In an effort to attract new customers, a large Japanese retailer wanted to upgrade the shopping experience for customers of their 20,000 convenience stores. Payment solution provider Empathy helped them create an omni-channel solution that leverages Microsoft Azure and Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry OS to enable secure purchase of a broad selection of online products from inside the store via a mobile tablet with built-in payment card reader technology.

Thanks to the Empathy solution, customers have a wider selection of products and sales associates can interact with customers throughout the store. “Our solution creates a richer in-store customer experience. You can select, pay for and ship a product, all from a mobile device,” said John Davis, Global Business Development Director for Empathy. “That’s a game changing innovation for the retail space.”

According to Davis, security was a top priority when considering which cloud service to use for their solutions. “With a payment solution, the two main concerns are fraud and the security of card holder data,” Davis said. “The security features included in Microsoft Azure and Windows Embedded OS were essential.” Davis also noted that Azure’s Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) certification was reassuring to both Empathy and their customer.

In addition to the benefits they have experienced using Azure and Windows Embedded OS, Davis said Empathy’s partnership with Microsoft has provided them with opportunities to connect with customers and partners that they would not have had otherwise. “Microsoft has a really good network, and we’ve leveraged that network to create new business opportunities for ourselves.” he said. “Also, when you’re trying to do business on a global scale, even with small companies, just having Microsoft as your partner gives you credibility.”

Product/Service

Headquartered in Japan, Empathy is a leading provider of mobile hardware, software and platform solutions as well as consulting and training services for the payments industry.

 

Industries

Retail, Consumer, Hospitality