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Contents contributed and discussions participated by mmoutsatsos

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mmoutsatsos

Nail The Basics Of Cybersecurity With Multifactor Authentication (MFA) - 0 views

www.forbes.com/...multifactor-authentication-mfa

Cybersecurity MFA technology software business tech

shared by mmoutsatsos on 21 Feb 22 - No Cached
  • When it comes to the basics of cybersecurity, nothing is so elemental as the password.
  • the simple password has endured as the first and last guardian of consumer and business data. 
  • But with the rise of sophisticated hacking techniques, passwords alone can no longer protect against unauthorized access and security attacks.
  • ...22 more annotations...
  • Enter multifactor authentication (MFA). By adding extra layers of security to a user's login process and requiring they enter two or more pieces of evidence (e.g., factors) to prove they are who they say they are,
  • MFA is a great method for boosting protection against everyday threats like credential stuffing, phishing attacks and account takeovers.
  • 1. Passwords alone are no longer enough to protect against security attacks.
  • it's critical every company apply effective security measures to protect their data.
  • to protect business and customer data, it begins and ends with preventing unauthorized account access.
  • MFA is the most direct and effective way to do that.
  • A familiar example of MFA at work is the two factors needed to withdraw money from an ATM.
  • Your ATM card is the something that you have, and your PIN is the something you know.
  • companies can require all employees to verify their identities with two or more pieces of evidence to prove they are who they say they are.
  • 2. Companies around the world (from Fortune 500s to small businesses) are feeling the urgency to adopt MFA — but a knowledge gap persists.
  • It's imperative companies invest in training employees on how using MFA is essential to securing access to both work and personal accounts.
  • industries in our everyday lives — led by social media platforms and financial services — requiring consumers use MFA to secure their personal accounts, both businesses and employees are normalizing the everyday routine of MFA. 
  • make the connection between security at work and in their personal lives and understanding they're two sides of the same coin.
  • 3. MFA adoption can seem overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be.
  • By recognizing any technical, change management and financial challenges to user adoption, committing to open communication, and providing the resources and training your employees need, any business can conquer that fear of the unknown. 
  • When adopting MFA, prioritize identifying the strongest and most user-friendly authentication method possible for your organization.
  • that means using an authenticator generator app, a hardware security key or a combination.
  • the reality is a large percentage of U.S.-based employees are also consumers with a smartphone in their pocket.
  • on that phone, the employee is already using multiple apps that require MFA.
  • 4. Balance security with ease of use when identifying a preferred authentication method for your organization
  • With options like hardware keys, you often see employees run into issues losing, replacing or breaking them. But a (TOTP) mobile app can be continuously updated in ways that make the MFA process more seamless (e.g, an app that verifies automatically from trusted locations like an employee's home office).
  • authenticator apps on devices like iPhones have the added benefit of extra layers of security at the phone level like PINs and biometrics like Face ID.
  • mmoutsatsos on 21 Feb 22
     
    This article talks about companies transitioning to multifactor authentication as an added layer of protection of cybersecurity.
mmoutsatsos

The Rich World's Electronic Waste, Dumped in Ghana - Bloomberg - 0 views

www.bloomberg.com/...ectronic-waste-dumped-in-ghana

shared by mmoutsatsos on 14 Feb 22 - No Cached
  • the Agbogbloshie dump, a wasteland dotted with burning mounds of trash in Ghana’s capital, Accra.
  • Up to 10,000 workers wade through tons of discarded goods as part of an enormous, informal recycling process, in what has become one of the world’s largest destinations for used electronic goods.#lazy-img-360452765:before{padding-top:66.70212765957447%;}
  • Burns, back problems, and infected wounds
  • ...26 more annotations...
  • respiratory problems, chronic nausea, and debilitating headaches
  • —brought on by the hazardous working environment and toxic air pollution.
  • smashing up old computers and televisions in search of valuable parts and burning insulated cables to recover copper.
  • The Agbogbloshie dump is a result of the world’s increasing demand for electronic equipment as consumers continually upgrade their devices and throw out the older ones.
  • The e-waste problem could expand into a global health crisis,
  • significant proportion of this electronic waste is sent, often illegally, from the West to developing countries across Africa and Asia.
  • Around 50 million tons of electronic waste, or e-waste, is being thrown away each year, according to a report published this year by the United Nations.
  • figure is projected to double by 2050.
  • only 20 percent of e-waste is thought to be recycled appropriately.
  • The rest “ends up in landfill, or is disposed of by informal workers in poor conditions,” the UN found.
  • A
  • “E-waste is a growing global challenge that poses a serious threat to the environment and human health worldwide,”
  • In Ghana, the waste arrives via the Port of Tema, 20 miles to the east of the Agbogbloshie dump.
  • They are often labeled as secondhand consumer products, health experts said, so they are not strictly considered waste.
  • “There are skin diseases and ailments [at Agbogbloshie], but the worst problem here is respiratory illnesses, because the amount of pollution here is so high,”
  • the quality of air is terrible
  • “The workers can’t do anything about it because they have to earn a living, so it’s a trade-off. They earn money but their health suffers.”
  • These health risks are entering the food chain. The Agbogbloshie area is home to one of the largest food markets in Accra, and haggard livestock roam freely and graze on the dumpsite.
  • Agbogbloshie contained some of the most hazardous chemicals on earth.
  • One egg hatched by a free-range chicken in Agbogbloshie exceeded European Food Safety Authority limits on chlorinated dioxins, which can cause cancer and damage the immune system, 220 times over.
  • about 80,000 men, women, and children subsist from the Agbogbloshie dump, living either on-site or in the adjacent slum.
  • Ghana imports about 150,000 tons of secondhand electronics a year,
  • an international treaty that since 1989 has forbidden developed nations from carrying out unauthorized dumping of e-waste in less developed countries.
  • It is very important the issue of waste export to developing countries such as Africa and other countries in transition should be looked at critically.”
  • The German development agency GIZ is in the midst of delivering a €5 million ($5.5 million) project to build a sustainable, efficient recycling system at Agbogbloshie, as well as a health clinic and football pitch for workers.
  • But as the world’s appetite for electronics keeps growing, preventing the illegal dumping of electronic waste and the devastating impact it has on places like Agbogbloshie will prove an even greater challenge.
  • mmoutsatsos on 14 Feb 22
     
    The effects of electronic waste dumping in the Agbogbloshie dump in Accra, the capital of Ghana. It also talks about the health issues workers suffer from working there, and the problem is predicted to get much worse than it already is.
mmoutsatsos

Digital Marketing Trends for Hotels - What'll Be Big in 2020 : 4Hoteliers - 0 views

www.4hoteliers.com/...12957

hospitality Digital Marketing

shared by mmoutsatsos on 07 Feb 22 - No Cached
  • Digital marketing is absolutely vital for maximising bookings and increasing your revenue,
  • Customer Experience Marketing
  • Hotels are (and, more importantly, have to be) more customer-centric than ever before.
  • ...27 more annotations...
  • creating an enjoyable experience is absolutely vital – hence the rise in customer experience marketing!
  • This is essentially the idea that customers pay for experiences, not “things”.
  • The key is to promote the reasons people stay in hotels in the first place, and can cover activities like offering unique features in hotel rooms and providing premium facilities.
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Virtual Reality
  • User Generated Content
  • 93% of consumers say user generated content (UGC) – content created by past customers – is helpful when making purchasing decisions!
  • modern form of word-of-mouth marketing
  • Influencer Marketing
  • Mobile Booking
  • the on-arrival moment
  • The motivation behind this is similar to the motivation behind UGC – namely that consumers trust the opinions and words of their peers and people they trust (like influencers) more than brands.
  • Savvy consumers of today are far more likely to listen and believe the images and words of their fellow travellers than the well-polished marketing campaigns dreamed up by hotels!
  • hotels collaborating more with macro-influencers (like celebrities)
  • but we’ll also see more going really focused and partnering up with micro-influencers.
  • These are social media users
  • Creative and Human Storytelling
  • Consumers today want to build more of a connection with the brands they buy from, and social media is tapping into this trend by producing more and more features that allow brands to show their “real-ness”.
  • Moment Marketing
  • different moments to interact with travellers during the hotel booking process
  • search stage,
  • he post-booking stage
  • partnering up with industry influencers to promote
  • Booking Retargeting
  • research has shown that the majority of people who visit a hotel website won’t book the first time they land there, but they might book on their second, third, or seventh visit!
  • It’s All About Direct Bookings
  • Travellers are beginning to realise they can get better deals by booking directly with a hotel, and they are able to take back power from the OTAs to create their own, personal travel experiences.
  • mmoutsatsos on 07 Feb 22
     
    This article talks about the different trends in Digital Marketing that hotels will be facing in 2020.
mmoutsatsos

Digital Transformation in the Hospitality Industry | Boston Hospitality Review - 0 views

www.bu.edu/...on-in-the-hospitality-industry

hospitality software technology

shared by mmoutsatsos on 31 Jan 22 - No Cached
  • We are now experiencing the fourth industrial revolution, a period marked by emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, virtual reality, the Internet of Things, and fifth-generation wireless technology.
  • The recent Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated this digital transformation resulting in a widening technology-mediated customer experience.
  • Service robots are “system-based autonomous and adaptable interfaces that interact, communicate, and deliver service to an organization’s customer” (Wirtz et al., 2018, p. 109).
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  • The core interactive and communicative features differentiate service robots from other self-service machines, which result in unprecedented human-technology interactions in the hospitality industry.
  • he service production process, disinfection robots, which emit UV light to kill viruses and bacteria, were announced to be used in airports and hotels worldwide to ensure a safe and clean environment (Greg, 2020).
  • The robots drive around autonomously in high-touch public areas and select rooms at the hotel, removing all airborne viruses and bacteria. As an extension of the hotel’s “SmartStaySafety” operation, the use of UVD robots not only provides a safe environment but also assures guests that they are being protected. 
  • In
  • the service delivery process, service robots assist frontline staff in a sequence of service encounters. For instance, the robot concierges assist employees with guest greetings upon arrival, transporting luggage, guiding guests, and delivering room service.
  • service robots can effectively respond and interact with guests, even in multiple languages. 
  • While robots make significant contributions to operational efficiency, they also raise concerns.
  • Service robots are still novel in hospitality. Their ability to cope with unexpected, dynamic conditions remains to be fully explored.
  • If guests do not follow the pre-set route, service robots may fail to respond, which can lead to a service failure.
  • AI-powered online chatbots are also employed to provide swift answers to customers via live chats.
  • provide customers with immediate responses 24 hours a day, significantly improving customer engagement.
  • customers believed VR simulations would be the best tool for hospitality operators to create a compelling customer experience.
  • VR can make a huge difference in a customer’s booking stage.
  • Through the digitally accommodated environment, customers can have a much clearer sense of what they are expecting, thus attracting more prospective customers.
  • VR application is the virtual tour video,
  • This not only offers customers a chance to experience prior to booking, but also allows the hospitality business to benefit from the “try before you buy” marketing strategy. 
  • Unlike VR, which puts customers in a completely virtual environment, augmented reality (AR) is about enhancing the physical environment and the experience of exploring one’s surroundings in real-time.
  • The current applications of AR in hospitality are largely for entertainment and practical purposes.
  • One example is the Best Western Hotel Group’s experiment with AR and Disney stars.
  • Another application of AR is indoor navigation
  • Internet of Things (IoT) refers to “an ever-growing network of connected devices which communicate with a central server as well as with each other” (Car et al., 2019, p. 163).
  • IoT provides integrated services, such as automated door locks, light switches, electric blinds, and voice-assistant devices, which are connected on a network.
  • These allow customers to control or monitor their devices from a central server, such as a mobile phone or a tablet. 
  • For example, customers can use their mobile phones for self-check-in and check-out.
  • Rooms also become “smart” with the help of IoT, which is also called the “connected room” at Hilton hotels.
  • Customers can also use voice-controlled assistants, for example, the Amazon Alexa, to control those in-room features, and order food or drinks, which can be delivered by autonomous delivery robots.
  • In addition, devices, such as luggage carts with GPS function and sensors in the parking lot, can help customers to locate their luggage and cars. Thus, IoT helps improve service processes and makes customer experiences smoother.
  • It obtains real-time data through continuous tracking from various devices, as well as a collection of customer information that was previously unavailable, such as preferences, routines, and habits (Marek & Woźniczka, 2017).
  • there are several emerging issues that hospitality practitioners must take into consideration when embracing digital technologies, which include security, privacy, costs, and human touch in hospitality. 
  • IoT with locational information can send real-time personalized recommendations to customers based on their stored preferences.
  • IoT can collect customers’ preferences for in-room features, and the data can then be used to customize the room settings for their next stay.
  • Security is a fundamental issue in digital transformation in any industry, including hospitality.
  • Also, t
  • he broad connection of various devices brings vulnerability to digital networks.
  • Thus,
  • hospitality managers must prepare for security implications of digital transformation, which can be accomplished by adopting high-security technologies to reduce software vulnerabilities, building resources to mitigate risk of cyber-attacks, and training employees on cyber-attack prevention.
  • Privacy is another important factor as highly personalized services rely on storing and tracking customer preferences and behavior through digital technologies.
  • a transparent, strict, and clear privacy policy clarifying what data can be collected and shared, and who can own the data, is necessary.
  • Another challenge is associated with the high costs of employing these digital technologies.
  • For small businesses, using digital technologies in their daily operations may require significant upfront investments.
  • it is becoming critical for hospitality businesses to consider what digital technologies would most benefit their business.
  • for small hospitality businesses, they need to prioritize what works best for them when adopting digital technologies.
  • the paradox between digital convenience and in-person experience.
  • hospitality, particularly in fine dining restaurants, customer-staff interaction is highly valued by customers.
  • it is important for hospitality businesses to strike a balance between digital convenience and in-person experiences
  • Key considerations include judging what services cannot be replaced by digital tools, preservation of the choice for customers to decide between digital or human services to maximize customer experience, and incorporation of interactive digital features in the process.
  • mmoutsatsos on 31 Jan 22
     
    This article talks about the current applications of 3 innovative technologies and how they are used in the hospitality industry.
mmoutsatsos

Travelport Delivers New Retailing Tools for Advisors | Travel Agent Central - 0 views

www.travelagentcentral.com/...ern-retailing-tools-travelport

travel software hospitality

shared by mmoutsatsos on 24 Jan 22 - No Cached
  • Travelport+, with enhanced, modern retailing tools to make it easier for advisors to offer more choice and deliver better service to their clients.
  • Trip Manager portal on Travelport+, offering travelers the ability to service their own trip and carry out fast, easy transactions on the go.
  • Travelport also updated its servicing capabilities to improve airline connectivity and empower advisors to serve travelers more efficiently, with less back-end work.
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • undergoing an upgrade with better room, rate and rules details as a result of enhanced connectivity with Hilton.
  • Travelport’s desktop tool, Smartpoint, can access a suite of features aimed at simplifying everyday tasks. Enhancements include more customized itinerary quotes in Trip Quote as well as faster Assisted Ticketing capabilities that streamline complex ticketing and exchange tasks for advisors.
  • Travelport+ tools and agency capabilities continues with simplified access to enriched travel content from multiple sources, including NDC (New Distribution Capability) standard content. Travelport says it is the first and only global distribution system (GDS) to sign NDC content distribution deals with three major European airline groups (Air France-KLM, International Airlines Group (IAG) and Lufthansa Group).
  • self-service option for travelers using the new portal allows agencies to preserve resources while offering travelers an improved experience with the ability to easily add extras to their trip, such as adding meals, bags, selecting seats and automatically checking into their flight.
  • Enhanced APIs make it easier for advisors to understand offers and compare brands with similar attributes on a like-for-like basis. Travelport customers will also be able to easily identify upsell offers with NDC and ATPCO fares for a simpler, more modern browsing and shopping experience.
  • Agencies can better manage the hotel bookings they sell with Content Optimizer, a simple self-service rules engine.
  • so agencies can easily create and customize their own content rules.
  • mmoutsatsos on 24 Jan 22
     
    Travelport+ the next-generation GDS platform.
mmoutsatsos

How (And Why) To Move From A Tech-Enabled Services Business To A True SaaS Platform - 0 views

www.forbes.com/...siness-to-a-true-saas-platform

technology software Tech

shared by mmoutsatsos on 18 Jan 22 - No Cached
  • According to Gartner, SaaS, the biggest portion of the cloud market, is expected to grow to $113.1 billion in revenue by 2021.
  • companies are likely wary of undertaking the process of transitioning their organization from a tech-enabled service provider to a true SaaS platform out of concern over the challenges that may arise.
  • it’s unwarranted given the vast resources available to help in the process, including lessons learned from individuals who have experienced (and excelled at) these transitions.
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  • While our team was aware that the potential for things to go wrong existed, they focused on delivering value and service to clients and end users, which was the driving force that motivated the team during and following the process.
  • SaaS benefits users across the board, including compliance, security, scalability, redundancy and cost efficiencies.
  • SaaS solutions offer tremendous savings, from both a cost and human labor perspective.
  • Companies can enjoy flexible pricing models and choose to pay as they go, use a subscription-based model or handpick the features they desire.
  • SaaS subscribers benefit from a more secure, constantly monitored environment and from on-demand rapid development and break-fix protocols.
  • added level of security SaaS models provide around an organization’s proprietary data as well as rapid development and innovation.
  • SaaS solutions create significant efficiencies by enabling self-service and personalization that is driven by the user.
  • Be resolute in the value proposition your customers and end users will experience after transitioning.
  • you must be regimented in communicating the value of making the transition while creating transparency to ensure that clients are informed, heard and happy.
  • • Make customers aware of potential risks. 
  • Be transparent about any drawbacks or material risks customers will experience by sticking with dated infrastructures and approaches.
  • • Don’t be bashful about a sense of urgency.
  • The fear of transition and change was far outweighed by the security and service risks that had previously been invisible to our client base.
  • In today’s complex world, providers must prioritize the needs of their customers as well as mitigate their risks.
  • SaaS solutions are the way of the future, maximizing a client’s benefits as well as their risk mitigation.
  • mmoutsatsos on 18 Jan 22
     
    Why you should move from a Tech-Enabled Service to a SaaS Platform and some things to keep in mind if you do decided to make the transition.
mmoutsatsos

Why Germ-Zapping Robots and AI Technology Could Be the Future For Cruise Ships - 0 views

www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm

Technology travel cruise touchless

shared by mmoutsatsos on 13 Jan 22 - No Cached
  • Cruise lines have arguably been well ahead of the game when it comes to new technology in the travel industry
  • -- even before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in March and led to a global suspension of operations.
  • What COVID-19 has done is to add a more 'urgent' element that will force the industry to speed up that process of adding to the passenger experience and enhancing health protocols."
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  • thermal imaging cameras to test passengers' temperature; the aim of the technology is to give a ship's medical team the information to decide whether a passenger should be allowed to board.
  • Royal Caribbean's fast track check in -- take a selfie and scan your own passport; Celebrity's facial recognition technology; MSC Cruises' artificial intelligence system, Zoe, an Alexa-like onboard assistant; and Princess' Ocean Medallion, a part-app, part token approach to customized cruising.
  • Princess Cruises' Ocean Medallion, for example, unlocks the door as you approach so guests don't need to touch their door handle. It was simply a luxurious feature pre-COVID-19; now, in our new world it, holds far more practical importance."
  • Another possible change passengers might see are disinfection tunnels leading to the terminal and an entirely biometric system operating in the terminal, according to Jennifer Willy, editor at the
    • mmoutsatsos
      mmoutsatsos on 13 Jan 22
       
      In our discussion we talked about how to justify spending money on technology and I believe this article does a good job at showing all the different tech the different cruise lines were investing in and how it todays day with COVID it has become money well spent. We also talked about disruptive innovation and how if a company doesn't adapt it will fail. The cruise industry see the move to things become touchless and have already taken steps to meet expectations.
  • Apple and Google both are developing track and trace apps, which can alert crew whether someone has been near an infected person.
  • "Most likely to be rolled out first across most cruise lines and port terminals is temperature scanning, for example, thermal imaging using infrared to detect elevated skin temperatures, not only at embarkation, but for monitoring throughout the cruise."
  • One of the aspects that we might lose, at least in the short term, is the personal touch --
  • "There are systems for air purification and pathogen removal for the whole terminal facility that could be implemented, along with UV lighting, and the obvious thermal imagining for temperature checks,"
  • touchless tech. This is already used widely by the lines in the form of apps, which allow you to do a whole variety of things -- often without the need to log onto onboard Wi-Fi.
  • ct as a keycard to open your cabin, to order and pay for drinks; make bookings at restaurants, shows and the spa; book shore excursions, check your account, track your loved ones or even control the lights and temperature in your cabin.
  • "For instance, a ship could use virtual queueing apps to limit how many people are able to go to a certain area at any given time, which would make certain there is no crowding at a lunch buffet, in the fitness center or at the pool.
  • MSC Cruises' geo-location wristbands mean you can find your friends or family wherever they are on the ship (using your app), rather than meeting them at a central point somewhere.
  • Ocean Now on some of Princess Cruises' ships, passengers can order food, drink and a selection of other products and receive them in a different location, away from other passengers or shopping areas.
  • "Royal Caribbean's Bionic Bar cocktail maker was surely little more than a publicity stunt when it was conceived but it now seems a prophetic move by the cruise line. People will be understandably worried about food and drink preparation -- and shared buffets in particular - when they return to cruising. We may see an increase in automation as a result."
  • Most of the major lines have been running with enhanced technology for a couple of years.
  • could cruise lines introduce some of the changes that are already being pioneered at hotels such as limited housekeeping, no room service and surfaces devoid of many items to help with cleaning?
  • whose LightStrike Germ-Zapping Robots (they've been likened to R2D2) are already being used in hotels, restaurants, food processing facilities, and office buildings -- and it has built protocols for cruise ships.
  • The robots use broad spectrum UV light to quickly decontaminate rooms and public spaces.
  • Xenex, Texas Biomedical Research Institute tested the robot against the virus that causes COVID-19 and it killed it in two minutes.
  • worried about touching surfaces in your cabin, just ask Zoe to look up information or power items on or off for you – MSC Cruises' voice activated Alexa-like speaker is in every cabin onboard MSC Bellissima and MSC Grandiosa, and is likely to be retrofitted onto other ships in the fleet.
  • "Voice tech will become important in the new touchless world too. Rather than having to turn off the lights or lower the blinds by hand, just ask 'Alexa' to do it for you,
  • "It will be an expensive time for cruise lines when they can least afford it. Lifelong cruise lovers will return after the pandemic ends but convincing new people to give a cruise a try may rely on ships becoming as touchless as possible."
  • I think onboard technology will augment the ways guests can communicate and interact with the crew, rather than replace them."
  • "Once again, completely replacing a human being is unlikely, and handing off conversations will be an important step."
  • Royal Caribbean found out to its cost in 2014 when it first introduced tablets for waiters to take orders, and were hit with a deluge of complaints because it meant waiters were buried in their screens
  • Cruising is all about the personal attention and relationships built with crew and other guests. 
  • "Personal contact with the ship board staff is and always has been a very important component of creating memorable experiences. The cruise product cannot eliminate that essence of the cruising experience.
  • He added: "Otherwise it will be just transportation from one place to another."
  • mmoutsatsos on 13 Jan 22
     
    This article talks about the different technology cruise lines have implemented and the future technology they plan to include as they move for a more touchless approach to certain things.
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