it’s time to get busy providing the right solution. Keep in mind that a complete and proper technology upgrade is multi-faceted and not “one size fits all.” A full retail technology solution keeps your customer’s priorities in mind at all times, and includes things like:

POS Software

Be sure to propose a modern POS software that is capable of online ordering, can provide detailed sales and marketing data, includes loyalty program functionality, and more.

POS Hardware

Next, consider what POS hardware the customer needs. To provide a simple user experience, remember to propose receipt printers and other POS hardware that is already integrated with industry-leading retail POS software and features connectivity options that accommodate your retailer’s business. Even better, some printers include technology to take your retailer’s POS to the next level, like Star Micronics SteadyLAN® which enables devices of all kinds (iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac) to receive stable WLAN connection and power delivery, all through one cable.

When proposing POS hardware, don’t forget the accessories! Sleek, modern, and future-proof POS accessories can really help to tie the customer’s POS together, both visually and functionally. Important POS accessories include simple yet stylish tablet stands that can accommodate a variety of tablets, extra-strong cash drawers that come in a variety of colors to match the rest of the POS, NTEP-certified scales, 1D and 2D scanners, customer displays, and especially in the new normal, sneeze guards to protect both retail staff and shoppers.

Online Ordering Technology

Online ordering is here, and it’s here to stay. When considering POS software and hardware options be sure to propose choices that include online ordering functionality. When it comes to POS hardware, you can provide a “two birds, one stone” solution by proposing a receipt printer that comes equipped with built-in online ordering technology like the Star Micronics mC-Print3. The mC-Print3 includes CloudPRNT technology which enables the printer to directly fetch and print online orders with no need for any additional POS hardware within the store.

Modern Payment Solutions

Shoppers are no longer satisfied by paying in traditional ways and this shift in the way consumers pay will continue. Account for this in your retailer’s technology upgrade by proposing contactless payment terminals, mobile payment methods for line-busting and curbside pickup orders, and more. Don’t forget: when in doubt, ask what your customer needs and wants.

Self-Service Kiosks

Self-service kiosks are another trend that is steadily growing. In the retail industry, kiosks can be used by shoppers for looking up product details, pricing, inventory, and gift registries. They can also be used by shoppers to pay for their order, or even by job candidates for the job application process.

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

Provide Ongoing Support

As a reseller, your job should not be over once the technology upgrade sale is made. Be sure you don’t leave your customers out to dry by regularly checking in with them and partnering with POS software and hardware companies that provide quality customer and technical support, like online help centers, web chat support, and a telephone hotline.

Star Micronics Retail POS Solutions

Star Micronics is proud to offer a complete retail POS hardware upgrade offering, including:

Receipt printers with built-in tablet POS connectivity and online ordering technology

Tablet stands featuring universal VESA mounting and clean cable management

NTEP-certified retail scales

Portable printers for line-busting and curbside pickups

A full range of self-service kiosk printers

A variety of accessories like sneeze guards, customer displays, scanners, etc.

And more

Furthermore, Star Micronics hardware is integrated with the retail industry’s top POS software providers and has a dedicated technical support team and online help center, helping you become a true one-stop shop reseller.

Ready to learn more? Click here to learn more about Star Micronics’ retail POS solutions.

Star Micronics Product Catalog

Explore POS printers, label printers, kiosk solutions, and accessories for retail, restaurant, self-service, and more.

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December 10, 2020
Star Micronics Introduces USB Cash Drawers for Value and Max Series

Star Micronics, a leading manufacturer of mobile, point of sale (POS), and customer engagement technologies, is excited to announce the new USB versions of the Value Series and Max Series Cash Drawers. The new cash drawers provide retailers and restaurants an affordable option to uniquely identify each cash drawer’s connection and status through their software.

The CD3 Value Series and SMD2 Max Series cash drawers will still offer the same design, size, and reliability that users love, but with the option for a USB driven interface. This provides a solution when dual cash drawers are needed in high-cash environments and the user wants to manage each drawer independently.

The USB Cash Drawers requires no external power supply and allows the host to see if the cash drawer is connected, or if it gets disconnected. Star Micronics provides StarPRNT SDK for Android, and Windows drivers for the CD3 and SMD2 USB cash drawers. Up to 8 USB cash drawers can be connected to one host device, making it the ideal solution for large bars or restaurants, retail, and more.

“Star is proud to offer expanded solutions to our Value and Max Series of cash drawers,” says Christophe Naasz, Business Development Director of Star Micronics. “The USB Cash Drawers help retailers and restaurants to use Star CD3 and SMD2 cash drawers in a wider range of environments, and with or without a receipt printer.”

December 9, 2020
Star’s Integration Team on GitHub

Developing software is difficult without the right support. Star Micronics has created an official GitHub account to make our software partners’ lives easier. We have added our most popular and most useful SDKs to the account with more to come. Star’s Integration Team is here for you during the development process and we want to hear your feedback. Star looks forward to creating a dialogue between our global software teams and our community of software developers so we can continually improve our tools.

Why GitHub?

If you don’t already know what GitHub is, you can imagine it as social media platform for developers. It has quickly become a leading place for developers to share and collaborate on code. Users can also create their own repositories, contribute to other repositories, and suggest edits to existing repositories via an issue log.Star Micronics created a global account to make integrating Star products easy for our softwarepartners. Our goal is to make development as simple as possible for our partners when they are looking for SDKs or integration support for our products.

When navigatingStar’s GitHub page, you will find a growing number of our SDKs and other helpful code. Some of the development tools currently available are listed below with more to come in the future.

1. StarPRNT SDK iOS (Swift)
2. StarPRNT SDK Android (Java)
3. CloudPRNT SDK
4. Android USB Cash Drawer SDK
5. SteadyLAN Setting SDK (iOS, Android, Windows)
6. React Native SDK

Working with the Integrations Team

The typical expectations when working with an Integrations team is simple — work collaboratively during the coding process until your software is integrated. What you get when working with Star is not the typical software/hardware partnership; integration is just the beginning. We treat our partnerships like the backbone of our company, and we cannot be successful without them. Once we help to integrate the hardware, our next focus becomes aligning our goals with yours. This leads us to growth on both sides of the partnership. Star can offer our partners a unified marketing strategy that will meet both our objectives while growing business. For more information on what a software partnership provides read more here.

Through this new GitHub account we are implementing an initiative to publicly share more beta development tools to quickly gather feedback from our ISV partners to ensure the official releases are meeting the needs of our partners. The first in this initiative is our React Native SDK now available on GitHub. Our team is currently asking for any feedback you can give us. There is no payment necessary for a GitHub account so please feel free to navigate around our page, we are looking forward to hearing from you.

Visit Star on GitHub

December 7, 2020
Star Micronics Introduces a New Extended Platter for the mG-S8200 Scale

Star Micronics, a leading manufacturer of mobile, point of sale (POS), and customer engagement technologies, is pleased to announce the new Extended Platter for the mG-S8200. The platter will be a simple addition that will allow Star to provide a wider range of support to those who are currently using the mG-S8200 and need additional platter space.

The lightweight platter measures 8.5” x 9” (WxL), with a stainless-steel finish. It is easy to install or reposition, as it simply gets placed on top of the original platter, with pegs to keep the extended platter in place. Fit for the mG-S8200, the extended platter will allow retailers such as yogurt shops, produce stands, or candy shops to measure more items at one time, helping to make the entire transaction a quicker and smoother process.

The NTEP certified mG-S8200 is ideal for large capacity measurements. With the ability to measure substances up to 8200g or 18lb, this scale is ideal for retailers that are offering heavier weighted items, or may need to weigh multiple items at once. Designed for modern retail, the POS scale is compatible with Windows, Android, and iOS, and features interfaces including Bluetooth, USB, and serial.

“Star released our mG-Scales with the intention of providing full point of sale solution to any retail market,” says Michael Hanson, Executive Vice President of Star Micronics. “We are now releasing the extended platter to help larger retailers complete weighted transactions with complete accuracy and ease.”

December 7, 2020
How to Get the Most Out of Mobile Ordering with CloudPRNT

Any restauranteur paying attention to the state of the industry today understands that online and mobile ordering are the way of the future. It’s critical that you have these solutions in place to keep your business afloat and keep your customers satisfied.

You may have considered implementing online ordering before, but were overwhelmed with options and the complexities involved in implementing new technology. Online and mobile ordering is easy to implement, especially with the help of CloudPRNT from Star Micronics.

Ebook: Is Your Restaurant Ready for the Growing Online Ordering Trend?

Eliminate the game of telephone

Ordering via telephone is on its way out. It is slow, inefficient, and can lead to errors. Online ordering however, takes no time away from staff since it is conducted entirely on the customer’s end.

On top of that, the increased order accuracy alone is reason enough to invest in a kitchen printer and online/mobile ordering system. You can entirely eliminate hand-written tickets, which are altogether inefficient and difficult to read. Not only do you benefit from the time saved from duplicate efforts, but you also achieve less waste.

Seamlessly integrate online ordering into your restaurant operations

When you are able to integrate your systems, you can share data and eliminate manual order re-entry—leading to major reductions in the number of dropped or wrong orders. Improved order accuracy will boost customer satisfaction, increase customer retention, and result in more positive reviews. Rather than investing in pricey kitchen display systems, you can install a simple, compact printing system, while still gaining all the value of online ordering.

Online ordering will offer you an opportunity to expand your service area and reach new customers that are looking for the convenience of ordering anytime, anywhere through their laptops or mobile devices. This is especially helpful if you are looking to utilize third-party online ordering services. These often have native users that can be introduced to your restaurant when they use the app. Third-party services can help you reach new customers and market to them. By meeting this demand, you can grow your customer base, build customer loyalty, and keep them coming back for more.

Boost your restaurant’s online ordering efficiency

Receiving orders from third-party sites and sending them to the kitchen can still be a pain point for some restaurants—especially if you work with more than one-third party service. Disorganization can disrupt your operation in severe ways. If you’re relying on outdated services like email to receive orders from several different applications, you are asking for problems.

Sometimes customers can enter in multiple orders, or one or more employees may be assigned to communicate orders to the kitchen by entering them into the POS system. Processes like these require time and effort, and errors can still occur when orders are transferred between front- and back-of-house staff.

Installing CloudPRNT streamlines the process by sending all of your online orders directly to the kitchen printer. Once there, staff can receive the orders, along with any instructions and modifiers, and begin preparation immediately. CloudPRNT (especially when paired with peripherals like the mC-Sound buzzer) streamlines the ordering process, speeding up service and satisfying customers.

What is CloudPRNT:

CloudPRNT is an innovative technology that enables users to print to Star printers directly through a cloud service. CloudPRNT works with the online ordering service to store and create print jobs, and to communicate the status with the printer. CloudPRNT is compatible with third party online ordering and delivery providers, such as DoorDash, UberEats, Postmates, Seamless, and GrubHub. Once an order is received, it will be sent directly to the Star printer and your kitchen staff, expediting order prep. Additionally, with CloudPRNT, restaurants can eliminate the need for an extra tablet just to send the incoming online order to the printer.

CloudPRNT is offered by Star Micronics, a leading supplier of high-quality, feature-rich technology hardware solutions and services. Star Micronics America is committed to offering truly innovative products that address the needs of restaurant owners. Our experts have a deep understanding of the hospitality industry and can assist business owners with identifying the right solutions for their business.

Contact us for more information on how you can boost your bottom line and increase loyalty with CloudPRNT from Star Micronics.

Contact Star Integration Now

December 3, 2020
3 Advantages of Kiosks in Retail Stores
Self-service kiosks have been popping up in multiple industries: you see them in airports, quick-service restaurants, and more. Kiosks are also making a splash in the retail industry – and for good reason. In today’s blog, explore the growth of kiosks in the retail industry as a whole, as well as three major advantages of kiosks in retail stores like yours.

The Growth of Kiosks in Retail Stores

The self-service kiosk market is flourishing – according to a 2020 report from Research and Markets, the interactive kiosk market was valued at $23.94 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach an impressive $33.05 billion by 2025.

While, like we explained and you have surely noticed, kiosks are abundant in a variety of markets, the retail industry is certainly a part of the growth of the overall interactive kiosk market.

In terms of how retailers are contributing to the explosion of self-service kiosks, according to the report,

In-store product information and promotional displays have become a prominent source of customer attraction. Self-directed bill payment, check-out, digital signage are some of the key applications that retailers offer to keep their overhead costs low.

With the advent of AI-enabled interactive kiosks gaining popularity in retail applications, it acts as a catalyst for adoption of interactive kiosks in retail. Many organizations in the marketplace are seen collaborating with an aim to offer the retail industry with targeted marketing.

Also, many online retailers are seen widely adopting kiosks to make an offline retail presence. For Instance, in 2019, Amazon planned to roll out more than 100 kiosks in malls across India to sell its devices such as the Kindle ebook reader, the Echo speaker, and the Fire TV dongle by the end of the year.

Key Advantages of Self-Service Kiosks in Retail Stores

So, why exactly are self-service kiosks popping up in so many retail applications and what’s in it for you, the retailer? Read on to learn more about three major advantages of kiosks in retail stores.

1. Increased Profits

Money matters and simply put, self-service kiosks can help you make more of it.

First, upselling – or introducing an upgraded and profitable good or service, like adding an extended warranty to a product – happens easily and naturally on a self-service kiosk. In a similar vein, kiosks also present many opportunities for cross-selling, or offering a complimentary product or service, like adding an accessory on to the purchase of a shirt. According to Olea Kiosks Inc., kiosks in the quick service restaurant market can increase sales by 15% due to effective upselling and cross-selling – and that trend isn’t only found in restaurants. The kiosk manufacturer claims that studies show that customers in a variety of good and services industries also enjoy the add-on products and services that kiosks seamlessly offer – and that make your business more money.

The money-making opportunities don’t stop there. By installing self-service kiosks in new, additional locations, they can also help your business bring in more profit by reaching new customers in different places and thus selling more product.

Lastly, by providing a better customer experience – which we will discuss in further detail below – staff can focus on strategically selling instead of simply answering questions or ringing up sales, which can lead to a higher total sales volume.

2. Better Customer Experience

Satisfied customers are returning customers. Keep your shoppers happy with self-service kiosks, which can improve the customer experience in multiple ways.
- Reduce Line Length: No one likes waiting. In fact, one study found that waiting in long lines causes roughly 50% of customers to believe that the business is run poorly, and over 50% of shoppers will take their business elsewhere if they feel the line is too long. Furthermore, 87% of shoppers say they would gladly use a self-service kiosk if it meant they don’t have to spend as much time waiting in line.
- Easily View Inventory: Easily accessible information is important to customers, and self-service kiosks make it a piece of cake for shoppers to find product pricing, availability, and feature comparison information.
- Omnichannel Shopping: Sometimes the product your shopper needs isn’t available in your brick-and-mortar store, but it is available online. Self-service kiosks enable customers to easily shop additional products, sizes, and options even if they are not available in-store.
- Manage Gift Registries: Self-service kiosks help shoppers easily create, edit, and manage their gift registry, and help customers quickly find a loved one’s gift registry.
3. More Efficient Use of Staff

Last but not least, self-service kiosks can free up a lot of time for your staff. Like we mentioned above, instead of simply ringing up sales, staff can spend more time stocking, cleaning, and providing customer service. Focusing on these duties can lead to happier employees, too – by providing a better overall customer experience by spending more time one-on-one with shoppers and maintaining a cleaner store, more sales may be made and staff may experience higher commissions. Additionally, kiosks can be used for hiring purposes by making the job application process quick and easy for candidates.

Star Micronics and Self-Service Kiosks

Always leading, and always innovating, Star Micronics is proud to offer a robust range of self-service kiosk printers. With printer options available to accommodate a variety of paper sizes, interfaces, footprints, and operating systems, Star Micronics provides printing options for virtually any retailers’ needs.

Kiosk Printer Family Features:
- 2”, 3”, and 4” paper sizes
- Compact or modular footprints
- Available with multiple accessories including bezels, presenters, large paper roll holders, and more
- Support Windows, Linux, Android, Mac, and iOS
- Print receipts, tickets, coupons, or adhesive labels
- Interfaces include serial, USB, parallel, and Ethernet
Ready to learn more about Star Micronics’ self-service printing solutions?

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November 19, 2020
Star Micronics Teams Up with Cannabis Tech E-Commerce Store to Provide Dispensary Solutions

Star Micronics, a leading manufacturer of mobile, point of sale (POS), and customer engagement technologies is proud to announce that GeekTek has added Star product to its lineup of offerings on Cure8, an e-commerce site dedicated to providing IT and related services for companies operating in the cannabis sector.

Cure8 features more than 100 curated products in more than 20 different categories, including Point of Sale (POS) hardware, security systems, label printers, and barcode scanners. In addition to the curated selections on the site, customers can also search through an inventory of tens of thousands of products. All products on the Cure8 platform have been selected by GeekTek’s expert team of consultants and engineers.

Star’s cannabis offerings include the mC-Print3, TSP143III, Cash Drawers, and Receipt Paper. The mC-Print3 is Star’s latest receipt printer offering, featuring a sleek and compact footprint with multi-interface connectivity and a simple user experience. Star also offers three series of cash drawers for any sized dispensary, including the Value Series, Choice Series, and Max Series. With Star Micronics cannabis point of sale solutions, you can prevent sales from exceeding state regulations, validate customers, and provide compliant receipts, state reports, audits, and more. It’s never been easier to get – and stay – compliant.

“Technology is crucial to cannabis businesses, especially in terms of operations, compliance, security, and customer experience,” said Eric Schlissel, CEO and founder of GeekTek. “We offer Star products to our customers because they are high-quality and reliable solutions that are trusted by retailers everywhere.”

To make the shopping process even simpler, Cure8 intends to create vertical-specific procurement guides, standardized product bundles for specific POS, seed-to-sale software and other offerings.

November 18, 2020