Group items tagged

Based on Sociometric Solutions’ finding that people who ate in larger lunch groups were more productive,

Human resources consultant and writer Susan Heathfield of Williamston, Mich., agreed that creativity and productivity are better when employees work together on site.

“We have found that when we put together teams of seven to 12 people and give them an assignment,” they do phenomenally and socialize more than people sitting in cubicles,

Michael Arena, a former Bank of America executive, believes that more companies will adopt sensor technology to assess and improve performance.

Pricing. POS systems generally offer a variety of ways to keep track of pricing

Updating product information. Once a sale is entered, these systems automatically update inventory and accounts receivable records.

Sales tracking options. Different businesses get paid in different ways. For example, repair or service shops often keep invoices open until the work is completed, so they need a system that allows them to put sales on hold.

Security. In retail, it's important to keep tight control over cash receipts to prevent theft.

Taxes. Many POS systems can support numerous tax rates-useful if you run a mail order business and need to deal with taxes for more than one state.

any recovery could depend on how safe guests feel.

Guests can use the AI-based devices to control the lighting and operate the television, while avoiding touching light switches and remote controls.

“The reality is the pandemic has impacted all of our staffing levels and budgets and forecasts,” said John Edwards, chief information officer at the Denver-based company, which is also known as Red Lion Hotels Corp.

Beacons can help users identify any lost item as long as the device, and the missing item is well within the beacon range.

Several companies are rolling out wearable bracelets that help with social distancing and tracking the virus with the help of BLE beacon. 

As restaurants and pubs begin to gear up the safe reopening, technologies such as QR Codes and beacons are being implemented for secure ordering to curb the virus’s spread. 

Bluetooth beacons can pinpoint an item’s location and send updates about a piece of equipment that needs maintenance and even a routine check-up. 

Beacons can now be assigned multiple actions to a single beacon, allowing developers to edit the code by adding them to the beacon dashboard. 

Most POS systems make it easy for staff to learn how to use them, but Aloha surpasses industry standards by offering more than 300 training modules to educate employees and management teams.

System tools track frequent diners, store customer-feedback information and analyze in-store and online ordering statistics to help managers craft better advertising campaigns.

Ordering strategies prove critical to restaurant success because perishable foods have limited shelf lives, and this software helps to develop restaurant specials to use highly perishable ingredients within acceptable time guidelines.

Faster processing speeds empower real-time seating strategies, incorporate customer requests and give more accurate waiting-time estimates.

Technology advances create increasingly affordable POS options such as wireless devices that might offer easier transitions for small restaurants. Many smaller operations find the cost of Aloha systems a significant obstacle.

"I think that you will begin to see more hotels going to RFID and smartphone entry before using biosystem recognition," says Wolfe. "These systems are expensive, and there are many consumers who just don't want this information stored somewhere -- for a variety of reasons."

Systems that track the other qualities that make each human unique are in development as well.

Yet more card-free security systems are on the way.

Many industry watchers are keeping an eye on Houston's largest hotel, the vast 1,200-room Hilton Americas–Houston. The hotel has a facial recognition system that can identify and track guests, employees, and even suitcases. With 700 employees and an annual $16 million payroll, the system offers benefits such as employee time-theft monitoring and prevention for the hotel. But travelers aren't that concerned about employees taking an extra cigarette break. What it means for you is that the system includes alerts if unwanted people are on the property and a response time of mere seconds if there's an incident. Customer service is heightened as well: Returning guests will be recognized and greeted by name. And with 1,200 rooms worth of luggage in transit, the system makes it a lot easier to find lost or misdirected bags.

not everyone wants to be on-camera, all the time. With concerns about "snooping" and a Truman Show-like lack of privacy, might guests feel that systems such as this are too intrusive in our hotels? "

Technology is opening new doors to hotel safety, and the way we navigate hotels is set to change in the blink of an eye. Or the swipe of a cellphone. Or the print of a finger. With futuristic systems like scent and iris scanners and digital facial-recognition, hotel security is being taken to the next level. #plain_module { width: 590px; height:170px; border: none; float:left; margin:0px; font-size:12px;} #plain_module img {border:none; width: 13px; height:14; border: 0px; margin:0px; } #plain_module .mini_main { margin: 0px; padding:0px; width:585px; height:220px; repeat scroll 0 0} #plain_module .mini_item_header {padding:10px 0px; margin: 0px 0px; font-size:16px; color: #555555; border-bottom:1px dotted #CCCCCC;} #plain_module .mini_item {padding:5px 0px; margin: 0px 0px;} #plain_module a { color: #49A3CA; text-decoration:none; } #plain_module a:hover { color: #F98419; text-decoration:underline;} span.gray {color:#949494;} .mini_main li{list-style-type: none;background-image: url(http://www.aolcdn.com/travel/bullet);background-repeat: no-repeat;background-position: 0 1px;padding-left: 10px;} Those plastic key cards that once seemed so innovative will soon go the way of the actual key. The new thing is contact-less Smartcards and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) cards that need just be waved to allow room access. Much like the cruise world's one card system, these cards may soon make hotel stays easier by allowing guests to pay for services, as well as to check-in and check-out, through a single device. Travelers may even be able to save preferences on the cards, from pillow type to floor choice. RFID cards are already in use at New York's Plaza Hotel, and Starwood Hotels are considering introducing them into their hip Aloft and Element properties. But travelers worried they will constantly have to traipse back to reception every time they lose their card need not despair. Security systems in some hotels do away with cards altogether. "In addition to Radio Frequency Identification, there are also systems that use a smartphone, such as an iPhone," says Frank Wolfe, CEO of Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals. "When a guest checks into a hotel and provides their phone number, they get an encrypted sound code via text message." You can then play back the code to unlock your room door.

Systems that track the other qualities that make each human unique are in development as well. Movement-activated video-capture systems were showcased in New Zealand in September 2010. Researchers are at work on devices capable of recognizing an individual's gait or walk and even their DNA. Frank Wolfe says, "If you want to go 'way out there', there are some systems being explored that can allegedly sniff someone, and also systems that can recognize the pattern of blood veins on a human being which are apparently unique to the individual," says Wolfe. Quite common in Japan, vascular-recognition systems such as this are still "several years off," according to Wolfe. "I think that you will begin to see more hotels going to RFID and smartphone entry before using biosystem recognition," says Wolfe. "These systems are expensive, and there are many consumers who just don't want this information stored somewhere -- for a variety of reasons."

it records peak heart rate over a period of time

it allows every member to know their personal statistics

and efficiency of members’ workouts

This data is used by trainers to improve the impact of sessions by identifying exactly when users should decrease or increase effort.

"For years, the standard of fitness heart rate tracking across the category has been an age-based formula

The trainer-led sessions alternate cycles of high-intensity work followed by lower intensity which allows the cardiorespiratory system to partially recover.

Orangetheory says the new algorithm is designed to evolve and become more accurate over time.

Orangetheory’s system is based on post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) where the body continues to use oxygen and burn calories for a period of time after the workout.

Necessary hardware components

Technical support

Financial reporting capabilities

User friendliness.

Software to track data

Point of Sale (POS) equipment is the computer-based order-entry technology many restaurants use to capture orders, record data and display or print tickets. Restaurant servers, bartenders and cashiers can all use POS systems to easily enter food and beverage orders.

When buying a call accounting system, hotel managers have three system choices: software, hardware, or web-based products. Web-based products tend to get quite expensive due to the monthly subscription fees which are based on the number of extensions and users. Software products are more flexible than hardware-based systems due to the added capabilities of the PC, but often require large amounts of memory to store and retrieve call data efficiently. Hardware or stand-alone systems appear to be the most popular form of call accounting systems in the hospitality industry due to the fact that the systems are quite small and can be stored in a closet or drawer. Stand-alone systems, like software and web-based products, will automatically post call records directly to the Property Management System for future retrieval.

This makes it easier to identify those that would need maintenance, repair or replacement. This will also decrease the repair costs as when you regularly maintain your facilities, they are more likely to breakdown.

Organizing a more efficient workflow

.There will be less disruption in the daily activities of workers as everything will be arranged early on through the software.

Better record keeping and reporting

anyone can have access to that data. And because everyone has access, creating reports is made easier.

Just think of not just how much you are saving, but also how much more efficient your workplace

Store associates should always know which styles have been selling on instantly consumable dashboards. Armed with this information, they will be empowered to take action to turn lagging styles into leading styles.

Making inventory data available across all stores in real time allows associates to create customer orders for items they want but are not in stock in their store. Fillable orders are instantly visible and ship quickly.

Suppose a retail chain has one store that historically underperforms based on average units per transaction. Set the goal of reaching parity with other stores, create an attractive reward for reaching the goal, and make the average units per transaction metric available in real time to all store staff.

No longer must there be a physical barrier between sales associates and their customers. No longer will customers be frustrated by sales associates that stand behind the counter and never greet or approach them.

Beacons can also help shoppers navigate a big store

beacon communication

often connected to an app

, which may gather even richer data, such as a customer’s product preferences, demographic information and purchase history, particularly if the app is hooked up to mobile pay.

customers now have access to a map that shows their location within a Target store

the state of Illinois proposed a bill that will make it illegal for companies to “collect, use, store, or disclose geolocation information

from a location-based application

Those who do want the discounts and the conveniences that come with location-based marketing should be able to participate knowing that their data and privacy are safe and respected.

displaying in-store signage notifying shoppers that their location data is being collected,

And there will always be companies that ignore guidelines

, and even break laws.

an Uber update surreptitiously removed an option that allowed users to opt out of location tracking when they were not using the app.

Instead, users had to sign on for tracking “always” or “never.”

they were also forced to sign on to tracking for up to five minutes after they had completed their ride and left the vehicle.

It took nine months for Uber to listen to their users. This August, the company finally announced it would stop tracking the location of its users when they were not using the app.

Target’s privacy notice is currently 4,359 words and the top of the page reads, “We may change or add to this privacy policy, so we encourage you to review it periodically.”