Top POS Stories from November
November was a lively one in the point of sale arena. Major players formed alliances, Isis Mobile Wallet rolled out nationwide and the PCI Council announced new point-to-point encryption solutions. Overall, the headlines reflect that mobility is priority number one for both operators and vendors alike. In case you missed them the first time, here are some of the top point of sale stories from the previous month.
80 Percent of Mobile Restaurant Searchers Make a Purchase
With the number (19 million*) of U.K. consumers eating out at least once a week reaching an all-time high, new xAd/Telmetrics Mobile Path-to-Purchase research findings show the increasingly dominant role that mobile plays in U.K. restaurant research. Mobile is the only media used by half of mobile restaurant searchers (49 percent), and 50 percent say mobile devices are the most important media source for their restaurant research.
Mama Fu's Increases Loyalty Customers with Mobile App Rewards Program
Mama Fu's Asian House, operator of 16 restaurants in the Southeastern U.S., has selected Punchh to create a customized mobile-based rewards program. Using the new Funatics mobile app, Mama Fu's customers will be able to view menus, order online, track and redeem loyalty rewards automatically and even share those rewards with friends. The Funatics app will be available in January 2014.
How Mobile Customer Engagement is Powering Hospitality
According to a recent Forrester survey commissioned by mobile engagement provider OpenMarket, 74% of business leaders view mobile as a major priority. In fact, since 2009, the number of leisure travelers using their mobile devices for travel has increased by more than 450%. By 2014, mobile travel bookings in the US could triple, with mobile sales possibly reaching $26 billion – nearly one in five online travel dollars. Already, three out of four travelers use a mobile device while on a trip, with 75 percent likely to explore, shop and book activities via mobile.
Granbury Solutions Adds Restaurant Website Services
Restaurant point-of-sale provider, Granbury Solutions, has released an innovative new website solution for restaurants, bars, wine tasting rooms and coffee shops. Powered by the innovative Appetas website technology, Granbury Websites help restaurant or shop owners create a modern, professional website in seconds, without any technical or design experience.
Tablet Software Helps Restaurants Improve Profitability
Granbury Solutions has launched Thr!ve Point-of-Sale(POS) for tablets. Ideal for casual dining, fast casual, pizza delivery, restaurants and bars, Thr!ve POS is one of the first fully featured restaurant point-of-sale solutions available for both iPad and Android tablets.
How Restaurant Execs Prep for Mobile Payments
The recent 2013 Restaurant Executive Summit offered an opportunity for foodservice leaders to network and share ideas with their peers. The Summit took place October 2-4 at the Four Seasons, Dallas and boasted two days of intimate networking, high-level seminars, and engaging workshops. During the Day One Networking Luncheon, Rocky Lucia, director of information technology for B.R. Guest Hospitality hosted a topic table entitled, “Prepping for Mobile Payments.” Here are some of the key takeaways from the group’s discussion, according to Lucia.
Isis Mobile Wallet Available Nationwide
Isis, the mobile commerce joint venture created by AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA, Inc. and Verizon Wireless, has announced the latest version of the Isis Mobile Wallet is now available to consumers for download in the Google Play app store and at thousands of AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless retail stores nationwide. The Isis Mobile Wallet allows customers to pay at contactless payment terminals, and to save money through special offers and loyalty cards at participating merchants – all from their Isis Ready smartphone.
RIU Hotels & Resorts Launches App to Capture Mobile Bookings
RIU Hotels & Resorts has just launched its first official App for mobile devices with retina display: iPhones and iPods. This app has been fully developed by the hotel chain web team, responding to the growing trend among customers, which consult and purchase directly from mobile devices. This app, available in Spanish, English, German, French, Italian and Portuguese, can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store (link).
Salsarita's Rolls Out Digital Menus across 46 Locations
Salsarita's has successfully rolled out 46 stores utilizing a digital menu solution from Minneapolis-based WAND Corporation. WAND, a provider of enterprise technology solutions for the QSR and Fast Casual markets, was chosen by Salsarita's as the exclusive supplier of Digital Menu Boards (DMBs) for their restaurants in May of 2012, citing WAND's growing reputation as the top innovator in digital solutions as the reason for the decision.
Harbortouch Unveils Future-Proof Perkwave Payment Terminal
National point of sale (POS) system and merchant services provider Harbortouch has unveiled its new “future-proof” payment terminal, Perkwave. The company’s latest technological innovation features a proprietary EMV-enabled credit card terminal integrated with a customer-facing NFC reader.
Jersey Mike's Intros Mobile App Combining Digital Ordering and Loyalty
Jersey Mike’s is introducing a mobile app for passionate fans, which want all things Jersey Mike’s right at their fingertips, any time. Available for iPhone®, and, shortly, Android™, the new app lets customers order and pay online, manage rewards, post to social feeds (Twitter and Facebook), find the nearest Jersey Mike’s location (with directions), and access nutritional information.
TransFirst and ShopKeep POS Announce Strategic Alliance
TransFirst, a provider of transaction processing services and payment enabling technologies, has announced an alliance with ShopKeep POS, provider of iPad point of sale to brick-and-mortar businesses nationwide, to offer the ShopKeep POS iPad point of sale system to TransFirst customers, along with its full array of payment processing services.
PCI Security Standards Council Offers Validated Point-to-Point Encryption Solutions
At its 2013 European Community Meeting today the PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC), an open, global forum for the development of payment card security standards, announced the availability of its Validated Point-to Point Encryption (P2PE) solutions listing on the PCI SSC website. This is the official PCI SSC resource for merchants and acquirers looking to deploy a P2PE solution to help simplify their PCI DSS security programs by removing clear-text cardholder data from the payment environment.
80 Percent of Mobile Restaurant Searchers Make a Purchase
With the number (19 million*) of U.K. consumers eating out at least once a week reaching an all-time high, new xAd/Telmetrics Mobile Path-to-Purchase research findings show the increasingly dominant role that mobile plays in U.K. restaurant research. Mobile is the only media used by half of mobile restaurant searchers (49 percent), and 50 percent say mobile devices are the most important media source for their restaurant research.
Mama Fu's Increases Loyalty Customers with Mobile App Rewards Program
Mama Fu's Asian House, operator of 16 restaurants in the Southeastern U.S., has selected Punchh to create a customized mobile-based rewards program. Using the new Funatics mobile app, Mama Fu's customers will be able to view menus, order online, track and redeem loyalty rewards automatically and even share those rewards with friends. The Funatics app will be available in January 2014.
How Mobile Customer Engagement is Powering Hospitality
According to a recent Forrester survey commissioned by mobile engagement provider OpenMarket, 74% of business leaders view mobile as a major priority. In fact, since 2009, the number of leisure travelers using their mobile devices for travel has increased by more than 450%. By 2014, mobile travel bookings in the US could triple, with mobile sales possibly reaching $26 billion – nearly one in five online travel dollars. Already, three out of four travelers use a mobile device while on a trip, with 75 percent likely to explore, shop and book activities via mobile.
Granbury Solutions Adds Restaurant Website Services
Restaurant point-of-sale provider, Granbury Solutions, has released an innovative new website solution for restaurants, bars, wine tasting rooms and coffee shops. Powered by the innovative Appetas website technology, Granbury Websites help restaurant or shop owners create a modern, professional website in seconds, without any technical or design experience.
Tablet Software Helps Restaurants Improve Profitability
Granbury Solutions has launched Thr!ve Point-of-Sale(POS) for tablets. Ideal for casual dining, fast casual, pizza delivery, restaurants and bars, Thr!ve POS is one of the first fully featured restaurant point-of-sale solutions available for both iPad and Android tablets.
How Restaurant Execs Prep for Mobile Payments
The recent 2013 Restaurant Executive Summit offered an opportunity for foodservice leaders to network and share ideas with their peers. The Summit took place October 2-4 at the Four Seasons, Dallas and boasted two days of intimate networking, high-level seminars, and engaging workshops. During the Day One Networking Luncheon, Rocky Lucia, director of information technology for B.R. Guest Hospitality hosted a topic table entitled, “Prepping for Mobile Payments.” Here are some of the key takeaways from the group’s discussion, according to Lucia.
Isis Mobile Wallet Available Nationwide
Isis, the mobile commerce joint venture created by AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA, Inc. and Verizon Wireless, has announced the latest version of the Isis Mobile Wallet is now available to consumers for download in the Google Play app store and at thousands of AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless retail stores nationwide. The Isis Mobile Wallet allows customers to pay at contactless payment terminals, and to save money through special offers and loyalty cards at participating merchants – all from their Isis Ready smartphone.
RIU Hotels & Resorts Launches App to Capture Mobile Bookings
RIU Hotels & Resorts has just launched its first official App for mobile devices with retina display: iPhones and iPods. This app has been fully developed by the hotel chain web team, responding to the growing trend among customers, which consult and purchase directly from mobile devices. This app, available in Spanish, English, German, French, Italian and Portuguese, can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store (link).
Salsarita's Rolls Out Digital Menus across 46 Locations
Salsarita's has successfully rolled out 46 stores utilizing a digital menu solution from Minneapolis-based WAND Corporation. WAND, a provider of enterprise technology solutions for the QSR and Fast Casual markets, was chosen by Salsarita's as the exclusive supplier of Digital Menu Boards (DMBs) for their restaurants in May of 2012, citing WAND's growing reputation as the top innovator in digital solutions as the reason for the decision.
Harbortouch Unveils Future-Proof Perkwave Payment Terminal
National point of sale (POS) system and merchant services provider Harbortouch has unveiled its new “future-proof” payment terminal, Perkwave. The company’s latest technological innovation features a proprietary EMV-enabled credit card terminal integrated with a customer-facing NFC reader.
Jersey Mike's Intros Mobile App Combining Digital Ordering and Loyalty
Jersey Mike’s is introducing a mobile app for passionate fans, which want all things Jersey Mike’s right at their fingertips, any time. Available for iPhone®, and, shortly, Android™, the new app lets customers order and pay online, manage rewards, post to social feeds (Twitter and Facebook), find the nearest Jersey Mike’s location (with directions), and access nutritional information.
TransFirst and ShopKeep POS Announce Strategic Alliance
TransFirst, a provider of transaction processing services and payment enabling technologies, has announced an alliance with ShopKeep POS, provider of iPad point of sale to brick-and-mortar businesses nationwide, to offer the ShopKeep POS iPad point of sale system to TransFirst customers, along with its full array of payment processing services.
PCI Security Standards Council Offers Validated Point-to-Point Encryption Solutions
At its 2013 European Community Meeting today the PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC), an open, global forum for the development of payment card security standards, announced the availability of its Validated Point-to Point Encryption (P2PE) solutions listing on the PCI SSC website. This is the official PCI SSC resource for merchants and acquirers looking to deploy a P2PE solution to help simplify their PCI DSS security programs by removing clear-text cardholder data from the payment environment.