Top POS Stories from September: Mobile Payments Rule in the POS Space
The point-of-sale is a highly invested in area for restaurants and hotels alike. On average, the POS accounts for a third of IT budgets — that’s twice the investment in any other single technology area, including store-level back-office, networking, or enterprise systems. Despite these high investment levels, or more likely because of it, restaurant POS technology is a hot-bed of diversity. As the fall kicked off, the payments space was impacted by some major news with Apple launching its mobile payment offering -- Apple Pay. But that wasn't the only thing happening in the POS marketplace. In case you missed them, here are some of the hot headlines from September.
Apple Launches ApplePay as Mobile Payment Option
Apple announced its latest iPhone releases and new systems including its own mobile payment offering, ApplePay. According to a report from Cnet News, Apple announced that it's partnering with Visa, Mastercard, and American Express along with several issuing banks to allow iPhone users to store credit card accounts. ApplePay will be available in 220,000 US merchant locations that already take mobile payments via NFC. Apple also announced it has worked with retailers including Subway and McDonald's to rollout ApplePay. McDonald's is even adding Apple Pay to its drive through.
Food Trucks Overcome Roadblocks with Mobile POS
As the U.S. food truck market continues its surge in popularity and size, NCR is offering insider tips, first-hand insight and customer stories. Along with street vending, food trucks are one of the fastest-growing segments in the hospitality industry. According to the National League of Cities, food truck revenue is expected to increase 76 percent over the next five years. Food trucks are also one of the fastest-growing segments for NCR Silver, a tablet point-of-sale (POS) system for small businesses.
Denver Airport Restaurants Launch Digital iPad Menus
Paradies and Tastes 5280 Restaurants, and will be introducing the digital iPad menus technology from eTouchMenu in partnership with Southwest Airlines at the Denver International Airport on Concourse C. The launch will commence in mid-December, 2014 and involve a total of eight new restaurant concepts creating a very unique and engaging dining experience. Paradies and Tastes 5280 will be the first to introduce this innovative digital technology at the Denver airport. Along with the Atlanta International airport, this marks eTouchMenu’s second installation into a major international airport, as it continues to provide busy travelers with the control and convenience of paying at the table with the simple swipe of a credit card.
Subway Completes Mobile Payments Rollout Across 26,000+ Locations
The SUBWAY restaurant chain has announced the nationwide availability of contactless/NFC-based mobile payments in partnership with Softcard, completing a rollout that was announced earlier this month. SUBWAY customers can now use their mobile device to pay at more than 26,000 SUBWAY locations across the U.S. using the Softcard app.
Madison Square Garden Rolls out Order-in-Seat POS
At Madison Square Garden, Appetize powers the in-seat ordering functionality inside the Knicks and Rangers apps. Madison Square Garden engaged a custom app developer to design apps for its sports teams, which boasts social functions, venue info, scheduling and ticketing, and live game video, as well as Appetize’s white label payment tech, which allows fans to order food, drinks, and merchandise from their seats.
Cloud-Based POS Cybertill Teams with Mercury Pay
The cloud-based PoS provider, Cybertill, is bringing its products to the North American market integrated with Mercury Payment Systems’ MercuryPay payment processing platform. Cybertill, a UK-based retail systems solutions provider, is currently on a reseller recruitment drive, as it plans to enter the North American retail market.
New Mobile POS Offers Flexibility to Customize Tablets for Customers' Needs
ParTech, Inc. (PAR), a subsidiary of PAR Technology Corporation has announced the new PAR Tablet 10 to the PAR mobile product family. The new PAR Tablet 10 gives customers the opportunity to fully utilize the power of mobility in a variety of hospitality and retail environments.
Tony Roma's Increases Efficiency and Drives Consistency with Real-time Insight
Tony Roma’s will be using NCR’s point-of-sale and kitchen solutions to quickly take orders and expedite them directly to the kitchen, increasing speed of service and productivity, minimizing errors and giving customers a better experience. In the back of the house, NCR is helping Tony Roma’s identify trends and optimize store performance with above-store reporting software. The web-based reports help the chain forecast revenues, increase controls and lower operational costs in real time.
PAR Announces Acquisition of Brink Software
PAR Technology Corporation (PAR) has announced that it has acquired Brink Software, Inc., a provider of cloud based point of sale (POS) software for restaurants. The acquisition creates the hospitality technology industry’s leading solutions provider with the ability to develop, deploy and service cloud technology solutions for quick-serve, fast casual and casual dining restaurants.
XPIENT Announces Support of Apple Pay Mobile Payments Service
XPIENT Solutions, provider of POS technology for QSR and Fast Casual brands, announced it has fully integrated the Apple Pay mobile payments service into its product suite. Without specifying which company, they noted that they have a national customer in the process of rolling out support for the Apple Pay initiative.
Mobile and Online Ordering Solution Ups Throughput and Improves Sales for Restaurants
Heartland Payment Systems has introduced a feature-rich mobile and online ordering solution to help restaurants of all sizes remain competitive. Heartland Mobile and Online Ordering, in partnership with ToGoTechnologies, provides restaurateurs and consumers alike a convenient ordering experience that has previously been enjoyed only by large restaurant brands and their customers.
What's New in POS Hardware for 2014
The point-of-sale (POS) remains the main artery for restaurant operators. As befits its prominent position, the POS also demands the largest portion of IT spending for restaurant operators according to Hospitality Technology’s 2014 Restaurant Technology Study. The report reveals that POS systems — inclusive of hardware and software — account for 33% of the overall technology budget. The average POS lifecycle lasts about seven years and, according to HT’s data, about 25% of restaurants are in the market to replace their POS by the end of next year. In this annual round-up of new POS hardware releases, HT checks in with vendors to get details on their latest releases, including stand-alone terminals, mobile tablets, and printers.
Mobile-Ready Online Ordering Platform is Optimized for All Devices and Browsers
Revention, Inc. announces the release of HungerRush Version 3.2 online ordering solution. The new platform undoubtedly enriches the user experience for the consumer and offers dynamic configuration options to the store owner. One of the most significant new features with HungerRush is the Mobile Ready ordering platform. The online ordering site will detect that a mobile device is being used and present the website in a mobile friendly layout, while maintaining the robust features of the full website. Revention’s newly designed mobile ordering website is optimized for all mobile devices and browsers.
McDonald's to Roll Out Apple Pay Across All U.S. Locations
McDonald’s Corporation has announced it will accept Apple Pay in all of its U.S. restaurants following the September 9 launch of the mobile payments service, making food and beverage purchases fast and easy for customers using iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch. The combination of Apple Pay and McDonald’s investments in NFC (near-field communication) enabled payment scanners will significantly simplify how customers pay for their food and beverage purchases at McDonald’s.
Golden Chick Increases Drive-thru Sales with Real-Time Digital Display POS
Golden Chick, a Texas-based quick service restaurant, has successfully piloted the NCR Drive-Thru Timer to help improve the customer experience and efficiency of its business. The suite of NCR software and hardware integrates with a restaurant’s existing point of sale system, such as Aloha, to provide a digital display of real-time data on speed, accuracy and ticket averages to optimize drive-thru performance. The system was installed in two of its corporate-owned locations helping shift a percentage of its heavy in-store traffic to the fast drive-thru lanes, and since then sales have grown in those locations.
National Restaurant Association Says Mobile Payment Tech Critical for Restaurant Industry
The National Restaurant Association applauded Apple’s development of mobile payments technologies unveiled today as part of the new iPhone 6 and iWatch.
NCR to Help Hospitality Operators Integrate Apple Pay
Following on the heels of Apple’s announcement regarding new mobile payment option, ApplePay, NCR Corporation has revealed it will help enable its customers’ ability to integrate and accept Apple Pay, the highly secure form of payment, through brick-and-mortar channels using traditional POS, and through mobile commerce channels using mobile device apps, and, perhaps most importantly, the intersections between those POS systems and mobile apps.
Full-Service Restaurant Integrates POS with Back-Office across Locations
Blue Lemon recently signed a master service agreement (MSA) with WAND Corporation to help replicate and promote the brand's success at future restaurants. Wanting a single data hub for their restaurants, Blue Lemon's MSA requires all future operators to use a WAND system that integrates Point of Sale with Back Office.
Isis Wallet Rebrands to Softcard
Isis Wallet has announced that it will rebrand to Softcard. The new name follows the company’s announcement in July that it would rebrand to avoid any confusion or association with the violent Islamic militant group in the Middle East whose name, when translated into English, is known by the acronym, ISIS.
Apple Launches ApplePay as Mobile Payment Option
Apple announced its latest iPhone releases and new systems including its own mobile payment offering, ApplePay. According to a report from Cnet News, Apple announced that it's partnering with Visa, Mastercard, and American Express along with several issuing banks to allow iPhone users to store credit card accounts. ApplePay will be available in 220,000 US merchant locations that already take mobile payments via NFC. Apple also announced it has worked with retailers including Subway and McDonald's to rollout ApplePay. McDonald's is even adding Apple Pay to its drive through.
Food Trucks Overcome Roadblocks with Mobile POS
As the U.S. food truck market continues its surge in popularity and size, NCR is offering insider tips, first-hand insight and customer stories. Along with street vending, food trucks are one of the fastest-growing segments in the hospitality industry. According to the National League of Cities, food truck revenue is expected to increase 76 percent over the next five years. Food trucks are also one of the fastest-growing segments for NCR Silver, a tablet point-of-sale (POS) system for small businesses.
Denver Airport Restaurants Launch Digital iPad Menus
Paradies and Tastes 5280 Restaurants, and will be introducing the digital iPad menus technology from eTouchMenu in partnership with Southwest Airlines at the Denver International Airport on Concourse C. The launch will commence in mid-December, 2014 and involve a total of eight new restaurant concepts creating a very unique and engaging dining experience. Paradies and Tastes 5280 will be the first to introduce this innovative digital technology at the Denver airport. Along with the Atlanta International airport, this marks eTouchMenu’s second installation into a major international airport, as it continues to provide busy travelers with the control and convenience of paying at the table with the simple swipe of a credit card.
Subway Completes Mobile Payments Rollout Across 26,000+ Locations
The SUBWAY restaurant chain has announced the nationwide availability of contactless/NFC-based mobile payments in partnership with Softcard, completing a rollout that was announced earlier this month. SUBWAY customers can now use their mobile device to pay at more than 26,000 SUBWAY locations across the U.S. using the Softcard app.
Madison Square Garden Rolls out Order-in-Seat POS
At Madison Square Garden, Appetize powers the in-seat ordering functionality inside the Knicks and Rangers apps. Madison Square Garden engaged a custom app developer to design apps for its sports teams, which boasts social functions, venue info, scheduling and ticketing, and live game video, as well as Appetize’s white label payment tech, which allows fans to order food, drinks, and merchandise from their seats.
Cloud-Based POS Cybertill Teams with Mercury Pay
The cloud-based PoS provider, Cybertill, is bringing its products to the North American market integrated with Mercury Payment Systems’ MercuryPay payment processing platform. Cybertill, a UK-based retail systems solutions provider, is currently on a reseller recruitment drive, as it plans to enter the North American retail market.
New Mobile POS Offers Flexibility to Customize Tablets for Customers' Needs
ParTech, Inc. (PAR), a subsidiary of PAR Technology Corporation has announced the new PAR Tablet 10 to the PAR mobile product family. The new PAR Tablet 10 gives customers the opportunity to fully utilize the power of mobility in a variety of hospitality and retail environments.
Tony Roma's Increases Efficiency and Drives Consistency with Real-time Insight
Tony Roma’s will be using NCR’s point-of-sale and kitchen solutions to quickly take orders and expedite them directly to the kitchen, increasing speed of service and productivity, minimizing errors and giving customers a better experience. In the back of the house, NCR is helping Tony Roma’s identify trends and optimize store performance with above-store reporting software. The web-based reports help the chain forecast revenues, increase controls and lower operational costs in real time.
PAR Announces Acquisition of Brink Software
PAR Technology Corporation (PAR) has announced that it has acquired Brink Software, Inc., a provider of cloud based point of sale (POS) software for restaurants. The acquisition creates the hospitality technology industry’s leading solutions provider with the ability to develop, deploy and service cloud technology solutions for quick-serve, fast casual and casual dining restaurants.
XPIENT Announces Support of Apple Pay Mobile Payments Service
XPIENT Solutions, provider of POS technology for QSR and Fast Casual brands, announced it has fully integrated the Apple Pay mobile payments service into its product suite. Without specifying which company, they noted that they have a national customer in the process of rolling out support for the Apple Pay initiative.
Mobile and Online Ordering Solution Ups Throughput and Improves Sales for Restaurants
Heartland Payment Systems has introduced a feature-rich mobile and online ordering solution to help restaurants of all sizes remain competitive. Heartland Mobile and Online Ordering, in partnership with ToGoTechnologies, provides restaurateurs and consumers alike a convenient ordering experience that has previously been enjoyed only by large restaurant brands and their customers.
What's New in POS Hardware for 2014
The point-of-sale (POS) remains the main artery for restaurant operators. As befits its prominent position, the POS also demands the largest portion of IT spending for restaurant operators according to Hospitality Technology’s 2014 Restaurant Technology Study. The report reveals that POS systems — inclusive of hardware and software — account for 33% of the overall technology budget. The average POS lifecycle lasts about seven years and, according to HT’s data, about 25% of restaurants are in the market to replace their POS by the end of next year. In this annual round-up of new POS hardware releases, HT checks in with vendors to get details on their latest releases, including stand-alone terminals, mobile tablets, and printers.
Mobile-Ready Online Ordering Platform is Optimized for All Devices and Browsers
Revention, Inc. announces the release of HungerRush Version 3.2 online ordering solution. The new platform undoubtedly enriches the user experience for the consumer and offers dynamic configuration options to the store owner. One of the most significant new features with HungerRush is the Mobile Ready ordering platform. The online ordering site will detect that a mobile device is being used and present the website in a mobile friendly layout, while maintaining the robust features of the full website. Revention’s newly designed mobile ordering website is optimized for all mobile devices and browsers.
McDonald's to Roll Out Apple Pay Across All U.S. Locations
McDonald’s Corporation has announced it will accept Apple Pay in all of its U.S. restaurants following the September 9 launch of the mobile payments service, making food and beverage purchases fast and easy for customers using iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch. The combination of Apple Pay and McDonald’s investments in NFC (near-field communication) enabled payment scanners will significantly simplify how customers pay for their food and beverage purchases at McDonald’s.
Golden Chick Increases Drive-thru Sales with Real-Time Digital Display POS
Golden Chick, a Texas-based quick service restaurant, has successfully piloted the NCR Drive-Thru Timer to help improve the customer experience and efficiency of its business. The suite of NCR software and hardware integrates with a restaurant’s existing point of sale system, such as Aloha, to provide a digital display of real-time data on speed, accuracy and ticket averages to optimize drive-thru performance. The system was installed in two of its corporate-owned locations helping shift a percentage of its heavy in-store traffic to the fast drive-thru lanes, and since then sales have grown in those locations.
National Restaurant Association Says Mobile Payment Tech Critical for Restaurant Industry
The National Restaurant Association applauded Apple’s development of mobile payments technologies unveiled today as part of the new iPhone 6 and iWatch.
NCR to Help Hospitality Operators Integrate Apple Pay
Following on the heels of Apple’s announcement regarding new mobile payment option, ApplePay, NCR Corporation has revealed it will help enable its customers’ ability to integrate and accept Apple Pay, the highly secure form of payment, through brick-and-mortar channels using traditional POS, and through mobile commerce channels using mobile device apps, and, perhaps most importantly, the intersections between those POS systems and mobile apps.
Full-Service Restaurant Integrates POS with Back-Office across Locations
Blue Lemon recently signed a master service agreement (MSA) with WAND Corporation to help replicate and promote the brand's success at future restaurants. Wanting a single data hub for their restaurants, Blue Lemon's MSA requires all future operators to use a WAND system that integrates Point of Sale with Back Office.
Isis Wallet Rebrands to Softcard
Isis Wallet has announced that it will rebrand to Softcard. The new name follows the company’s announcement in July that it would rebrand to avoid any confusion or association with the violent Islamic militant group in the Middle East whose name, when translated into English, is known by the acronym, ISIS.