Industry News - August 1st 2014

RETAIL AND TECHNOLOGY NEWS

Mobile Checkout Tech Streamlines Ops for Full-Service and QSRs

MyCheck has announced a complete integration into POSitouch point-of-sale software for quick service and full service restaurants.

The MyCheck install onto POSitouch systems is done remotely and simply involves the implementation of a button straight onto the payment screen. When a customer indicates to the server or the cashier that they want to pay with MyCheck, the order is entered as it normally would be along with a random four-digit code that is on the user’s smartphone upon check-in to the location. At that point, in quick service environments, the user will receive an automated receipt. In full service environments, the user will be able to view their bill in real-time; split the bill amongst other app users and as well as among people that want to pay with traditional credit cards or cash; make a payment and get a receipt. Special offers, loyalty and discounts are sent from the app to the POS and are reflected on the user side immediately.

To date, the mobile checkout technology is used by over 3,000 merchants worldwide and has been implemented into apps developed by payment giants PayPal and Isracard that already have a significant user base and want to reach the hospitality sector as well as private labels of major restaurant chains in the US and the UK. POSitouch merchants include Aroma Espresso Bar – a quick service coffee chain that has implemented its own app using MyCheck technology – and a variety of full-service independent merchants like Tony’s DiNapoli in New York.

NoshList Integrates Reservations Feature on iOS, Android, and Web

NoshList is now taking reservations. In addition to several new features added to its wait list app in recent months, NoshList now lets businesses create reservations and schedule appointments in the same app where they manage daily wait lists.

The Reservations feature has been added to the company’s iPad, Android, and web platforms. It can be used to make reservations at any restaurant or retail establishment that takes call-ahead bookings.

Taking reservations through NoshList works just like the same-day estimated time of arrivals (ETAs) feature. To use the new scheduling feature, restaurant or retail staff simply enter the designated date and time when as they add the customer information. The only difference is that they can choose a future date.

Reservations are also grouped in their own section that staff can view by pressing on the calendar icon. This means your staff can get an overview of the number of future reservations and people they have scheduled. Bookings by day also are selectable. Any reservations for the current day automatically will show up in the ETA section of the waitlist. This gives an integrated view of the walk ins waiting and expected people coming in with reservations.

rue21 Drives Sales and Loyalty with Upgraded POS

To support its efforts to better understand its customers’ needs and deliver a seamless omnichannel experience across both in-store and online channels, rue21 is upgrading to the latest version of Epicor Retail Store. The POS solution is designed to reduce checkout time and improve the customer experience to drive greater sales and loyalty.

rue21 is one of the fastest-growing fashion retail brands in the country, offering the latest trends at a value through nearly 1,050 stores across 47 states. The latest version of the solution will allow the brand to unify the customer experience across e-commerce and brick and mortar with streamlined operations, including returns management. Following implementation of the upgraded version, customers will be able to easily return and exchange items regardless of the channel of purchase as store associates will have a single view of cross-channel transactions.

“Shoppers will soon experience a new level of service from rue21,” Dirk Armstrong, SVP, store operations, rue21, said. “Epicor Retail Store gives us the foundation to create a seamless customer experience across our stores and our e-commerce business. We will have the ability to better serve customers through an understanding of their past purchases, enabling us to anticipate future wants and needs.”

The solution will give rue21 the flexibility to offer customers even more value through a wide variety of promotional offers, while store associates will experience simplified at-the-register promotional processing, resulting in faster checkouts and improved productivity.

“Promotion and productivity gains are big wins for us here,” Mike Holland, SVP and CIO, rue21, said. “From an IT perspective, we needed a POS solution and operating system that could scale to meet the needs of new markets and our plans to grow to 1,700 stores, as well as manage multiple configurations and meet new and emerging compliance mandates."

Choice Hotels Launches Hands-Free Hotel Reservations for Ford Vehicles

Choice Hotels International, Inc. has announced that it has launched hands-free hotel reservations for Ford vehicles. Drivers of Ford vehicles equipped with SYNC AppLink can download Choice Hotels' Android app, which will enable them to use voice commands to search for available rooms at nearby Choice Hotels, hands-free. The same functionality for iPhone users will be made available in the near future.

More than 1.5 million Ford vehicles in North America are equipped with SYNC AppLink. By 2015, Ford will have more than 7 million SYNC AppLink-enabled vehicles on the road globally.

"In today's rapidly evolving market, it is important to stay ahead of the latest ways guests search and make reservations. We see an explosive growth in the connected car market, which is why we are thrilled to provide our Choice Hotels guests with this new mobile capability," said Robert McDowell, senior vice president, global distribution and marketing, Choice Hotels International. "Now that the Choice Hotels apps support Ford SYNC AppLink, drivers can make quick and easy reservations, while staying safe on the road using the hands-free technology."

To use the application, if your Ford vehicle is equipped with SYNC AppLink, visit Google Play to download the newest version of the Choice Hotels application at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.choicehotels.android.

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