New reader is smaller with higher level of security.
Click to see full image
FAQ’s
What is the iUC150B availability?
It is available now for kiosk integration with both RBA and UIA applications.
What is the intended iUN configuration for the iUC150B?
It is intended to work with: IUP250 V3.0 & iUR250 V3.0. It is fully backward compatible with PCI V3.0
components. In the future when the iUP250 V4 and iUR250 V4 are available it will also work with them.
The PCI certification level is on a per component basis.
What are the primary differences between devices and the benefits of the iUC150B?
Major differences are the smaller form factor (allowing kiosk real estate savings) and PCI V4.0 certification
(higher security, SRED compliant).
Which SDK’s support the iUC150B? Any other special requirements?
Yes, SDK Core = 9.26.2.01 Addon Unattended = 6.4.0.01. Please see your SE for complete requirements.
When is the iUC150 EOL ?
The current plan is to announce the iUC150 EOL in January 2017.
One of the trends in 2018 is the emergence of the emergency kiosk. Typically it has the typical informational side to it but then it is just as capable serving as an emergency terminal.
Some of the situations where campus-wide communication system is considered:
Education facilities including high schools, universities, junior and technical vocational schools.
Anywhere where a large number of people are congregating which can be a retail mall location outdoor where people are walking around.
Some specified features of emergency kiosks include:
LCD or similar screen that the City can easily upload information, advertisements or emergency notifications from a control room
CCTV that is remotely accessible by a control room
Incorporation of an approved automated external defibrillator (“AED”) approved by the City
First Aid equipment
Air quality and micro climate sensors
Advanced features include automatic activation upon retrieval, voice and text use instructions, automated self-tests, etc.
Emergency kiosk provides for a mechanism to connect with 9-1-1
Panic Functions
Public WiFi
Footfall analytics (traffic)
Able to interface with transportation systems
Emergency kiosk shall include surveillance cameras
Emergency kiosk to include intercom, microphone, speakers to allow for two-way communication
Emergency kiosk should be climate controlled, if necessary.
Shooter detection systems
College-wide communication systems
Zoning
connectivity to mobile Apps and devices to speed evacuation with safe route notification.
Editors Note: Thanks to Olea Kiosks for sending update to us here at Kiosk Industry. Olea provides bill pay services.
Update: March 22, 2018 @ 4:00pm ET
Bill Pay TIO Networks Provides Second Update on Suspension of Operations
After careful consideration, PayPal has decided to not restore TIO’s services and will wind down TIO’s business accordingly. We thank you for your patience as we made this difficult decision. We apologize for the inconvenience the discontinuation of services has caused our billing partners, retailers, agents, and their customers – and we appreciate your partnership and support for the past 20 years.
As previously announced, the PayPal platform is not impacted in any way and PayPal’s customers’ data remains secure. PayPal remains committed to our mission to democratize financial services and provide secure, convenient and affordable ways to move and manage money to those who are underserved by the financial system.
If you are a TIO biller, retailer or agent and have any questions or would like to speak to someone about this situation, please feel free to contact the TIO call center at (866) 710-0846.
If you are an affected customer that received a notice about the TIO security incident, and have any questions, you can still reach out to the Experian call center Monday to Friday 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM PT, and Saturday and Sunday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM PT at (855) 272-6796 (toll-free) for domestic callers or (479) 788-5000 (toll) for international callers.
Update: December 1, 2017 4:30PM ET
TIO Networks Provides Update on Suspension of Operations
As announced on November 10, the operations of TIO Networks were suspended to protect customer data as part of an ongoing investigation of security vulnerabilities of the TIO platform. We have been working tirelessly to conduct a thorough review and get to the bottom of the situation. Now we have a clearer picture.
The ongoing investigation has uncovered evidence of unauthorized access to TIO’s network, including locations that stored personal information of some of TIO’s customers and customers of TIO billers.
TIO has begun working with the companies it services to notify potentially affected individuals. We are working with a consumer credit reporting agency to provide free credit monitoring memberships. Individuals who are affected will be contacted directly and receive instructions to sign up for monitoring.
We greatly appreciate the support of our billing partners, retailers, agents and consumers during this time. We will continue to communicate important updates to customers.
If you are an affected customer that received the customer notice, and have any questions, you can reach the Experian call center Monday to Friday 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM PT, and Saturday and Sunday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM PT at (855) 272-6796 (toll-free) for domestic callers or (479) 788-5000 (toll) for international callers.
If you are a biller, retailer or agent and have any questions or would like to speak to someone about this situation, please feel free to contact the TIO call center at (866) 710-0846.
Later this summer we will outfit three additional NFL Stadiums with Olea Kiosks. Our small business is starting to become not very small at all – and I attribute it to three factors:
1) We’ve focused extremely hard on rightsizing our value to our customers
We’re not the least expensive. But we provide the most value per dollar spent. For example, onsite deployment times with Olea are significantly faster (weeks faster) than with other options, saving a ton of money in onsite labor costs and project management.
2) We’ve specialized our team
Every single customer has a salesperson focused on helping them win business, and a project manager to keep their projects humming. We’ve been running this service for a couple years now and it has only gotten better for our customers. Plus, we don’t charge for it. This is our investment in the partnership.
3) We’ve been selective with who we onboard
Olea doesn’t have thousands of customers, we have dozens. We find the groups we can do the most for and focus our energy on making those relationships count. This largely prevents us from overloading our team, so they have the bandwidth to provide great service to our customers (and get to go home on time). We all win as a result.
We aren’t perfect, but we have a village of people that put their best foot forward every day. We are grateful to those of you who continue to trust our family business.
The QSR space is heating up rapidly and that’s only one industry. The situation in California of $15 per hour may end up driving the adoption of Kiosks and other automation quicker than anticipated.
Other ramifications could include people already making $15 – 20 per hour. Logic say’s they will want a raise as well. Why should they be getting “minimum wage” when someone working the most basic of jobs is getting the same? It stands to reason we’re looking at wages going up almost across the board.
In the end business will raise their rates to cover the extra expense, or, the smart companies adopt automation and other cost saving techniques as much as possible in order to keep costs down and selling prices low.
California’s plans to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2022 could spur a move in the restaurant industry toward automation.
Nice article on impact of minimum wage and automation.
This change should open the floodgates of automation exploration. Those that can invest now and keep costs low during the transition will weather the storm long enough for competition to go under because they didn’t plan ahead.
Related Links
The Real Impact of Minimum Wage Legislation – link
Manufacturer of angling equipment, BUBBA came to Frank Mayer and Associates, Inc. with several guidelines to consider when developing merchandising display designs, including a design that would fit a small retail footprint, a look that endorsed the sport fishing lifestyle, and imagery that could be easily updated in the field.
The company also required an interactive component to allow consumers to use the product and understand the ergonomics associated with the BUBBA knife’s handle and blade.
Custom peg hooks and slat wall designs not only allow for heavier electric knives without sagging but offer unique product configurations based on each dealer’s needs.
Frank Mayer and Associates, Inc. delivered on all BUBBA’s requests, and hundreds of units were shipped to dealer locations across the country.
Spearheaded by Bitcoin ATM operators DigitalMint and Coinsource, the CCC looks to enhance cryptocurrency regulations while establishing consumer-centric frameworks for strengthened public protections and safety.
CHICAGO, Aug. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Leaders across the cash-to-crypto industry, including Bitcoin ATM (BTM) operators DigitalMint and Coinsource, blockchain analysis platform Chainalysis, and others, today announce the formation of the Cryptocurrency Compliance Cooperative (“CCC”). A collaborative association, the mission of the CCC is to create a safer environment for all consumers and legitimize the cash-to-cryptocurrency industry by bolstering compliance standards that are deemed by many to be currently insufficient.
“The nefarious use cases plaguing this industry are well documented by several law enforcement agencies, and include fraud, elder abuse, and drug and human trafficking,” said Seth Sattler, Director of Compliance for DigitalMint and leading contributor of the Cryptocurrency Compliance Cooperative. “While a small number of Bitcoin ATM operators go above and beyond with know your customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) protocols, others in the cash-to-crypto industry simply turn a blind eye and are complacent to these bad actors by simply applying the bare minimum customer protections, which in many cases allow for completely anonymous transactions.”
Organizations encouraged to apply to the CCC include cash-based cryptocurrency MSBs, regulatory bodies, financial institutions, suppliers, non-governmental and law enforcement agencies. Meeting on a minimum quarterly basis, the CCC will allow members to stay abreast of regulatory updates, new industry standards and research. Moreover, members will share best practices and learn how to collaborate with industry leaders, regulators, and law enforcement on how to enforce deeper and more robust compliance protocols. In addition, the CCC will also look to stay ahead of developments and trends among threat actors, learning how to best mitigate fraud through the application of ever improving technology and forensic tools.
“Unfortunately, many BTM operators feel that merely asking for a cell phone number is enough due diligence to absolve them of their mandated KYC requirements,” said Bo Oney, Executive Vice President of Operations and Head of Compliance at Coinsource. “Such lax provisions provide a safe haven for bad actors to abuse the machines for nefarious purposes. The CCC is seeking to bolster regulatory requirements for the benefit of all BTM users and operators. This will require input from the most knowledgeable in the industry, all with the goal of making the cash-to-crypto space as safe as possible for consumers.”
Since their first deployment in the U.S. in 2014, BTMs and other cash-to-crypto point-of-sale locations have helped individuals effortlessly access the world of cryptocurrencies. These machines, which resemble a traditional ATM, allow users to purchase cryptocurrencies with cash and, according to How Many Bitcoin ATMs, have surpassed 42,000 installations across the U.S.
“Lax compliance policies and high rates of illicit activity have long plagued the reputation of Bitcoin ATMs,” said Caitlin Barnett, Director of Regulation & Compliance, Chainalysis. “We are thrilled to support this initiative led by two leaders in the space to build trust in Bitcoin ATMs and promote more financial freedom with less risk.”
According to an independent report conducted by the State of New Jersey Commission of Investigation, nearly 75% of the BTM operators with kiosks in the state allowed certain transactions to take place without requiring the customer to provide any information outside of a cellphone number. Over half of these operators allowed for cryptocurrency transactions up to $900 with just a cellphone number, or in some cases, no information at all. Due to the prevalence and accessibility of prepaid cellphones, commonly known as “burners”, simply relying on the collection of a phone number to satisfy FinCEN KYC requirements is not a reliable way for operators to confirm identity and eliminates any reasonable transaction monitoring method to detect agents that assist with laundering illicit proceeds on behalf of nefarious actors.
“We must do better,” added Mr. Sattler. “This isn’t just an industry group – this is a movement. It’s our hope that others heed our call and join this cooperative as we push for enhanced and modernized regulations in the best interest of public safety.”
About the Cryptocurrency Compliance Cooperative (CCC) The Cryptocurrency Compliance Cooperative (CCC) is a collaborative association that advocates on behalf of the cash-to-cryptocurrency industry to establish universally accepted compliance standards, best practices, and regulatory controls. These standards include BSA/AML controls, technology utilization, KYC and CIP requirements, and law enforcement communication standards. Our organization fosters an environment of cooperation between respected BTM operators, regulatory agencies, traditional financial institutions, and technology solutions within the industry to accomplish our mission. Through this medium of beneficial discussion between parties that directly impact or are impacted by the cash-to-cryptocurrency industry, the CCC will nurture legitimacy and acceptance around the globe.
Cash-to-crypto industry leaders have announced the formation of the Cryptocurrency Compliance Cooperative (CCC).
The mission of the collaborative association is to create a safer environment for consumers through legitimizing the cash-to-cryptocurrency industry.
According to the latest data from Coin ATM Radar, the number of Bitcoin ATMs (BTMs) now stands at over 22,000 in the United States alone.
Cash-to-crypto industry leaders have announced the formation of the Cryptocurrency Compliance Cooperative (CCC).
Founder members include Bitcoin ATM (BTM) operators DigitalMint and Coinsource, as well as blockchain analysis platform Chainalysis, among others. The mission of the collaborative association is to create a safer environment for consumers through legitimizing the cash-to-cryptocurrency industry. They hope to achieve this by bolstering compliance standards that many currently consider insufficient.
“While a small number of Bitcoin ATM operators go above and beyond with know your customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) protocols, others in the cash-to-crypto industry simply turn a blind eye and are complacent to these bad actors by simply applying the bare minimum customer protections, which in many cases allow for completely anonymous transactions,” said DigitalMint Director of Compliance Seth Sattler, a leading contributor of the Cryptocurrency Compliance Cooperative.
CCC membership
The CCC is encouraging applications from a breadth of organizations. These include cash-based cryptocurrency MSBs, regulatory bodies, financial institutions, suppliers, non-governmental and law enforcement agencies.
The CCC will meet on a quarterly basis, and update members on regulatory developments, new industry standards and research. Members will also share best practices and learn how to collaborate with industry leaders, regulators, and law enforcement. The Cooperative also intends to stay ahead of potential threats, learning to mitigate fraud through the application of improving technology and tools.
BTMs
Bitcoin ATMs (BTMs) and other cash-to-crypto point-of-sale locations enable users to purchase cryptocurrencies with cash. They have helped individuals effortlessly access the world of cryptocurrencies since their first deployment in the US in 2014. By March of this year, the number of BTMs worldwide had risen 20% from the year prior, reaching nearly 17,000. According to the latest data from Coin ATM Radar, that figure now stands at over 22,000 in the United States alone.
Aside from the crypto ATM companies mentioned above, others also contributed to these swelling figures. For instance, in May, crypto ATM network Bitcoin Depot launched over 350 crypto ATMs across the United States. These ATMs were the latest of the 2,500 Bitcoin Depot had rolled out in the prior six months. Then in July, Bitcoin Depot expanded its network of crypto ATMs through Circle K locations throughout the US and Canada.
New York Mets fans attending games at the team’s Citi Field home field can now purchase snacks and beverages at a self-checkout kiosk that uses a biometrics-based identity verification system to process payments — and check that buyers of alcoholic drinks are of legal drinking age.
The Mets have teamed up with food and beverage provider Aramark, biometric identity verification provider Clear and self-checkout kiosk provider Mashgin on the project.
Welcome to new member SUZOHAPP. SUZOHAPP is a world leader in the manufacturing and distribution of gaming, amusement, and sports betting products. Serving operators and OEMs for over 60 years, SUZOHAPP carries a vast portfolio of components available for immediate distribution and for developing custom-built solutions.
Products and Services
PayComplete — PayComplete is the market leader in unified transaction solutions for the retail, hospitality, transportation and financial services industries. With its highly innovative Connect SaaS platform, intelligent devices and enhanced services, PayComplete enables organizations to achieve a truly integrated transaction experience across all customer touch points, device types and payment methods.
SUZOHAPP has maintained a long legacy of quality products and high-level customer service. We take pride in our global network of vendors, suppliers, and partners. Together, we are able to source, distribute, and offer thousands of products in order to better serve our increasingly global customer-base. Simplify your sourcing with SUZOHAPP!
NEW YORK, Jan. 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Zipdrug and CityMD Partner to Revolutionize Prescription Delivery for Millions of New Yorkers. Partnership Brings…
Source: www.prnewswire.com
With this partnership, Zipdrug is unveiling digital kiosks and placing them within CityMD locations, beginning in Manhattan at CityMD’s Murray Hill location. After seeing a doctor, CityMD patients can order medication delivery from any pharmacy directly through these on-site kiosks. Once an order is placed and medications are ready for pickup from the patient’s preferred pharmacy, a HIPAA-trained, drug-screened, and background-checked messenger will promptly deliver prescriptions to their location of choice. Medications typically arrive at patients’ doorsteps on average of 16 minutes within Manhattan after they are ready for pick-up and Zipdrug users can track delivery progress in real-time on an interactive map.
Goodbye to the pharmacy line. Hello, drug-delivery dude.
A New York City-based company, co-founded by former ad exec and serial entrepreneur Stu Libby, is angling to get your prescriptions straight to your door. It is called Zipdrug, and it not only has an app (and a phone line for the app-averse), but it also has a messenger service that will bring the meds directly to you.
It’s another small win in this decade’s hype-laden, entrepreneur-led war on wasted time. And the latest move in which entrepreneurs chip away at life’s little pain points.
Libby, who formerly co-founded a fast-growing company called Solve Media–it created ads out of sites’ Captcha text boxes–says he himself had spent far too many hours waiting in pharmacy lines for his heartburn medications. And after a family member was hospitalized for a severe heart ailment, he realized the shortcomings of being counseled about the importance of taking prescribed medications: A hospital can’t ensure any departing patient gets them into her hands. A little research taught him that one-third of all prescriptions go unfilled–and that increasing compliance is a big issue for doctors. So a year ago he set out to build Zipdrug.
Zipdrug aims to eliminate the pharmacy visit altogether, by automating prescription ordering through an app, and then deploying a drug-screened, background-checked, HIPAA-trained messenger to pick up and deliver prescriptions to the patient’s home. On average, the delivery takes 16 minutes in Manhattan (by comparison, according to Libby, the average patient’s wait time at a pharmacy is 45 minutes).
The upstart, which has two other founders, Kyro Beshay and Webster Ross, is still finding its footing in New York. It recently moved into a new office near Penn Station, and is hiring rapidly after taking in $2.6 million in seed funding last November, from the likes of Red Sea Ventures and Notation Capital. On January 7, it is announcing a partnership with rapidly expanding New York drop-in clinic system CityMD; Zipdrug information and sign-up help will be available in some of CityMD’s 52 locations early this year. Automated kiosks help patients sign up for Zipdrug after checking out from any participating clinic’s visit.
The goal, of course, is for Zipdrug to find lots of potential new customers–and to integrate itself into a trusted system.
“I love CityMD, and go by one in my neighborhood all the time,” says LIbby. “They really care about a streamlined, quality customer experience. Working with CityMD is also a great way to get to know New York. We are a new company–we didn’t start to deliver until this summer–and our greatest challenge and goal is to meet many customers and show them how premium this experience is.”
For CityMD, the Zipdrug partnership is a way to potentially improve its customer experience–and gain some control over what happens after a patient thanks the doctor and goes home. “All the touch points in our office, we can control and innovate,” says Ned Shami, chief strategy officer at CityMD and one of the company’s co-founders. “But something we’ve been looking at this year is, what happens when they leave our office?” CityMD was founded in 2010 by Richard Park along with Shami, and has grown over the past five years to more than 50 locations around the New York metropolitan area. Soon it will expand to the West Coast, starting with Seattle.
Delivery via Zipdrug is free for the first order, and $10 thereafter. Libby says that fee is likely to be offset by the fact that his company and delivery staff are savvy to discounts, coupons, and best prices for various drugs, and know to seek them out while the average patient may not.
Is the on-demand economy really ready to handle life-and-death medications? On the surface, Zipdrug may resemble a classic “what could go wrong?” startup pitch, and conjure up images of bike messengers skimming stimulants or muscle relaxants from granny’s delivery. But Zipdrug says its contractors won’t deliver certain controlled substances, including narcotics and attention deficit disorder medication.
There’s a huge potential market for Zipdrug in Baby Boomers.
The first SITA kiosks were made in 1997 with a small 10 inch (25cm) screen and shipped to Alaska Airlines and Northwest Airlines. (See ‘Kiosk advances’.) However, the potential for this new kind of customer service rapidly became self-evident and SITA began to design and build its own line of kiosks – before purchasing the air travel products business from Northrop Grumman in 2001.
In June 2016, the SITA kiosk team relocated the business to a brand new 3,250 sqm (35,000 sqft) base on Clay Avenue in Burlington. The state of the art facility has been built to a state-of-the-art specification, providing a strong basis for future development and growth.
Background article on SITA
Kiosk History – Canada and IBM Canada
Kind of hard to not talk about kiosks and Canada and not talk about IBM Toronto Markham. The airline kiosks really originated there thanks to people like Wilf Medweth. They were instrumental in the development and production of airline kiosks.
Nanoptix made the trip to Vegas and G2E. Global Gaming Expo (G2E) is the world’s premier international gaming trade show. At the show many Nanoptix receipt printers were shown. A couple which were highlighted includes the Orizon which is unique in that it supports a wide variety of peripheral devices (USB and HDMI) eliminating the usual USB hub. Here is the Orizon brochure. The HSVL lottery ticket printer was also highlighted at the show. Prints a ticket in 0.6 seconds. Up to 3.6 mil paper and multiple positioning for the roll via adjustable spindle. Here is the HSVL brochure.
receipt printer
Click for full size image of Nanoptix team– kiosk receipt printer nanoptix
About Nanoptix
Nanoptix is a global provider of thermal printing solutions and technologies for the gaming, lottery, kiosk, POS and amusement industries. Nanoptix has earned a reputation of excellent value and customer support, with superior technology at a very competitive price. Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Dieppe, New Brunswick, Canada, Nanoptix designs and manufactures a diverse portfolio of printing solutions including Ticket In Ticket Out (TITO) printers, roll stock printers, desktop printers, high-speed couponing printers and self-service terminals. Our products meet the demands of high-volume transaction environments and the reliability needed by our customers.
Nanoptix has developed a global presence in the industry and serves customers on 6 continents. We sell our products and services to original equipment manufacturers, distributors and end-users located throughout the world.
Orizon Receipt Printer and Device Hub
The ultimate kiosk printer, the Orizon NextGen is a computer inside a printer. Not only is it the quickest and most durable printer of its kind, the Orizon NextGen is also an integration hub – it can integrate and power a wide range of peripherals within a kiosk solution.
HSVL Receipt Printer
The HSVL Advance (High Speed Video Lottery) receipt Printer, provides manufacturers ultimate flexibility and outstanding reliability. By using innovatively designed movable spindle arms the HSVL Advance can adapt to any kiosk design.
For More Information
Address
699 Champlain Street
Dieppe, New Brunswick
E1A 1P6 CANADA
1. Don’t assume all receipt printers are made equal or will integrate the same. Some use different languages and the type of application you’re developing will change your integration approach. Additionally, receipt printers aren’t like normal document printers. They have special requirements. 2. There are two main ways to develop a receipt printer into your software. Cloud-based printing setups and native setups. Cloud printing is great because it can run on any operating system since it’s accessed over the internet. It’s also great because it’s a one-shot-and-you’re-done solution, eliminating the need to develop each operating system. BUT it requires an internet connection and you’ll need to host a web server. Security concerns may arise as well. On the other hand, Native printing setups provide flexible connectivity options, including USB, USB Lightning, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or Bluetooth. In particular, Windows and Mac development is usually easier since you use the driver. At the same time, native applications are limited to the operating system they’re designed for and may require different development for each operating system. 3. Don’t save receipt printer integration until the last minute. The later you are in the development process, the less options you’re going to have. 4. Getting a receipt printer integrated is only part of the bigger picture. Don’t forget to consider how your end users will source the hardware you’ve certified, how they will install it on their system, and who will support them if they run into technical issues. 5. If you’re feeling stuck, reach out to an expert. There’s plenty of free resources available for developers and POSGuys can connect you with them.
Excerpt: We’ve been getting a lot of questions from software developers lately asking us how they should integrate a receipt printer into their POS software. We took those questions DIRECTLY to the experts over at Star Micronics! Prefer to read? Find a summarized version here: https://posguys.com/blog/coltons-corn… Want to learn more? Have more questions? Email [email protected] or visit POSGuys.com and we’ll get you connected with the resources you need.
VIDEO
TIME STAMPS
00:55 – Overview of Differences Between Cloud Vs Native
00:01:10 – Native Application Pros, Cons, and Development Best Practices
00:06:28 – Using Cloud Printing for Cross-Platform Development
00:08:41 – Cloud Application Pros, Cons, and Development Best Practices
00:10:52 – Common Mistakes ISVs Make & How to Avoid Them
Full Text of Interview
A Transcript of our Conversation Please Note: This conversation’s transcript was generated using computer AI. There might be small grammatical errors. Please call us for more information
Colton: Hey everybody, this is Colton with POSGuys.com. Today we have something a little different here today. Over the past year, we’ve been getting a lot of requests from software developers who have been coming to us asking for our opinion on how to develop certain parts of their receipt writer for point-of-sale software. Either for new software altogether or looking to integrate a new printing solution to an existing setup. I thought that the best approach would be to get some experts on the line here. So today, I have two representatives from Star Micronics. They’re one of the industry’s largest printer manufacturers, and they do a ton of work with us here. I’ll pass it over to you all if you want to introduce yourselves, say who you are, and what you do.”
Mark (Star Micronics): Hi everyone, my name is Mark Rasho and I am the integration manager here at Star Micronics. We have one of our integration specialists here, Oreo.
Oreo (Star Micronics): Yeah, so my name is Oreo. Like Mark said, I’m one of the integration specialists here at Star. I usually work with software developers just to make sure that their solutions are integrated with the right approach.
POSGuys: Well, thank you all so much for being here. I really appreciate it. So I’ll start us off here. It’s my understanding that there are two main approaches when you’re looking to develop a receipt printer for your point of sale software. You could either go with a native application or a cloud application, and both are pretty popular nowadays. The cloud is a little more popular now than it has been in previous years. Could you all explain very briefly what the difference is between those two solutions and what some of the pros and cons might be with going either way?
Star Micronics: Yeah, so you’re right that there are two approaches to consider: the native versus cloud-based approach. With native applications, we’re typically looking at an application that’s designed for a Windows or Mac computer, similar to older library software that only runs on Windows. Native applications are limited to the operating system they’re designed for, so if you design an application for Windows, it won’t run on a Mac due to the differences in programming language and operating system.
On the other hand, cloud-based applications remove that barrier entirely. They can run on any operating system because they’re accessed over the Internet. You simply go to the application’s website and can do whatever you need to do, including printing and placing orders. Cloud-based applications are becoming more popular because they’re a one-shot-and-you’re-done solution, eliminating the need to develop for each operating system.
With native applications, you typically have a flexible connectivity type, including USB, USB Lightning, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or Bluetooth. More recently, you’ll probably see USBC, which Android currently uses and iOS is migrating to. With USBC, you have power delivery and faster communication.
The differences between Android, iOS, and Windows typically involve the cost of the devices, with Android being more cost-effective, and the extra step you need for iOS, which requires an MFi approval from Apple to have it in the Apple Store. Windows and Mac development is usually easier as you use the driver, but we also have an SDK that gives you more control compared to the driver.”
POSGuys: At the end there, you mentioned that an SDK provides more control than a driver. Can you give an example of what that might look like?
Star: Yes, let me explain. When it comes to printing applications, one common feature is the ability to open the cash drawer. This can be done with both the SDK and the driver, but with the driver, you only have two control options: always open the drawer or never open it. That means on every transaction, the drawer will either open or stay closed.
However, with the SDK, you have more control. You can program the application to send the command to open the drawer only when it’s a cash transaction, but not when it’s a credit card transaction. That way, the drawer will only ever open when cash needs to be handed to the customer as change. This is just one example of why the SDK offers more control than the driver.
POSGuys: That’s actually a really good example. I’ve been getting a lot of requests lately from developers looking to do something just like that, as well as from end-users. So that’s a really good example.
Taking a step back, back in the day, Windows was king, and everybody had a Windows-based application. That was the bread and butter. Then we started to see these iOS applications pop up. And as Mark mentioned before, now Android is really big. So it’s kind of at this point where customers, the people that are using the software, are expecting to be able to use that software from any device that they use. That’s kind of the set expectation or the gold standard.
And I imagine with the native setup, you must have to develop a separate printing application for each type of device you want to run on, is that correct?
Star: Partially correct. It’s not a hard requirement to create a separate application for every one of those platforms. That’s something that’s becoming popular these days with cross-platform programming languages like React Native, and you have .NET Xamarin or .NET Maui now, since they moved from Xamarin. With cross-platform applications like React Native, you can use one programming language, and with that, you can use that application on Windows, iOS, and Android. Yes, you are still creating three separate applications, but you’re using one programming language, and that makes things easier. So one application you’ve already created for iOS can easily port to Android because it’s just a wrapper around the programming language it uses to make things work on the other operating systems.
It depends on what your solution is and what exactly you have in mind for this solution. It’s usually best to reach out to Chris guys; they will get you in contact with us, or you can reach out to Star directly. Then we would speak with you to get the entire scope of the project and then kind of go over what the best approach would be to develop a solution.”
POSGuys: Yeah, that’s a really good point. Okay, so keeping that in mind, let’s take another step back and look at the other type of setup we were talking about before, which is a cloud application. Could you break down for the people watching this what a typical cloud application looks like and how it works?
Star: Cloud-based applications are usually hosted on a web server and can be accessed over the internet. The biggest difference between cloud and native being that native needs direct communication with the device or the same network. This isn’t a requirement of cloud print as any device, including the printer with internet access, will be able to communicate with the server directly. Typically, there are two ways of connecting a printer to the internet: Ethernet and Wi-Fi. However, Star has created TetherLAN, which is for devices with a cellular application, such as a 4G or 5G device, tablet, cell phone, or hotspot. That device can provide internet access to the printer via USB cable, so there’s no need to have it hardwired or connected to Wi-Fi. A 4G or 5G device is going to start being able to do that, and this is great for franchises who want a turnkey solution, as it opens up more options for them.
POSGuys: That’s a really good point, and I imagine that gives the end users a lot more flexibility with how they want to lay out their stores. In this day and age, end users are expecting to be able to use the software in a number of different ways, and how the changing landscape of what a retail or hospitality application looks like is something that’s really important for our people.
We’ve been in the weeds a lot technically speaking, so I wanted to kind of get us out of that for a moment. I know I see a lot of software developers and end users make some common mistakes, but I’m interested to hear from you all since you are working with these software developers every day. What are some of the really common mistakes that you’re seeing ISVs making when they’re starting to develop their software to work with your printers?”
Star Micronics: I think the biggest mistake that we see developers make or companies make as a whole when they’re trying to develop point-of-sale solutions is that they bring up their drawing board to go about, ‘Okay, what’s this project going to look like? What are the timelines? Stuff like that.’ But they never bring the printing portion in until the very end. So, I don’t know if it never crosses their mind that they’re going to want to print receipts for customers, but we typically see developers reach out to us when they’re in that final stage. They finish developing everything, and now it’s like, ‘Oh, we got to print a receipt,’ and then they’re like, ‘Okay, let’s reach out to the different receipt companies to see, okay, can your receipt printer work with our solution?’ This solution has already been made, so now we’re stuck in the box of, okay, we have to make it work with their solution, right? What I would say is, if you bring the receipt companies in during that initial stage, so that we can see what programming language would be best. Some SDKs are in C-sharp or Java or whatever, and if you’re using something completely different, then now you’re forced to go find a third-party library outside to get your application to work with the printer. But if we’re involved from the very beginning, not necessarily from the start of your project when the idea comes to you, but once we get to that stage of okay, we want to start developing, bring us in. Our integration team usually helps support the entire integration process, so the earlier we’re brought on, the easier things get.”
POSGuys: That’s a really good point, you know. On my side, I can’t even count on my fingers the number of times I’ve run into developers who come to me at the very last minute and say, ‘I haven’t done the receipt printer, and I have people that I need to present this to in a week. Can you help me out?’ And it’s really difficult. The other big thing, um, that my company personally deals with a lot is the Supply Chain management side of things. You know, and if you don’t sort of keep in mind the supply chain from a hardware perspective, you know, especially with receipt printers, and we’ve seen this in the last couple years, and you develop for very, very narrow types of applications that require very specific printers, it can put your end users in a really tough spot, you know? And that makes your software not look good at the end, right, when they’re not able to get the tangible things that they need to run a business. So, that’s a really good example, Oreo. Thanks for bringing it up.
Star Micronics: And, uh, I think one other example is developers think every printer works the same, right? Or when they think of printers, they’re thinking of the document printers, right, like the HP Laser, because everyone is used to like an HP printer, right? Everyone went to school printed with like HP printers, you have to go to the library to print stuff, so everyone is thinking of printers in that way, but that’s not exactly how receipt printers work. They have the emulations that they use, the kind of commands that they understand, right? Some printers are image only, some printers support text, right? So, these are things you need to consider when developing your application because the final format of the contents of the receipts determines what printer you use, right? Because if you’re, if when you’re developing your application, you’re generating the contents as images, then you can use an image printer, but with that, you can’t use a text-based printer, right? So, those are the little things to consider as well before choosing a printer or how best to generate the data for the receipt.
POSGuys: Yeah, that’s a good point. Perfect. Well, gentlemen, that sort of wraps up the list of questions that I get from most of my end users. And I really appreciate you all both for being here. If you’re watching this video now and you have any other questions, I know this was a relatively brief overview, it’s a big topic. So, if you have any questions about, you know, what sort of printers you should be using, what kind of application you should be considering, definitely feel free to reach out to us, POS Guys, and we can get you connected with Star Micronics and sort of get you off on the right foot from the very beginning. And that’s super important, as Oreo had sort of explained. So, with that, thank you all so much for being here.
Star: It’s been a pleasure to have you. Yeah, thank you so much. Appreciate it.”
New 55-98 inch Interactive Touch Tablet for Conferencing
Touch for full size touch screen monitor
TDS announces conference tablet that is a PC+ Android intelligent electronic whiteboard, using MSD848 motherboard scheme, based on dual-core A73 and dual-core A53 CPU, equipped with Android 8.0 embedded operating system, industry-customized human-computer interaction UI system, full-featured touch interactive operation, to provide friendly human-computer interaction experience!
It is suitable for teaching, training, conference and other applications.
The second trend I anticipate will involve kiosks. There will always be kiosks, and more and bigger can be expected. But mobility platforms, held in the hand, are likely to be an extension of the kiosk concept, individualized for each user. Image a mini hot spot that allows the user to walk into its radius and on their mobile device the user is able to interact with a kiosk-style user experience.
Definition An interactive kiosk is a computer terminal which features specialized hardware and software designed within a public exhibit that provides access.
At George Bush Intercontinental Airport, kiosks collect passengers’ information for Customs and Border Protection with no previous registration required for use.
Craig Keefner‘s insight:
In addition, the kiosks are designed to comply with U.S. Americans with Disabilities Act requirements through the standard kiosk button interface, audio jack and braille labeling.
Editor Notes: Mimo Monitors specializes in small touch screen monitors and displays that simplify your life and maximize your potential at work. Ranging from 7-21 inches, we pride ourselves on innovative, high quality, and cutting-edge touchscreen technology designed to be inherently flexible to suit your needs, and bring your vision to life. Visit Mimo Website for more information.
Mimo Monitors: February 2020
2020 is off to a wonderful start. With ISE behind us and DSE just around the corner, we can’t wait to show you what we’ve got in store.
Make An Appointment to Stop by Our Booth (#3022) At the Digital Signage Expo (DSE)
This year at DSE check out the launch of our brand new, first-ever outdoor digital signage. You can also check out our new shelf edge displays, and feel the revolutionary Mimo Vue with TanvasTouch®. We’ll have all this and so much more at the booth, so make an appointment to check it out.
We’ve worked to cultivate a culture at Mimo Monitors that allows for individual growth and strong teamwork. We encourage our employees to think outside the box to best serve our customers, while also focusing on collaboration in and outside the office. Check out this video to learn more about our culture at Mimo Monitors and some of our great team members.
Our friends at rAVe stopped by our booth at ISE to chat and check out some of our latest products. Watch Partner Channel Manager, Tyler Wells, from our team walk through some of the products we featured at the show.
Hear Our CEO, David Anderson, Speak at DSE on “Game Changing Innovations in Small Digital Signage”
On Wednesday, April 1st in the Best Practices Theatre at 12:15 PM come hear our President & CEO David Anderson Speak about recent game-changing innovations in small format digital signage. We’ll cover relevant and engaging topics such as AV-over-IP solutions, surface haptics, and conference room-in-a-box solutions and provide tangible insights you can use to help you reach your goals.
Introducing Our Shelf Edge Displays, The Ideal Retail Digital Signage Solution
We know shelf edge displays can be an incredibly valuable in-store marketing tool. We’re pleased to launch our 23×2″ shelf edge displays, available with and without Android Media Player. Sleek, flexible, and durable, these displays are fuss-free and seamless to install. Check out this video to learn all about them.
Learn About Our Charitable Giving Program with TechSoup, A Global Non-Profit That Supports Non-Profit Organizations With Mission-Critical Resources
We’re proud to collaborate with TechSoup to provide our products to some of the organizations who need it most. We’ve helped out organizations such as The Boys & Girls Club of Milwaukee, The New York Academy of Sciences, DC Scores, Paws for Life and hundreds more.
If you’re interested in learning about how we’ve benefitted some of our customers, you can check out the new white paper and case studies section of our website for an in-depth look.
Are You Media/Press Interested In Covering Mimo Monitors?
We’ve got a brand new press kit on our website. If you’re a member of the media we invite you to check it out, and contact us if you’re interested in collaborating on a story, or stop by our booth at upcoming trade shows. We’d love to work with you.
Are You Following Mimo Monitors on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook?
We’re posting ongoing and valuable content over on our social media pages regularly. We’re sharing some of our favorite tips, tricks, and information pertaining to company and industry news. You can find and follow us here:
Twitter: @MimoDisplay
Facebook: Mimo Monitors
LinkedIn: Mimo Monitors
Powered by a long-term kernel from the Linux 4.1.13 LTS series, Porteus Kiosk 3.6.0 is built around the Mozilla Firefox 38.4.0 ESR and Google Chrome 46.0.2490.86 web browser and includes a great number of new features that have been announced by the developer two days before the release of the distribution.
Prominent new features of Porteus Kiosk 3.6.0 include support for associating kiosk clients with the brand new Porteus Kiosk Server operating system that lets users access, manage, and monitor those clients when they’re behind a firewall, proxy, or Network Address Translation (NAT).
There’s also support for replacing or adding new default preferences for the compatible web browsers, including Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome, the resolution of the Kiosk Wizard window has been increased to 800×600, and it is now possible to control the right-click mouse state through the wizard.
Can you pass the Fundamentals of Digital Signage? Test your knowledge and earn 2 AVIXA CTS RUs and 1 CEDIA CEU during our next Certified Installer Training Webinar!
This training highlights the benefits of digital signage and the various applications it can be used in, with a focus on kiosks, digital menu boards, and video wall carts and stands.
Save your seat today! http://ow.ly/rWsJ50DrEu3
WebEx Link
Event Information: Peerless-AV Certified Installer Training Program: Fundamentals of Digital Signage
Registration is required to join this event. If you have not registered, please do so now.
Thursday, February 11, 2021 10:30 am
Central Standard Time (Chicago, GMT-06:00) Change time zone
Duration:
1 hour 30 minutes
Description:
This level includes training on the benefits of digital signage and the various applications it can be used in, with a focus on kiosks, digital menu boards, and video wall carts and stands.
https://peerless-av.webex.com/peerless-av/onstage/g.php?MTID=e7720a77042ba6ca392edb0ebb2ef8f56
Smart City RFPs and Digital Signage RFPs go hand-in-hand and lots of cities are looking at new infrastructure. We track those. These days that means smart transit, smart transportation, smart lighting, automation, EV vehicles, Self-Driving. It’s a big basket for sure. Part of IoT trends in self-service.
Just in time for NRA, Nation’s Restaurant News Intelligence releases new Market Leader Report. Here is the signup link to get full report. For its newly released 2023 Restaurant Technology Outlook, Nation’s Restaurant News Intelligence surveyed nearly 400 restaurant operators about their current tech stacks, long-term strategies and biggest challenges. The result is a comprehensive look at the mindset of today’s operators, plus clear signals for where restaurant tech trends are headed next.
In Brief Summary
Budgets are tight
Loyalty programs still the holy grail
AI is interesting
Cost and Functionality biggest wants for Tech
In fact, the cost was the main obstacle to adopting new technologies, with 58% of respondents citing it as a key concern. The top three were lack of staff to manage and implement technology (45%) and lack of integration with current systems (41%). Respondents were also likely to say they were overwhelmed by the available options (20%) or lacked necessary knowledge about the options available to them (24%).
The idea of having one tech partner versus having multiple tech partners is an issue.
Customer sales and frequency #1 and then lower operating costs.
Panasonic Connect also did a “Post Murtec-2023” insight article on hospitality tech. Here is the article link and also Panasonic Connect link
What are some of the biggest challenges facing restaurant operators today, and how can technology help address them? We see evolving technology continuing to be the primary challenge for restaurant operators. Moving to cloud-based systems is challenging, and one of the key areas for us is providing solutions that support their transition. Our goal is to provide solutions that help protect the operators’ investment in technology throughout the journey. This shift towards lightweight clients in the restaurant, in co-existence with legacy systems, is at the core of our product strategy.
Jay burdette Panasonic
Jay Burdette, senior director of Panasonic Connect of North America, a provider of POS, drive-thru, hand-held and signage technologies, recently talked with Nation’s Restaurant News about how restaurant operators can leverage networks of integrated tech solutions to drive sales and improve operations throughout their restaurants. He also discussed how the evolution of artificial intelligence and the shift toward cloud-based, fully virtualized environments are shaping the future of restaurants. Our restaurant technology solutions also allow operators to use their labor resources more efficiently. The staff can be more consistent and effective in their work which can help to reduce waste and when engaging with customers.
What are some of ways Panasonic Connect helps restaurants navigate those challenges? We offer durable and reliable POS Terminals, High-Definition Audio Drive-Thru Communications Systems, Digital Signage with Content Management Solutions, and TOUGHBOOK® tablets. These restaurant technologies allow operators to have more control over their vast network of devices, including POS, KDS, and Kiosk. How do those tools streamline restaurant operations? What impact can they have during a busy shift in the restaurant?
Our eco-system of technology solutions is built to handle the heavy demands of the restaurant. This highly reliable and durable equipment provides improved uptime in the restaurant. Restaurant staff does not need to stop taking orders because the headset battery needs to be replaced, or a crew member is outside changing the static menu board, or a POS terminal is out of use because it is waiting to be serviced. … Our Attune Drive-Thru Communication System provides high-definition sound quality which enables the staff to hear their customer’s orders the first time, without asking for them to repeat it and adding to improved order accuracy and increased customer satisfaction.
Our restaurant technologies benefit the industry’s nature for its fast-paced and heavy demand environment. Restaurant operators require durable and rugged equipment yet looks sleek and stylish. With our flexible mounting options, our products can fit into the restaurant’s design to meet their unique needs.
Kiosks and people who are blind or partially sighted
Sabine Croxford RNIB
As part of our continuing series on accessibility, we were fortunate to interview Sabine Croxford from Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), one of the UK’s leading sight loss charities. By Evan Schuman — Computerworld Columnist,writer for TechCrunch, SCMedia, podcaster, blogger.
The convenience and efficiency of kiosks is a powerful advantage to consumers. In a world where so many people are visually impaired to varying degrees, however, it is wise to rethink kiosk features, the screen layout, compatibility with peripherals (such as headphones), kiosk placement (away from noisier areas) and overall design.
Sabine Croxford is a user experience evaluator at RNIB, a UK sight loss charity. Croxford argues that companies–both those who use kiosks for their customers and those who manufacture or distribute them–must take the needs of blind and partially sighted people seriously.
The first step is to focus on the three groups at issue here:
People who have no or very limited residual vision
This group might need assistance initially getting to the kiosk and generally rely on tactile information (braille and tactile markings) in addition to auditory communication (speech and beeps). They will also need text-to-speech to access the information on the screen.
Those with severe visual Impairments but who have some useful residual vision
This group might not need human help to find the kiosk initially but could benefit from sharper color contrast, brighter screen lighting, clear layout and more intuitive placement of icons. This group might also rely on tactile and auditory information.
Those with visual impairments who rely on clear visual information
This group generally relies on clear visual information and less on tactile and auditory information. This also includes people who might not have their reading glasses ready, or those waiting for an operation (e.g. cataract). It is important to realize that most people with a sight impairment have some residual vision, so clear visual design will benefit many users. For example, in the U.K., about 93 percent of people who are registered as blind/severely sight impaired have some vision.
For people without–or with very limited—residual vision, the first challenge is helping them locate the kiosk. Arrangements must start with the environment, and this could include tactile signposting. For example, one of the examples is tactile paving that leads up to the kiosk. Raised paving on the floor that customers can feel through their footwear or with their cane can be instrumental in helping those people find the kiosk. Clear lighting is also key and will help many users.
Once people arrive at the kiosk, the experience must combine visual, tactile and auditory information. Audio has historically been done through a headset that the end-user connects to the kiosk through a cable. This raises two issues. How does the customer know where the headphone socket is? And are there other connection options to consider, such as wireless (typically Bluetooth). Having a bright light next to the connection port for the headset and to ensure the socket is tactile will help many people. In addition, the headphone socket should have clear visual design and ideally be in a standard location. And wireless connections bring in the issue of pairing difficulties and it will exclude people who do not have a smartphone.
To make the kiosk accessible for people who cannot use the visual interface, it is also key to make it accessible with speech. “It is better to consider accessibility at the start rather than as an afterthought,” Croxford said. The kiosk interface can deliver far more flexibility for those who can see, obviously. Clear Graphical User Interface (GUI) design is critical as most people have some residual vision and will use this as much as possible. A clear font type and size with good contrast is key. Yellow text, for example, on a light background is not very easy to see.
“Kiosk interfaces must be designed with the entire user journey in mind. You need to look at the process from start to finish,” Croxford said. “Make sure that the whole process is accessible and it is crucial to carry out user testing. Make sure to include visually impaired customers and people with other disabilities.” Although some might fear that functionality works against aesthetic design, this does not need to be the case. It’s up to the designers to make it look attractive.
YORK, Pa. — A new Windows 10 kiosk mode update of KioWare for Windows has been released. Version 8.33 for Windows is now available with many improvements that work toward the company’s goal of constantly improving user experience.
The updates to version 8.33 of KioWare for Windows include an updated version of KioCall, increased customization for FreedomPay, an additional configuration tool option for the generic keyboard, a fix for display options, and various additional bug fixes.
There were also updates to KioWare for Windows to integrate the Chrome 105 based browser engine. To learn more about these improvements and bug fixes, please click here.
Analytical Design Solutions, Inc. dba KioWare has been in business since 1991 providing IT consulting to businesses of all sizes, is located in York, Pennsylvania, and is a worldwide market leader in self-service kiosk and purposed device markets. KioWare is kiosk system software that kiosk applications are built on and is used in over 14,000 projects in over 140 countries with project deployments that range from a handful to many thousands of kiosks.
Updated to Chrome 105/CEF 5195
KioWare for Windows has been updated to support Chrome 105/CEF 5195. For a full list of features added to Chrome 105, visit here.
Lite
Basic
Full
Upgraded Version of KioCall
Latest update with bug fixes.
Lite
Basic
Full
Additional Configuration Tool Options for Generic Keyboard Input Devices
Additional configuration options for input devices that use keystrokes as a means to send data.
Basic
Full
Increased Customization for FreedomPay
Additional functionality to refund or select transactions for FreedomPay devices.
“With PayPoint Plus, Elo gives retailers the best of both worlds by combining the flexibility and cost-effectiveness of a mobile architecture with the retail-hardened durability our POS solutions are known for,” said Craig Witsoe, CEO at Elo. “Retailers integrating mPOS solutions such as the PayPoint Plus will impress shoppers and maintain a competitive advantage through the intuitive customer experience.”
Why? Well, some call it the “curse of the POS terminal,” where nearly two years after the 2015 POS liability shift, fewer than 50% of merchants have upgraded their POS terminals to EMV. For a number of reasons, many of these procrastinators have yet to be burned by chargebacks.
by: Daryl Cornell –Less than a month before the VISAATM liability shift deadline, you would think we would be in the midst of a frantic, last-ditch effort to upgrade or replace all remaining non-EMV ATMs. Well, you would be wrong. Instead, we hear crickets. To be clear, we are talking about another 75% of all ATM transactions which will be at risk for fraud chargebacks in less than a month (MasterCard’s 25% share of ATM transactions has been at risk for nearly a year). So why the lethargy here? Is “ATM-ageddon” real or just more fake news? Here are the latest estimates on the ground, along with some likely outcomes later this year:Banks and IADs have largely completed their ATM EMV upgrades. While there are exceptions at the local level, banks are for the most part ready for the final ATM EMV liability shift on October 1. Of the roughly 125,000 bank ATMs in the U.S., estimates are that over 110,000 will be EMV ready this October. The remaining non-EMV ATMs are owned by banks which tend to be smaller and who don’t view themselves as fraud targets. In addition to banks, it looks like more than 75% of IAD-owned ATMs will be EMV ready by October. This equates to roughly 135,000 EMV-capable ATMs out of a total estimated IAD population of 175,000. The remaining 40,000 or so IAD ATMs will present more of a challenge. Some are not upgradeable. Many are in low-transaction or low-margin sites which may be culled. While contracts may call for merchants to bear the expense of EMV upgrade, these provisions have proven difficult to enforce. Hard decisions will need to be made by IADs on these non-EMV ATMs regarding risk assumption, upgrade in conjunction with contract renewal or outright removal. The jury is still out on the level of retail ATM contraction we will see here.Merchant-owned ATMs are NOT EMV ready. It is the estimated 200,000 merchant-owned ATMs which are the real wild card in the looming liability shift deadline. Currently, fewer than 20% of these ATMs are estimated to be EMV capable. That leaves some 160,000 merchant-owned, non-EMV ATMs exposed to both fraud and chargebacks in little mor than a month. Why? Well, some call it the “curse of the POS terminal,” where nearly two years after the 2015 POS liability shift, fewer than 50% of merchants have upgraded their POS terminals to EMV. For a number of reasons, many of these procrastinators have yet to be burned by chargebacks. These merchants argue that it makes perfect sense to take a “wait and see approach” before upgrading or replacing ATM hardware. Plus, the gas deadline, originally scheduled for this year, has now been extended to 2020. And there’s always a chance for a last minute ATM reprieve, right? Perhaps, however we are talking about cash, combined with persistent, sophisticated criminals and mag stripe fraud totaling $ billions annually. Whether these non-EMV ATMs will be turned off or whether IADs, sponsor banks and processors allow merchants to play “liability shift Russian roulette” will ultimately determine the number of merchant ATMs still operating after October.
ATM contraction is still a likely outcome. Clearly the stakes are high when it comes to liability shift on non-EMV ATMs. Mag stripe ATMs will probably still total over 200,000 at the onset of the VISA liability shift. Unlike POS, retail ATMs and their cash are high-value targets for fraudsters. Will VISA and the other networks blink and continue to absorb fraud losses at non-EMV ATMs? Will IADs be able to rely on contract provisions to protect them from those chargebacks which do flow? Is the liability shift risk worth the reward at these generally low transaction sites? While the answers to all of these questions will determine the degree of contraction, it would appear that there will be far fewer retail ATMs in operation in the U.S. by early 2018 – as many as 40% fewer.
Finally, given the 60-90 days it takes chargebacks to wind their way through the system, we could see a fair amount of coal in merchant stockings this Christmas Season.
Would you expect to find a solution based on biometric technology that provides employees with fast and highly secure access to personal data in SAP in a vast and sparsely populated country like Namibia? Although I have been visiting this beautiful desert country privately for more than 20 years and have seen great achievements and
Success story for biometric kiosks for employees. Fujitsu and SAP make it happen in Namibia
Olthaver & List is Namibia’s largest privately held Group of Companies outside of the mining sector and employs over 5,500 people in various sectors including food production, beverages, retail trade, property leasing, marine engineering, steelworks and hospitality. “Due to
the diversity of our portfolio, our people work in numerous locations and many of them, in subsidiaries, where not everyone has his own PC. Just one example is our Pick n Pay supermarkets, which are spread across the entire country”, says Rainer Rusch, “however, quick and secure access to personal data is important, but cannot be guaranteed via the traditional postal route.” To provide everyone with constant transparency – even in remote locations – Olthaver & List decided to implement employee self-service kiosks in 2013 and has steadily added users. With the bioLock solution from real-time and fingerprint scans employees can be sure that their personal data is always available for them – and really only for themselves and not for a colleague who may have spotted a password or got hold of a smart card.
“The solution is just great. For example, the former paper-based vacation request procedure, which was highly labor-intensive and often defective, has been replaced by a secure real-time electronic process. This simplifies procedures, saves costs, improves transparency and last but not least contributes to our employee’s satisfaction as holiday approval notes are immediately forwarded to their mobile phones. But nonetheless, I am always looking for improvement,” says Rainer, who describes himself in his LinkedIn profile as someone who is interested to experiment and learn new technologies.
From Kiosk Manufacturer Association – A couple of deadlines approaching and very nice conversational AI.
SMBs invited to NRF Small Business Fly-In in D.C. July 11-12. Topic is swipe fee reform & credit card competition. They will pay expenses. Credit card transaction fees up over 25% in last year. Link
ANSI is looking for comments (by May 1st) on Draft Roadmap of standards and codes for Electric Vehicles. Link
Bitcoin ATMs are about to be regulated in California with SB401. Transaction limits & surcharge fees. Next submittal of letters is in May with another call-in. Link
Special note – we got a private demo of just launched conversational AI. +70 days in supermarket and big surprising impact on InstaCart complications. The AI is purely voice, on your mobile, and no avatar. Link. There is a standard video but also a private super-demo. Email if interested.
Featured this month – National Restaurant Association tradeshow in Chicago is a month away. Visit our NRA portal in the meantime for a preview. We have a limited number of free passes (also for InfoComm). Meanwhile here are som other members to visit at NRA.
This month we’ve launched a new clearinghouse for EV Charging Stations (https://ev-charging.stations.org). EV charging infrastructure now has significant funding from the NEVI Infrastructure Act. Funds will be released before the end of 2022. Existing ADA regulations such as ADA 2010 and Section 508 apply. We have a complete writeup on kma.global. We predict that both the U.S. Access Board and ANSI will weigh in on EV-related regulations before the end of 2022.
As part of our kickoff, we have compiled an EV charging market snapshot reflecting current SLED and FED opportunities for EV charging NEVI-related infrastructure (which have “soared” as the media likes phrasing). Currently $2B in just these markets for active RFPs. Car dealerships, C-Stores and corporate is another market, as is upscale consumers.
Our ADA Committee is evolving to keep pace with the anticipated regulatory actions in this self-service space. As co-chairman, Nicky Shaw of Storm Interface and Michael O’Hare of TechForAll Consulting have four initiatives they are in process of executing.
Expand our sounding board to officially include organizations such as the NFB, AFB, Canadian groups, and the RNIB
Formalize and automate our existing educational communications to procurement entities in the SLED space
Expand the working groups to include new self-service segments such as Smart Cities, robotics and EV Charging
Formalize our industry input from current sponsors such as Panasonic, LG and Intel.
DENVER, Colo., July 18, 2022 (— U.S. Access Board next session to include EV Charging Stations, Kiosks, Information Transaction Machines and POS. Canada’s CSA Group is working on new guidelines, says the Kiosk Association (KMA). Point-of-Sale is likely to center on physical access by customers and audio? KMA is a participating sponsor for the ANSI EV Panel and on two working groups.
DENVER, Colo., July 18, 2022 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — U.S. Access Board next session to include EV Charging Stations, Kiosks, Information Transaction Machines and POS. Canada’s CSA Group is working on new guidelines, says the Kiosk Association. Point-of-Sale is likely to center on physical access by customers and audio? KMA is a participating sponsor for the ANSI EV Panel and on two working groups. See EV Panel post.
Important – input to the ANPRM is encouraged by ALL involved parties (restaurants and hotels and whatever). Once the comments close, it is impossible to add comments. ANSI EVSP is also open to participation by all companies. Make your viewpoint heard!
Updated Regulatory Brief— Point-by-point discussion of expected Access Board ANPRM & ANSI EV Roadmap, Assistive technology, ADA as non-delegable duty, and from the National Restaurant Association, a rare critique of upcoming ADPPA act and “alarming” provisions. Meanwhile, the HIPAA Modernization Commission continues working on HIPAA. We were interviewed for article on disability inclusion in workplace.
The federal government is ramping up, strongly, to get regulations in.
Related — Critical privacy considerations for public-facing technology is our feature article by Evan Schuman (Evan writes for Computerworld and TechCrunch). This is the part 1. Next month Evan may focus on healthcare.
Keywords: Point of Sale and Kiosks, Kiosk Association, Regulatory Snapshot, EV Charging Stations, Kiosks, Information Transaction Machines and POS, DENVER, Colo.
Research by UK banking experts shows 93 per cent of customers are frustrated by self-service machines. Those aged 55 and over prefer to be served by a human being.
Survey says..Glory Global did poll of UK customers on self-service. Amazing that despite the gloomy numbers, most said they would use self-service anyway. Interesting read. Something similar out of Scotland a few weeks ago along the “We want to talk to real people” philosophy.
YORK, Pa. — A new Windows 10 kiosk mode update of 
