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Article asks the question if you are utilizing the best technology for you business. Data and POS hardware and software upgrades. Movie from registers to Tablets

Linga is a B2B software company that introduced a new product called LingaROS which is a restaurant or retail operating system. This system includes premium features that integrate the hotels property management system (OPERA) with the restaurants and retail stores within the property. This software aims at improving the guest experience and increase efficiency in operations.

This article mentions the many benefits and consequences of proximity marketing. For instance, there are policies regarding allowing access to one's location that many users are unaware of. Uber for many months allowed the drivers to still have the user's location even after a couple of minutes of dropping them off. They changed this months later, but these kinds of things coming to light makes customers want to leave their location off. Proximity marketing is great for learning more about who shops at our businesses and even to entice the consumer to shop more frequently, but many people would prefer to avoid it.

This article, published in 2015, covers a study performed in Turkey to analyze factors in hotels that lead management to prefer desktop-based PMS over cloud-based PMS or vice versa. The study uses qualitative research to determine the reasons for the usage of PMS and the advantages and disadvantage of either system. The study found that, among others, significant factors that contribute to the form of PMS implemented by mangement may include the size of the property, reservation channels, and prior level of IT experience.

The article talks about Hotelogix, a cloud-based hotel PMS, teaming up with Xperium's new technology that enables complete contactless check-in and check-outs. This new technology allows guests to perform all the normal check-in activities right on their cell phone, without the need to download a specific app. It digitizes the paperwork so the guests can electronically review the reservation and sign off on the registration card. They can also select their room right from their phone. This new technology complies with the COVID-19 guidelines and will be key in the industry's recovery. The new technology doesn't just end with the check-in process. It offers various capabilities such as collecting guest feedback and preferences, up-selling rooms, ordering room service, and can even take credit card payments. With the pandemic and the need for contactless services, this will help push cloud-based PMS to the forefront. The speed in which hotels adopt these new types of technologies will be crucial to their recovery in the new normal.

This article summarizes the findings taken from research done within the Expedia Group's global hotelier panel consisting of 1,215 hotelier participants that used a choice-based study to compare technology investments between defined hotel chains and small independent hotels. In summary, chain hotels were likely to invest twice as much in technology when compared to small independent hotels. Conversely, small independent hotels were likely to invest more in rooms reservations than chain hotels. The I.T investment strategy varied among the two hotel segments. Small independent hotels choose technology based on affordability, value, and complexity of technology, whereas chain hotels bought technology based on its ability to integrate into their existing systems, the price was not mentioned.

My opinion on this article surrounds my personal experience in the way I have been able to experience third party extranet portals and because of these enhancements that Expedia has developed for hotel partners, I have seen a tremendous amount of return on investment that goes into technology development. Many consumers have been influenced by these third party sites because they offer a type of experience that is different from traditional booking methods and often times consumers are able to snag cheaper rates than they would with booking hotel direct. I would like to see how this trend goes on in future years because I have seen more third party bookings in recent months and it should follow that trend for years to come.

The article focuses on applying technology in the hospitality industry, based on the study conducted by Expedia Group (Big Think). The article summarized the research study conducted on 1215 hoteliers worldwide, assessing the focus and prioritization of technology investments by these businesses. The study provides that Chain of hotels are twice as likely to invest in technology than SME in the hospitality industries, with these SMEs being 1.5 times more likely to invest in renovations. In the year 2019, approximately 54% of hotels focused on increasing their technology investments, with only 8% focusing on reducing the same. This provided that more hoteliers were willing to "stay ahead of the curve" than those that focused on adopting the "wait and see" approach. In this respect, hoteliers identified that their main technology investments were influenced by the value and affordability of the same and the capacity to integrate them with existing technologies. On the other hand, the main challenges associated with the technologies were complexity, affecting 25% of the respondents, and ease of use, affecting 33.33% of the respondents (Big Think). In focusing on technological advancement, the Expedia Group focused on technological elements such as Partner Central Mobile Application improvements, new "rooms and rate," page improvements, new "marketing" improved pages, new homepages adaptive, as well as multiple-property portfolio dashboards. With regard to the market perspective, digital marketing/website optimization, smart room, reputation management, revenue management, guest check-ins, and payment solutions were the main technological focuses for the hoteliers. Focusing on the reasons hoteliers were motivated to invest in technology, the study established that improving productivity, improving loyalty and repeat visits, improving guest experiences and reviews, reducing costs, and improving revenue generation topped the list.  

This article talks about the GDS and how it can help attract clients in particular business clients. It starts by giving all the benefits of the GDS. It then goes on to explain how the GDS works and who can access it. It ends by talking about the types of GDS systems and how they will evolve and stay relevant in the future.

This article describes the different types of GDS programs that hotels might use. The one my hotel uses is in here as well! It outlines why they are important, how they are used, and the massive reach that they have. Most companies use GDS to streamline their efficiency so it is interesting to read why it is so effective.

The article discusses the future of biometrics in the hospitality and travel industry. It predicts that biometrics will soon cause the physical passports to disappear. As well as how hotels and casinos are moving towards a cashless and app only business.

The article discusses the results of a study done on digital wallets, or m-wallets as the study calls them. The study primarily looks into how and why consumers are transitioning to and using digital wallets. The study hypothesized that PCM or perceived collectivism would majorly influence whether or not a consumer switched over to a digital wallet, but that was not found to be true in the context of the study. The primary reasons why consumers are adopting digital wallets because it's convenient and easy. In regards to digital wallets and the hospitality industry, guests are and will be using digital wallets to pay for their meal/stay/service. Digital wallets make it easy for guests to split payments or pay each other back when sharing an experience.

The cloud has made hotel operations run smooth and seamless. Cloud computing has made hotels be able to reach their customers all around the world with their rates and information. it has given hotels the opportunity to scale up or down depending on the online traffic they experience in certain seasons. It has facilitated hotels to provide customers with a unique and customer experience by sharing their preferences across different properties using the cloud. It has helped reduce costs and simplify IT.

To Sum the article, Hoteliers consider high-tech security technology since the outbreak of the coronavirus and the safety of residents in hotel. In order for hotel to prevent the virus from spreading they'll consider limiting who has access to the facility. Another, to prevent criminal activity to take place within hotels by granting access to person who notify resident who stays and to be buzz in, contactless on key card and more.

The Hospitality industry has been somewhat hesitant to adapt to new technologies. This may be the case of hospitality companies being scared to go away from what we consider good customer service. The pandemic helped to jumpstart the hospitality industry into accepting new forms of technology. Technology is on the rise in the hospitality industry and is only going to continue to be more and more prevalent.

Self-checkouts at the retail establishments may cut labor cost; however, according to some retailers the theft percentage went up. Customers are leaving supermarkets without scanning the items. It is very 'easy to steal' at the check-out. People are scanning only cheapest staff, leaving more expensive items in the cart. Putting less valuable items on the scale, for instance weighting bananas in stead of the steak. People are very creative in their ways of 'stealing' or avoiding payments. There is a necessity in video cameras, video analytics, and different mobile devices to prevent the theft.

Mobile digital payment company Square announced today on its blog that it will begin selling a "Business in a Box" solution that will act as a full point-of-sale system for iPad-toting business owners. The hardware package starts at $299 and includes two Square Readers, a Heckler Design WindFall iPad Stand, and an APG Vasario 1616 Cash Drawer (as pictured above).

The article, iPad POS Use Rising Among Restaurants, reflects the evolution and implementation of both hardware and POS software within the restaurant industry. The iPad is revolutionizing POS systems, helping to increase the efficiency for the restaurants. According to Chris Wishart, restaurateur of the Trio Restaurant & Bar, "You don't have to worry about servers coming back into the kitchen 10 or 15 times a night asking questions". This allows for the quicker and more efficient placing of orders that contribute to higher customer satisfaction, which is to an extent difficult to measure. As well, Wishart comments about the hardware cost an estimated $3,000, in comparison to the typical upfront POS system costs of $12,000 to $20,000. Including, the use of the cloud base technology has eliminated the need for store software upkeep. The iPad is a versatile hardware that has allowed POS software companies to benefit mutually along with restaurants.

This article introduces using ipad as a POS in restaurants. Customers liking ipad, this is a big advantage of using ipad to take the order. What's more, ipad can improve the efficiency for the restaurant and decrease the workload of servers. "You don't have to worry about servers coming back into the kitchen 10 or 15 times a night asking questions, and the recipes for all the bar drinks are there, too," And ipad POS can bring the benefit for the cost of the restaurants. In addition, it also has the reliability to assure users.

It is a revolution that tablet brings to restaurant industry. Taking orders, reservation, planning and inventory, all things are possible with iOS platform devices. Both restaurants and guests like new tablet POS because it improve experience and time efficient. Both servers and restaurant owners like it because it is cheaper to set up comparing with traditional POS.

This article talks about the changes happening in the restaurant and retail industry regarding POS systems. Since the appearance of the cheap tablet business owners have been asking why do we have to spend $600 on a POS station if a simple tablet cost $100 and has the same computing power. Imagine a restaurant where you come in sit down and order your food and drinks on a tablet that is on the table, a food runner brings you your order, and whenever you are ready you can swipe your credit card on the tablet and get a receipt send to your email. This reduces payroll for the business owner, and also makes the industry a less capital intensive one. All that is left is for a company to write the programs, sell the tablets, and give the same kind of support you would get with any other system.  

The article mainly talks about the security concerns that hotels are facing in the industry today more than ever. The risk in hotel security is increasingly difficult with new technologies, regulations and global threats. I think its important because as some of us being future managers we need tro be aware of the security concerns that we are facing.