Tag: Mobile POS (mPOS)

3 Things to Consider When Selecting a Scale for Cannabis Retail

One of the most important elements of cannabis retail compliance is accurately selling products by weight. A dispensary’s inventory may include a variety of cannabis offerings, including packages of marijuana buds or flowers, edibles, vaping supplies, or containers of shatter (cannabis concentrate), topicals (ointments and creams) and marijuana extracts. Scales for cannabis ensure you are not over- or under-charging customers and assist in inventory tracking at a medical marijuana dispensary or cannabis retail outlet, regardless of the product you sell. Running a business that sells products by weight is impossible without the proper scale, so make sure you choose the one that addresses your business needs and adheres to local and state cannabis laws.

Download for Free: Scale Buyer’s Guide.

The standards and regulations for cannabis scales vary by state, so choose the scale that will keep you in compliance and accurately serve your customers. Here are three main features you should look for when shopping for a scale for cannabis:

1. Weigh to One-Hundredth of a Gram

Anyone shopping for a scale for cannabis should brush up on the metric system. Metric isn’t standard in the U.S., but scales for cannabis measure in grams. Although it’s commonly thought that an ounce of is 28 grams, it’s actually 28.349 grams—so don’t short your customers by rounding. Most scales will weigh to the tenth of a gram, but it’s recommended that scales for cannabis weight to the one-hundredth of a gram (0.01) for a higher degree of accuracy. This is important because it tells the customer they are receiving the exact amount of product they’re paying for, it ensures the cannabis retailer is receiving the correct payment, and it maintains accurate inventory records.

2. NTEP Certification

The National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP), overseen by the National Conference on Weights and Measures, covers every aspect of a scale’s use, including capacity, accuracy and the effects of temperature fluctuations on the scale’s operation. The standards are developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). A local weights and measures official will use NIST standards when inspecting your scale and sealing/certifying it for legal use. Every NTEP approved scale will have a NTEP certificate of conformance (CoC) number that an inspector can use to verify the scale has been certified. However, a CoC doesn’t mean plug and play—call your local regulatory agency for the proper procedure before using the scale.

3. Class II NTEP Balance

A NTEP CoC means the scale is legal for trade and able to be used to sell product by weight. However, there are different classes of accuracy. Class II is a higher accuracy scale that applies to lab scales as opposed to industrial or retail equipment. This higher class of scale can be used in medical or scientific uses such as pharmacy, laboratory, and compounding, which require precise measurements. Most states require cannabis retail stores to have a Class II digital scale.

Medical marijuana and cannabis retailers are legal in more than half of the U.S., but requirements for how you run your business will vary depending on your location. With products sold by weight and strict regulatory requirements, investing in the right scale will be vital to your profitability and compliance. Carefully evaluate your options and make the right choice for your business.

Star’s mG-Scales are ideal for the cannabis industry!

Learn More

July 26, 2018
How to Choose the Right POS Scale for Your Application and Industry
If you’re in the market for a new POS scale, consider these points to help you make a smart choice for your business.

POS scales are used in different types of businesses that charge for items by weight, including supermarkets, self-service restaurants and buffets, butcher shops, candy stores, health food markets with bulk bins, cannabis dispensaries, and more. From a pound of cold cuts to a cup of frozen yogurt, scales measure the weight of a customer’s purchase and calculate the price accurately.

Scales ensure you are not over- or under-charging customers and assist with inventory tracking at your store or restaurant. Running a business that charges based on weight is impossible without a properly calibrated scale, so make sure you choose the one that best takes care of your needs.

If you’re in the market for a new point of sale (POS) scale, consider these points to help you make a smart choice for your business.
- Application: Why do you need the scale? Before you purchase POS scales, identify how they’re going to be used and what you need to weigh. Is it fresh produce in a supermarket, bulk candy, and meat or items like mail and packages? Are most of your products heavy or light? Large or small? Identify the types of items you need to weigh and use that as a starting point.
- Accuracy: How accurate do you need the measurements to be? Scale accuracy is important because it tells the customer they are receiving the exact amount of product they’re paying for. An accurate scale also ensures that the retailer is receiving the correct payment. Across the U.S., every state has its own agencies and departments that regulate scales and inspect them for accuracy. Some states may require a yearly inspection, while others are inspected less frequently. Make sure the scales you purchase will meet requirements for accuracy.
- Capacity: What is the largest possible load you need the scales to handle? If you own a candy store or a supermarket, would anyone ever purchase 500 pounds of candy? It seems unlikely, so if you’re a purveyor of sweet treats, the scale’s capacity can be lower. For a butcher weighing large pieces of meat, or a UPS shipping store, however, a scale with a higher capacity would be in order.
- Environment: Where will this scale be used? Choose a scale that’s durable enough for your business. If it is meant for high-volume use weighing food products, choose a hygienic scale designed for easy cleaning. Also, consider where the POS scales will be used. Are there extreme temperature variations? Are there disruptive vibrations, interference from other electronics, or even air currents that could affect the scale’s accuracy? Choose the type of scale with the right features for the environment.
- Installation and calibration: Choose the location for your POS scales carefully, because you shouldn’t move them around once they’ve been installed. Connect the scale to your POS system so it can be set up and calibrated properly. Scales that are used daily will need frequent calibration to maintain accuracy and stay in compliance with local weights and measures laws.
Business owners who sell items by weight need an accurate scale to protect their customers and their business. If you’re looking for a new scale for your store or restaurant, be honest about your needs, how accurate it needs to be, where it will be set up and how often it should be calibrated. Taking time to understand your business’ requirements for POS scales and the options available to you will result in a greater ability to provide excellent customer service and to manage inventory down to the ounce—or less.

Available for Free: Scale Buyer’s Guide

POS Scales
May 25, 2018
Star Micronics and CardFlight Team Up to Offer A Simple, Bring Your Own Tablet Countertop Point of Sale Solution

SwipeSimple Register, the new simple countertop POS solution from CardFlight featuring the Star Micronics mPOP, will be demoed for the first time at ETA TRANSACT in Las Vegas

SOMERSET, NJ — April 13 2018 — Star Micronics, the global industry leader in POS printing solutions, announces it has teamed up with C ardFlight, the leader in payment technology and mobile POS solutions, to deliver a bundled cash register and payment terminal solution for the modern merchant’s needs, combining SwipeSimple hardware and software with Star Micronics’ mPOP and the portable receipt printer SM-L200.

SwipeSimple Register works on virtually any iOS or Android tablet, and lets merchant acquirers provide merchants with a modern and intuitive hardware and software setup for their payment needs. The SwipeSimple solution supports payments with EMV Quick Chip and NFC contactless for all types of mobile wallets, and cash. By partnering with Star Micronics, CardFlight can now offer merchants the convenience of issuing paper receipts for both countertop and mobile needs.

“We are excited to partner with Star Micronics,” said Derek Webster, Founder and CEO of CardFlight. “As our company continues to build payment acceptance solutions for a broad range of small businesses, the partnership helps us expand the SwipeSimple product suite to serve even more merchants.”

SwipeSimple Register for countertop merchants features Star Micronics mPOP™ that combines cash drawer and receipt printer in a sleek and compact design, making it easy to fit into even the smallest retail spaces. Bluetooth connectivity and smart cable management keep the counter clutter free. Mobile merchants also have the option to use SwipeSimple Register on a smartphone or tablet and print receipts on Star Micronics’ portable receipt printer SM-L200. The SM-L200 is the first portable printer with the ability to connect to any Apple iOS BLE-compatible device without having to pair with it.

“Our mPOP and mobile printing solution paired with SwipeSimple are both easy to set up and use, which is perfect for the modern small merchant,” said Jon Levin, Star Micronics’ product integration manager. “We look forward to working with CardFlight to expand into new markets.”

Star Micronics will be exhibiting at booth #838 and SwipeSimple Register paired with Star Micronics’s mPOP will be demonstrated at CardFlight’s booth #618 at ETA TRANSACT, April 17-19 in Las Vegas.

April 13, 2018
The Ultimate Guide to Building Your iOS POS System

iOS POS systems look sharp sitting on a counter or mounted on a wall, so it’s no wonder why retailers and restaurants are drawn to these sleek setups for their establishments. Whether you need fixed terminals or a mobile solution, an iOS POS system can fulfill all your needs.

Are you in the market for a new iOS POS system? If so, keep these points in mind while you’re shopping around.

1. iOS Device

If you’re using an iPad or other iOS technology you already own, make sure it has the most recent update that the hardware will support. If you have older devices, make absolutely sure the POS software you want to run supports your hardware — before you invest in it. A better strategy is to choose your POS software first — find a solution that offers features and functionality you need to run your business — then select the hardware. All iPad POS solutions aren’t the same. Look for options such as clock in/out, split checks, payments, scheduling and inventory tracking that can help you run your business.

2. iPad Enclosure

Star Micronics mUnite Stand

Although iOS POS systems are feature-rich, they aren’t ruggedized devices. An iPad or iTouch is a consumer-grade device, nowhere near tough enough for retail and restaurant workplaces. iOS devices that get wet or hot will have functionality issues, so protecting your technology with a specialized enclosure is imperative to staying online. iPads left unattended are targets for loss and theft, so opt for an enclosure that allows you to secure the device to a wall or counter. Some enclosures can be fitted to stands that flip and swivel into a customer-facing position, so shoppers can sign for credit card transactions or add a tip.

3. Peripherals

iOS POS systems differ from more traditional POS solutions when it comes to peripherals. If you need a 2D barcode scanner, scale integration, receipt printer and customer display, make sure your solution has options to keep everything connected. Printing receipts from an iOS POS system can present a particular challenge for merchants. A great solution is Star Micronics’ TSP654II AirPrint, the First Receipt Printer on the market with AirPrint™ Certification. TSP654II printers allow merchants to print from their iOS devices without installing specific printer drivers.

4. Aesthetic Appeal

Star Micronics mPOP

One of the iPad’s main selling points is the tablet’s stylish design. If you selected an iOS POS system, chances are you care about how it looks. Don’t cover up a glossy iPad with a clunky enclosure or pair it with nondescript peripherals. Make sure your enclosure and peripherals enhance the iOS POS system and are as chic as their surroundings. Star Micronics offers mPOP™, Mobile Point of Purchase, the first hybrid for tablet POS that combines a cash drawer and printer peripheral. The unit’s ergonomic but fully integrated design works with the tablet or mobile device of your choice, so you can have a mobile solution without compromising space, quality design or functionality.

iOS POS systems can be a great choice for your store or restaurant if you strategically design a system that will meet your business’ needs, withstand a harsh commercial environment and complement your brand with the look you want. Work with an experienced POS solution provider to help you incorporate those elements into your solution — and more— to help you get the most out of your investment.

Free iOS Resources

It can be tough to find truly Apple-compatible hardware for point of sale use. Star Micronics offers the largest range of Apple compatible printing products and Apple certified POS hardware. Developer friendly, Star was the first provider of SDK for iOS and is currently the only provider that offers iOS development support for scales, cash drawers, and kiosk printers. Help your customers future-proof their Apple POS solutions with Star Micronics.

Visit iOS Toolbox

March 27, 2018
Star Micronics Offers First Look at New, Innovative Solutions at NRF 2018
Somerset, NJ – January 26, 2017 – Star Micronics, a leading global manufacturer of mobile, point of sale (POS) and customer engagement technologies, showcased its newest innovations at NRF 2018 Retail’s Big Show.

NRF 2018 was held in New York in the Jacob K. Javits Center from January 14-16 and Star Micronics exhibited its latest POS innovations in booth #2745, including:

1st AirPrint® receipt printer

The TSP654II is the first receipt printer on the market with Apple AirPrint® Certification. This printer will work seamlessly with all Apple® devices, ensuring quick set up and high-quality receipt printing. The TSP654II AirPrint will enable Apple users to continue with the familiar AirPrint experience while using their Apple iOS® POS system.

mCollection

mC-Print: Chic, Compact, Complete Printer Collection

Star Micronics new mC-Print receipt printers were designed specifically to expand Star Micronics’ Mobile POS solutions. This mPOS printer is stylish, chic, and compact. With multi-interface support and peripheral connectivity, this Cloud Service-ready receipt printer is equipped to handle retailers’ needs with style.

mPOP™ + Peripherals

Now, the mPOP has additional optional peripherals for merchants to choose from, such as 2D barcode scanner, scale, customer display, and port to external cash drawer. With these added peripherals, retailers and restaurateurs can transform their mPOP into a complete, versatile point of sale hub in order to accept a wider variety of transactions in higher volume.

PromoPRNT

PromoPRNT is a new service available to Star Micronics Cloud Services members that empowers retailers to create printed promotions in addition to receipts. PromoPRNT delivers two services through the Star Micronics Cloud Services Dashboard, Promo Maker and Promo Manager. Promo Maker is a simple way to create and design receipt promotions. Promo Manager allows retailers to schedule the length of a promotional campaign and to view insights from their campaigns. Ultimately, with these PromoPRNT tools, retailers will be able to deliver incentives directly to shopper’s hands.

Sophatar® POS Signage™

Sophatar® POS Signage is another new service available to all Star Micronics Cloud Services members for a low monthly cost. This innovative digital signage solution analyzes retailers’ POS sales data through the Star Micronics printer and Star Micronics Cloud to display popular sales items. If the retailer doesn’t have images of best-selling items on hand, Sophatar® POS Signage will automatically search for images using UPC codes and textual descriptions of the products.

This year’s booth partners:
- Vend
- SuiteRetail
- Biztracker
- nCLOSE
“If you spent some time at our booth at NRF 2018, thank you,” Said Christophe Naasz, Director of Business Development at Star Micronics America, Inc. “We have so many innovative and groundbreaking solutions scheduled for release in 2018. It was fantastic to have the opportunity to give the industry a sneak peek.”
January 26, 2018
How to Find the Best POS Solution for Your Restaurant

Starting a restaurant business or a coffee shop has never been easy for people who don’t have experience. Such business requires large spending – from purchasing and investing in all necessary equipment to over hiring staff and releasing monthly salaries. Consequently, these have direct negative effects on a restaurant’s profitability. Last but not least, traditional systems cause difficulty for owners when they want to quickly expand their business.

Contrary to popular belief, restaurant point of sale is not a one size fits all models. In the restaurant industry, you’ll find large to mid-sized sit-down restaurants, mom and pop shops with 5 to 10 tables, cafes, fast-casual, food trucks, and more. Finding the right point of sale system for your restaurant really depends on the type of business your running.

1. Pop-up Restaurants & Food Trucks

For a pop-up restaurant or food truck scenario, you will want a point of sale that allows you to be mobile. Tablet POS or mPOS are very popular in this market because the mobility of the tablet or mobile device allows users to take up less space and take the POS outside of the pop-up or food truck to take orders and process payments of those waiting in line. With this type of mobile solution, you will want a receipt printer with the same mobility. A portable receipt printer that can hook right to your belt strap is ideal for these pop-up and food truck environments because they are lightweight, compact, and can print receipts from anywhere, at any time.

2. mPOP™

In cafes and smaller restaurants, mobility is still preferred, but you will need a POS system that is more static. The mPOP allows restaurateurs to still utilize the mobility of a tablet or smartphone while having a set POS checkout station with a small footprint. This is the perfect solution for smaller restaurants or cafes that have a lower cash flow and want to maintain an aesthetically pleasing counter space.

3. TSP143III

For larger restaurants, you will need a more robust solution that can withstand busy periods with a high volume of orders being transmitted and receipts being printed. The TSP143III is the best printer for this scenario with a tethered USB connection for Apple iPad® devices that simultaneously facilitate data communication to the printer and charges the mobile device. The TSP143III is also offered with WLAN and Bluetooth connectivity option to print receipts from anywhere in the restaurant.

The FOURLEAF POS App aims to connect owners to their business 24/7. Help owners to track their sales income in real time and it is specially designed from fundamental concept to be an online restaurant POS system.

Star and FOURLEAF strive to help restaurant owners to track their inventory and be able to send wireless orders to the kitchen within a fraction of a second.

December 21, 2017
Stop and See Us at Money 20/20 USA 2017 Booth #1355

Money 20/20 is right around the corner and Star Micronics is ready to showcase some game changing products. We’re excited to be a part of the event, which is scheduled from October 22 to 25 in Las Vegas. Money 20/20 USA is one of the largest global events that showcases payments and financial services innovation for commerce connected through mobile, retail, marketing, data and technology. The Star Micronics team is ready to meet with leaders from every corner of the industry that flock to the event to find new business opportunities and to strengthen partnerships.

Stop by our booth #1355 to take a look at our all-star lineup:

SM-L300 Portable Printer with its Cradle

The new cradle for the SM-L300 portable printer allows users to effortlessly move from mobile to desktop mode — and then back to mobile mode. Used with or without a belt clip, the SM-L300 and cradle boasts a small footprint and modern design that charges the portable printer while docked.

mPOP™ with its Peripherals

The mPOP is the first hybrid tablet (point of sale) POS combining cash drawer and printer peripherals with convenient Bluetooth and USB connectivity. Now, you can transform your all-in-one mPOP into a complete POS system with new available peripheral options, including 1D or 2D barcode reader, scale options, a customer-facing line display, and a port for an external cash drawer.

CloudPRNT

CloudPRNT is our innovative technology that will allow users to print to Star printers directly through a cloud service. This provides benefits to retailers and restaurateurs alike by eliminating the need for additional hardware to send online orders to the printer.

Star Micronics Cloud Services

Star Micronics provides additional support through our Star Micronics Cloud Services. SMCS includes applications like AllReceipts^®, Customer Surveys, Engage NOW, Device Management, Receipt Flip, Micro Receipt and more. The goal of Star Micronics Cloud Services is to provide modern Web-based applications using both the legacy and mPOS Star products already installed in-store, reducing cost to retailers.

All-in-One Solution featuring Elo I-Series and TSP143IIIU

The Elo I-Series Android all-in-one is available with an optional mPOS flip stand that rotates from sales associate or cashier to customer for easy signature and payment capture. The stand is designed to house our TSP143IIIU printer, which provides businesses with complete self-service kiosk applications for any environment that calls for a space-saving point of sale terminal.

Star Micronics and Sophatar Feature POS Display

This year at Money 20/20 we will be partnering with Sophatar. The digital display company will be combined with Star Micronics to showcase all of our products seamlessly together. They provide a more engaging customer experience by bringing the advantages of the web to a physical space. To learn more about Sophatar head over to their website.

We’re looking forward to seeing all of the fantastic sessions and keynote speakers at Money 20/20 USA.

We look forward to seeing you at Money 20/20! Booth #1355.

October 15, 2017
Star Micronics to Showcase New mPOS Solutions at 2017 RSPA RetailNOW

Somerset, NJ – July 31, 2017 – Star Micronics, leading provider of point of sale and proof of transaction technology, will be exhibiting new solutions at the 2017 RSPA RetailNOW expo at booth #707.

The show will be held from August 6^th through August 8^th at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. RetailNOW® is one of RSPA’s signature events, billed as “the place where the industry meets” with over 170 exhibitors.

Star Micronics will be showcasing a number of our newest mPOS peripherals and solutions including the mPOP™ with new peripheral options, TSP100IIIU, and SM-L300 portable printer, all compatible with Star Cloud Services digital receipt and customer engagement solutions.

mPOP™

Star Micronics has upgraded our popular all-in-one mPOP to add even more functionality. Now the mPOP will support a number of peripheral options including a 1D or 2D bar code reader, a customer-facing line display, three NTEP legal-for-trade point of sale scales, and an additional cash drawer. Users can now transform their mPOP into a complete point of sale hub, while still saving space.

TSP100IIIU

Star Micronics will be introducing the latest version to the TSP100III series, the TSP100IIIU at RetailNOW 2017. Now offered with a simple “plug and play” USB connection, users will be able to enjoy the upgrades of the TSP100III series including faster print speed and a paper de-curl mechanism that provides a flat receipt, even when the receipt paper is at the end of its roll. The TSP100III also facilitates data communication and device charging using only one lightning cable for iOS users.

SM-L300

The brand new SM-L300 is Star’s first Bluetooth low energy receipt, label, and MAXStick® portable printer. The SM-L300 is Bluetooth (3.0/4.0) compatible with all operating systems including Windows, Android™, and iOS, and is equipped with a receipt de-curl function and easy “drop-in and print” paper loading.

Star Micronics is also proud to host our partners: CAP Software, Weigh & Pay Solutions, TouchBistro, GreenBits, AppSuite, Appetize, eMobilePOS, and Vend. Visit booth #707 for demonstrations of our partners’ POS software solutions with Star POS and mPOS peripherals.

September 28, 2017
Sunglass Menagerie Finds Their Shine with Vend and Star Micronics’ mPOP™

Sunglass Menagerie has proudly served the New Jersey beach community for the past 38 years offering a variety of sunglass options for every type of beach bum. Sunglass Menagerie was originated in the late 70s before big brand sunglasses began to take off. Being one of the first sunglass stores in the country, Sunglass Menagerie’s goal is to have a pair of sunglasses for every face that enters the store. Over the past 30 years, Sunglass Menagerie has expanded to open 6 stores along the Jersey shore, and plans to open 5 more stores this upcoming season. With Sunglass Menagerie’s success and recent expansion, they sought a point of sale system that would work seamlessly across all locations. Star Micronics’ mPOP™ with Vend POS for retail was the perfect solution.

Sunglass Menagerie was experiencing huge success over the past few years, and needed a point of sale system to keep up with the high volume of transactions during their busy season. Prior to the install of the mPOP with Vend, Sunglass Menagerie used an analog cash register that they referred to as ‘a cigar box with a calculator’. When they decided to upgrade their technology, customers immediately noticed. Being based in beach town locations, Sunglass Menagerie typically employs high school or college students that are looking to make some extra cash over summer break. Their old cash register was very difficult for employees to set up and operate. “Employees could never be sure if the machine would even start up or work properly for the day,” said Colton Karch, Store Leader of Sunglass Menagerie.

The ‘out of the box’ solution offered by Star and Bend was simple to set up, only taking about 30 minutes. “A temp employee was able to get the first mPOP set up and running within an hour,” recalls Karch. Sunglass Menagerie never experienced a single technology issue with the hardware, and the Vend software offered a user-friendly solution for employees. The Vend POS solution allowed employees to run real-time reports, see their daily sales numbers, and complete seamless customer transactions, all to improve the overall customer experience.

The Vend and Star Micronics mPOS system brought many benefits to Sunglass Menagerie. One of the largest was inventory control. For the first time, Sunglass Menagerie has the ability to gain instant access to inventory reports to ensure that they never run out of popular items. Management can now check-in remotely and know exactly what they have available in each store, resulting in less lost customers.

The mPOP was also able to provide a smoother workflow for employees and management. Employees no longer have to worry about the system shutting down, and management is no longer receiving phone calls on how to change the receipt paper or that the machine ran out of ink.

“It’s comforting to know that we are no longer losing sales due to the system being down. Employees understand and enjoy using the new system. Knowing exactly what we have in stock and being able to see their sales numbers makes the employees more excited to set new goals and sell more sunglasses.”

– Colton Karch, Store Leader, Sunglass Menagerie

Download the full success story: Sunglass Menagerie Case Study

July 25, 2017
Top Point of Sale Trends for Small Businesses: Part 1
The point of sale is evolving quickly to accommodate new demands on retailers and to better integrate smarter software for independent merchants. There are many POS trends that point to an augmentation of how data can be democratized for “mom and pop” retail stores. When choosing a POS solution, small businesses have to do their research more carefully than ever. For retail entrepreneurs, POS systems and POS solutions are some of the most researched software that relates directly to their business.

POS solutions are evolving in ways that are leading POS systems into the 21st century. Retail entrepreneurs now have easy access to powerful software that is becoming cheaper than ever, more mobile, and are able to do more to grow their business. This is allowing physical merchants to keep up with their sophisticated data-centric e-retailer cousins. From payments, to automation, and from hardware to analytics and insights, the POS is becoming the real deal.

In this article, we’ll explore some of the major trends and a few surprising innovations. We’ll also uncover some of the bigger POS trends.

1. Shopify Starts to Build Hardware

The Canadian e-Commerce solution is having a stellar start to the year, as can be seen in its Unite 2017 event. With new partners such as Amazon and Buzzfeed, Shopify can scale this year like never before. In April, Shopify announced their first hardware product, a chip-and-swipe card reader. Shopify is banking on the trend of online sellers to sell in physical retail with its simple card reader.

Key takeaway: Payments and new hardware are still a hot topic for new retail businesses.

2. The Tablet and Mobile POS Market Grows

Whether its iPad POS solutions or other kinds of tablets, the mobile POS boom is on. U.S. and global growth of more convenient mobile POS solutions is quickly showing to be the new normal in some retail verticals.

Mobile POS is growing at 9.2% a year according to Capterra via Quickbooks. As Cloud-based solutions became mainstream, so too now are mobile POS solutions. This occurs often in hospitality, convenience, retail, and services stations where tablets are more useful for data access and of course, checkout.

For the SMB space, mPOS makes a lot of sense. This is where cost-effective hardware is meeting the mobile-first era. This means it’s easier than ever to become a retail entrepreneur with smarter and less costly hardware and software. You can do more with a mPOS for your small business than you may realize.

Key takeaway: As Cloud POS became the new standard years ago, it’s looking like mPOS might do the same.

3. Star Micronics Launches New Printer: TSP100IIIU

The TSP100IIIU is being called a game-changer for tablet and mobile POS.
- It connects directly to an iPad or iPhone using the Apple Lightning cable for reliable USB communication and simultaneous charging.
- It includes a USB Serial number feature to detect the device when disconnected and reconnected to a different USB port
- Ultra-fast print speeds and special receipt de-curl function
Key takeaway: Printers are getting smarter and connecting merchants with the future.

4. POS Systems Acheive New API Integrations

The age of value add-ons is influencing how POS solution ecosystems evolve. This means software providers are becoming better connected with their partners. You don’t have to look far in the POS world to see how this occurs.

Typically, this consolidation of software with the POS solution as node now in the cloud can be characterized into a few major branches:
- Payments
- Loyalty
- Analytics, Reporting, and Artificial Intelligence
- Accounting
- Email Marketing
- Employee Scheduling and Management
- Inventory and Warehouse Management
- Niche Specialty Solutions (such as for Hospitality, Restaurant, e-Commerce, etc.)
Key takeaway: POS solutions have native strengths and weaknesses, but will also have third-party integration strengths and weaknesses

5. Mobile Payments and Cashless Solutions

While major smart phone companies are developing next-gen biometric and other post NFC solutions, the mobile wallet has not caught on with consumers as fast as some anticipated. Mobile wallet users have so many choices, and are aware that mobile payments can lead to more impulse purchases. While mobile payments are increasing with PayPal, and there’s buzz around Apple Pay, Android Pay, Samsung Pay, and Google Wallet, offering multiple payment options is still a good idea for the merchant.

Key takeaway: Mobile wallet adoption is slow but is a benefit for retailers to offer.

6. Rise of Cloud Computing and Cloud Point of Sale

The legacy point of sale system is dying as POS systems and peripherals in the cloud continue to gain impressive traction. This is leading to not only more accessible and flexible solutions, like having your POS on an iPad, it’s leading to a decrease in total spend that independent merchants must make for even more robust and connected solutions.

For value-added resellers (VARs), this means a proliferation of new potential products that integrate software and hardware in new ways. Cloud POS systems are also aggressively connecting to niche and specialty stores and increasingly to omnichannel solutions.

This means restaurant POS, e-Commerce, and an emphasis on data and analytics for brick-and-mortar retailers is on the swift incline. Leading POS solutions are also battling it out in important new global territories expanding their reach and acquiring companies to improve their value propositions

Cloud POS has come a long way in the last decade, and with the integration of technology, IoT, and machine learning, it is going to reach even higher in the decade ahead.

Key takeaway: The Cloud POS is leading to a very dynamic ecosystem of innovation around software customized to each industry.

There’s no right or wrong POS system, but finding the right point of sale solution and add-on apps for your business can help your business grow. Read the full article from Star Cloud Services here.
June 22, 2017