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jalilahst

Zippin Announces World's First Checkout-Free Hotel Store in Yokohama, Japan | Hospitali... - 0 views

hospitalitytech.com/ree-hotel-store-yokohama-japan

shared by jalilahst on 07 Mar 21 - No Cached
  • Zippin’s partner, Fujitsu,a systems integrator in Japan, has worked with Koyo Group to implement the world’s first checkout-free store within a hotel at the Yokohama Techno Tower Hotel. It is also the first store in Japan open to the general public to use biometric authentication technology to verify customers’ identities. 
  • the first store in Japan open to the general public to use biometric authentication technology to verify customers’ identities.
  • Customers must register their credit card information, and then enter the store with the QR code displayed on the Green Leaves + app. Customers can also use the multi-biometric authentication technology that links their palm vein and facial recognition information with the smartphone application. After registering this in advance, a smart phone is no longer required for entry, just a simple swipe of the palm. 
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  • Shoppers are spending an average of 113 seconds in the store
  • The Green Leaves + store at Yokohama Techno Tower Hotel is helping to lead the way to a better retail experience at hotels, hospitals, and other places where people need convenient access to food and drinks
  • his first hotel convenience store will also be a model for how checkout-free technology could work in a hospital setting—where people need 24 hour access to food and drink—without having to require a constant staffing presence.
  • The new store is part of a multi-phase expansion plan by Koyo to ultimately create new convenient foodservice concepts for hospitals. 
  • Any store that provides all-hours access is an ideal location for checkout-free technology,
  • jalilahst on 07 Mar 21
     
    Zippin is a provider of check out free technology that partnered up with Fujitsu to work with the Koyo Group to create the first checkout free store in Japan. This store opened as a test to see if this concept will be successful. The Koyo ultimate goal is to create check out free convenience stores in the hospital. So they can run 24 hour markets without relying on staff members to operate. The way it works it that customers have to register on an app and can use multi biometric authentication technology that links their palm vein and facial recognition. After registration they do not need their phones they can just swipe their palms.
Lu Zhang

BMS & Green Tech Solutions ‹ Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion - 0 views

www.japantoday.com/...bms-green-tech-solutions

solutions japan energy

shared by Lu Zhang on 08 Feb 13 - No Cached
  • It has developed building automation technology that controls, monitors and optimizes heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, alarm systems and other electrical appliances. The facility maintenance chief or facility manager can control everything with a single computer either on-site or remotely.
  • It is a system that gives the operator of a building total and absolute control over every mechanical and electrical component within a building.
  • Having the power to control your building means that you don’t need worry about human error—relying on staff to save energy by switching lights off at the end of the day is a thing of the past.
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  • Not only do you get a high performance tailor-made system, but you also get the easiest to use software, and nearly all updates are free.
  • Lu Zhang on 08 Feb 13
     
    This article introduce a new energy and labor saving system in Japan. With a brain box of the touch screen system, the computer control all the electronic components, such as lighting, alarm systems. Only one user is required to monitor the system. It not only save the energy that may be wasted because of the negligence of employees, but also save the labor cost. Many buildings, such as hotels and schools, would benefit from this system.
mrueda

Global E-waste To Hit 49.8M Tons By 2018 -- Here's What Japan Is Doing To Combat It - 0 views

www.forbes.com/...at-japan-is-doing-to-combat-it

shared by mrueda on 02 Sep 18 - No Cached
  • mrueda on 02 Sep 18
     
    After participating in this week's discussion on e-waste I got curious. I found an article discussing the increasing amount of e-waste in Asia. According to the article, e-waste is increasing by 63% every 5 years since 2015. Asia in also the largest manufacture and marker for electrical and electronic equipment that is not intend for re-use. So you have to wonder where does is all go? If it's not stuffed into a draw, then it's probably in a landfill. But countries like Japan are getting creative, they have pledged to collect tons of e-waste to create the medals for the upcoming Olympic games. There also many organizations in Japan that are implanting recycling and collection program to eliminate the amount of e-waste that ends up in a landfill or this taken to a factory where they it is then broken down and burned causing toxic gases to enter the surrounding environment and atmosphere.
anonymous

Rakuten's CEO on Humanizing E-Commerce: Discovery Service for FIU Libraries. - 3 views

ezproxy.fiu.edu/login

e-Commerce

shared by anonymous on 27 May 19 - No Cached
  • Amazon and many other companies. I think of those competitors as vending machines: They are hyper-efficient supermarkets with standardized offerings
  • If you go to a supermarket or a McDonald's in Japan, you'll find an extremely high level of hospitality and customer service -- in contrast to the atmosphere in most Western markets, where customers are much more focused on speed and convenience.
  • Today Rakuten is the world's third-largest marketplace for e-commerce, behind Amazon and eBay.
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  • I'd learned that it doesn't matter how big your employer is -- what matters is how much value you yourself create. This view is the opposite of how success is seen in Japan, and my family was shocked when I said I was leaving my job in banking.
  • Rakuten merchants sell more than 10% of all the wine sold in Japan. They sell cars. They sell a lot of art. Recently they've started selling houses. Food is a really big category, even though nobody believed when we launched that food would become a mail-order business. Expensive chocolates are a very large category on Rakuten, and so is clothing -- 70% to 80% of what I wear most days was bought on the site.
  • When people talk about "social shopping" or "social commerce," they're referring to the fact that people like to connect with others for advice about purchases.
  • One potential downside of offering a decentralized marketplace with goods from thousands of merchants is that quality or service problems may occur. But Rakuten has found ways to avoid this. We have a tight screening process for people who want to open a store on our site. We monitor transactions. We have a survey program that allows customers to give feedback on shops, and if a shop consistently receives poor ratings and cannot improve, we'll kick it out. If goods don't arrive, we offer a refund.
  • ravel websites in Japan are quite different. They're set up so that hotels can edit their pages themselves and tell their own stories. That allows the hotels to make a connection with customers.
  • Mikitani believes that human beings need communication and connection. So instead of emphasizing efficiency and convenience, Rakuten tries to create a personalized, bazaarlike shopping experience.
  • anonymous on 27 May 19
     
    The article discusses how a service-based approach to e-commerce has tremendous value. The article focus on how Rakuten choose to infuse hospitality services, normally reserved for brick & mortar establishments on internet based business. Affording them the opportunity to generate profits by having access to this type of infrastructure at a fraction of the cost than if delivered in a traditional format.
  • clonyr on 01 Jun 19
     
    I enjoyed reading this article and learning more about Rakuten. Their business approach seems valuable particularly for the culture it serves. Being that he is familiar with Japanese culture and their preference for an interpersonal approach, Hiroshi Mikitani the CEO of Rakuten was able to veer from the norm of a standardized and process-oriented approach and build a successful business. Rakuten platform allows allows hotels to set up so they can edit their pages themselves and tell their own stories, which allows the hotels to make a connection with customers.
anaslip

10 Examples Of Customer Experience Innovation In Hospitality - 1 views

www.forbes.com/...ence-innovation-in-hospitality

innovation technology hospitality software

shared by anaslip on 24 May 20 - No Cached
  • When a guest feels the hotel understands them, they are 13% more likely to stay there again. The majority of hotel visitors want to experience new technology
  • Marriott is testing the technology at its hotels in China, which shortens check-in time from three minutes or more to less than one minute.
  • InterContinental Hotels Group is creating AI smart rooms in its hotels in China. The rooms allow guests to use voice control technology and speak naturally to get personalized assistance for both business and personal travel.
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  • Aloft Hotels uses Botlr, a robot butler, to deliver items to guests around the clock.
  • Guests at New York’s Yotel can have their bags stored with Yobot, a robotic luggage concierge. Robots aren’t entirely replacing humans, however—a lesson learned by the Henn-na Hotel in Japan, which fired half of its all-robot staff to employ more humans.
  • More hotels are moving away from traditional room keys to leverage RFID technology through guest wristbands. The technology is popular at resorts like Disney World and Great Wolf Lodge.
  • The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas has Rose, an AI concierge who can help guests book spa services and restaurants and offers insider information like secret menu items at the hotel bar. Four Seasons Hotels uses Four Seasons Chat for 24/7 chat service that is powered by humans, not AI, for a more personal touch and responds to messages in 90 seconds or less.
  • . Hilton Hotels has introduced mobile check in for rewards guests to seamlessly check in, choose their room and unlock the door through an app. 
  • ach room at the CitizenM Hotel in Amsterdam comes equipped with a MoodPad tablet, which allows guests to change the temperature, TV, window blinds, alarm and lighting in one place. Some Marriott hotels have smart shower doors where guests can jot down their ideas while in the shower and then email the image to themselves for future use. 
  • A number of hotels and resorts, including Radisson and Omni, offer the service and have seen improved customer satisfaction and online booking rates. 
  • Hilton uses location-based services at some of its resorts to alert guests to events and activities that might interest them based on where they are on the property.
  • The wall of each room at Hub by Premier Inn in the U.K. includes an AR map of the local area. When guests point a smartphone at the map, they can learn about local attractions and get recommendations for the best things to do and see.
  • anaslip on 24 May 20
     
    This article tells us about 10 new innovations in the hospitality world. Mostly it is talking about some innovations in the hotel industry such as face recognition at the registrations, voice-controlled rooms, and smart amenities.
kpony001

Japan theme park to replace a third of staff with robots - Nikkei Asian Review - 0 views

asia.nikkei.com/...e-a-third-of-staff-with-robots

hospitality hotel travel tech technology

shared by kpony001 on 30 Jan 19 - No Cached
  • Japanese travel agency and resort operator H.I.S. plans to cut the number of workers at its Huis Ten Bosch amusement park by a third in three years
  • About 1,200 full-time and part-time employees currently work at the Dutch-themed Huis Ten Bosch in Nagasaki Prefecture.
  • The displaced workers "will be reassigned to growing businesses within the group,"
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  • The company is counting on robots and the "internet of things" to pick up the slack. It has already introduced about 250 robots at the park and a neighboring Henn na Hotel
  • It also is running a pilot program to automatically monitor and collect garbage at the park.
  • There are more than 200 robots at the Henn na Hotel there, handling a variety of tasks from checking in customers to cleaning and landscaping. The entire 144-room facility requires just seven human employees, just a quarter of a regular hotel its size.
  • "We will introduce customer service robots at the park in a few months
  • He is also trying out an electronic payment system
  • "We will turn the park cashless in a year,"
  • this would "reduce the number of cashiers and wait times."
  • H.I.S. is adding another wing to the hotel by the end of the year, which will be equipped with film-like solar cells and plant-based storage batteries.
  • completely energy-independent, so that the company will pay nothing for its heat and electricity -- two major costs for any hotel.
  • kpony001 on 30 Jan 19
     
    H.I.S., a Japanese travel agency, cut the amount of human workers at its Huis Ten Bosch amusement park, and its neighboring hotel, Henn na Hotel, significantly wherein only 1,200 workers still labor at the park while the others will be reassigned to other branches within the group. Instead of human workers, H.I.S. has replaced with with robots that handle a wide variety of tasks severely limiting the amount of employees that have to work there. Among the tasks that they accomplish, there is a program which collects garbage in the park, as well as cleaning and landscaping. H.I.S. also plans to add customer service robots, an electronic payment system (hoping to go "cashless" in the future), as well as a new wing to the hotel, that will be an energy-independent generator made from film-like solar cells and plant-based storage batteries.
aquaholic1371

Best High-Tech Hotels | Digital Trends - 2 views

www.digitaltrends.com/...h-technology-beyond-free-wi-fi

hotel tech trends Software Business Technology

shared by aquaholic1371 on 15 Feb 17 - No Cached
  • By Les Shu — April 24, 2015 7:00 PM 1 94 Subscribe Share Don't Fall Behind Stay current with a recap of today's Tech News from Digital Trends
  • Where technology is concerned, most hotels are behind the times. Sure, they offer amenities like Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, USB ports, and perhaps some extras like iPhone docks, but most hotel rooms don’t impress.
  • the Yobot, a robotic luggage handler that stores guests’ bags (Yotel rooms, called cabins, are small, so Yobot is useful for putting away giant suitcases). The robotic arm automatically lifts a bag to one of its available storage compartments. Yobot can even send your luggage off to the airport after you check out (via a delivery service).
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  • Besides the Yobot, Yotel features automated check-ins and check-outs (similar to airport kiosks), adjustable smart beds from Serta, and a “Technowall” with a flat-screen TV and streaming audio.
  • Hotels have gone mobile, giving you the ability to check-in and request services via a smartphone app. The James hotels in Chicago and New York have gone a step further by outfitting their properties with iBeacon sensors. With the app, James Pocket Assistant, installed, guests automatically receive notifications once they step onto the property, which could be anything from hotel information to special discounts. The app functions as a virtual concierge, too, allowing you to communicate with staff or find nearby attractions.
  • If there’s one country that isn’t afraid of robot domination, it’s Japan. Huis Ten Bosch, a European-styled theme park, is planning a hotel that’s not only high-tech, but staffed by robots. The Henn-na Hotel (translation: Strange Hotel) will feature human-like robot receptionists that converse in natural language; robots even handle bellhop and custodial duties. There will be human employees, but the company’s president told CNN that he hopes robots will eventually operate 90 percent of the property.
  • aquaholic1371 on 15 Feb 17
     
    Hotels continue to implement the latest technology to enhance the guest experience. Many hotels are now experimenting with robot butlers, adjustable beds, ipads that allow guest to control all room controls. Many hotels are also using proximity marketing while on the property. Keyless entry using a smartphone, is becoming more and more common as well. There is even a hotel in Japan that wants to handle 90% of its staffing with robots.
  • mtorres619 on 20 Feb 17
     
    I feel like every business wants to implement the latest technology, why not? People love to see new features and compare it to the latest trends. This can be either beneficial or drive people away from your business. It really depends on what type of customers you are trying to attract.
kmill139

Why the U.S. is Terrible at Recycling Electronics | Digital Trends - 0 views

www.digitaltrends.com/...-waste-recycling-united-states

technology hospitality business tech

shared by kmill139 on 17 Jun 21 - No Cached
  • E-waste in the United States is out of control.
  • You may assume America has to at least be on par with the rest of the first world when finding a forever home for computers, phones, and printers, but you’d be wrong.
  • Those millions of old motherboards and TVs consoles rotting in landfills and warehouses aren’t just eyesores. They amount to a massive health hazard. While electronics waste comprises only 2-3 percent of America’s solid waste stream, the lead, cadmium, chromium, and other materials in aging circuitry account for 70 percent of the hazardous material in landfills, according to an EPA report.
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  • Others go belly up, leaving behind millions of pounds of old gadgets piled in mountainous heaps atop land which has lead levels many times normal.
  • You’re probably not screaming into a paper bag about the $20 billion or so of gold that’s trashed in electronics every year worldwide. Precious metals come and go. But if you care about the soil that comprises the land of the brave, you should start thinking about what happened to last year’s smartphone (even if it’s just sitting in the garage).
  • This list of reasons isn’t exhaustive, but serves as a solid starting point for understanding the United States’ e-waste dilemma and what can be done.
  • U.S. e-waste recycling laws are often outdated or nonexistent
  • Only 25 states (plus Washington, D.C.) have legislation that addresses e-waste recycling. The other 25 don’t have comprehensive programs, and don’t report what happens to the electronics beyond occasional voluntary numbers, says Jason Linnell, head of the National Center for Electronics Recycling (NCER). Federal laws don’t explicitly address e-waste recycling.
  • The U.S. isn’t good at recycling
  • The current level and effectiveness of e-waste recycling depends on which state you live in and whether or not you trust locals to “do the right thing.” The hope for improvement sits with congressional reps, state lawmakers, manufacturers, and gadget freaks (yes, you).
  • Single-stream recycling hasn’t helped
  • Between 2005 and 2014, single stream recycling programs increased from 29 to 80 percent in American towns and cities. During that same time period, material contamination rates increased from 7 to 25 percent.
  • E-waste legislation regularly disappears in Congress
  • This is not the first Congressional session in which similar bills have been introduced and allowed to die like a first grade classroom goldfish on summer break. SEERA currently sits with the house’s Foreign Affairs Committee. Why is it so tough to pass e-waste legislation?
  • The U.S. is an environmental rogue
  • As of late 2018, 186 states and the European Union have ratified it and follow its legal framework. The United States has signed the Basel Convention, indicating an intent to ratify, but is the only developed nation that hasn’t actually done so, which
  • After the initial Basel Convention was adopted in 1989, many organizations said the treaty didn’t do enough to address the disposal of waste from first world countries into the developing world, and pressed for an update, which eventually became 1995’s Basel Ban Amendment. The tweak — which was attacked by many industrial powers, including the U.S., Canada, and Japan — needed three decades before it was accepted by enough countries to go into effect. In August 2019, Croatia became the 97th country to ratify it, which transformed the updated stipulations into international law in December 2019.
  • EPA regulations are incomplete
  • Federal attempts at regulation have stalled, been killed
  • U.S. pushes back against international efforts
  • As a part of the 2003 Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive), the public was guaranteed free recycling services, and conveniently located collection centers. Around the same time, the EU also passed the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS), aka the “lead-free directive,” which restricts the use of several toxic materials in the manufacture of circuitry and electronic products.
  • In Japan, the Association for Electric Home Appliances requires consumers to help pay for the processing of their goods and manufacturers to set up recycling programs. Electronics recycling has been promoted as such a point of national pride — because Japan is both a huge consumer of gadgets and the country has few indigenous precious metals — that there’s serious talk of making the 2020 Tokyo Olympic metals out of recycled materials. An estimated 80,000 cell phones need to be pulled apart and picked over to complete the plan.
  • State-level e-cycling programs are uneven
  • Certified e-cycling programs are important, but also confusing
  • If you’re the compliance officer who has to make sure the company’s used servers don’t wind up getting tossed in an Indonesian landfill, and you won’t have to nervously answer questions in a “60 Minutes” exposé, you probably want to get that e-waste removed by a disposal team with one of these
  • That all sounds great until you listen to Puckett, who helped create the e-Stewards protocols. He’s one of several people who took part in the development of R2 for over two years and then refused to continue when the proposed guidelines seemed to be too tainted by lobbyists, including ones at the Institute of Scrap Recycling (ISRI), an organization that favors a free market approach over regulation. Puckett and 13 recyclers created e-Stewards, which describes itself as the “the cleanest, most globally responsible standard for e-waste recycling.” He points out that the R2 certification still allows recyclers to export to developing countries. E-Stewards’ doesn’t. R2 recyclers can drop toxic e-waste in landfills or incinerators in the event of “circumstances beyond their
  • Scrap recycling lobby doesn’t like regulations
  • The announcer proudly explains e-cycling is a vibrant industry that adds 20.6 billion to the U.S. economy and supports 45,000 jobs domestically, “safeguarding our environment,” along the way.
  • Can anything be done? Possibly
  • Recycling isn’t the only answer for fewer landfills filled with decaying circuits. Chris Wellise, Chief Sustainability Officer for Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), which installs and recovers tech, emphasizes the importance of designing products for longevity, disassembly, and reuse.
  • “On average, 85 percent of the environmental impacts can be addressed in the design phase,” estimates Wellise.
  • Similar challenges exist for smartphones. Review IFixit’s guide for repairability and you can expect the phones that are easy to disassemble are also easier to refurbish or scrap. In an unusual display of transparency, eco-minded electronics company Fairphone sells spare parts on its site and has visual cues printed on the pieces to help novices figure out where everything goes. In case you’re wondering, it’s possible to make a Fairphone work in America, but most of the company’s sales are in Europe.
  • In 2018, Apple gave birth to Daisy, a robot that can disassemble 200 of the company’s phones in an hour — 1.2 million a year. The company has an installation of the machine in Austin, Texas, and another in the Netherlands. Daisy’s supply chain of used products comes from the company’s in-store trade-in program and a partnership with Best Buy.
  • Pretty awe-inspiring, right? Keep in mind that Apple sold over 217 million phones just in 2018 and has moved 2.2 billion iPhone units since the product line launched in 2007. The two Daisy divisions aren’t even working at capacity. Apple is willing to license the robot technology so any company can use it to disassemble phones, but none have approached them yet.
  • carlatj on 17 Jun 21
     
    "Maybe it's easy to ignore the huge percentage of vintage gadgets that wind up torched in dicey scrap heaps in developing countries". This article was written on Feb-27-2020. The problem we saw on the old video is still very much a problem now, only bigger.
  • kmill139 on 29 Sep 21
     
    This article was super informative in the realm of E-waste. It covered every aspect of the issue and most definitely is relevant in today's world.
anonymous

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and O3b Networks Expand Business Partnership to Provide Gu... - 1 views

www.marketwatch.com/...ble-internet-access-2013-01-14

royal caribbean cruises networks partnership cruise ship internet hospitality technology

shared by anonymous on 21 Jan 13 - No Cached
  • Royal Caribbean was the first to enlist O3b's new maritime offering O3bMaritime aboard, Allure of the Seas' sister ship, Oasis of the Seas when they signed a contract last summer. Now guests and crew aboard Allure of the Seas will be able to enjoy lightning fast download speeds and performance that is anticipated to also be four times more responsive than existing and planned GEO satellite systems. O3bMaritime will be the only satellite system capable of enabling cruise line guests and crew broadband services on par with onshore telecommunication standards.
  • Royal Caribbean was the first to enlist O3b's new maritime offering O3bMaritime aboard, Allure of the Seas' sister ship, Oasis of the Seas when they signed a contract last summer. Now guests and crew aboard Allure of the Seas will be able to enjoy lightning fast download speeds and performance that is anticipated to also be four times more responsive than existing and planned GEO satellite systems. O3bMaritime will be the only satellite system capable of enabling cruise line guests and crew broadband services on par with onshore telecommunication standards.
  • O3b Networks has signed a second historic, multi-year deal with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. to provide high-speed satellite-delivered broadband service
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  • "The partnership between O3b Networks and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. continues to expand, and the real winners are the guests and crew aboard the most innovative ships at sea. The alliance is based on a shared mission built on the belief that the Internet should always be within reach - on land and at sea."
  • anonymous on 21 Jan 13
     
    Royal Caribbean and O3b Networks have again signed a multi-year contract. O3b will once again be providing "high-speed satellite-delivered broadband service" to the Allure of the Seas. The system used is O3bMaritime and Royal Caribbean was one of the first cruise lines to use this system. This system will be on their two largest ships the Oasis and the Allure based in the Caribbean. It is also the only system that is on par with telecommunication standards on land. Soon O3b will deliver more bandwidth on these two ships than on all other cruise ships in the Caribbean. I personally feel internet access really lacks on many of the cruise lines right now and feel Royal Caribbean is taking a step in the right direction with O3b. My family and I like to cruise a lot and have received very spotty internet access around the globe. In today's world many people still have to check up on work while on vacation or keep in contact with family, it only makes sense for cruise lines to start working on faster internet comparable to on land. I read various cruise line message boards and this is a common complaint about slow internet access or virtually none. In the current economy where all the various lines are in competition against one another, this gives Royal Caribbean a leg up in the competition. Additionally, my understanding the only region where satellite internet is unavailable is off the coast of Japan due to government regulations. This system makes sense to have available one day in more regions.
  • marylauren1717 on 22 Jan 13
     
    I for one am very happy to hear this news. I too have experienced the snail-paced internet "access" on cruise ships. With the high cost per minute and slow speeds, cruisers can't help but feel that they wasted their money. This definitely gives Royal Caribbean an advantage over Carnival, NCL and other large cruise lines. By implementing O3b networks on their two largest and most popular ships, they will reach their target consumer and help spread the word.
Amy Sena

May GDS Hotel Bookings Decline Globally As Rates Soar In North America - Business Trave... - 0 views

www.businesstravelnews.com/...As-Rates-Soar-In-North-America

shared by Amy Sena on 26 Jan 13 - No Cached
  • Total hotel reservations booked in May through global distribution channels dropped 5.7 percent globally year over year, and rates booked through those channels were up 4 percent
  • dropped 5.7 percent globally year over year, and rates booked through those channels were up 4 percent
  • In North America, May GDS bookings were down 8.8 percent year over year as rates increased by 7.6 percent. Outside of North America, bookings were down 2.1 percent, and rates were about flat compared with May 2011.
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  • can be attributed to unfavorable comparisons caused by Japan's March 2011 earthquake and tsunami
  • Monthly bookings likely will continue to trail 2011 levels for the next few months but might begin to pick up later in the year.
  • Amy Sena on 26 Jan 13
     
    This article describes the decline and increase in GDS bookings in May 2012 in comparison to 2011. The March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan may have had an impact in the drop off of hotel reservations as many trips that would have occurred in March and April were postponed to May.
Mohan Song

Fujitsu "TeamPoS 7000" Global POS System Begins Operations at Tsuruha's Overseas Store - 0 views

www.fujitsu.com/...20120921-01.html

technology POS

shared by Mohan Song on 20 Feb 13 - No Cached
  • Mohan Song on 20 Feb 13
     
    Fujitsu today announced that it has worked together with the major Japanese drug store chain, Tsuruha Holdings, Inc., to develop a retail system for its first store outside Japan, which opened this July in Thailand. Tsuruha Holdings is currently strengthening the expansion of its business outside Japan, prompting the need for flexible support for additional retail locations. Fujitsu Systems Business (Thailand) Ltd., which boasts a rich track record in systems deployment is providing comprehensive support for the introduction of the new system, ranging from systems integration development of the POS systems, to deployment, maintenance and support.The new system comes equipped with a host of features that accommodate the business practices of Thailand, including sales promotion methods, storage of receipts in an electronic journal, and settings for days when the sale of alcoholic products is restricted for religious reasons.
Yongjoon Ji

IT Investment, Emerging Markets Key to Business Growth - 0 views

www.eweek.com/...markets-key-to-business-growth

shared by Yongjoon Ji on 23 Oct 12 - No Cached
  • A survey sponsored by SAP suggests businesses are looking to make investments in IT and their workforce but struggle to find lenders
  • Effective use of technology was seen as a key priority in achieving growth, and according to respondents, the three main internal obstacles to growth were finding and keeping new customers (79 percent), hiring and retaining people with the right skills (78 percent) and operating the business efficiently (76 percent).
  • When it comes to technology, becoming more efficient and using IT more effectively over the next year is among the top three priorities of those surveyed, with 46 percent saying using technology more effectively was a top business priority.
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  • Effective use of technology was seen as a key priority in achieving growth
  • The survey indicated this was especially important in emerging countries, including India (72 percent), Brazil (75 percent), Russia (33 percent), China (44 percent) and Mexico (33 percent).
  • In addition, 60 percent of respondents said they are automating more tasks and functions now than three years ago.
  • Shiyuan Peng on 23 Oct 12
     
    According to the article, a survey sponsored by SAP suggests that businesses are looking to make investments in IT and effective use of technology is seen as a key priority in achieving growth. When it comes to technology, becoming more efficient and using IT more effectively over the next year is among the top three priorities of those surveyed, with 46 percent saying using technology more effectively was a top business priority. The survey indicated this was especially important in emerging countries, including India (72 percent), Brazil (75 percent), Russia (33 percent), China (44 percent) and Mexico (33 percent). In addition, 60 percent of respondents said they are automating more tasks and functions now than three years ago.
  • Yongjoon Ji on 24 Oct 12
     
    According to an Economist Intelligence Unit survey, the survey of more than 1,000 SMEs included businesses from the developed economies of France, Germany, Japan, the UK, and the United States. 53 percent of those in developed markets said growth were a top business priority. Effective use of technology was seen as a key priority in achieving growth, and according to respondents, the three main internal obstacles to growth were finding and keeping new customers, hiring and retaining people with the right skills and operating the business efficiently. When it comes to technology, becoming more efficient and using IT more effectively over the next year is among the top three priorities of those surveyed, with 46 percent saying using technology more effectively was a top business priority. The hotel industry usually does not invest enough to grow compared to other industries. I believe it is because they consider being a technological leader in this industry does not bring more profit than they invest. Investing on technology might not bring instant profits but it can be one of ways to become a top business priority.
yoyohad

The Robots Are The Chefs In This Japanese Restaurant | Singularity Hub - 0 views

singularityhub.com/...fs-in-this-japanese-restaurant

technology robots restaurant

shared by yoyohad on 22 Sep 14 - No Cached
  • ou can see other customers in the restaurant as they experience the restaurant in their own way – some mesmerized by the robots, others focused on their food and seemingly oblivious to the fact that the robots are even there.  Its an awesome scene.
  • The robots are fully autonomous, taking a customer order and cooking it from start to finish.  This includes boiling the noodles, pouring broth, adding spices and toppings, and so on.  The orders are complex too, requiring the robots to take customer preference for amount and type of sauce, salt, noodle, and so on.   The finished product is handed off to a human server who brings the food to the customer’s table.  The irony could not be more real as we witness the lowly human in the role of a mere server while the robot takes on the cooking.
  • The restaurant, called FA-men (pronounced Fu-a-men) based in Nagoya, Japan, takes its name from the phrase “Fully Automated raMEN” says Ni-Lab.  Not content to simply sit around when there are no orders to cook, the robots can be seen doing tricks and even performing pretend combat with a sword (knife) and a shield (plate) in homage to Manzai, a  style of stand-up comedy in Japan.  If you know Japanese, or are just curious, you can check out FA-men’s website.
  • yoyohad on 22 Sep 14
     
    Here we are, this post make the unattended POS a child's toy in the hospitality industry, look at the robot chef! The customers come into this restaurant to enjoy their meal, and suddenly they realize that their food are prepared by robots! from boiling the water, choose the customer's sauce according to the order... one thing I know, is that they will probably never mess up the order. The dish then is hand over to the HUMAN server to bring to the table. When is the last time you hear about this word? A HUMAN server? I think that in the near future, we can walk into a restaurant and find out that there is no HUMAN server, or HUMAN cook, or ever HUMAN manager. But the customers are still HUMAN though.
nellyvero71

5 best recycling practices from around the world | BBVA - 1 views

www.bbva.com/...ractices-from-around-the-world

recycling practices

shared by nellyvero71 on 11 Jun 20 - No Cached
  • one of the key strategies that countries need to embrace is the so-called “three Rs” approach: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, to ensure that waste generation and management is as sustainable as possible.
  • finding new uses to a large portion of the waste generated each year.
  • need to recycle
  • ...12 more annotations...
  • Recycling yields two key advantages: First, it allows reusing substantial amounts of waste that would otherwise end up in landfills or spoiling natural spaces; Second, it allows generating raw materials and avoid wasting materials and natural resources.
  • Several countries have managed to increase their recycling rates in recent years by investing in technology, and awareness campaigns and introducing policies aimed at encouraging citizens and businesses to recycle more and better.
  • generate enough electricity to power 250,000 households, and contribute to dramatically reduce waste and emissions.
  • Northern European countries are pioneers in the sustainable processing of urban and industrial waste.
  • Sweden’s become extremely successful at sorting and reusing waste, thanks to the firm commitment of its population, and everyone’s involvement in the process from their own households.
  • Neighbors are responsible for sorting, treating and segregating their household waste, and then complying with the strict and scheduled collection calendar.
  • One of the countries that have best understood the importance of the circular economy is Switzerland.
  • the country has become a pioneer in the recycling of organic waste, which is used to make compost.
  • one third of the food created in the world is spoiled or thrown away
  • also means a high cost in terms of greenhouse gas emissions.
  • The organic waste collected is used to produce biogas to fuel power plants, crop fertilizers and livestock feed.
  • recycling rate has increased from 5% to 64%, one of the highest in Europe and expects to keep improving to become one of the world’s leading nations in this field.
  • nellyvero71 on 11 Jun 20
     
    The article is about how United Nations set up a goal to foster sustainable and environmentally-responsible consumption and productions patterns. The key to reach this goal for the countries need to be focused on Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. The article specifically explain how Sweden, Japan, Switzerland, South Korea and Wales are implementing strategies to reach that goal.
kimmumford

Europe To Be A Favorable Destination For The Growth Of Smart Stadium Market | Marketsan... - 1 views

www.marketsandmarketsblog.com/smart-stadium-market.html

shared by kimmumford on 12 Feb 18 - No Cached
  • The global smart stadium market that was estimated to be worth USD 4.62 Billion in 2016 is projected to reach a value of USD 17.32 Billion by 2021, growing at a CAGR of 30.2% during the period 2016–2021.
  • On the basis of deployment model, the on-demand deployment model is anticipated to take up the largest share in this market as well as grow at the highest rate in the coming years, since the organizations are nowadays focusing more on reducing operational costs along with improved efficiency, high security and low maintenance, and easy installation, among others.
  • Other factors like increasing demand for cloud services, data center services, network services, and its reliable and efficient integration are further said to be driving the services market.
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • , Europe is expected to hold the largest share, thus dominating the global smart stadium market in 2016, whereas the Middle East and Africa is the fastest-growing region.
  • The worldwide market for smart stadiums is experiencing huge growth, mainly owing to the following factors: Rising trend of digital transformation and adoption of IoT technologies Increased focus on attracting home viewers Growing demand for better customer engagement and experience Upcoming national and international sports events across the globe like 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar Increasing government initiatives for smart building projects Growing need for modernization of network and telecom infrastructure
  • On the flip side, inability of traditional stadiums to match up with the smart stadium technology and low investments in smart technology by the stadium owners in its deployment are the major factors that may hamper the growth of this market.
  • global market for smart stadiums include Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. (China), Intel Corp. (U.S.), NEC Corp. (Japan), Cisco Systems, Inc. (U.S.), International Business Machines Corporation (U.S.), Fujitsu (Japan), Johnson Controls (U.S.), Tech Mahindra Ltd. (India), Volteo (U.S.), and GP Smart Stadium (the Netherlands).
  • kimmumford on 12 Feb 18
     
    Smart stadiums are growing in popularity around the world. In 2016 was estimated to be 4.62 million dollars and is expected to grow by just over 30% by 2021. There are different models available when designing a smart stadium. The on-demand deployment model will make up the largest share of the market. The leader in the growth of smart stadiums are Europe, Middle East, and Africa. There are six factors contributing to the growth of smart stadiums. However, there are two factors that are hindering the growth of smart stadiums. One of these factors is the investment. There are at least ten major corporations that are offering smart stadium solutions. Five of the ten corporations are based in the United States. However, there are some smaller companies that are forming partnerships to help stadiums implement the new technology.
tsmit216

Hotel Technology Trends: 14 Upcoming Innovations for 2021 - 0 views

www.revfine.com/hotel-technology

shared by tsmit216 on 16 Jan 20 - No Cached
  • Self-service automation intends to place the decision-making process in the hands of the guests as opposed to hotel staff. This directly follows trends which have been witnessed across multiple sectors.
  • 3. Facial Recognition TechnologyMany consumers are just beginning to become accustomed to facial recognition technology; particularly in relation to smartphone security. Still, it is important to mention that these very same methods represent another important facet of modern hotel technology. There are several benefits which facial recognition applications are able to provide for hotel management:Enhanced levels of security and privacyOnly authorised personnel will be allowed to enter specific areasThis method can be used in conjunction with electronic payments as another form of verification
  • 4. Robots
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  • In fact, one hotel in Japan is already fully staffed by these mechanical marvels. However, robots will more likely be used to supplicate human interaction as opposed to replace it altogether.
  • 7. ChatbotsChatbots and similar online widgets are now commonplace when visiting countless websites. In the same respect, they are beginning to revolutionise hotel technology and its associated amenities. These clever devices are set to offer guests a host of options. Some of those which are the most applicable within the hospitality industry include:Hyper-personalised search criteria and resultsA streamlined method for confirming a reservationAn excellent way to build brand recognition and loyalty.Marketing relevant products and services to the end userA final point to mention is that modern chatbots offer a language-agnostic edge. As they can detect and respond to numerous dialects, previous international barriers have been removed from the equation. This will lead to higher booking rates and an impressive return on investment (ROI).
  • Virtual Reality (VR)VR plays another important role; primarily in illustrating the amenities, services and rooms that a hotel has to offer. Virtual hotel tours/ 360 videos are a perfect example of this immersive trend. In fact, many professionals believe that this type of hotel technology is set to become compulsory in the not-so-distant future. The good news is that it is a cost-effective solution and virtual reality can be easily deployed within most scenarios.
  • There is no doubt that cutting-edge hotel technology is here to stay.
  • crucial
  • utili
  • sing robots for luggage transportation, security, room service and restaurant waiting.
  • attract additional sales
  • educe friction
  • r
  • pre-set the amenities
  • competitive edge
  • julianaparada on 16 Jan 20
     
    This article is about the 11 upcoming innovations for this new year. Some of the innovations are already being used, like Service Automation, Facial Recognition Technology, Alexa voices, etc. But, this article explains how "There is no doubt that cutting-edge hotel technology is here to stay". A really cool innovation that caught my attention is robots. In Japan, there are hotels already fully staffed by mechanical marvels. As stated in the article "they will be used to supplicate human interaction as opposed to replace it altogether".
  • tsmit216 on 24 Aug 21
     
    Some of the trends that are happening now in the hotel industry. The rate of change in technology is generally accelerating, which is worth noting. So things that change this year, could become obsolete in just a few years. Staying on top of these changes will be mission critical for those in the industry.
bbalthaser

Robots are disinfecting hotels during the pandemic. It's the tip of a hospitality revol... - 0 views

www.proquest.com/...2481413432

shared by bbalthaser on 05 Feb 23 - No Cached
  • germ-zapping Roomba — becoming, in the process, one of the first ultraviolet bots to arrive in a United States hotel.
  • "Cleanliness is now the new luxury,"
  • Until recently, only health-care workers would frequently interact with disinfecting bots,
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  • cost upward of $125,000 each.
  • projects the market for UV disinfecting bots will grow to more than $5.5 billion by 2027
  • stands out from such predecessors, both because of the bots' wider adoption and the more practical jobs they fill.
  • And Japan's famous Henn na Hotel has claimed to be the first hotel staffed by robots, though in 2019, the hotel fired about half of its 243 bots for underperforming (and, alarmingly, potentially exposing guests to hackers and peepers).
  • "cobots," a portmanteau of "collaboration" and "robots," because they're intended to work alongside people rather than replace them.
  • more than 60 percent of jobs in hospitality-dominated cities like Las Vegas could be automatable by 2035 — job losses that would exacerbate income inequality and disproportionately harm women of color.
  • Elected officials continue to underestimate the economic threats of automation in sectors like hospitality and tourism
  • bbalthaser on 05 Feb 23
     
    Robots became very relevant and significant with the rise of Covid-19. There was an increased demand outside of the hospital sector and in industries such as hospitality. While many are "germ-zapping Roombas" others offer things like concierge services. Covid-19 made "cleanliness a luxury". However, the cost has always been a factor and can be "upwards of $125,000" for one disinfecting robot. The market is looking to grow by more than "$5.5 billion by 2027 for UV disinfecting robots" alone. While some countries like Japan have used Robots for a while, it hasn't always been successful, but it is now becoming a norm in the industry to obtain them for service. Some makers say that robots are meant to "work beside people rather than replace them." Some researchers say that large cities like Vegas are at risk of jobs being automated at more than 60% in the Hospitality sector. This could wreak havoc on employment and harm those that are most vulnerable those living in poverty or just above and women of color. Those in official positions with the government do not take the threat of automation as seriously as they should when it comes to sectors that rely heavily on employing many people but are turning toward automation. I definitely viewed an uptick in the use of a variety of technologies to he;p clean and sanitize buildings. While I never came across a robot, I know that there was an emphasis on various low-tech devices to help clean. I think while there are certainly positive outcomes of using robots in service-oriented positions within the hospitality sector, I dare say we should be concerned if we start using them more than people. And while the Pandemic certainly helped push us towards accepting technology in day-to-day and in work, it shouldn't be the end all. I would like to further read as to why Henna Na Hotel in Japan had such a disappointing result from their all-robot hotel. I think it could shed some light on the do's and don'ts of robot usage.
  • emilywest5 on 05 Feb 23
     
    I really enjoyed reading this article. It gave lots of insight for the future of AI. I actually came across a website called chai.ml which is an online chatbot. You can talk to literally any kind of chatbot. From ones that make itineraries for you for wherever you go, to ones who want to experience a breakup situation. Its pretty neat but also really weird. I can for-see jobs being lost after playing around with that website.
Allen Lok

Restaurant operators offering 24 hr automated serivce. - 2 views

nrn.com/...tomated-restaurant-innovations

Automated machines Seattles Best Cupcakes Jamba Juice increased revenue stream

shared by Allen Lok on 18 Jan 13 - No Cached
  • Allen Lok on 18 Jan 13
     
    I think this article goes along with our "Smartbar" discussion. The Smartbar may actually be useful in certain locations where a full time bartender may be too costly. There are obvious legal regulatory issues to contend, but at least some room for growth for the Smartbar. For other products like cupcakes, donuts or small bites, established restaurants are now tapping into the 24 hour convenience business model through the use of vending machines. I think this is a great idea for customers who want more variety than what we have been seeing at vending machines the past 10 or 20 years, which is potato chips, candy bars and nuts. For the company, this would give them more exposure and increased revenue stream at locations such as airports, hotels and hospitals where there is always people around. Some companies like Apple or Sony have been doing this for years. I can understand that they are selling a non-perishable good and the customer is ultimately only paying for the end product only. Restaurants are often involved with proving a level hospitality service as part of the product they sell and automation was not really in their best interest. But now with the explosion of Ipods and automated POS taking over the servers job, we may see more of these stand alone units serving customers. Overall, I think this is a business concept/technology that we are behind in. The article mentions that Japan has been using this concept to sell fresh food items and other items such clothing as well. From a business standpoint, given the increasing rise of competition, rent/property prices and variety of choices consumers have, these are some major recent factors which will propel this concept more.
Bing Kwok

New Facebook apps should boost revenues for restaurants - 2 views

restaurant-hospitality.com/...uld-boost-revenues-restaurants

technology hospitality hotel software

shared by Bing Kwok on 04 Sep 13 - No Cached
  • Bing Kwok on 04 Sep 13
     
    The new Facebook app is the result of a partnership with restaurant reservation service OpenTable. Mobile users can now check out a restaurant's Facebook page and then make an instant reservation at any of the 20,000 restaurants that are part of the OpenTable lineup.Making a restaurant reservation can't get much easier than this. The app should help bring in business for restaurants that are part of the OpenTable network. A potential downside: It's now equally easy to for mobile users to cancel their confirmed reservations with a quick tap on their smartphone screen. The second app, a social gifting app dubbed Gratafy, promises to create an as-yet-untapped revenue stream by letting users purchase specific food and drink items for their Facebook friends without ever stepping foot in the restaurant themselves.
  • Dibakar Desouza on 06 Sep 13
     
    Yes i do agree with you on this. However, for example in China and Japan the whole concept of making reservations is not a common thing yet and i as well believe that it will never be. People just tend to walk in to restaurants as and when they please....This app would not really serve the purpose in these kinds of cultures....
Bing Kwok

Generating Premium Returns on Your IT Investments - 2 views

web.mit.edu/SMR.pdf

shared by Bing Kwok on 24 Sep 13 - No Cached
  • Bing Kwok on 24 Sep 13
     
    Although IT portfolio management has been a best practice for some time now, many companies are still getting returns from IT investments that are below their potential. New studies show that a measurable premium can be gained by implementing a set of interlocking business practices and processes, collectively called IT savvy. The research uses 7- eleven Japan as an example and illustrated some of its practices to make their company IT savvy.
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