market update
NCR Fingerprint Recognition Solutions
Help Address Security and Privacy Issues
NCR has unveiled its comprehensive strategy for helping retailers and consumers address information security and privacy issues through fingerprint recognition. “We are seeing increased interest in fingerprint recognition as retailers, their employees and consumers learn more about the convenience and benefits offered by this technology,” said NCR vice-president for Assisted Service Solutions Greg Egan. “With properly planned and managed deployments, retailers can expect measurable business improvements from employee-facing as well as consumer-facing applications.” Employee-facing uses of fingerprint recognition — including time and attendance, controlled access to point-of-sale (POS) systems and manager approvals or transaction overrides at the POS — offer revenue recovery and operational efficiency opportunities for retailers. For example, the cost of time and attendance inaccuracies, which can be reduced through the use of biometrics, has been estimated at between one per cent and eight per cent of payroll. “In preparation for the rollout of biometrics technologies to consumers, retailers often first introduce associatefacing applications such as time and attendance to get employees used to this advanced technology,” said Robert Garf. In addition to biometric payment, fingerprint recognition can improve other consumer-facing applications, such as age verification, payroll cheque-cashing or frequent shopper programs, in conjunction with assistedservice or self-service solutions.

Schaeffer Named President & CEO, McCain Foods (Canada)
Fred Schaeffer has been named president and CEO of McCain Foods (Canada). He was formerly senior vice-president of Kraft Foods and president of Kraft Canada Inc. “We are immensely pleased that Fred Schaeffer is joining us to lead our Canadian division,” Dale Morrison, McCain Foods Limited president and CEO, said in making the