Tag Archives: Germany

News

Star Micronics exhibits new TSP100IV and range of innovative POS Solutions at EuroCIS 2022, Düsseldorf, Germany

High Wycombe, UK, 25 May 2022 At EuroCIS 2022 (31 May – 2 June 2022), international POS hardware manufacturer Star Micronics will be demonstrating its latest Cloud and Tablet POS solutions with a range of market leading POS and payment software providers including Extenda Retail, fiskaly, Flour, GSoft, Leaf Systems, Repertus, SumUp and Zettle by Paypal at Hall 9 / A14.

Star will be introducing a number of new hardware products for retail POS and self-service kiosks at the event alongside unique technologies, critical to the changing nature of modern point of sale. The wide range of partners demonstrating these on the stand highlights Star’s commitment to creating unique solutions as well as its focus on ease of integration. This approach has enabled Star to consistently develop new partnerships and further strengthen existing alliances.

Star’s partnership with fiskaly, a company that offers a fully certified Cloud TSE in accordance with KassenSichV, benefits both larger retail and hospitality chains and smaller businesses that want to make use of cloud-connected point of sale either now or in the future. Star has developed a range of innovative receipt and order printing solutions that provide the flexibility required to integrate traditional and state-of-the-art tablet and cloud-based POS for retail in a rapidly changing market.

With over 2.5 million units sold to date worldwide, the TSP100 series is one of Star’s most established printer ranges. The recently launched TSP100IV offering innovative new features for omnichannel retail will be on show, including the TSP143IV UE model which provides multi-connectivity to cater for traditional point of sale applications as well as mobile and cloud POS. In addition to Ethernet and USB-C interfaces, the printer boasts a USB-A port with Android Open Accessory (AOA) support for the growing Android marketplace, providing direct cabled ‘data & charge’ for Android tablets and mobile devices.

The TSP100IV is available with Star’s new MCW10 Wireless LAN module offering a compact solution that supports the new WPA3 standard for wireless printer communication. It also supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands with 5GHz being resistant to the interference of radio waves generated by microwave ovens to provide a safe and effective wireless LAN solution for hospitality. With Ethernet and USB cables included in the box, the MCW10 provides a cost-effective plug and play multi-port wireless LAN solution for both TSP100IV and mC-Print™ models that allows two printers or other devices to be connected at the same time. By deploying the MCW10, users can quickly and easily benefit from robust wireless communication thanks to the Star Quick Setup Utility.

As retail businesses strive to offer a seamless omnichannel customer experience, Star’s unique CloudPRNT™ technology is available on a variety of Star printers and is built in to the TSP100IV. As a result, it is possible to print directly to store from an online ordering platform or e-commerce solution without the need for a local tablet or POS system.

Alongside this technology, Star will be demonstrating its new StarPrinter.online, fully managed service for retail businesses to manage the printer estate with minimal set-up time and cost as well as near zero integration. If required, customers can simply send a receipt or an order as an html file or even an email directly to the printer. In addition, it is ideal for hospitality customers wishing to print remote orders from their own websites, directly to the kitchen, without the need for the chef to touch a tablet.

With sustainability a key topic, Star will be showing a number of alternative options including re-stick media alongside environmentally friendly media solutions which are both sustainable and recyclable, including Blue4est® approved paper.

The TSP654IISK linerless label printer and new SK1-311SK linerless kiosk mechanism both offer versatile labelling solutions which support MaxStick® liner-free media. With the recent growth in online orders across multiple channels along with increased allergy legislation, the cloud-enabled TSP654IISK provides an environmentally friendly solution for printing customer online orders for takeaway, delivery and item labelling.

Allowing greater cost management and flexibility for businesses, Star will also be introducing a new concept, LeasyPay, which provides small businesses with an all-in-one solution including hardware, software and all the resources required for operating procedures in return for a monthly rental fee. The last two years have shown the ability to plan expenditure and ensure operational processes at business checkout areas to be business-critical in retail and hospitality, requiring increasingly flexible solutions.

“We are pleased to be demonstrating our latest POS solutions with a wide range of partners at EuroCIS this year”, states Simon Martin, Director & General Manager, Star Micronics EMEA. “Star’s unique and versatile solutions allow businesses of all sizes to benefit from advanced technology as well as a wealth of innovative features for omnichannel retail.”

Appointments, News

BCS Appoints to Support Expansion in Germany

Business Critical Solutions (BCS), the specialist services provider to the international digital infrastructure industry, has appointed a General Manager, Germany to support its continued expansion in the region.

Alexandra Thorer joins the senior management team with a remit to spearhead the strategic development of the business across Germany, offering a range of services within the business critical and technical real estate environments to organisations that are already established in the region or looking to locate there. She will operate from the BCS office in Frankfurt am Main, working closely with the UK based team, and be responsible for managing local client relationships.

Highly experienced in managing and developing major international infrastructure and technology projects, Alexandra joins from leading U.S. consultancy AECOM. She was previously located in Zurich and Munich, where she led significant projects for the U.S. Government as well as large commercial clients. She studied Architecture and Urban Planning in Germany and Japan and holds a PhD in Urban Affairs from the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland.

James Hart, CEO at BCS, said: “As we continue to grow it is vital that we have the right people in place so we can continue to deliver assured outcomes for our customers who are keen to optimise the benefits of digital transformation. Alexandra will be a great asset to the team and we are excited to have her on board.”

Alexandra commented: “BCS acts as a trusted advisor and partner to a wide range of international clients whose data centre estate is critical to their success. The team has unparalleled expertise and knowledge and I am keen to play a role in the company’s continued growth and success.”

News, Recruitment

German recruitment market – down but not out

As COVID-19 continues to impact how businesses operate, German recruitment firms have seen a further reduction in recruitment activity, although the extreme falls seen at the beginning of the crisis have flattened somewhat. That’s according to new research from the Association of Professional Staffing Companies Deutschland (APSCo Deutschland).

The trade body’s second Covid-19 Impact Report, which includes insight from its members in Germany and extended network of 200+ recruitment firms, identifies trends in activities and hiring amongst staffing agencies.

Dip in activity less extreme

The survey reveals that in May, the number of recruitment firms facing falls of 50-100% in NFI has nearly halved from 62% in April to 32% in May. However, just over two thirds of respondents are reporting falls in NFI of up to 50%, which is up by 30% from the previous month.

This reduction is likely to be due the fact that, in April, a small number of companies had placed all or a significant proportion of their staff on Kurzarbeit, indicating that these firms were experiencing dramatic drops in NFI. In May, companies responding to the survey are presumably those still relatively active in the market meaning that the NFI reductions are likely to be less severe. Kurzarbeit, (short-time working), which is part of the German government’s comprehensive package of support for businesses is still an active option that one in four members are considering for some staff over redundancy or working full time and well over a third ( 37% ) of firms now have over 80% of their staff on Kurzabeit.

Contractor numbers falling – but billable holding up

Additionally, the survey reveals that over half of companies reported that between 41% and 80% of their contractors were finishing in May, a drastic increase from the 8% reported in April indicating a potential lack of confidence in the market.

On a more positive note, over half (57%) of recruitment firms reported no reduction or a limited reduction in hourly rates for contractors and almost half are seeing just a slight decrease in billable hours (up to 20%). While members are reporting downward pressure on rates, this may, to a certain extent, be being absorbed by the recruitment firm.

Redundancies likely

Tremayne Elson, MD at APSCo Germany, said:

“It is disappointing, although not unsurprising to see that hiring activity continues to drop in Germany, However, it is reassuring to see that the extreme falls in NFI seen previously have now flattened and hopefully this trend will continue in the coming months.”

“We would have liked to have seen less firms make redundancies, however many companies, particularly those that employ below 25 staff in Germany, may still be finding the process to access Kurzarbeit daunting. Additionally, they may be wary of the conditions surrounding acceptance for the scheme. As more businesses get clarity on their options, they may decide to use the government’s support systems which are available instead of making permanent cutbacks.”