Summary
Tia D llori with Hospitality Upgrade magazine talks about the convenience of wireless for guests at hotels but also talks how wireless can be a "double edged sword" if high security measures are not looked at seriously by the hotel that offers wireless to it's guest. Guests seek out hotels with free wireless access which gives the guest the freedom to order room service, speed through their check in and check out process and other amenities that wireless has to offer. This could present problems for hotels who need to protect their brand and not compromise their guest security. At the risk of offering these types of services the hotel must also stay within the laws of what they can keep on file and what they cannot. Keep a cvvs2 on record is illegal but yet in order to offer some of the wireless conveniences credit card companies sometimes call for the cvvs2. Tia talks about internet thieves and how the thieves are also posting instructions on the internet on how to accomplish internet theft. Some common wireless thefts are eavesdropping, rogue access, denial of service and man-in-the-middle. Many hotels are now implementing wireless strategy and how to secure it.
Reflection
I am a big supporter of offering wireless to the guest. When I travel I will only stay at hotels that offer free wireless service in my room. I usually travel on business which means when I am finished with business outside of the hotel, when I return I will also be working on business at the hotel. Without my computer to access my office files and emails I am dead in the water, almost feel out of touch with reality. The business travelers main source of communication with the office is their laptop. When a business traveler is on a road trip, they do not want to stand in line at the front desk to check in. They want to obtain their key and head to the room. The same with car rental, many business travelers use the express check in. Instead of standing in line at the airport for a rental car they go straight to the kiosk where the cars are parked and pick up their keys and head to their car. Everything about you is stored in their information data bases including payment. With today's technology everything is about "how fast" can we get the customer thru a check in/check out. As a business traveler we expect the companies to make sure that while they offer the ease and speed of service they need to make sure that our personal information is also safe and secure. We do not hope it is, we expect it to be.
llori, T. D. (2010, 10 1). Wireless Networks - A Customer Loyalty Dream Can Become a Security Nightmare. Retrieved 1 30, 2011, from Hospitality Upgrade Magazine: http://www.hospitalityupgrade.com/_magazine/magazine_Detail-ID-549-Wireless-Networks---A-Customer-Loyalty-Dream-Can-Become-a-Security-Nightmare.asp
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Is There Really Any Value In Tableside Handhelds?
Summary
Brian Vick, owner of Brian's Cheesesteak's has adapted the tableside handhelds in his restaurant. This type of technology has remained basically silent. Since introducing the tableside handheld, customers are happier because orders are taken immediately and sent directly to the kitchen without the server leaving the table. Brian goes on to explain how this helps also to free up the server to go to other tables to check on their food, drinks etc. and to take orders at other tables freeing up the server's time which increases table turnover, thus increasing sales for the day. The majority of servers at restaurants today are those that can text at the speed of light and are extremely comfortable with smart phone type systems. This makes the adaptation of tableside handhelds easier for the servers to accept. Not only easier for the servers but most have used some type of iPod touch or smart phone which reduces the cost to purchase tableside handhelds. Those servers that had and iPod touch just have to download the POS app and they are ready to take orders. Brian goes on to talk about the advancement goes further with the addition of the integration of an MSR reader with on the iPod touch customers can also pay at the table with their credit card.
Reflection
As I think back at different restaurants that I have went to recently, I cannot recal one restaurant that uses tableside handhelds. I recently wrote a paper for this class on new technology trends on this exact subject. The handhelds would work in a more detailed fashion but used the same type of technology. I was also surprised that the piece mentioned that the customers would also not have to give their credit card to the server and the server leave their sight. With the amount of benefits that the tableside handheld offers, I am wondering why restaurants have not adapted this type of technology. The benefits certainly out way the cost to purchase the systems for the kitchen. The cost of training the servers would be minimal. The training could be performed during the hiring process by giving the new employees a DVD to watch. I am in total agreement of this type of technology being used. There are so many wasted steps a server has to take for each table and wasted time waiting on a POS terminal to open to place the order. Is technology moving too fast for the restaurant industry to keep up? Possibly, but this one they should absolutely jump on the band wagon. With "going green" being a marketing tool to capitalize on at the same time.
Brian Vick, owner of Brian's Cheesesteak's has adapted the tableside handhelds in his restaurant. This type of technology has remained basically silent. Since introducing the tableside handheld, customers are happier because orders are taken immediately and sent directly to the kitchen without the server leaving the table. Brian goes on to explain how this helps also to free up the server to go to other tables to check on their food, drinks etc. and to take orders at other tables freeing up the server's time which increases table turnover, thus increasing sales for the day. The majority of servers at restaurants today are those that can text at the speed of light and are extremely comfortable with smart phone type systems. This makes the adaptation of tableside handhelds easier for the servers to accept. Not only easier for the servers but most have used some type of iPod touch or smart phone which reduces the cost to purchase tableside handhelds. Those servers that had and iPod touch just have to download the POS app and they are ready to take orders. Brian goes on to talk about the advancement goes further with the addition of the integration of an MSR reader with on the iPod touch customers can also pay at the table with their credit card.
Reflection
As I think back at different restaurants that I have went to recently, I cannot recal one restaurant that uses tableside handhelds. I recently wrote a paper for this class on new technology trends on this exact subject. The handhelds would work in a more detailed fashion but used the same type of technology. I was also surprised that the piece mentioned that the customers would also not have to give their credit card to the server and the server leave their sight. With the amount of benefits that the tableside handheld offers, I am wondering why restaurants have not adapted this type of technology. The benefits certainly out way the cost to purchase the systems for the kitchen. The cost of training the servers would be minimal. The training could be performed during the hiring process by giving the new employees a DVD to watch. I am in total agreement of this type of technology being used. There are so many wasted steps a server has to take for each table and wasted time waiting on a POS terminal to open to place the order. Is technology moving too fast for the restaurant industry to keep up? Possibly, but this one they should absolutely jump on the band wagon. With "going green" being a marketing tool to capitalize on at the same time.
Vick, B. (2010, August 3). Is There Really Any Value In Tableside Handhelds? Retrieved January 23, 2011, from Hospitality Technology: http://hospitalitytechnology.edgl.com/top-stories/Is-there-Really-Any-Value-in-Tableside-Handhelds-54938
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