The Green Sheet Online Edition
March 3, 2016 • 16:03:01
Printing app, cloud services for mobile POS
Somerset, N.J.-based Star Micronics America Inc., a provider of fixed and mobile POS solutions, launched the PassPRNT app, a new printing application that connects iPad, iPhone and iPod touch devices to Star printers. 
PassPRNT's URL scheme and companion app enable users to send print data from native and web-based applications directly to Star Micronics' Bluetooth-enabled printers, the company said.
Star Micronics' fixed and mobile PassPRNT supported printers include the SM-S230i, SM-T300i, SM-T400i, TSP650II BTi, TSP700II BTi Label, SP700 BTi, and TSP800II BTi. According to Star Micronics, the easy-to-use integration method enables users to print from any FileMaker Go project, native and web-based application.
Complementary technologies, SDKs
The ability to automatically toggle between host and PassPRNT applications gives iOS devices a unique advantage, enabling iOS users to make a "one-tap" request to a PassPRNT-enabled Star printer from their connected devices, the company noted. The Star Micronics PassPRNT application is available at the AppStore. Star Micronics' web-based printing options include remote cloud printing, wireless cash drawer solutions, proximity-based printing, and secure cash management. Star's suite of complementary software development kits (SDKs) enables software developers to integrate Star printer functionality into Android and iOS iPad and iPhone devices to generate receipts for all of its printers.
Interactive, digital receipts
Star Micronics Cloud is a new cloud platform designed to enhance all Star Micronics products. Even older legacy Star devices can leverage the platform to access an array of services and web-based applications, the company pointed out.
These cloud-based services can add value to receipts, providing merchants with a meaningful way to connect and communicate with their customers. While receipts can be a useful medium for delivering messages to customers, they do not always allow customers to respond to merchants. Star Micronics is committed to using digital technology to change the way customers see and use receipts, expanding the longevity of a typical receipt lifespan from a few hours or days to an ongoing conversation between customers and retailers.
Following are examples of cloud-based technologies that Star Micronics has deployed at select retailers to make receipts more dynamic and interactive:
- Interactive receipt management: This digital receipt application enables customers to manage their receipts digitally, while retailers receive instant feedback on customer satisfaction.
- Device management: Users can remotely monitor and manage Star products from anywhere.
- Customer surveys: Customers can voice opinion and satisfaction levels using a unique URL on a digital or printed receipt.
- Immediate engagement: Retailers can get customers to respond to targeted promotions without requiring them to share an email address.
- Customized graphics: Merchants can enhance printer receipts by customizing fonts, adding graphics, logos and coupons, or use a text processing function to replace printed information or trigger automatic coupons.
- Multiple receipts: Star devices can be programmed to print multiple copies.
The future of receipts
In its ebook titled The Value of Receipts: Printed and Digital, Star Micronics noted that merchants can use digital technologies to manage paper-based and digital receipts, deriving the best of both worlds.
"Recent years have seen the development of digital receipt management solutions that … make organizing and storing receipts far easier and more convenient for customers than ever before," the authors wrote. "Older solutions require an email address and a scanner to send the customer a digital version of a receipt. This can be both off-putting and expensive for customers."
The company advises merchants to use digital apps, such as quick response code scanning methods, that enable customers to collect digital receipts freely and anonymously. Digital receipt solutions may not eliminate the need for paper receipts, but they can improve their usage, collection and storage, the authors added. 
Website: www.starmicronics.com Contact: sales@starmicronics.com
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