Industry News - January 6th 2014
| | RETAIL AND TECHNOLOGY NEWS | Panasonic Optimizes POS with New Workstation, Stingray Envo Panasonic System Networks Company of America introduces its new POS workstation, the Stingray Envo. Envo is anticipated to save users both time and money with a modular design that enables self-service. Envo also uses eco-responsible manufacturing practices. Built with a VESA mount, Envo can have a traditional upright configuration, or can be mounted in a low profile form. No additional equipment is required under the counter. The versatility of Envo’s VESA mount allows for wall or pole mounting as well. Key components such as the power supply or hard drive can be replaced in minutes, and both the processor and RAM are upgradeable for more speed and performance. Modularity also allows the user to customize the workstation to meet specific needs, without having to pay for features that won’t be utilized. Users can choose from a 2-line order confirmation and static POP (point of purchase), 12” Interactive Order Confirmation/POP or a 15” Interactive Order Confirmation/POP. The main display is a user-adjustable resistive or capacitive touch screen. All of Envo’s main displays have the advantages of LED backlight technology for images with greater contrast, helping customers and employees view text and images more easily. Typically, LED backlights consume 20% to 30% less power than conventional fluorescent backlit LCD screens. In addition, LED displays are also more reliable, do not need time to warm up and do not yellow over time, making them a better choice for POS workstations. Additional features of Panasonic Envo include an open platform, speed that more than doubles the performance of earlier Stingray models, a smaller size, and an I/O panel on top of the workstation for easier cable management and peripheral troubleshooting. Envo also offers more power to run other technology from the workstation without the POS performance suffering, built-in speakers that allow training videos to run on the workstation and a quiet fan that will not interfere with customer communications. Optional magnetic stripe readers improve order input speed and accuracy. 
LodgeNet Replaces Movie Promo Channel in 1 Million RoomsLodgeNet Interactive Corporation, a provider of interactive media and connectivity services to hotels, and REELZCHANNEL, TV About Movies, have launched an exclusive new movie promotion channel that replaces the LodgeNet promotional channel in more than 1 million guest rooms served by the company’s interactive TV (iTV) platforms. “The Premiere Channel, powered by REELZ” is now showing at LodgeNet served hotels across the U.S. It offers guests a breadth and depth of “behind the scenes” content previously unseen in any in-room promo channel, including extended-length trailers, movie set visits, red-carpet premieres, actor interviews, movie reviews and Hollywood news. LodgeNet is co-producing The Premiere Channel in association with REELZ. The linear channel, which is part of the hotel’s free-to-guest lineup, is enhanced with a “Free On Demand” feature allowing guests to “telescope” directly from the Premiere Channel into free bonus content. The linear channel and related Free On Demand content is being sponsored by a select number of advertising partners, enabling LodgeNet to deliver it at no cost to hotels. Hotels get exclusive content and guests get the ‘inside scoop’ on the movies and actors they love, while studios and advertisers have the opportunity to reach a potential audience of more than 47 million desirable consumers a month in a ‘captive’ and DVR-free environment. Some 98% of hotel guests who turn on the TV and an average in-room view time of over three hours a day, the guest room television represents a potent platform for targeting consumers who are extremely difficult to reach in other environments. With that, “The Premiere Channel offers studios the opportunity to promote their latest releases to a frequent movie-going audience through a vehicle that is fresher and more in-depth than the traditional trailer loops.
Guess Uses iPads to Engage In-Store ShoppersGuess is using the VeriFone GlobalBay iPad Retailing solution inside 12 U.S. stores to enhance the shopping experience and generate additional sales. The retailer is using the solution to enable consumer interaction with iPads mounted on rolling stands that serve as self-service kiosks to its online and in-store products. "VeriFone's GlobalBay iPad Retailing solution provides Guess with the flexibility to easily configure, customize and deploy multiple customer engagement capabilities and staff training content on the fly," says Michael Relich, executive vice president and CIO of Guess. "Consumers can access our online resources in the store and sales associates can roll the iPads into the dressing room to visually display options and accessories to make shopping more fulfilling and enjoyable." The solution is powered by a web-based content management console that allows Guess to easily design, brand and manage iPad apps, and online connectivity allows for real-time interface to web-based assets and e-commerce transactions when required. The app Guess created using the VeriFone solution allows customers and store associates to browse various styles via the LookBook functionality and select products for either immediate purchase or order online if the product is not available in the store. After hours, the iPad is used for distribution of training videos to store associates and managers. The retailer plans to expand the technology chain-wide in 2014.
Walgreens and REI Reveal Tomorrow's Intelligent Store TodayNew technologies and social networking tools are redefining the shopper experience and forcing a fast-paced evolution in the retail marketplace. In a session titled “New Shopper Experience Research: Tomorrow’s Intelligent Store,” research-driven content and a panel of leading retailers will outline methods for transforming retail organizations to adapt to the changing retail landscape. The session, which is one of the breakouts at the 2014 NRF Big Show, takes place Sunday, January 15 from 8:30 am to 10:00 am at the Jacob Javits Center in Hall E, 1E.
The session will feature research-driven presentations by Steven Skinner, vice president of business consulting for retail, consumer goods and hospitality practice for Cognizant, and Joe Skorupa, group editor-in-chief for RIS News.
The leading retailers that will reveal their strategic plans to develop the intelligent store of tomorrow include: David Durdan, senior director of enterprise technical architecture at Walgreen’s, Mark McKelvey, director of eCommerce and cross-channel development at Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI), David Markwell, vice president of IT business solutions delivery for Loblaw Companies, and Jennifer MacIvor, vice president of IT for DFS Ltd, a Singapore-based global luxury products chain. More Technology News
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