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Buffalo Wild Wings added QSR's automated kitchen display hardware and software to over 40 of their locations. These locations are currently using a ticket-less automated system in the kitchen and have found there are faster "ticket" times, they are better able to determine problem areas in the kitchen, and are able to evaluate employee performance during busy times in the restaurant.When using a "ticket-less" system it is easier to track orders and/or mistakes that may happen because you do not lose the ticket (which is a common occurrence) I currently work at a restaurant that was looking into QSR's automated kitchen system, but we have not done that at this point, but we will move to that eventually. However we do have QSR's newest seating and wait list management technology and it does make a world of difference when managing seating and a waiting list in a large restaurant.

This article focuses on sustainability and methods in which technology is utilized to conserve energy and waste, while also not hindering the guest experience. Hotels, similar to the Salvatore Grand Hotel, have began implementing systems such as the Verve Living System, by Zeno Controls, LLC, that provide wireless connections to the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, as well as the lighting in the guest room. It utilizes sensors to activate such amenities, and enables the guest to enter the room, place their key card into a slot, and it will begin to adjust to the preferred temperature and the preferred lighting levels. Once the key card is removed, such as when the guest is leaving the room, after a very short delay, it sends a signal that verifies the room is unoccupied, and turns off these energy-consuming items in the room. Many guests, when staying in hotels, do not consider turning off their lights or air conditioning when they leave the room, and simply leave everything running. They do not realize the impact this has not only on costs for the hotel itself, but also the impact that it has on energy consumption and sustainability. With the growing awareness of being "green", guests are focusing more and more on conservation, however, they may still be slacking in these areas, leaving things on, being absent minded. This system will allow guests to not have to worry about such tasks, and controls the system of turning these items off for them, adding convenience for the guest who is environmentally conscious. I have personally seen a similar system being used in a hotel room, and thought it was a great idea, and an amazing way to control costs and eliminate waste of resources. It is also very surprising to read that the Verve Living System detects low battery levels, constant occupancy, problems with room connectivity, and rooms that are not communicating with the hotel PMS or other systems. This enables the maintenance team of a hotel to fun

Author Michael Kasavana's article discusses the advancement and prevalence of mobile technology applications with regard to the hospitality industry.  According to him, "the common goals of mobile technology implementation are acceleration of guest traffic, heightened interactivity, promotion and sales of goods and services, and gathering of feedback relative to the guest's experience". Mobile and proximity marketing techniques are gaining in popularity and in some cases (Buffalo Wild Wings) are a large factor in the company's success. Their mobile marketing campaign was deemed a huge success due to large numbers of repeat customers, improved attendance at special events, and higher sales revenue. Mobile marketing has proven extremely influential in attracting new customers and creating brand loyalty. This marketing method can really make the difference in one company having a competitive advantage over another. Kasavana also advises restaurant and hotel owners to follow some best management practices guidelines. These include: "creation of a mobile-optimized website with simple navigation tools; apply user-friendly, intuitive, and logical lead-through processes; sponsor video (YouTube), social (Facebook), and mobile (LBS) content; employ opt-in marketing campaigns that encourage customer engagement; provide instant rewards, discounts, and incentives to qualified clientele". Mobile technology applications are definitely the wave of the future in the hospitality industry and "getting in on the ground floor" is an excellent opportunity for business growth.

This article is a little old in the 3Q 2012 information, hover the overall scope is what was poignant. Last year, Facebook reached 1billion users, 20% of which (200 million) where fans of just 49 restaurant brands. This shows that, those who are using the social media properly are gaining the benefits of marketing. The Restaurant Social Media Index (RSMI) tracks brand social media through Influence, Sentiment and Engagement. At the time the top five brands were McDonalds, Subway, Starbucks, Chic-fil-A, and Buffalo Wild Wings. Now, the top five are Chipotle, Wendy's, Taco Bell, Starbucks and McDonalds. The top trend in Emarketing, based on RSMI is that social and mobile are displacing emails as the main way to reach customers.

Sam Colt wrote an article for Business Insider titled Tablets Are Making Waiters Obsolete - An Chilli's Is Leading The Way. This article bothered me a bit, because knowing what I know about Hospitality we build our brand around customer service and customer satisfaction and how can we do that if we are eliminating the person to person interaction. In his article Colt mentioned Chili's "has recently introduced tablets in dining rooms nationwide that customers can use to place orders, browse the menu, and entertain otherwise noisy children". I understand the thought behind keeping your guests entertain while they wait for service; however, I believe it should be just that, entertainment not self-service. Dine in restaurants should not be treated like a fast food restaurant and guests should expect a reasonable wait time. Having that person to person interaction makes a dining experience more enjoyable. E la Carte co-founder and CEO Rajat Suri argued "if someone does not want to spend time with a server, they're going to ignore the server anyways." My thoughts are why would you dine in a restaurant if you do not want to be severed, why not go to a fast food restaurant. Chili's states the tablets are solely for increasing customer satisfaction and increase revenue and suggests the tablets are making the life of waiters better.

This article talks about where the internet has brought us in the business world and where it is taking us. There are other articles included to support the idea that hospitality businesses need the internet inorder to successfully reach out to and market toward customers. Along with the idea that if a business does not have an online presence,that, is an untapped stream of revenue. As well as the combined business efforts that go into delivering a flawless product to its customers via the web. There were two case studies that took place in order to understand the role e-commerce has played and will potentially play in the hospitality industry.