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i do believe that someday the Apple POS systems will replace all the hardware and software POS system widely working in the restaurant. Apple product is becoming one of the inevitable interaction and communication apps taking actions in many fields of industries. And it is able to be much cheaper and faster tool in restaurant. Customers would like to use their own Apple products( itouch, ipad, iphone) to finish ordering via the intranet or internal internet. it is not only time-saving but also money-saving approach.

Apple is using recycled materials in their new phones and hopes to eliminate the need to mine new materials for future devices through their new Green policy

Hospitality companies should begin to focus marketing tailored to the youth of America. Millennials are projected to become the largest demographic in the US by 2019, which means they are on track to surpass baby boomers in terms of purchasing power. Hotels should be looking to offer more ways to pay that just credit cards and cash with many more people using alternative paying methods such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal as their primary payment source

This article discusses how AR has been around for a while but has now had a boost thanks to the pandemic. The article mentions how companies such as Lenovo, Panasonic, and Apple are going about the implementation of AR through their product offerings as they are sensing and responding to demand created by the pandemic in order to adapt to changing consumer preferences.

The article discusses the advancement of digital payments as a direct result of the pandemic. It discusses how cash use is on a steady decline as nearly a third of US adults said they typically make no purchases using cash. Lastly, it emphasizes on how Millennials are the ones leading the charge toward a cashless future and how the impact of the pandemic has led companies like Apple, Square, and Paypal to outstanding performances in the contactless segment.

"You're probably already practicing basic online and mobile safety, but consider taking these credit card-specific measures as well: Know your merchant. When shopping online, look for sites with "https" in their web addresses (the "s" stands for "secured") and the green lock icon; make sure the URL includes the correct company's name, rather than a close-but-not-correct version; and, even on a secured site, share your information only if you know how it will be used. Type for each transaction. Never allow your credit card number to be stored on an online shopping site. Add a layer. Consider using an online payment system or mobile payment service like PayPal, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay or Android Pay to keep your credit card number out of the hands of merchants, so that if a merchant is hacked, it can't leak your account number. Watch out for public Wi-Fi. Don't shop or conduct financial transactions, including checking your accounts, using public Wi-Fi. Because it's a public network, your information can easily be viewed by anyone."

This article goes into being patient when it comes to launching a new or similar product. Many companies try to be a trendsetter but sometimes taking the backseat is much beneficial. Startup and trial and error runs are ultimately decreased. Reviewing the feedback of others on social media outlets can help make sure you don't stumble over the same issues.

This article explains why a wait & see approach is sometimes the best approach for some companies before launching a product in a very competitive market which already has a company providing the same product to consumers. Many companies have waited to see what issues consumers are complaining about when their competitors have launched a product to later launch a better product better than that if the competitors. Such companies are Pandora versus Apple Music, Lyft versus Uber, Apple Cash versus Venmo, QuickPay, and Square Cash.

Module 6: Proximity Marketing This article focuses on the use of proximity marketing in 2020, and discusses how beacons have not taken over the offline and online market like Apple and Google originally hoped they would. Discussed in the article is how Amazon is utilizing proximity marketing in their Amazon Go stores This technology in a COVID-19 world will allow shoppers the flexibility to go outside of their homes and continue to social distance as all payments occur as, " customers can simply walk in, pick the items they want and walk right out - no queues and no physical payments action whatsoever." Similar to Starbucks where guests pay directly on their phones, the proximity marketing market will continue to grow as technology continues to advance. According to the article, "The technology, in its current state, is already there to redefine customer experiences and the way consumers engage with brands, based on their immediate location."

This article is about a new application: Monscierge that launched in December for the iOS (apple) and Connect for the Android in January. The software allows all of the amenities of a hotel to be available to guests via smartphones. The app is completely customizable for each of a brand's specific hotels. This is an excellent idea for both hotels and guests with the recent rise in smartphone and tablet technology. Guests who may not be as comfortable requesting things in person or over the phone would now have the option to do so digitally. Research of 1,000+ hotels and resorts worldwide was conducted over 3 years and found that the majority of questions to the front desk, bellmen, etc. were related to: services, local information, and recommendations. This app seeks to improve that by making those inquiries easily searchable on a smartphone or tablet, also allowing guests to input their own comments. With this finding it should be expected this kind of technology would be very well accepted, which it was. In respect to benefits for the hotel the app is completely customizable down to specific hotels to suit their image needs. With the use of this application it would also allow staff to be more effective, negating redundant questions. By allowing guests the ability to send digital postcards bearing the hotels brand it gives the company more exposure. These benefits are significant for a company looking for new technologies to give them an edge The benefits of this application are numerous for both the customer and hotel. Hotels may also see benefits moving into future years with easier training due to familiarity with this type of technology and customers with easy-to-use technology. For hotels and consumers attempting to plan completely customized experiences, trip-planning functionality is built into the app providing many possible uses. This app to me seemed to be very logical in the current progression of technology. The majority of people today

GrandStay Hospitality has selected ZDirect for its eMarketing and eCRM provider. ZDirect also has ZMail which includes Mobile Passport, SMS Messaging, Apple Passbook, and Responsive Email Design. According to Jon Kennedy, president of GrandStay Hospitality, ZDirect has an impeccable reputation in regards to their services and customer successes. He believes that ZDirect will give it the leverage needed to help the "small, transitional" company quickly grow. The tools of ZDirect and ZMail will "enable each property to send electronic guest confirmations, pre-arrival email promotions, post-stay satisfaction surveys", which will allow the hotel and its guests to communicate. This two-way communication will help to increase revenue and maximize profits.

eMarketing is a great way for smaller companies to grow in the hotel industry. But if planning to run eMarketing all on your own it can get costly. The amount of severs, maintenance, and man power to run a successful eMarketing campaign is more than a small hotel chain can handle. Allowing a third party company like ZDirect to come in and help orchestrate an eMarketing campaign is a great solution for smaller hotel chains a chance. 

This article analysis the future of the GDS for airlines from both the airline company's perspective and the marketing perspective. The conflicts between airlines and GDS and the agencies is a recycling battle. It has been back and forth with the airlines withdraw from the system and ended up renewing contracts. The most recent war initiated by American airline pulled its inventory from Orbitz in December, 2010, in order to force GDS Travelport to drop the distribution cost. The two parties need each other and it is time for them to reach common ground and have mutual benefits.Delta has done something for that by adopting three second-tire OTAs. http://www.tnooz.com/2010/12/22/news/delta-cites-apple-experience-exits-cheapoair-bookit-com-onetravel/ But those are the short-term issues. In the long term is that " airlines' long-term strategy to advance distribution from fare- and schedule-led selling to merchandising. " The article also give a marketing perspective. It shows the intention of American Airline to build a system that link directly to the airline that don`t have to obey the searching rules of the agency. It also listed nine unanswered questions and wild cards, which indicates the risk of this strategic shift.

This article does a great job of showing the history of the point of sales system and looking at the future of the POS System. Point of sales, or retail transactions, have been around since humans were created. Cash transactions took place between consumers and merchants, and the cash was kept in a box. The cash register, a mechanical cash box, was the first real POS System that kept track of revenues. It wasn't until businesses started using barcodes that the POS really started to change. Merchants could process sales more quickly and accurately. Restaurants were among the first to use mobile POS systems. Staff could process credit cards at the table, and place orders without ever having to write an order down. Apple, for example, eliminates the cash register altogether and handles all transactions from hand-held devices. These new systems of POS reduce labor costs and increase productivity. The elimination of written orders increases the accuracy of servers and gives customers a better quality of service. The future of the POS System is bright. Restaurants have created iPhone apps that allow customers to place their orders before they even reach the restaurant, while others let servers carry around a small computer that allows them to process transactions from wherever they are. Even more advancements are beginning to take place. Encrypted card readers and contact less payment methods will increase the security of mobile POS systems. Eventually a person's cell phone will be able to be passed over a terminal and act as a credit card. These advancements are ultimately to create more time for the guest and the business as well as make shopping more automatic. In today's society where people are controlled by the need to shop, a more automatic type of transaction is the best invention.

Using the ZMail® electronic communication platform from ZDirect, travelers receive a link in their confirmation email to a 'pass' containing hotel reservation information; The 'pass' is stored in Apple's Passbook, and when in close proximity to the hotel, automatically pops up on the iPhone lock screen for instant retrieval. ZDirect is a hospitality provider of electronic customer-relationship management services. Via ZMail®, hotels send personalized emails and text messages to guests before, during and after their stay to improve hotel-to-guest communications, build customer loyalty and increase onsite spending. "ZDirect's mobile integration to Passbook does what paper can't -- it alerts travelers to real-time changes in their reservations," "...ZDirect's integration to Passbook means no more printing of hotel confirmations which tend to get lost. To update their reservations, guests simply 'pull down' on their 'pass' to receive the latest reservation information. It's a convenience tool that is so important to today's mobile-dependent travelers, and it's a logical add on for hotels that use ZMail® for hotel-to-guest communication." said Shayne Paddock, ZDirect chief information officer. I think this is a excellent example that combining PMS with current trend. Passbook is an great app invented by Apple, and this collaborating way that ZDirect did is a huge step in PMS mobilization.

This article introduces Revel System's new Ipad Point of Sale System designed specifically for food trucks. The system includes Revel Router, which allows customers to connect to the internet by using their iPad's built-in 3G or 4G connection. Another highlight of the system is that it intergrates with Twitter, allowing food truck owners to instantly send out location/price/sales updates to their followers. I immediately found this article to be interesting, because my research for this class will center around effective POS systems in food trucks. I feel it was an excellent move on Revel's part to create a system for this unique group. I think they really had food truck owners' best interest in mind, especially in intergrating Twitter with the system. This allows food trucks to communicate easily with their followers, and provides opportunites to boost sales and revenue. I look forward to seeing if any of the food trucks I visit are using this system.

Mobile point-of-sale systems are set to become the most revolutionary of breakthroughs in the transfer of currency since the invention of the cash register. We can experience Mobile POS very often in shops like Nordstrom, Apple. It is a very convenient way to free customers from long waiting line in front of the cashier counter. In shops like Apple , you can just simply grab any sale assistant and ask them to do the check out for you on their POS iPhone. Despite its many benefits, mobile processing will not supplant traditional POS overnight. One hurdle that must be overcome in the public conscience involves security. Many people don't trust people swiping their credit cards on iPhone and without any printed receipt. However, once mobile POS does become commonplace, it will be a boon for businesses of every size

This article discusses how the traditional vendor RFP (Request for Proposal) model is no longer the ideal way to integrate the right technology marketing that a hotel needs. The traditional vendor RFP model is time-consuming and expensive, and with the way that technology is constantly expanding and changing, hotels need to stay up-to-date with technology more and more frequently, which can mean this process is wasting time and money on an ever-increasing scale. Furthermore, it is not always an accurate indicator of the kinds of technology a hotel might need, especially what a hotel might need in the future, and it is difficult to determine who would best be capable of knowing what the property will need or what exactly to ask for in an RFP. The article talks about three alternatives to the traditional model: the Scorecard model, the Digital Marketing Partner Interview model, and the Trusted Partner model. With the Scorecard model, hotels have a checklist of things they need and can check off each point from each potential vendor. With the Digital Marketing Partner Interview model, which is similar to the traditional vendor RFP process, except that the interview focused on finding a Digital Marketing Partner that aligns with the hotel's management philosophy, values, and culture in order to find the right partnership. With the Trusted Partner model, the hotel works with one particular company with whom they share common goals and objectives, and they work together to solve problems and adapt new technology as the hotel's technological needs are manifested over time.

This article gives us a glance at six different technological trends being used and "revolutionizing" the hospitality industry. The six trends are cloud/software services, mobility, social media, personalized systems, integration, and globalization. The trends are all seen across the board in hospitality nowadays and are making huge changes in the industry. We have been talking about cloud computing and the pros and cons of using a cloud to store information and even with all the controversy, companies are investing and using the cloud. The use of tablets and smartphones has changed the way we interact with technology and the hospitality field is not staying behind. They are developing mobile sites and apps to help customers look at pictures and reviews about a place, check in and check out or make other arrangements. Social media is also revolutionizing hospitality by creating a reputation for businesses whether they be positive or negative. People can freely post about whether they enjoyed their stay at a certain hotel and helps build the online reputation of the company. In addition, more and more companies are looking to become more personalized experience. When I think about this part, I think mostly of the new systems rolling out at Disney World that scream personalization, guests can select their Fastpasses ahead of time, can use MagicBands to purchase things, get into their hotel, get into the park as well as to utilize the Fastpass system and every time a MagicBand is scanned at a touchpoint, the cast members know the person's name and whether they are celebrating something. With integration, customers and staff can access information from different departments all on one system and with globalization companies are trying to use systems that are global and used worldwide. 

Technological developments continue to have a great effect on all aspects of our lives, the hospitality industry not being an exception. Calum McIndoe in his article "Six Technology Trends Revolutionising the hospitality industry" outlines areas of technology that managers within the industry need to take advantage of. Cloud technology, though this concept is fairly new it can provide great financial benefits to companies as it cuts cost greatly due to the fact that it eliminates the heavy hardware requirements traditional technology offered. Mobility, the fact that portable devices can add a competitive edge to the service offered. Think traditional services being provided on the go away from a fixed station. Social; the popularity of social networking sites have changed the face of hospitality and tourism marketing completely. Properties are now forced to monitor social networking sites to learn about customer demands and to also learn about the image their company has out there and how they can improve it. According to Mr. "for any hotel to not at least monitor social medis is tantamount to willingly flying blind." Personalized systems; value for customers within this industry has to do greatly with the personal touch added to the service delivered. These merged systems allows properites to use data to ensure that guest needs are met. Integration; the joining of isolated systems used in all areas of operations on the property. The use of integrated systems allows for the pulling of data from the different departments thus ensuring proper management of services delivered and revenue management. Globalisation; It is important that hospitality companies adapt to changes and trends brought about by globalisation. Whether the current global outlook is taken into consideration when considering how a company operates can greatly impact the final product.

((NOTE: The author already highlighted the article in yellow when I found it, my personal highlighting is in PINK. Sections 5 and 6 are not highlighted in pink because I agree with the parts that the author highlighted yellow in those sections; Diigo toolbar will not let you highlight over something that has already been highlighted.)) This article mainly focuses on the technological changes in the hotel industry in pertinence with storing hotel information versus the traditional method(s) used by hotels that involved little to no technology at all. The article lists six different points or examples and states that businesses, especially small or upcoming businesses, need to follow by these six trends. The part of the article that stood out to me the most when reflecting on the lectures and power points for this week is the first trend. The first trend speaks about a "cloud" software (which I am not really familiar with so excuse me if my explanation is not 100% sound) and announces that "around 85% of the queries we see from hospitality companies and hotels include a serious look at cloud computing". The author lists a few reasons why such a high percentage of hotels are doing it this way. He basically says that you do not need special staff or special training to maintain the system; the system maintains itself so you can have more time to focus on your guests and trends in their patterns. Also, as far as the cost is concerned, "upfront investment is lower with the cloud as there are no initial hardware costs or associated expense…". Even though I am not very familiar with this service just yet, I like the idea of freeing up employee time to go and interact more with the customers; attending to the customers' needs is the most important thing in my eyes. The article goes on to list mobility, social media, personalized systems, integration, and globalization as all equally important parts to this revolution of technology pertaining to the hospitality industr