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jazminesnyder

Guest Column: How Distribution Systems Are Like Seat Belts - Business Travel News - 0 views

  • global distribution systems use old technology
  • their interfaces aren’t quite as attractive as airline websites
  • they still do what they’re designed to do efficiently and affordably.
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  • agency portals
  • Are not designed to manage high transaction volumes generated by large TMCs.Do not offer comparison shopping on competing airlines.
  • Its strategy seems to rest in shifting distribution costs to corporate buyers.
  • Building out airline websites, keeping website content updated, investing in agent portals and investing in direct connect technology all come with significant capital expenditures or resource costs.
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    My article this week is about how GDS (Global Distribution Systems) can be compared to a seatbelt. The author opens the article discussing the main reasons we still continue to use seatbelts; even though they aren't the most comfortable or fashionable items to use, they still do their jobs in saving our lives when it comes to a collision of some sort. The author is in favor of GDS and makes the claim that like seatbelts, the GDS may not be the most up-to-date or may not appear to be as nice as other local systems to each individual airline, but they get the job done and there are no other systems out there like it that we know of (no other systems that do everything he GDS system does that is). The main topic of discussion that the article is concerned with is the recent decision made by the company Lufthansa to start charging its customers an additional surcharge for using GDS systems instead of going through its own system. The author clearly makes it know that she doesn't believe Lufthansa when they say they are charging this additional surcharge because GDS is the most expensive channel to go through. "Because there's no reason to think that an airline should expect to distribute its products without any cost, Lufthansa's recent gambit seems more of a tactic for increasing lagging direct distribution... Its strategy seems to rest in shifting distribution costs to corporate buyers" claims Rose, the author of the article. The author also points out some of the draw backs of using agency portals, the main reason being that a customer cannot compare rates of other competitors and that agency portals cannot handle high volume transactions like the GDS can. It is also made known that there are costs that come with other channels as well, like the prices you pay for building airline websites and keeping them updated. The author concludes that "Given the history of negotiations between airlines and GDSs, it's impossible to know whether Lufthansa is using DCC as
dstro007

Ritz-Carlton eases event planning with mobile app - Luxury Daily - Mobile - 0 views

  • Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company is enhancing its event services with a mobile application designed to assist meeting and event planners with the details involved with scheduling a function at a property
  • The app, ((Chime))
  • ((Chime)) allows organizers an opportunity to request needs immediately and efficiently from their phones or tablets
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  • The application is sent to the event planner by the host hotel three days prior to an event to make any last minute changes
  • The new endeavor offered a large amount of Ritz-Carlton bonus reward points when consumers book a meeting, event or conference at any of the hotel properties
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    In keeping up to its standard of maintaining high customer service, the Ritz Carlton has a new idea to do just that. As we know with a hotel, there are many hands on the assembly belt to make the hotel run smoothly. Since the guest experience is their main priority, they don't want to leave anyone excluded. So the company has released an app, ((CHIME)), to assist event planners during their event. Sent to the planner three days prior to the event, the Event planner is able to make any changes necessary. On the day of, if something was to malfunction or hotel assistance was needed, instead of the planner panicking, they are able to use ((CHIME)) to get what they need done. Whether it has to do with food & beverage, audio / visuals, seating arrangements, or room relocation, within minutes the event planner can have a request put in and a hotel employee will be there to fix the issue. Just another way of keep guests returning and to ensure a successful event. 
hunter56321

17 apps that are revolutionising the hospitality industry - eHotelier - 1 views

  • Apps are taking over the world, no matter what industry or location. The hospitality industry is no exception, and whether you’re a hotel owner, café manager, barista, wait staff member or patron, there is an app out there that makes your life easier. Here are a few apps that are examples of innovation in the hospitality industry.
  • OneTab This app is the future of bar tabs. OneTab allows patrons to set up a tab, track its progress, and pay it off at the end of the night seamlessly. It doesn’t get much easier than that, for both vendors and patrons!
  • Staffing roster nightmares are a thing of the past. This app allows managers and staff to set and access their rosters so everybody knows where and when they need to work.
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  • Accounting is one of the things that seems to retract from a hospitality business. With this app, however, it’s simplified. You can keep your books, view them from anywhere, and even share them with your accountant. Reporting is super easy, so any hospitality business now has access to powerful business reporting.
  • Gone are the days of expensive and bulky tills. All you need now is an iPad. This point of sale system is wireless and mobile, and offers a complete solution from small cafes to large restaurants.
  • This useful application allows managers and supervisors to conduct and manage staff performance reviews. It focuses on constant feedback and employees can even set up and manage their own goals.
  • The LoungeUp app provides a way for hotels to engage with their guests during and after their stays via their mobile devices. For guests, it provides an opportunity to gain local specific information, hotel specific information, and even book tables within their hotels. LoungeUp acts as a guest portal. The digital age has arrived inside hotels.
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    There are a variety of software "apps" that are being added to the tool-belt of smaller hotels that cannot afford or utilize major player software company such as Fidelio Opera or Maestro. These include applications for book-keeping, accounting, note taking, guest interaction, employee performance reviews, and many others! These smaller developed apps may one day surpass the integrated major software programs I mentioned before. The days of the centralized PMS system are numbered and the day of decentralized interfacing applications is soon to come. Looking over the apps listed in this article, it is not unrealistic to believe that this time is swiftly approaching.
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    This is Nicholas Reynolds from Hospitality Enterprise Tech Online
mannypinto

5 Visions For The Future Of POS - Retail TouchPoints - 0 views

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    This article was very interesting. It is a short read but it talks about the future POS systems and it is a very cool and definitely increase customer satisfaction. The article mentions five examples which are image scanning, quick sales/mobile POS, RFID, Biometrics, and digital product tracking. Image scanning would recognize items on a conveyor belt so it will eliminate human error like double scanning and will speed up the process. The implementation of quick sales/mobile POS will also speed up the process of check outs by allowing associates and customers the ability to purchase anywhere in the store. RFID will ensure accurate scanning and product security. Instead of a tag on the garment a RFID transponder is printed directly into the cloth or packaging using biodegradable conductive inks. Biometrics will improve store operations and customer experience by personalizing the experience for each customer. Digital product tracking will eliminate the need for checkout lines. This will be done through the customers' mobile device, tracking the items on there and then transferred to the POS or self-checkout. Then a digital receipt will be sent to the mobile device. This article at the end is exciting because of what the future holds for POS systems.
alomariee98

Nobody likes self-checkout. Here's why it's everywhere - CNN - 0 views

    • alomariee98
       
      It is really good to know that customers are not the only ones that experience issues with self-check-outs at the stores. They are machines that need to be maintained every so often. I have had my own experience with self-checkout and can see both sides of the story. In my experience which just so happened to be yesterday I did self-checkout in 2 different places. In one of them a customer tried to get away with theft by hovering the scanner over the item and not really scanning anything. In the other instance I kept getting the error message that did not let me keep scanning until the system reverted back to the scanning page. I get how it can be frustrating but I also see that sometimes it is the quickest option. Now with the pandemic like it says on the article some people prefer the no contact option and rather do the things themselves. This disruptive innovation just shows if there are stores that do not have it, they may fall behind because it has already become normal whether you use it or not. It gives people the choice whether or not they want to use it. Bad thing is that it does show less employees working on the floor because of these machines depending on the store. Now its a competition everywhere to have self check-out. An example I know of is the Disney Stores at Disney Springs and inside the parks. If you have the My Disney Experience app you can do mobile check-out without having to make a line for the register. Less contact with an employee.
  • The machines are expensive to install, often break down and can lead to customers purchasing fewer items.
  • higher losses and more shoplifting
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  • 29% of transactions at food retailers were processed through self-checkout, up from 23% the year prior
  • work from paid employees to unpaid customers
  • was designed primarily to lower stores' labor expenses
  • Customers scanned their items and put them on a conveyor belt. An employee at the other end of the belt bagged the groceries. Customers then took them to a central cashier area to pay.
  • 52% of shoppers considered self checkout lanes to be "okay," while 16% said they were "frustrating." Thirty-two percent of shoppers called them "great."
  • required regular maintenance and supervision
  • self-checkout leads to more losses due to error or theft than traditional cashiers.
  • Other customers take advantage of the lax oversight at self checkout aisles and have developed techniques for stealing.
  • Stores have tried to limit losses by tightening self-checkout security features, such as adding weight sensors
  • It may simply be too late for stores to turn their back on self-checkout.
    • alomariee98
       
      It really is too late to turn their back on self-checkout. It is already part of the store and those who do not use it will get left behind. Sometimes self-checkout is faster but it can be a bit frustrating due to the error messages it may give you. After all, it is still a machine.
  • Store owners have also seen competitors installing self-checkout and determined they don't want to miss out
  • "It's an arms race. If everyone else is doing it, you look like an idiot if you don't have it,"
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    Disruptive Innovation: Self-checkout
Nicole Beveridge

Point of Sale (POS) | What is it? - 0 views

  • POS or PoS is an abbreviation for Point of Sale (or Point-of-Sale, or Point of Service). The term is applicable to a retail shop or store, the checkout/cashier counter in the store, or a location where such transactions can occur in this type of environment. It can also apply to the actual Point of Sale (POS) Hardware & Software including but not limited to : electronic cash register systems, touch-screen display, barcode scanners, receipt printers, scales and pole displays. Point of Sale Systems are utilized in many different industries, ranging from restaurants, hotels & hospitality businesses, nail/beauty salons, casinos, stadiums, and let's not forget - the retail environments. In the most basic sense, if something can be exchanged for monetary value - a Point of Sale System can be used
    • Nicole Beveridge
       
      POS systems are very prevalent in the hospitality industry.
  • A Check-out Counter, Cashier Stand - is the aisle (or station) where individuals transport and place the items or products they have chosen to purchase from the location, a good example would be a supermarket (e.g. Wallmart) or department store (e.g. Macys). Although for such environments as supermarkets is usually a long counter, which most often makes use of moving belts, and contains a photocell to stop it once items reach the end - it can also refer to a single register at a smaller store. The cashier scans and rings up each item on the cash register and obtains the total. All items are placed in bags while customer makes payment.
    • Nicole Beveridge
       
      There is so much information that can be had at the Check-out counter/ cashier in Macys. Many transactions could be conducted just in one visit. You may pay a bill, make a purchase without having your physical credit card, return a previously purchased item, and increase your credit limit.
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    Point of sale systems are utilized in many industries, however, it is prevalent in the hospitality industry. Point of Sale Systems is also referred to as Point of Service. A POS system encompasses various hardware and software such as touch screen display, barcode scanners, cash registers, scales, and receipt printers. Improvements in technology such as POS have made cash registers, paper tapes and journal tapes almost obsolete. During the late 80's and 90's credit card processing was implemented making it easier for customers to easily transact business with operations. Today hospitality POS systems are among the most sophisticated, powerful and user friendly networks. Many POS systems are fully integrated so managers can track inventory, sales, rental services, accounting and customer relation management. Depending on the size of the hospitality facility, management may be primarily concerned with implementing POS systems. Some o f the questions pertaining to POS that managers may have include: a) How many POS terminals do I need? b) Should I run credit cards through my POS system? c) Which style of computer is best for my facility? d) Do I need pole displays or customer displays? e) Should I have a back office computer?
Carolina Ferrer

Hyatt Unveils New 2020 Environmental Sustainability Strategy - 1 views

  • an aggressive set of environmental goals for the year 2020, all designed to strengthen Hyatt's collective ability to collaborate, inspire and further its commitment to environmental stewardship. Hyatt, which is already an industry leader for tracking comprehensive global energy and water data since 2006, is significantly expanding the scope of its existing sustainability initiatives and will continue to focus strongly on measuring and reporting progress.
  • The conservation efforts undertaken by Hyatt hotels around the world since formalizing our approach several years ago have had a real impact, resulting in major reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and water and energy usage by property across our portfolio," said Brigitta Witt, Vice President of Corporate Responsibility for Hyatt. "With five years and significant momentum under our belt, we saw the opportunity to further our commitment to environmental stewardship in a manner that fundamentally touches every aspect of our business, from the way our hotels are built and operated, to the way we collaborate with our global supply chain, to the way we influence change through the passion and commitment of our colleagues around the world."
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    Hyatt Hotels Corporation has been in the green initiative game for over five years now. Hyatt plans to set higher goals to benefit the environment by 2020. They have set up three focus areas which are done by each sole property. Firstly, they have goals regarding the consumption of less water, less waste and opportunities to recycle. Additionally, corporate sets goals for individual properties to follow. Secondly, Hyatt wants to make sure that they are building environmentally conscious hotels that are efficient. They will start new construction in 2015 and continue with renovations. They hope for every property to reach LEED certification. Thirdly, Hyatt wants to innovate and inspire, they want to create awareness about environmental sustainability and the benefits to society it can have. Hyatt hopes to create waves in the hospitality industry and at the rate they are going they should be seeing success in the future. Hyatt is definitely going in the right direction when it comes to green initiatives. Setting goals and reporting deadlines will help Hyatt and there large number of properties reach the goals they have in place for a more sustainable future.
esuarezrijsdijk

Burger King Unveils Its "Restaurant of Tomorrow" Building Design with New Technology Fe... - 0 views

  • Technology-enabled components of the restaurant blueprints include: Curbside Delivery. Advance orders placed through the mobile app will have dedicated parking spots for curbside delivery. Guests will be able to notify the restaurant team member upon arrival via the app as instructed on the parking signs. Pick Up Lockers. Mobile and delivery orders can also be picked up from coded food lockers facing the exterior of the restaurant. The food will come straight from the kitchen to the pick up lockers. Drive-Thru. A double or triple drive thru features digital menu boards and merchandising. The multi-lane ordering and pick-up expedites the process. Suspended Kitchen and Dining Room. A suspended kitchen and dining room above the drive-thru lanes will be configured to reduce the building footprint. Drive thru guests have their order delivered from the suspended kitchen by a conveyor belt system, and each lane has its own pick-up spot. This restaurant design option features a triple drive thru with a dedicated lane for delivery drivers. The design of this restaurant allows a 100% touchless experience.
  • “We took into consideration how consumer behaviors are changing and our guests will want to interact with our restaurants. The result is a new design concept that is attractive to guests and will allow our franchisees to maximize their return.
  • We designed the interior and exterior spaces like we had a blank sheet of paper, designing without preconceived notions of how a Burger King restaurant should look.
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  • The first new designed restaurants are scheduled to be built in 2021 in Miami, Latin America and Caribbean
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    This article describes a concept Burger King designed in-house which incorporates a number of next-generation unattended-POS and e-menu technologies. The creators envision restaurants that are focused on different modes of delivery and take-out, emphasizing no-contact interfaces. Dedicated apps would be used for ordering, curbside pick-up notification and pick-up locker codes while eMenu-like digital menu boards are employed for the drive-thru lanes.
anonymous

Why Oracle Must Hate Oracle Hospitality - 1 views

  • Richard Valtr, Founder of Mews Systems, writes about why he feels that software giant Oracle’s hospitality division contradicts its technology competency, operational excellence and efficient customer support.  
  • Larry Ellison and his team must absolutely despise the relatively new Oracle Hospitality division of the company (formed after Oracle bought Micros back in 2014)!
  • Oracle famously despises all things Microsoft and Opera remains, to its bones, built around the notorious client-server architecture Bill Gates’ company used to champion.
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  • Second, the success of Oracle has always stemmed from Larry’s passion for finding great programmers to fix fundamental issues. Oracle Hospitality and its adherence to legacy rules suggests they are interested in none of the above.
  • Oracle has always done one thing amazingly well - maintain a ruthless focus on performance and speed at the expense of the more intangible parts. Once again, Oracle Hospitality goes against company principles: it offers functionality at the expense of speed and performance. To compound things further, and ironically for such a service-oriented industry, customer service is an afterthought at best. It doesn’t even offer performance for the processes that truly matter, such as customer check-in speeds, report creation or those painfully slow night audits. On all the key hospitality benchmarks we’ve been able to track (more on that in a post coming later), Oracle is nowhere near the top.
  • Fourth, he can barely disguise his hatred for system integrators and has always preferred an all-in-one solution to an ecosystem of connected apps and software.
  • With Oracle Hospitality lacking what the current market demands in so many different ways, the company has been forced to work closely with the old hospitality tech guards such as Sabre, TravelClick, Amadeus, Duetto and IDEAS, as well as newer entrants including Expedia’s AliceApp and TinkLabs.
  • The result is a product lacking proper interfaces to standard functionalities, let alone the conveyor belt of new must-have integrations (TripTease and HotelChamp to name a couple), which also suffer on account of Opera’s six month minimum integration lead time.
  • The problem with property management systems, and the hotel tech landscape in general, is that they are innately consultative. For example, there is no definitively correct way to check someone in or out, nor is there a set-in-stone rubric on how best to run a hotel. Why? I believe it’s because hotels are inherently human and complex machines. Unlike a POS, for example, a hotel’s PMS is a de facto processor and analyser of human behaviours rather than just pure robotic tech. The POS, on the other hand, simply serves as a general system of record with an external point of contact for transactional security.
  • So why did Oracle acquire Micros in the first place? I believe the real prize was the POS and not the PMS.
  • Unfortunately for Larry (but fortunately for us), PMS systems are a far cry from their core business. Unlike a POS, a PMS is not simply about the speed of execution. They involve developing deep knowledge around a number of processes connected to unique human behaviours and then managing those processes efficiently.
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    "Richard Valtr, Founder of Mews Systems, writes about why he feels that software giant Oracle's hospitality division contradicts its technology competency, operational excellence and efficient customer support." This article highlights some of the reasons why Oracle have found it difficult to integrate the Micros Fidelio business that they purchased. It is subjective in its view but addresses a common theme amongst major hotel companies which is that Oracle are struggling to meet their needs and that this could give new PMS/POS providers such as Mews, Shiji and Impala.
sabrinajalane

https://blog.capterra.com/5-fantastic-hotel-point-of-sale-system-options/ - 0 views

Agilsys POS systems-Agilysys offers a separate POS system for those not wanting to buy into an entire property management system, though its POS offerings do sync with its other applications. Bepo...

Hospitality hotel technology Tech

started by sabrinajalane on 21 Sep 20 no follow-up yet
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