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Hanlu Hu

E-Commerce for the Hospitality Industry | The Moscow Times - 6 views

www.themoscowtimes.com/...449373.html

technology

shared by Hanlu Hu on 30 May 12 - No Cached
  • E-commerce has been defined as "the buying and selling of products and services by businesses and consumers over the Internet."
  • Accelerating Internet usage worldwide The Internet is the lowest cost hotel-booking channel Most travelers research hotel reservations on the Internet Social media and online hotel reviews are an increasingly important decision factor The web is the preferred media source for travel information, favored 17:1 over television and 6:1 over newspapers and magazines.
  • Adding real time search functionality to your site, capability to generate user reviews, launching contests helps to build fresh content and quality links
  • ...9 more annotations...
  • Heavy graphics, animation and flash demos cause your site to perform slowly. Sites that are built keeping these guidelines in mind will deliver better user experiences, will perform better on search engines, and ultimately drive higher ROI.
  • As things stand now, mobile queries represent about 10% of all queries made on Google. People are using mobile devices to conduct searches, as well as share content, connect with friends and browse the web
  • Embracing social media. 93 percent of social media users expect companies to have a social presence. 85 percent of social media users want companies to interact with them on social sites. A well-planned social initiative can turn fans into brand evangelists.
  • The Internet has consolidated itself as a very powerful platform that has changed the way we communicate, and the way we do business.
  • The growing importance of e-commerce in the modern hospitality industry has created an urgent need for simple solutions to manage companies' online presence. Now that each hotel is involved in e-commerce, why is hotel e-commerce so important today?
  • We forget that the human brain can only consume limited information. It is important to take a holistic approach and prioritize information. Good web site architecture and organized content improves site usability and its efficiency when used with search engines.
    • yan xie
      yan xie on 03 Jun 12
       
      It is true that we always forge how many information the human brain will take at once. Although the e-commerce is the good way for customers to know the new products and new service from the hotels, sometimes the hotels provide so much information to customers. It lets customers confused and does not know what the specifice products can meet their requirements. And sometimes, they feel some hard to understand your service so that they give up hotels service or new products to choose the one they are familiar. So how to make e-commerce usability and efficiency is a new point, which the hospitality industry company need to consider.
  • make sure your ad groups are made up of tightly knit keyword themes and that those keywords are reflected in your ad copy; ensure that your landing pages clearly reflect the offer promoted in the ad copy and includes clear calls to action and conversion factors.
    • yan xie
      yan xie on 03 Jun 12
       
      As the point two mentioned, the customers cannot get so many information at once, and they also cannot search lots of information at once. So the keyword themes is also another important thing for company to do the promotion and ads. This ads need to have the keywords to clearly reflect the offer promoted for customers. In this way, the customers will catch the information as possible as they can.
  • Top e-commerce sites are continually testing new things. It's the only way to achieve continual improvement.
    • yan xie
      yan xie on 03 Jun 12
       
      To do the continually testing new things is always a best development way for the developing company. If the company cannot test the new things in their e-commerce sites and e-commerce process, the e-commerce of this company will be far away from other companies. Company need to have the innovation to make some new things for their e-commerce and do the test all the time to select the best way for the business and customers' expericence.
  • hospitality industry has always been among the first to capitalize on new technologies
  • Gerardo Collado on 30 May 12
     
    The hospitality industry along with the resourcefulness of the Internet has allowed the Russian hospitality industry to benefit and grow with the technology of e-commerce. E-commerce is defined as "the buying and selling of products and service by businesses and consumers over the Internet". This technology is significant due to its beneficial factors of lowering costs, accessibility, decision-making, and media exposure. As well, the article provides for methods and advice regards effective strategies to utilize the Internet. Primarily, the speed of the website's functionality is essential, along with providing compatibility of browsers, thus, allowing for a better experience for users. The information in the website should be efficient, allowing for real time search whether using a mobile phone or a computer. It was informative to read the multiple functionality, that social media is playing in the hospitality industry regards the exposure and marketability. E-commerce has change the market of goods and services, from a tangible experience to digital experience, through the use of online shopping estimated at $228 Billion in 2010, a third derived from the purchase of travel and flight websites, thus, demonstrating the importance of the Internet in relation to consumerism.
  • ...7 more comments...
  • Avril Emmanuel on 01 Jun 12
     
    This article talks about why hotel E-commerce is essential today and how to go about having E-commerce work for your business/hotel. The article says, "The internet has consolidated itself as a very powerful platform that has changed he way we communicate, and the way we do business." This is the reason why businesses need to utilize the internet. According to the article these are the reasons that hotel e-commerce is important today: the internet is being used worldwide, the internet is the lowest cost hotel-booking medium, the internet is used, by travelers, to research hotels and their reservations, the internet is the home of social media and hotel reviews and the internet is preferred 17:1 over television and 6:1 over newspapers and magazines for travel information. It would be at a hotel's detriment if they do not utilize the internet and e-commerce. It isn't enough to use e-commerce for business but there must be an upkeep. It is extremely beneficial to research or monitor how customers and potential consumers are seeking information and what attracts them to a site. According to the article, e-commerce strategies that would 'help get the best from the internet world' are: 1. Search-friendly website design 2. Improving Conversion and Usability 3. Paid Search 4. Real time Search 5. Mobile Device Market 6. Social Media 7. Testing
  • yan xie on 03 Jun 12
     
    This article mentioned why the ecommerce important for the hospitality industry. And also there are more things they hospitality industry companies need to know. Although the e-commerce is the good way for customers to know the new products and new service from the hotels, sometimes the hotels provide so much information to customers. It lets customers confused and does not know what the specific products can meet their requirements. And sometimes, they feel some hard to understand your service so that they give up hotels service or new products to choose the one they are familiar. So how to make e-commerce usability and efficiency is a new point, which the hospitality industry company need to consider. As the point two mentioned, the customers cannot get so many information at once, and they cannot search lots of information at once. So the keyword themes is also another important thing for company to do the promotion and ads. This ads need to have the keywords to clearly reflect the offer promoted for customers. In this way, the customers will catch the information as possible as they can. It is true that we always forge how many information the human brain will take at once. To do the continually testing new things is always a best development way for the developing company. If the company cannot test the new things in their e-commerce sites and e-commerce process, the e-commerce of this company will be far away from other companies. Company need to have the innovation to make some new things for their e-commerce and do the test all the time to select the best way for the business and customers' experience.
  • xiyu wang on 16 Sep 12
     
    This article discusses about the application of e-commerce in hospitality industry. Internet has become a very powerful tool for customers when they are planing their travels. As the same time, it has become an important media for hotelierss to improve their businesses. Internet can provider a lot of online sources to customers when they make any dicisions. And how to make your web site become more competitive and attract more customers is the topic of this article. First of all, a good design for the web site is the most important thing for hotelierss. And the download speed is the basic factor. Quick download speed brings a good experience to users, and improves the ranking in organic search. Secondly, improving usability needs to be focused on by hotelierss. Large imformation may not be took in by users. You need to make your customers seethe most important information first. In other word, you need to prioritize your web site and make the imformation more understood. Paid search and real time search are also focused on by the author. Sometimes, paid search can make your hotel more compelling on the search engine. And some tips have been given in this articel to help the hotelierss to maximize conversions. Real time search is similar with paid search, and it needs compelling fresh content and quality incoming links on the web site. Maps, photo galleries, videos and press releases are creative ways to distrivute content on different channels. With more mobiles customers using, mobile represent about 10% of all queries make on Google. Hotels can exand the mobile market and improve the download speed of their site by avoid heavy graphics and flash, making their site is mobile compatible. Social media is in the same condition with mobile. Customers need more connections on social sites, so they want companies to interact with them through the social media. The last point is testing. Every new thing needs a lot of tests. It can provides changes and improvement for
  • Gaby Belardo on 16 Sep 12
     
    The article discusses power of internet and how different it is from magazine and television ads. "In terms of time your travel websites are available for are accessible for a longer period of time, the flexibility that the content can be changed without asking someone,if you have a content management system." Also travel websites will help your business potentially reach a wider audience. Another big advantage of having a travel website is it's availability even when your business is closed or no one is available to answer your phone. Everyone knows that there are so many time zones, and the visitors can come from any part of the world. So having a travel websites gives your travel business visibility for all 365 days of year 24x7.
  • Xiameng Zheng on 30 Jan 13
     
    In hospitality industry, customers are constantly seeking new sources of information to help them make decisions before purchasing services. E-commerce in hospitality industry is about the online buying and selling services. And it's become such an important source for the company and customer. Hospitality businesses are all involved in the trend. Smart hoteliers need to keep a sharp focus on the fundamental shift in ways customers are seeking information and channels that drive maximum return on investment. This article listed several basic e-commerce strategies that will help hoteliers to get the best from the Internet world.
  • Marcos Oliveira on 31 Jan 13
     
    As new technological advances are being made, the hospitality industry has always been among the first to capitalize on new technologies. The term e-commerce has been defined as the buying and selling of products and services by businesses and consumers over the internet. Now that hotels are involved directly with e-commerce it becomes even more important today because of the accelerating internet usage worldwide,the internet is still the lowest cost channel for booking, many travelers make their travel decisions via the internet. Embracing social media, 93% of social media users expect companies to have a social presence and 85% of social media users want comoanies to interact with them on social sites. A well-planned social iniative can turn fans into brand evangelists. This article dealt mainly with a brief introduction of what e-commerce is in terms of its defining and what it means to the hospitality industry. With more and more people utilizing the internet each day, the potential to have a person book a hotel room greatly increases. Several search engines have advertisements relating to many hotel companies offering specials and customers will see these ads and book. With more technological advances bound to come into play, its only a matter of time before the practice of e-commerce is taken to another level.
  • Ling Xiang on 31 Jan 13
     
    Over the last decade the population of Internet users has increased rapidly. The hospitality industry has always been among the first to capitalize on new technologies. E-commerce has been defined as "the buying and selling of products and services by businesses and consumers over the Internet." With hotel e-commerce, the landscape of the hospitality industry is forever changed. Online sales are an important part of the business. The growing importance of e-commerce in the modern hospitality industry has created an urgent need for simple solutions to manage companies' online presence. Now that each hotel is involved in e-commerce, reasons why is hotel e-commerce so important today may because the accelerating internet usage worldwide, the Internet is the lowest cost hotel-booking channel, and social media and online hotel reviews are an increasingly important decision factor.
  • Panpan Xie on 31 Jan 13
     
    E-commerce has become more and more important in our daily life, because many customers today prefer to use internet to help them make decisions. In hospitality industry, e-commerce also plays an important role, as internet is a very cheap and convenient booking channel and many people use the internet intensively. There are many e-commerce strategies for hoteliers, such as making friendly web site design, embracing social media, etc. As e-commerce has so many advantages, I think e-commerce is an opportunity for hoteliers to grasp. It is important for hoteliers to use different strategies to get the best from the internet world.
  • Hanlu Hu on 02 Feb 13
     
        This article introduced the function of ecommerce and the ecommerce effect for the hospitality industry. The author listed some important reasons about why hotel ecommerce is so important:1)Accelerating Internet usage worldwide.2)The Internet is the lowest cost hotel-booking channel. 3) Most travelers research hotel reservations on the Internet. 4)Social media and online hotel reviews are an increasingly important decision factor. 5) The web is the preferred media source for travel information, favored 17:1 over television and 6:1 over newspapers and magazines. This article also listed some basic e-commerce strategies that will help hoteliers to take advantage of ecommerce from the Internet world. 1) Search-friendly web site design.2) Improve conversion and usability 3) Paid search. 4) Real time search - natural ranking.5) Mobile.6) Embracing social media. 7) Test, test, test. Top e-commerce sites are continually testing new things.      In a summary, the author suggest smart hoteliers need to keep a sharp focus on the fundamental shift in ways customers are seeking information and channels that drive maximum return on investment. Moreover, hoteliers have to constantly learn and look for ways to harness the power of new developments and trends.
anonymous

Drive Direct Revenue with Paid Search Audience Targeting | Hotel Online - 0 views

www.hotel-online.com/...paid-search-audience-targeting

shared by anonymous on 18 Nov 17 - No Cached
  • anonymous on 18 Nov 17
     
    This article talks about paid search audience (PPC) targeting which I found to be interesting. Long story short, GCommerce Solutions performed a test for the Lenox Hotel in the Boston area this past summer. At the end of the test, they where able to say that revenue had increased by 4% during the test period by using more precise bid adjustments. The test also showed that with these adjustments, the hotel was also able to decrease their costs and control their budgets better.
anonymous

Ahead of the Curve: Groundbreaking Tech in Hospitality - 1 views

lodgingmagazine.com/-the-curve-groundbreaking-tech

shared by anonymous on 12 Feb 18 - No Cached
  • The hotel industry is well aware of this possibility, which is why the big brands are innovating like crazy to maintain an edge over smaller, more nimble lodging industry disruptors. By taking a proactive approach to new technology, brands are able to keep ahead of trends and implement solutions before guests even know what it is, exactly, that they’re looking for
  • So, how do these big hotel companies implement innovations that, by definition, are disruptive to existing processes, while still providing the best guest experience? It’s apparently a combination of deep research, careful preparation, and closely monitored pilot programs.
  • That interaction is key, because no matter how cool new technology may be, hotels are in the hospitality industry. Connecting with guests on a human level is integral to their overall satisfaction with their stay. If a front desk agent is using the best software on the market, but doesn’t make eye contact and smile at a guest as she’s checking in, what will the guest’s impression be?
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  • With new tech hitting the hotel industry so rapidly, taking the time to examine the main trends to best direct focus can be extremely valuable.
  • Guests want to be able to access all the amenities and conveniences of home when they’re on the road, and if a property isn’t able to keep up, it will likely be left behind.
  • when new technology hits hotels, it must be seamless
  • The rise of the Echo and voice-recognition technology is just one example of the lightning-fast way technology is evolving and changing people’s lives
  • Guests are now able to interact with your property long before they ever set foot in the building
  • There has also been a move towards cloud connectivity and the integration of systems that previously would have been separate
  • Hilton is somewhat unique in that it relies very heavily on what Wilson calls its “innovation hotel,”
  • The McLean property is also unique in that everyone in the hotel—including the guests—knows when pilot programs are happening. “We’re very transparent about what we’re testing and why we’re testing it.
  • The big brands, while constantly innovating, are still fixated on one goal—giving guests the best experience possible. “Our primary focus when delivering technology is making sure it also aligns with our strategic initiatives, including driving consistency in delivering an outstanding guest experience,” Cline says.
  • “Imagine, a Hello Rewards member walks up to the hotel’s coffee shop and the barista is automatically notified that this guest is named Sarah and Sarah enjoys lattes with almond milk.
  • Jennifer Dantzler on 12 Feb 18
     
    This article goes into details about the new technology emerging in the hospitality industry and how it is that hotels are able to stay ahead of the cutting edge trends of today.
  • anonymous on 09 Jul 18
     
    I found this article interesting as it is closely related to the discussion board topic for this week. It touches on the point that guests expect the same level of convenience that they can experience at home when they are travelling. Voice recognition devises are on the rise and this new technology is affordable enough to be a regular house-hold item. It's difficult for hotels to have a competitive edge while trying to stay one step ahead of the game. Maintaining excellent customer experiences while avoiding unnecessary touch points for the guests is the goal for many businesses. The article mentions that Hilton as a technology "test" property, where all new technology is transparently tested on staff and guests and valuable feedback in derived. I think this is an excellent idea that more hotel brands should incorporate.
yijingyang

Didi gets $500M from SoftBank to develop autonomous driving technology | PhocusWire - 0 views

www.phocuswire.com/-investment-autonomous-driving

autonomous vehicle Didi technology investment

shared by yijingyang on 07 Jul 20 - No Cached
  • Ride-hailing platform Didi is hoping to accelerate the development and use of autonomous vehicles as a result of landing a $500 million investment round this week.
  • Didi claims it is the largest ever fundraising round in China for the autonomous vehicle industry. To-date Didi has raised $21.7 billion in capital.
  • Previous Didi investment rounds to support the core ride-hailing business hit a high of $5.5 billion in May 2017.
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • Didi says it plans to "deepen cooperation with global upstream and downstream auto industry partners towards mass production of autonomous driving vehicles."
  • Testing of vehicles is not far away for Didi, with open-road licenses secured in the Chinese cities of Shanghai, Beijing and Suzhou, as well as California in the U.S.
  • yijingyang on 07 Jul 20
     
    Didi gets $500M financing for the development of autonomous vehicles. This is the largest ever fundraising round in China in autonomous vehicle technic. And the testing of autonomous vehicle in China is one its way. Didi already get the permit to test in serval cities in China and California.
ajean132

DoorDash is testing in-app reservations | Restaurant Dive - 0 views

www.restaurantdive.com/...634934

testing reservations restaurant technology hospitality

shared by ajean132 on 05 Nov 22 - No Cached
  • DoorDash is piloting in-app reservations, the platform confirmed to Restaurant Dive in an email on Tuesday
  • DoorDash customers, in zones where the feature is live, can select “Reservations” from the menu at the top of the app. DoorDash then displays ne
  • arby restaurants offering reservations. Once a user selects a restaurant, the app lists available reservation times. After selecting a time, the app shares a “Reservation Confirmed” message with directions to the restaurant and a note that the message has been sent in partnership with SevenRooms.
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  • “To evolve alongside merchant needs, we’re constantly testing innovations to identify new opportunities for partners to grow, in turn enhancing how consumers interact with their business.
  • DoorDash has been adding features to improve the value proposition of its platform for small restaurants, including a product dashboard that debuted in August. Reservations — a key tool for managing traffic at full-service restaurants, small units and independents — may give DoorDash a competitive edge over other third-party restaurant delivery services, which generally do not offer in-app reservations. 
  • ajean132 on 05 Nov 22
     
    DoorDash unveils that it is testing in-app reservations for local restaurants. It's emerging as a new restaurant technology in partnership with small local restaurants, DoorDash, and SevenRooms. This feature will give Doordash an edge over other food delivery services, while also supporting small restaurants.
Catherine Gibson

Samsung unveils new DRM technology for hospitality industry. ~ Sunday, 1st July 2012 fr... - 0 views

www.4hoteliers.com/4hots_nshw.php

samsung drm technology

shared by Catherine Gibson on 18 Jan 13 - No Cached
  • They are then able to sync the technologies and seamlessly provide in-room entertainment to guests in a secure and compliant manner. By eliminating the need for legacy chip-based solutions at the head end as well as in the TV or set-top box, Samsung LYNK (TM) saves facilities cost and labor, while also increasing system integrity. Samsung LYNK (TM) eliminates the need for DRM hardware provisioning and licensing, reducing significant expenses for the hoteliers.
  • Notably, Samsung LYNK (TM) is also the first technology to enable guests to stream their own content from personal devices to their in-room TV in a secure manner through mobile applications. This advancement offers consumers a way to view content across multiple screens during their stay, mirroring their entertainment experiences at home.
    • Catherine Gibson
      Catherine Gibson on 18 Jan 13
       
      This feature sounds really awesome!
  • Catherine Gibson on 18 Jan 13
     
    This article was about this new Samsung technology that is now on the market that is better than the traditional DRM softwear that most hospitality firms still use. The article stated "Samsung invested in a multi-year effort to secure the highly selective Digital Transmission Licensing Administrator (DTLA) approval, running the technology through rigorous forensic testing to pass just the first level of approval". This showed that the softerwear was thoroughly tested before it was put on the market ensuring its security. Also the article talked about how it saves money because of the lack of labor required with this system and how it creates a better guest experience because it fosters a home away from home technology environment.
xwang023

How To Test and Increase Your Internet Speed - 3 views

mobileoffice.about.com/...boost-home-internet.htm

shared by xwang023 on 23 Jan 13 - No Cached
  • and reliable Internet access can make all the difference between a good and an excruciating web experience.
  • first step is to test your Internet connection download and upload speeds at a site like Speedtest.net or DSLReports.com to see if you're actually getting the rated connection speed from your ISP.
  • How quickly you access websites and online services is determined in large part by the DNS servers settings on your computer or network router.
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  • your ISP's DNS servers are set by default in the router or your computer
  • you can change the settings to a faster, more reliable, and more up-to-date DNS server.
  • free public DNS services
  • call your Internet service provider or visit their website's help section to find out how to get the speed you are paying for.
  • You may also be able to increase your broadband speed by adjusting your network device settings or using web accelerators,
  • speed tweaks can cause system instability and may only provide small speed increases that may not make all the effort worth it if your current online connection speeds are acceptable.
  • What's an acceptable speed?
  • xwang023 on 23 Jan 13
     
    This article is talking about speed up people's internet access in life. When people want to speed it up , they need to test their internet access speed at first, such as they could go to the DSLReports.com. People also could chanfe their DNS settings to a faster, more reliable DNS server. Like Google and OpenDNS have free public DNS serviecs that can greatly increase their web browsing speeds and offer features like improved security. What's more, people can contact their ISP if their have slower than expected speeds. Last way is to tweak their DSL or Cable Settings by adjusting their network device settings or using web accelerators.
  • anonymous on 24 Jan 13
     
    It is important to have a fast speed internet in a hotel industry. To provide a good service to your guests, you have to be on top of things, especially using the network and reservation system. The computer systems facilitates the employees in that in helps with the speed of their task, therefore a fast internet speed will only work in the hotel's advantages.
Marcos Oliveira

Security Expert Exploits Hotel Network Vulnerabilities | Top Stories | Hospitality Maga... - 0 views

hospitalitytechnology.edgl.com/...l-Network-Vulnerabilities54824

shared by Marcos Oliveira on 23 Jan 13 - No Cached
  • IP Telephone
  • unplugged the IP Phone and plugged the phone's Ethernet cable into his laptop. It booked up to his Backtrack Live CD
  • Jason Ostrom, Vigilar senior security consultant, was given access to a hotel room and told to find out if he could break into their corporate network through the IP TelephoneÃÆ’Æ'Æ'ÃĥÂ.ÃÆ’Æ'Â.ÃÆ’.Ã.•¬Ã…¡Ãĥ¬ÃÆ’Æ'Â.ÃÆ’.Ã.•¬Ã…¾ÃĥÂ.s network connection
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • Jason was able to penetrate through to the data network by using a combination of techniques he calls VoIP Hopping. This type of VLAN hopping attack is just one of the attack vectors being used by attackers today
  • As traditional voice and data networks converge, more avenues of attack open up
  • A regular PC should never have access to the Voice VLAN
  • Defense methodologies are in their infancy and are sure to improve in the near future
  • protect against VoIP attacks Ostrom recommends putting a firewall between the Voice and Data VLANs. By putting the Voice VLAN on a separate DMZ of a firewall, many current attacks can be thwarted. It is important to lock down the firewall so that only protocols used by IP Telephony are allowed to flow
  • Intrusion Prevention System (IPS
  • VoIP Hopper is available at http://voiphopper.sourceforge.net.
  • Marcos Oliveira on 23 Jan 13
     
    An unssuspecting person check into a hotel like any normal person would. The ever so common exchange, credit card for room key took place. The only difference was that the person that checked had done so with other intentions. The "guest" utilized an IP Telephone that was in this hotel room to hack into the hotel credit card database and steal credit cards, transmit them to a foreign country and then have money transferred to his offshore bank account. This happened but at the hands of Jason Ostrom, aa Vigilar senior security consultant. Ostrom was able to unplug teh telephone in his room, plug in the phone's ethernet canle into his laptop and hack away. Of course, he did this as part of his job in testing a company's security agaisnt viral hackers. His company offers free security testing using a downloadable software called VolP Hopper This article was extremely interesting because as a frequrnt traveler as well as a perosn in the hospitlaity industry I was very shocked at the ease that the credit card information could be stolen. When it comes to credit card security it is of the utmost importance for companies to be PCI compliant and spend whatever it is necessary to safeguard the information of their customers. The detrimental damage that a security breach can have on a person can be debilitating as leaders in the hospitality industry we must do everything possible to prevent attacks like this from happening. made me become extra cautious about using my credit cards.
Yongjoon Ji

Smartphone software updates explained | News | TechRadar - 1 views

www.techradar.com/...ware-updates-explained-1093733

shared by Yongjoon Ji on 28 Aug 12 - No Cached
  • There's no doubt about it – we all love to have the latest software on our smartphones. And that means regular updating.
  • When Vodafone has finished testing the update, it's sent back to the manufacturer and to Google for final approval.Because of the trend for larger platform updates, May says it means testing needs to be more comprehensive. "Typically software and firmware now goes through a two stage testing cycle. After conducting a first round of tests we report back to suppliers with our recommendations for any improvements – and then we would expect to see that upgrade again before we could be confident that it meets the highest standards for our customers."
    • Yongjoon Ji
      Yongjoon Ji on 30 Aug 12
       
      Few years ago, before technology became so complicated, consumers did not need to worry about updating their cellphone software. The reason was because there was no cellphone software updates that existed. Since smartphones recently became very popular, people are more concerned about the software than the hardware before they purchase a new cellphone. This compares to how they care for the preference of either the Windows or iOS on their computer. Software manufacturers constantly try to update their software to fix bugs as well as to satisfy their customers. It is a constant competition between companies to try to develop the best software so they can gain popularity. Because of this, it is a never-ending competition as consumers are introduced into newer and better software as time goes by. This is why they go through so many steps as to make sure the software is developed to meet the consumer's standards and delivered to their customer's hands as soon as possible.
noreen1

Security and technology coming together for locks in 2015 | Hotel Management - 0 views

www.hotelmanagement.net/...gether-for-locks-in-2015-30124

shared by noreen1 on 18 Feb 15 - No Cached
  • Many electronic lock manufacturers strongly recommend evaluating and focusing more on security if a hotel is making the move to mobile access locks.
  • “Poor implementation can be a risk,”
  • “Whenever a new layer of technology is added, security needs to be increased as well.”
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  • The security of a mobile door lock is part of a larger challenge of guest security as hoteliers have access to more guest data.
  • Mrowczynski cautions hoteliers to increase security at the back-end of the hotel—employees can be a threat to security with mobile technology as well. He also said every room lock should be bench-tested. “As long as everything is researched, tested and retested, everyone will be fine,” he said.
  • noreen1 on 18 Feb 15
     
    This article serves as a good reminder that as hotels adopt certain technologies to enhance the guest experience, it is also important to remember to test and retest these new technologies for possible security concerns. The thought of being able to open your hotel room door with your cell phone is appealing and convenient, but also comes with some security concerns that traditional key cards do not. On the other hand, some argue that RFID chips would actually make door locks more secure, and make it easier to track who enters the hotel room and when. Either way, security concerns always have to be considered when adopting new technologies.
lismarycedeno1

Quore is Helping Hotels Deliver Exceptional Pool Experiences - 0 views

lodgingmagazine.com/r-exceptional-pool-experiences

hotels pool technology helping

shared by lismarycedeno1 on 18 Sep 19 - No Cached
  • Quore, a hotel workforce communications platform used by more than 3,900 hotels (including 560 management companies and 80 hotel brands in 29 countries) is helping operators ensure that their pools, hot tubs and spas meet water safety standards by automating the water-testing process within its Pool Readings module.
  • enables hotel engineers to test a pool’s chlorine, pH, alkalinity and calcium levels at least twice daily, as well as water temperature and GPM (gallons per minute) and PSI (pound-force per square inch) flow rates.
  • identify if the pool water is safe for guests’
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • The Quore Pool Readings module enables anyone in the company with access to Quore – from the owner to the area director – to see our daily pool chemistry,”
  • Quore doesn’t allow someone to back date reports.
  • helps with staff training and provides my team with a good education on pool chemistry.
  • one in five American adults admits to relieving themselves in the pool.
  • Quore Pool Readings module is a standard feature within the Quore platform, and the Recurring app that houses it is also being used by hotels to record boiler, water meter and electric meter readings, making the app an invaluable preventive maintenance tool property wide.
  • Flag tasks to be performed and send reminder prompts • View the chemical state of water areas and compare it to days, weeks, months, years prior • Measure the turnover rate of water to see how quickly it is circulating • Compare data from multiple bodies of water simultaneously
  • making a huge difference in keeping pools chemically safe and guests happily enjoying the experience.”
  • lismarycedeno1 on 18 Sep 19
     
    A hotel workforce communications platform named Quora is helping operators ensure that all their pools, hot tubs, and spas meet water safety standards within a Pool Readings module. The recurring app enables hotel engineers to test a pool/s chlorine, PH, alkalinity, and calcium levels as well as water temperature and PSI flow rates identifying if the pool water is safe for hotel guests. 
jalilahst

What is Network Redundancy and Why Does It Matter? - 0 views

www.vxchnge.com/...network-redundancy-explained

shared by jalilahst on 14 Mar 21 - No Cached
  • Network redundancy is the process of adding additional instances of network devices and lines of communication to help ensure network availability and decrease the risk of failure along the critical data path.
    • jalilahst
      jalilahst on 14 Mar 21
       
      Defines Network Redundancy.
  • Redundancy in networks helps to eliminate single points of failure to ensure better network stability and uptime in the face of events that would otherwise take th
  • e network offline
  • ...11 more annotations...
  • A fault-tolerant redundant system provides full hardware redundancy, mirroring applications across two or more identical systems that run in tandem
    • jalilahst
      jalilahst on 14 Mar 21
       
      1 form of redundancy that data centers use.
  • fault-tolerance redundant systems are complex and often expensive to implement.
    • jalilahst
      jalilahst on 14 Mar 21
       
      Disadvantage to fault tolerant redundant systems.
  • If something goes wrong with one server, the backup servers take over and restart applications that were running on the failed server.
    • jalilahst
      jalilahst on 14 Mar 21
       
      How high availability works, the 2nd form of redundancy that data centers use.
  • it does tolerate a certain amount of downtime in that there is a brief loss of service while the backup servers boot up applications.
    • jalilahst
      jalilahst on 14 Mar 21
       
      Disadvantage to high availability software based redundant system.
  • create a network strategy that reviews existing infrastructure.
    • jalilahst
      jalilahst on 14 Mar 21
       
      First steps of network redundancy plan.
  •  Well-maintained UPS systems can ensure that servers can switch over from electrical power to backup generator power without losing any data or applications.
  • the best places to replicate and store data so it can be easily accessed in the event that other redundant systems fail and the main network goes down. By using more than one data center, companies can ensure that even if some disaster occurs, they will be able to carry on with minimal disruption.
    • jalilahst
      jalilahst on 14 Mar 21
       
      The importance of backing up data offsite.
  • They can test different connections by physically disconnecting hardware to make sure failover occurs as anticipated. If things do not go as planned during testing, data center managers then create an after-action report that lists the items they need to fix as a result of the testing.
  • creating incident response plans that can counter them is crucial for ensuring network resiliency in the face of modern cyber threats. Network redundancy can be a crucial aspect of many cyber incident response plans.
  • attacks are a type of cyberattack where the goal of the attacker is to render a target network or service unusable
    • jalilahst
      jalilahst on 14 Mar 21
       
      DDoS definition
  • By blending a variety of ISPs, data centers can leverage their connectivity to help reroute network services when a DDoS attack is underway. vXchnge’s vX\defend, for instance, uses diverse traffic routing options to identify and bypass volumetric attacks without compromising bandwidth or increasing network latency.
    • jalilahst
      jalilahst on 14 Mar 21
       
      prevent DDoS attacks by implementing redundant networks with flexible internet access.
  • jalilahst on 14 Mar 21
     
    Network redundancy is the process of enhancing network devices and lines of communication to help safeguard network availability and decrease the risk of failure along the critical data path. Redundancy in networks purpose is to help eliminate specific areas of failure to guarantee better network stability and availability when the network would otherwise be offline. Optimize network redundancy by backing up data offsite and conductions frequent test to measure its durability and maintain it. Protect the network from malicious attacks is also important. By creating plans for when attacks occur by rerouting network services.
sdavi111

7 Steps to Securing Your Point-of-Sale System | PCMag - 0 views

www.pcmag.com/...ring-your-point-of-sale-system

shared by sdavi111 on 06 Oct 21 - No Cached
  • Consider how the Target store hack in 2014 was one of the biggest point-of-sale (POS) system data breaches in United States history that exposed more than 70 million customer records to hackers, and cost the retailer's CEO and CIO their jobs. It was later revealed that the attack could have been avoided if Target had just implemented the auto-eradication feature within its FireEye anti-malware system.
  • the reality is that most POS attacks can be avoided.
  • be sure your company has a virtual private
  • ...18 more annotations...
  • network (VPN) in place to safeguard data that's traveling back and forth on your company's
  • network.
  • Most of the aforementioned attacks have been the result of malware applications loaded into
  • the POS system's memory.
  • important point to note here is that a second app must be running (in addition to the POS app),
  • This is why iOS has traditionally facilitated fewer attacks. Because iOS is only able to fully run one app at a time, these types of attacks rarely occur on Apple-made devices.
  • otherwise the attack can't occur.
  • Employees can steal devices with POS software installed on them, or accidentally leave the device at the office or in a store, or lose the device. If devices are lost or stolen, anyone who then accesses the device and the software (especially if you didn't follow rule #2 above) will be able to view and steal customer records.
  • never exposed to hackers.
  • These tools encrypt credit card information the second it's received on the POS device and once again when it's sent to the software's server. This means that the data is never vulnerable, regardless of where hackers might be installing malware.
  • install endpoint protection software on your device.
  • Companies such as Verifone offer software that's designed to guarantee your customer's data is
  • Systems that connect
  • to external networks are more susceptible to attacks from hackers
  • Consider keeping things internal and secure, use a corporate network to handle critical tasks like payment processing.
  • you'll want to comply with the Payment Card
  • Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) across all card readers, networks, routers, servers, online shopping carts, and even paper files. The PCI Security Standards Council suggests companies actively monitor and take inventory of IT assets and business processes in order to
  • detect any vulnerability.
  • sdavi111 on 06 Oct 21
     
    Even though this article is from 2019 it is still extremely relevant today. POS systems are found in most hospitality outlets and the chances for a security breach are high. I have often thought when I had my credit card to a waiter and they are gone for 10 minutes are they copying the number, is it being added to a database that can then be hacked? The importance of having the proper securities in place, the proper malware and security software is really important. Having had a catering company for 20 years I had to do PCI compliance tests every 6 months and for years I just handed it over to my IT to do the test. He would suggest things to make us safer and since it usually cost money I would shake it off. It wasnt until the credit card processing company i was using had a security breach that I realized how important these PCI rules were. It is something going forward I will always pay attention to!
ldeur001

What is Network Redundancy and Why Does It Matter? - 0 views

www.vxchnge.com/...network-redundancy-explained

redundancy hospitality Innovations; technology

shared by ldeur001 on 26 May 20 - No Cached
  • The underlying concept of redundant networks is simple. Without any backup systems in place, all it takes is one point of failure in a network to disrupt or bring down an entire system. Network redundancy is the process of adding additional instances of network devices and lines of communication to help ensure network availability and decrease the risk of failure along the critical data path.
  • All valuable data should be backed up regularly, preferably in another location. A good data center location strategy maps out the best places to replicate and store data so it can be easily accessed in the event that other redundant systems fail and the main network goes down. By using more than one data center, companies can ensure that even if some disaster occurs, they will be able to carry on with minimal disruption.
  • Colocation data centers regularly conduct tests to assess the integrity of their backup systems and redundant networks. They can test different connections by physically disconnecting hardware to make sure failover occurs as anticipated. If things do not go as planned during testing, data center managers then create an after-action report that lists the items they need to fix as a result of the testing. They also create a procedure to follow for both automatic and manual flip over. 
  • ...8 more annotations...
  • For many companies, their networks are the primary point of contact for delivering products and services to their customers.
  • A network outage, then, whether it's caused by equipment failure, an unexpected cyberattack, or some form of human error, can be devastating for a business. Every moment of system downtime translates into very real financial losses in the form of lost revenue, diminished brand reputation, and missed opportunities.
  • Network redundancy is the process of adding additional instances of network devices and lines of communication to help ensure network availability and decrease the risk of failure along the critical data path.
  • Without any backup systems in place, all it takes is one point of failure in a network to disrupt or bring down an entire system. Redundancy in networks helps to eliminate single points of failure to ensure better network stability and uptime in the face of events that would otherwise take the network offline.
  • fault-tolerant redundant system provides full hardware redundancy, mirroring applications across two or more identical systems that run in tandem.
  • Ideal for any operations in which any amount of downtime is unacceptable
  • A software-based redundant system, high availability uses clusters of servers that monitor one another and have failover protocols in place.
  • there is a brief loss of service while the backup servers boot up applications.
  • anonymous on 26 May 20
     
    Network redundancy is the process of adding network devices and other instances of communication lines to help ensure network availability and reduce the risk of failures on critical data paths. One of the first steps in the network redundancy plan is to create a network strategy that reviews the existing infrastructure. A high-quality hosted data center should have an extensive backup system to ensure that it is always available. All valuable data should be backed up regularly, preferably in another location. By using multiple data centers, companies can ensure that even if certain disasters occur, they will be able to proceed with minimal losses. In addition, a well-maintained UPS system ensures that the server can be switched from power to backup generator power without losing any data or applications.
  • ldeur001 on 06 Sep 21
     
    A network outage whether it is due to a cyber attack or simple human error can be devastating to a company. It makes them look very bad, damaging their reputation, and can cost the business millions of dollars. Network Redundancy can help ensure network availability and decrease the risk of failure. There are 2 forms of redundancy. Fault Tolerance where there is a mirrored backup system that takes over with no loss of service, and High Availability where the backup servers take over and restart applications that were running on the failed server.
YUE LI (3325307)

Smart Hotelier's 2012 Top Ten Digital Marketing Resolutions - 0 views

www.hebsdigital.com/...-digital-marketing-resolutions

shared by YUE LI (3325307) on 09 Nov 12 - No Cached
  • YUE LI (3325307) on 09 Nov 12
     
    This article summarized smart hotelier's top ten digital marketing resolutions of the year 2012 and the author analyzed each resolution's situation as well as the action plan in details with an improved outlook for the industry, technological advances, and the usage of mobile devices growing exponentially, opportunities for incremental revenues abound. The top five ones are I will bring social, local and mobile marketing initiatives to the forefront of my hotel digital marketing plans this year, I understand this industry is complex and will work to make sense of a very convoluted digital space/online marketplace, I will continue to account for the continued shift from offline to online, and engage the hyper-interactive travel consumer via multi-channel marketing efforts, I will take advantage of the Mobile Channel, especially in this marketplace where my competitors are behind the times, and Now that I know social media is a customer engagement channel and not a distribution channel in hospitality, I will use Social Media correctly to create "buzz" around my hotel, target receptive audiences, provide customer service and enhance customer experiences. This will ultimately stimulate hotel website visits, interactions and conversions on the hotel website. The sixth to the tenth ones are I will rise to the challenge imposed by the recent Google Panda and 'Freshness' updates, I will decrease dependence on the OTAs this year, adding thousands of dollars in incremental revenues to my hotel's bottom line, I will NOT resort to desperate measures and use social buying and flash sales sites in 2012, I will focus on determining the effectiveness and ROI of my digital marketing campaigns and make smarter use of analytics technology to determine true ROI and campaign effectiveness, as well as test, test, test to achieve better results, and I will partner with savvy digital marketers who know it all and can guide me through this process, so I can drive the most re
Xu Wang

Emerald | Have human resource information systems evolved into internal e-commerce? - 0 views

www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm

shared by Xu Wang on 01 Dec 12 - No Cached
  • Human resources (HR) have been a well-established function in organizations for decades,
  • the department was typically perceived by many organizations as a “necessary evil,” that is to say, as an essential but in no way profitable or advantageous element,
  • even at the current time HRIS is not limited to technological elements alone, such as computer hardware and software applications, but also includes the people, policies, procedures, and data required to manage the HR function.
  • ...55 more annotations...
  • Nevertheless, these well-accepted attributes of HR have been challenged in the past few years, as several indicators reflect fundamental changes within the HR function,
  • although little has changed in this function over the past decades, there are growing expectations that HR will improve corporate competitive advantages by adding real measurable value to the organization.
  • The apparent difficulties in upgrading HR to a strategic position in organizations result in missed opportunities especially in hospitality and tourism, where the human capital has substantive potential to improve the competitive advantage of enterprises, particularly due to the growing competitiveness of the industry, as well as the centrality of the human element in the delivery of hospitality products and services
  • The second change in contemporary HR which, interestingly, is closely related to the previous one, is the growing trend of incorporating advanced information technology (IT) in HR practices.
  • There is extensive evidence to the growing transfer of HR functions to digital formats, as can be seen in the growing popularity of human resource information systems (HRIS) among organizations. HRIS is currently perceived as one of the important factors influencing the role of the HR function, as well as the workplace as a whole. Although in many aspects, technology remains under-utilized in HR functions (Jones and Hoell, 2005), recently its effects have begun to be evident in many organizational aspects,
  • Furthermore, it is widely argued that the adoption of HRIS is likely to promote HR to the awaited position of strategic partner in the organization. The main reason for this is that by using HRIS, HR professionals can improve their performance by gaining better knowledge of the organization and its employees, thus facilitate participation in strategic planning and implementation. In addition, by improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the HR day-to-day administrative tasks, HRIS allows the HR staff to dedicate more time to strategic decision making and planning, which consequently provides more value to the organization to enhance its position within it
  • modern HRIS make optimal use of internet and web capabilities for performing their tasks
  • successful HRIS support the planning and implementation of managerial key processes in the organization, such as executive decision making, technology selection, interdepartmental integration, and organizational reporting structures.
  • Intranet-based employee self-service (ESS) provides employees direct access, mainly through a web browser but also through a centralized kiosk, to personal HR-related information. Thus, the employees can individually handle transactions that used to be carried out by HR personnel,
  • Both MSS and ESS create a trend of delegation of responsibilities and activities that were once considered to be the domain of HR professionals and administrative personnel, directly to employees and managers
  • HRIS was seen mostly as a special form of office automation systems, the emphasis being on reducing costs and staff while making the standard HR tasks more efficient
  • In addition, in today's workplace the HR tasks have become more complex, along with organizational trends such as globalization, consolidations, strategic partnerships, and greater than ever governmental and regulatory reporting requirements for employees.
  • Therefore, from the administrative perspective, by providing powerful computing capabilities, HRIS are changing and improving procedures and processes that were carried out less efficiently before,
  • the automation of routine transactions provides HR professionals with time to perform strategic functions related to the human capital
  • HRIS allow the firm to be proactive in HR planning, by giving managers a constant flow of employee information
  • since HRIS can significantly improve the way employees and managers communicate with each other through various communication channels, this improves the flow of information and expertise throughout the organization, thereby enhancing the firms' strategic capabilities
  • Another prominent perceived characteristic of the HR function has been its reliance on relatively low-tech methods in implementing its tasks
  • Although HRIS can provide both administrative and strategic advantages, it should be noted from the onset that they are usually expensive systems to purchase and implement. Designing and implementing customized HRIS, adapted to the specific needs of the organization, will significantly enhance its functionality, but will result in increased software and hardware costs, as well as time-to-deployment
  • the initial costs of developing such HRIS are high,
  • In order to reduce the costs of HRIS, an organization can purchase off-the-shelf applications composed of HR database programs, aimed at meeting the general needs of HR functions
  • These findings point to the vital need of the HR function to provide evidence of the effectiveness of HRIS, for the purpose of attaining the executive management support for the change.
  • for a successful implementation of HRIS, it is no less important to obtain the support of managers and employees in the organization. Although modern HRIS offer clear advantages to managers, through the use of MSS, for better management of their staff, the implementation of such systems is likely to be followed by a certain level of resentment on the part of the managers. Since MSS transfer the responsibility of performing employee HR-related transactions from the HR staff to the direct managers, many of them are frustrated since they feel that additional administrative tasks are being imposed on them
  • Another relatively common problem, concerning both the implementation and the flowing management of HRIS, is the question of who is in charge of the system. Since the successful development of HRIS requires the input of both the IT and the HR departments, it is not uncommon for disputes over areas of responsibility to break out between these departments.
  • Other territorial conflicts around HRIS may arise when departments feel that the system expropriates some of its authorities; for example, the payroll department might resist HRIS that combines payroll functions. A possible solution to such a problem can be the establishment of cross-functional teams that run HRIS projects
  • the implementation of HRIS raises both ethical and legal issues that need to be addressed by the organization. First, the use of relational database technology provides access to more detailed employee information than ever before.
  • Second, HRIS usually contain private information on the employees, while the access to this information is often allowed to employees outside HR, as well. As a result, some employees feel that their private lives are not protected adequately.
  • The hospitality industry is characterized by a higher turnover rate than other sectors of the economy
  • Traditionally, HR in organizations has utilized low-tech methods in recruitment.
  • Internet recruiting benefits both the organization and the job seeker's perspectives (Pearce and Tuten, 2001; Singh and Finn, 2003). The benefits to the recruiters include: Cost savings, as it is significantly cheaper to advertise on the internet than in a newspaper. Compared to the use of professional search firms (also known as headhunters) the amounts saved are even higher. Recruiters generally receive more applications, which results in a greater pool of candidates from which to choose. Recruiters may receive applications faster, often even on the same day a position is announced. Improved ability to target a specific audience, thereby decreasing future turnover. Time saving, as more unqualified or unfit applicants can be eliminated, through online contact, in the initial phases of the recruitment process.
  • On the other hand, internet recruitment is not without limitations.
  • Once the recruitment process has ensured a large pool of applicants to choose from, the next phase is to select the most suitable candidates.
  • Traditionally, these selection methods involve the visit of the candidate to the organization or, to a lesser degree, to an assessment center, for interviewing, pen-and-paper testing, or situational testing, including group dynamics.
  • The use of advanced technology allows the selection process to complete the widespread online recruitment methods.
  • Nevertheless, the main impact of technology in selection procedures is in relation to employee interviewing and testing.
  • Anderson (2003) broadly described the prominent technology-based selection procedures, along with an assessment of their acceptance and effectiveness.
  • Adequate training is essential in providing quality services, yet traditionally hospitality organizations have not invested adequate resources in training their employees (Conrade et al., 1994). Most of the knowledge and skills of hospitality employees is transferred through on-the-job training,
  • However, as noted by Collins (2004), delivery of organized and structured training programs in the hospitality industry is a constant challenge, mainly because of the size and geographical dispersion of the workforce, as well as the extensive resources – financial, work, and time – needed to establish in-house training programs.
  • Although technology-based training methods have been available for a long time, the hospitality industry has usually lagged behind other sectors in adopting them.
  • Web-based training (WBT) can deliver courses nationwide or worldwide at all time zones to any connected computer, and is easy to update and monitor.
  • Effective performance evaluation plays a critical role in the successful implementation of organizational strategy and in gaining a competitive advantage. Therefore, in addition to important HR decisions that greatly rely on performance evaluation, such as promotions, outplacements, dismissals, many organizations link performance to compensations and rewards. As noted by Bowley and Link (2005), a performance-based compensation plan, often known as “pay-per-performance,” should reflect the organization's goals.
  • the traditional methods, based on a disconnected blend of discrete applications, spreadsheet programs and paper-based systems, to communicate goals, track employee performance and manage compensation, are insufficient in the contemporary challenges of linking performance evaluation to organizational strategy (Bowley and Link, 2005). Yet, although sophisticated HRIS were developed to meet these contemporary challenges, Ensher et al. (2002) found little effect of HRIS on the process of performance management among HR executives, who still rely on paper-and-pencil administration and hard copy documentation of employee evaluation.
  • Nevertheless, CPM has drawbacks that are highly relevant to a service industry such as the hospitality industry (Miller, 2003). The main concern that CPM raises is that reliance only on quantitative criteria is likely to lead to the neglect of more qualitative aspects of performance.
  • Consequently, an effective CPM must be followed by the establishment of an employee development plan, designed in collaboration with his/her supervisor. The second application of technology in appraisal management is online evaluation and appraisal software (Miller, 2003). In contrast to the aforementioned CPM, in these cases technology facilitates delivering performance feedback, rather than generating the actual evaluation outcome.
  • 360° feedback,
  • In addition, evaluation software packages can be used as stand-alone applications or as an integral part of the organization's HRIS, which offers computerized standard evaluation forms. The use of user-friendly software in evaluating employees allows managers to focus more on the contents of the evaluation, rather than on the forms.
  • Therefore, the use of computer software programs allows better coping with these challenges, while saving time and money.
  • While the organization enjoys the reduced need for complex bureaucracy, the employees enjoy better control and enhanced anonymity, as there is no need for dealing directly with HR staff on personal financial matters.
  • The use of HRIS has significant impact on the current affairs between the management and the employees, as well as the characteristics and the environment of the contemporary workplace. From the administrative perspective, through the HRIS the managers and the employees have access to relevant information on employee work rules, policies, and regulations on issues like privacy, illegal discrimination, and work diversity. In addition, the HRIS can assist discharged or displaced employees in finding alternative employment, by providing links to career counselors, training programs, and information, all of which are required for a successful and effective job search
  • technology has changed the nature of the workplace and employer-employee relations more fundamentally than just providing more accessible information.
  • Traditional e-commerce technology provides product/service, promotion, placement, and pricing strategic initiatives to external constituents through the use of extranet platforms merged with intranets (for instance, customer relationship management). HRIS technology provides the same initiatives through the use of intranets merged with extranet platforms (for example, recruitment). Thus, HRIS technology may be considered to represent internal e-commerce systems, which are crucial to the alignment of HR functions within strategic initiatives aimed at sustainable competitive advantages.
  • The evolution of HRIS platforms provides a range of tools for use by enhancing employee-employer relationships. The full service range of HRIS functions brings human capital closer to the strategic direction of the organization.
  • However, the technology is merely a tool that may enhance strategic alignment.
  • There is also evidence from the literature that a disengagement of the HR function from strategic initiatives exist in many hospitality enterprises.
  • It is common knowledge that the hospitality industry is labor intensive with many points of intimate service interactions of long duration. HR will produce sustainable competitive advantages for those firms that include the HR function in a united strategic direction.
  • The literature identifies the advantages of aligned human capital as a means to accomplishing sustainable competitive advantage for enterprises.
  • Xu Wang on 01 Dec 12
     
    This article is a research paper did by Amir and Beer-Sheva. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the impact of technology on the human resources function in organizations, in general, and in hospitality firms, in particular. At the beginning, it introduced the role of human resources department in organizations for decades. And the trend or changes in contemporary human resources. Then it came out that we cannot skipped the effect of technology on the HR function, especially in tourism and hospitality industry. So, next it gave the definitions of HRIS by introducing technology. And list some advantages and challenges of using HRIS. In the end, it listed how technology put infusion across HR function, including recruitment, selection, training, performance evaluation and compensation, payroll, benefits and pension administration, labor relations and outplacement.
Camila Calcines

Smartphone VS Tablet: Prep Your Hotel For a Mobile Future | Top Stories | | Hospitality... - 0 views

hospitalitytechnology.edgl.com/...Hotel-For-a-Mobile-Future86086

smartphone tablet hotel mobile future hospitality magazine tourism

shared by Camila Calcines on 23 May 13 - No Cached
  • In 2011, mobile was responsible for $2.6 billion in travel bookings. By 2013, the number is projected to be $8 billion
  • tablet users are much more likely to purchase something (62% versus 47%) or book travel (41% versus 29%) on their devices than smartphone users.
  • Sixteen percent of mobile users will not return or wait for a website to load if it takes too long and 6% will go to a competitor’s website
  • ...6 more annotations...
  • Understanding that the tablet and smartphone experience can be vastly different is important to the way you may want to market to your target audience.
  • the tablet market is expected to grow to more than 300 million
  • smartphone and the tablet experience are not one in the same and both are important.
  • Time and delivery is very important for mobile guests and the capability to manage reservations through mobile devices provides increased mobility to the modern day traveler,
  • The most challenging part of optimizing for both smartphones and tablets is in the execution.
  • Regular testing and monitoring of your mobile site can ensure that customers are getting the best experience.
  • Camila Calcines on 23 May 13
     
    In this era of technology I think the hotel industry should of accommodated their customers with an excellent mobile site experience. As read in the article, "In 2011, mobile was responsible for $2.6 billion in travel bookings," and the numbers are increasing exponentially by year. Mobile devices are becoming so popular to book travel because todays customer lives a high-paced life and is always on the go. So I think it is extremely important that travel industries understand the customer and targets them accordingly in order to form that customer loyalty. With the popularity of tablets, the smartphone is gaining harsh competition because a tablet user has a smartphone and when it comes to booking travel they would most likely use their tablet because it is more accessible and the screen is bigger and easier to read. The smartphone and tablet experience is completely different because in essence you are targeting different audiences. The tablet user wants to see bigger icons and more visibility on the bigger screen, while the smartphone user wants to have a quick information session where she/he can view everything on the go. I think the travel industry should focus on execution in order to give the tablet and smartphone user the best mobile experience. With that said, the only way to ensure that positive feedback is through "regular testing and monitoring of your mobile site…"
xwang023

Integrating Technology to Improve Event Production - 0 views

www.event360.com/...gy-to-improve-event-production

shared by xwang023 on 05 Apr 13 - No Cached
  • GPS technology is a huge time- and money-saver.
  • Barcode scanners make credentialing and other tasks much easier.
  • automated external defibrillator (AED), which can restore a normal heart rhythm in cases of sudden cardiac arrest.
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • Google Earth is the most accurate tool for route planning and site scouting that we've tested.
  • Lu Zhang on 05 Apr 13
     
    To improve the efficiency of event managing, event managers need several technology. This article introduced GPS techology, which can used to track vehicle and participants. Barcode scanners are also the important tools that can be used in printing the credentials in advance and check it to the event faster. Because most of the staff and volunteers have smartphone, smartphone based technology such as Excel spreadsheets and google Earth can also useful in sharing information and siting address. In addition, supported by cloud technology, staff can access to their event data from anywhere, which bring huge convenience to event managing, and allow managers effectively control the large event.
  • xwang023 on 06 Apr 13
     
    There are countless forms of technology that can help event professionals do their job better. GPS technology is a huge time- and money-saver. In the old days, we had to print out hundreds of pages with directions to rest stops along our events. Barcode scanners make credentialing and other tasks much easier. Participants can print their credentials in advance and check in to the event faster. Checking participants in and out of rest stops and main sites is faster, too.Another potential lifesaver is the automated external defibrillator (AED), which can restore a normal heart rhythm in cases of sudden cardiac arrest.Besides being free, Google Earth is the most accurate tool for route planning and site scouting that we've tested.
Grant Beck

10 E-Commerce Predictions For 2013 - Forbes - 0 views

www.forbes.com/...-commerce-predictions-for-2013

shared by Grant Beck on 31 Jan 13 - No Cached
  • Consumers
  • Consumers
  • people are spending, and continuing to spend, more and more online.
  • ...10 more annotations...
  • brick-and-mortar retailers scramble to keep pace with a digitally driven world.
  • consumers are demanding optimized and personalized sites
  • Companies that don’t test won’t get anywhere near providing the best online experiences for their audience.
  • B-to-B sites
  • expect to see more of the general information they share online used by companies.
  • a completely seamless e-commerce experience no matter where they are—at their desktops, on their smartphones and tablets, or on social pages and sites—is a must-have.
  • brands getting a handle on big data to deliver to customers more targeted offers across all channels in real time.
  • brands using social data to personalize experiences on their websites, as well as applying testing and personalization to their own Facebook pages.
  • Because consumers are climbing on board with personalization, they should expect
  • are likely to use testing and personalization to create well-optimized and targeted sites based on user behaviors.
  • Grant Beck on 31 Jan 13
     
    This brief article is taken from Forbes and in it Paul Dunay offers 10 Predictions (or expectations in some cases) for the year in e-commerce. It has been seen that e-commerce has grown year to year, specifically on Cyber Monday which shows people are spending more online. The predictions range from consumer expectations to the use of personal data collected by companies. In my opinion the predictions are very straight forward and almost assumed in today's technological world in regards to customer expectations. The prediction of companies using data they have collected to help improve their e-commerce experience is very intriguing however, and suprising that this is not common practice already. It will be very interesting to see if & how these predicitions develop, especially with social media and the use of personal data. Overall it's an interesting article and provokes some good thought on e-commerce.
AQUEELAH THOMPSON

iPhone as hotel room key? Technology offers 'high level of security,' tech chief says -... - 0 views

travel.usatoday.com/...1

hotel technology security

shared by AQUEELAH THOMPSON on 21 Jan 12 - No Cached
  • Holiday Inn next month will begin testing technology that lets you convert your iPhone into your room key - but several readers said they're too skeptical to try it.
  • "It's new," he said. "Those questions are all valid questions."
  • The basics: Guests who opt to try "fast check-in" will give the hotel their smartphone number and download Open Ways' app. Then, two or three days before arrival, they'll receive a text message containing their room number and a unique and encrypted sound code that they'll use to unlock their hotel-room door.
  • Fei Qi on 21 Jan 12
     
    This article is about technology of combining the room key with the iphones. Holiday Inn will test this technology next month. Though this is a creative idea, some people may feel skeptical to try the new room keys. As this technology is new, some guests may not accept that use the cell phone as their room keys and there are many questions come into being with this new technology. For hotels, they must think about the using guests' iphones as the room keys is optional or required. The article also illustrates how the iphone works and what will happen if the iphone is lost or stolen. Besides, more hotels will test this new technology and the technology will work with regular cell phones. In my opinion, combining the cell phones with the room keys is a good idea, because many customers today use iphones today, and almost everyone takes a cell phone when live in the hotel. It is convenient for the guests to use their cell phones as the room keys. This technology can give guests fast check-in because before the guests arrive, they will receive a text massage containing their room number and a unique and encrypted sound code that they'll use to unlock their hotel-room door. When they arrive at the hotel, they can directly go to their rooms. It also can reduce front desk's work. . However, security is still the main factor that the guests will concern and there are some risks if the cell phones lost or stolen. Besides, some guests may prefer to use traditional room key and may not accept the change. It relies on the Open Ways (the secured network) and can work with more brands of cell phones. I consider hotels can provide this technology for the guests as an option because some guests prefer the traditional room keys while some like the new technology.
  • AQUEELAH THOMPSON on 03 Apr 12
     
    This article is about the use of I-Phone of Blackberry as your room key. It explains that Holiday Inn will be trying this new technology and many guests are not sure about trying it out. Many guests are not sure about trying it and question how safe it can be. The article explains that this new technology is not required and is rather an opinion. The article explained how it works and is simply a code sent to the customer to their phone and this is used to open the door and the code is only used once and resets every time. The article goes on to explain that there is no issues if the phone is lost or stolen because the codes aren't saved to the phone but rather the server the app runs on. I feel that this is a new cool way to technology. However, I don't see where it is anymore secure than a room key and really it doesn't make the process any easier. I feel its new and innovative but its not the best idea.
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