The Green Sheet Online Edition

November 09, 2015 • Issue 15:11:01

New Products

High-speed, fast-casual POS tablet solution

Product: AirREGI for QSRs
Company: Recruit Holdings Co. Ltd.

Recruit Holdings Co. Ltd., a diversified company established in 1968 and based in Tokyo, created AirREGI, an adaptable cloud-based tablet solution for small business owners. The company reported it has approximately 200,000 hospitality and retail users in Japan, and adoption has spread to other regions. It plans to launch a pilot in the United States with quick service and fast-casual restaurants, commonly dubbed the QSR sector.

AirREGI is part of an extended family of brands designed to drive process improvement across a range of vertical industries. These solutions are managed by Recruit Lifestyle Co. Ltd., a four-year old AirREGI subsidiary. "Our unwavering mission as a company is to serve society [with] a source of new opportunities," said Ken Asano, Recruit Lifestyle President and Representative Director. Asano noted that the United States, like Japan, is a mature market with many untapped opportunities.

Built for speed

In the QSR industry, profitability is directly linked to speed of service. The AirREGI system is designed to help QSR operators maintain consistently high performance levels. Following are ways Recruit Holdings mentioned that AirREGI can positively impact a fast food restaurant's speed of service, accuracy and overall customer experience:

• Fewer key strokes: AirREGI software requires fewer steps to complete a sale, which can reduce checkout time, eliminate redundancies and mitigate potential for human error.
• Simple, intuitive interface: AirREGI sports a simplified user interface that involves little to no training, a benefit in the fast food industry where employee turnover is acknowledged to be high.
• No service interruptions: The AirREGI order entry system performs offline to facilitate a faster and more consistently reliable dining experience. Users can enter orders without having to rely on Internet connectivity.
• Real-time updates: QSR operators can update menu items and apply tips and discounts in real time with AirREGI. The cloud-based system also provides automatic software updates.
• Continuous, 24/7 support: AirREGI channel partners and resellers have access to support whenever they need it.

Secure, EMV-compliant

Recruit Holdings noted that the North American AirREGI for QSRs' initial phase will support the latest payment technologies, enabling fast food service providers to remain up to date with new and emerging industry trends. Here are some examples the company provided:

• PCI DSS compliant: The program will be simple to install and will meet all Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) requirements.
• Europay, MasterCard and Visa (EMV) technology: AirREGI card reader peripherals are EMV-compliant and will accept EMV and mag stripe payment cards.
• Mobile wallets: The AirREGI platform in the United States will support Apple Pay. Android Pay and other mobile wallets will be available in future releases.
• Integrated POS systems: The AirREGI system can be paired with a cash drawer, receipt printer, iPad and stand, and PIN Pad and stand to create an end-to-end, integrated POS system.
• All-in-one business platform: Restaurateurs will be able to use the AirREGI platform to manage POS transactions and other mission-critical business activities.

QSR ISO opportunity

"We learned from our merchants how important speed is for QSRs, so AirREGI designed a solution that specifically addresses those needs," said David True, Managing Director at Broadly Curious Advisors, a payments industry consultant and the project liaison for the North American AirREGI QSR initiative. "The AirREGI solution only needs connectivity for the payment, which provides the speed that quick service restaurants need."

Recruit Holdings plans to pilot test AirREGI for QSRs in the United States in partnership with select ISOs. The pilot will provide an opportunity for the company and its channel partners to upgrade fast casual and quick service merchants to newer technology while gaining valuable insight into the U.S. market, the company said. Results will then be evaluated as the company adapts its platform to meet market requirements and develop mutually profitable relationships with channel partners, resellers and affiliates.

Website: www.recruit-rgf.com/ Contact: saeka_tani@r.recruit.co.jp

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