Guiding Guests with RFID

Spear, Grethcen. Guiding Guests: RFID-enabled digital signs aid hotel nagivation.
HT Magazine, June 2007 http://www.htmagazine.com/HT/archive/0607/0607_09.html

In this Article, the Promotions Manager of the Hyatt Regency in Chicago discussed overcoming the challenges of signage in the largest Hyatt property in the world. Specifically, the Regency hosts 1,000+ large conventions/meetings each year, and it is important for guests unfamiliar with the Hotel layout to be able to find the right place to go,. This is where the signage comes in. Physical signs and easels that direct people to the right meeting area in the hotel can be costly and sometimes difficult due to last minute changes. To solve this problem, they needed a system that would be flexible and able to be updated with last minute changes. They’re contracted with AVT Communique to evaluate their needs and install high tech LCD displays that are interfaced to a central computer that can control the readouts on each individual screen. They installed Omnivex as software to be used to control the different LCD readouts. In the end they purchased a total of 55 LCD screens positioned throughout the hotel to help guests find their way to the right place. The LCD are equipped with RFID detectors, so when someone with an RFID tag approaches that display, the content on the screen will change to cater to their specific needs. This way, guests can view customized conference information.

I think this is a great idea. It has been in my experience that many large hotels are inherently confusing to navigate anyway, and sometimes it is very hard to find help with the staff because they are either very hard to find or you have to wait at the front desk to find assistance. Instead, using these displays, guests with RFID tags can find out all the information they need pertaining to them. This is a great article to go along with our group’s trend of convenience. Once again, technology is taking away the need for human interaction to find out information. It also is cost effective because it eliminates the need for costly signage that requires changing for every little event. I can see difficulty with this also, as I stated in my previous article analysis. Whenever you deal with wireless ANYTHING, there is the potential that it will not work properly, someone could approach a screen and nothing happens because of a miscommunication between the transmitter and tag. Also, it is also dependent on the one that inputs all this information. You must have a trained staff member or members who are fluent in using the software. These are things that happen when you integrate technology with humans

Swipe, Print, Sign and Go

Rubinsten, Ed. Swipe, Print, Sign, and Go. HT Magazine, June 2007
http://www.htmagazine.com/HT/archive/0507/0507_03.html

This article discusses the onset of a new trend in payment systems in many restaurants across the country. Wireless payment processing, which basically means that customers in a restaurant can have their credit cards processed and receipts given to them tableside. Not only is this a much more fast and efficient way of processing payments, it also gives customers greater piece of mind, especially in a world where identity theft is a major issue among consumers. Since the card remains in plain view, no one will have to worry about a dishonest employee copying the number down in the back and then using it to commit fraud. New portable input devices such as the "rugged" verifone vx-670 is capable of taking orders and processing payments tableside, allowing for employees to spend more time with the customers and less time running back and forth to remote terminals. The "rugged" part deals with the unit's construction, being water resistant and able to function after much abuse, which is important for a fast paced restaurant. The last part of the article describes the use of printer peripherals and their impact on the wireless pc trend. using small printers in conjunction with these pocket PC's employees are ablet o produce receipts for customers on demand. Curbside take out establishments will no longer have to run in and out of the restaurant to make payments. There is also a growing trend away from kitchen printers to screen displays that can be manipulated and changed instead of having to write on receipts and make changes by hand.

As far as I am concerned, when it comes to technology innovation in the restaurant, as long as it doesn't hinder the speed or quality or service, it is fine with me. I believe technology is important to make the industry better and much easier to manage, but there is also the danger of having technology for the sake of technology. Specfically this article is talking about wireless technology, and in my experience wireless ANYTHING can give you problems, no matter how new or up to date the harware is, there is always something that can interfere with teh signal. I have a wireless network in my apartment and it is always dropping off because of other network interference, and sometimes it just decides to not work. If the staff is properly trained to handle these devices, especially since you can't expect ALL waiters and service staff to be as savvy with technology as you are. Many can pick any gadget up and figure it out on their own, but many would just be happy with a pad of paper and a pen. I recently was at a Mcdonald's drive thru during a busy lunch hour, and they actually had staff outside walking up to the cars with wireless tablet pc's or something of that nature taking orders to speed up the process, they simply just tapped the order on the pad and away you went, very fast and efficient.

Hello Blog

Hello, my name is Michael, and welcome to my blog.