Happy Halloween from our LA Office!!

 

Have a SPOOKtacular Halloween!!

 

Your Friends at One Step Retail Solutions

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Happy Halloween Discounts!

by Nate Schubert

At IDAutomation.com, Inc, our staff is focused on providing customers with the solutions they need to generate, display, print and read barcodes of virtually any kind. We love Halloween as much as the next software company, but rather than celebrating it by dressing up as Neo from the Matrix, a kitty-kat or even a barcode, we think you would appreciate something else even more...

From now until midnight tonight, IDAutomation is extending our special end-of-month discount. Just use discount code EOM-10-PROMO on the final page of checkout to receive 10% off of any order including the following:

• Linear & 2D Barcode Readers support a wide variety of barcodes such as Code 128, Code 39, Intelligent Mail, UPC, Data Matrix, QR, PDF417 and many others.
• Linear & 2D Barcode Fonts generate barcodes in virtually any application or environment with these special fonts, which may be used with our free font encoder tools.
• Barcode Generation Components for Java, ActiveX, .NET, SSRS and other environments allow for fast, dynamic barcode generation at high volumes.
• Barcode Design Applications such as our Barcode Label Software and Barcode Image Generators are an easy solution for generating barcodes for printing onto labels, or generating images which can be pulled into other programs.

This discount will not be available on November 1, so get your order placed as soon as possible by entering discount code EOM-10-PROMO in the appropriate section on the final page of checkout, and then completing payment. Happy Halloween!

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Teamwork Retail in Action

Fits perfect with this retailers look and feel!

For more information or a free demo, CLICK HERE

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The POS News Posts One Step Article on Selecting a POS System

To read full article, click HERE

For a free point of sale review or consultation, click HERE

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Kalipso Now Includes Native Support For TSC Mobile Printers

TSC Auto ID Technology Co., Ltd. (TSC) and Sysdev Mobile Computing are pleased to announce that TSC’s mobile printers, including its new Alpha-3R printer, are now supported by Sysdev’s Kalipso Mobile Application Generator. This means that the TSC mobile printers can now be integrated into any mobile application developed with Kalipso just by selecting the device from a list, thus activating all its printing features for use with the application.

Kalipso Studio is a highly intuitive Rapid Application Development (RAD) Tool for mobile devices running Windows operating systems. It allows for fast development and deployment of powerful data capture applications in any process where mobile devices are used, thus increasing productivity and reducing costs. A sample application for the TSC Alpha-3R can be downloaded at: http://www.sysdevsolutions.com/resource_center.php?t=6&s=

TSC together with SYSDEV unite their efforts and products to provide more business opportunities to their distribution and partner network. The synergies developed together create new business opportunities in the mobility sector, offering the channel unique tools for developing new applications and emerging markets.

About Sysdev

Sysdev Mobile Computing is a company with extensive knowledge and experience in application development in the area of mobility. Its broad base of clients and partners is an excellent indicator of the global acceptance and implementation of their products. Having customers in over 40 countries Sysdev is a company with a global culture. With an annual growth of over 20% in the last 3 years Sysdev has positioned itself firmly in the top of suppliers of RAD (Rapid Application Development) Tools in the Auto ID market.

For more information about Sysdev and its products consult: www.sysdevsolutions.com

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Technology Advancing the In-Store Experience

There are many ideas thrown out regarding technology and it's varied embodiment and uses. This weekend I experienced two eerily different scenerios, one where technology greatly enhanced the experience and the other where the retailer entered an unwanted obstacle for me to procure my merchandise.

Objective numero uno (number one), don't make my life harder, make my life easier.

That said, test usability and get customer feedback before roll out.



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I Don't Have eCommerce, What Should I Do With my Store Website?

By: Amy Hanson - Blogger for One Step Retail Solutions

Setting up eCommerce can be quite a project and not quite what a retailer is ready to jump into. Regardless you still have to make your products and image accessible and give the on-line world a feel for what to expect.

In perusing the recently featured retailers on Refinery 29, Owl N Wood popped up as a key place to stop in Oakland, California. Take a look at how they have built a website that gives you a definite feel for their merchandise though they have no items listed for purchase. If you don't yet have a website for your store, this model is simple yet effective.

As a shopper, I can honestly say I frequently look into a boutique online before making the trip to the brick-and-mortar shop (looking at their website, Facebook and/or Yelp). I make a point of NOT purchasing attire on-line but I prefer to have assessed their look, feel and style to see if it is of interest to me. With so many resources now available at your fingertips, more and more consumers are taking to the web (or their smart phone) before even setting foot in your store.

Also, consider using Instagram to post images of your items, events and even day-to-day activities. Hookup Instagram up to your social sites, blogs and even your website with Statigr.am

One Step Retail Solutions is ranked as one of the top resellers and service providers for some of the most comprehensive and state of the art retail POS software solutions in the industry. For a free retail technology consultation, click HERE.

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TSC Exhibits at 2012 GITEX Technology Week

Date: 14.-18. October 2012
Place: Dubai, United Arabian Emirates
Booth No.: Hall 4, A4-20

TSC Auto ID Technology EMEA GmbH exhibits for the 3rd time at GITEX Technology Week, one of the world's most dynamic and influential ICT exhibitions, and the platform for international business across the Middle East, African, Indian and South Asian markets.

The TSC booth is located in the section of HARDWARE, OFFICE & PRINT SOLUTIONS. TSC Auto ID EMEA and TSC ME present its complete portfolio of label printers, accessories, ribbons, wristbands and label software. The brand new label printer model TA200 and Alpha-3R are showcased the first time in UAE.

With the opening of the TSC office in Dubai in November 2011, TSC Auto ID has firmly committed itself to the Middle East marketplaces. The goal to be the No. 1 label printer supplier in this region by providing resellers with best-in-class products and service has been strictly followed during the last 3 years. The repeated participation in this big tradeshow event underlines our continuity and the correctness of our decision for this area and the expansion of the global operations of TSC.

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Cash Register VS Point of Sale

A cash register will help you count your money. If someone purchases an item you will be able to ring that item up and receive their cash. The more basic a Point of Sale system the closer to a cash register it will be. Without the proper training and customizations, an expensive Point of Sale system can become an overpriced cash register.

A point of sale system will be able to tell you not only how much was spent, but how much of that was profit and give you vital reporting features to be able to drill down into how profitable your store is, predicting trends and giving you the data you need to invest in inventory that will turn the highest profits.

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3 Top Future Uses for Barcode Technology

by Nate Schubert

In August, we talked a little bit about the 3 all-time greatest barcode innovations. These technological advances have revolutionized the way we approach retail point-of-sale checkout, transportation logistics, inventory and asset management, and most recently, marketing promotions. Identifying the top historical uses is certainly valuable, as it allows us to see what has worked in the past, and how barcode technology has actually shaped a number of these industries. We can also use this information to predict some advances in the realm of barcode technology that will likely come into focus within the next 10 years. Many of these functions may be in their infancy today, or may improve greatly over the coming years.

Increased Flexibility for Barcode Scanning in Business

Since the first barcode was scanned in 1974, the process has remained largely unchanged. The barcode scanner at a POS checkout point is designed to read the barcode on an item that is intended for sale, such as food products or tickets to special events. These barcodes are generally printed as part of a product box or bag or as tickets, although they may also be printed onto labels that are affixed to products for easy scanning. As more and more consumers house their coupons, event stubs or airline tickets on their smartphone displays, however, scanning locations are going to need to improve their ability to read barcodes from these devices. 2D Barcode Imagers will most certainly be a requirement because of their ability to easily read barcodes from smartphones and LCD screens.

Barcodes on People?

Since barcodes were first created, conspiracy theorists, futurists and other thinkers have considered a future where every individual is marked with a barcode that is encoded with identifying information, account numbers, arrest records, or any other valuable piece of data. Some have even posed the notion that the mark of the beast will be a barcode. While this makes for a very interesting science fiction novel or film, the reality of the situation is that traditional barcodes may not be ideal for this task. Firstly, barcoded data is largely static, that is to say the data you encoded originally is the same data that the barcode will always contain. As such, the barcode would need to be 2D which allows access to a web address, where the content may certainly be kept up-to-date. 2D barcodes also have error correction which means tarnished barcode tattoos could potentially still be read. That said, RFID technology is likely better suited for alleged dark future of humanity because RFID chips may be implanted in a person, and then transmit their data to receivers who can use it to access important medical records, checking accounts and more.

Enhancing the Advertiser-Consumer Relationship with Barcodes

Over the past few years, marketing professionals from across the world have begun to leverage the power of QR Codes and other 2D barcodes in a couple of different, and really impressive ways. The first benefit that 2D barcodes can provide in marketing promotions is by making advertising campaigns interactive. Today, a person can scan a QR code on the inside of a wrapper, for example, to automatically register a product or for a contest. This is an extremely powerful tool for marketers focused on giving consumers what they want with little to no effort at all. Secondly, the use of QR Codes in marketing campaigns allows a means to track the success of the campaign itself. As a result, promotions can be tweaked and modified for greater future effectiveness in giving the consumer what they want.

Of course, the possibilities that surround barcode technology for the future are virtually limitless. The idea behind barcodes and protected information has been in existence since ancient times, however, and so it is likely that the long-term future is that barcodes will evolve into something more powerful or easier to use.

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Customer Receipts - A Valuable Asset for Retailers

In talking to one of our business partners who deals frequently with retail store operations an increasingly trendy concept came up, adding social contact data and even games to your receipts.

It is interesting to note that many retailers are looking for the ability to customize almost every facet of their business, insuring their successful branding is present in everything a client will see or touch.



Since a receipt can essentially act as a promotional piece, some of the ideas to maximize on it's "real estate" are as follows:

* Include your logo, address, phone number, website (eCommerce site) and social links
* Note an incentive to follow on social, perhaps a discount on next purchase
* Promote upcoming sales and events
* (the ever popular) Include a coupon or discount code for next purchase
* Consider using recycled paper and supporting that cause
Note: Use graphics whenever possible and avoid getting too wordy



One Step Retail Solutions is ranked as one of the top resellers and service providers for some of the most comprehensive and state of the art retail POS software solutions in the industry. For a free retail technology consultation, click HERE.

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NEW: Cost-Saving Bluetooth Barcode-Scanner App

Wireless Barcode-Scanner

TEC-IT is proud to publish a new Android app named Wireless Barcode Scanner. It is used as simple and cost-saving alternative to handheld Bluetooth barcode scanners.

Scanned bar-codes are sent via Bluetooth to the connected PC

Wireless Barcode Scanner scans bar-codes with the built-in camera and transmits the data immediately via Bluetooth™ to your PC or Mac. Linear and 2-D codes are supported.

Additional software is not required. The scanned bar codes are available immediately via a virtual serial port (COM or RS232 port) on your computer using standard tools.

Features

• Wireless Barcode Scanner is extremely easy to setup and use. Just pair your computer with your Android and scan bar-codes remotely. That's it.
• The app detects and decodes common linear and 2D bar-codes fast and reliable.
• Wireless Barcode Scanner is able to scan bar-codes in single-shot or batch mode. In single-shot mode barcodes are scanned one by one, in batch-mode the app scans barcodes automatically until interrupted by the user.
• No data loss! The app logs all scanned barcodes locally on the device for later (re-)sending.
• The Bluetooth connection state or failed bar-code scans are signaled to the user immediately.
• Wireless Barcode Scanner works as Bluetooth Master (supporting SPP - Serial Port Profile). Once paired with the computer, the barcode data can be read with standard software tools from a so-called virtual serial port (RS232 or COM-port).
• The app is available for enterprise licensing (no Google Play account required). Contact TEC-IT for details.
• Last but not least, Wireless Barcode Scanner supports adjustable barcode prefixes, barcode suffixes and decoder character sets.

User Manual

In order to use your Android as Bluetooth barcode scanner you need to perform the steps listed below. This guide is valid for PC users, a short manual for Mac users is available in the Help menu of the app itself.

1. On your Android: Activate Bluetooth
2. Make your Android discoverable so it's visible to all nearby Bluetooth devices (see Android Settings)
3. Start Wireless Barcode Scanner
4. On your PC: Click Add a device (see Control Panel)
5. Wait a few seconds until your Android was discovered by the PC
6. Follow the instructions to pair the devices
7. To find out the assigned COM port number right click on the device in Devices and Printers, select Properties, switch to the Services tab and look for an entry named Serial port (SPP) BlueScanner
8. Use your preferred program to capture the serial data, TEC-IT recommends the keyboard wedge software TWedge for professional data collection tasks.

Please note: If Wireless Barcode Scanner was not started on your Android before pairing, the service Serial Port (SPP) BlueScanner remains unchecked and no COM port number will be assigned to the Bluetooth connection. In this case check the SPP-service and close the dialog with OK. Then retry step 7 above.

Download

QR-Code Scanning

Use Google Play to install the free demo or to purchase the full version. For those without access to Google Play, the application package (APK) can be downloaded from TEC-IT's website.

Feedback

TEC-IT appreciates product feedback and enhancement requests from users. Please contact us via email or comment this blog post.

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Ideas to Incorporate Social into Your Retail Store

* Post reminders to like and follow for special offers, events and more... post at POP, changing room and even just post the social media buttons near the entrance way so that visitors know you are social from the get go.

* Instagram contest - Put up a sign in store and on Instagram regarding a contest. Collage contests, how to use a noted piece in an outfit and even a random drawing of followers.

* Throw an event and include a photo booth. Tell attendees to like you on Facebook so that they can tag themselves in the fun pictures you have posted.

* Arrange a Yelp offer for checking in. This will show up on the Yelp feed and Yelpers will be more likely to write reviews. Promote the offer at the entrance or POP.

* QR codes are gaining popularity and can be synced up to a "like us" page, place these at displays or popular items.

* Consider adding a "pride wall" in your dressing room/s with blog features and reminders to check  out on your social sites.

* Host a Pinterest contest where girls create an out-fit from items in your on-line items. Pick a winner and incorporate it into your main display in store, of course crediting the creative pinner behind the outfit.

* Include social media buttons on each item on-line. Including a Pinterest button.

*Include a review feature on each item so that viewers can feel more certain about their purchase as opposed to going to another site to compare or research option.


Note: Never post hand written signs. Find an appropriate font and print it out. Roll tape and place it on the back of the paper. Ideally get it printed on a low gloss paper to avoid unsightly wear and tear, laminating or placing in a clear sleeve work as well.

One Step Retail Solutions is ranked as one of the top resellers and service providers for some of the most comprehensive and state of the art retail POS software solutions in the industry. For a free retail technology consultation, click HERE.

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Come Visit with TSC at booth 68 at BlueStar Vartech

TSC Auto ID Technology America Inc. is participating in this years BlueStar Vartech show. We will be showing off our new printers including:

  

• The new TSC Value Line of printers designed to bring new profit to resellers of affordable printers
• Our new Alpha-3R portable receipt printer
• Our newly updated TTP-2410M Pro series of rugged industrial printers

 

Welcome to meet with TSC at booth 68 at this years Vartech Bahamas Cruise.

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