McLane, a leading supply chain services company, today announced early testing for a ‘smart handheld’ system tailored for use by independent grocery and convenience store retailers. This in-store ordering solution, called Smart Handheld for Independents (SHHi), gives small chains the same capabilities to manage their physical inventories and order placements that large chain operations have used for years — delivered in a simple-to-use, affordable system.
“Independent retailers have unique challenges. They typically have fewer resources and could benefit greatly by automating everyday tasks. But in general, they don’t have the ability to tap industry-leading technology because of cost barriers,” said Chris Skelly, vice president of sales for McLane’s Western division. “With SHHi, store managers will soon be able to retire their Telxon ordering devices and experience technology that can greatly impact their business with little or no training, and minimal cost.”
Based on feedback single store and small chain retailer customers, McLane developed the specifications around the SHHi system to address real-world requirements. SHHi gives users the ability to track order history, create orders and track upcoming distributions, all from a single device.
Source: businesswire.com
Nashua, whose Label Products Division is a leading converter and supplier of RFID smart labels, was acquired by Cenveo in a $44 million deal that was announced this morning. Cenveo is a $2 billion graphics communications company headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut.
Source: marketwire.com
With hidden cameras seemingly everywhere and RFID tags increasing, what are the implications for our lives?
David Lyon is studying the ceiling in an Ottawa coffee shop, searching for hidden cameras. A leading figure in the fast-growing field of surveillance studies, the Queen’s University sociologist is only too aware of the many ways we’re all being watched.
Closed-circuit TV cameras, like the ones likely concealed in the coffee shop ceiling, are among the most common. Since 9/11, their use has exploded worldwide. Britain now has an estimated 4.2 million CCTV cameras — one for every 14 citizens. People in central London are now caught on camera about 300 times a day.
CCTV cameras is just one surveillance tool. Others include radio frequency identification (RFID) chips, GPS location trackers, website cookies, facial recognition software and store loyalty cards. Computer programs used by security services can monitor and analyse billions of phone calls and e-mails in real time. We even make it easier for our trackers by willingly disclosing pieces of our lives on social networking sites like Facebook or in online contests and questionnaires.
“We are inadvertently handing over to centralized authorities an infrastructure of visibility the likes of which no society has ever seen before”. Surveillance technology can provide a safer and more productive world, but is this type of society really beneficial?
Read more: vancouversun.com
Avery Dennison and Scanbuy, Inc. Introduce Mobile-Merchandising Solution a technology that uses 2D barcode technology to enable camera phones to function as in-store sales assistants.
The solution, which will be marketed by Avery Dennison through its worldwide network of service bureaus, ticketing centers and sales offices, connects the company’s line of retail labels with Scanbuy’s ScanLife(TM) Client application and ScanLife Code Management Platform to allow retailers to communicate with consumers while they shop.
“By combining technologies, Avery Dennison and Scanbuy will provide consumers with a completely interactive shopping experience that links millions of ticketed apparel items directly to mobile information,” says Johnathan Bulkeley, chief executive officer of Scanbuy. “This new solution will enable brand owners and retailers to stand apart in an increasingly competitive environment and more effectively cross-sell complimentary products and services.”
Source prnewswire.com
With smartphones today, we can check what is on the movies and paying for admission. Looking up maps on the fly to find nearby stores and restaurants.
Smartphones come with Internet access and range of clever applications and this is changing the way we shop.
The growing popularity of Web-enabled smart phones do far more than simply send text messages and make calls. Consumers increasingly have access to a world of information at their fingertips, and at the moment they’re making buying decisions.
Software developers are responding by introducing new cell phone programs that help compare prices or list coupons, and retailers are also working to adapt.
Since the iPhone’s debut two years ago, other manufacturers have introduced similar models and Google has introduced a new operating system called Android for smart phones.
Of the roughly 270 million cell phones in use in the U.S. today, smart phones make up around 13 percent, but annual smart phone sales are projected to double by 2013.
Smart phones will increasingly and seamlessly merge with Smart stores to assist in connecting consumers with products and services that they want, when they want. Currently the door is wide open for developers with vision and execution to fulfill the needs of smart consumers and early adopters of technology that is useful to them. This trend will give rise to many innovative services and programs on smart phones which could turn out to be a huge business opportunity for developers.
The Internet has quickly become a meaningful selling channel in its own right, one that is replacing catalogs and is the biggest retail channel besides store based shopping. Technology and lessons from tracking best practices at retail web sites has the potential to enhance store-based shopping. It is inevitable that the distinction between store based shopping and Internet shopping becomes blurred as each channel incorporates ideas and successes from each. In time stores will become smart stores and web sites will incorporate retail services to give you a seamless experience in shopping.
Just what each channel will embrace with trial and error is anyones guess. It does seem possible that we may eventually end up with a single service that incorporates both real stores and virtual stores using a mix of smart technology in hardware with useful data and online services.
InSync Software,has announced it is licensing software from IBM. InSync will integrate the IBM software into its food safety and asset-management products. Under the licensing agreement, InSync Software will offer IBM’s InfoSphere Traceability Server software as part of its food safety solutions for customers worldwide. IBM’s software is compatible with EPCglobal’s Electronic Product Code Information Services (EPCIS) standard, and has passed the EPCglobal EPCIS Conformance Test.The software is designed to help companies share product data among partners in a supply chain, and includes enhanced reporting tools and alerting capabilities enabling companies to access and analyze data using browser-based reports. InSync Software’s products employ sensor technologies, including RFID, to locate and track assets and processes, report on an item’s location and its condition in real time, and automate time-consuming and error-prone manual processes. InSync indicates its agreement with IBM will enable it to offer its customers a standards-based food-traceability solution they can use with their trading partners.Source: rfidjournal.com