A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is like a barcode on steroids. A barcode printed on a cracker box may indicate that the box contains crackers and possibly identify the manufacturer, while an RFID tag carries a serial number that distinguishes that particular box of crackers from all others in the world. Although some companies…
Empowering Customers
Self-Service Gift Cards Paul Burel, director of marketing strategy for U-Scan, Fujitsu’s self-checkout line, said gift cards are a good option for c-store operators “because it’s convenient. It’s the kind of point-of-presence transaction to generate that last-minute gift that someone needs to get.” Going with a self-service gift card program is “really not an add-on,”…
ATM/POS Systems
TOP PERFORMERS Triton Systems PaySpot Inc. MoneyGram HONORABLE MENTIONS Western Union Chase/Paymentech ATM and point-of-sale (POS) systems have helped convenience retailers gain a competitive edge by providing news service and enhanced convenience. Thirty-five key decision makers representing 5,250 stores selected Triton, PaySpot Inc. and MoneyGram as the top performers in the ATM/POS category. Honorable mentions…
Technology
TOP PERFORMERS Gilbarco Veeder-Root Verifone Inc. Professional Datasolutions Inc. (PDI) HONORABLE MENTIONS Dresser Wayne FACTOR Inc. The convenience store industry continues to drive innovation and developing new retail technology systems has been no exception. The 53 chains representing 7,950 stores that participated in CSD’s Brand Preference Study identified Gilbarco Veeder-Root, Verifone Inc. and Professional Datasolutions…
What’s Cooking?
Speed, ease, safety and energy savings—those are the challenges that convenience store operators face each day as they serve fresh foods, both hot and cold, to on-the-go eaters with deadline-driven lives. Fortunately, innovations in foodservice equipment are helping them meet the needs of this demanding customer base and do it better than ever before. Jerry…
Bypassing the Interchange
Alot has changed on the credit card fee front since last year’s NACS/Convenience Store Decisions Webcast, but retailers are still faced with the daunting challenge of finding creative ways to bypass the high interchange fees that plague the c-store industry. The industry’s efforts to battle these fees is getting attention, fostering the hope that real…
Technologies to Watch: Google and VoIP
Two of the most impressive technologies on display at last November’s NACS Show promise to enhance the convenience value proposition for customers and storeowners alike. The first of these comes to the marketplace courtesy of a strategic partnership between Gilbarco Veeder-Root and Google. It will allow customers fueling their vehicles at stations using Gilbarco’s Encore…
Dealing with a Data Landslide
There was a time not so long ago when a vendor would roll boxes of product into a convenience store, plant them on the floor, flash an invoice for the cashier’s signature and then leave with the expectation that the store would sell the product–at least, some of it–by the next delivery date. Thanks to…
Store Automation Can Benefit HR
While scanning is a critical part of a convenience store’s electronic accounting system, the system has the potential to do much more, including contributions in the area of human resources. According to Greg Gilkerson, president of Professional Datasolutions Inc. (PDI), a McLane-owned software and service provider to convenience stores and petroleum wholesalers, the system can…
What VoIP Can Do For You
Even if managing phone calls isn’t a top priority, c-store owners should consider the advantages that a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) system can provide. In addition to providing freedom from escalating phone company bills forever, VoIP can make tasks easier and provide services that may be harder to get or more expensive using a…