Group items tagged

Highlights: 4 FAQs for Savvy buyers While mostly associated with retail ventures, cash registers have uses within many businesses. Restaurants, hotels, and other service providers have a need for a cash register, and when integrated with a POS system, have found unparalleled benefits. But if you're unsure of the equipment you need, or your security system is lacking, your POS system can be doing you more harm than good. My Descriptions: This article is a quick guide to POS, and it mentioned four questions about POS cash registers: what equipment does a POS register need, are touch screen monitors worth the cost, does integrated equipment save time and how can I keep my POS cash drawer safe. It mentioned that cash registers have been used in most restaurants, hotels, retail shops and other service providers. POS system can bring benefits to them, while POS system can do harm than good if your security system is laking. The author showed equipments which are needed for a POS register. Besides the basic equipments such as computer, monitor and printer, it also needs either a keyboard or a touch screen monitor. Most retail stores will also have a security tag desensitizer near the scanner .As more customers use debit and credit cards, a credit card reader and pin pad are essential for every point of sale location. In addition, the touch screen will help to increase efficiency and eliminate the need for employees to remember codes for the keyboard and reduce problems with keyboard and mouse cords, and it leads to a quicker check out. In this article, the author proves nowadays Handheld scanners are more popular for businesses where items are big and bulky. To keep the POS cash drawer safe, one can program a feature to let cash register to be only opened after a transaction, or it can be a complex procedure where money is only counted under the supervision of a manager or team of employees. Or managers can install a camera to monitor the process of employees to use t

This article talks about the efforts computer companies are making to reduce the negative environmental results of traditional technology equipment. There are more than 60 electronic devices from companies like Dell and HP that are becoming apart of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This is a funded project called EPEAT that has the goal of identifying environmentally friendly computer equipment that still outputs the same level of performance for the customer. This new "green" certification system even provides a list online of the products that meet the standards. EPEAT allows customers to rank computer electronics by their environmental. There are 23 required criteria and 28 optional criteria involved in the rankings. The optional criteria determines if the product is EPEAT Bronze, Silver, or Gold. These standards include having lower levels of lead, mercury and cadmium as well as being more energy efficient so they reduce emissions put into the atmosphere to help reduce the levels of greenhouse gases. These products are also more simple to upgrade and have recycled… businesses actually have to provide safe ways to recycle the products they sell when the customer can no longer use them. Manufacturers think having an even playing field for the customer to be able to view their products by environmental aspect is better and are proud to be apart of something so beneficial to the environment. The EPEAT program was expected to reduce 13 million pounds of hazardous waste and 3 million pounds of non hazardous waste.

Increase recovery is another kind of waste reduction.The government need to carry on some policies to reuse and monitor this.

With COVID-19 shutting down businesses across the world or at least taking their work remotely, businesses have left their equipment behind. However, under these restrictions, businesses are still allowed to maintain the condition of their physical plants and equipment.

Green computing, commonly referred to as "green technology," is the study of creating, utilizing, and disposing of computing systems in a way that minimizes their impact on the environment. The ecologically friendly and ethical use of computers and their resources is known as "green computing." A growing trend that has established itself as the preferred method of doing things while preserving the environment is "Going Green." Green computing aims to lessen technology's negative effects on the environment. This entails conserving energy, cutting waste, and fostering sustainability. The goal of "green computing" is to lessen the carbon footprint left by the information technology and systems sector and allied businesses. Green computing mainly uses two methods: e-waste and energy efficiency. Reduced resource use as well as the use of energy-efficient servers, peripherals, and CPUs are all part of energy efficiency. And e-waste is how electronic garbage should be disposed of properly. Even while we may believe that computers are non-polluting and require relatively little energy, their use really contributes significantly to environmental pollution. Only 15% of the estimated $250 billion annually spent on powering computers globally is thought to be used for computation; the remaining energy is lost idling on inactive machines. Since energy consumption is the primary cause of CO2 emissions, any energy saved on computer hardware and computing will result in tons of CO2 emissions being avoided every year. The Energy Star program was established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1992 as a controlled labeling initiative to promote and reward energy efficiency. More than 75 different product categories, as well as residences, office buildings, and industrial facilities, have already received the Energy Star badge. Consumers of devices have widely embraced sleep mode because of the campaign. The IT industry is working to implement Green Computing across a

A recent study conducted by Motorola Solutions Inc. has revealed that 56% of hospitality organizations planned to raise mobile investments to better equip their workforces, improve operational efficiencies and ultimately enhance the customer experience. The sytudy shows that consumers will see an increase in information technology spending within the hospitality industry with guest experience cited as the top driver for investment. The interesting datas revelaed that 91% of hospitlaity decision makers realise the increasing importance of mobile and wireless technology. One of the critical challenges for hotel technology managers is convinving upper management to approve investing in the latest technology. Often times cost is not the only deterrent for a company to upgrade their system but having to go through various layers of red tape and await hierachial approval can often lead to companies not keeping up with the latest technology and always having to play catch up rather than setting an industry standard for others to follow.

This is an article about how restaurants are changing the way they manage their data by using the cloud instead of hard terminals at their geographic location. Options exist to utilize mobile technology. There are advantages of this including consistent access to data and less equipment is needed on site. Hard Terminals as well as mobile options currently exist so that the retail location can make decisions that fit the needs of that specific location. Another advantage is that staff no longer need to do as much manual work with the equipment. What took several hours now does not. A common concern with using the cloud is local internet outage. However, a 4G solution is available that turns the operation into wifi. Also, back ups are part of the cloud, so no information is lost. There are enhancements available or in development including QR Codes and mobile ordering via a tablet or smartphone. Once these devices are more common than not, more hospitality locations will move to cloud based systems.

In the United States, hotels represent more than 5 billion square feet of space, nealry 5 million guest rooms and approxiamtely $4 billion in annual energy use. As of January 2010, there were only 40 hotels that were LEED certified. The acronym LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED is a voluntary, third party green building certification program that awards points to buildings depending on their sustainable practice being implemented which includes building improvements, environemntal footprint and water and energy use. LEED was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, a nonprofit organization. Its main purpose is to provide building owners and operators with a basic framework for developing and implementing sustainable practices. The first hotel to ever be certified according to LEED criteria was the Proximity Hotel in Greensboro, NC. This hote received Platnium status for being able to recycle 87% of its construction debris, purchasing 40% of the building materials and 90% of its furniture locally. Installation of 100 solar panels, use of geothermal energy for the restaurant's refrigeration equipment and instllation of a Regenerative Drive model for its elevators made the Proximity Hotel a benchmark hotel. There are several practices that can make a hotel conserve energy and make it sustainable such as using flourescent lightbulbs, offering linen and towel reuse programs, paving parkig lots with highly reflective materials or open grid pavers, installing high-efficiency plumbing fixtures, landscaping with native plants and using local materials and goods. These will not necessarily lead to LEED certification but will definitely earn points towards obtaining that accredidation. The use of sustainable practices not only helps conserve the environment but also saves money in the long run. Through water conservation techniques, recycling and linen and towel reuse programs, the hospitality industry wins two-fold,

As close to home as this hits, with a security breach at my hotel recently, I'm happy to see that companies are upgrading their systems. The Black Hat cyber security conference in Vegas had a hacker present how easy it was to gain access into a hotel room. He had less than $50 in equipment that he used to infiltrate the locks on the hotel doors. In response to this, Onity, the company whose locks were tested, came out with a plan for a "two-tier" security upgrade. This makes me feel a little bit better but at the same time, it seems like hotels aren't being proactive about protecting their customers, so maybe more hotels needs to be exploited.

I don't see this how it make anyone feel a little better, all the company is doing is giving price discounts and tightening up some locks, make it harder to pick apart. The problem is the avg their or experienced theif can take a part a lock in minuets if not seconds. Chances are you wouldn't even hear it if you were asleep, on the phone, watching TV. The system isn't very good if it can be hacked with up to 50$ of equipment

This article gives an overview of security considerations of a cruise liner. Initially it cites a comparison between cruise security concerns and that of a hotel, which are basically the same, such as secure doors to cabins (rooms), having an exact record of all passengers and onboard staff, as well as having surveillance such as cameras taking constant video recordings. Whereas hotels are mostly open to outside traffic, cruise ships are limited only to those who have purchased passage, are working there, or are conducting business onboard. This has led to boarding procedures which are as stringent and detailed as those conducted when passengers board a commercial airline. Safety concerns for cruise ships have been a forefront concern since the 1985 hijacking of the MS Achille Lauro (See next comment) which led to minimal security standards issued by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The tragic events of 9/11 compelled US issuance of an International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) to strengthen security protocols. This includes requirements that any "ship over 500 tons…not (be) allowed into the United States unless their last ports of call conformed to ISPS code." The ISPS code, however, involves minimal adjustment for cruise lines currently in compliance with IMO rules. Newer ships are being constructed to include the infrastructure for video fibre optics and metal detection equipment. State of the art equipment will have crew member's photo and data available to be checked with each swipe of their ID card. Biometric fingerprint detection equipment is another safety layer that is available, but is not currently in use, although it will certainly be put into place promptly if a major incident occurs. The odds of such a major incident are high when considering the volume of cruise passengers in the last decade. Since other commercial ships have witnessed attacks, cruise lines are strongly advised to progressively

Additional information regarding the 1985 MS Achillies Lauro hijacking: http://www.britannica.com/blogs/2010/10/remembering-the-achille-lauro-hijacking-picture-of-the-day/

A telecommunication network used to refer to the collection of switches of wirings used by telephone service; it is now include internet, microwave and wireless equipment as well as telephony. The main function of a telecommunication network is to provide efficient and effect transmission of information. A telecommunication network can set up as WAN and LAN. A telecommunication set up as WAN allows reliable communication between nodes that are geographically located across large distance. Hotels chains that located in different area would like to use this network model. With the same level of security, a telecommunication network set up as LAN is used on a smaller geographic area. It provides phone, data, and internet within an enclosed setting. One example is a hotel, where the phones and internet access are all routed through a network located within a hotel. As technologies continue to advance, the definition and the scope of the telecommunication network will also continue to change. But what will remain the same is the core concept. Before I read this paper, my opinion on a telecommunication network is always indicates telephone service, and now I understand it also include internet, microwave and wireless equipment. I have to say that technology have been changed very fast so that we must keep in mind to update our knowledge on these new technology as well.

Nowadays, cloud computing is widely applied in the hotel industry. Cloud(s) are made up from computers, always linked or networked together as computer farms. There are many pros and cons associated with cloud computing and solutions. The Pros: Cloud computing has lower start-up costs and not much equipment to purchase. Hotels do not need to hire many IT staffs to maintain the equipment, and not need to pay for future hardware upgrades. The Cons and solutions: Security and cost are the major concern for hotel management. Paying attention to your usage and manage usage routinely can keep your bill in a reasonable price. Cloud computing service companies provide different levels of quality and services. Thus, finding a reliable service provider is a tiring and time-consuming job.

The fashion merchandise retailer store, Nordstrom, has joined the venture of equipping employees with mobile POS devices in order to increase customer satisfaction, in a focus toward convenient efficient checkout. The fundamental incentive is to minimize the customer's inclination to over analyze their potential purchase by waiting in the line for a lengthy period, thus, maintaining the impose of the customers to purchase the item. The mobile POS devices are equipped with a scanner and credit card slider in order to complete the transaction for the customer, the same type of technology is visible in Apple and Home Depot stores. According to the company's sale report, a visible increase in sales has occurred for the Nordstrom Company, an estimated 15.3 percent from $1.5 Billion to $1.73 Billion in the same fiscal year of 2011. As well, the creation of a Nordstrom app allows salespersons to check inventory and availability, in a further aim to increase customer satisfaction and their business. Without a doubt POS system are branching into different spectrum of business in order to increase efficiency and customer satisfaction.

This article discusses one of the topics we had in class regarding the environment in the hospitality industry. Consequently, I thought I would do an additional post for this topic. The article discusses e-cycling and what should be done with electronic devices in the hospitality industry. More and more states are passing legislation to be prohibiting the general dumping of electronic equipment. This will have an effect on hotels that are disposing of old televisions and restaurants that are disposing of old computer systems. In fact "anything with an on-off switch can be recycled". The article gives three suggestions for hospitality companies to consider when disposing of e-waste. First, consider donation to local schools and charities. Second, inquire as to whether the manufacturer has a takeback program. Third, seek out and only use a commercial recycler for disposing of the trunk equipment

Not only are PMSs valuable for hotel management, but also for commercial and residential properties. The ability to predictively prepare for any issues that may occur allows for less onsite staffing at any given moment aside from the already lowered costs of using these online systems allows. These systems can also track energy usage to allow for better property management across the board.

This press release article talks about how the Global Electronic Recycling Market is segmented on the lines of its type of processed material, type of equipment, source of equipment and regional. I find this interested because after watching the videos from this weeks module, my eyes have been opened to a world I once didn't know about. Computer recycling, electronic recycling or e-waste recycling aren't really recycling. This article is interesting to me because now I have knowledge of what really goes on behind the scenes.

This article is helpful in understanding property management systems (PMS), while providing beneficial features that they provide. A PMS should be "well-equipped to handle the entire guest journey." These systems enable hotels to provide a faultless guest experience throughout. A PMS offers features that facilitate processes for the hotel. For instance, this system provides a smart calendar giving hotels easier visibility to their reservations and availability. This system also provides reports and analytics for the hotel, such as sales reports, manager reports, and inventory availability reports. This system facilitates the jobs of the hotels employees, in turn creating a more consistent experience for the guests.

"Pursuite.com, India's first B2B e-Commerce platform for the hospitality industry has been launched. The e-marketplace aims at transforming the B2B hospitality procurement space for buyers as well as suppliers across the country by not only improving their bottom lines, but also by managing sales and procurement processes in a simpler and transparent way. The platform promises to provide the widest catalogue of choicest items with curated shopping experience and secure collaborative space for suppliers & buyers. Pursuite.com, at present, catalogues products majorly into Operational Supplies & Equipment (OS&E) category and will be foraying into Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment (FF&E) segment soon."

India now will have a platform that will help both suppliers and buyers to have a more curated hospitality experience. The creator of the platform, Amit Shukla, claims this new platform will bring suppliers and buyers of the hospitality industry closer than ever. He believes the future of hospitality will shift to e-procurement and his new platform, heavily funded by other giant industry heavy weights, will be the first pushing this boundaries and opening the way.

The event today is not only between planner and organization; it's more like the communication and interaction among attendees. The technology assists the needs and expectation of attendees, which allows them to engage more during meetings and events. Besides, App or other online software facilitates attendees to get full knowledge of location, content and activity in one event. In addition, Audio-Video equipment mentioned in article also emphasized that lighting plays an important role to make one event stand out. In another words, creating great experience is definitely what technology is for.

This article talks about how technology has changed the world completely, especially Event Management. For example, the FiFa world cup puts out cool application so people could know the highlight, real time schedule of the games and result. Some other example are the stage show, this drastic change improved in the Audio - video equipment, stage and lighting. Technology has change in Live Meeting. Live Meeting webinar and live meeting are use halfway around the world. Also, the Social Explosion like facebook and Twitter is the big thing around the world. Even the Mobile Application are used now in iPhones, Androids, and Blackberrys has become the next -gem platform for Event Management

Now the event attendees can ask questions to the speaker via tweets or Facebook comments real time during an event. With the world tweeting away night and day, there is no doubt that technology has changed our life completely.