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The Eye on Retail Information Systems
August 15, 2005
Volume 10 Issue 15


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As self-service shopping has gone mainstream in supermarkets, supercenters, and home improvement centers, self-checkout systems will generate transactions worth $161 billion in 2005, according to a new study from retail technology consulting firm IHL Consulting Group.



MONTREAL, Aug. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- NSB Group today announced they have been ranked by IHL Consulting Group as the number one installed supplier of POS software to top specialty softgoods retailers in the recent report, A Retailer's Guide: POS Software for Softgoods Retailers.



The revolution in retail transactions is not complete. There are entire states (Oregon and New Jersey) where you can't pump your own gas. A new IHL Consulting study provides more compelling evidence that self-checkout represents a major shift change in the habits of consumers, one that is welcomed and is increasingly becoming expected everywhere that people shop.



A recent story in the Chicago Tribune carried the title, "Service gets lost in self-serve world." Swanson may not like it, but the self-service trend is just getting started. IHL Consulting Group, which recently studied the self-service market, estimates that $128 billion in sales were recorded on self-service machines in 2004, up 80 percent from the previous year. That number is expected to grow to $1.3 trillion by 2008.



BLACKWOOD, N.J., Aug. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Metrologic Instruments, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTLG) today announced that it has formalized an agreement with Target Corporation to provide MS1690 Focus handheld imaging bar code scanners for their retail stores. Metrologic expects shipment of scanners to Target to begin immediately.



Typically, a CIO arguing for a $30 to $40 million IT investment for new payment systems has to answer a lot of questions from a skeptical CEO, chief financial officer and board members. But that wasn't the recent experience of Canadian Tire Corp. CIO Andrew Wnek.



PHOENIX, Aug. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hypercom Corporation (NYSE: HYC) announced today the immediate availability of the new P1300 PIN Pad, the first handheld PIN entry device to meet the rigorous new PCI (Payment Card Industry) security standards established by Visa International and MasterCard International to protect consumers at the point-of-sale.



A major regional fast-food chainwith 433 restaurants in the Southeastern United Statesis going to offer free wireless connections to anyone who wants to surf while sitting in a burger joint.



ATLANTA Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (HPCL), the second largest integrated oil refining and marketing company in India, has selected NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) as the lead contractor for an automation initiative being deployed at 165 of HPCL's "Club HP" retail outlets.



Ultimate Technology Corporation, a leading provider of open system Point-of-Service (POS) hardware solutions and services, has announced that Kerasotes Theatres, one of the industry's premier motion picture companies, has chosen the UltimaTouch" 1800 Series POS Touch Workstation as the standard for deployment in their theatre ticketing counters.



ARNOLD, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 9, 2005--Missouri residents can now conveniently and securely pay for goods with just their finger at Express Mart-Arnold in Arnold, Missouri using technology from biometric payments leader BioPay, LLC.



With almost 3,000 stores in all 50 states, the Rent-A-Center retail chain needs to be able to expand quickly and easily. But its business model allows customers to rent and return merchandise with little notice, forcing store layouts to be flexible. What if 30 customers return mattresses to the same store tomorrow?



One Stop, the Tesco-owned convenience store chain, says it has made significant savings by using its existing systems as the basis for its chip-and-PIN infrastructure.



Precidia Technologies announced the Class B Certification of its POSLynx220" secure multiport IP converter by Vital Processing Services (Vital). The POSLynx220 has been anxiously anticipated by Vital merchants and service providers who want to lower costs and speed transactions, while retaining existing point-of-sale (POS) systems.



PSC, Inc. announced that it has entered into an agreement with the Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) to supply mobile and wireless products to its Navy Exchanges. Under this contract valued at $5.5 million, PSC will supply its rugged mobile computing products for the next three to five years.



San Jose, CA - August 08, 2005 - VeriFone Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: PAY), the leading provider of payment solutions, today announced installation of more than 2,000 Topaz/Sapphire integrated point-of-sale (POS) systems for Valero Energy Corp. (NYSE: VLO), one of the nation's largest retail operators with more than 4,700 retail and branded wholesale sites in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean.



Cheers Food and Fuel and Express Mart-Arnold, Arnold, Mo., are now offering biometric payment at the checkout counter, BioPay, Herndon, Va., announced. Cheers Food and Fuel has implemented the system, which allows shoppers to pay by touching a reader with their fingerprint, in its Paducah store.



(COMPUTERWORLD) - Ritz Camera Centers Inc. plans to deploy Linux in more than 1,200 stores across the country, joining a growing list of retailers that have opted to run their in-store point-of-sale (POS) applications on the open-source operating system.



A west suburban credit-card manufacturer is poised to cash in on an emerging trend in transactions -- "contactless" credit cards that consumers simply wave in front of readers to make quick purchases under $25.



As the retail industry starts to embrace contactless payment in a big way - led by $41 billion retailer 7-Eleven and Chase, the nation's largest issuer of credit cards - arguments are renewing about just how safe and fraud-proof these cards will be.



NSB announces that longtime client The Jean Shop Limited, who operates 46 Eclipse stores across Eastern Canada, has selected NSB's Connected Retailer Managed Services offering.



(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fujitsu Transaction Solutions Inc. is launching a new marketing communications campaign to promote its partnering philosophy and its expertise in providing information technology solutions for consumer transaction environments.



NBC 10 Consumer Reporter Audrey Laganas reported that men are more likely than women to use self-serve checkout lanes at stores, according to a new survey.The study by the IHL Consulting Group said men are 17 percent more likely than women to use a self-checkout lane. They are 60% more likely to say they use self-checkout "all the time."





SAN JOSE, Calif. & PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 3, 2005--Business Objects (Nasdaq:BOBJ - News; Euronext Paris ISIN code: FR0004026250 - BOB), the world's leading provider of business intelligence (BI) solutions, today announced that Rent-A-Center, the nation's largest rent-to-own operator, has selected BusinessObjects(TM) XI as its enterprise business intelligence standard.



(BUSINESS WIRE)--eTouchPoint.com, the leader in next-generation On-Demand Customer Relationship Management Services, today announced another first in delivering best-in-class customer satisfaction and employee retention.



According to a Forrester Research report released on Wednesday, the customer-relationship management (CRM) market is rife with dissatisfied customers who are betting millions of dollars on products and services that do not fully satisfy their needs.





Ecometry Corp., a leading supplier of software for multi-channel commerce, reported that five new customers have selected the company's flagship product, the Ecometry Commerce Suite.



(MARKET WIRE)--WebTrends announced that ShopLocal has selected WebTrends 7 On Demand to measure and optimize The ShopLocal Network and its SmartCircular and Smart Catalog services. ShopLocal.com plans to leverage WebTrends to improve the web-to-store shopping experience for consumers on ShopLocal.com and its clients' retail web sites.



SAN MATEO, Calif., Aug. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Coremetrics, the leading provider of hosted Web analytics and precision marketing solutions, today announced that Costco Wholesale Corp. has implemented Coremetrics to track and analyze comprehensive customer and visitor behavior for the www.costco.com Web site.



LOUISVILLE, Ky., Aug. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- TelaPoint, Inc., a leading Internet supply chain software provider for the Convenience Store and Petroleum industry, announced today that Carolina Petroleum Distributors, Inc. has implemented its TelaFuel Internet software solution to streamline and manage its fuel marketing and transportation scheduling processes.



Redwood Shores, Calif. 08-AUG-2005 Overstock.com, one of the world's largest and fastest-growing online retailers, announced it is standardizing on Oracle CRM applications and Oracle Fusion Middleware.





(BUSINESS WIRE)--QSR Automations announced that Brinker International is implementing its ePic Kitchen Management Solution - including the ePic Kitchen Display Software and ePic video controller with QSR's KP-3000 keypad - within all company owned On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina and Corner Bakery Cafe restaurants.



Pegasus Solutions, Inc. and Open Hospitality, Inc. announced an agreement to include a newly integrated version of Open's interactive Web services in Pegasus' suite of service offerings to hotels.



(BUSINESS WIRE)--SPS Commerce announced that Johnson Outdoors Inc. has selected the SPS solution as its corporate-wide standard for all of its EDI. Starting this fall, Johnson Outdoors will begin a total company migration to the SPS service, replacing all existing EDI software, and integrate the EDI solution with its Oracle JD Edwards software.



ASDA has completed the successful roll out of Kronos Workforce Central at all its UK Distribution Centres. The Kronos system allows ASDA to manage employees' time and attendance, leave, Working Time Directive compliance, and interfaces directly with the company's HR system and payroll solution.



There was speculation about Oracle acquiring an interest in i-flex, an Indian company that specializes in banking e-business applications. Now it turns out that the speculation was accurate, with Oracle having poured over $900 million into the company to take over Citibank's 41 percent stake.



ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 15, 2005--Lawson Software (Nasdaq:LWSN) today announced the availability of Lawson 8.1.0 Technology for IBM-AIX and HP-UX platforms, which significantly enhances security capabilities and improves performance while enabling clients to use industry-standard application servers.





(BUSINESS WIRE)--NCR Corporation announced "TransitionWorks," a newly expanded radio frequency identification (RFID) demonstration center located in Atlanta.



(MARKET WIRE)--Intelligent Systems announced that it has joined IBM's PartnerWorld Industry Networks. The company, a division of MeadWestvaco Corporation, can now take advantage of IBM's sales, marketing and technical expertise to develop and deliver on demand solutions that meet customer requirements in the retail item-level RFID industry.



China is the manufacturing capital of the world and the largest market for technology. Currently, the country is home to 95 million Internet users.



MARC Global announced an expanded partnership with Alien Technology Corporation, a leading provider of Radio Frequency Identification products. MARC Global, with its robust RFID Enabler solutions, will resell Alien Technology RFID readers and tags to a broad market base.



RFID system costs have come down, finally making the technology's return on investment attractive. While several years ago, the simplest RFID tags cost $1 to $5, they now sell for 25 cents to 50 cents. And tag prices are still dropping.



HACKENSACK, N.J., Aug. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- I.D. Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: IDSY), a leader in wireless asset tracking and management solutions, today announced that it has been awarded a maintenance contract by Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) to support I.D. Systems' Wireless Asset Net fleet management system.



DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 15, 2005--Packaged RFID (OTC:RFDL - News) today announced an alliance with Independent Professional Management (IPM) establishing IPM as an integral part of Packaged RFID's integration initiatives for small to medium-sized Wal-Mart suppliers.



Aug. 3, 2005 Roughly 10 percent of all perishable goods (fresh produce and other food products) goes to waste before consumers purchase it. As such, retailers have a particular challenge: How do you keep perishables in stock and on the shelves without having them spoil?



Aug. 1, 2005 Katherine Albrecht, founder of Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering (CASPIAN) and a vocal opponent of RFID technologies, has written a book entitled "Spychips: How Major Corporations and Government Plan to Track Your Every Move with RFID".





PRNewswire/ -- TravelCLICK, through a partnership with Beijing Great Consulting Co., Ltd., has reached a multi-year agreement with BTG-Jianguo Hotels and Resorts to provide GDS and website connectivity via the iHotelier central reservation system.



(MARKET WIRE)--eTail 2005 Conference -- CommerceHub announced at the eTail 2005 conference that it has launched a supply chain industry first -- Partner Relationship Management application.



Oracle announced that Shoe Carnival has selected Oracle's ProfitLogic Retail Profit Optimization Solution to use across Shoe Carnival's 266 U.S. stores.



UTRECHT and ATLANTA - August 2, 2005 - Manhattan Associates, Inc. (Nasdaq: MANH), the global leader in providing supply chain execution and optimization solutions, today announced that Pearl Music Europe BV has successfully implemented the Warehouse Management component of Manhattan Associates' Integrated Logistics Solutions at its distribution center in Venlo, the Netherlands.



Scottsdale, Ariz. JDA Software Group, Inc. announced that Casino Group, a $29 billion food retailer with more than 8,300 stores in 11 countries, licensed the new JDA Portfolio advanced replenishment software developed on Microsoft .NET in second quarter 2005.



Scottsdale, Ariz. August 4, 2005 JDAﾮ Software Group, Inc. announced that Charlotte Russe Holding, Inc. (Nasdaq: CHIC), a 370 store mall-based specialty apparel and accessories retailer, implemented several JDA Portfolio applications in just five months for its contemporary fashion Rampage chain.



ALBANY, NY--(MARKET WIRE)--Aug 1, 2005 -- CommerceHub, a leading provider of fulfillment and integration solutions for retailers operating in multi-channel environments, today announced a contract expansion with Costco, a leading international operator of membership warehouses, to continue support of the company's United States and Canadian .com operations.





While Wal-Mart Stores blamed higher gas prices for cutting into its sales in the second quarter, CEO Lee Scott said Tuesday he's concerned that the worst may be yet to come. Tom Schoewe, Wal-Mart's chief financial officer, chimed in during the call, adding that Wal-Mart was hit with a double-whammy because of the escalating price of fuel. On one hand, higher gas prices will continue to cut into the pocketbooks of Wal-Mart's predominantly low-to-mid-income customers. "That will impact our operating income," Schoewe said. Wal-Mart maintains that it averages about 100 million customers a week to its stores, making the retailer a good barometer of the mood of the consumer. At the same time, Schoewe said more expensive fuel was costing Wal-Mart more on the back end of the business, primarily to use its vast trucking fleet to move freight around the country to its stores.



Carrefour denied Monday it was holding talks with Wal-Mart, following a newspaper report that executives from the two companies met in what could be precursor to a bid for the French retailer."Carrefour denies that there have been any talks between Carrefour and Wal-Mart," said a company spokeswoman.



(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Pantry announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 13 convenience stores in Alabama from Chatham Oil Company, Inc., which has been operating the stores under the Speedmart Food Stores banner.



Shakeouts and consolidations in other retailer segments - department, drug and grocery stores, in particular - are expanding the possibilities for specialty stores as both suppliers and consumers seek new outlets for merchandise.



SHANGHAI, China (AP) -- Building anti-Chinese sentiment in Washington -- the key reason cited by Chinese oil company CNOOC for withdrawing its $18.4 billion offer for Unocal -- augers poorly for future economic ties between the two powers, analysts say.



When it comes to financial performance, you don't get much better than Bed Bath & Beyond.



SANTIAGO, Chile, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Rising Chilean consumer demand spurred by improved economic conditions is seen driving sales growth at two of the nation's top retailers in the first half of the year.



NEW YORK, Aug. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Duane Reade Holdings, Inc. today reported financial results for the second quarter and first half ended June 25, 2005.



In what could become the world's most significant 21st-century strategic alliance, a strengthened partnership is forming between the two largest English-speaking democracies: the United States and India. President Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh cemented bilateral ties in recent White House talks, paving the way for greater trade, investment and technological collaboration.



Time was when retail-return fraud meant buying an expensive dress or suit for a big soire and returning the rumpled item, tags intact, the next day for a refund. But today's scams are far more sophisticated -- and costly.



Retail Brand Alliance Inc. will sell all 550 Casual Corner stores to Gordon Brothers Group LLC, a Boston-based retail liquidator. Casual Corner is a women's clothing chain that has been struggling recently.



CHICAGO, Aug 15 (Reuters) - A former Kmart chief executive officer, whom the company accused of contributing to its 2002 bankruptcy, has been cleared of wrongdoing in a civil lawsuit filed by the retailer's former creditors, the Detroit News reported on Monday.



MEDIA, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 15, 2005--A recent study conducted by ICR indicates that teenage girls report outspending their male counterparts.



MONTVALE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 15, 2005--The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc. (NYSE: GAP) today announced that its subsidiary, A&P Luxembourg S.a.r.l., has completed the previously announced sale of A&P Canada to METRO INC., a supermarket and pharmaceutical operator in the Provinces of Quebec and Ontario, Canada.



TIJUANA, Mexico (AP) -- Samsung Electronics Co. has an odd sales pitch for one of its new televisions. A slide show for dealers features a drawing of a TV on a tombstone that reads, "The news of my demise is greatly exaggerated!"



NEW YORK (AP) -- Ahold Ltd., the Dutch owner of supermarkets and discount stores in Europe and the Americas, on Monday said it plans to acquire 67 Julius Meinl supermarkets in the Czech Republic from a unit of Austrian firm Julius Meinl International AG.





(BUSINESS WIRE)--NCR announced that its board of directors has named William (Bill) Nuti to the posts of president and CEO of NCR, and elected him to the board of directors. The appointment takes effect on Aug. 8, 2005.



WEST GREENWICH, R.I., Aug. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- GTECH Holdings Corporation (NYSE: GTK - News) today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, GTECH Corporation, has been selected by Washington's Lottery to negotiate a new long-term contract for a new online and instant lottery system, terminals, communications network, and ongoing services.



(MARKET WIRE) -- IBM Business Consulting Services announced that Gartner has positioned IBM in the leader quadrant in its 2005 Magic Quadrant for North American Supply Chain Management Service Providers*. IBM was also placed in the leader quadrant in this year's Gartner Magic Quadrant reports for Customer Relationship Management (CRM) service providers, in both North America and Europe and in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) in North America.



With nearly 2000 entries submitted from around the globe, Microsoft announced DigiPoS Systems Retail Blade as their choice for their 2005 Global Technology Innovation Award, Global Partner of the Year.



(MARKET WIRE)- Active Decisions announced it has achieved industry optimized status in IBM's PartnerWorld Industry Networks. Active Decisions can now take advantage of IBM's sales, marketing and technical expertise to develop and deliver on demand solutions that meet customer Guided Selling requirements in the retail industry.



Manhattan Associates here will acquire Evant, San Francisco, a supply chain planning and replenishment solutions provider, for $50 million



PARK CITY, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 15, 2005--Park City Group, Inc. (OTCBB:PKCY) announced today that they have completed a three million dollar software licensing transaction with the Rosemount, MN based Cannon Solutions.



SSA Global Technologies has agreed to acquire CRM developer Epiphany for US$329 million in cash.



IBM Corp. last week fleshed out its already-strong data integration portfolio with the acquisition of privately-held DWL Inc., a leading provider of customer data integration (CDI) middleware.



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