A human resource information system (HRIS) is computer software employers use to manage the human resources functions of their organization. It has the capability to maintain employment records of all staff members, and employers can use it to collect metrics surrounding the firm’s staffing, performance management, compensation and benefits activities. Although not all companies utilize an HRIS system, there are many benefits to doing so.

An HRIS system typically holds all information surrounding the firm’s human resources initiatives, including details regarding the group's hiring practices, such as a comprehensive listing of all job applicants, an up-to-date index of job openings and electronic copies of each employee’s onboarding paperwork, such as I-9 and W2 forms

An HRIS system allows candidates for open positions to submit their resumes and contact information to a potential employer from a remote computer. The system then collects the information and archives it so it is easily accessible by the hiring manager.

According to the Smith Travel Research Inc., US tourism is on the rise with a 4.1 percent increase in Q1 hotel bookings. In order to stay competitive in an industry as tough as hospitality, it is now as important as ever for hotels to accomplish an important goal: improve guest experience by making customers feel valued. The key to this is creating a personalized experience for each individual. One way to go about this is to learn more about customers by offering coupons, discounts, and other promotional material based on preference.

Improving Customer Experience

This situation is a win-win for both the customer and the hotel because: 1. The customer is happy because he or she received a personal invitation to the bar with a free drink coupon.2. The hotel bar manager is happy because he or she potentially received an interested patron who will most likely spend more money.

Let’s face it: the mobile device is our new functional appendage, like the prehensile tail for the digital consumer. We depend on it for balance, to maneuver and, well, simply to hang out. It’s the first thing we pick up when we rise and the last thing we put down before entering the analog slumber. In between, it’s our remote control of life. It’s made us universally connected and accessible.

You just cringed, which is evidence of the challenge that marketers face. Mobility makes consumers both infinitely accessible and utterly vulnerable. In life and in mobile marketing, ill-timed, ill-targeted contact is a personal affront. Like the infamous close-talker on Seinfeld, marketers with a tin ear will quickly find themselves alienated from their audiences. That’s why we must abide by some ground rules:

Technology is opening new doors to hotel safety, and the way we navigate hotels is set to change in the blink of an eye. Or the swipe of a cellphone. Or the print of a finger. With futuristic systems like scent and iris scanners and digital facial-recognition, hotel security is being taken to the next level. #plain_module { width: 590px; height:170px; border: none; float:left; margin:0px; font-size:12px;} #plain_module img {border:none; width: 13px; height:14; border: 0px; margin:0px; } #plain_module .mini_main { margin: 0px; padding:0px; width:585px; height:220px; repeat scroll 0 0} #plain_module .mini_item_header {padding:10px 0px; margin: 0px 0px; font-size:16px; color: #555555; border-bottom:1px dotted #CCCCCC;} #plain_module .mini_item {padding:5px 0px; margin: 0px 0px;} #plain_module a { color: #49A3CA; text-decoration:none; } #plain_module a:hover { color: #F98419; text-decoration:underline;} span.gray {color:#949494;} .mini_main li{list-style-type: none;background-image: url(http://www.aolcdn.com/travel/bullet);background-repeat: no-repeat;background-position: 0 1px;padding-left: 10px;} Those plastic key cards that once seemed so innovative will soon go the way of the actual key. The new thing is contact-less Smartcards and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) cards that need just be waved to allow room access. Much like the cruise world's one card system, these cards may soon make hotel stays easier by allowing guests to pay for services, as well as to check-in and check-out, through a single device. Travelers may even be able to save preferences on the cards, from pillow type to floor choice. RFID cards are already in use at New York's Plaza Hotel, and Starwood Hotels are considering introducing them into their hip Aloft and Element properties. But travelers worried they will constantly have to traipse back to reception every time they lose their card need not despair. Security systems in some hotels do away with cards altogether. "In addition to Radio Frequency Identification, there are also systems that use a smartphone, such as an iPhone," says Frank Wolfe, CEO of Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals. "When a guest checks into a hotel and provides their phone number, they get an encrypted sound code via text message." You can then play back the code to unlock your room door.

Systems that track the other qualities that make each human unique are in development as well. Movement-activated video-capture systems were showcased in New Zealand in September 2010. Researchers are at work on devices capable of recognizing an individual's gait or walk and even their DNA. Frank Wolfe says, "If you want to go 'way out there', there are some systems being explored that can allegedly sniff someone, and also systems that can recognize the pattern of blood veins on a human being which are apparently unique to the individual," says Wolfe. Quite common in Japan, vascular-recognition systems such as this are still "several years off," according to Wolfe. "I think that you will begin to see more hotels going to RFID and smartphone entry before using biosystem recognition," says Wolfe. "These systems are expensive, and there are many consumers who just don't want this information stored somewhere -- for a variety of reasons."

Currently, the following Mobile POS solutions providers have successfully completed the registration and self-certification process for their solutions: Corduro, Ezetap, Elavon, Handpoint, Itos, iVeri, iZettle, JSC Smartfin (2Can), Miura Systems, NetSecure Payments (Kudos), Payworks, ROAM, SCCP (Swiff), Soft Space, Square and Thyron Systems.

Small businesses and retailers that have never accepted card payments and previously operated on a cash- and invoice-only basis are turning to mobile point-of-sale (MPOS) solutions to expand their customer base and sales. Established retailers are also adopting MPOS solutions to engage customers in-aisle and enhance the retail and payment experience. MasterCard introduced the MasterCard Mobile POS Program to provide guidance to Mobile POS solution providers and promote simple and secure transactions when consumers use their debit, credit and prepaid cards to pay merchants that use these devices.

Revel Systems (www.revelsystems.com), the leader in iPad point-of-sale (POS) solutions for restaurant, grocery and retail business establishments, today announced a complete integration of its reporting suite with QuickBooks, the accounting software suite developed by Intuit.  As of this week, Revel Systems' award-winning iPad POS system will be able to directly export all sales, product mix and other financial information into QuickBooks, making it the latest accounting software addition to integrate directly with Revel POS, including Ctuit, and RTI  (franchise reporting).  This will save store owners and accountant's countless hours and save them significant amount money every month.

By integrating into QuickBooks Anywhere, clients are able pull all of their information, automatically to any edition of QuickBooks, regardless of software version.

hotel SystemsPro, a leading provider of ASP-based, enterprise hotel sales software announced new enhancements to its popular hotel SalesPro Mobile Sales and Catering solution. When the company launched hotel SalesPro Mobile in 2009 it was the first true mobile sales and catering solution.

Mobile Sales and Catering is not new“Mobile Sales and Catering functionality is not new to us,” said Edie Chandler Lowe, Senior Vice President of hotel SystemsPro. “We are continually evolving new solutions in response to our clients’ needs. We initially launched hotel SalesPro Mobile in 2009 for iPhone users. We continued to upgrade its functionality for the past 4 years. Today, it is compatible with both iOS and Android operating systems. hotel SalesPro Mobile gives hotel sales teams and managers remote access to our easy-to-use hotel SalesPro system for real-time property, account, group, or hotel chain information while they are traveling. Our latest enhancement for smartphone and tablet users is mobile GRC and function diary viewing for in-house group and event activity for any day.”

Bobby leads the commercial sales and marketing initiatives for Aeroseal, LLC, sole owner and licensee of aeroseal technology, the world’s only patented process of sealing HVAC ductwork from the inside out. Through this unique approach to duct sealing, aeroseal technology allows users to 1) save money by sealing old ducts instead of investing in new ducts, (2) perform sealing that is impossible or inefficient from the outside, (3) significantly lower energy costs and meet aggressive energy-savings goals, (4) address serious indoor air quality issues associated with airborne contaminants that spread through leaky ducts and (5) remedy airflow/comfort issues associated with ductwork.

Studies indicate that on average, 15-40% of all heating and cooling energy is lost through leaky ducts. Unfortunately, this problem was seldom addressed due to the difficulty associated with accessing ducts and finding leaks, the majority of which are hidden behind walls, under ceilings or beneath insulation. Aeroseal addresses these issues by automatically sealing ducts from the inside. The solution is obvious and easy, addresses serious issues, and delivers energy savings, with a 2-7 year payback.

The eCommerce world is undergoing significant changes and consumers have higher expectations. Because of this if eCommerce websites are going to be successful they need to adapt to the new realities of the market. Izzonet CEO, Tallya Rabinovich, offers guidance for both existing and aspiring online sellers.

However, as those numbers continue to increase, overall customer satisfaction with online shopping experiences seem to be on the decline. Recent surveys have shown a general downward trend in satisfaction over the past few years, something that appears to be the result of increased customer expectations. “In the past retailers thought it was enough to simply have an online store, but times have changed,” says Tallya Rabinovich.

When asked what eCommerce websites need to succeed in 2013 and beyond, Tallya offered a few useful tips. “First, it is important that eCommerce store owners are not only looking at next year, but also looking 5-10 years down the line. Keep abreast of events and developments in both the technology and business sectors so that your site can continually grow and adapt. Second, my observations show that the one thing that customers want more than anything else is personalization. As much as customers appreciate the convenience and lower prices of online shopping, they sometimes miss the personal experience of a brick and mortar store. To overcome this, make sure your online store is as personal and interactive as possible. This means have a good “contact us” page that makes you seem accessible, and, even better, have a live chat option to show your customers that there is a real person who is there for them.

The early 1980s marked the beginning of an era of profitable hotel telephone departments.  The advent of call accounting systems (thanks to deregulation) enabled hoteliers to easily mark up calls to a profitable (some say too profitable) level.  Guests had little choice back then but to use the guestroom phone and grumble about the cost. This era has come to an end.  With few exceptions, most hotels have seen between a 15 percent and 25 percent drop in telephone revenues over the last five years.  The main reason for this decrease is guest choice.  The guest now has a variety of choices for communicating including fax over the Internet, e-mail, cell phones, calling cards and now even Internet-based phones.   All these alternatives offer a less expensive means of communicating than using the traditional hotel guestroom phone and other services such as fax . A fax machine in the guestroom was considered a premium amenity for many years.  With the Internet explosion, however, the machines have seen less use.

Mirror televisions are more commonly found in bathrooms, saunas and swimming pools at luxurious hotels.  They are equipped with high definition technology, digital tuners and touch screen functionality.  In fact, there were some impressive Mirror TVs being demonstrated at the recent CES in Las Vegas.