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Amazon's new smart shopping cart lets you check out without a cashier - The Verge - 0 views

    • rhera004
       
      Would this really be more cost effective?
  • “[The Dash Cart] has a ring of cameras, a scale, and computer vision and weight sensors to determine not just the item, but the quantity of the item,
  • When you finish shopping, Amazon says dedicated Dash Cart lanes let you just exit the store without dealing with payments or waiting in a checkout line.
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  • touchscreen and
  • s
  • detect what items you’re placing inside
  • the Dash Cart
  • checks you out digitally
  • Whole Food
  • Amazon Go
  • Instead, this is your standard, everyday grocery store, only it has smart Amazon-made grocery carts for you to use
  • There’s also the privacy question, and whether the Go format’s tracking and surveillance approach is maybe not as palatable as a smart shopping cart a consumer must opt in to use.
  • So the device can handle up to about two bags of items, but it can’t do a full cart quite yet.
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How Augmented Reality Is Revolutionizing Hospitality Industry (From Inside Out) | ARPost - 0 views

  • Augmented reality gives hoteliers unlimited potential to engage their guests. Since today everyone is carrying a smartphone in their pockets, you can leverage it to connect with your guests deeply.
  • AR has risen as an essential technology for the hospitality industry recently because it allows it to improve the physical environments and experiences and hence the sales.
  • One way in which hoteliers can use AR to boost their offering is by using interactive elements within their hotel rooms. Such experiences can add value to a customer’s stay at the hotel.
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  • It is high time now for the hospitality industry to consider building gamification apps to engage their customers. You can create games that help customers win discount coupons of the nearby restaurants or theme parks.
  • Using augmented and mixed reality headsets,  such as Microsoft Hololens, companies can show all this information to the manager and employees in real-time.
  • Many hoteliers have leveraged augmented reality to make the hotel environment more enjoyable to customers. For example, one of the leading hotel chains,
  • Augmented reality can help facility managers to increase their engineers’ productivity and decrease costs to keep them safe. Incorporating AR mobile app into EAM and CMMS solutions can help them work more efficiently.
  • Hoteliers can use this technology to create virtual keys that allow customers to unlock their rooms when they come near one.
    • rhera004
       
      Incredibly important in collecting consumer generated data
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  • history of the city or video traveling guide.
    • rhera004
       
      Interesting! I think it would depend on how this tool is used. For example, sounds like it would be perfect in a haunted house!
  • explore the hotel and your other establishments.
    • rhera004
       
      Can be used for scavenger hunts around the property to engage younger guests
  • Beacon technology is all about providing information to customers when they reach a particular location. It works using Bluetooth technology.
  • The CMMS can provide maintenance and service staff with an automated tool capable of preventive maintenance, scheduling inspections, work orders, managing inventory, and retrieval of recorded data. Technicians can enter various instructions explaining how long a task takes to complete work orders, filter through previous work orders, and closeout of the system.
    • rhera004
       
      Holding maintenance and technicians accountable for completing tasks in the estimated amount of time will save the property more money in the long run.
  • help them to improve their back-office operations.
  • It will help them to increase their revenue by saving maintenance costs.
  • d
  • eliver a great customer experience.
  • he second one is that you can get more insights by integrating the app with CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System) or EAM (Enterprise Asset Management).
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    This article depicts how AR (augmented reality) is being implemented in the hospitality industry to improve the physical environment and experiences the hotels are offering to the consumer. It provides a real time data feed to customers at the right time and place giving great customer service in the end result. Some examples how it is being implemented is that with AR you are able to transport the customer directly to the room they want to explore in real-time and in real retrospective as if they were there. With the creating of AR apps like "Pokemon Go" hotels can create similar games in which it rewards the customers with discounts and other incentives. So with the rise of technology we can definitely look forward to how technology can hep us prior to our choice of booking experience the outcome of what to expect without leaving the comfort of our living room.
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Why is it important to keep my IT systems up to date? - 0 views

  • software upgrades are essential for continued operation. On the technical side of things, these upgrades provide fixes for known issues, provide new enhanced features, and often resolve and fix major security flaws or other types of flaws inside of software that could put your company and your company’s data at risk.
  • very important to keep track of updates and test them whenever possible before deploying them to a production environment. On some complicated infrastructures, applying something as small as a small security fix could bring down multiple integrated Line of Business applications. In an event like this it could cause huge problems!
  • ignoring security updates could leave a huge security hole that could be exploited by a virus, or malicious piece of software and infect many of your systems.
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  • is when it comes time to do larger upgrades, or migrate systems to new servers, the migration/implementation time could be multiplied 2-10 times just because you haven’t kept your systems up to date.
  • In situations where you do have a valid good warranty from a recommended vendor, you can often have hardware replaced under warranty by the next business day, minimizing downtime.
  • Equipment Age – They need to purchase new equipment, since replacement parts aren’t available anymore, and the equipment’s warranty has expired.
  • Consumer Grade Equipment – Some IT Solution providers, and/or IT staff feel they can build their own servers, or purchase off-the-shelf consumer grade equipment for business use.
  • Vendor Warranty – We are called in to resolve an issue on a new server environment, but it turns out the equipment just came off warranty after 3 months.
  • Security and critical updates need to be applied urgently when possible. Upgrades or updates that increase features, functionalities, and correct software flaws are also important, but not as important as security/critical updates.
  • Hardware should be upgraded when either the equipment is coming off warranty, or when you need to upgrade for performance/capacity reasons.
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    the article emphasizes the importance of conducting constant updates and upgrades on software and hardware, as it will help to protect the company data and systems from any possible hacks or viruses or data loses.
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How the travel industry can fight back against cyberthreats | SmartBrief - 1 views

  • Travel and hospitality businesses have become lucrative targets in recent years for cybercriminals who have stolen from the industries in attacks that often take more than half a year to identify.
  • In the past three years alone, the hotel industry has faced 13 serious attacks, according to an IntSights study.
  • The travel and leisure sectors suffered a 155.9% year-over-year rise in suspected online fraud attempts worldwide in the second quarter, according to a TransUnion study, compared with a 16.5% increase in overall alleged intrusions.
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  • The hotel industry attracts cybercriminals because it handles so many financial transactions in so many countries.
  • The top threat to hotels is phishing, a scam in which hotel guests may receive fake phone calls claiming to be from the front desk. The caller could claim that there is an issue with the credit card on file and that they need to re-verify the payment method. 
  • DarkHotel hacks are another significant threat. These target travelers via hotel Wi-Fi. Digital certificates are sent to guests, like a familiar adobe update, which will retrieve sensitive information. Hotel chains are combating these hacks by suggesting that guests use a virtual private network.
  • Malware (malicious software) is something criminals email employees, under the guise of the attachment or link looking innocent or legitimate. But when the user opens the file or clicks on the link, their system (and more) can be hacked into by the criminal.
  • IT department should routinely update operating systems and back up data and files, and every employee should double-check sources when asked for software administrative permissions. Also, strong firewalls can limit bad traffic and provide security. 
  • Software and hardware can help prevent breaches, but employee training is also an essential part of any hotel’s cybersecurity.
  • only around 35% of airlines and 30% of airports are prepared for cyberattacks.
  • “Guests can enroll in a service called WebWatcher, which monitors the sites where personal information may be shared and alerts guests if evidence of their personal data is found,”
  • Hotels are not alone in being targeted by cybercriminals: The airline industry has faced serious cyberattacks as well, and many airlines still aren’t equipped to handle them.
  • In 2018, a Marriott reservation system was hacked. More than 500 million customer records, including credit card information and passport numbers, were stolen. The company said the hack went back four years prior to the discovery and, when it was noticed, the company started using computer and mobile device monitoring software.
  • "The proliferated effect of the attack on SITA is yet another example of how vulnerable organizations can be solely on the basis of their connections to third-party vendors,"
  • The aviation industry faces dangers such as ransomware and distributed-denial-of-service attacks. Following the SITA attack, HackerOne solutions architect Shlomie Liberow stressed that airlines need to prepare for the worst. 
  • traditional enterprises like airlines have always been an attractive target since few are digital-first businesses, and therefore have relied on legacy software, which is more likely to be out-of-date or have existing vulnerabilities that can be exploited."
  • The airline industry needs to keep third-party vendors in check when it comes to protecting information. Given the high stakes involved, experts suggest that blind trust is not an option. 
  • “You simply cannot know whether your third parties meet your company’s security controls and risk appetite until you’ve completed a full vendor security assessment on them,
  • It’s important to note that the best practice is not a ‘one-and-done’ activity, but through real-time, continuous monitoring.”
  • In 2015, hackers targeted Polish airline LOT’s ground operations system, affecting 1,400 passengers. The hackers made it impossible to create flight plans and flights. It was the first attack of its kind, and it caused concern about cyberattacks one day remotely taking control of planes.
  • To address the threat, the standard advice is to back up and store data in multiple places, including off your physical premises, and have one copy of it be offline
  • Multifactor authentication and long, complicated passwords will take longer to crack. Updating and patching systems regularly helps companies avoid being victimized when a new exploit is discovered.
  • Treating cybersecurity as a companywide concern, not an IT concern, encourages each employee to take ownership of their actions and knowledge and to seek help proactively instead of making an “innocent” mistake that costs the company millions of dollars.
  • Finally, companies should avoid simply throwing money at the problem: Not all cybersecurity solutions work together, which wastes money and increases the risk of a breach.
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    This article discusses ways that the travel industry can combat cyberthreats. The main cyber concern for hotels' is phishing, which is a scam that collects credit card information by pretending to be apart of a hotel's front desk staff. The article mentions that IT departments should do routinely updates to operating systems and back up data and files. Employees should also be trained to help prevent data breaches. The author briefly touched on what to do when your hotel system is hacked and even dives into how the airline industry is still very unequipped to handle cyberattacks and threats. This is a great read to learn how to keep up with best security practices in the hospitality and tourism industry.
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Hotel Recycling Programs Make a Major Contribution to our Environment - 0 views

  • Hotel waste management can be an issue, especially when it comes to recycling. How can hotels increase recycling to improve the environment? There are a lot of questions about how hotel recycling programs can help the environment; here are a few.
  • hotels are far more likely to be replacing their equipment and electronics than many other types of businesses.
  • Some hotels managers might assume it’s too difficult to successfully launch and operate an in-house recycling program. They have very large staffs, operate 24 hours a day, and have the challenge of providing immediate and reliable service to their guests.
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  • By recycling their used equipment in bulk, the managers and operators of hotels across the country will help keep those products out of landfills, where the toxins and chemicals inside electronics can pose significant environmental risks to our soil, water, wildlife and even our personal health. The risks are real and well-documented.
  • Waste Management in the Hotel Industry
  • If guests arrive expecting the highest standards, it can make a bad impression to have computers that don’t work or furniture that looks run down.
  • a number of hotels have already proven they can establish successful recycling programs.
  • Cost savings alone should be a top concern for the hotel industry. It’s been estimated that hotel guests generate up to two pounds of waste per night. Because of the prohibitive cost of waste disposal services in New York City, for example, a hotel can spend up to $100,000 annually to get rid of their waste. If recycling can cut that down significantly, that can amount to significant cost savings. And a growing number of hotels are recognizing that they can manage their waste in a sustainable manner, including by recycling.
  • A smart approach would be to offer incentives for workers who provide waste-saving ideas that can be implemented and to educate guests about the hotel’s recycling and environmental policies.
  • The creation of a successful hotel recycling project offers a lot of long-term rewards that include: • cost savings; • strong public relations to their guests; • an engaging program for employees and even guests to become part of.
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    this article goes through the importance of recycling within the Hospitality industry as well as the benefits associated with doing so.
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How E-Waste Affects the Environment - Human-I-T - 1 views

  • As the world’s fastest-growing waste stream for almost a decade now, e-waste affects the environment in truly detrimental ways. And it’s not slowing down
  • e-waste generated annually has grown by over 7% since 2020
  • 59.4 million metric tons projected by the end of 2022
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  • expected to grow 26% by 2030 and double by 2050
  • two big factors contributing to its current acceleration.
  • first is growing incomes in low- and middle-income countries which allow more people than ever to access consumer electronics
  • second is the increasing availability of previously unthought-of electronic products to consumers in middle- and high-income countries
  • Products like e-cigarettes and electric vehicles are just two examples of products that, due to their increased popularity, have begun contributing more e-waste to landfills over the past decade.
  • electronics which power our lives are composed of substances which are harmful to the environment and our health.
  • e-waste negatively impacts the environment: air, water, and soil.
  • E-waste pollutes the air primarily as a consequence of improper recycling processes that are typical at informal e-waste processing plants located in developing economies
  • E-waste workers dismantle and shred electronics at these plants, which flings large amounts of dust and other particulates into the air.
  • e-waste workers use acids, desoldering materials, and other chemicals to dissolve e-waste with high-value materials like gold and silver . These techniques then release additional damaging fumes into local communities.
  • Recyclers dispose of acids and other chemicals they rely on to strip precious metals from e-waste into streams, ponds, and rivers. Then, the heavy metals inside of e-waste – like lead, arsenic, and cadmium – then compound this damage by seeping into water tables from landfills and e-waste dumps.
  • Increased acidification of waterways leads to more marine life and fish dying.
  • The heavy metals that are present then leach into those same waterways where they damage fishes’ tissues and gills.
  • two contaminants – acid and heavy metals – decimate biodiversity. This creates a domino effect where some organisms – previously constrained by predators – are then able to flourish and dominate the area
  • increased exposure to e-waste leads to ecosystem collapse in and around our waterways.
  • the dismantling, shredding, or burning of e-waste can also release large, coarse particles into the air.
  • due to their size and weight, these particles then quickly fall back to Earth where they subsequently contaminate soil. Shredding and burning of e-waste also produces toxic ash containing heavy metals and flame retardants which then leach into soil.
  • If we want to protect our planet from scourge e-waste, we’re going to have to start prioritizing reuse above all. By embracing this central principle of the circular economy, we can begin diverting valuable electronics away from landfills and back into the hands of people who need them
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    To summarize, E-waste has been the fastest-growing waste stream in the world for nearly a decade, and it has a really negative impact on the environment. And the pace is not decreasing. E-waste is made of the materials that make up the electronics that run our life which are bad for the environment and for our health. Additionally, the three primary impacts are air, water, and soil that negatively affects the environment. Finally, to protect our planet from e-waste is prioritizing reuse of products.
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Beacons to supercharge bar & restaurant marketing strategy | Beaconstac - 2 views

  • Location-based marketing that promised to leverage online platforms to promote physical restaurants and bars, began with “check-ins”.
  • 2014 saw beacons taking baby steps into the hospitality industry.
  • But in 2017, with the explosion of supply of beacons, the price has significantly lowered and functionality has gone up to the point where they are within reach for even small restaurants.
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  • When a Bluetooth-enabled device such as a smartphone or tablet comes in the range of a beacon, the two devices can communicate.
  • Once in the proximity of a beacon, these smartphones receive push notifications about deals, offers and more.
  • people barely register the brands they’ve seen, much less engage with them. But that’s changing with beacons!
  • restaurants use this technology in a different way to engage guests and increase repeat visits
  • The obvious benefit to using this technology is its ability to push out coupons, deals and marketing messages.
  • This value addition is critical for you when you’re looking to rise above the competition in a highly crowded space.
  • 1. Marketing messaging
  • 2. Delivering tailored menu to loyal customers
  • Every restaurant owner including you loves a loyal customer and beacons make it easier to reward them.
  • 3. Let your customers know how crowded the restaurant is before they arrive
  • Keeping customers informed about how busy your restaurant is at a particular time is one way of cutting down on the time they need to wait.
  • 4. Custom pricing for different customers
  • When it comes to winning over a customer, it’s not a bad idea to play with dynamic pricing.
  • 5. Get a better insight into your restaurant and bar traffic
  • It’s always an advantage to optimize with data.
  • 6. Allow guests to make mobile payments
  • Beacons can allow them to pay their bill right from their phones by directing them to a secure restaurant-branded microsite that collects their payment method.
  • You could create a special menu or a secret dish for your loyal customer based on his previous orders and selections.
  • Deploying beacons around your restaurant will, in turn, provide real-time information on how many people are actually dining inside at a given point in time
  • With the footfall data from beacons, you can efficiently manage your staff and services. Maybe you do not really need 5 bar staff on the second floor on a Tuesday, or you need an extra attendee around the tables nearer to the entry gate.
  • If your restaurant has an app, you can use beacons to trigger a contactless ordering experience.
  • Three years back, only the big fishes in the industry like Starwood hotels, The Marriott and James Hotels were adopting beacons to deliver an engaging experience to their guests
  • Customers need a compatible app like NearBee or a brand app by the restaurant or bar.
  • Imagine a group of friends moving around on the streets trying to decide where to have lunch and all of a sudden, one of them is alerted to an offer of an unlimited cold drink
  • estimate of the restaurant traffic
  • incentive pricing
  • incentive pricing
  • m about
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    Even though using beacon technology for proximity marketing is still in its infancy in the restaurant industry, this technology has already demonstrated some of its potential by virtue of increasing labor and overall operational efficiency while boosting customer satisfaction and loyalty. Beacons can help increase restaurant and bar sales, improve customer service, and provide more value for their customers, which should lead to customer loyalty. The possibility of applying beacon technology in the restaurants and bars opens a window of opportunity to engage diners and also enables restaurants to create more tailored experiences for them. Restaurants can use beacons to send alerts to people nearby about many table/seat availability and encourage them to make reservations or walk in. Or if the restaurant is very busy, restaurants can send the menu to their phones, so they can browse it while waiting for their tables. Restaurants and bars can build profiles of returning customers and provide offers based on past preferences. Thus, returning customers can benefit from improved and personalized customer service. During quiet hours or days, restaurants and bars can efficiently manage their staff and service, because of the data they have been collecting using beacons. Diners can even pay for their meal or drinks using their mobile device without having to wait for the waiter to come over and accept their method of payment.
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    This article discusses how restaurants use beacon-based proximity marketing to help create even more meaningful and engaging interactions with customers. Proximity marketing is most often used in retail stores to bring in customers to the store by offering promotions through push notifications. This article will highlight how restaurants use the same beacon technology as retail shops do, but to achieve different results. Restaurants can use beacons to save time for not only customers but managers and employees as well. Beacon technology provides management with data insights that allow them to deliver better experiences to their customers.
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    This articles talks about what beacon-based proximity marketing is and its usefulness in restaurants.
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    Beacon technology has been around for a long time - prior to 2013 - but cost kept it unpopular. Initially only real big hospitality players had this tech. Now cost is no longer a limiting factor, but companies are limited to customers/potential customers who have a compatible app or the companies own app already on their phone, so they can push the proximity messages.
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Professional Sports Venue Security Issues, Emerging Threats, and Technology Solutions -... - 1 views

  • A total of 40 venue directors hosting teams from Major League Baseball (MLB), Major League Soccer (MLS), the National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Football League (NFL), and the National Hockey League (NHL) completed the survey. Staffing and training, fan behavior, technology utilization, patron screening, cybersecurity, and drone mitigation were areas of focus.
  • The majority of respondents indicated that their current entry screening checkpoints caused lines to form outside their venues, and the average wait time is less than 10 minutes during the busiest times.
  • Top training requirements for security staff included venue/event familiarization, prohibited items, fan code of conduct, standard operating procedures, how to operate security technology, and crowd management. Facilitated in-person training was the most common method, followed by table-top exercises, routine refresher courses, e-learning, and workshops.
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  • fan behavior is worse than it was 10 years ago, and 65% indicated that COVID-19 restrictions caused increased tension between patrons and staff
  • Technology can bolster safety and security efforts when budgets permit acquisition. Closed-circuit television, walk-through metal detectors, electronic tickets, stationary bollards, explosive detection canines, and venue signage were utilized by 100% of the respondents. Facial recognition software, license plate readers, retractable bollards, automated barrier systems, and RFID for staff were most likely to be purchased if additional funding was available.
  • Many experienced staffing shortages in the last two years, and 70% of respondents indicated that staff absenteeism increased since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Most respondents (87%) use patron screening technology, including walk-through metal detectors, handheld magnetometers, and x-ray scanners.
  • Ideally, venue directors want to get patrons inside the venue faster without sacrificing prohibited item detection accuracy. If respondents were able to acquire new screening technology, they would likely purchase facial recognition systems, followed by millimeter wave scanners and explosive particle detectors.
  • Only 20% of respondents use artificial intelligence in their security screening, surveillance, or incident response technology. However, 62.5% believe they understand how artificial intelligence can help their security operations.
  • Most respondents have implemented a cybersecurity defense program and provided basic cybersecurity awareness training to full-time staff. In addition, patrons are informed of the secure in-house WiFi networks to use at their venues.
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    In the ever changing world of venue life safety, technology is becoming more prevalent. Within budgetary limitations, venues are looking for better ways to ingress guests while keeping the safety integrity of the facility. If applicable, venues would like to incorporate facial recognition and screening as guests arrive. While looking at capex for technology, what will the next wave of venue security look like? Is facial recognition and pass through magnetometers be the peak?
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Nobody likes self-checkout. Here's why it's everywhere - CNN - 0 views

    • alomariee98
       
      It is really good to know that customers are not the only ones that experience issues with self-check-outs at the stores. They are machines that need to be maintained every so often. I have had my own experience with self-checkout and can see both sides of the story. In my experience which just so happened to be yesterday I did self-checkout in 2 different places. In one of them a customer tried to get away with theft by hovering the scanner over the item and not really scanning anything. In the other instance I kept getting the error message that did not let me keep scanning until the system reverted back to the scanning page. I get how it can be frustrating but I also see that sometimes it is the quickest option. Now with the pandemic like it says on the article some people prefer the no contact option and rather do the things themselves. This disruptive innovation just shows if there are stores that do not have it, they may fall behind because it has already become normal whether you use it or not. It gives people the choice whether or not they want to use it. Bad thing is that it does show less employees working on the floor because of these machines depending on the store. Now its a competition everywhere to have self check-out. An example I know of is the Disney Stores at Disney Springs and inside the parks. If you have the My Disney Experience app you can do mobile check-out without having to make a line for the register. Less contact with an employee.
  • The machines are expensive to install, often break down and can lead to customers purchasing fewer items.
  • higher losses and more shoplifting
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  • 29% of transactions at food retailers were processed through self-checkout, up from 23% the year prior
  • work from paid employees to unpaid customers
  • was designed primarily to lower stores' labor expenses
  • Customers scanned their items and put them on a conveyor belt. An employee at the other end of the belt bagged the groceries. Customers then took them to a central cashier area to pay.
  • 52% of shoppers considered self checkout lanes to be "okay," while 16% said they were "frustrating." Thirty-two percent of shoppers called them "great."
  • required regular maintenance and supervision
  • self-checkout leads to more losses due to error or theft than traditional cashiers.
  • Other customers take advantage of the lax oversight at self checkout aisles and have developed techniques for stealing.
  • Stores have tried to limit losses by tightening self-checkout security features, such as adding weight sensors
  • It may simply be too late for stores to turn their back on self-checkout.
    • alomariee98
       
      It really is too late to turn their back on self-checkout. It is already part of the store and those who do not use it will get left behind. Sometimes self-checkout is faster but it can be a bit frustrating due to the error messages it may give you. After all, it is still a machine.
  • Store owners have also seen competitors installing self-checkout and determined they don't want to miss out
  • "It's an arms race. If everyone else is doing it, you look like an idiot if you don't have it,"
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    Disruptive Innovation: Self-checkout
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How AR, VR, and robotics can work together | Artificial Intelligence | - 0 views

  • How AR, VR, and robotics can work together
  • With the help of robots, businesses not only achieve higher efficiency but ensure the safety of their staff in hazardous areas
  • With the help of AR and VR, people can experience surreal atmospheres indoors as well as outdoors
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  • Yes! Together, augmented reality, robotics, and virtual reality can be the ‘Three Amigos.’ VR and AR can offer an immersive medium to operate robots
  • With the help of low-latency networks, people can utilize robots remotely using intuitive AR and VR controls
  • Robot training
  • Virtual reality and augmented reality can be utilized to train robots for different tasks
  • With the help of dual neural networks, robots can learn new tasks by observing and breaking down several actions
  • he first network, known as the visual network, captures an image using the robot’s camera to understand the current state of an object. The other network, imitation network, tries to understand a demonstration and analyze how an action is being performed.
  • Motion sensors in AR and VR gaming can be deployed to train robots. Developers can use a pressure-sensitive trigger on a joystick to teach robots how to control grasping and articulation speed for picking up objects
  • Object recognition
  • Using this approach, robots can learn how to group similar objects together, differentiate between various objects, and identify new items that look similar to those it has already seen
  • Generally, AI-powered robots are exposed to a wide range of data.
  • By using VR, a trainer only requires a 3D VR model of several objects. With this approach, trainers and developers can minimize costs and effort required for collecting data and real-world objects. Using 3D models, robots can also be trained to recognize biological structures in the human body in detail.
  • Operations
  • Virtual reality can be used to develop teleoperating robots that can function with the help of multiple sensor displays.
  • obots replicate a user’s hand movements by using hand controllers
  • In a direct model, a user will be directly coupled to a robots current state
  • With a cyber-physical model, a user is separated from the robot.
  • Using controllers, users can guide hand grippers to move, pick up, and retrieve objects.
  • How AR, VR, and robotics can work together Augmented reality, robotics, and virtual reality can team up to develop innovative applications for various organizations.
  •  
    They can work together. Based on this article, this can be beneficial for all industries.
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    Robotics, virtual reality, and augmented reality can work together to create cutting-edge solutions for diverse businesses. Businesses use robots to increase efficiency while also ensuring employee safety in potentially dangerous situations. Virtual reality and augmented reality, two contemporary technologies, have provided an immersive platform for media and gaming. People can explore strange environments both indoors and outdoors with the aid of AR and VR. The "Three Amigos" can be augmented reality, robotics, and virtual reality when they work together. Robot control using immersive technologies like VR and AR is possible. Business executives need to be aware of the potential benefits of combining virtual reality, robots, and augmented reality. Robots can be programmed to do a variety of jobs using virtual reality and augmented reality. There are two different kinds of neural networks: imitation networks, which attempt to comprehend demonstrations and examine how actions are executed, and visual networks, which use images taken by the robot's camera to understand the current state of an object. Dual neural networks can be used by organizations to enable robots to learn new tasks by monitoring and dissecting several behaviors. Robots that use artificial intelligence (AI) are exposed to a wide variety of data, which helps them learn how to distinguish between distinct objects, group related objects together, and recognize new objects that resemble what they have already seen. The expense and effort needed to gather data and real-world items can be reduced by trainers and developers. Robots can also be taught to recognize certain biological structures in the human body using 3D models. Virtual reality can be utilized to construct teleoperating robots that can function with the help of many sensor displays by employing hand controllers. The homunculus concept of the human brain, which postulates that there is a miniature human inside the brain that controls movement
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How Can the Hospitality Industry Protect its Customers? | Hotel Business - 1 views

  • Fraud doesn’t only happen online, and it’s important to also consider the physical data risks within hospitality companies.
  • Personal guest information such as credit card data, addresses, passport and driver’s license copies are a gold mine for hackers and, therefore, make hospitality companies, specifically hotel brands, a prime target,”
  • “When there’s little concern for the repercussions associated with data breaches, it may lead to lack of action in protecting guest information,”
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  • Nearly one in five (19%) hospitality companies don’t have a policy for storing and disposing of confidential paper documents,
  • (47%) of C-suite employees say human error or accidental loss by an employee/insider was the cause of their last data breach.
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    The article discusses what practices should hotels adopt to protect their guests, in a world where lodging accommodations are a primary target for criminals and where customers see security as an important factor in decision making. Data breaches can happen online and in the physical world, hospitality companies have to look beyond security software and put into place policies for data storage and disposal of sensitive information, as well as, properly training for employees in information security practices, like proper information handling, and the ability to phishing scams or suspicious emails. In order to ensure that physical or digital sensitive information won't fall on the wrong hands.
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    This article discusses the importance of data security in hotels and what makes it so attractive to hackers/thieves. The article mentions that about 36% of hospitality businesses don't deem data breaches a big deal. If this mentality continues, more and more data breaches will occur for the company that doesn't take data privacy seriously. The hospitality industry has tons of sensitive data about guests stored online and offline, making it a goldmine for data thieves. Organizations need to take precautions like adequately training employees in order to avoid costly security breaches.
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Smart Hotel Technology & Proximity Marketing | Optimove - 0 views

  • Use automated check-in courtesy of geofencing. By utilizing geofencing – a virtual ‘fence’ around a specified location – hoteliers can provide guests with the option to check in as soon as they’ve landed (or when they’re nearing the hotel) by sending a push notification to their smartphone that takes them to the relevant check-in screen in the hotel’s app. 
  • So when a guest has checked in, and for the duration of their stay, beacon technology can detect when guests are near their room via their smartphone and unlock the door
  • Once in their room, that same technology can deliver all manner of wonderful a-ha moments – from switching on the lighting when guests enter, to turning on the air-con, to setting just the right room temperature
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  • An immersive guest experience creates loyal customers, expanding the reach of your brand as they share their experience, and helping increase revenues as a result.
  • t’s never been more critical to reach customers with hyper-personalized content – aka, the right offer, at the right time, and in the right place.  
  • Location-based marketing also provides opportunities to partner with local businesses and take advantage of geofencing so when guests are nearby, say, a local restaurant around dinner time,
  • Check-out courtesy of proximity marketing is the perfect opportunity to give your guests a frictionless send-off, and if you’re smart, an offer or two to help them remember you by
  • Using beacons, hotels can provide their guests with digital maps that track their location in real-time, and deliver them to their desired destination, minus the frustration.
  • Proximity marketing enables the savvy hotel brand not only to stand out in an ultra-competitive marketplace but to build valuable, meaningful connections with customers that foster loyalty over the long term.
  • 74% of guests value hotels/resorts that customize messaging and offers 88% of guests want a hotel app that delivers a personalized CX 
  • Immediate conversions by engaging customers when they’re most likely to respond. Better app engagement, enabling hoteliers to ship relevant, valuable messages that guests want to receive – when they want to receive them. Increased retention – by shipping hyper-personalized content, app users are more likely to hang around to see what’s coming next. 
  • 95% of guests believe their chosen hotel should be making efforts to introduce them to local culture (I-AM) 
  • the entire in-room experience can be elevated from mediocre to marvelous via the humble beacon, helping to make the guest experience memorable and elevating the chances that they’ll be back next year.  
  • But there’s another benefit to location-based check-in. As well as providing a hassle-free experience for guests, the use of location-based technology means hotel staff can be notified when guests are on their way, giving them the opportunity to prepare for their arrival (being there to ‘meet and greet’, having room keys available if required, or even having a welcome drink at the ready for that ultra-personal touch!). 
  • Beacons inside hotel rooms can identify when guests are back at base, and, coupled with additional insights courtesy of your analytics platform, provide the perfect offer for in-room services.
  • More and more hotels are using geofencing and beacon technology to help guests find what they’re looking for via their smartphones
  • The optimum guest journey is made up of many delightful aha-moments, which when woven together create the ultimate travel experience.
  • Responsive, personalized, valuable interactions that meet individual needs, and introduce them to new experiences. Location-based targeting can help deliver these critical micro-moments.  
  • he important thing to remember? Yep – personalization. If your analytics tell you that a guest was a frequent spa-user during their vacation, you could send them a voucher for spa products to take home with them. Just a thought.
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    Proximity marketing is a hotel's current powerful tool for elevating guests' experiences. It is imperative for a hotel to have a fun, interactive, and easy-to-use app that creates a better stay for its guests. Some benefits include geofencing, room entry and room controls, and hotel navigation. These factors all go hand in hand in creating a seamless and memorable hotel stay.
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    This article goes into detail about the utility of proximity marketing in terms of adding guest experience within the hospitality industry. It also details how guest retention can be increased by the ability to use analytical data in order to gain insights on guest trends allowing for a memorable personal touch. Another major point made within the article details the importance of hospitality companies promoting local experiences outside of the venue itself and proximity marketing allows for local businesses and attractions to be highlighted.
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11 Key Technology Trends Emerging in the Travel Industry in 2022 - 1 views

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    This article shows the 11 Key Trends that are disrupting the travel industry and what businesses need to stay on top of in order to stay relevant. I found the concept of voice activated things in the rooms interesting. As someone who has her own "smart-home", I struggle with the debate of Alexa always listening to my children, and the ease of me saying goodnight and all the lights turning off without me having to get up. I remember reading about a lawsuit that came about regarding the legality of Alexa recording children without their consent, so I wonder about the feasibility of this technology inside the rooms themselves.
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Are hotels and outdoor concerts any safer since the Las Vegas attack? | PBS NewsHour - 0 views

  • By now, many details of that October evening in Las Vegas are well known: the lone gunman in a 32nd floor suite atop the Mandalay Bay Hotel, the arsenal of firearms, the terrified concertgoers below.
  • In a 2017 Gallup poll, 38 percent of U.S. adults said they were less willing to attend events with large crowds out of concern the events could become a terrorist target.
  • A separate Gallup poll taken days after the Las Vegas shooting found that 39 percent of Americans are “very” or “somewhat” worried that they, or a loved one, will be a victim of a mass shooting.
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  • The Las Vegas attack was, however, the first mass shooting at a hotel in the U.S., and it served as a reminder that attacks on entertainment events are a worldwide emerging threat
  • The attack Paddock carried out — from a hotel with robust security and a state-of-the-art surveillance system — left many industry insiders and security experts stunned.
  • For the first time in Coachella’s 19-year history, organizers used surveillance drones to monitor the vast grounds of the festival.
  • For months ahead of the festival, a security company called Emergence also trained Goldenvoice security and police officers in “predictive threat analysis,” a security technique that focuses on spotting signs of trouble and disrupting attacks before they take place.
  • And as security costs for hotels and event promoters increase, concertgoers in the U.S. may see slightly higher ticket prices
  • Police say Stephen Paddock planned his attack in Las Vegas at least a year in advance. In the days leading up to the shooting, Paddock was able to bring more than 23 rifles into his hotel room, set up a hidden camera in the hallway outside of his room, and drill L-brackets into the 32nd floor stairwell door and his suite to delay police from entering.
  • After the shooting, Wynn Resorts, Hilton and Disney Resorts all changed their internal policies regarding do-not-disturb signs
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    High profile hotels near large events have had to respond to events such as mass shootings since the 2017 Las Vegas attack where a guest used as hotel room to carry out the shooting. Concert venues and large hotels are now using surveillance drones and predictive threat analysis to enable their staff to recognize patterns that could indicate signs of trouble. Security costs at large venues are expensive, and they are being passed on via ticket prices. Hotels need to evaluate their need for an active shooter plan and evaluate their "do not disturb" policies and train their staff to alert management when they are unable to enter a guest room, or when they recognize something out of the ordinary.
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The Power of Social Media in the Hotel and Hospitality Industry - UP Hotel Agency - 1 views

  • According to Revenue Hub, 97% of millennials share photos on social media during travels, whilst 71% of travel agencies report better interactions with consumers when committed to a social media strategy. 
  • By providing engaging content that encourages interaction from followers on these channels – such as photos or videos of hotel amenities or local attractions – hotels can make a lasting impression on prospective guests even before they step foot inside the lobby.
  • Using targeted ads on social networks like Facebook allows hotels to reach potential customers who may not be aware of their business yet
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  • It’s also important to not just talk at people, but engage in conversations where possible – this helps build relationships between potential customers and creates loyalty towards your brand over time
  • You can also leverage influencer marketing by partnering with relevant influencers who have already built up a large following among potential guests
  • By responding quickly to inquiries through channels like Instagram Direct or Facebook Messenger, hotels can demonstrate excellent customer service skills which will further strengthen relationships with existing customers while also attracting new ones.
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    Majority of millennials use social media to share their travel experiences with their friends. Social media is a very important tool in this day and age for the travel industry and hospitality. Engagement with potential guests online sets a more positive first impression, and can lead to more bookings and exposure. Social media also allows businesses to reach a larger audience by using targeted ads on different social media platforms. Tracking these ads can help improve the marketing strategies to see which ads are providing more traffic. Having a strict and consistent schedule of posting content can also be helpful, as it shows potential guests engagement with the community, especially if there is a lot of interaction in comments, as well as giveaways thrown in to the mix. Businesses can also partner with influencers to show off their locations for them to their massive followings. This increases the awareness and showcases the property to a large audience that may not have seen it otherwise. Social media, if used properly, can be a great tool to engage with existing and potential guests. Communication and engagement build loyalty, while broadening the audience spreads awareness.
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Experts at Davos 2023 sound the alarm on cybersecurity | World Economic Forum - 0 views

  • 2023 will be a consequential year for cybersecurity.
  • "There's a gathering cyber storm,"
  • "This storm is brewing, and it's really hard to anticipate just how bad that will be."
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  • cyberattacks such as phishing, ransomware and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks are on the rise.
  • Cloudflare
  • a major US cybersecurity firm that provides protection services for over 30% of Fortune 500 companies
  • "There's been an enormous amount of insecurity around the world,"
  • "I think 2023 is gonna be a busy year in terms of cyber attacks."
  • Experts warned that cyberattacks are increasing in sophistication and frequency.
  • “This is a global threat, and it calls for a global response,”
  • “This is a global threat, and it calls for a global response and enhanced and coordinated action,” Jürgen Stock, the Secretary-General of the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL),
  • “The key to winning the battle against cybercrime is, of course, to work together to make it a priority across the geopolitical fault lines.”
  • This concern has been raised particularly around critical infrastructure sectors like energy, public transportation and manufacturing. SecurityScorecard, a US cybersecurity rating and analysis firm, reported recently that 48% of critical manufacturing companies surveyed were at significant risk of a cyber breach.
  • “Vulnerabilities within the critical manufacturing sector haven’t gone unnoticed by cybercriminals either,” said Aleksandr Yampolskiy, SecurityScorecard's CEO.
  • The Forum's report also notes that the potential targets for cyberattacks are increasing. Today, targets include not only government agencies or major corporations, but largely any organization that handles consumer data—no matter how small.
  • There is no such thing as a hundred percent security. It's about resilience in the face of insecurity.”
  • Consumers, too, need to increase their cybersecurity awareness in 2023, experts say.
  • As more things get connected to the internet there's just more risk. ”— Matthew Prince, Cloudflare CEO
  • Zero Trust approach to cybersecurity, which creates a framework that eliminates implicit trust and ensures that any user—even those who are supposed to be inside an organization's network—is authenticated and validated at every turn.
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Japan's Henn na Hotel fires half its robot workforce | Hotel Management - 0 views

  • guests complained that robots at the front desk could not answer basic questions
  • cut its robotic workforce after the experience failed to reduce costs or workload for its employees. 
  • return to more traditional human-provided services for guests
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  • Its change of direction can offer lessons for companies that are pursuing robotic solutions for customer-service roles, reports the Business Insider. 
  • complaints from both staff and customers.
  • robots were more adept at creating work for their human counterparts than they were at reducing it. 
  • robots annoyed the guests and would often break down.
  • Human staff ended up working overtime to repair robots that stopped working.
  • robot at the front desk could not answer basic questions.
  • The robot problem extended to the luggage-carrying bots, whose only job turned out to be more than they could handle.
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    The article "Japan's Henn na Hotel fires half its robot workforce" discusses the lessons learned from a hotel who opened its doors using a staff of robots believing it would lessen the workload and move things quickly and efficiently. However, they soon learned the robots did the exact opposite of what they were hoping it would. The hotel has had to cut its robotic workforce in half becuase of multiple guest complaints, robots malfunctioning, and robots creating work for their human counterparts rather than reducing. Not to mention the amount of money spent as well.
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Hotel Safety: Security for Hospitality and Hotel Management Companies | By Kacey Bradley - 1 views

  • improved software allows hotel owners to match up specific transactions with the surveillance footage,
  • IT and security departments should work in conjunction
  • Offering employees profit-sharing, a stake in the hotel's future is an effective way to improve security.
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  • Mobile keys, on the other hand, strengthen security and allow guests to bypass the front desk altogether.
  • Most commercial properties have some type of video surveillance system.
  • In today's technologically advanced world, guest and staff security are more critical than ever. Luckily, you can take plenty of steps to make improvements. From smart surveillance technology to secure Wi-Fi networks, read the advice below to improve your hotel's setup.
  • Your Wi-Fi should be a secure network users must log in to before using. Make the username and password easy to find. Also, alert guests about possible security risks, such as connecting to public Wi-Fi networks nearby that don't require a password.
  • A straightforward update is an in-room safe. It's easy to come up with relevant items to stash inside, especially when traveling. Guests can stow essential documents, passports, collectible coins, souvenir gifts and more.
  • A safe and secure environment all starts with knowledgeable staff. Set up regular meetings with all employees to talk about guest safety. Go over OSHA requirements and how the team can stay safe in the event of fire and evacuation. You should also provide training on compliance regulations and bloodborne pathogens.
  • Profit-sharing gives employees room to grow in a chaotic industry. Most profits come in the form of an end-of-year bonus people can use to their hearts' desire. Beyond increased loyalty, employees with profit-sharing options are more likely to take ownership of their role in the business and improve productivity.
  • In today's technologically advanced world, guest and staff security are more critical than ever. Luckily, you can take plenty of steps to make improvements. From smart surveillance technology to secure Wi-Fi networks, read the advice below to improve your hotel's setup.
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    This article basically gives tips about how to create a safe hotel. There are many ways you can ensure that your staff and hotel guests are protected.
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    Among other ways that hotels in the modern are using to ensure safety and security, the article looks at cybersecurity. The author proposes that hotels' security and IT departments should work together to create a safe online environment that "prevents unwanted third parties, like hackers, from intercepting private guest data." This reiterates the significance of updating computer equipment to mitigate potential threats.
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    This is a great article that explains the different ways hotels are trying to make staying at a hotel safer. They start by explaining how they have surveillance cameras placed around the hotel to help them see everything that is happening all at once. Cybersecurity protects the hotels computer systems from being hacked and having people steal all the hotels and customers information. Mobile room keys helps guests find their keys faster because they will now have it on their mobile devices. For hotels the guests safety are their top priority and they train their staff to believe in the same thing.
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    This article is about steps a property can take in order to ensure the safety of their employees and guests. This includes: surveillance cameras, cybersecurity, mobile room keys, safes in rooms, among other things. - Be sure to invest in high-quality cameras that can pick up the little details, such as facial features and bill amounts. - Your Wi-Fi should be a secure network users must log in to before using. Make the username and password easy to find. - Mobile keys strengthen security and allow guests to bypass the front desk altogether. -Set up regular meetings with all employees to talk about guest safety. -In terms of profit-sharing, workers feel a sense of pride or ownership, they will keep their eyes and ears open for signs of waste, fraud or theft.
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    This article talks about hotel's safety and the usage of surveillance cameras, cybersecruity, mobile room keys, guest safety, staff training, and profit sharing. Each section talks about the procedures that should be taken to keep guest and staff safe.
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