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More and more retail stores are converting to iPad tablets as their POS software. Some stores are using them only for customer internet searches and product display capabilities but many are starting to use them for bigger tasks such as checking inventory and entering product orders. This takes away the need to run back and forth between the stock room and sales floor with pen and paper. As a result, customer service is increased because sales floor presence is greater. Some benefits of order management using the tablets as their POS software are increased employee productivity, reduced out-of-stocks, and more payment flexibility. Now you can use tablets as payment devices with credit cards.  DecisionPoint Systems, a leading provider of mobile and wireless systems for retailers, is now offering an application to help retailers personalize their customers' shopping experience. Aruba Networks has recently presented a new tablet-based software that allows customers to check out from anywhere in the store. Having worked in the retail industry for many years, I think this technology for back-office purposes is very useful. One of my employers had started using tablet technology during my time there and I can attest that it does increase employee productivity. It makes doing inventories, size checks, and ordering management so much easier and faster. Employees are able to stay on the sales floor longer which is especially beneficial in the case of being short-staffed or during shift changes. However, I am a bit skeptical about using these tablets as a form of check out from anywhere in the store. Unless the store has security measures in place for this, it does not seem very theft resistant. Especially in a clothing retailer in which sensors need to be removed. The cashier would have to be carrying around a sensor remover at the time of check-out to make this system really time-saving. 

This article talks about Agilysys , which is a leading provider of innovative technology and hospitality software solution and states that Valley View Casino & Hotel in Valley Center are using their Visual one system for the hotel which offers :  front office operations, guest history, housekeeping, reservation management and more. The company offers software and hardware to companies ranging from small hotel to middle size hotel. Furthermore the company else have a Visual Comp accounting module with give the employer the opportunity to code complimentary guest charges from the guest folio, including patron self-redemption and manager comps and much more.  The software that the company provides are really users-friendly and the news users have no problem whatsoever to use the program after receiving the training.

It is not only easy to use but also features drag-and-drop options in their touch screen devices which facilitates new employees to use this kind of system. Most Importantly, it is user-friendly and can save a lot of money to the company in the long run. Great investment!

Technology group joins green initiative and climate-related advocacy projects to that benefit the the environment, but also contribute to the economy. Tech Networks of Boston a provider of tech services to non-profit and small business has recently joined / aided / launched programs : Climate Action Liaison Coalition (CALC), and  The American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC). CALC provides business community with support services that sponsor business's speaking out about climate change, but also supporting policy improvements. The ASBC project is a co-sponsored initiative which seeks to promote signing of a Climate Declaration that covers topics such as employment, environmental impacts, and sustainability. Tech Networks of Boston http://bit.ly/17vfaBq American Sustainable Business Council http://bit.ly/14Tu9of Climate Action Liaison Coalition | CALC http://bit.ly/1a1nRnm

This article is about how TSA begins to security check. The goal of TSA is to simplify security procedures to all low risk passengers, so it is likely to that TSA searches through database which is provided by government and others even before the passengers arrive at the airport. In order to do thorough security check, there should be more authority of the government. Actually TSA did not undisclose the information that are using to identify the low risk passengers. However, it can be predicted such as follows; Tax identification numbers, car registrations, employment information,past travel itineraries, property records, physical characteristics, law enforcement information and intelligence information.

This article relates back to our discussion post for the week; employee theft and fraud. It explains how hotels create quite the opportunity for employees to steal and however you try to filter potential employees you never hire someone expecting they will do such a thing to your business. Because you can not be 100% sure your employee is a trustworthy person who would never steal you have to set the proper rules and precautions. Prevention is the first and likely most important step in keeping your company safe from internal theft because once it has already happened there are several contingencies. The article explains the many laws and crimes that an be committed when accusing an employee of theft and from terminating them because of it.

With technology constantly updating and hotels getting larger and obtaining more employees, it is important to have a system that is keeping up with the times, and makes bosses work a little easier and more efficient. With the time tracking software it does all of that. The software allows managers to have available employees cover shifts, it ensures there will be no time theft, it keeps track of overtime, pay rates, absences and more. The system is cost effective because it does not hold up the employer in the office all day, and with the watches out for the time thieves. This system does everything a manual tracker can do and more. It is extremely efficient.

This article was very interesting and it was about how safety security is very important to the hospitality industry. This article also explained how a study shows the safety and security systems work in the hospitality industry. They also said that it is very important to update the emergency plan because you never know when something going to happen in the hotel and you always have to be ready for anything. This study just showed how an effective information system could prevent and being well prepared can definitely help prevent any emergency.

The article is a study that was conducted in regards to the security management within a hotel and how an effective security system can help in preventing accidents or emergencies from occuring. The main priority of a hotel or any establishment, besides the service provided, is having an effective emergency plan set in place to be able to respond and overcome a crisis. International hospitality being a focus over the recent years, has suffered crises, risks, and disasters causing negative impacts on tourism and the community. Hotels should "issue a check-list concerning a hotel's vulnerability to emergencies caused by natural disasters (hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis) or man-made crises (terrorist attacks, explosions, fires, spill, food poisoning)." Another part of the plan is to focus on the loss prevention aspect of a hotel by implementing information technology to secure or improve security. On technology mentioned was biometric to increase the hotel information system and also to help reduce cost and improve the way we recognize criminal activities. With the hospitality industry being one of the most vulnerable industries to crimes and disasters, it is important to recognize, improve and update the plans set into place to ensure accurate information. While it's impossible to say that these preventions are going to stop these problems from happening, it can help other learn about the proper steps to handling these situations. I personally think that as much as employers suggest different way, it's the job of the loss prevention team in every industry to construct a plan that address as many issues and conduct trainings that would help to prepare us for these occasions. Trainings are going to be the best way to properly analyze a problem and improve on the emergency plan set.

The article talks about the different components of the HRIS and how it can be beneficial to use in any business. This way a business can be more productive and save time and money.

This article outlines the importance of e-marketing and the basic forum of how developing countries sustain their economy from marketing.

ROI is not the only consideration for a business when updating technology and software; employee productivity is also a factor. Employees that feel that they have the tools to do their jobs are more likely to be productive during the work day. By increasing employee productivity and happiness, ROI already increases beyond the benefits of having better, quicker technology and software.

Many HRIS choices are available at different price points providing different levels of functionality. Given the importance of the choice the employer is making, the package selected should meet its current needs and have the flexibility to grow and expand with the organization into the foreseeable future. However, constraints from budgets, hardware and time will affect the choice made.

HRIS is used for employment actions such as applicant tracking, performance management, attendance, compensation and benefits management, work force analyses, and scheduling.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a massive surge to online conferencing. This conferencing would not be possible without the cloud. Moving forward this could be the way most work is done as some employers would prefer to have their employees work from home.

This article is on Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) and what the future of the work environment could be. Based on the information published, employers would have the ability to leverage brain activities to effect greater productivity in the workplace. However, since BCIs are capable of detecting the mental state and thoughts of employees, there are many privacy and ethical issues that will certainly be derived from the use of these types of technologies.

This article explores how technological trends such as ghost kitchens, biometeric payment technology, robot chefs, cloud based POS systems, and voice assistant technology will dramatically change the customer experience. Author, Stephanie Resendes, explores how each innovation increases profitability. Additionally, the associated risks and the impact they will have on employment rates within the industry.

Several states have implemented some form of biometric privacy laws, with the gold standard coming from Illinois. Illinois' BIPA allows for private enforcement, stiff fines, and paying of attorney fees. BIPA prohibits collection, capture, purchasing or receiving a customer's biometric identifier/information. Safeguarding this data is perhaps more important than any other because it cannot be easily changed, if at all. Current lack of federal law and a patchwork of local regulations means that businesses and employees must be knowledgeable of rules and rights that affect them.

This paper discusses the role of PMS, POS, and GDS in the hospitality and tourism industry. It identifies key digital literacy and employability skills that students and educators need to develop to better understand and negotiate the changing, digitally focused landscape of the hospitality and tourism sector.

This lengthy article provides a grim outlook for the lowly skilled/paid worker in the workforce when technology has been applied to improve outcomes in management. The article insinuates that companies/employers benefit likely at the expense of employees who are affected by technological innovation. Three key points are emphasized in that surveillance capitalism, disruption innovation and techno-solutionism are behind the pushout of low-skilled workers. And companies are not providing a solution to improving a sustainable economy and sustainable workforce which are goals of the United Nations. However, the United Nation's goals are not keeping up with societal trends. Surveillance Capitalism can be construed as digital monitoring in the workplace. Used as a way to control and manipulate performance outcomes which may shift to automation if employees don't perform. Further disruption innovation is defined as a "disruptive product that has particular benefits that focus on the cheap and easy that have the power to overturn markets". This is seen with automating basic tasks in food service such as ordering. Finally, the use of technology as an excuse to "rationalize" cost-cutting/management changes is what is considered Techno-solutionism. This article highlights various technologies already in use in the industry, most with much success and a few that did not pan out. Trial and error, but at the cost of retaining employees.

Tourism is paying a heavy price to accommodate a growing trend making "people" expendable. The competition isn't comparable and unless we change our processes and thinking in how we use technology more jobs will be gone. We can't be an all-knowing, 24/7 never tires robot. The industry is undermining the value of a person. Ridding themselves of them has larger implications for society and our future. Eventually, it could be us too. What value do we offer? And how do we enhance humans over technology?

This article discusses about the importance and benefit of adopting social media to your business. At the beginning of this article, the author trying to help us understanding the growing trend of social media by throwing some shocking numbers. Then he brings out the idea that more and more businesses included social media in their marketing tools. The he reminds us while the size of fans is important, that the interaction with customers is the true value of social media. At the last part of this article, the author gave out some suggestion on make the best use of social media. He mentioned that besides using social media as a channel to connect with customers, companies can also discover new employers via this medium, and get to know your customers' inside thoughts by responding to them. At last, the author reminds us the importance of social media once again.