IBM and EMN8 today announced their agreement to jointly manufacture, market and support EMN8's self service order and pay kiosk products. EMN8 products are designed mainly for deployment in the Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) and Fast Casual Dining (FCD), segments of the broader Retail Sector where IBM has a strong presence.

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As part of the agreement, EMN8 will transition production of its OrderM8 4000 kiosk hardware platform to IBM. OrderM8 is the kiosk design of choice for QSR operators due to its approachability, style and function, including full payment processing. Once IBM production is underway, the companies plan to develop future generations of kiosk products, including a full service kiosk incorporating IBM's Anyplace kiosk technology. This arrangement will marry the companies' mutual focus on innovation to provide a broader range of state-of-the-art hardware options for their clients.

Under the mutual marketing initiative, IBM sales representatives can now offer their clients EMN8's compelling self service solution as well as future generations of products developed jointly by the two companies. In addition, a key component of the agreement is EMN8's ability to leverage IBM's TotalStore services, including kiosk deployment, help desk, training, proactive health checks, depot and on-site maintenance provided by IBM's Global Technology Services.

"IBM's 20-plus years in the kiosk marketplace and experience working with QSRs enables us to provide EMN8 with tested technology and services that will help them to achieve greater scalability and reach," said Brenda Harvey, vice president of Integrated Technology Services, part of IBM's Global Technology Services.

Since its inception seven years ago, EMN8 has partnered with major foodservice brands to bring self service to millions of their guests in the U.S. With a focus of restaurant margin maximization, EMN8 designs products to increase average check, improve speed of service, enhance guest satisfaction and deliver consistent in-store brand messaging to customers, while reducing overall operating costs.

"Our business is growing rapidly. IBM's high volume, high quality production and extensive service capabilities are key ingredients for serving the needs of a quickly growing kiosk market as well as meeting the rigorous demands of the QSR and fast casual environments," said Perse Faily, CEO of EMN8. "With IBM's production and service capabilities and our marketing model, we both can offer attractive pricing to our clients -- critically important in a tight economic environment."

  The agreement was signed in the second quarter of 2009.

  About EMN8
  For more information about EMN8, visit http://www.emn8.com/.

  About IBM
  For more information, visit www.ibm.com/services.


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SOURCE: IBM