Monday 31 March 2008

Mobile Computing

With the move on technology in this day and age, it's surprising to see that not many hospitality orgainsations have really integrated it into their work processes. Some establishements will use hand held devices for food ordering in retaurants but this seems to be as far as it goes.

Last summer I worled in an Irish bar in Belgium which had a sophisticated computing system for ordering of food and drinks. Although the 'cafe style' culture there probably coheses well with this system; a similar system could potentially be integrated here in Ireland.

The computing system in the pub allowed the waitress to take a food and drinks order, go to the touch screen to place the order, the drinks order would print out in the bar printer and the food order would print out in the kitchen. There was also a chargeable hand held mobile device that was very convenient for use on the terrace on a busy day.

Personally I feel mobile devices could make much more of an impact in the way the service is delivered, by potentially speeding up the process and simplifying the job for front line hospitality staff.