News Briefs

eviivo, a travel tech company known for its award-winning booking and property management platform, eviivo Suite, and award-winning app, eviivo Mobile, announces the launch of eviivo Concierge, a groundbreaking Generative AI-powered guest messaging tool for property owners (such as vacation rentals), Airbnb and Vrbo hosts and boutique hoteliers in short-term rentals and independent accommodations. With eviivo Concierge, eviivo is the first global property management platform to fully integrate the power of AI as a new time-saving Guest Management feature, pioneering hospitality technology with powerful, personalized and predictive guest communication solutions. 

“Automation has always been the key to success for property owners, and we’ve proudly gone above and beyond for our customers with eviivo Concierge — a future-forward, AI-powered chatbot integrated in our award-winning software — that expertly and concisely responds to guests on their website,” says Steve Kerridge, eviivo Head of Product and Design. “eviivo Concierge not only revolutionizes guest communication and messaging, it will unarguably be a welcomed standard for property owners. As the first global property management platform in our industry to introduce front-end Generative AI technology, we’re thrilled to continue being pioneers our customers can rely on.”

A seamlessly designed virtual assistant available on customers’ websites, eviivo Concierge leverages the property’s accommodations service data to predictively answer guest questions based on any commands or directives (ie: “How many suites do you have? Answer with humor”), provide personalized assistance and recommendations, and also transform and enhance guest communication while saving property owners valuable time and money, increasing efficiency and driving more bookings. 

“Generative AI has been in high demand in the short-term rental industry, and with our release of eviivo Concierge, eviivo customers have been truly excited, especially since we’re meeting expectations for what we deliver best: giving back their time,” says Usama Ahmed, eviivo Product Director. “Our award-winning mobile app allows hosts to run their business anywhere, anytime, right in the palm of their hand — and now with eviivo’s 24/7 digital Concierge, property owners can have dozens of guest questions answered while they tend to their garden, vacation with family or even while they sleep.” 

eviivo Concierge is an integral part of eviivo Suite’s guest messaging solution, including:

-Website-based, custom-tailored generative AI responses to guest questions, which consistently improves personalization over time.

-Allows property owners, hosts and hoteliers to build key relationships and reduce mundane tasks while eviivo Concierge answers guest questions 24/7.

-Designed to provide guests answers in any format or theme they command (ie: “be funny;” “show me the best bedroom photos;” etc).

-Automates multi-channel guest interactions through world-class APIs to Online travel Agencies/OTAs (such as Airbnb, Vrbo, Expedia, etc).

-Access to saved AI conversation transcripts through eviivo Conversation’s unified messaging inbox to optimize self-learning.

-Can help create engaging email templates to increase direct and repeat bookings.

-Ability to automate and curate guest experiences through eviivo Suite, including personalized emails, payment reminders, booking confirmations and contactless check-in details.

-Invite guests to leave reviews through eviivo Conversation. 

eviivo Concierge addresses the growing demand for ChatGPT/AI integration in the hospitality industry, which is set to revolutionize the guest experience “in the next 10 years by providing more personalized and recommendation engines, automation of repetitive tasks, virtual assistants, smart room technology and concierge services,” according to Hotel Tech Report. 

 

According to Forbes, 64% of businesses expect AI to increase productivity, and AI will see an annual growth rate of 37.3% from 2023 to 2030. 

 

For more information, and to experience eviivo Concierge, visit: www.eviivo.com/eviivo-concierge

Shiji, a global hospitality technology innovator, has partnered with IPORT, an award-winning manufacturer known for enhancing the usability of iPads and iPhones, to introduce an all-in-one software solution for hotel restaurants. This collaboration will provide hoteliers with a seamless combination of a tablet and payment device to maximize their F&B operations.

The integrated iOS and payment device solution simplifies guest service for hotel restaurant servers, providing them with an effortless tool to cater to their guests' needs. As a certified Apple partner, Shiji and IPORT guarantee exceptional performance and reliability. Hoteliers can choose from multiple device options, including iPad Pro, iPad Mini, and iPhone, ensuring flexibility and compatibility with their operations.

“IPORT products are built around modularity and flexibility that empower our hospitality customers to do more with the iOS platform. We are thrilled to partner with a leading iPad and iPhone cloud PMS and POS platform provider like Shiji,” said Chris Lawson, Head of Partnerships, IPORT. “We look forward to innovating with Shiji in disrupting legacy, monolithic providers who have limited the industry from harnessing the power of iOS and mobility. The future is bright, and the possibilities are endless with IPORT, iOS, and Shiji.”

"The partnership with IPORT is a significant milestone for Shiji in our commitment to provide innovative technology solutions for the hospitality industry," said Ryan King, Senior Vice President of Shiji in the Americas. "By combining our expertise with IPORT’s hardware solutions, we empower hoteliers to streamline restaurant operations and deliver exceptional guest experiences. This collaboration represents another step forward in our dedication to driving success in the Americas, and globally."

The tablet and payment device solution seamlessly integrates with multiple payment gateways, allowing hoteliers to choose the system that best suits their needs. By simplifying the payment process, it reduces operational complexities, minimizes errors, and saves valuable time and resources for hoteliers.

Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians, a Native American Tribe in Southern California, has standardized its growing business and government operations on Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications Suite to support its mission of being a self-sustaining, independent Tribe. With a single integrated applications suite to manage its finance, HR, and supply chain processes, the Tribe has been able to redesign operations to support its rapid growth and multiple new ventures, increase visibility across the organization, and improve decision making for current and future generations.

Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indian has established business and governmental operations on its sovereign lands in Southern California, including Spotlight 29 Casino in Coachella California, Tortoise Rock Casino, adjacent to Joshua Tree National Park and its Tribal Government Offices. To support the growing and unique needs of its business and government operations, Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians needed to replace numerous existing accounting, HR, inventory, and procurement systems which were creating time-consuming, manual processes and making it difficult to scale. After careful evaluation, the Tribe selected Oracle Fusion Applications to improve the efficiency of its operations and support the Tribe’s long-term vision. The Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians is one of the first casino-based businesses outside of Las Vegas to engage with Oracle on this potent operating system.

“Operating as a sovereign nation first and a business second, we always take a forward-thinking approach to every decision we make, planning for seven generations ahead,” said Darrell Mike, Tribal Chairman, Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians. “When thinking about the future success of our Tribe, we knew we needed to have a strong foundation, not just in our leadership and vision, but with our technology as well. Our decision to implement Oracle Fusion Applications was one that we believe will not only help us achieve short-term success but will also solidify our future success 150+ years down the road.”

With Oracle Fusion Applications, the Tribe has leveraged the cloud to break down organizational silos, standardize and automate processes, and manage finance, HR, and supply chain data on a single integrated cloud platform. With quarterly update cycles, the Tribe has access to new features that are added every 90 days without business disruption.

“We have a complex business model that involves administration and management of Tribal services and utilities, gaming and future hospitality ventures including hotels, and will eventually diversify further in support of our vision for growth,” said Anthony Kosturos, chief financial officer, Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians. “With Oracle Fusion Applications, we consolidated 12 different business systems on a single integrated cloud platform, which has significantly improved insights and how we run our organization. With Oracle’s strong track record in gaming and hospitality, we knew we were getting a system that would cover everything we needed now and will continue to evolve with our organization as we further diversify and grow in the future.”

Oracle Fusion Cloud Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) has enabled the Tribe to increase the speed and accuracy of financial processes, improve business visibility, and enhance controls. For example, intelligent document recognition capabilities have tripled the number of transactions it can process each day. Additionally, by consolidating more than six different HR systems with Oracle Fusion Cloud Human Capital Management (HCM), the Tribe has been able to centralize HR operations, simplify complex processes, and generate better workforce insights. Finally, Oracle Fusion Cloud Supply Chain & Manufacturing (SCM) has helped Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians manage the complete source-to-settle cycle to minimize costs and risk and simplify supplier management.

The Tribe is also expanding into new modules and capabilities within Oracle Cloud ERP. The organization is currently implementing Project Management and Grant Management modules to help increase productivity, tighten financial controls, and improve compliance.

“Government, gaming, and hospitality operating models are very different and have unique complexities. For Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians, and other Native American Tribes that operate across all three areas, these challenges are compounded,” said Steve Miranda, executive vice president of applications development, Oracle. “By standardizing processes across its operations with Oracle Fusion Applications, the Tribe has been able to increase efficiencies, ensure access to the latest innovations, and establish a strong foundation for future generations to build from.”

SageNet, a Tulsa-based managed network, digital experience and security services provider, has launched a new Alliance Partner Program.  The company created the strategic initiative to strengthen its commitment to providing multi-site retailers with comprehensive network connectivity and digital signage solutions and ensure that its customers continue to thrive in an ever-evolving retail environment.

“The Alliance Partner Program signifies our dedication to building even stronger relationships with our strategic partners,” said SageNet CEO Brad Wise. “It’s a win-win-win situation. Our partners play an invaluable role in delivering superior solutions to our customers. The Alliance Partner Program provides a platform to amplify success for SageNet, our partners, and most importantly, our customers.”

The program will use a structured framework to provide partners with the exclusive resources, tools and guidance they need to ensure seamless communication, improved service delivery, and a streamlined customer experience. Partners will have access to a dedicated partner manager, joint marketing initiatives, and comprehensive training to meet the changing needs of multi-site retailers.

Patrick Winchester has been appointed as Director of Strategic Alliances to lead the new initiative. In the newly created position, Winchester will be responsible for building and growing strong, consistent relationships with partner companies that can help grow the businesses of SageNet’s customers. Winchester enters this position with more than 20 years of experience in maximizing both customer and partner engagement. He has led deployments for retail enterprise store solutions, hardware and software product launches, and implemented go-to-market strategies for both direct and indirect end-users.

Winchester’s vision for the program includes outstanding field support and a desire to co-market and co-sell in accounts. He aims to build joint collaborative plans and share access to the latest innovations and technology. According to Winchester, the extensive partner platform will detail how the company engages with its partners and amplifies the value of being better together.

“We want to continue building a platform to leverage all the things we do well, because we have a tremendous amount of market knowledge and expertise in different industries. We’re unique, and we want to show our partners the value of working with us.”

Winchester said a key part of his work as Director of Strategic Alliances will be to show how easy it is to work with SageNet.

“We’re transparent and measured, able to show them business objectives that align with measured results. Those things lead to successful partnerships. We’re thinking outside the box with our partners, and together we can amplify everything we do.”

SageNet invites interested companies to explore the benefits of joining the Alliance Partner Program and collaborating with them in their mission to deliver the best possible service to their valued clients. For more information about the Alliance Partner Program, visit sagenet.com.

Zebra Technologies Corp. launched Zebra Pay, an integrated, enterprise-grade, SPoC-based mobile payment solution for the retail, hospitality, entertainment, field mobility, and logistics industries.

This solution runs on standard Google Mobile Services (GMS) and the latest Android operating system (OS). As a software-based, pin entry, consumer off the shelf (SPoC/COTS) solution, Zebra Pay empowers businesses to accept payments on Zebra’s multifunctional mobile computers and tablets, transforming them into secure payment terminals.

• 57% of respondents say enabling new payment options is a  top business driver impacting POS upgrade decisions, according to HT’s2 2023 POS Software Trends Report.

According to the latest Global Payments Report by FIS, mobile wallets and card-based payments are projected to account for nearly 88% of all in-person transactions by 2026.  

Zebra Pay is available on Zebra’s TC5x and TC7x mobile computer series and ET4x tablets. The solution enables retail associates, hospitality workers and logistics employees to carry a complete mPOS in-hand to accept secure, contactless digital wallets, chip and PIN-based card payments almost anywhere.

Zebra Pay expands the mobile payment capabilities on compatible mobile devices to include line busting, assisted selling, extended aisle, curbside and field-based sales and reduces the need for customers to support multiple devices. Moreover, the solution leverages Payment Card Industry (PCI) certified, cloud-based security and provides customers with the ability to install any application from their enterprise mobility management system or Google Play store without requiring special keys or permission.

The solution is built in accordance with PCI standards and is EMV Level 3 certified to support the delivery of seamless, secure chip card payments globally. It also works with all major credit card networks and payment types including NFC-contactless tap, chip, and magnetic stripe.

Zebra Pay is certified with Global Payments in EMEA and Worldpay from FIS in North America – with additional acquirers including Fiserv coming soon – allowing fast deployments with no development or gateway fees. It is also Visa Ready, meeting Visa's requirements for an optimal Tap to Pay POS acceptance experience.

Zebra Pay enables business owners to rapidly deploy and activate the solution on existing devices, while the cloud-based Zebra Pay Merchant Portal gives them complete visibility into deployments, hardware status, transactions, and an audit trail for all its locations.

Shipley Do-Nuts, one of the nation’s largest do-nut brands, is offering guests its first loyalty program, Do-Happy Rewards, at all 340-plus locations. 

Everyone who joins the program will instantly be awarded two free signature glazed do-nuts. Do-Happy Rewards members earn five points for every $1 they spend to unlock rewards that range from free do-nuts and kolaches to Shipley merchandise and 99-cent coffees. The more points reward members earn, the higher their membership level, leading to more exclusive offers and discounts. The app also allows for easy, streamlined online ordering for pickup or delivery.

• Shipley Do-Nuts Finds Efficiency & ROI With SynergySuite

“We began testing Do-Happy Rewards in early 2023 in our company-owned shops, and it was well received, with strong initial sign-ups and positive consumer feedback that told us there’s a real appetite for the program,” said Shipley Do-Nuts CEO Flynn Dekker. “With this launch, we can thank our devoted guests the best way we know how – with free do-nuts, merch and other menu items – while offering simpler online ordering and driving business for our franchisees.”

As of Sept. 1, Do-Happy Rewards had more than 40,000 members who are spending 60% more than non-loyalty members. Rewards members also visited about twice a month as the program rolled out. 

The new loyalty program is the latest of many tech upgrades for the 87-year-old brand as it plans to nearly double in size over the next five years. It has also launched a new website, rolled out online ordering and third-party delivery, and implemented a digital training platform. The company recently opened new territories for development in Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri and Ohio and is actively recruiting franchisees in Colorado, Oklahoma, Florida and throughout the Southeast.