LAS VEGAS--The merging of consumer electronics with business processes and customer engagement dominated technology talk at this year's NACS convention and trade show, with both retailers and booth exhibitors alike addressing the challenges involved.
What follows is a summary of interesting booths tied to technology on the convention's trade-show floor. They range from developments in mobile communications and business intelligence to display signs and social media, with exhibitors listed in alphabetical order.
- Abierto Networks:In-store display, menu screens; Eliot, Maine. A developer of in-store displays used for menu board and consumer messaging, Abierto Networks provides digital tools for retailers to create their own images or pull from a central warehouse, said Rick Sales, president of Abierto.
- FuelQuest:Fuel-tax, accounting and logistics software; Houston. Following the "full lifecycle of fuel" is its focus, said Matt Tormollen, president and CEO. With large-chain customers, the company monitors tanks, determines loads and manages fuel content through to reconciliation, handling 20 billion gallons of fuel annually. A big part of the job is tax compliance, determining taxation as fuel moves through the system and remitting appropriately. Much of today's focus is on price volatility as that becomes "the new normal," Tormollen said. For small-to-midsized retailers, "we're a good option," he said.
- Gilbarco Veeder-Root:Pump and point-of-sale (POS) manufacturing; Greensboro, N.C. The forecourt dispenser and in-store POS maker has moved on several fronts, advancing efforts with loyalty programs as well as with foodservice applications. With regards to loyalty, the company has made ties with established loyalty providers, including Kickback Points, Twin Falls, Idaho; Outsite Networks, Norfolk, Va.; and Excentus, Dallas. The company has also spent time with customer interfaces, creating foodservice mobile and upsell applications, as well as a conceptual offer allowing people to make in-store purchases on the pump's touchscreen.
- KSS:Fuel pricing and business-development tools; Florham Park, N.J. Two trends noted in this area include device integration and adaptability to the increased fuel-pricing volatility, according to Mark Hawtin, senior vice president strategy and business development. Giving software tool kits to allow other vendors to integrate is a growing movement among providers, Hawtin said, with another piece of the puzzle being hosted "cloud" solutions. Such strategies allow small-to-midsized businesses access to pricing solutions that address fuel-price volatility. Bob Stein president and CEO for KSS noted a few other trends, including integration of mobile capabilities as well as strategic growth. KSS has been working on integration of a new acquisition involving new-site planning and development.
- NCR:Corporate-to-store-level technology; Alpharetta, Ga. The supplier of store-level solutions is focusing on providing managers real-time data from mobile devices, according to Douglas Henderson, vice president industry solutions, petroleum and convenience for the Americas. The discussion includes everything from business intelligence to mobile payment, with "cloud" computing part of the equation.
- Outsite Networks:Loyalty solutions provider; Norfolk, Va. In addition to providing loyalty solutions tied to couponing as well as retailer-driven programs, Anton Bakker, president, said his company is working on solutions for manufacturers to start creating direct loyalty ties to consumers.
- PDI:Corporate, backoffice and POS technology solutions; Temple, Texas. Greg Gilkerson, president, noted in a NACS educational session that more and more businesses are wanting comparative data at their fingertips. Fueled by consumer use of mobile technology, he said that solutions are coming on line quickly.
- PeopleMatter:Human resources, recruitment and scheduling software; Charleston, S.C. Joy Capps, a spokesperson for the HR solutions provider, said it garnered a lot of convention buzz during the NACS Ideas 2 Go session, where the function of employees using iPhones to access schedules drew a lot of attention.
- The Pinnacle Corp.:Corporate, backoffice and POS technology solutions; Arlington, Texas. In addition to growing interest in loyalty solutions, Drew Mize, COO, said device integration and mobile applications are drawing interest. The company announced recently its integration with a French payment-terminal provider, Ingenico.
- RedPrairie:C-store technology solutions provider; Alpharetta, Ga. The company is emphasizing business intelligence and understanding the consumer, recently releasing a report on the shopping habits of the so-called "millennial" demographic.
- Retalix:Corporate, backoffice and POS technology solutions; Plano, Texas. The c-store technology provider is developing mobile opportunities both at the POS and with consumer messaging, building the necessary interfaces to accommodate future trends, said Brad Prizer, vice president of global communications.
- TelaPoint:Fuel-purchasing and logistics software; Louisville, Ky. In business since 1999, TelaPoint has helped major oil companies and other large chains with fuel-supply logistics and purchasing management, said Greg Iverson, general manager for TelaPoint. By monitoring tanks, TelaPoint can help companies purchase unbranded supply and more efficiently deliver product where and when needed. The solution can enable smaller companies and independents manage fuel like companies with more resources, Iverson said. "There's a misconception that the price is the price," he said. "But it isn't always the case."
- VeriFone:POS registers and other c-store technology; Clearwater, Fla. VeriFone has been developing data-secure devices for payments both on the forecourt and inside the store, said Michael Tyler, senior director, product marketing and integrated systems. In addition, the company has invested in technology that encourages upselling at the store, using two screens--one facing the customer and one facing the clerk--to relay messages tied to store promotions. Using "cloud" computing, or data stored in third-party servers, the solution puts much of the technology and processes in the hands of host providers. Newer lines of its products have high levels of compliance to national data-security standards, Tyler said.
- Watchfire:Digital display screens; Danville, Ill. A manufacturer and provider of digital signage, Watchfire focuses on providing media advertising and consumer messaging to retail sites, said John Kunz, director of Eastern division sales and national accounts. Its benefit is tied to advertising and price changes, communicating key messages to motorists and in-store customers. Made in Danville, the devices are durable, having been tested in extreme heat and cold. The devices can be tied to corporate lines as well as hand-held devices, Kunz said.
- Wayne:Pump and POS manufacturer; Austin, Texas. The company featured its newly designed pump, the Helix model, which will represent its global platform of new dispensers going forward, according to Russ Hacker and Mike Simmons of Wayne. The new design combines global standards for data security, customer interfacing and wear-and-tear elements that keep the product relevant, they said.
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