How does mobile device impact hospitality industary Essay

How does mobile device impact hospitality industary - Essay Example Mobile devices such as smartphones (the word cellular phone is no longer applicable with what it can do), computer tablets, wi-fi connectivity, etch that even digital cameras now are becoming mobile communication devices. In a report by Mobilize Worldwide, the leading developer of mobile applications for promotions in the web and electronic platform, that includes interactive websites, and similar marketing channels, there were 211 million subscribers of mobile device in the US alone as of May 2011 and this figure is continually rising. It also added that of these figures, 82% of adult Americans has a cellphone, 31% of which are classified as smartphone. The company’s research also revealed that 25% of Americans rely on their mobile devices with regard to their access to the internet than the traditional computer. Almost all at 95% of all mobile device users are also capable of sending and receiving multimedia messaging service or MMS and/or short messaging service or SMS or s imply text messages. This is worth noting because most of those who receive data from mobile devices read the messages within three minutes upon receipt at 90% percent of the time. It also revealed that 79% of smartphone users do online shopping and 74% of these purchases were a result of smartphone online research. More interestingly, the study was supported by the Pew Research that more than half of mobile pohone users use their mobile devices to find information about local hotels (Kasavana, nd). II. The hospitality industry The hospitality industry is composed of cluster of of industries comprising of accommodations, restaurants, entertainment, recreation and amusement sectors (Bit Wave Solutions, nd). The hospitality industry is a thriving multi-billion industry dependent on its customer’s free time, disposable income and willingness to engage in leisure. Example of sectors in the hospitality industry are hotels, restaurants, themed park and amusement centers involving a gamut of operations that animate the whole industry to serve the guests that would avail of their service. The rising prosperity in the new markets enabled the hospitality industry to expand its operation across the globe with the people’s rising disposable income offering them different service and amusement depending on their preference. Along with the expansion of the operation of the hospitality industry is the improvement of its infrastructure to better serve its customer and to remain relevant in a very competitive business environment. One of the fastest aspect of development in the hospitality industry’s infrastructure is the information technology that enables the use of mobile devices to increase customer engagement with the end of enhancing customer experience. The services that mobile devices enable includes â€Å"website configurations, fluent marketing campaigns, location-based activities, digital couponing, and point-of-sale settlement. Currently, the fastest growing segment of m-commerce service is mobile payments featuring cashless and cardless payment platforms â€Å" (Kamanava, nd). The increased use of information technology in the hospitality industry that facilitated these services has resulted in creased expectation of visitors and personalized service especially to those who are returning customers. This became possible because hospitality indu

Decision Making, Decision Levels and Types of Problems Essay

Decision Making, Decision Levels and Types of Problems - Essay Example This root of the system is primordial and through interactions with each other and combinations becomes more advanced and complex assembling progressively more complex level of systems that cooperate and exchange information and ultimately forming an information system. Information systems theory postulates a system as a symbol within a representational medium (idiom) and the representational medium in itself. The general systems theory can be applied in structured problems to solve information system problems, where the problem and desired solution is clearly defined and can be split into a series of steps that are well defined (Skyttner 2001). For example, in developing an information system for an online retailer, a structured approach would be to list the products being sold, the available staff and the processes that will lead to making a sale, in which case a product inventory can be made. Members of staff are then allocated duties such as customer service and dispatch then how data on available inventory and deliveries will be made. In this case, what is needed is clearly defined. The inventory, who will handle what and how items will be delivered to customers so a system development sequence is employed. The general systems theory can be applied in structured problems to solve information system problems, where the problem and desired solution is clearly defined and can be split into a series of steps that are well defined (Skyttner 2001). For example, in developing an information system for an online retailer.... A decision support system (DSS) then comes in handy, as there is a need for some level of intuition. The DSS will do most of the ‘thinking’ as it provides data and models to help management make decisions. Non-structured situations would be for example designing a web site that can process payments from customers online, receive orders and queries and interact with a customer. Intuition will be needed on what would be most suitable for the customer and how to reduce threats of credit card fraud to the customer. The exact situation is not fully known but forms the wider system requirement and hence the solutions are not straight forward (Mathews 2008) General systems thinking is the practice of appreciating how different parts of an information system can impact and influence each other. For example, in designing a database system for a supermarket, one has to know how the accounting system will interact with the stock and inventory system and the payroll. In terms of str uctured problems, a designer can look at how the check out system will update the daily sales records and the stocks. The problem is defined as updating the daily sales account and knowing how much of what was sold. The problem can be designed in defined steps from what system to capture what has been sold, and for how much and then the stocks must be updated. A semi-structured problem would be how to know when stocks are running low or when to take money to the bank. A threshhold for cash sales will have to be established that alerts the finance manager to call in the couriers to deliver money to the bank. The system to know how much sales came from what products and how many were paid for by credit card. A non-structured problem would be how to handle customer complaints, track their