Industry News - November 20th, 2009
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RETAIL AND TECHNOLOGY
NEWS
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VeriFone Announces End-to-End Data Encryption Solution
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VeriFone Holdings announces that its VeriShield Protect end-to-end
encryption solution for card payment security will be available for use
with the EMV smart card standard and will also support contactless
payments.
First introduced in the U.S. to help merchants and acquirers secure
cardholder information and comply with PCI data security requirements,
VeriShield Protect is now being expanded for use worldwide in support
of all card payment types. VeriShield Protect with full EMV and
contactless capability is now being introduced in the UK and for other
regions beginning in spring 2010.
VeriShield Protect helps eliminate usable cardholder data from a
retailer's POS applications, networks and servers by encrypting it end
to end, so that even in the event of a security breach no usable data
could be compromised and any stored data is secure. Real-time
monitoring of payment transactions helps ensure that organizations can
respond immediately to mitigate any attempted breach.
VeriFone's VeriShield Hidden Encryption (VHE) uses AES encryption and
enables existing payment applications to deal with encrypted cardholder
data that is unusable by hackers, but does not impact existing
transaction message formats. That makes it possible to integrate
VeriShield Protect without costly changes to existing POS, back-office
and acquirer software.
In addition, VeriFone's VeriShield Secure Device Management Service
(VSDMS) provides real-time, actionable security alerts regarding
breaches or use of non-compliant devices or systems for timely
mitigation.
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Nordstrom to Spend $45 Million on Tech Upgrades in 2010
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Nordstrom recently announced its plans to invest approximately $40 to
$45 million in technology upgrades next year, maintaining its level of
IT spend year-over-year.
Over the past year, the luxury department store has been heavily
focused on evolving its multi-channel business. Its steadfast focus on
evolving its multi-channel has clearly paid off since the luxury
department store most recently reported in its latest quarter that
sales for its online Nordstrom Direct business increased 16.4 percent.
The department store also has recently updated its inventory platform
so online orders could be fulfilled from the stores or any Nordstrom
location.|
According to Blake Nordstrom, President and Director, Nordstrom, "This
continues our ongoing effort to improve our customers' experience by
providing them with greater access to more of our inventory whenever
and however they want to shop."
Nordstrom continues, "For the customer to go online and be able to
leverage the entire inventory throughout the company represents
tremendous opportunities. There's significant learnings that are coming
from this about our allocation of inventory and, again, our supply
chain, but we view it as a real positive and view it as another
confirmation on behalf of the customer in the feedback that they're
giving us that this multi-channel strategy is super important to our
future growth.".
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Cavender’s Boot City Adds Tools for Financial Management
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Cavender's Boot City gains financial management practices and control
with Vision Financials, part of Jesta's Vision Suite, which enables
organization to reduce its number of vendors. Cavender's Boot City also
uses Vision Merchandising and Vision Planning to ensure that data is
unified across the enterprise. Cavender's improves decision making by
using General Ledger, which inquires and drill-downs to the source
transaction of the inquiry. Another time saver is the accelerated data
entry with templates and recurring journal entries.
Cavender's also can maximize invoice processing and invoice with or
without a Purchase Order, match against the PO and Receipt, release
within preset tolerance limits, and include notes and attachments to
all transactions. The Accounts Payable module offers Cavender's with
flexible payment processing to manage vendors, simplify bank
reconciliation and import/export abilities including built in formulas
for optional export of data to Microsoft Excel.
"As a long-time Jesta I.S. customer and Vision Merchandising and Vision Planning user,
Cavender's was well positioned to take advantage of the integrated
Vision Suite by deciding to roll out Vision Financials," said Jim
Thompson, CFO for Cavender's Boot City. "With Vision Financials, we are
able to reduce processing time for month-end calculations and simplify
the accounts payable processing cycle, creating a more predictable cash
flow. We can see additional benefits including a clear reduction in
manual tasks that allow our team to function more efficiently."
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Mattel Enhances E-Commerce with Innovative Shopping Tools
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Mattel signs a multi-year agreement with GSI Commerce to provide
e-commerce technology, fulfillment, customer care and marketing
services. Mattel along with GSI recently launched four specialty Web
stores for the company including Barbie, Hot Wheels, Disney and another
site featuring interactive games from Mattel.
Mattel has chosen TrueAction, GSI's digital agency, to provide
affiliate marketing through its Pepperjam Network and design services
through its Silverlign division. GSI's e-mail marketing subsidiary,
e-Dialog, has been selected to provide e-mail marketing services.
"E-commerce was the next step in our multi-channel strategy. After
conducting a comprehensive analysis, it was clear that GSI offers the
best solution for our current needs. Their expert counsel helped us to
understand the right features and functionality needed to launch a
successful e-commerce business," said Andres Amezquita, vice president
of e-commerce for Mattel. "We are pleased to be partnering with the
industry leader in full service solutions."
The MattelShop.com features innovative shopping tools including
ShopTogether - a social shopping tool from DecisionStep which allows
shoppers to browse the site together with family and friends regardless
of where they are located. Other features include advanced search, Play
Pattern Navigation, which allows shoppers to navigate the site based on
a child's play behaviors, and ConciseClick- a roll over-and-click
technology that provides shoppers with product information when
watching video clips..
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Kroger Deploys Interactive Kiosks for Free Vision Assessments
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Kroger Stores deploy SoloHealth EyeSite self-service kiosks which
provide free vision testing and self-directed healthcare while
promoting eye health awareness and encouraging regular eye exams. Ten
Kroger Supermarket locations across the metro area will deploy the
EyeSite kiosk.
The interactive kiosks are free to use and provide consumers with a
quick, accurate assessment of near and distance vision. The units also
assess risk, provide relevant eye health information and encourage
consumers to schedule comprehensive exams with an eye care professional
from a list of local providers.
EyeSite kiosks are user-friendly tools that provide a self-directed,
proactive focus on eye health, but are not a replacement for a regular
eye exam. Consumers answer a series of lifestyle questions on a touch
screen and are presented with various sized letters to determine near
and distance acuity. They then receive a customized report of their
results, which they can share directly with an eye doctor.
Blockbuster Lays Out Its 2010 Kiosk and Business Model
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Blockbuster is rapidly changing the way it touches its customers and is
transforming the company into a multi-channel business by increasing
its points of presence through Blockbuster Express vending kiosks and
Blockbuster on-demand digital streaming.
Blockbuster is moving beyond the box and now offers by-mail service,
vending and digital download capabilities. Through an alliance with
NCR, the retailer is expanding its physical points of presence with
2,500 Blockbuster express branded kiosks expected by the end of 2009.
Blockbuster will also leverage NCR's first outdoor DVD rental kiosk
which will create a 24-hour automated retail store. The new solution is
easily upgradeable and is equipped to offer digital download capability
for video files.
Additionally, the retailer opened a new channel of distribution for
Blockbuster -- its mobility channel in August through an exclusive
mobile integration deal with Motorola.
According to James Keyes, CEO, Chairman of the Board, Blockbuster, "We
are working hard to take the multi-channel approach to the next level
by providing the customer with flexibility, control, and ease-of-use.
We’ve enhanced Blockbuster.com with the introduction of online
account management and inventory lookup, enabling our customers to find
in-store inventory at their nearby Blockbuster."
Keyes continues, "Through our planned integration of stores by mail,
vending, kiosks, digital services, we intend to utilize a centralized
customer database to realize supply chain efficiencies and ultimately
to deliver a superior customer experience."
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