Aptean, which markets the Ross and Made2Manage systems, has purchased Verdiem, which makes energy management software for IT devices. Verdiem's products are designed to reduce power consumption for PCs and Macs and network and print devices. Aptean CEO Kim Eaton says the deal is designed to strengthen the company's enterprise application line.

ApplePay will show substantial growth in acceptance as an alternative pay method over the next three years. However, PayPal, now more widely used, will maintain its lead in this arena, according to Boston Retail Partners' 15th Annual POS/Customer Engagement Benchmarking Survey. The results were released during the National Retail Federation's annual Big Show this week. PayPal was used by 13 percent of respondents with 18 percent planning to add it within one year and 31 percent within one to three years.

Xero has begun bringing its low-cost accounting and payroll systems together by integrating those applications for California, Florida and Texas. The New Zealand-based cloud accounting software company says integration for the United Kingdom and New Zealand will occur in the next three months with the rest of the United States to follow during the year. Xero CEO Rod Drury says the company is building upon its purchase of payroll provider Monchilla.