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As VP of Digital Marketing George Corbin said, "Smart devices are now everyone's indispensable travel companion, as more and more travelers increasingly expect to have their needs satisfied using their mobile phone." Engaging with guests via applications is an excellent marketing tool and Marriott's recent update allows guests to access the application via Apple electronics. The application is now featured in 6 different languages, allows for mobile check in/out, room upgrades, late checkout, and direct request. Marriott wanted to go above and beyond in its offerings for guests. Exploiting this avenue of marketing allows guests to have an hotelier within their pocket. Guest rewards will be directly accessible and the app will be personalized via preference data and destination content. Ensuring guests have an easy and reliable source as this, allow for more bookings. In the future, the application will allow guests to order from restaurants within the hotel and room service, as well as feature a messaging system that will send out offers to guests.

This article share us a new technology provided by Apple to make iPad as a guest list management device for events. This new app is called zkipster, which is worth to have for event managers to help them easily check-in guests at events. I think it is very useful and impressive. And now it has a free offline demo version available for download.

PAR Springer-Miller Systems, which is the leading provider of guest-centric hospitality management systems and Personality Hotels announced a successful implementation of the ATRIO Guest Experience Management platform at the Hotel Diva in California. ATRIO was built using Microsoft technologies and gives the look and feel of other innovative products from companies like Apple and Google. Simple to use, this system in the cloud reduced implementation costs. This is the first application purpose-built for true cloud computing.

This article introduces the hospitality industry's first Mobile Management device solution. MVI, an Asia-focused hotel technology provider, partnered with IBM to develop the new enterprise class MDM solution. The MDM solution provides effective management of smart mobile devices to support interactive, live and on-demand video services in hotels. The usage of this new device was recently incorporated at the L'Hotel`elan in Hong Kong. An iPad is provided for guest use in all the hotel's rooms, and it serves as an entertainment device, offering eGuest services such as TV channels and interactive guest services including in-room dining. The MDM solution is fully integrated with hotel PMS and POS systems, which allows the device to become a part of a hotel's overall management ecosystem. This device not only provides the features of an entertainment device for guests, but it also offers hotels unique management features. A few of the features include customized workflow to streamline the installation of hotels' managed apps on mobile device, comprehensive push-based notification management, availability for all Apple mobile devices, and effective protection of guests' own data and personal information for apps that required login. I recently went on a site visit at Turnberry Isles Resort with one of my classes. While on the tour, the lady conducting the tour mentioned that with the rate technology is advancing in the near future many of the hotel procedures will be completed via Ipad (such as checking in and out of the hotel). After reading this article, it seems as if the near future has already arrived!!!

I really liked this article. Personally, I do not have a good experience dealing with people at the front desk. Many people do not want to deal with employees and would find this method a lot easier and stress free. Now you can check in and out from both your TV in your room and also the iPad device. Great article Nicole!

This article gave us a five new online travel trends.Because travel is a hyper-competitive industry, the most pertinent emerging themes in onine travel are considered and experts insights and predictions are provided in the Las Vegas TDS North America event. First trend is the travel industry need be ready for a mobile-only world. Researches indicates that the mobile sales will increase extremely. Because it is expensive to develop mobile app, so traditional travel companies and online travel companies do not such into launching a mobile app in a short term. Convergence, commerce, content and how these impact customer behavior will be an ongoing theme. There is a risk of firms focus too much on one channel, Customers are using a range of different devices to plan, research, book and review their travel experiences.  Revenue management became essential for the business. It needs to integrate with sales, marketing, channel optimization, loyalty marketing , and operations. Think new markets and new customers like China, India, Brazil and Russia. Firms need to be actively targeting this market and make adjustment such as develop local website etc. Last trend is that there are lots of new development in the industry. Facebook start to monetize travel. Google and Apple are also developing their travel related products. This social travel planning tools become successful. Technology develops and standards emerge, mobile bookings may not just be for the last minute.

This cloud-based system seems like a good, inexpensive alternative to a traditional POS.

last semester, one of my stretegic projects is just based on this cloud system. It save the money on purchase, trainning, maintainence, and update fees, what is more, it is safer than the personel system and convenient to transfer, share, and update the information. But I am concerned about it related devices----I phone/I pad. What I know is that I phone never wholesale its products or for rent. So the cost for the device purchase, maintence and update is still a big part.

I wonder what the target market of the 300 plus restaurants that are currently using this domestically is? It raises concerns of user acceptance for those who are not familiar with Apple products, as we all know these people exist. User acceptance would be high if it is marketed to the appropriate demographic.

With Apple came a new era to the contemporary technological world in which some people and businesses can not operate with PC, because Mac interface and overall features seem to be more user-friendly, but however most of those people and businesses want to operate Mac, using PC features. So, this article suggests how to keep both systems working and what are the means, advantages and disadvantages to that

As the world develops, more and more restaurants use e-menu to order food. Ipad, the fashion of technology also attract restaurants eyes. Some owners invest into Ipad menu in order to attract more customers and make more gross profit. Also, many owners are worry about security risks, maintenance, education, and so on. Here are some advantages of ipad menu such as paperless, electronic receipts, tips, categorized menu, suggestions, reports, inventory, speedy orders and picking a plate. Because of eliminating print, there are no more receipts or written signatures. It is the reason of paperless. And customers can quickly calculate their waitress tips on the ipad. Also, the guests can use the ipad to design their own meal. If guests have some questions about the wine according to the food preference, Ipad menu will answer it. Another reason is the ipad menu should increase the speedy orders. The orders will transfer to kitchen in seconds and save the time for waiting the waitress to order the food. At the same time, if the restaurant is busy, guests will play some games on Ipad to wait for their food, which instead of complains. At last, because of saving time and labor cost, the restaurant should be save cost and easy to collect data of the restaurant. There are still some disadvantages. For example, every customer wants an individual iPad as their own menu, so restaurants must purchase numerous iPads with one per seat. Because of this reason, the restaurant should be care for the thefts. And the managers need to train every waitress to use the ipad menu. The expense should increase in training.Also, some guests do not know how to use ipad menu and the technology is not suit for them. At last, you need to pay more in maintenance.

This article reveals that Revel Systems is expanding its point-of-sale products with Beautiful Brand International. Revel Systems is well-known for creating the mobile point-of-sale system for Apple used by numerous restaurants and retails. Other popular restaurants currently partnered with Revel Systems are Camille's Sidewalk Café, Dixie Cream, FreshBerry Frozen Yogurt Cafe and Rex's Chicken. This POS system provides a quicker checkout option for customers and offers hotel/restaurant managers the option of powering the software using the cloud or an iPad application. This provides the company a cost efficient, easy to use program that has the ability to customize payroll, track inventory, email receipts and allow customers to make orders online. Most managers who invest in this program make it a requirement for all their companies to utilize in order to provide a systematic approach to maintaining their database and ensuring all locations are managed the same. This is such a popular and competitive tool that Revel is already making $80 million since its origin in August 2010. A major advantage of this system is that it provides the ease of accessing documents with its reliance on servers hosted in the cloud. These systems are quickly being adopted by restaurants mainly because customers are impressed with the style, speed and reliability. Revel Systems forces busineses to upgrade their POS systems in order to meet security standards. This will result in a $34 billion POS market by the end of 2012. Companies selling these systems make businesses believe they need POS systems in order to run their business efficiently. They explain that with servers hosted in the cloud, management is enabe to see data in real time from any location.

The article talk about a POS company that has developed a complete system for retail or restaurant stores that runs on the IPAD and the Cloud. It lowers the entry barrier by more than 75% compared to a regular MICROS POS system, they do this by not having a in house server and using standard hardware.  One of the advantages of using this system is that you can monitor your sales real time on any location that might be using the system.

The fashion merchandise retailer store, Nordstrom, has joined the venture of equipping employees with mobile POS devices in order to increase customer satisfaction, in a focus toward convenient efficient checkout. The fundamental incentive is to minimize the customer's inclination to over analyze their potential purchase by waiting in the line for a lengthy period, thus, maintaining the impose of the customers to purchase the item. The mobile POS devices are equipped with a scanner and credit card slider in order to complete the transaction for the customer, the same type of technology is visible in Apple and Home Depot stores. According to the company's sale report, a visible increase in sales has occurred for the Nordstrom Company, an estimated 15.3 percent from $1.5 Billion to $1.73 Billion in the same fiscal year of 2011. As well, the creation of a Nordstrom app allows salespersons to check inventory and availability, in a further aim to increase customer satisfaction and their business. Without a doubt POS system are branching into different spectrum of business in order to increase efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Food Trucks no longer have to worry about internet connections, cables and loss of power. This system is on the go and perfect for them and even has a way for them to reach out to customers when they are in a slow time. If food trucks are having a slow day they can just tweet to all of their followers special deals or locations even to attract more business.

Having the iPad POS system in the food trucks is a great idea because the owners no longer have to worry about lots of hardware in the truck just to be able to take payment from customers.

Technology continues to advance in every aspect of the hospitality field even for food trucks businesses. The Revel System has released a new iPad-based restaurant POS system. This system is very convenient for food truck employees. There is no longer need to worry about the hustle and bustle of loose cables and poor router connection. As social media plays an important role in today's day and age the new POS system is equip with Twitter. Food trucks owners can send a tweet out about promotions, discounts, and their current location. This is very much an innovation for food truck businesses.

The hospitality industry is experiencing a technological transformation. Current technology is improving and being put to better or new uses. According to this article in Hospitality Magazine, there are seven technologies that are taking the industry by storm. 1. Online Booking Systems I agree with the many industry insiders that now consider an online booking system essential. Penetrating the online marketplace is an absolutely mandatory part of the formula for success. However, opinions differ when it comes to how to accomplish this aspiration. As expressed in the article "Taking back control of the direct channel for hotels" posted on the class ScoopIt!, using online travel agents as a properties online booking system has easy setup and maintenance but lacks true customization and can put a sizable dent in profit margins, but building and utilizing a 100 percent customized system does not necessarily grant instant access to hundreds of travels sites on the web. Over all, I am of the opinion that online travel agents are still the best option-for now-because the pros out way the cons. 2. Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) Primarily used for mobile or self-ordering, EPOS systems can replace waitresses' use of paper orders and remote/hidden POS systems. In my opinion, this streamlines the look of the restaurant floor and provides better and more instantaneous service. Panera Bread uses self-order tablets as some of their locations that allow customers who know what they want to order traditional menu items quickly and independently. Having used this system, I find it more of a novelty than a convenience because the system isn't exactly self-explanatory. Currently, the technology is much more enjoyable as an aid to waitresses where the restaurant can experience increased efficiency and a higher standard of service while guests can experience the "that's cool" factor without the frustration of having to navigate the service themselves.

3. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) CRM technology provides efficient electronic storage and management of contracts and customer information and many versions also feature cloud-based applications that provide easy access to frontline employees. Electronic storage and online back-up are not totally new ideas (i.e. the floppy disc) and despite the long way these technologies have come is, in my opinion, not enough to do away completely with paper back ups. Even with electronic files, my previous property kept basic papers for 1 year and more sensitive files for much longer. Basically, CRM technology is something we should utilize more, but I doubt many will do away with a paperback up system anytime soon. 4. Marketing Automation Automatic email and text communications have been made possible by the development and improvement of marketing automation technology. Having worked with this type of technology, there is not an overabundance of companies/technologies from which to chose; however, the technology available various greatly in effectiveness and quality. In my opinion, Constant Contact is the best marriage of quality and ease of use for marketing automation technology available. This type of marketing can really step us a properties game, but beware of poor performing products. 5. Social Media According to the article, photos are the most popular posts by social media users, but the arena has become a bonafide space for reviews. While sites such as TripAdvisor and Expedia provide a niche arena for travel/tourism/hospitality related communication, general social media sites also invite open, unfiltered discussion. Whole social media is BIG, it is important for companies to assess and utilize only the social media outlets that their demographic are actively using.

6. Smartphones Smartphones are already super convenient. They are constantly being integrated and synced with our daily lives. Applications such as Apple Pay, in combination with CapitalOne, have provided another level of integration. Currently, there is talk and work on guests being able to use their cell phones as hotel room keys but I wouldn't be surprised if in the future we will have QR Code or RFID storage for our driver licenses, insurance policies and other important information. 7. Smart Appliances A part of American households for sometime, smart appliances are beginning to make their way into the hospitality industry. Luxuries such as electronically controlled blinds, thermostats, lights and more are something we can expect to see in hotels sometime in the future. My biggest concern is the time between now and implementation because while these products are available for purchase by consumers directly, they have not taken off nor seemed to gain any ground in the typical household. Could the hospitality industry be just as slow to adopt these technologies? I believe that it is likely so-mainly due to the high cost of implementation. In conclusion, technology is still advancing and most industries are feeling the pressure to update existing technology and adopt new technology. In the hospitality industry this is especially true.

This article talks about the importance of the pay at the table technology due to cardholder data and new methods of payment such as Apple Pay where you pay via your smartphone. This article also addresses the positives of having an at the table pay system. Some of the benefits are higher table turnover and higher customer satisfaction. I like how the article mentions that the servers need to be trained to use the system but also inform the customers as to why this method of payment is being used- to keep their data secure.

As always Google always seems to highly compete with its Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft. Google Assistant will now introduce the ability for a individual to check in or book any domestic flight, check in or book a hotel room, and also to translate. According to Skift, "the translations were serviceable but included too many mistakes". Google plans to continue to integrate more hardware in the technology industry.

The cloud will provide the digital infrastructure for the cities of tomorrow, where an estimated 6 billion of the world's population will live by 2045. A commercial aviation cloud will help airlines. A utilities cloud will automatically repair faults in the power grid to ensure a smooth supply of power to homes and businesses. A banking cloud will scan thousands of transactions per second to prevent fraud. The cloud will help society cope with growing volumes of data. High definition video will account for 89% of individual user traffic by 2025, of which image and video content will be for non-entertainment purposes. The cloud will support the emerging artificial intelligence technologies which will be adapted to mobile use, notably the cell phones which overlook PC sales in 2011. Although driverless cars are still a ways off, it will be realized soon, thanks to the power of the cloud.

There are a variety of software "apps" that are being added to the tool-belt of smaller hotels that cannot afford or utilize major player software company such as Fidelio Opera or Maestro. These include applications for book-keeping, accounting, note taking, guest interaction, employee performance reviews, and many others! These smaller developed apps may one day surpass the integrated major software programs I mentioned before. The days of the centralized PMS system are numbered and the day of decentralized interfacing applications is soon to come. Looking over the apps listed in this article, it is not unrealistic to believe that this time is swiftly approaching.

This is Nicholas Reynolds from Hospitality Enterprise Tech Online

this article goes in-depth the benefits of using POS systems.. POS systems are being used a lot more than ever before. it is a great and effective tool to follow up on customer engagement and understand more about sale information and profit projections, all while providing excellent customer service