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Take an omnimorphic look into the future of retail through the lens of the latest tech Think of interaction points as stepping stones on the ultimate customer journey Adaptive technology is essential for supporting an omnichannel shopping experience Element can provide tech solutions to make the most of every opportunity Some say opportunities are taken, not handed out. But in today’s market reality, where retailers need to be more adaptive than ever before, every interaction point with technology represents an opportunity to win the customer’s favour. This potential abundance of opportunities poses a weighty question: does your business have the technology it takes to deliver the ultimate customer experience? Omnichannel retail is a well-established strategy that involves ensuring a “consistent, coordinated, and cohesive experience” across all physical and digital touchpoints, ranging from social media to online to instore. Think about the points of interaction a customer has in a retail environment: they include the POS, a self-service kiosk, digital signage. In some settings, adaptive devices such as a tablet can be used for clienteling, giving sales staff greater freedom to apply their skills. At each of these points, a retailer can give the visitor worthy reasons to not just transact, but also return for another rich and personalised customer journey. In a world where consumers expect a seamless omnichannel experience, retailers must be more focused than ever before on delivering such an experience. But working smarter does not have to mean working harder. A customer-centred approach In our previous post , we explored the concept of frictionless retail, asking a confronting question about the concept, right from the outset. Around the same time, Amazon announced that it would be removing Just Walk Out  frictionless technology from its larger Fresh grocery stores. In a LinkedIn article  on the subject, retail analyst Neil Saunders commented that the model was “a solution in search of a customer problem” rather than being an example of “consumer-centric technology”. We’ve argued that adaptive retail is a more ‘consumer-centric’ pathway, and the omnichannel experience is an essential aspect of this ethos. So if this is the new status quo, what do we mean by ‘omnimorphic’? Ultimately we are talking about adaptive technology designed to support a personalised customer journey at every point of interaction. Taking an omnimorphic approach is all about being nimble, it’s about recognising that you are the expert when it comes to your business. It also means harnessing that expertise and channelling it into enhancing your brand via every available platform, utilising technology touchpoints to remind the customer that you care about them. It’s a complete wraparound, invisible yet always tangible, that ensures a response to every desire and every enquiry is within the customer’s reach at all times. To complement and support the positive outcomes of such a strategy, it’s imperative to work with a technology provider who understands the realities of the retail industry. An outcome-focused tech provider can offer services that are thoughtfully designed, high in quality, and impeccably purposeful. Such services allow a glimpse into the future while also meeting the here-and-now necessity for a retailer to be ‘everything, everywhere, all at once’. Technology at the pointy end Let’s take a closer look at the technology that supports an omnimorphic experience at various interaction points. For starters, a self-service kiosk such as the Element SSK-P4  can be the customer’s first or only point of interaction. There are plenty of situations where customers may prefer not to interact with staff, so they must have access to technology that makes them feel equally valued. With a responsive, reliable touchscreen and option of either a built-in payment terminal or a multi-grip plate to hold a third-party payment device, this kiosk’s feature-packed interface makes it a pleasure for customers to interact with. Whether it is deployed as a self-checkout or as an ordering terminal in a QSR (quick-service restaurant), its optional 2D scanner supports scanning loyalty membership cards, further adding to its omnimorphic quality. K22W Panel PC - Kitchen Video System In other hospitality scenarios, the customer experience hinges on staff utilising robust and purpose-driven interaction points, connecting seamlessly with various operational needs. The Element K22W  is a panel PC designed for use as a KVS (kitchen video system), although it is equally suitable for tasks ranging from digital signage to self-ordering. In a busy commercial kitchen, this type of touchscreen unit makes managing meal orders simple and efficient, allowing staff to focus on delivering a sumptuous dining experience.

How our company ethos drives the advantages we offer The real-life applications of our values are continually evolving What does it take to make a product the perfect solution to a business challenge? We look at three peripherals as case studies into relative benefits To ride the wave of innovation, a company must stay at the forefront of market trends, be perpetually up to speed with partner expectations and in tune with the reality of what customers desire. At Element, our values of design, quality and purpose are continually evolving to deliver on expectations and stay at the cutting edge of where the present meets the future. On the personal front, living in line with our values allows us to experience a state of tranquility, peace and harmony. Similarly, applying our company values to everything we do ensures our development from strength to strength, and guides how we continue to bring new products to the market. For partners who have already been utilising the Element brand for some time, our values ensure that they have made an investment into longevity and reliability. Our values are also represented through our deep understanding of what our partners need to deliver, the adaptive retail experience  that today’s customers expect. We fully understand our partners’ requirements, and address these using our industry experience to create technology solutions that are precisely aligned with what is needed in a given scenario. Solutions that fit the problem While the three pillars of our company ethos are closely interlinked, we can also look at each of them individually. At the design level, we start by considering the challenges that a product needs to solve. One such challenge might be how to harness the convergence of POS and Payments  in a single terminal -- the answer is an Android-based POS  device that can also accept payments. Element Tanso Tablet We always design with purpose in mind first, rather than trying to create solutions in search of a customer problem, and this is how the circle closes. When the purpose is to create antimicrobial keyboards for use in a medical setting, the Element ECT-105 keyboard  is fully washable, and this single device features cable, Bluetooth and WiFi to suit any connectivity requirement. For the purpose of pampering customers with one-on-one attention while adding the advantages of an online experience, the Element Tanso tablet  runs Windows 11 and facilitates effortless clienteling. Three tiers of performance Through our distributor, Sektor, we can offer a range of top-quality peripherals such as barcode scanners that are available at great prices to help partners and customers. The value they offer represents a balance of investment and performance; depending on where a scanner or other peripheral is intended to be used, we can make recommendations about the best model to fit the purpose. This month, our focus is on three desktop scanners. At the entry level is the Element P220 barcode scanner. With this item, the purpose is to provide a price-conscious solution for occasional scanning. It’s the perfect option for a setting such as a mixed-business establishment where staff are ringing up a hamburger order on the POS and scanning a can of soft drink. Having a product that is priced at the economical end of the spectrum is necessary in the market, but this has to be tempered with the understanding that there are limitations to such a product’s speed of use, for example. When performance becomes a more pressing priority, we move up a tier to the Element P881 , a 2D scanner that features a 1280 x 1080 CMOS image sensor to help it breeze through higher-volume scanning. This unit is designed for pharmacy, semi-grocery or bottle-shop type environments, and it is capable of scanning effortlessly (including from mobile devices) at a high pass rate.   Our premium offering is the Element P880 Duet , a double-headed scanner with a highly aggressive scan engine. Reducing both the total cost of ownership and its counter footprint, this purpose-driven device features a front-facing product scanner and a second scanning head on its upper surface for capturing loyalty cards or ID. This provides high ROI through customer convenience and efficient service -- essential considerations considering how crucial it is to honour visitors to your store . Element P220 , Element P880 Duet , and Element P881 By providing different levels of performance, we can ensure the value that your business needs, and we can further tailor our technology solutions by exploring the exact features required in a specific setting. Contact us  today to learn about how we can channel our company values to find the right hardware for the challenges faced by your business. Through our adherence to design, quality and purpose, we can help you achieve the optimal balance of performance and investment.

Self-service technology is streamlining and improving the customer experience all over the world, from your local café to the busiest supermarkets. The rise of contactless service during COVID-19 made kiosks a must-have for many retailers Self-service kiosks speed up transactions and reduce staff workloads, especially before Christmas Element's self-service kiosks offer scalable solutions for all types of businesses If you haven’t succumbed to the convenience of a self-ordering or self-checkout kiosk recently, you’re probably living off the grid and doing a digital detox. These handy digital devices are transforming the customer experience across the planet, from your local café to the busiest supermarkets, making shopping faster and easier for everyone. Even more importantly, self-service kiosks are helping smaller companies to stay in business, because they reduce overheads and encourage repeat business. When customers know they can nip in and out in half the usual time, they’re more likely to come back.  Blame COVID-19, but in a good way So, what’s driving the adoption of self-service kiosks? While they’ve been around for a while, in recent times (aka pandemic times) they’re really taken off.  When COVID-19 hit the world, businesses had to think on their feet. Suddenly, contactless everything was the way to go, which meant self-service kiosks became the holy grail of customer service. No need for face-to-face transactions, just a few quick taps and you’re done.  Fast forward to today and these kiosks are still doing the business, because customers love the speed and independence of DIY service. Whether it’s checking out groceries or ordering a flat white, kiosks make the process snappy and stress-free.  Christmas chaos? Not with a kiosk! With the holiday season looming, businesses are already bracing for the Christmas rush. Like tinsel and big guys dressed in red and white, we all believe that long queues, frazzled staff and impatient customers are part of the season. Or are they? By adopting self-service tech, it’s possible to flip the negatives and make Christmas shopping easier for everyone.  Imagine a packed café in December. Instead of standing in a queue, customers can place their orders through a kiosk. Staff can focus on making coffees, while customers get their flat whites and matcha lattes faster. And in retail? Self-checkout kiosks speed up the checkout process so that shoppers can get back to wondering where they parked their car and if one turkey will be enough for Christmas dinner.  Element’s got the right self-service kiosk for every type of business No matter what type of business you run, Element has a self-service kiosk to suit your needs. From affordable, space-saving models to high-tech, customisable options, there’s a kiosk solution for every company that physically interacts with its customers.  On a budget? Check out the SSK-E and SSK-V  If you’re a small business looking for an affordable option, Element’s SSK-E and SSK-V kiosks are a great fit. Compact, simple to install and easy for customers to use, these Element kiosks are working brilliantly in smaller cafés and shops. They’re particularly good at helping stores to cope with times of high demand, like lunchtime, without having to put on extra staff.  If space is really limited, a countertop kiosk is the way to go. Element’s SSK-E can be configured to sit on your counter without hogging floor space. Customers can search for products, place orders, or pay – all from the tiniest footprint.  Need something flash? Meet the SSK-P3 and SSK-P4 For bigger businesses with busy front lines, Element’s SSK-P3 and SSK-P4 kiosks offer all the bells and whistles. These premium models can be fully customised to suit your needs, from advanced payment systems to loyalty programme integration. They’re perfect for high-traffic businesses that need self-service options to keep up with the Christmas crowds. Picture a bustling gastro-pub during the holiday season. With a self-ordering kiosk like the Element SSK-P4 , customers can easily browse the menu, order and pay in one seamless process—no queues and no fuss. Plus, these kiosks are modular, allowing you to add extras like printers or scanners to fit your operational needs. Does a self-service kiosk make sense for your business? If you’re still on the fence about getting a self-service kiosk, here’s a quick checklist of benefits to help you decide. Faster service:  Customers can breeze through transactions, easing the workload on your staff. Happy customers:  People love the speed and independence of self-service kiosks, because they can get more done in less time.   More efficient:  Kiosks can be used to take care of the routine stuff, so your team can focus on more important tasks. Cost-effective:  Even the most budget-friendly self-service kiosks help save on labour costs while improving service. Scalable:  From a single countertop kiosk to multiple self-checkout stations, Element’s kiosks can grow with your business. Why choose Element for your self-service revolution? Element’s kiosks aren’t just about looking good – they’re practical, adaptable and easy to use. Whether you’r e after a basic self-ordering kiosk or something more advanced, Element has the self-service tech to match your business needs. And with the option to add peripherals, like barcode scanners and payment terminals, you’re getting a kiosk that’s tailored to fit your operations. And the best part? You don’t need to be an IT expert to get them an Element kiosk solution up and running. Installation is straightforward, so you’ll be seeing the benefits of self-service in double-quick time.  Ready for the Christmas rush? As the holiday season approaches, there’s no better time to consider how Element’s kiosk solutions can help streamline your business and solve staffing issues. Whether you’re a café, retail store or something in between, Element’s range of kiosks has you covered. Get ready to impress your customers with faster service and the convenience they’re craving. Self-service kiosks can turn the silly season into the slick season, because who has time for queues when there’s a glazed ham in the oven!

A new synergy is upon us through the convergence of POS and Payments POS terminals are as mission-critical as payment devices What are the key drivers for this innovation? Hardware such as the Element CA30X series is essential for supporting convergence It’s not often that we can say we are at the threshold of a retail revolution. Yet two forces that have traditionally been separate are coming together in a unique, spectacular, and industry-changing way. We’re talking about the strength of the ability to accept payments on the same device that handles the many essential tasks of POS functionality, and this convergence is happening around new applications for the Android platform. An underappreciated hero Industry insiders are all too aware that the importance of POS hardware is chronically undervalued. Bear in mind that besides managing transactional data and inventory, the POS terminal is what supports in-store business applications and loyalty engines. It is the mission-critical core of the powerful business systems driving outcomes for retail and hospitality. Until now, the majority of these systems have been Windows-based — but this is changing. In an effort to free staff from behind the counter — or the Great Wall of Retail — businesses are equipping salespeople with mobile devices for clienteling. To further improve the customer journey and remove barriers, retail and hospitality businesses are opting for solutions such as self-service kiosks and other technological touchpoints that ensure visitors enjoy an efficient and pleasant purchase experience. And Android is the key platform that is allowing technology, software development and hardware design to eliminate those barriers. Driving forces The convergence of POS and Payments is being driven by customer and merchant demand. As people want to do more with the systems they have available, we are pushing the boundaries of innovation to provide a superior experience for both staff and customers. Having a single Android device that can accept payments as well as run multiple applications is freeing staff from behind that ‘great wall’ to deliver a personalised customer journey. Payment devices have traditionally been seen as separate additions required to augment POS hardware — but this is no longer the case. There are many advantages to Android being used as a payment platform, such as the ease with which a SmartPOS device can support multiple applications running together. This means a single point-of-service device can now be used for everything from recording a sale and checking inventory levels to managing loyalty points as well as, of course, accepting a payment. By supporting these varied applications, Android is facilitating payment systems to become omnimorphic , making them part of a comprehensive retail ecosystem that includes e-commerce. Loyalty is another key factor joining the convergence of POS and Payments, as the omnimorphic approach supports seamless integration through features such as gamification on payment terminals and digital stamp cards. POS and Payments in one terminal The Element CA30X series , which runs Android GMS (Google Mobile Services), supports a PCI-certified Softpos solution to ensure the utmost in security. This all-in-one terminal features POS functionality for staff and the convenience of onboard payments for the customer. It offers standardised hardware that can be used across many industry verticals and segments, ranging from fashion and convenience to grocery, fuel and hospitality. But besides being used as a POS/Payments terminal, it offers a variety of form factors utilising the same environment and a common technology support base. This means the CA30X series can be utilised as a self-service kiosk or digital display, and it is compatible with peripherals such as a side-mounted NFC reader, scanner or MSR (magnetic stripe reader). To assist customers with different operating system preferences, the CA30X series also supports a backpack variant that provides a Windows option. In this case, the priority is on the OS, as only the Android variant is designed for combined POS and Payment functionality. As POS and Payments converge, Element is at the forefront, ready to equip you with hardware and software that embodies design, quality and purpose. Contact us  to learn how you can harness this retail revolution, transforming the staff journey and customer experience your business can offer.

Being strategic about your interaction points will rub customers the right way In some instances, maximising throughput is indeed desirable There are other cases where friction is a crucial and welcome aspect of retail An adaptive approach is arguably the best-case balance of convenience and interaction If you walked into a store, grabbed a few items from the shelf and walked straight out again, wouldn’t you be shoplifting? Not if there was advanced AI tracking the products you picked up, automatically performing a checkout service and using biometrics to charge your preferred payment method. What would otherwise be a crime becomes an example of frictionless retail in its purest form. According to a report published by PwC, more than 40% of people surveyed would be prepared to pay extra for products that could be bought more quickly and effortlessly. In this report, the frictionless model is described as “the future of shopping” and there is a strong emphasis on how retailers can embrace and drive its uptake. But a little like Schrödinger’s cat, the ‘shoplifting’ comparison illustrates that there may be a component of absurdity involved in an otherwise seemingly logical retail process. Because when it comes to retail, the path of least resistance does not necessarily equate to the best possible customer journey. The benefits of express service Imagine a stadium packed with music lovers or sports fans, at a moment when there is a break in the action and people want to purchase fast food. In this situation, moving people through the checkout at the swiftest possible rate is a highly desirable goal. Ideally, the line will go straight in, then straight out, as the crowds purchase their refreshments without being burdened by any unnecessary processes. By the same token, consider drive-thru lanes at QSRs (quick-service restaurants), where cars notoriously get backed up -- not only during times of peak service, but regularly throughout the day. One improvement rolled out by quick-service burger chains is the concept of dual-lane drive-thru: it’s a way of reducing friction, and in this case, creating greater opportunity for revenue. It also improves the customer experience, as people don’t have to wait as long or get frustrated while queuing in an epic river of vehicles. The registers are still staffed by people taking orders, but the addition of camera AI helps track the movement of cars, and the process-driven kitchen meshes smoothly with this improvement in fluid dynamics. And when customers wave their phone at the point of payment, a lightning-fast NFC (nearfield communication) transaction removes yet another friction point. No retail exists in a vacuum From one perspective, frictionless retail is the idea of treating your customer as a commodity. There is truth in this, but truth doesn’t make it right; just because customers’ money drives your business, doesn’t mean they’re simply walking paycheques. Applying the ‘platinum rule’ and keeping the customer experience and the staff journey front of mind will reliably translate to loyalty and revenue. The reality of human behaviour means there is always going to be some aspect of retail or hospitality that could be described as ‘friction’. We don’t live in a vacuum; the only truly frictionless interactions occur in outer space. Bringing our attention back to McDonald’s, consider how the self-serve kiosks’ GUI (graphical user interface) is designed. Above all, it is user-intuitive and provides a satisfying, frustration-free experience. But simultaneously, a key aspect of the user pathway includes a subtle endeavour to upsell the customer, since adding more items to the basket is going to create more revenue. This means McDonald’s must tread a very delicate balance of including just enough friction to maximise each transaction, while keeping the process adequately stress-free so that customers aren’t alienated. Creating strategic friction From fashion stores to luggage retailers, the best place for staff is out among the customers rather than being stuck behind the counter -- the Great Wall of Retail. The idea of salespeople interacting with customers is not consistent with the vision described by PwC, yet even their statistics note that the majority of customers still value a traditional model. Just as e-readers have not rendered physical books obsolete, there will probably always be a desire for the attention salespeople can lavish on their customers. People have questions that only an experienced sales assistant can answer, and so far AI has still not been able to equal this. Visitors to a brick-and-mortar store want to compare products, they want to see alternatives, and adaptive retail augments these opportunities with a personalised digital service. It’s a little like using technology such as an advanced POS tablet while interacting with customers to offer ‘everything, everywhere, all at once’ -- including an online-like experience. Adaptive retail recognises that the ability to physically try on clothing, touch and see physical products, is as irreplaceable as the guidance of a trained salesperson. These aspects of the customer journey are more complex than simply walking in and then walking straight out, and when enhanced by technology, add up to a rich and rewarding retail experience. Element’s years of experience working with retailers and hospitality businesses enable us to explore with you where to strategically introduce friction, and conversely, where (as well as how) to eliminate it. Contact us to discover how you can equip your staff with technology that will allow them to indulge your customers in an adaptive retail experience that is second to none.

Equip yourself with the hardware you need to deliver an individualised experience Ensure you take good care of the ultimate authority in retail -- the customer How can adaptive retail give you a competitive edge? The Element Tanso equips you with the technological power to augment the retail experience In the world of retail, the customer is all-powerful -- so in such an uncertain and fraught economic climate, with sky-high costs of living, it’s more important than ever to entice return business. One solution is for retailers to adapt to the changing face of customer expectations, and deliver a uniquely personalised experience. There is simply no space for a second-rate customer journey. And in today’s reality, that means the interaction points between consumers and technology must be meaningful, effortless and rewarding. Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart, once delivered a powerful training program for employees which centred around ‘the customer who never returns’, as a model for what not to do in retail. Although this training was initiated years ago, its message is all the more incisive today in an age when the retail landscape is saturated with data and metrics on consumer behaviour. Sam was quoted as saying, “There is only one boss: the customer. And they can fire everyone in the company, from the president to the janitor, simply by taking their money to spend elsewhere.” Adapt and conquer What does adaptive retailing actually mean, and how can it be harnessed to ensure the customer does not spend their money elsewhere? As a high-level management practice, it is all about adapting your business approach to impress your customers like never before, drawing on data you have gathered about their shopping patterns, their likes and dislikes. Adaptive retail means communicating with your customers and using channels such as social media to develop meaningful relationships, instead of taking a one-size-fits all approach. As the authority in conducting your business, it is imperative to implement ways of offering a service that combines the benefits of online shopping with the advantages of in-person sales. When the store’s counter can be like the Great Wall of Retail that creates a barrier between staff and customers, mobile technology can break through this barrier and allow one-on-one attention that doesn’t sacrifice access to your POS system. Corporate brands make huge investments into training their staff to deliver outstanding service. But to really derive a competitive edge from this, staff need to be equipped with adaptive technology that helps them facilitate a new kind of in-store experience. At the level of customer interaction in a retail setting, adaptive retail is all about providing a flexible shopping experience on the fly, responding to the customer’s needs but also anticipating unspoken opportunities. With so many shopping-related channels available -- from the online marketplace to the prolific availability of reviews -- customers are building a personal ecosystem of preferences around how they spend their money. To lavish your customers with attention they will find irresistible, and make them excited about returning to your store, retailers need to adapt to a new norm for consumers: accessing ‘everything, everywhere, all at once’. What this can look like in practice is using technology to showcase related items for a shopper, such as accessories or different products of the same class. This gives them a wider variety of choices and puts the key perks of an online experience right at their fingertips, ensuring an inspirational in-store journey. Technological enhancement The Element Tanso is an ultra slimline tablet designed to facilitate adaptive retailing. It frees sales staff from behind the Great Wall of Retail and arms them with the information they need to better understand each customer. And what better way to attract glowing approval from the boss that the customer represents, than by augmenting their journey through your store with the feature-rich power of online sales? Running Windows 11, the Tanso allows staff to interact meaningfully with visitors to the store and adapt in real time to their preferences and requirements. Staff can accompany customers as they browse, providing valuable insights, checking the availability of different sizes or colours, and offering clienteling services that would be impossible without a fast and powerful mobile terminal like the Tanso. The unit can then be brought back to the counter and mounted on a compatible clamp stand for use in a stationary configuration, with efficient cable management and sophisticated aesthetics that complement a modern store interior. Just as breaking the fourth wall in movies creates a more intimate connection between the viewer and the narrative, overcoming the Great Wall of Retail personalises the connection between sales staff and customers. But the Tanso is not limited to a retail environment; it is equally suited to an adaptive approach within the hospitality setting. It can enable waiting staff to easily show customers images of the dishes they are considering, or provide interactive details such as a description of exotic ingredients. Element’s ethos of design, quality and purpose is epitomised in our approach to creating adaptive technology that provides a uniquely dynamic customer experience. We can help you enhance both the staff journey and the services your salespeople can offer customers, supercharging their in-store interaction with the ability to be ‘everything, everywhere, all at once’. Contact us today to learn how we can empower your business to thrive like never before by embracing adaptive retail principles.

Gold standards are undoubtedly prestigious, but there is a way to go beyond Applying a lens of empathy for customers puts transactions in a new light Idealistic though it may seem, there are concrete ways to put this theory into practice At Element, we’re committed to empowering your business to deliver top-tier service Since time immemorial, precious metals have been used as indicators of value, success and victory. From jewellery to record sales, a relatively recent development on this theme is the idea that platinum represents an even more desirable prize than gold. So it follows that a principle known as the ‘platinum rule’ is something you may consider worthy of implementing. One person discussing this platinum rule is John Foley, a Blue Angels pilot, bestselling author and leadership speaker who has been described as “the greatest keynote on the planet”. In a reel posted earlier this year, John reflected on a conversation he’d had regarding sales training, and one subject in particular resonated with him. The golden rule of treating others the way you would like to be treated yourself is an age-old truism most of us are familiar with. But the ‘platinum rule’ that John quoted was all about treating others the way they want to be treated. Tune in to client wishes Shifting the perspective to a platinum model might be relatively straightforward in some aspects of sales. When it comes to a retail store, however, you might wonder how it’s possible to achieve this level of empathy. Clienteling is a one effective way to treat people to a personalised pop of luxury, so the right hardware and software to facilitate this is essential. Experienced sales staff will naturally intuit how the customer wishes to be treated, and some stores also have colour-coded shopping baskets to help facilitate interpreting a client’s desires. Evolving to platinum What about when the retailer is the customer? Element’s pillars of design, quality and purpose are not static properties — they are continually evolving. Evaluating market forces such as the increased cost of living, interest rate rises and so on, as well as our industry experience, gives us clues about what our partners will appreciate. Among the conclusions we are drawing is the notion that people are not currently looking for complex, technical, high-cost hardware. Instead, we are hearing calls for good value, good products and good pricing. For this reason, in the lead-up to Christmas, we have a whole raft of specials that can help retailers seeking dependable technology replacements at the right value. And these solutions will enable your business to continue delivering platinum-level service right through the transaction process. Make the last mile gleam When we think about how a customer would like their transaction to unfold, our attention will naturally encompass key peripherals. Depending on what products you have available, will a fixed barcode scanner be convenient to use, or is a portable one a better option? Applying the platinum rule means putting the right scanner in the right place, at the right value. Element’s range of 2D scanners can be positioned in a fixed location, but also fit in the palm of your hand, allowing you to bring the checkout to the product as required. The humble receipt printer is another item that can be a make-or-break cornerstone of the customer experience, for those who need a hardcopy record of their purchase. Maximise your ability to deliver effortless throughput by choosing a unit that will handle kilometres of receipts before the print head is even close to conking out. Because if there’s one thing you can be sure that someone who already loves your store doesn't want, it’s the hassle of being delayed at the checkout due to equipment failure. Contact Element to discover what deals we can offer across various ranges, providing value products at a crucial time and helping to make your business a shining example of ‘getting it right’.

Elevate your technology ecosystems with seamlessly integrated onboard features Subtle additions can equip healthcare terminals for exceptional EMR management A hybrid POS that can transform into a tablet offers remarkable versatility Element can empower your brand to shine through an integral technology experience We’ve already talked about the power of peripherals, and how the lead players of a technology ecosystem are nothing without a first-rate supporting cast. Regardless of whether the vertical is POS, healthcare, hospitality or industrial, the greatest gains in workflow efficiency are attained through the ingenious integration of peripherals and other key hardware features. Healthy interest At first glance, retail and healthcare might seem worlds apart, unless you’re in a shopping centre like Chadstone. But when viewed through the lens of technology, notable parallels soon become apparent. Think of a medical practitioner as a service provider, and a patient or recipient of care as the customer. Psychologists and counsellors overtly refer to the people they work with as ‘clients’, while in a more general mental health setting, people requiring services are frequently called ‘consumers’. So how can workflow be economised to support the healing process, minimising the disruption to the patient’s life? Integrating subtle but powerful features into an AIO (all-in-one) touchscreen terminal such as the Element K959 can make a huge difference when working with the inescapable medical reality of EMR (electronic medical record). Something as simple as a single sign-on function thanks to an integrated RFID reader makes it effortless for nursing staff to log in to a terminal, and an in-built LED work light offers tightly focused illumination where it’s needed, minimising disturbance to sleeping patients. When the patient is on the move and the terminal needs to roll with them, the onboard power supply can simply be disconnected from the wall and the unit switches to its hot-swappable battery system. And side-mounted orientation of the battery bay means gravity can’t work against you. These small differences may not have conspicuous effects at the conscious level - however, in concert, they serve to reduce the stress points in an environment that is inevitably fraught with worry. Hybrid theory When is a tablet not just a tablet? When it can be instantly transformed into a freestanding POS, loaded with optional peripherals. These are too diverse to list here, but they’re perfect for ‘clienteling’ -- the art of building meaningful relationships with customers, that can be transfrerred to other individuals within the sales team. It’s a popular choice for concept stores, since staff can close a sale directly from the unit. The modern, ergonomic docking station features a magnetic lock and rotating ball joint so the tablet can be viewed from a variety of angles. Plus, the docking station offers extra comm ports, LAN, USB ports and even cash drawer points -- all integrated into the base of the unit. Interaction by stealth It’s not enough just to spruik the value of integration: choosing the right products means understanding where and how they are going to be used, then qualifying them correctly. Ultimately, the whole point is to make the hardware and software disappear, and allow the engagement with your brand to take centre stage. Hardware that is effectively ‘invisible’ will often nevertheless create a subliminal impression of your business space as a whole being sleek, modern and beautiful. And while customers should hardly notice the POS itself, they should remember their transaction as being smooth and pleasant. Let Element help you map the right staff experience with the customer journey to ensure the best possible outcome for your business.

Enhance your retail space with technology that makes people want to use it It is imperative that retailers see consumers as more than just walking meal tickets Creating a rich, rewarding customer experience is central to the success of your brand The Element Duet is a great example of how design and inspiration can intersect Have you noticed anything special about those individuals who have chosen to give you their time and attention by visiting your business environment in the real world? They care enough, or are curious enough, about what you offer, to bless you with a moment of their consciousness. Your customers aren’t just walking transactions -- while it’s true that their purchase decisions drive your livelihood, they have so much more to offer than simply being your meal ticket. What are you going to give them in return? Sure, they have come to you for specific goods or services. But the way they feel when they interact with your staff and your technology is a delicate fourth dimension to their retail experience, and it’s imperative that you make the most of that opportunity to acknowledge how valuable they are to you. Make those precious seconds count Kayleigh Fazan is a top influencer in the field of future-proofing customer experiences, who creates incisive and valuable content advising businesses on how to thrive in a post-COVID world. Now the floodgates have been opened and physical stores are an option rather than a necessity, we need to rethink many of the time-worn practices traditionally associated with retail. In a recent vlog reel she posted on LinkedIn, Kayleigh made the poignant observation that when a person comes into your retail space, they are giving you a “golden ticket” to “engage, inspire and educate” them. When someone visits a physical store, they are in effect voting with their feet, which provides you with an opportunity to enrich their lives through inspiring, engaging and educating them. Option paralysis That’s not to say you need to be all over every visitor like a skin condition. Innisfree -- a Korean beauty chain with outlets in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan -- offers customers the ingenious option of choosing colour-coded shopping baskets to indicate whether they want to be approached by staff, or they’re happy just browsing independently. But whether you use a brilliantly expedient method like this or simply train your staff to read the people walking into your store, it is vital that you make the most of those precious seconds. Even if your product or service is the best thing since sliced bread, you may never get a second chance to make a lasting impression. Attention scan It can be frustrating for customers to pass an item over a wave-and-weigh surface and it doesn’t scan. With products such as the Element Duet, we’ve tried to overcome this annoyance by developing a product from the ground up that has a remarkably sensitive scan engine. It can be positioned on a countertop or easily fit in your hand, with a 2D scanner that can pick up and read the smallest of barcodes, such as those found on small pharmacy labels. But the real kicker is the ability to digitally interact on single device with your customer through a second barcode scanner on the customer-facing side. Obviously this saves money, because you do not need to buy two scanning devices for individual tasks. More importantly, it creates a unique customer experience, and expedites the transaction -- and by doing so, it shows your customers that you care about their time and don’t want to hold them up. This makes the Element Duet a quintessential example of how our ethos of design, quality and purpose intersects with Kayleigh’s vision of a 4D consumer experience that is ‘engaging, inspiring and educating’. We are always committed to moving forward, embracing the cutting edge of the cresting wave and mixing metaphors while we’re at it. And when all is said and done, a win for your customers is a win for your business.

A first-rate supporting cast is essential to the central players’ performance Subtle design features make all the difference for efficient healthcare Effortless, user-friendly workflow can hinge on the right receipt printer or scanner Element can help you qualify what factors to consider for a seamless user experience Just as the stars of a film will inevitably draw our focus, it’s inevitable that the big-ticket technology items such as POS devices and Medical terminals will be the centre of our most immediate attention. But this should not be at the cost of forgetting the importance of peripherals -- they are crucial interaction points within your technology ecosystem. Healing arts get a modern makeover With a healthcare range that epitomises our ethos of design, quality and purpose, Element’s medical-grade keyboards are anti-microbial and fully washable. In addition to these ‘standard’ features, our ECT-105 keyboard offers three included connectivity options -- Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and corded -- allowing the one unit to cater for all preferences. A keylock function also promotes swift regular cleaning: when the keyboard needs cleaning, a combination of keys can be held down to lock all the other keys and prevent unwanted keystrokes being entered. And to make these peripherals even more attractive, all our anti-microbial products have recently decreased in price. Green means ‘good’ For everything from emergency records to medication dispensing, a reliable scanner is a vital tool for healthcare professionals. Element’s P100Am and P50BT medical-grade scanners both offer haptic feedback, providing silent positive confirmation of a successful scan while ensuring no disruption to patients during night-time use. In a hospital environment, blood red is obviously not the ideal colour that patients want to see, so these scanners utilise green illumination -- a colour more associated with positives (getting the ‘green light’, natural foliage, healing and so on). From a workflow point of view, the P50BT is compact and light enough to hang from a lanyard, making it convenient for staff to always keep it on hand. Its Bluetooth connectivity allows it to be taken from one workstation to the next and pair it immediately with any terminal, again saving precious seconds. Hardcopy doesn’t have to be a hard slog In retail and hospitality, the humble receipt printer can prove to be an unsung hero. For a heavy throughput of customers, as in a grocery store or hospitality venue, the printer’s duty cycle is central to the return you’ll get on your investment. A workhorse printer such as the RW873, RW973 or RW60 offers the benefit of maximum kilometres of paper per print head and a very high number of cuts out of the paper cutter. Where unit cost is an important consideration and receipt printing is less frequent, a unit such as the RW80L represents a lower upfront investment and offers paper-saving mode. As with all our receipt printers, it features a triple interface of USB, serial and ethernet connection. Two heads are better than one When it comes to scanning, 1D bar codes are hurtling towards a dinosaur-like fate, so all Element scanners support 2D encoding, with diverse solutions for a range of scanning requirements. The P303BT, for example, is mounted in an adjustable presentation stand that can be tilted to suit a variety of ergonomic requirements, while the P220 can be used as a hands-free or desktop scanner. The star attraction of our scanner stable is the new P880DS, with a double-duty design that is the first of its kind in the world. It can rest on a work surface or easily fit into your hand, and features a uniquely aggressive scan engine to pick up the smallest of barcodes, such as the tiny stickers on jewellery. But on its rear side is a second barcode scanner -- allowing product scanning on one side, and scanning a loyalty card or ID on the other. Saving time as well as money, this is a valuable way that we can help our partners with a highly cost-effective solution that does not carry an associated compromise in quality. It’s all about making the hardware disappear The aim of putting all this attention into workflow and efficiency is to provide an unimpeded, seamless experience for customers and staff alike. In applications such as grocery store self-scanning, the user is the customer, so it is not acceptable to risk a frustrating, unreliable or inefficient process. But with so many options available and so many factors to consider -- even something as simple as how to orientate a receipt printer to ensure easy reloading -- it can be difficult to qualify the most efficient way to integrate your ecosystem of peripherals. As always, that’s where Element can help -- our commitment to design, quality and purpose is your assurance that you can depend on our unbiased, objective and meaningful support for your business.

Let’s unpack the reasoning behind some outlandish claims you might have heard Our attention is shifting away from physical hardware and tokens of exchange Inconspicuousness can be a sign that you have the right hardware The focus on software makes it more crucial than ever to be informed about hardware Commonly heard in mediaeval times, cries of “The king is dead! Long live the king!” bear an eerie resemblance to some of the slogans flying around today. We’re not talking about recent events related to the UK’s monarch, but attention-grabbing claims made by pundits speculating about the shape of things to come. Unless we’re living in a holographic universe, it’s pretty obvious that in literal terms, hardware is not dead. But if some of our traditional hardware-based modes of transaction are indeed dying out, new paradigms are rising to take their place. And ultimately, all models and simulations, virtual machines and virtual desktops, are still going to need something physical to run on. Treading softly with transactions It can certainly be argued that advances in software -- particularly in the field of AI -- have outstripped some aspects of hardware development. As for cash -- as in, physical currency -- this might as well be functionally obsolete for an entire generation. But that doesn’t mean cash is dead. Similarly, credit and debit cards are falling from favour. According to a recent report from the Reserve Bank of Australia, mobile wallet payments totalled more than 25% of all cashless transactions at card payment terminals through Q1 of 2022, and this percentage has been increasing steadily. But does this mean plastic is dead? Not by a long shot -- it is just that the way we transact is evolving. With the advent of email more than three decades ago, there was plenty of talk about it meaning the death of paper correspondence. And yes, many of us now opt to receive paperwork such as bank statements and utility bills in soft copy -- which is great for the environment. But does this mean paper is dead? Certainly not, if the countless physical cards sent by snail mail at Christmas time are anything to go by. Do ebooks and e-readers mean libraries are dead? No, it just means they have embraced soft options like Libby and Borrowbox to augment their physical presence. The industry is changing, there is no doubt about that. Yes, people are focusing more on contactless payment options, and the hardware frameworks at the centre of our transactions need to evolve and keep pace. Does this mean hardware is dead? No -- like other migrations from analogue to digital, it’s evolving. However, we do need to think more seriously than ever before about the evolution and change that is taking place: what are the real, tangible implications for hardware? Every cloud has a silicon lining Storing our data ‘in the cloud’ and working online has become the new normal, so it’s no surprise that many of us imagine computing to be insubstantial and vapour-like. However, no matter how clever our applications, no matter how convenient it is for us to transact using a smartwatch, software will always share a symbiotic relationship with hardware: one is useless without the other. In an age of cloud-based everything, it is easy to forget how essential the right hardware platform is for smooth operation. It’s not unlike the unconscious reliance we place on electricity -- when we flick a switch, we simply expect it to be there. But think of the end-to-end process starting from the coal, sunlight and wind being converted into electricity, think of the high-voltage transmission lines and banks of transformer stations. Without this complex infrastructure of systems, we would never have the end product we take for granted. Yet as with digital hardware, the fundamental technology involved is often forgotten because all we notice is the service that runs ‘on top’. Nothing to unsee here Ironically, the focus on software is a major reason why it’s more important than ever to choose the right hardware. To continue with our electricity analogy, a customer’s interaction with software should be effortless and meaningful. Even though it is at the heart of retail and hospitality transactions, the POS machine itself should vanish into the background. Similarly, in a healthcare environment, the medical-grade EMR (electronical medical record) terminal should blend into the overall treatment setting, as if it’s hardly even there. But how do you choose the best POS system to ensure such an experience? How do you find an anti-microbial touchscreen to support our healthcare heroes? Under the bonnet, it means understanding the ecosystem and qualification of the total solution. The customer or staff journey needs to be meticulously mapped out, we need to establish the minimum specifications for the software, and whether the hardware is single-task or multiple-task orientated. This is barely scratching the surface of all the details that need to be evaluated. Add to this the financial outlay, be it POS system rollout, medical-grade EMR or industrial PCs, and you’ll realise that decisions around industry-specific hardware solutions need to be expertly informed and thoroughly thought-through. Your trusted adviser This is where Element can help. Obviously nobody is going to think of purchasing industry specific hardware as being comparable to buying a first home or planning a wedding, but in the context of a business lifespan, it is an undertaking of similar gravity. Remember that in retail or hospitality, every single in-person transaction will be processed through your POS system -- meaning the right equipment can save you from innumerable pain points every working day. Instead, the point of sale service you provide can be a little ray of sunshine in every customer’s journey. In an industrial setting, the same should be true of a panel PC built to survive the harshest conditions -- it should facilitate work instead of being hard work to use. Connected business is the way of the future, so at Element, we are motivated to share our collective experience for the benefit of everyone -- our partners and competitors alike. Monopolising knowledge doesn’t serve the industry, and if we’re not serving the industry, we are failing in our mission to empower informed decision-making. There is nothing to be gained by clinging to the past -- that ship has sailed, that king is dead. Long live the king!

Harness the power of connection to thrive in a high-inflation, post-COVID reality Today’s economic climate makes many pre-pandemic business practices obsolete While creating unprecedented opportunities, technology also brings unique challenges Element can cut through complexity to perfectly tailor POS solutions for your business As businesses pour momentum into 2023, we are facing a whole new set of challenges, many of which are centred around the RBA’s cash rate, soaring inflation and skyrocketing costs of living. Now more than ever, the revolution in online cooperation -- originally spawned by the necessity to survive the pandemic -- is equipping us with the tools we need to conquer the adversity of our harsh economic climate. Connected commerce is here to stay It’s worth reiterating a point we’ve made before: today’s market paradigms mean businesses that work together thrive in ways that make hostile competition a waste of resources. While this might have once seemed like an idealistic New Age dream, our technology has evolved so dramatically that we are blessed with new opportunities for collaboration that simply never existed before. These include pathways for sharing commercial wisdom and experience, and the creation of online communities that can pool their resources to benefit the industry as a whole. While we face new pressures today -- largely related to the cost of living -- we are also armed with the advantages that include working remotely and sharing ideas through virtual meetings. So even though the going is tough at the moment, we have the means to overcome the obstacles we face. Option paralysis: a very real first-world problem A key aspect of Element’s Better Together program is to support mutually beneficial connections among distribution partners and end users. Partly as a result of COVID, businesses now have a robust infrastructure that facilitates harmonious collaboration, and all parties can gain from this collaboration. But inevitably, the power of technology comes with its own unique challenges. While we might have a solid grasp of the platforms that support networking and online communication, deciding on the right point of sale management system is a complex process. There are so many variables involved that the best POS system for one business is not going to perform anywhere near as effectively in a different setting. As one very simple example, a front-of-house hospitality POS system for a staff journey experience will never deliver the customer-centric retail experience of a self service kiosk. In other situations, such as price considerations, comparing upfront capital outlay to the cost of a product’s full end-to-end life cycle can reveal a dramatic difference in financial investment between one solution and another. Navigating the digital landscape What would it mean for your business to have a trusted advisor who can cut through the marketing spiel and empower you to make informed decisions about your retail POS system? At Element, we carefully investigate the customer journeys and workflows specific to every partner we work with, regardless of whether the vertical involved is industrial, medical, retail or hospitality. Our core values of design, quality and purpose compel us to explore every factor relevant to the technology ecosystem best aligned with your requirements, notably including the right price point. In one situation, you might need to be running the latest POS software or enterprise management applications, so a state-of-the-art processor becomes an essential consideration. In a different use-case scenario, it might become evident that the practical requirements do not call for this level of processing power, but unit cost is a major priority for the business. In the second instance, we might explore the suitability of a unit such as the Element CA250W, which offers exceptional value for its price point. In a medical setting, ‘fit for purpose’ might mean peripherals that are fully washable, while an industrial environment might necessitate a panel PC that can withstand exposure to hazardous environments. Whether you’re evaluating the benefits of an Intel J6412 processor in the Element CA850 or looking to choose a handheld barcode scanner for the right scanning application, it is this level of conversation you can expect from our partner community. Even the idioms of ‘knowledge is power’ and ‘unity is strength’ are Better Together -- and this combined approach is how we can all cultivate a commercial environment in which everyone succeeds.