< Previousthe packaged printer has seen its profile rise, often successfully bridging the gap between a compact footprint and ease of use. Hardware Features Packaged printers are ideal for self-service kiosks where staff are physically present to replenish print media. Most kiosk printers have a standard size paper holder and a large capacity option. If frequent paper roll changes are required, this can be time-consuming, so it is essential to choose a printer that has the correct paper roll capacity for the application. Furthermore, in a busy retail or hospitality environment, the front- operating packaged printer with drop-in paper loading provides a compact printing solution that facilitates easy paper roll changes. The printer should be equipped with sensors and paper status alerts to notify when a kiosk is low on paper, has a paper jam or is offline. These should ideally be centrally visible so the status of an entire estate of printers can be viewed to keep operations moving efficiently. Moreover, a kiosk printer that supports digital receipts is an additional benefit and reduces paper consumption. A printer with a horizontal orientation takes up more space while a vertical kiosk printer is better suited to a narrow-width enclosure, taking up less space and leaving more room for additional components such as integrated scanners, chip and pin or RFID modules. Printers can operate on a cut-and-drop basis or incorporate a presenter or bezel, depending on the application. On certain kiosk printer models, the presenter prevents paper jams caused by the paper being taken before printing is complete thus increasing reliability as well as security by having the facility to retract untaken tickets. The bezel is positioned between the kiosk slot and the printer to provide an exit path for the paper. KIOSK PRINTERS By integrating a printer with a built-in hub, a compact, intelligent printing solution provides direct communication between tablet and printer. 30KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINE30KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINEKIOSK PRINTERS 31 KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINE Communication Easy to install and maintain, the packaged printer with a range of connectivity options can be the ideal solution for internet connected services. Choosing a printer with a variety of interface options, including innovative Cloud technologies, enhances the kiosk’s printing capability. This is important as the type of interface and the ports the printer has will dictate how the printer communicates. The rise in online ordering across multiple channels is resulting in greater demand for self- service kiosks for applications such as Click & Collect in-store orders and returns. t. Moreover, with remote functionality, the printer can be managed from any location. Reliable connectivity Reliable connectivity is essential in a self-service kiosk. By integrating a printer with a built-in hub, a compact, intelligent printing solution provides direct communication between the tablet OS and printer giving the developer the option to also show printer-state detail on the screen, or just create events on the central management system. Direct connectivity via the standard Apple Lightning cable or USB-C cable can be used to not only charge the tablet but also control the printer attached peripherals such as BCR, RFID reader, keypad etc. With direct cabled control of the printer and attached peripherals as well as Ethernet provision to the tablet from the wired Ethernet port of the printer, constant connectivity is assured. Ease of integration Kiosk development is time-consuming, so it is important to choose a printer that offers a solution now as well as in the future. A comprehensive SDK and driver suite is essential for developers to simply integrate the printing solution, particularly when working with multiple printers or a large network of kiosks. An experienced and knowledgeable integration team to support and advise regarding both hardware choice and software development is vital.T he UK aims to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. To help achieve this goal, the government has announced that all new homes will be banned from installing gas and oil boilers by 2025. Instead, they will be heated by low-carbon alternatives. The change comes as no surprise, considering that the heat used to warm the UK’s homes contributes to 14% of the nation’s overall emissions level. The ban on gas boilers will be a significant step in the right direction. Another carbon-reduction measure mandated by the government is that energy suppliers must make all reasonable efforts to install smart meters or Advanced Meter Reading (AMR) equipment in all businesses and homes by 2025. Alongside alternative heating solutions, smart meters and automated meter readers (AMRs) give even greater insight to property developers and homeowners on their premises’ energy use. Property Developers should be encouraged to implement this technology, as the base standard, if they are to truly be part of the solution in achieving these carbon reduction targets. Smart and AMR meters can allow you to see exactly how much energy your business is using. Along with helping to support your energy- efficiency efforts, intelligent metering technology also enables more accurate billing and can help you reduce your eergy use. When we talk about smart meters and AMRs, we’re not just talking about gas and electricity; water efficiency also has an important role in helping us adapt to climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, mitigate further climate change, and reach net-zero status. CONNECTED TECHNOLOGY Nations and businesses around the world are working towards net zero targets, and reducing utility consumption is an obvious step in the process. With this focus on energy efficiency, how can property developers ensure future net zero compliance? MATTHEW MARGETTS DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING SMARTER TECHNOLOGIES 32KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINE HOW CONNECTED TECHNOLOGY CAN HELP PROPERTY DEVELOPERS REACH FUTURE NET ZEROCONNECTED TECHNOLOGY 33 KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINEAccording to Waterwise UK, around 6% of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions are from household water supply and use. Smart water meters and AMRs for water help property managers to reduce water consumption and thus deliver significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Curbing water usage also helps save money and secure future water supplies. Accurate billing With an AMR retrofitted onto your existing meter or new smart meter technology, you won’t need to spend time and money taking manual readings. Meter readings will be sent to your supplier remotely every month, saving you time and hassle. This improved billing with actual readings also provides you with more control to forecast usage and budget ahead. Access the data Knowing how much gas, electricity and water is used by your facility in a day and during a month is the first step in reducing your consumption. A simple tool to help you achieve this is an AMR or smart meter, which gives you access to accurate consumption data. CONNECTED TECHNOLOGY The heat used to warm the UK’s homes contributes to 14% of the nation’s overall emissions level. 34KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINECONNECTED TECHNOLOGY With accurate, real-time utility consumption data available to you, you’ll be better equipped to make data-driven decisions. 35 KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINE Simply placed on your existing water meters, AMR devices can feed your utility consumption data into a smart portal in real time to help you track your usage and spot any issues or unusual increases. Analyse the data With accurate, real-time utility consumption data available to you, you’ll be better equipped to make data-driven decisions about how to control your consumption and reduce your carbon footprint. The key to identifying potential efficiencies is having a central reporting and analytics system. This gives you not only a real-time view of your consumption but allows for historic reporting and predictive analytics, allowing you to optimise your gas, electricity and water provision even further. Smart meter or AMR – which type of meter is right for your premises? The Government has specified that micro-businesses and domestic premises should be upgraded to smart meters, rather than AMRs. Small or medium-sized businesses can have either a smart meter or AMR installed. However, it is likely an AMR meter will be more suitable. Large businesses should have an AMR meter installed. It’s worth noting that there may be exceptions as to which meter type is the most suitable due to the specifics of your site. In some cases, another specialist type of meter may be required. Regardless of the type of meter installed, industry-leading technology can help your facility use utilities more effectively, reduce waste and running costs and reach UN Sustainable Development Goals. Whether you’re working with domestic or commercial properties, it won’t take long for you to see results AND a return on investment. CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY 36KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINED espite the ubiquity of cellular connectivity, most Cloud-connected digital signage still relies heavily on wired Ethernet. Why is it that cellular connectivity hasn’t taken root in the AV space as it has in our personal lives? Is it a matter of security? Of convenience? Or maybe just a matter of habit? Whatever the reason, times are changing. More specifically, technology is changing – evolving in a way that breaks longstanding norms and opens the door to new ways of constructing digital signage networks. Connecting to an organisation’s traditional network can be tricky. On the one hand, a network that’s not entirely secure can leave digital signage exposed to potentially invasive threats. On the flipside, some organisations (finance, government, corporate, etc) have networks that are secure to the point of making it impossible to pull real-time content from the internet to display on-screen. In other words, many networks are either not secure enough or too secure to support Cloud-connected digital signage. Could cellular connectivity be the answer? After all, it’s improved dramatically over the past several years. Coverage areas have expanded and connection speeds have improved significantly. These breakthroughs are what make it possible for us to stream HD video content on our phones. So why not leverage this same infrastructure to drive rich content to digital displays? To be clear, using cellular technology to connect digital signage networks to the Internet is not the answer in all cases. But we should acknowledge that it’s a viable solution in a growing number of use cases. I see a real opportunity with cellular connectivity because it solves persistent challenges with traditional networks and it opens the door to new use cases. From pop-up installations to outdoor festivals to virtually any other deployment where wired network drops and WiFi is out of reach, it’s high time we embraced cellular connectivity because it greatly expands what’s possible in the AV space. CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY MAKING THE CASE FOR CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY IN THE AV SPACE Mobile connectivity is indispensable in our personal lives. Our phones are our lifeline – our conduit to virtually every aspect of our digital lives, from social networks to email to countless apps and other web-based portals. There’s no denying that cellular connections are our onramp to the connected world, especially when we’re outside our homes and beyond the reach of our wireless routers. JEFF HASTINGS CEO BRIGHTSIGN 37 KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINE38KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINE KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE magazine (KDS), is the leading technical journal for manufacturers, integrators and deployers of self-service terminals and digital signage integrators. Previously known as Kiosk Solutions, our team at KDS understands the industry’s growing demands and responded by expanding into kiosk’s complementary digital signage and wayfinding markets and rebranding accordingly. Published six times a year, KDS reaches a readership of 25,000 individuals throughout the UK and Europe, comprised of customer service directors, design engineers, project managers, CIOs, CTOs, CFOs and many more. This presents a unique opportunity to reach a qualified audience not available through any other channel. Independent KDS is an independent publication, aiming to offer an objective view of the industry. Articles may present newsworthy acts and/or opinions of named companies, but all measures are taken to ensure that articles within KDS report the objective facts without bias. Editorial We welcome contributions and submissions of news, features, thought leadership posts and interviews from companies and individuals regarding the kiosk and digital signage industry. Send your story to the editor: Laura Vallis at editor@kdseurope.com. All editorial that we receive from third parties is subject to the editor-in-chief's ultimate approval, and submission of an article is no guarantee of publication. To ensure that all articles meet the editorial policy, we reserve the right to edit the whole or part of any material selected for publication. You can find our editorial policy on our website by clicking HERE. Advertising If you would like to discuss one of our advertising or advertorial packages please contact sales@kdseurope.com.MOVERS AND SHAKERS 39 KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINE IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR MOVER OR SHAKER PUBLISHED, EMAIL: EDITOR.KDSEUROPE.COM MOVERS AND SHAKERS A round up of promotions, structural changes and new recruits across the kiosk and digital signage industry Encompass Corporation, the provider of intelligently automated Know Your Customer (KYC) solutions, has announced its expansion into North America, with office headquarters based in New York. The expansion will allow Encompass to better serve the needs of existing global clients with a presence in North America, to secure new clients and partnerships in a marked effort to become the undisputed lead platform for automated, corporate KYC due diligence worldwide. Alex Ford has been appointed President, North America, overseeing all aspects of the GTM, driving business growth and working with customers, partners and the Encompass team to transform KYC with automation in financial institutions and other regulated entities. VP OF ITL SALES CELEBRATES 20-YEAR MILESTONE Thorsten Labusch, based in ITL’s German office in Pinneberg, marks 20 years with the company this month. Thorsten has worked his way up through the ranks as Innovative Technology (ITL) has expanded globally, holding various positions along the way. He is currently VP of Sales and Business Development specifically for the retail and kiosk side of the business. Commenting on his long-standing achievement, Labusch said, “I joined Innovative Technology’s German branch, formally Automated Transaction GmbH, back in 2001 and was responsible for creating a Technical Support and Repairs Department in the Pinneberg office, just outside Hamburg. One of my first challenges was to assist with the adoption of the Euro, helping customers upgrade their devices to the new currency. This was a huge milestone for the cash handling industry and an exciting time to join the company! ITL then grew significantly over the next few years so I took on a sales role for our gaming, amusement and vending customers which involved a lot of travelling, introducing customers to our new products which were entering the market at the time.” Continuing, Labusch said, “ITL then diversified and began developing products and new business in the Retail & Kiosk sector so I took responsibility for this new market in 2012 and became Senior Business Development Manager, Retail & Kiosk in 2013. In 2016, I was promoted to the position I hold now - VP of Sales & Business Development, heading up the RK sales. This is an exciting and ever-changing market and I relish the challenge of ensuring our offerings meet with retailers’ requirements. I love being part of the ITL family and know there are lots of exciting times yet to come!” ENCOMPASS CORPORATION ENTERS NORTH AMERICAN MARKET IN US EXPANSION ACTIVEOPS INVESTS IN GROWING APAC OPERATIONS WITH IBM‘S JIM KILSBY ActiveOps has announced the appointment of Jim Kilsby, former IBM Vice President, as their Regional Chair based in Australia. Kilsby will be supporting the sales strategy alongside Jane Lambert, Regional General Manager - APAC who will expand the brand presence in the Australian market. Chief Revenue Officer at ActiveOps, Julian Harper, said, “The APAC region is a key strategic market for ActiveOps and operational management practise here tends to lead the world. Our long-term customers locally include NAB, ANZ, Westpac and AIA and we have a great team on the ground across the region. Onto this solid foundation, it is now time to further build our capabilities in and commitment to the region and drive further expansion into the market.” Kilsby is an experienced Senior Executive who has led growth in businesses through all cycles. Recently, he has run a farming business, a start-up in landscape/heritage construction services, as well as providing consulting services to the international IT&T sector. With four of IBM’s global top ten accounts to his name, he comes to ActiveOps with experience in leading complex integrations and transformational change programs. Kilsby, said, “ActiveOps innovation is helping the world’s largest financial services firms manage the pace and complexity of running operations. I am looking forward to joining this growing and focused group and be a part of a growing team.” Next >