T UCH
AURES SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2017
IT NEWS BUSINESS
DIVERSE SOLUTIONS FOR A COMMUNITY CLUB
BANKSTOWN SPORTS CLUB
TABLETS
WHY CONSUMER GRADE DOESN’T CUT IT
RELIABILITY
THE CONSEQUENCE OF GOOD DESIGN
PRODUCT IN FOCUS SWING TABLET
AURES.COM
WELCOME
Welcome to our latest edition of our Touch newsletter. It’s been a busy year for our team at AURES and one of reflection and refinement. For us it is not just about the product. In fact, our impact on the product design is minimal. Thankfully our experienced product experts have that side of the business in check. Since the beginning of the year, we have been refining our processes to enable our journey of being the best POS terminal provider in the market continue. Our focus is in ensuring we wrap our products with the best service without complexity. We recently had the opportunity to sit with the AURES Chief Technology Officer in Norman Campbell and discuss his focus on what he strives to achieve in developing POS hardware. Norman is one of the world’s leading POS designers and has been for over 30 years. Summarising his approach can best be described as keeping it simple. Simply looking at the key functions of what a POS solution must achieve in performance and reliability over an extended life. There is alot to be said for keeping your POS systems simple an effective. Our experience has shown us that when you do, you generally end up with a great experience. Keeping it simple involves such things as matching your hardware to your software needs, having the same hardware across all your stores in a multi store environment and keeping your implementation processes simple. Simple is smart. Simple is efficient. Simple is effective. As we enter the busy part of a POS users calendar we wish you all the best and thank you for being part of the AURES journey in 2017.
Phil Wild Managing Director
NEWS
GERMAN RETAIL GIANT CHOOSES THE YUNO. Klaufland, the German retail giant, has signed a fiveyear contract with the AURES Group that will see around 20,000 YUNO terminals installed in their grocery businesses across Germany, Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia and soon to be Australia. “We are very satisfied with this major contract with a global player, in a key retail sector.”, said Patrick Cathala, Chief Executive Officer General of AURES. “
CRAVEABLE BRANDS MOVES FROM MICROS TO AURES. Craveable Brands, encompassing Opporto, Red Rooster and Chicken Treat quick service restaurants has recently chosen the AURES YUNO as their future POS terminal. A long-time MICROS Symphony solution user and accompanying MICROS hardware, Craveable Brands undertook a review of their POS terminal hardware as a result of a changing MICROS hardware landscape. A new hardware solution that offered a stylish look, extended warranty and great serviceability was sought and the AURES YUNO came out on top.
J2 600 SERIES GETS A BOOST The next generation in the J2 600 series terminals is here in the J2 690. Offering the same form factor as previous models, the J2 690 benefits from uprated performance based around Intel’s 4th generation dual core processors. The J2 690 can operate in a fan off or on mode to suit your environment.
aures.com summer 2017
IN FOCUS
Swing A new concept in POS tablet AURES has launched an all new POS tablet with some very striking and versatile features. It’s called the Swing and it will redefine your view on how a tablet can be utilised in a POS environment. Versatility in a POS tablet is a bold claim, one that AURES sought to truly achieve. This involves having a tablet that works both as a mobile handheld device or as a stationary POS terminal. At first sight, you will notice the unique mounting bracket on the rear of the device. We call it AURES’ “POGO” system. It’s a magnetic mounting system that features motorised, retractable security locks. It helps position the tablet in a stand and holds it securely. Not only will the design ensure stable mounting but also allow for secure connecion of the tablet on a pole or wall mount. The POGO system solves the problem of having a securely mounted tablet when used as a POS terminal while also reducing the chance of theft. When used handheld, the Swing offers an ergonomic design that features an offset hand strap for even weight distribution. The soft touch exterior is highly drop resistant making it perfect for enterprise applications. The multi-touchscreen offers 10.1” of high definition goodness and processing comes in the way of the Intel Bay TraIl TCR Z3735F. System memory is selectable from 2 to 4GB and 32 to 64GB of Flash memory. A Micro SD port allows for further storage space. Other features include built in camera’s front and back, MSR reader, built-in barcode scanner, MSR reader, built-in arm for console/desk unit positioning and hot swapable battery. Wireless connectivity covers all bases including WiFi, Bluetooth and cellular. The style that AURES has become synonymous with continues to the Swing with the result being a striking look. For more information about the Swing contact the team at AURES. Contact the team at AURES to find out more.
aures.com summer 2017
Model SWING 10’’ Tablet Processor Intel Bay Trail TCR Z3735F System memory (RAM) 2 to 4 GB DDR 3L Flash memory 32 to 64 GB eMMC LCD 10,1’’ multi-touchscreen (PCAP) Resolution 1920 x 1200 / 350 nits Technology Multi-touch, projected, capacitive 5-point touchscreen Extension Micro SD Port 1 Sensors G-sensor, Ambient light sensor Scanner buttons 2 Loudspeaker 1 x 1W Built-in camera 5 MP (back) + 2 MP (front) MSR reader 1 x 3 tracks (optional extra) Built-in Barcode scanner 2D (optional extra) Built-in arm 1 (articulated , on back side) POGO Docking Station (option) Complete orientable base/stand Light Box (option) 1 Multi-charging cradle 1 (for 4 batteries) Battery and power consumption 8000 mAh – 3.7 V – 29.6 Wh (8h battery life) + Battery hot swap 1 x 1100 mAh Wireless Connection Built-in omni-channel reader module WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n, 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz, Bluetooth 4.0 + LE, classe 2, RFID + NFC (hands-free) + Bluetooth via smartphone identification (optional extra) Cellular network 3G/LTE module (optional extra) + SIM card slot Dimensions (W x H x D) 262.3 x 170.3 x 17.3 mm Maximum weight 990g (2.18 lbs) (including peripherals) Colours & materials black or white thermoplastic polyurethane + aluminium for some peripherals and the flexible back arm OS 32-bit Windows 10 IOT Enterprise, 64-bit Android 4.4.4
TECHNICAL
Tablets- Why consumer grade doesn’t cut it in business.
Tablets are growing in popularity for use in retail and hospitality environments. Many first reactions to the need for a tablet is to go to your nearest tech shop and purchase any tablet. This reaction was not dissimilar to when point of sale solutions came into favour in retail and the nearest consumer grade device was purchased for use. It didn’t take long for committed retailers and hospitality outlets to realise that any old computer was not up to the task and companies began building dedicated hardware suitable for POS use. The simple fact is that the nature of POS environments call for reliable hardware that is designed for prolonged use in often challenging environments. Why should you consider enterprise grade tablet devices? The reasons are abundant. Functionality
Ruggedness
An enterprise grade device will offer functionality that specifically supports your POS function needs. You won’t see an inbuilt barcode scanner or MSR on a consumer device. You won’t get replaceable batteries so you can ensure constant operation throughout the entire working shift.
Enterprise grade tablets are built for reliability. They will often meet high drop specifications and IP ratings, especially important were spills are frequent. Consumer grade devices can be very slimline and stylish but if you accidently drop one it could render the device inoperable.
Consumer grade devices do not come with the same support levels as a dedicated enterprise grade device. An enterprise grade tablet, such as those offered by AURES, benefit from the same support levels that traditional POS terminals do. This is a responsive service aimed at getting your hardware operational as quickly as possible so to reduce any loss of revenue.
Form Working with a tablet all day provides significant ergonomic challenges. One handed use is important and this is why most enterprise grade devices will offer a strap. Positioning of the strap is important to ensure that a balanced grip can be maintained to reduce operator fatigue. Many enterprise tablets will also allow for mounting on a desktop stand. This allows the tablet to be used a multipurpose device. For example, a sales processing POS terminal at a counter when mounted in a stand and a visual merchandising tool when handheld.
When a device is inoperable in the enterprise environment it means that the businesses function is compromised. A loss of revenue results. It is therefore more important to choose a tablet that is rugged enough to handle the day to day use in the workplace than the most stylish, slimline tablet device.
The verdict is clear When it comes to IT POS hardware, you should always select hardware that is fit for purpose. That means you should choose hardware that performs at the level you require to maintain good business practices and is suitable for day to day use in rugged environments.
Support All POS hardware has a finite life. Some sooner than others but in your time of need you need to be able to get the assistance required to get you up and running.
If in doubt consult the team at AURES and they will be happy to guide you through the process of matching the right hardware for your needs.
aures.com summer 2017
BANKSTOWN SPORTS CLUB DIVERSE SOLUTIONS
FOR A COMMUNITY CLUB
FEATURE
Burger bar features YUNO terminals.
Customer displays are a popular choice at the club.
From the time you enter the large foyer to
The venue features an expansive hospitality
when you leave you know you are in a special
offering including live shows, movies, 13
place.
function and event spaces including The Grand Ballroom, a variety of restaurants and bars, and
Bankstown Sports Club, in the heart of the
Monkey Mania play centre.
busy Sydney suburb of Bankstown, was established in 1958 by group of visionary sport
When it comes to food and drink at Bankstown
representatives that wanted to create a space
Sports Club, the choice is endless. From a
for local sporting groups in the area to gather.
cafĂŠ, pizza, fine-dining, Chinese, burger bar, Italian and the numerous bars offering different
Now one of the largest clubs in NSW, with more
ambience, it is truly a place that caters for all
than 65,000 members and 500 staff it is well
tastes and moods.
positioned as one of Sydney’s top 10 registered clubs.
aures.com summer 2017
FEATURE
The compact AURES NINO terminals are a great choice for the high traffic cafe.
The POS Challenge
the entire venue using AURES terminals of some variety.
A busy venue spanning a large area, differing requirements, a diverse range of venues with their own specific needs makes Bankstown Sports Club a challenging POS environment but one they have met head on.
It is the variety in hardware that is impressive. AURES terminals used including J2 600 series, NINO and YUNO. Bankstown Sports Club worked with Task Retail to determine the best solution for each application in the venue.
At peak times, venues are very busy and cater for high volumes of traffic. The cafĂŠ sees a constant stream of customers. POS Terminals are working non-stop to keep up.
As new AURES terminals have come about, the club has not been hesitant to adopt the latest solutions such as the YUNO terminal.
Such an environment commands a quality solution as any downtime will directly relate to a loss of sales and reduced customer satisfaction. After a review of their POS environment, the club moved to the Task Retail POS solution and, on the recommendation of Task, chose to partner with AURES for their POS terminal needs.
A diverse AURES solution Bankstown Sports Club is reminiscent of an AURES showroom with
aures.com summer 2017
Significant investment has been made in the fitout of the venue with an amazing array of looks and feels. The diversity in environments meant that a POS terminal could be selected to match the need and mood, working to complement the fitout. The cafĂŠ, with its high-volume sales and restricted counter space, use the compact NINO.
No slowing down Bankstown Sports Club has become a major part of the Bankstown
environment, a place for the community to unite.
AURES J2600 series terminals on the counter in the Chinese restaurant.
A great example of how a pole mounted terminal can save valuable counter space.
The management are continually evaluating new technology that may assist in providing greater customer service and streamline processes such as the use of tablets as part of their POS infrastructure. What does Bankstown Sports Club think about using AURES POS terminals? “A great fit for our business. The terminals are reliable, scalable and easy to manage.”, IT Manger Brendan Stenner commented. A critical decision for the adoption of AURES hardware was the availability of prompt access to replacement or spare parts. The close proximity of the AURES head office has helped in this regard but dealing directly with the manufacturer has meant the most knowledgeable and responsive service can be offered. Bankstown Sports Club is truly a remarkable venue. It’s diversity in offering, that caters for everyone and anything you could imagine, from one hospitality provider is inspiring. In a small way, AURES is helping their vision come to life and achieve the goal of providing the best customer service at the point of sale.
aures.com summer 2017
EDUCATION
Reliability The consequence of good design.
Reliability is a word that is used often when it comes to POS
that significant effort is required to build reliable POS hardware.
hardware. A POS terminal consists of hundreds of components. Some But what’s the big deal and why is it such an important
large and some small but every component has an effective
factor in a POS application?
operating life, under specific conditions. Finding the right match of components and eliminating the weakest link that will effect long
A POS hardware platform needs to last. The longer it can work,
term reliability is a unique science that comes with knowledge.
the more cost effective the POS installation and therefore return on investment. A typical life span is more than five years and in some
Every component has a finite life. Some more than others. If the
cases, we have seen hardware lasting twenty years.
lamps that light the monitor have a life of 10,000 hours then no matter whether other components are still operable, the terminal
POS hardware is a business investment, an investment in
will fail once the lamps reach end of life. Same goes for other
managing your business processes. If the hardware fails then your
components.
business process begins to fail. Sounds simple but think about it. Your POS system was implemented to solve a business problem.
Heat management is a major challenge in POS terminals. Not only
That could be to streamline the processing of sales, manage
is it a contributing factor to shortened life but also for effective
inventory or to collate data that can assist with business decision
component performance. The positioning of components within
making.
the terminal is imperative.
All these problems that are solved with a POS system now cease
What AURES seeks to achieve is to maximise life of components.
once your hardware fails.
This can be achieved through placement of components that reduce the impacts of heat or something as simple as dimming the
Understanding the need for reliability and a long service life means
aures.com summer 2017
monitor light source slightly to increase life.
The quest for reliability is an evolutionary one. For example,
Like we service cars to keep them reliable so to must we be
AURES terminals try to minimise, even negate the need for ribbon
mindful of servicing POS terminals to maximise their life.
cables, a known source of failure. As time progresses, new developments are made and the customer benefits.
Success breeds success.
Maintenance influencing reliability
When a POS company achieves a high level of reliability in their products then that is a sign that they have a winning formula.
Reliability is also a consequence of good maintenance. Good maintenance is supported by ease of servicing of a POS terminal.
The winning formula is a consequence of knowledge and an investment in the research and development of products.
Creating terminal designs that allow for easy access to internal components is imperative. Being able to easily open a terminal
Not only does knowledge refer to computing technology but also
for something as simple as cleaning is important. POS terminals
the environment and use of POS equipment.
work in dusty environments and this dust and grime finds its way into terminals. The grime that coats components can impact
The devil is in the detail but knowing what detail to consider
their performance over time. Fans can become inefficient, motors
comes with experience.
clogged, components operate at higher temperatures leading to reduced life.
The role of POS terminals is easily defined. Driving POS software effectively, day in day out. A simple brief but one that is difficult to
When we receive a terminal for repair or maintenance we will
truly achieve but one that AURES is challenged to achieve every
always open the terminal and blow out any dust and grime.
day.
It’s extraordinary how much gunk is removed from the average terminal.
aures.com summer 2017
Ph (02) 9584 5222 Email ausales@aures.com
aures.com
Every care has been taken in compiling the contacts of this newsletter, but we assume no responsibility for the effects arising therefrom. AURES Technology Pty Ltd does not accept any responsibility arising in any way (including negligence) for errors in, or omissions from, the information provided in TOUCH newsletter. All information was correct at the time of print.