Group items matching

in title, tags, annotations or url

This article is a simple breakdown on what proximity marketing is, who needs it and different types of proximity marketing. This article is interesting to read because it details the topic very well and really explains how a company could be successful using proximity marketing once they know their customer target base.

This article is on proximity marketing. If you had never heard of proximity marketing like I did this article will help you have a better understanding of it.

According to Nicole Genchur, almost 5 billion phone users worldwide, including more than e billion smartphone users. As a result, using smartphones has become the perfect time for location-based technologies, advertisement, and marketing. Proximity marketing is a tactic that works for businesses in all industries and of all sizes. Proximity marketing uses customers' locations for marketing a product or a service. Most modern mobiles have GPS technology and cell phone triangulation. Proximity marketing is also known as hyper-local marketing. This technology is a highly targeted form of marketing that lets businesses show promotions to customers within a small local area. Proximity marketing is used by many businesses, which include restaurants and fast foods, retail stores, the traveling industry, and real estate companies. Proximity marketing offers many opportunities for marketing to many businesses because they can personalize the customer experience based on past, present, or future location and behavior. Proximity marketing helps boost sales, offers information that can create customer engagement, and can improve customer relationships.

Proximity Geofencing marketing allows company to micro-target people based on where they go. Digital geofences can be placed around the perimeter of a location and will send passerby's advertisements regarding that location. Beacons run off bluetooth resulting in more indoor use due to range capabilities.

Thanks for sharing this article on Proximity Marketing Geofencing Versus Beacon Marketing. I learned quite a bit from this post, for example, the benefits of Proximity Geofencing Marketing; particularly, a) the ads will continue for up to 30 days after persons leave the location, b) this technology is compatible with multiple types of devices and c) less set-up time is required.

Note: my above post is comprised of highlighted excerpts and intended to be in quotes but the editing tab is not working accordingly. No plagiarism is intended and credit goes to the authors of the posted web page. Nelson AS DESCRIBED ; this is the fundamental problem with the proximity marketing process. The fact that this is some sort of "subliminal" type of messaging through push marketing, that not only send out ads but collectively gathers personal data, should be an area of concern for everyone utilizing a smart device. "Our in-app features enable you to reach the right customer and push the right message at the right time and at the right location BLE iBeacons for accurate mobile proximity marketing. Analyze customer patterns, dwell times, measure performance, promotions, track conversions and customer retention & loyalty better understand your customers & increase your foot traffic, sales and revenue."

The ability of proximity marketing will be able to reach markets based on location.

Proximity marketing is an exceptional way to target particular customers. Many companies have seen success by launching these marketing techniques.

I appreciate you sharing this article on "What is Proximity Marketing?" This article explains in details how "proximity-based marketing" or "mobile proximity marketing" use customers devices to entice them to make purchases whenever they are near locations that practices this type of marketing. Moreover, I understand why Proximity Marketing will gain momentum in the future. This is because a wealth of customer data is gathered through the type of technology used and the result of the same is beneficial to both the business and customers.

Choice Hotels installed a choiceADVANTAGE Cloud-Based PMS recently, it is a property management system based on the cloud, it is much easier and more convenient to use and manage, and it also reduces some redundant of the traditional PMS, now it will roll out and will be deployed in more and more hotels located in other area of world. As far as I concerned, this is an excellent system which can help hotel to manage different kinds of things in a short time and an easy way, it should be extended to more hotel.

As a frequent visitor of Las Vegas, this article caught my attention. The article discusses the collaboration between MGM Resorts International and Cisco Systems and the development of a "high-density WI-FI system designed to enhance the guest experience". According to the article, MGM Resorts and Cisco have developed the highest-performing wireless LAN in the industry. Since Las Vegas is a top destination for tourists and business travelers, this technology will enhance the overall experience for a guest who is in town for either business or pleasure (or both!). Not only is the connectivity within this system is 30 percent faster, but it offers new programs and apps. There is a "state-of-the art wayfinding resort map" which offers point-by-point directions to various locations within the resort such as, restrooms, restaurants, and retail stores. I think this is a great idea. Las Vegas hotel/casino resorts can be quite overwhelming, especially for first-time guests.

. For example, it can be difficult to locate the "all mighty" restroom among the bright lights of the slot machines and crowds of anxious gamblers. With this new WI-FI system in place, any MGM Resorts' guest with a wireless device has access to a quick reference guide right in the palm of their hand. Another interesting feature of this system is the assortment of restaurant wine, beer, cocktail, and dessert apps. These apps are designed to cater to food and wine enthusiasts. For example, wine lovers can "discover new wines, read reviews, rate the wine themselves, and even email wine labels". As a wine lover myself, I think this is a fantastic idea! On numerous occasions, I have found myself desperately searching for a pen and paper to write down the wine information or taking pictures of wine labels for future reference.

Las Vegas is host to numerous conventions year-round. MGM Resorts' new WI-FI system also caters to convention attendees. Previously, their WI-FI system was only able to support roughly 4,000 concurrent users. Today, with the new and improved WI-FI, MGM Resorts now has the capability to support up to 120,000 concurrent users in Las Vegas. In addition, convention groups will find that the system is user-friendly and allows for network customization. It also includes location-based services and fast download/streaming speeds (for video presentations). MGM Resorts is clearly an industry leader. Most of their resorts, including Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, and The Mirage already have this enhanced WI-FI in place. Final installations to additional resorts will be complete in 2013.

A Swedish hotel intelligence organization has chosen Dubai as the location to use a new software product called Hoteligence. This software is about offering guests specific content and services at the specific time. It is a cloud-based software platform that can be operated through TV, iphone, ipad, Android, etc. It offers room entertainment: customers can play Angry Birds, listen to music and connect to social media platforms such as facebook and twitter. This software is also a useful marketing tool which can track and analyze guests' buying behavior. The feedback until now is very good, so I think it is possible to implement Hoteligence to a bigger market and more levels of hotels as this software not only increases the added benefits for guests, but also gives hoteliers a good marketing tool.

This article is about the mobile network technology (including software and hardware) now playing a significant role in the hospitality industry. Hotels use more mobile technology for their marketing and reservation will come out obviously advantage among the competitors. For example, the Google Maps is growing very fast, and its software on the mobile has become the most popular travelling tool for the users in recent months. People use this software as they ask for dinner recommendations, view maps and turn-by-turn directions. What is more, travelers they can use other software in their mobile to watch proprietary videos highlighting hotel amenities and area attractions. As the mobile network technology is growing so fast today, the hotels should make some revolution for their marketing or booking and reservation system. First of all, the hotel should ensure they have a website for the mobile device which can be smooth and functioned well. Addition, for the marketing department, hotels can offer some discount for the travelers who use the mobile software for booking in advance. Because of the locating function in the mobile, hotels can collect those data in their data house which will be useful to customer data analyzing. What is more, the mobile technology is continuously changing, the hotels should follow the trend, and pay attention for the technology renew which will help to attract more customers.

Revel Systems is an iPad point of sale company that is backed by $3.7 million in funding. The Revel Router is an Apple certified made for iPad technology that allows shops to run their POS through an Apple iPad. The company is selling the device as a package deal which includes an iPad, the routerm peripherals and the POS software. Currently there are 300 locations installed. Revel CEO Lisa Falzone says that a restaurant owner or retail owner doesnt even know when the internet goes out and with the iPad being on either 3G or 4G connectivity this problem will not exist. Also the need for intenret is eliminated due to the iPad. The system isnt really designed for mobility but rather it aims to replace the existing, stationary setups at the point of sale. The starting package is $3,330 and includes an iPad, cash box, printer, credit card swiper, the router, and the software license. The company offers two support pacakges and meail and online ticketing support for $100/month or per terminal fee thats available 24/7. The use of the iPad will make it easier for an establishment that is just starting out. Rather than running wires and installing internet, the use of the iPad will give the same functionality that a regualr touchscreen POS can bring. The amount of downtime due to internet failure is virtually non existent and the cost is at a very affordable price for any restaurant..

Just last year Shangri-La have launched a mobile application for its diverse guests to make reservation on their smart phone. The application is  available in Ipad and android phone. Guest can view special promotion and their membership points (Golden Circle). Guests can redeem their points to book complimentary nights for their next stay. In addition, the applications will have built in QR code scanner.  Shangri-La plans to add features in the first quarter of 2013, that include room text, voice message, special requests, local weathers and to set up wake up calls. User that download the application can also share stories about their stay in "Your Circle". 

The Kimberly hotel located at 145 East 50th Street in New York City became Manhattan's and New York's first hotel to utilize touch screen technology in its guest rooms. The technology is provided by Intelity, an Orlando based hospitality software solution company. The touch screen use a prgram called ICE (Interactive Customer Experience) to allow guests to order room service, check flight status, express check outs, check destinations using Google maps, and even the ability to print their boarding pass. This software and touch screen technology will definitely increase employee custoemr service and reduce guest wait time. Hotel personnel will be able to spend more time with the guest because many of the tasks will be literally at the guests fingertips. The hotel will save money because they will not need to staff as much because of the automated system. Fantastic technology.

This article talks of seven ways in which a POS system can help a small or medium size business through making the owners responsibilies easier to manage. The tools provided by the POS system can help with everything from payroll, to inventory, to pricing and coupons or sales.

This article tries to introduce the point of sale system. It recommends that it's time that your business did away with its cash registers and stepped up to a point-of-sale (POS) system. And the author lists seven reasons to convert businessman set up this system. First of all, your "sudden shrink" no longer goes undetected. It means that the system which has a receiving and inventory module that, when used properly, it can help you to pinpoint the cause of the shrink. Second, Markdown management is much easier. Compare with wrestling cash-register receipts at day's end, a POS automates the process of introducing markdowns and, in turn, tracking them accurately. Thirdly, Promotions can be tracked more successfully. Promotion is necessary for a business. However, the problem is recording shorter specials. Here, the POS system can help you. Then, you can maintain control in absentia. . Many operations suffer in employee efficiency and customer service when the boss is away. Automating a host of functions via a POS can help boost those areas, no matter where the head honcho happens to be. Besides, Your prices are consistent from one location to the next. If your business operates at more than one location, a point-of-sale system ensures pricing consistency. What's more, a POS system can help to keep stocks in proper balance depending on demand and other factors, which can vary from one location to the next. Sixes, you get many tools in a single package. At last, you can make better use of your personnel. The author thinks the greatest advantage to a comprehensive point-of-sale network is that it can afford your personnel to devote their energy to customers. In a word, the author gives us seven advantages of POS and recommends strongly applying it on business.

I liked the part that discussed how this would limit theft, as we know that is a big problem in most establishments. Anytime you can eliminate a calculator and human math is a plus. Recepits can easily be lost. Also consistency is a big part of it, especially if you have more than one establishment. good article!

The article I read was called, "Restaurants, Beware: Hackers Want Your Customer Data." In the article it talked about how cyber criminals want credit card information from people so that they can make money off of them. Criminals find new ways everyday to breach systems and steal information from guests staying at hotels or eating in restaurants. It states that many restaurants and franchise businesses use unsecure and public WiFi networks are connected to the point of sale system. "Franchise businesses are particularly at risk primarily because franchises tend to have the same POS system duplicated at all locations." A lot of times businesses don't have trained security on staff, they just assume that their IT person will be talking care of the security. According to the article the best detection systems are neither the technology nor the security but it's the employees who work there. The employees can tell when something has changed in the system and as soon as they realize that, they need to report it to their manager. I never even considered people breaking into the systems and stealing credit card information but it does happen and it's important to know what to do in these kinds of situations.

This article mainly talks about what is hospitality accounting software, where it usually be used in hospitality industry, and what should be pay attention if you want to install one. The challenge in finding software today is to locate a program that offers a solution that deals specifically with your company's needs. So to find a suitable one is important!

A telecommunication network used to refer to the collection of switches of wirings used by telephone service; it is now include internet, microwave and wireless equipment as well as telephony. The main function of a telecommunication network is to provide efficient and effect transmission of information. A telecommunication network can set up as WAN and LAN. A telecommunication set up as WAN allows reliable communication between nodes that are geographically located across large distance. Hotels chains that located in different area would like to use this network model. With the same level of security, a telecommunication network set up as LAN is used on a smaller geographic area. It provides phone, data, and internet within an enclosed setting. One example is a hotel, where the phones and internet access are all routed through a network located within a hotel. As technologies continue to advance, the definition and the scope of the telecommunication network will also continue to change. But what will remain the same is the core concept. Before I read this paper, my opinion on a telecommunication network is always indicates telephone service, and now I understand it also include internet, microwave and wireless equipment. I have to say that technology have been changed very fast so that we must keep in mind to update our knowledge on these new technology as well.

To know who your guests are and what they like is definitely a competitive strategy for hotels. From this article, there're tons of Apps working to assist and improve Customer Relationship Management system. According to what I searched, infusionsoft is very time consuming and team initiative to customize properly. It's hard to make each application perfect but the purpose behind them is clear: to communicate with customers as more as we can. Those Apps make teams spread across large distances (and businesses set in one location) to collaborate on leads, contacts, discussions and other items and make this extremely simple to do. So being able to collaborate on more aspects of your daily operations is much more beneficial to overall sales and customer experiences. Some applications bring collaboration to a few narrow aspects of CRM, some bring collaboration to the center of the app, and regardless if you're managing other aspects of your business through software you will need to find ways to collaborate on that as well. Many companies accomplish this by using a variety of applications, but it absolutely brings integration issues and high monthly bills. So a lot of helpful solutions are center collaboration with a feature-consolidating environment across a variety of aspects of business management software. WORKetc is a business management app that combines CRM, PM, Finances (expenses, invoicing, etc) and help desk software into one - and brings collaboration to all of these aspects. Thus, it's essential to collaborate them wisely instead of combining as more as possible.

This article deals with the seven main reasons on why a company should switch to a point of sales system. There are a few different systems for example Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System. There are seven signs that your business can boom if you consider using pos. POS allows you to always know your inventory going out and in stock. Marking down merchandise is always correct and accurate. Promotions can be tracked more successfully, especially if you have more than one location. You can always have some sort of control, even when the boss is away. The business can also get m multiple tools with pos, such as payroll time clock and customer preference databases. Last, businesses can place their human employees where they really need to be, helping customers.

To design a website hardware and software tools are needed. A computer with a large hard disk, Random Access Memory to store data, high processing speed and large storage capacity is necessary to be able to process large video files that you would need to put on these websites. with videos, its best to take them yourself so as to lessen the cost of production. Two servers are needed both hardware and software. Microsoft front page is a software needed before constructing the site because it is a website design and management tool that is used to add, rename, delete or move around files. It also contains web pages, graphics, documents and multimedia. A good anti-virus or software is important to have for web design to prevent external threats. Backing up the website should be done through emails, where it can be restored if any problems occur. With mobile web design and editing software you can edit your site from any location and it can be viewed on smart phones, PDAs etc. Some website require databases, for example Dynamic websites. This is prepared with fresh information and is easier to update with new contents for the webpage.

The article discusses five issues that hotel operations are facing, and how to decrease these issues in regards to data thieves. The first security issue discussed is "Remote Access", the article states "Many hotel operators and franchisors use remote management applications (RMAs)". This enable easy access to manage multiple locations downloads; conduct sales polls, and other systems within multiple companies. A advices to remote control issues are to change vendor default settings, in which you can create unique user IDs and complex passwords. Another advice is to "Configure the RMA", in which users are only allowed to connect to known MAC/IP. I personally don't think that creating a unique ID or account password may solve this issue, but allowing connection capability to a set IP/MAC is a wise intake. Although being able to just connect to a set MAC, will cause a limit on where and when you connect. The second security issue is "Network Security", many transaction volumes are being exposed, brand recognition as well; and that attract hackers. In order to reduce this problem, it is suggested that companies need to install and maintain a fire wall at all time. I agree with this other suggestion which is to Use outside resources to help identify new security vulnerabilities. This is great, because a company will be able to receive an outside outlook in regards to security. The last three issues that are on this list are: Password Management, Wireless Security, and Incident Response Plan. Overall it's evident that any system that has a password requirement is causing a major attraction towards security thieves. The suggestions within this article are great, but from my observation; many companies will have to put in time to track and monitor their systems. Systems can't allow to be left open without monitoring, and the internet is a lead way to all this, so any system that requires the internet must be monitored, and protected.

Technology enables service. That's the idea, anyway. In the hotel industry, thousands of companies worldwide provide hundreds of software applications to help hotels and hotel companies manage operations to provide better guest service. However, the hospitality industry continues to find itself targeted for damaging data compromise events by hackers. There are some good ways to decrease the attack of hackers. For example, Remote Access, many hotel operators and franchisors use remote management applications (RMAs).  Their ease of use in managing multiple locations makes them ideally suited to disseminate business downloads, conduct sales polls or survey inventory. RMAs are often packaged from vendors with default or blank passwords. Creating unique user IDs and complex passwords can reduce the risk of data compromise and help facilitate compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS). Another example is about Network Security, transaction volume, brand recognition and the potential for sensitive data retention are all factors that make hotels (particularly franchise networks) juicy targets for hackers seeking to exploit insecure networks via the Internet. The hotel can install and maintain a firewall at all times.  Disabling a firewall can put a business at heightened risk of Internet attacks and potential system compromise.