Zebra CardStudio: New ID Card Printer Software from Zebra
Zebra is excited to announce CardStudio™ ID card software for Zebra® card printers. CardStudio will be available as a stand-alone or bundled product, and will support all current and legacy Zebra ID card printers—both direct-to-card and retransfer.
Three different versions of Zebra CardStudio will be available: Continue reading »
Large Food Distributor Pioneers Cordless Point-of-sale System
Gruppo Maiorana, One of Italy’s Largest Food Distributors Chooses Datalogic Scanning’s PowerScan Readers to Outfit Cash & Carry Outlets
Overview
Gruppo Maiorana S.p.A. is the holding company of one of the strongest leaders in the food distribution market as well as one of the largest commercial real estate holders in central and southern Italy. Gruppo Maiorana’s extensive field experience, local market knowledge and professionalism are among the factors that have contributed most to its growth.
The operating companies of the group include Maiorana Maggiorino S.p.A., a commercial market service company handling food distribution and wholesale cash & carry outlets, and Emme Più S.r.l., a retail company that directly manages a chain of supermarkets and hypermarkets.
The Challenge
Although Gruppo Maiorana is a 35 year industry veteran, it has the characteristics of a modern company with new facilities dedicated to monitoring business management, marketing and information systems. With these facilities, Gruppo Maiorana’s ceD department (Centro Elaborazione Dati or Data Processing Center) is able to develop all IT projects internally. using the most competent, leading-edge hardware, this department led Gruppo Maiorana to become one of the first to install cordless bar code readers at its cash & carry outlet, Maiorana Maggiorino.
With the intention of equipping their stores with powerful tools to optimize business processes, Maiorana Maggiorino decided to invest in a new bar code scanning solution to upgrade its point-of-sale (POS) systems. since Maiorana Maggiorino carries over 30,000 different products, the hardware needed to be able to read diverse bar code symbologies (i.e. 1D linear and stacked codes) in all types of quality. The solution also needed to be cordless to provide the operator with the freedom to move, especially with two operators working: one to scan the customer’s items and the other to complete the transaction.
The Solution
After testing, Maiorana Maggiorino purchased Datalogic’s Powerscan PM8300-D readers with display screen to handle transactions at the Pos. “Datalogic scanning’s proven reliability and excellent reputation combined with the field testing of several other Auto ID technologies made us confident in selecting the Powerscan PM8300 readers,” said Fabio Mancini, Purchasing and ceD Manager, Gruppo Maiorana S.p.A.
How Durable Handheld Computers are Better Suited to the Mobile Workplace than Consumer-grade Smartphones
Mobility in the workplace is growing exponentially all around the world. “Companies continue to expand their mobile workforces, as increasingly capable and affordable technology becomes available in the form of high performance handheld devices connected to faster and more reliable wireless networks,” states industry analyst J. Gold Associates. According to VDC Research, “The global mobile workforce is comprised of 200 million knowledge workers and over 500 million task workers.”
What does this business mobility look like? “More and more types of workers are working away from the home office,” says Sheldon Safir, director of marketing at Motorola, “and the whole reason is to increase productivity.” Field sales forces and workforces can be away from the office for weeks at a time. But mobility is about more than simply being out of the office. More workers and managers are also getting out from behind their desks and working where they’re most needed. Retail sales associates are helping customers in multiple departments throughout the store. Warehouse workers are constantly on the move around indoor spaces larger than multiple football fields. And there’s one thing these and other mobile workers have in common.
Mobile Printing Requirements for Direct Store Delivery (DSD) Applications
Selecting the best available mobile printer for the direct-store-delivery (DSD) application is as critical as the mobile computer selection.
Rugged mobile thermal printers’ benefits over impact technology are significant and include:
- Smaller, more portable footprint
- Ease of use
- Reliability
- Total cost of ownership
- Battery life
By David Krebs, VDC Research Analyst
Direct store delivery (DSD) is a key method of selling and distributing products for a variety of industries and especially for high volume food and beverage products. DSD is a business process that manufacturers use to both sell and distribute goods directly to point of sale (PoS) or point of consumption (PoC) including additional product and market related services such as merchandising, surveying and data collection, campaign management or collecting competitive intelligence.
Mobile printing is increasingly central to any effective DSD solution as it saves times over manually creating invoices and allows drivers to spend more time on merchandising and sales. In addition, DSD operations leverage mobile printers to support on-demand printing of variable information and are increasingly personalizing the content for greater value add. Mobile printing solutions enable DSD drivers to create accurate updated orders, pick lists, delivery receipts, invoices, settlement reports and other documentation. In addition to the time saving benefits associated with mobile printing – printing can reduce time spent on invoicing by as much as two thirds – it also ensures increased documentation accuracy.
Intermec Expands SR61T Line of Industrial Handheld Barcode Scanners
Intermec announced the expansion of its award-winning SR61T industrial scanning portfolio, including the all-new SR61HP high performance scanner, the SR61XR extra range scanner and the SR612D industrial range imager. The new solutions are ideal for customers in warehouse and manufacturing operations needing improved operator productivity and overall scanner reliability.
The SR61HP is the market’s most advanced motion-tolerant bar code scanner, featuring unique illumination and a red laser aimer to swiftly read bar codes at top speeds and in codes of all colors. The enhanced SR61TXR utilizes Intermec’s new third generation EX25 scan engine for the industry’s only near/far long-range 2D barcode scanner, providing the longest read range of any bar code scanner.
With five distinct product offerings, the SR61T family now includes a complete rugged, multi-purpose bar code imaging solution suite that minimizes scanner downtime and increases overall customer ROI.
Honeywell Voyager 1200g: Single-Line Laser Barcode Scanner
Built on the platform of the world’s best-selling single-line laser barcode scanner, Honeywell’s Voyager 1200g delivers aggressive scan performance on virtually all linear barcodes, including poor quality and damaged codes. Updated object detection, and automatic in-stand detection and configuration enable class-leading presentation scanning that maximizes throughput. Superior scan performance matched with a reliable design combine to provide a versatile linear scanning solution suitable for a wide variety of applications.
The intuitive Voyager 1200g provides fast and reliable scanning of linear barcodes across its full working range, minimizing the need for user training. Whether poorly printed, smudged or faded, the Voyager 1200g decodes difficult-to-read barcodes with ease. The Voyager 1200g also excels at scanning high density barcodes with resolution down to 3.5 mil, eliminating the need to purchase specialty scanners.
Designed to decrease downtime and service costs, the Voyager 1200g includes a single shock-mounted PCB that delivers greater impact resistance. A recessed button protected by an integrated rubber co-mold minimizes the impact of accidental drops. Added durability is provided in the form of a protected, scratch-resistant glass window and an IP42-rating.
The Voyager 1200g, the next installment in the world-renowned Voyager barcode scanner series, provides outstanding scan performance and reliability for end users seeking an exceptional linear scanning solution.
Huntington Bank Chooses Epson for Check Scanners
Epson CaptureOne Provides Top Check Scanning Accuracy and Reliability
A Association for Financial Professionals Show, Epson announced that Huntington Bank will offer Epson’s award-winning CaptureOne line of check scanners to complement its remote deposit capture (RDC) solutions. Available immediately to the bank’s corporate and commercial customers, Epson’s CaptureOne check scanner enables fast, two-sided check scanning with the highest MICR accuracy in its class and an industry-leading two-year warranty. In addition to offering Epson’s CaptureOne check scanners, Huntington uses Epson’s TM-H6000III for reliable printing and validation at teller stations throughout many of its branch offices.
BarcodesInc Recognized as Outstanding Solution Provider by Intuit
Mountain View, California – With high-performing, high-commitment resellers in the Intuit Solution Providers (ISP) program, organizations have to perform at exceptionally high levels to be recognized among outstanding performers. The winners were chosen from 550 Intuit Solution Providers and were announced at the recent ISP Summit in Los Angeles.
Barcodes Inc was recognized for sales in the central region.
Unitech Disinfectant-Ready Healthcare Products Receive Antimicrobial Certification
The Unitech PA600 Mobile Clinical Assistant (MCA) handheld computer and the MS337H healthcare scanner incorporate antimicrobial materials in their disinfectant-ready plastic housing. This antimicrobial enclosure provides an additional layer of protection against the exponential build-up and spread of potentially threatening bacteria and microbes.
To be considered antimicrobial under the JIS Z2801:2000 test standard, surfaces must be tested and verified by approved test labs. Surfaces meeting the antimicrobial requirements receive an antimicrobial rating, or log reduction value, of greater than 2.0.
When tested against the buildup of Methicillian-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, or “Staph”), Unitech’s antimicrobial/disinfectant-ready plastic housing received an antimicrobial rating of 4.81, which translates to a 99.998% percent reduction in MSRA accumulation.
Performing similarly in other tests, Unitech’s antimicrobial/disinfectant-ready housing received an antimicrobial rating of 7.20, or 99.999% resistance against E. coli buildup.
While antimicrobial surfaces provide an added layer of protection against germ accumulation, standard healthcare procedures require regular cleaning and disinfection of any point-of-care device. Unitech’s antimicrobial/disinfectant-ready housing is designed to withstand daily cleaning with common healthcare cleaning solutions.
The usage of disinfectant wipes enhances the antimicrobial properties of the plastic while leaving it’s disinfectant-ready attributes unaffected and allowing its color to remain constant. In aging tests conducted over an eight-week period, the plastic did not discolor or crack when wiped with disinfectant wipes three times a day.
See our full selection of antimicrobial and disinfectant ready hospital/healthcare barcode scanners.
Star Micronics Introduces TSP143GT Gray Receipt Printer
Star Micronics is answering the call of its customers with the introduction of the TSP143GT Gray. The new receipt printer option enables customers to leverage the high-speed GT version of the successful TSP100 series in Star’s standard Gray color, complementing the current GT color options of Ice White and Piano Black.
“Star Micronics introduced the TSP143GT Gray in direct response to feedback we received from our channel partners,” said Christophe Naasz, Director of Marketing for Star Micronics America. “Our reseller and software developer partners were asking for a faster version of our popular TSP100 series printer and to provide the current aesthetically pleasing and consistent POS system look. The addition of the GT Gray color offers more flexibility by enabling them to offer a receipt printer that matches the popular charcoal gray color used in many modern POS system setups.”
The TSP143GT Gray is fully compatible with the existing models and offers the same TSP100 GT benefits, including a high-speed print rate of 45 receipts per minute and the futurePRNT receipt design software that originally helped to define the GT series. The printer also features a standard USB interface, an internal power supply, drivers and software and a user-friendly “plug and play” installation.
The TSP143GT Gray comes with a 3-year full warranty with the first year featuring a complimentary Swap-A-Star. The TSP143GT is eligible for Star’s Extend-A-Star and Swap-A-Star enhanced service programs in the United States and Canada.
