March Networks® and EZUniverse® recently announced a strategic partnership and the launch of a new cloud-based video and retail data analytics service for the quick-service restaurant (QSR) and fast casual market.
March Networks Searchlight™ for QSR powered by 360iQ combines March Networks’ enterprise video solutions with 360iQ, the cloud-based data analytics solution from EZUniverse. It provides franchise owners and managers with valuable business insights into sales and productivity numbers, best-selling products, labor reports and other operational data in real time using customizable dashboard reports on either a secure, intuitive mobile app or a browser-based software client. The service also provides loss prevention reports with fully integrated point-of-sale (POS) transaction data and high-definition video, as well as live and recorded surveillance video views.
Franchise owners can also subscribe to remote store audits performed by a team of trained experts in the area of loss prevention, store operations and compliance. March Networks will deliver Searchlight for QSR working with a network of certified solution partners who will perform installation and support services.
“With an estimated 250,000 plus QSR and fast casual locations in the United States, we view this market as a high growth segment,” said Peter Strom, president and CEO, March Networks. “The 360iQ solution stood out as clearly best-in-class based on its proven value to QSR retailers, exceptional user experience and scalability. When combined with our leading enterprise video solution, we are confident that we have a very competitive service offering and we look forward to working with EZUniverse to continue developing innovative business solutions.”
In addition to the partnership, Peter Strom and Jeffrey Liu, chairman of Infinova, have joined the board of EZUniverse to help oversee its growth and expansion plans.
“EZUniverse has always been on the frontline of technology and product innovation, and we are thrilled that 360iQ has been recognized by a global player like March Networks,” said Leszek James, chairman and CEO of EZUniverse. “We look forward to working with the March Networks team to build a leadership position in the global QSR space. With this partnership, we are receiving significant interest from many of the international brands, and now the product will have both a powerful worldwide presence and a sizeable salesforce to commandeer the market.”
Developed specifically for the QSR sector, the Searchlight service powered by 360iQ addresses common barriers that can make it difficult for owners to adopt valuable business intelligence tools. Both the Searchlight for QSR mobile app and software client are reportedly intuitive, enabling new employees to learn the tools quickly and use them more effectively—a critical requirement in an industry with a staff turnover rate of more than 70 percent (National Restaurant Association, 2016). The service also eliminates upfront capital costs in favor of an affordable monthly fee that includes the industry’s most reliable video recording platform.
Searchlight for QSR will be available for purchase directly from March Networks in the United States and Canada in early September. The company will demonstrate the service in Booth #423 at the Restaurant Loss Prevention & Security Association (RLPSA) Conference and Expo, July 30-August 2 in Las Vegas, NV. For more information, visit www.marchnetworks.com.
