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davidclark33

Coronavirus cybercrime can attack your restaurant system, too | National Restaurant Ass... - 0 views

  • Protecting your business from a data breach is a constant struggle, and it’s even more important during a disaster.
  • Eliot, director of education and strategic initiatives for the NCSA, says cyber incidents and attacks, such as coronavirus-themed email phishing scams, increased as much as 300% to 350% in the first quarter of 2020 and adds that cyber scammers are now trying to target restaurant companies in particular.
  • Cybercriminals have mostly directed malicious emails at telework employees or people donating time and money to those impacted by coronavirus. “We're seeing a huge increase of cyber-related scams promoting coronavirus information or relief efforts. “It’s a big issue.”
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  • The PCI Security Standards Council claims that since March, malicious virus-related reports are up 475%. The reason for the uptick is that cybercriminals are trying to take advantage of rapid changes to the payment-card data environment. In addition, 41% of small businesses have said they’ve suffered breaches costing more than $50,000 to fix.
  • Contactless payment is one of the big changes within the payment data environment. Several restaurant companies – from chains to independents – are offering it because it reduces customers' physical interaction with the restaurant's POS system. As part of this move, some businesses have eliminated credit-card PIN numbers.
  • Eliot says malicious email is usually the easiest way for cybercriminals to access your networks. The emails typically show up as urgent requests for sensitive information, often pretending to be from the Small Business Administration or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When the intended victim types in his or her credentials and clicks on a specific link or downloads an attachment, criminals are in.
  • Anyone looking for easy-to-implement security tips can try these six to start. Reduce areas where payment-card data is stored. The best way to protect against a data breach is to avoid storing any card information at all. With many small operators offering curbside pickup and accepting payment over the phone instead of through face-to-face transactions, it’s important they train employees not to write down payment card details. Instead, have them enter numbers directly into a secure terminal. Use strong passwords. Using weak and default passwords is one of the leading causes of payment data breaches among businesses. Effective passwords must be strong and updated regularly. The most recent guidance is: the longer, the better. Think of it almost as a “passphrase” rather than a password. Use it in the form of a sentence, but mix in different characters within the phrase. It’s much harder to break a long passphrase than it is a short, complex password. Weak and vendor default passwords often result in small business data breaches. Also, don’t repeat your passwords. Update your software often. Criminals look for outdated software to exploit flaws in unpatched systems. Timely installations of security patches are crucial to minimizing the risk of a breach. Whenever updates are available, use them. They will improve performance and close out some of the vulnerabilities cybercriminals are searching for. Enable two-factor authentication. It's so important for restaurateurs, especially where their POS systems or any of their sensitive databases are concerned, to have two-factor or multi-factor authentication enabled. If an instance where credentials are stolen occurs, there will be a second layer of verification the operator can rely on to potentially reduce the chances that information will be breached. Segment your networks. If you are going to store payment data, make sure your POS system has its own separate, secure network. Do not store sensitive documents on public cloud services such as Google Docs or DropBox. If you’re going to store sensitive documents, house them in an encrypted, locked down location.   Be hyper-vigilant. Criminals are going to try to take advantage of this pandemic situation as much as possible. You can protect yourself by not giving out sensitive information, especially within unsolicited emails. Don’t click on links you’re not expecting and do everything in your power to protect all sensitive information.
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    This article is about data breaching and cyber crime in the restaurant business. The article specifically talks about the increase in cyber crime during a crisis, and in this case, a pandemic. It talks about contactless payment as a great form of protection for restaurants as well as customers. At the end of the article, it lists six easy to implement security tips.
jamigovaerts

How proximity marketing can help the high street | The Drum - 0 views

  • beacons haven’t taken over the marketing world in the way so many predicted, however, some of the world’s biggest brands are redefining the customer experience with proximity marketing - with or without beacons.
  • Amazon is trying to reshape the in-store customer experience with a fleet of Amazon Go stores where customers can simply walk in, pick the items they want and walk right out - no queues and no physical payments action whatsoever.
  • One of the most successful uses of proximity marketing also happens to be one of the oldest, though. The Starbucks mobile app allows customers to place orders, pay in-store, collect rewards and receive custom offers from the biggest name in high street coffee.
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  • shopping habits are changing and online spending continues to increase. Yet, there are parts of the consumer journey that online-only technology can’t fulfil - and this is where retailers need to innovate most.
  • The technology that powers proximity marketing is only going to improve as smart cities grow and IoT becomes a part of our everyday lives. But the technology, in its current state, is already there to redefine customer experiences and the way consumers engage with brands, based on their immediate location.
  • When Apple launched iBeacons in 2013, proximity marketing became the industry’s favourite trend. With the right technology, this hyper-localised strategy was supposed to bridge the divide between online content and offline consumer action but Apple’s iBeacon platform ultimately failed to take off.
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    Module 6: Proximity Marketing This article focuses on the use of proximity marketing in 2020, and discusses how beacons have not taken over the offline and online market like Apple and Google originally hoped they would. Discussed in the article is how Amazon is utilizing proximity marketing in their Amazon Go stores This technology in a COVID-19 world will allow shoppers the flexibility to go outside of their homes and continue to social distance as all payments occur as, " customers can simply walk in, pick the items they want and walk right out - no queues and no physical payments action whatsoever." Similar to Starbucks where guests pay directly on their phones, the proximity marketing market will continue to grow as technology continues to advance. According to the article, "The technology, in its current state, is already there to redefine customer experiences and the way consumers engage with brands, based on their immediate location."
aquin206

What is Proximity Marketing? How Does it Work? - 0 views

  • Proximity marketing is a marketing technique whereby recipients are targeted with marketing messages based on their vicinity. Simply put, it’s when you send ads to people who are close by your venue
  • WiFi-equipped smartphone these days and logs into public hotspots, meaning that you only need the right software to collect customer data and advertise to them using your guest WiFi.
  • The way it works is that when a customer logs into your guest WiFi network, you collect data about their device (specifically the MAC number of the device), based on which you can “follow” the customer around the venue and later identify them when they return
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  • QR codes
  • Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
  • NFC stands for “near field communication
  • pay at the store with your phone
  • QR codes are scannable barcodes
  • 5 proximity marketing technologies you need to know
  • An example would be when you enter a store and get a push notification on your phone with a discount for your shopping, or when you scan a QR code at an event to download promotional materials.
  • How to best use proximity marketing?
  • How does it work?
  • One of the easiest, yet most versatile ways to implement proximity marketing in your venue is to use WiFi.
  • This platform should have indoor positioning features, so that you can easily locate your customers, and WiFi marketing features, so that you can effectively communicate with them when they are nearby.
  • This is a somewhat antiquated method compared to the other ones we’re discussing in this article, but it has its benefits.
  • This solution has been making waves at various conferences and events.
  • it requires extreme proximity (we’re talking millimeter to centimeter range), so it’s less versatile than the other technologies discussed.
  • even though most people can turn on Bluetooth on their devices, they don’t necessarily do that. And even if they do, that’s only half your road to successful marketing with BLE.
  • Similarly to BLE, geofencing with GPS requires the user to turn on the location services on their phone, as well as have a medium of communication with you
  • What is proximity marketing?
  • sales
  • if you notice that someone visited your store several times
  • but never made a purchase, it’s time to act! Pop in their mailbox, offer a discount,
  • loyalty
  • behavior analysis
  • indoor navigation
  • gamification
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    wifi, QR codes, NFC, BLE, GPS
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    This article discusses how marketing technology is utilized for proximity marketing. By targeting recipients with marketing communications based on their proximity, proximity marketing is a marketing strategy. It uses many technologies, like WiFi, BLE, NFC, or GPS, and can be done for a variety of reasons, including advertising, feedback, and customer service, to deliver advertisements to individuals who are nearby your location. An illustration would be if you scanned a QR code at an event to download promotional materials, or if you entered a business and received a push notification on your phone with a discount for your purchases. One of the simplest and most adaptable methods to use proximity marketing in your venue is through WiFi. You gather information about a customer's device when they sign into your guest WiFi network. Although a fairly outdated technique, QR codes have several advantages. It is incredibly simple, affordable, and quick to install. This compromises its effectiveness, although, for some applications, it will be adequate. The user is directed to a certain website by these scannable barcodes. At numerous conferences and events, the QR code solution has generated a lot of buzzes. Exhibitors utilize it to provide background information about their brand that cannot otherwise be given in the booth because it is so subtle and affordable. You can use your phone or smartwatch to make a purchase at the store using near-field communication (NFC) technology. NFC is less adaptable than the other technologies since it demands close contact and is not as widely used as WiFi or QR code readers. Although it's a less well-known technology, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) access points perform similarly to WiFi access points. Although the majority of individuals can enable Bluetooth on their devices, they don't always do so. However, you need a medium, such as an app that they have downloaded, and you need to put BLE beacons at your location to communicate with g
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    This article discusses how marketing technology is utilized for proximity marketing. By targeting recipients with marketing communications based on their proximity, proximity marketing is a marketing strategy. It uses many technologies, like WiFi, BLE, NFC, or GPS, and can be done for a variety of reasons, including advertising, feedback, and customer service, to deliver advertisements to individuals who are nearby your location. An illustration would be if you scanned a QR code at an event to download promotional materials, or if you entered a business and received a push notification on your phone with a discount for your purchases. One of the simplest and most adaptable methods to use proximity marketing in your venue is through WiFi. You gather information about a customer's device when they sign into your guest WiFi network. Although a fairly outdated technique, QR codes have several advantages. It is incredibly simple, affordable, and quick to install. This compromises its effectiveness, although, for some applications, it will be adequate. The user is directed to a certain website by these scannable barcodes. At numerous conferences and events, the QR code solution has generated a lot of buzzes. Exhibitors utilize it to provide background information about their brand that cannot otherwise be given in the booth because it is so subtle and affordable. You can use your phone or smartwatch to make a purchase at the store using near-field communication (NFC) technology. NFC is less adaptable than the other technologies since it demands close contact and is not as widely used as WiFi or QR code readers. Although it's a less well-known technology, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) access points perform similarly to WiFi access points. Although the majority of individuals can enable Bluetooth on their devices, they don't always do so. However, you need a medium, such as an app that they have downloaded, and you need to put BLE beacons at your location to communicate with g
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    This article explains what proximity marketing is and five different ways it is used through. Proximity marketing is used through WIFI, QR Codes, NFC (near field communication), BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) Beacons, and GPS. In addition to going in detail about all those, this article also explains how proximity marketing helps the company. It can help by boosting sales, retargeting, building loyalty, behavior analysis, indoor navigation and gamification.
earagon22

PCI and PSD2 Compliance: Why Are Hotels on the Hook? - 0 views

  • In September 2019 the Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2) went into effect and applies any businesses who could potentially engage with European customers. Even businesses with little international business should
  • In September 2019 the Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2) went into effect and applies any businesses who could potentially engage with European customers. Even businesses with little international business should
  • Established in 2006, PCI stands for the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, which contains guidelines for accepting, storing, and processing credit card information
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  • These days, cyber security and regulatory compliance aren’t just necessary skills for the IT team. Every hotel manager - even the “non-tech savvy” ones - must understand these crucial components of data protection in order to protect their businesses.
  • A few rules of thumb include using PCI-compliant POS and PMS providers, storing both digital and paper data securely, and limiting access to sensitive data to only the employees who truly need it.
  • Examples of these guidelines include using an online checkout/payment page controlled by a licensed 3rd-party service provider, storing credit card data via a 3rd-party “vault” provider rather than in your own system, and masking the full credit card number on receipts, showing only the last 4 digits instead.
    • earagon22
       
      As an example, if guests book through a 3rd-party like Expedia then I at the front desk see an Expedia card not the guest's card. The card I see is pre-loaded with the amount of the stay ONLY. Even then, I cannot see the 3rd party's full cc number. I only see the last 4 digits just like guest credit cards.
  • “The attack on Marriott was hapless and still has many gaps to fill on what actually happened. A popular entry point for adversaries is through email spoofing. This tactic is used in phishing in order to get malware onto a target network to then move laterally across all systems,” Ryan Cornateanu, Application Security Engineer @ CrowdStrike.
    • earagon22
       
      This attack mentioned compromised cc details, passport numbers, and dates of birth for 300 million guests in their database. This happened in 2014. https://hoteltechreport.com/news/marriott-data-breach#:~:text=And%2C%20the%20financial%20burden%20is,the%20largest%20data%20breaches%20ever.
  • because of increased payment security, the amount of chargebacks will likely become much lower, which is something all hoteliers can celebrate.
  • In September 2019 the Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2) went into effect and applies any businesses who could potentially engage with European customers. Even businesses with little international business should still comply, since regulations like these are often mirrored in the United States and other countries soon after.
  • PSD2 includes enhanced guidelines for online payments and the handling of sensitive data to reduce the risk of credit theft, fraud, and security breaches. One major change is the requirement of Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) for online transactions. With SCA, rather than simply typing in a credit card number and clicking “pay,” consumers will need to provide a second layer of authentication, which could be a PIN code or an SMS verification code, before the payment can go through.
  • Guests book nearly three-quarters of hotel reservations online, so PSD2 will likely impact every hotelier as Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) becomes a requirement for payment processing.
  • Are any charges processed after the guest has checked out, such as minibar chargers? To prevent any hiccups with payment after check-out, charge an authorization on the guest’s card for the full incidental amount and have the guest provide two-factor authentication in person, such as chip-and-pin, when the guest checks in.
    • earagon22
       
      A property rule where I work is that each guest must insert or tap their cc at check-in in order to follow this rule and we take an incidental hold each night. Guests that have not traveled for years are surprised by incidental holds which makes sense based on when this was implemented.
  • The key takeaway here is that transactions initiated by the hotel at a time when the guest isn’t present won’t comply with PSD2 requirements.
  • protect consumers’ sensitive data, and, as a result, every merchant that uses credit card information must follow these rules, from small businesses to large corporations.
  • By partnering with a trusted technology solution and investing in PCI and PSD2 compliance now, hoteliers can prevent the potential catastrophe that could come with the theft of sensitive data.
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    PCI compliance is a crucial and necessary set of guidelines that all hotels must follow. The Payment Card Industry Security Standard was created in 2006 and outlines rules regarding accepting, storing, and/or processing card information. These rules were put into place to protect consumers sensitive information. For example, in 2014 Marriott hotels was attacked and 300 million guests information was compromised. This attack led to new regulations being put into place, the Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2). These regulations take into account international customers and enhanced guidelines for sensitive data.
jbrit055

Cloud Computing: Explained for the Hotel Industry - 7 views

  • if you want a more efficient, streamlined back office and happier guests, then “the cloud” can help you meet your goals
  • cloud-based applications are usually a lot cheaper than traditional systems.
  • cloud computing is when you use programs, store files, or access data via the internet rather than on your hard drive.
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  • When an application is “cloud based” it means that it lives on third party servers.
  • Avoids costly and painful installations
  • Eliminates negative depreciation (in fact, the software gets better with age, since updates can be made at any time) 
  • Pushes software companies to consistently earn customer loyalty with innovation and great service
  • Hotels that use Cloudbeds log into it directly in a web browser like Internet Explorer or Chrome. This is a big advantage for hotels because you can access the application on any device.
  • No discussion of cloud computing in the hotel industry would be complete without mentioning Cloudbeds, the first property management system startup in years to serve 1 million beds with its software.
  • When a system is cloud-based, it can innovate faster because changes can take effect immediately.
  • Implementing cloud-based software can make your operations more efficient, save time for your employees, and create more positive guest experiences.
  • Another reason for Cloudbeds’ rapid growth is that their software can easily integrate with other tools. Cloudbeds has an extensive marketplace of integration partners, including Whistle, TrustYou, and Oaky, that it can connect to via an API. Because everything is located in the cloud, a hotel doesn’t need to download any programs or plug-ins to add a new integration. These add-ons can offer upgrades and analyze reviews, among other things, so you can improve guest service and even earn incremental revenue.
  • if you want a more efficient, streamlined back office and happier guests, then “the cloud” can help you meet your goals
  • if you want a more efficient, streamlined back office and happier guests, then “the cloud” can help you meet your goals
  • Implementing cloud-based software can make your operations more efficient, save time for your employees, and create more positive guest experiences.
  • “The cloud” wasn’t created overnight; instead, decades of technological evolution led to cloud computing.
  • a cloud based hotel software company like Cloudbeds might choose to rent space with a company like Rackspace to host their application (and yours) or alternatively they might use a service like AWS. 
  • Requires minimal upfront investment
  • One of the biggest misconceptions about cloud computing is that files and applications don’t live on physical storage servers.
  • AWS tends to be more scalable for fast growing applications but as end users your guests won’t notice the difference so it’s really a matter of preference.
  • If you use Microsoft Office, you might create a PowerPoint on your laptop (local storage), but when you save the file, it gets uploaded to your Microsoft OneDrive, which is housed in the cloud.
  • If you’ve ever edited a Google Doc or uploaded files to Dropbox, then you’ve leveraged cloud computing.
  • Benefits of Cloud Computing
  • lower switching costs for buyer
  • you can sign on securely via any web browser - even if you’re off-site.
  • t the same time, users can submit feedback to Cloudbeds about any bugs or glitches, which the Cloudbeds team can resolve quickly.
  • you may even save some money in your IT budget
  • your hotel can implement a new system seamlessly
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    Cloud computing offers a more efficient way for hotels to keep up with data and programs for their company. When a hotel uses cloud computing, they are able to create more of a positive experience for their guests. It also is extremely helpful to use a cloud-based system because hotels could access their cloud-based application on any device. Cloud-based software also gets better with age because the updates can be made at any time so this will get rid of negative depreciation.
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    cloud computing is when you use programs, store files, or access data via the internet rather than on your hard drive One of the biggest misconceptions about cloud computing is that files and applications don't live on physical storage servers. When an application is "cloud based" it means that it lives on third party servers. Cloud computing provides several advantages over traditional computing: Avoids costly and painful installations Requires minimal upfront investment Allows software companies to focus resources on R&D/innovation Eliminates negative depreciation (in fact, the software gets better with age, since updates can be made at any time) Offers the ability to cancel at any time (plus has lower switching costs for buyers) Pushes software companies to consistently earn customer loyalty with innovation and great service integrate with other tools...These add-ons can offer upgrades and analyze reviews,PIE revenue management tool, a channel manager, a booking engine, and more operations more efficient, save time for your employees, and create more positive guest experiences
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    This article explains what cloud computing is, the evolution behind the technology, and how the hotel industry uses cloud computing. Cloud computing can benefit hotels because they can use any device to log into cloudbeds on web browsers.This type of technology can make everyday operations more efficient, save employee time, and create an overall positive guest experience.
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    This article explains what we've learned of Cloud Computing. The evolution to its upcoming may have taken a while but now it is here to stay. The use of Cloudbeds in the hotel industry has made operations more efficient, save time and money on employees and improves guest experiences. Cloudbeds has expanded its property management system to include: PIE revenue management tool, a channel manager, and more. The use of Cloudbeds is accessible through any web browser, this makes it efficient if you were working at home. Cloud computing is the next innovation we will see more of in the hospitality industry.
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    This article introduces you to cloud computing and its evolution. It also explains how the hotel industry can benefit from using cloud services. "Implementing cloud-based software can make your operations more efficient, save time for your employees, and create more positive guest experiences." Through the use of CloudBeds, a hotel employee can sign on and use property management software securely from any web browser.
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    This article talks about the use and benefits of cloud based software for the hotel industry. It gives a simple explanation of how the cloud works. The major point that I found interesting is the usage of this software and how it is easier for hotels to stay up to date because any update in the system happens in real life at the moment without having to update individually every terminal
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    The article discusses the hotel industry's adoption of cloud computing. By using cloud computing, you can use programs, upload files, and access data over the internet instead of storing them locally. Cloud computing and local storage are used together in some applications. In addition to hardware, software, training, and maintenance, IBM offered an extensive range of services. Due to Cloudbeds' ability to integrate with other tools, they have experienced rapid growth. Integrations can offer upgrades and analyze reviews, among other things, so you can provide better service and increase revenue. By implementing cloud-based software, hotels can stay ahead of the competition, save time for employees, and give their guests a better experience.
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    This article describes what cloud computing is, and what it isn't, so people understand how it can be seen in the industry. The storing of data on the internet has been a huge innovation as it expanded storage beyond the typical storage offered on a device. By switching to this new technology, businesses may minimize future investments as the technology tends to work for many years and only requires quick updates. By researching what your business and customers need, you can make the right choices on whether this investment is worth it or not for your property.
imgonnarecit

Six Ways Brands are Using Proximity Marketing Right Now | Beaconstac - 0 views

  • Proximity marketing through Bluetooth is also known as beacon marketing.
  • Malls, cinemas, restaurants, and even stores that provide free Wi-Fi make the customer spend more time on the premises, increasing the chances of spending more money. But, these aren’t the benefits that free Wi-Fi can provide to your business.
  • People receive information from the items that have transmitters attached to them. Once a cellphone is near the article, the information will be transferred without using a Wi-Fi connection
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  • he primary difference between beacons and geofencing is that beacon uses Bluetooth to communicate, whereas geofencing uses GPS signals shared with a smartphone.
  • Brands can easily choose a location to send push notifications to the customers’ mobile phone when he enters, leaves, or is around that location.
  • Improving the rate of app retention is the goal of all brands that have a mobile app. Implementing proximity marketing through beacons is an effective way to increase customer loyalty and improve customer retention
  • The popular brand Macy used a beacon-triggered mobile game app to make the shopping experience more engaging and exciting for the visitors. Buyers received a notification for participating in the game and winning $1 million worth of gifts and discounts from the brand.
  • or instance, when a customer receives a message that a clothing store near his location offers a 30% discount, he will be inclined to visit the store since he won’t have to cover a considerable distance to reach there. Moreover, when he gets there, he might avail the offers by shopping from the business.
  • Proximity marketing is also used for retargeting the customers who intend to leave the store without buying anything or who showed interest in particular products.
  • Loyalty programs are an excellent way to make your customers shop from you. Customers love to earn loyalty points to redeem those points by getting a discount from the brand or winning a gif
  • eploying proximity marketing will help your business outshine your rivals, attract more customers to your store, and boost sales.
  • ustomers are a crucial reason for the success or failure of a business
jie shen

List of the Components of a POS System | eHow.com - 0 views

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    This article tell about the common components of the POS system. The back office servers  store all the information and provide all the information. The Monitor cash drawer and bar-code scanner is what the cashiers always use when selling the product. Key boards and printer is for input and output the information both for store and customers. The MSR part is used to capture the credit or debit card information,
Allen Lok

New Retail Credit Card Standards Affect Quick Service Restaurants | QSR magazine - 0 views

  • By October 2015, all restaurants and other merchants will be subjected to new Europay, Mastercard, and Visa (EMV) standards, which reflect a shift from magnetic-stripe credit cards to chip-and-pin cards.
  • , the chip-based cards require insertion of the card into a terminal throughout the entire transaction.
  • chip-based cards are less susceptible to fraud.
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  • It’s a rather slow conversion over to EMV. But it’s definitely coming.” View the discussion thread. Subscribe Subscribe to QSR Renew Update Address eLetters Advertising Contact &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Articles Food &amp; BeverageMenu Innovations Marc Halperin: Resident F&amp;B Expert Food Safety Health Ingredients &amp; Dayparts ExpansionQSR 50 Franchising Growth Fast Casual George Green: Fast-Casual Expert Emerging Concepts TechnologyOrdering Social Media Promotions Sustainability Denise Lee Yohn: QSR’s Marketing Guru OperationsExecutive Insights Competition In the Store Consumer Trends Charitable Giving Outside Insights Women in Foodservice Human Resources Alan Philips: Trends to Watch Research QSR 50 OneSource Drive-Thru Study Growth 40 Smart Chain Franchise Opportunities Find a Supplier Find a Job Restaurant Management Events NRA Show <a h
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    A new set of standards is coming up for credit card transactions. EMV or Europay, Mastercard, Visa, standards include a chip-and-pin device on the card that requires the card to be inserted into the card processing terminal. While this does not prevent all fraud, it's important that this standard is mandatory by 2015 and business operators should be preparing for changes.
Stephanie Menendez

MediaPost Publications Proximity Marketing Is Changing Retail Rules 03/26/2012 - 1 views

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    Proximity Marketing is changing how retail stores are going to be "selling" themselves. Sending text messages and offering discounts to drag you into their stores is what they're going to start doing.
Yawen Zheng

What eCommerce Website Owners Need to Succeed in 2013The Online Shopping Experience Sho... - 0 views

  • The eCommerce world is undergoing significant changes and consumers have higher expectations. Because of this if eCommerce websites are going to be successful they need to adapt to the new realities of the market. Izzonet CEO, Tallya Rabinovich, offers guidance for both existing and aspiring online sellers.
  • However, as those numbers continue to increase, overall customer satisfaction with online shopping experiences seem to be on the decline. Recent surveys have shown a general downward trend in satisfaction over the past few years, something that appears to be the result of increased customer expectations. “In the past retailers thought it was enough to simply have an online store, but times have changed,” says Tallya Rabinovich.
  • When asked what eCommerce websites need to succeed in 2013 and beyond, Tallya offered a few useful tips. “First, it is important that eCommerce store owners are not only looking at next year, but also looking 5-10 years down the line. Keep abreast of events and developments in both the technology and business sectors so that your site can continually grow and adapt. Second, my observations show that the one thing that customers want more than anything else is personalization. As much as customers appreciate the convenience and lower prices of online shopping, they sometimes miss the personal experience of a brick and mortar store. To overcome this, make sure your online store is as personal and interactive as possible. This means have a good “contact us” page that makes you seem accessible, and, even better, have a live chat option to show your customers that there is a real person who is there for them.
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    The ecommerce will face a big chenge in the future, compony want do ecommerce business and some existing ecommerce business need to fit the markting chenge. In the past, the ecommrce can help company extending volume growth and buring a lot of new cuntomer, that is the traditional cannot mach,but now the market is changing step by step. More and more companies using ecomerce and people can compare them easily. The customer requirement is chenged from the needs of the product to looking for a good experience. For the future, company need to build impeccable ecommerce and focus on service sucj as after sales support.
Joshua Frost

Future POS Releases Innovative Mobile Apps For Restaurants - 0 views

  • Future POS Releases Innovative Mobile Apps For Restaurants
  • Future POS Mobile Ordering and Future POS Remote Control
  • With Future POS Mobile Ordering, restaurateurs can enhance the end-user experience by offering their customers the convenience of placing orders directly from their smartphone.
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  • To provide an added level of flexibility, the app delivers on-the-go access to store level data, and it features five scrollable screens of configurable reports and charts. Future POS Remote Control also allows operators to easily link one phone to multiple stores, update menu prices and send messages directly to the staff or POS system.
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    This article is about a latest point-of-sale technology released by Future POS that occupy a prominent place in Point of Sale software crowd designed for the hospitality industry. The release of two mobile apps for restaurant, Future POS Mobile Ordering and Future POS Remote Control, alters the way restaurant owners and customers interact with the point-of-sale system. With Future POS Mobile Ordering, restaurants now enable their customers to order directly from their Smartphone. Moreover, Future POS Remote Control allows restaurant owners/managers to run their restaurants more efficiently and flexibly by delivering on the go access to store level data and connecting with multiple stores through one phone. One of abilities the restaurants are having is updating menu prices and sending massage to the staff or POS system with that phone. I think although not everybody is willing to use these technologies, there is obvious reason this trend are gaining popularity. These kinds of technologies provide convenience for both the majority of customers and restaurant owners.
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    I think I posted this article before but...ehh.. It talks about how restaurants will soon be using mobile applications as points of sales for customers. The reasoning behind the development of this company is to provide convenience to the clients and deliver services faster.
JIACHEN LI

Cash Registers vs Point of Sale (POS) Systems - Which is Better? - 1 views

  • The one item in a retail store a business owner can't do without is the cash management system. Whether it's the traditional, electronic cash register or an elaborate computerized point of sale (POS) system, every store needs a machine to process sales.
  • he one item in a retail store a business owner can't do without is the cash management system. Whether it's the traditional, electronic cash register or an elaborate computerized point of sale (POS) system, every store needs a machine to process sales.
  • Benefits of POS Systems More detailed reports Better track inventory Improve accuracy Easily grows with business
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  • Benefits of Cash Registers Low cost for startups Most models easy to use Fewer components Basic functions and reporting
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    The article highlighted states that every business should have a cash management system either POS or cash register. The traditional cash registers will be adopted by smaller business; however, more developed systems should use a POS. The cost could be high but the life expectancy of the system is very long. To make a decision about which POS system to choose, the decision maker needs to do his/her homework to determine the business' needs including how much it will grow in the future. The system will benefit the business to generate detailed reports, track inventory, easy menu updates and others.
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    One reason for the high initial expense involved with a cash register or point of sale system is that a business can expect to get many years of service from the first machine they buy. The life expectancy of a cash register is between 10-15 years, with upgrades around 5-7 years.
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    With the development of technology, there are many softwares and machines help business imporved. The POS is a good system, which chould be used in the hospitality and retail industries. It has the ability to save money, quickly process a customer's transaction and accurately keep records. However, it charged more than installing a cash register. When considering about whcih one need to adopt, it's better for the business do a self analysis first. No matter what kind of technology we use, we need focus on provide personalized and customer focused service.
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    if the owner use the cash register, he can get the money directly. he does not need to take out the money out of the bank when he faces to the emergency situation. also the cash register is more reliable and more real. it does not have high risks of fraud and cheat except the fake money. compare to the POS system, the Pos system is convenient and easy operation. customers only need to swipe the credit/debit card that they can pay for the goods. so the customers do not need to bring much money when they are out of home. it is safe for the customers. nowadays, everywhere can receive the master card and almost everyone has one or more debit/credit card. this behavior promotes the development of POS system. easy to carry and consume make people use this way to buy the goods instead of using the money.
Yanqiu Li

New Trends in Retail Point-of-Sale Systems - 0 views

  • new point-of-sale (POS) systems
  • are helping businesses to cut costs in everything from advertising to labor.
  • sumers are being directly marketed to using ever-evolving algorithms, which are boosting impulse buys. One employee can easily manage a dozen new, retail POS systems. These and other new trends in POS technology can modernize any business.
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  • New developments are taking retail POS systems to a whole new
  • level, however, helping to reduce labor costs and increase impulse purchases, both in stores and on-line.
  • Self-Service Equals Labor Savings
  • Quasi-Personalized Advertising
  • Integrating Brick-and-Mortar and Online Stores
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    The article gives a brief introduction of new developments f POS system in retail industry and how retail gain new benefits from that improvement. From the news, we can see new POS system has been improved for retails by reducing labor costs and increase impulse purchases both in store and on-line. For instance, new self-servce POS system in supermarket enables cusotmers to handle self check out reducing time of waiting for cashiers to check. What' more important this new way of checking out make supermarket hire fewer employees to deal with customers' checks. Another example is new electronic ads of recepits which promote sales of other products while customers most of time will pay attention to recepits information inseading of watching traditional ads for longer time.. As more and more websites install new pos systems, customers presents more perference of this new way of shopping online. I believe that when more and more technology come out and be applied into our life, they will definitely effects the way of life we living as they can provides us with more conveneients to our life.
Sungoo Kang

It's No Longer Just a Personal Threat: Businesses have Become the Newest Target for Ide... - 0 views

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    Many organizations in the hospitality industry underestimate the risk and consequences of business identity theft and they should be more concerned with the risk of personal identity theft. A study by the Ponemon Institute demonstrates that a data breach could cost organizations an average of $7.2 million. This does not even include indirect costs such as lost customers or damaged reputations. To prevent identity theft, companies need to be aware that fraud can occur in many unexpected ways. This article gives a few examples that can help firms to reduce the risk of personal identity theft below.  Instituting a shred-all policy to ensure unneeded files are regularly and safely destroyed Restaurants employee should give their receipts directly to staff rather than leave anything on the table or counter Hotels employee should be instructed to store all sensitive documents in a safe place until they can be securely shredded On the cloud, Businesses should conduct a full security audit of any cloud computing company before storing documents on the cloud Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the hospitality industry. Just being careful isn't enough to protect customers' identity. If the data is spilled, customers will have a less favorable view of your company or may be angered to the point of never allowing you to serve them again. Any amount of loss of trust and loyalty is harmful to your business.
Nicole Beveridge

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

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

Visit Baltimore launches 3D map app for city tourists - Baltimore Business Journal - 3 views

  • Ayers Saint Gross used a combination of satellite, GIS and aircraft imaging to create the 3D map, which can be constantly updated as new buildings arise and others are torn down.
  • Ayers Saint Gross is in the process of working with Apple and Android to create smart phone versions of the app, and could not give an estimate of when it would be ready for the public.
  • Not only does it allow tourists to navigate the city, but it also sells the city to potential clients interested in bringing their meetings and events to Baltimore, he said.
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  • Potential visitors can search for rooms for conventions, find restaurants near their hotels and see nearby transportation options from the bird’s eye or a street view. Noonan can even create custom virtual tours to showcase local attractions that particular groups might be interested in, allowing new visitors to understand the lay of the land before they’ve set foot on it.
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    This article introduce a very nice, brand new 3D application that can help many tourists when they arrive, in Baltimore. As useful as the app may be to tourists, it's pretty sad that they have all these lovely features for one city and nowhere else.We can see that from google map to this 3D map, seems like it is a trend that the companies are developing theapplication of navigating tourists. However, I'm glad that they haven't revealed this app to the App Store or Play Store yet for the public because they need to expand their horizons before they even think to release it to the market. But as long as they improve this app and release to the public, it will be great convenience for the tourists.
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    I highlighted the two passages I found to be most interesting in blue. I read that the system will update it's self every 24 hours but I'm wondering if that would include the forecast and traffic conditions. Does this also offer some type of naviagation device weather it be by car or foot? Baltimore, can be a rather rough city at time. I know that it will high light tourist attractions, convention centers, etc. But will it highlight street names and areas that travelers should stay away from?
anonymous

Deploying WiFi in the Hospitality Industry including Hotels, Condos and Apartments - 0 views

  • a high powered business class Wi-Fi solution. The EnGenius ECB350 and EnGenius EAP350 are 800mW 11n access points with gigabit ethernet.&nbsp;The coverage is 3-times greater than consumer wireless routers and more powerful than the 100mW enterprise class access points from Cisco Systems.&nbsp;The units are feature rich and includes multiple SSID, VLAN tagging, SNMP and Power Over Ethernet for flexible deployment.&nbsp; They also support the free EnGenius EZ controller software for management and monitoring.&nbsp; There is also an outdoor version, EnGenius ENH210 EXT which can extend the wireless network outdoors or be used to bridge remote buildings.&nbsp;
  • Environment is always a factor when discussing wireless connectively. The hotel’s construction, size and location are some contributing factors, which will determine the wireless coverage for each hotel. These factors determine how radio frequencies travel through and around obstacles which will vary for every hotel installation.
  • Concrete walls with metal rebar pose the biggest problems for WiFi coverage so positioning the access points in a central hallway is usually best.
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    this article show us a new technology of WIFI system in hotel. most of the hotel WIFI system are crowd and costly. however this system with some method to make the system efficiency and cheap. and most importantly, it can extend the wireless network outdoors or be used to bridge remote buildings. In my opinion. even this kind of system mayby little completed to set up, but it will bring a perfect WIFI effect. Nowadays, more and more people focus on the WIFI effect when they live in the hotel. If this system can give a deep impact to customers, it will be the advantage to fight with other hotels. with the internet development in our life, a good WIFI can make our study, work, and relax easier. so, for hotels, a good condition of WIFI system is a strong weapon. if with the system been extended, it also a good news for our guests. it is a kind of win-win choice.
Nelson Placa

Brazil's New Consumer Class Spending Time And Cash In The U.S. - 1 views

  • According to the latest statistics, Brazilians spent $5.9 billion in the U.S. in 2010 in a tsunami of cash that's shifting American immigration practices and boosting economies in hard-hit parts of the U.S. that remain in the doldrums. President Barack Obama recently ordered the State Department to speed up the visa application process for tourists coming from Brazil, China and other nations with newly flush consumers. After suffering decades of hyperinflation, Brazil has ridden high commodity prices along with some of the world's biggest offshore oil discoveries to expand its economy, lift millions out of poverty and multiply the ranks of the country's deep-pocketed elite.
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    On January 2012, President Obama announced an executive order that would allow travelers from Brazil and China to receive travel VISA faster than before. A study from Huffington Post.com showed that on 2010 Brazilians spent $5,400 per visit, more than any other tourist. This executive order will help increase tourism travel across the nation that will help the economy. The order will help the travel industry, retail and housing. The property that I work at Walt Disney World hosts the majority of Brazilians that visit Walt Disney World. You can spend eight hours in our lobby in the afternoon, and you can experience the amount of money Brazilian guests spend on shopping inside and outside Walt Disney World. Stores like Best Buy and Wal-Mart are the most popular; online shopping has also become very favorable for guests. During the summer season, the hotel processed over 6,000 packages received from Amazon.com and other online stores that were purchased prior to arrival. It is amazing to see the items received and how much luggage guests take with them. With this economic boost, more job creations will occur. The most popular US cities visited by Brazilians are New York City, Las Vegas and Orlando (http://www.traveltobrazil.org/post/20-most-visited-places-by-brazilians-in-brazil-and-abroad.html).
chunxia gao

More foreign brands use China's Taobao for e-commerce | IT News - 1 views

  • We are launching on Taobao to expand our reach to Chinese consumers given Taobao is the most trafficked e-commerce site in China,"
  • "(Taobao) allows us to reach millions of consumers in a very direct way, many of whom we could have difficulty reaching through brick-and-mortar storefronts,
  • Taobao, which started as a consumer-to-consumer platform, rose to the top of the China's online retail market after beating out e-commerce rivals like eBay in the country.
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    This article showed more foreign brands like Adidas and Gap are expanding their reach into China's market by tapping the user base of the country's largest online retailer Taobao.com for e-commerce. A majority of domestic and well-known international brands have set up their own online stores on Taobao Mall for brand expanding and sales. Presence on Taobao Mall is complementary to their own e-commerce site, which is doing well, along with their stores. Through Taobao, international brands can reach millions of customers in a very direct way and Chinese customers are increasingly turning to the internet to do their shopping. But there are challenges with opportunities. They have to fight with counterfeit goods. Counterfeit goods are low price in Chinese e-commerce market. Taobao also launched actions to penalize selling counterfeit goods. In a word, e-commerce in China is not mature, it has a long way to be improved.
Melissa Krajewski

MJ Freeway, Leading Hosted Provider of Medical Marijuana Sales and Inventory Tracking S... - 0 views

  • In order to meet State regulations, a software product such as MJ Freeway’s GramTracker™ and GrowTracker™ is necessary to accurately track marijuana from seed to sale.
  • Patent-pending GrowTracker™ provides growers the ability to track every plant, nutrient, watt, drop and yield. GramTracker™’s patented inventory management tools track shake, spillage, evaporation, edibles and any theft.
  • The product specific point of sale (POS) system securely tracks all patients, patient status and&nbsp;transactions.
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    When you think of where point of sales systems are typically used you think of a restaurant, hotel, stadium, retail store, etc. A medicinal marijuana store is the last place that would come to mind, at least for me personally. I think this article really shows how common and wide spread POS systems have become. MJ Freeway software tracks the sales and inventory of medical cannabis dispensaries. Their tagline is encouraging better business practices because their software is "guaranteed to always be state compliant." I love the literal naming of their software. GrowTracker and GramTracker are the inventory tracking tools that address discrepancies due to issues such as spillage or even evaporation. The incorporation of WeedTracker, WeedMaps, and Quickbooks also makes life a little easier for their clients and patients. Having a product specific point of sales which tracks patients names, status and transactions is very important in the medicinal cannabis industry and MJ Freeway delivers. The one thing I don't quite understand is how the POS allows for flexibility at POS for "buds that weigh heavy." However if that is an issue it is good that this advance system already has a solution. I found it refreshing to read about a POS in a completely different environment then a hotel yet with very similar capabilities.
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