The article highlighted the five top technologies that are quite effective and beneficial for events: 1. Smart phones: Smart phones have the ability to look up suppliers when on the move, for example the ability to respond to emails as well as monitor and respond to the social media. Another benefit is the ability for to do list and scheduled to be created. This is very critical in the time management of events. 2. Saas Cloud Application (software as a service): The advantage is to have access form any web enabled device. This will reduce printing cost and provide the ability to customize reports. Meeting Planners can use Saas to link event management system with customer relationship systems eg. Saleforce. This allows efficient data transfer to both speakers and attendees. 3. Virtual Events: Webiners like gotomeeting.com give participants the ability to attend meetings from multiple locations. This can be save time and money. The only drawback in the personal interaction however, for quick group meetings and presentations this can be quite convenient. 4. Social Media and Viral Marketing: One out of every three persons spend three or more hours on-line per day. The sharing of events though social media sites is highly beneficial for both planners and attendees. Smart planners get participants to market to people within their network. 5. Ipads and Tablets: No more big boxes of binders to ship home form a conference. This means huge saving for bit planners and attendees. Access for information can be controlled at registration point. Information is easily transferred to ones device

At the company I work for we, are getting ready to implement the Kronos Time and Attendance and HRIS system. Having worked with Kronos time clocks for a while, I can attest to the reliability of this product. Although Kronos targets small to midsize companies, it also provides enterprise solution to larger companies. Some of the applications within the HRIS system include strong HR and payroll interface, time and attendance management, employee data management, employees benefits administration, training and career development. The benefits of Kronois HRIS system includes reduction in labor cost in HR, proper maintenance and tracking of employees activities and the ability to get reports that can greatly assist with company and government compliance. Kronos comes with very practical user friendly training and set up application. The support offered by Kronos implementation team from my experience is great. Two of the major products offered by Kronos include the workforce central offering all the application mentioned above and the Kronos Iseries offing analytical capabilities. Kronos time clocks are used by many companies, but many other time clocks also interfaces the Kronos payroll system. For example the hand punch 4000 clock which uses 3D imagery verification eliminating the need for time cards.

This article is focussed on the risk involved if the proper impact study is not undertaken prior to implementation of extensive IT projects. Several multinational companies were referenced in the article, highlighting failures with smooth implementation resulting in the loss of millions and sometimes billions. Below is a summary of some companies referenced in article and the impact of IT implementation gone wrong: 1. Levi Strauss: In 2003 Levi Strauss examined its technological capabilities and concluded that its systems were inadequate for its multi-national corporation operation within 110 countries. A budget of US$5 million was created for a system upgrade. Many challenges along the way resulted in the inability to sufficiently report financials resulted in three distribution canters in the USA closing for a week. As a result of this, the company lost US$200 million and the termination of the chief information officer in 2008. 2. Hong Kong Airport: IT problems resulting in glitches in flight information system and database for tracking cargo shipment resulted in a US$600 million loss between 1998 and 1999. 3. Hershey: About 10 years ago Hershey wanted to implement a new order taking system. Problems with implementation resulted in the inability of the company shipping US$100 million worth of candy in time for Halloween thus impacting the company's bottom-line of an 18.6% loss in earnings during the quarter. 4. Kmart: in 2000 Kmart embarked on aUS$1.4 billon IT modernization project. In the midst of the project Kmart discovered that the project had too many customized application which would result in an exorbitant maintenance costs. An additional US$600m was spent on integrating a supply chain management system. Failure of this project led to bankruptcy filing by Kmart in 2002. This resulted in the closure of 600 stores and the loss of over 60,000 jobs in the USA. 5. Auto windshield (UK): Auto windshield was considered to be the second largest auto glass c

SalonPOS is setting the trend in utilizing the point of sale specially created for Ipad. This is following on apple's POS system created for Old Navy last year. SalonPos thought it beneficial to focus on a system for spas as most of the focus is usually on restaurants and perhaps other retail business forgetting that spas and wellness centres are becoming a large revenue generator and growing rapidly. SalonPro system for Ipad is entering the market at a very reasonable cost. The entire system including Ipad retails for under US$2,000.00. The system provides flexible access for manager to monitor business remotely. This POS system does not have much more capabilities than the traditional POS system except that 3G and Wi-Fi are included. A very good feature of the system is also that the Ipad includes close circuit camera that will allow managers to keep tract of activities even remotely. This will also be introduced to the Iphone later this year. SalonPro back up can be done on property as well as through iCloud with full access to apple updates. Though Salon Pro is not offering much more in terms of software capabilities to the spa system, it will be a good move to introduce this into the operations. Mobile check out where a guest does not have to go to a reception desk to sign out is also great. This will also give the spa an image of technological competence.

It appears that American Airline is about to remove itself from the tradition global distribution system and introduce its own distribution system. American Airlines is advocating for distribution companies to utilize AA direct connect which is a direct link into AA's host reservations system. Currently American Airlines fares are no longer available on Expedia or Orbitz sites. This is because no contractual agreement was reached for the distribution of AA products. Travel professionals are waiting to see the result of this bold move by American as this has great implication for the future of airline distribution systems. If American Airlines pulls away from the mainstream GDS, consumers and travel specialist alike will be faced with the inconvenience of going to a separate reservations system to compare fares. Although travel professionals are now urged to use direct connect on a trial basis, the general feeling is that eventually they will be charged to sell American Airline flights. To defend this move American Airline is only saying that direct connect will make it easier for them to tract ancillary fees like priority seating. It was noted in the article that Southwest Airline for the most part is a stand alone reservations system but they do not negotiate with the GDS companies to sell their flights. It is therefore quite evident that this move by American is really to reduce expenditure by eliminating the middle GDS companies while increasing revenue by charging travel partners for utilizing direct connect. American Airlines clearly wants to globally control their distribution system and maximize revenues. Contract renewal for both world span and sabre are due and the experts are waiting to see if American will renew with them. Sabre is owned by American Airlines so its a wait and see game to see how all this will be panned out. The real problem for the consumers and travel specialists are that if other airlines are to follow this move by American the tra

At the 2010 International Hotel, Motel and Restaurant Show (IHMRS) held in New York, Orion by VanCard cooped the green initiative for its in-room management system. This technology is very welcome as many hotels struggle with the astronomical cost of energy consumption, especially when they are experiencing low occupancy and rooms have to be maintained for longevity. How this system works is that though its wireless online locks, room temperature is controlled. This can also work for lights as well. Vacant rooms are set at a standard temperature, one a guest is checked in the front desk alerts the system and the room temp is adjusted for the arrival of the guest. Once the guest leaves the room the temperature is once again adjusted, This is a great initiative as, though many guest display social consciousness of energy conservation, they don't always have the habit and discipline to go along with this. So to have their movements tracked and adjust room temperature is great news for hoteliers. The only challenge or question I have regarding this system is if it has the capability to personalize room temperature setting. For example if my temperature preference is outside of the set zone, how can this be addressed. often times in hotels guest may asked about adjusting temp and are told that its a centralized system that cannot be adjusted. They in turn open windows and doors that is counter to this initiative. Nonetheless the cost saving that can be derived for this system is huge in terms of energy conservation and less negative impact of global warming.

This is so true. This is defiantly a good system since it is difficult to control the habits of the guess. They are really not thinking about cost impact. I agree that maintenance of the system is critical.