News Briefs
- 6/4/2024
Ooma Office Phone Service Integrates with Square
Ooma, Inc., a smart communications platform for businesses and consumers, announced the integration of its Ooma Office business phone service with Square, a trusted software, payments and hardware solution for businesses of all sizes.
With the Ooma Office and Square integration (https://www.ooma.com/small-business-phone-systems/integrations/square/), users of the Ooma Office desktop app can view information from the Square Customer Directory – including customer name, recent purchase history and upcoming appointments – in a caller ID pop-up when placing or receiving calls. This makes customer information easily accessible, empowering the delivery of a personalized and exceptional customer experience. Also, users can go to the contact entry in the Square Customer Directory with a single click to make any changes.
By teaming up, Ooma and Square are enabling businesses to streamline orders, make their operations more efficient and build long-term customer loyalty.
“We’ve been working to add integrations to Ooma Office because we know our customers expect their technology tools to work together in ways that enhance productivity,” said Dennis Peng, senior vice president of product management at Ooma. “Square’s popularity with businesses is a perfect match with Ooma’s focus on providing a leading cloud-based phone service that is simple yet powerful.”
Ooma Office (https://www.ooma.com/small-business-phone-systems/), available in the United States and Canada, is a cloud-based phone and unified communications service offering an extensive set of more than 50 features curated to meet the needs of businesses of various sizes. Designed for easy installation, use and management, with no technical skills required, Ooma Office delivers powerful capabilities that include virtual receptionists, ring groups, text messaging, videoconferencing, call recording, call queuing and more.
There is a broad range of integrations for Ooma Office connecting to customer relationship management (CRM) and productivity platforms (https://www.ooma.com/small-business-phone-systems/integrations/), including:
● AgencyZoom
● Clio Manage
● Freshdesk
● Google Chrome Extension
● HubSpot
● Jobber
● Microsoft Dynamics 365
● NexHealth
● Salesforce
● Square
● Zendesk Support
● Zoho
The Ooma Office integration with Square is available now and included at no extra cost in the Ooma Office Pro Plus service plan.
- 4/16/2024
Steak n Shake Deploys Biometric Check In
PopID and Steak n Shake announced today that all Steak n Shake locations in the United States now accept PopID Check In (to review favorite orders and loyalty points) and PopPay for checkout. With more than 300 locations, Steak n Shake is the first national restaurant brand in the United States to adopt biometric check-in and checkout nationwide. PopID’s biometric check-in feature makes kiosk ordering faster, easier, and more personalized.
The implementation of PopID in every Steak n Shake location was accomplished rapidly and at low cost through a partnership between PopID and ACRELEC, a leading supplier of kiosk-ordering hardware and drive-through products. Cameras were shipped to every restaurant for attachment to the existing ACRELEC kiosks. “As explained in our recent publication, ACRELEC believes that our integrated biometric solution provides various benefits to restaurant operators related to throughput, ticket size, and loyalty engagement,” says Bruno Lo-Re, President of ACRELEC America.
“We are thrilled about our partnership with PopID and to be on the edge of biometric technology for the benefit of our customers. Our guests now have the option to use biometrics for a faster and more seamless experience,” says Sardar Biglari, Chairman of Biglari Holdings, the parent company of Steak n Shake.
Now that biometrics are enabled for all ordering and payment inside Steak n Shake restaurants, PopID and Steak n Shake will begin implementing biometric check-in and checkout at the restaurant’s drive-through units. “Similar to the kiosks, biometric check in can increase loyalty participation and revenue at the drive thru while also reducing payment processing costs,” says John Miller, CEO of PopID and Chairman of Cali Group. “Additionally, biometric payment at the order confirmation screen enables staff members to work on tasks other than taking payments by card and phone at the order pick-up window.”
- 6/5/2024
The Access Group Expands in North America with Acquisition of Hotel Tech Specialist SHR Group
The Access Group, a $1.3bn+ business management software provider, has added global hotel and casino technology specialist SHR to its expanding AI-powered end-to-end platform for hotels.Access will pair SHR’s capabilities with those of Guestline, a Property Management Software (PMS) with customers across DACH and Europe, which it acquired last year. SHR’s 2,000 hotel customers will join Guestline’s 3,000 properties, with all clients of the enlarged Access Hospitality division benefitting from improved ability to boost efficiency and profitability, with a complete digital guest journey.The SHR deal makes the Access Hospitality division one of only a handful of truly holistic software providers in the hotel industry worldwide. SHR is key to the vision of becoming a one-stop shop for the full range of hospitality property management, operations, and front-of-house tools.The acquisition of SHR — based in Houston, Texas — will enable Access to make further inroads into the US market and service larger hotel groups, which often have more complex distribution needs than smaller boutique and independent operators. With revenue of over £1bn, The Access Group has more than 7,000 employees worldwide and provides software solutions to over a dozen other sectors.Access uses a modular approach, which allows hoteliers to design their ideal tech stack according to need, but where all the key components are still natively integrated.SHR comprises a dynamic Central Reservation System (CRS), Internet Booking Engine (IBE), CRM (Customer Relationship Manager), Revenue Management System (RMS), and digital marketing and loyalty program tools. Its use of AI means the content guests see on direct booking sites is tailored to them, increasing relevance for customers and helping hoteliers maximize revenues through conversion, upselling, and cross-selling.Access aims to become the mid-market segment's go-to provider, focusing on independent hotels and national and regional chains globally by combining SHR’s products with Guestline and nearly 10 other Access Hospitality products.The appointment of Jonah Paransky as Access President of the Americas earlier this year demonstrates the Group’s commitment and investment in developing the organization as a leading global business software provider in the region. This, combined with the acquisition of ERP provider Construction Industry Solutions (COINS) in 2022, galvanizes the Group’s commitment to expanding its footprint in the US market. The company already has a strong presence in Europe and APAC. The Group’s Hospitality division already supports over 20,000 hotels, multi-site pub and bar, restaurants, food-to-go, and leisure operators with software designed to enhance guest experiences and improve venues’ profitability.Champa Magesh, MD Access Hospitality, commented: “We’ve always worked to provide world-class products and unrivaled technological capabilities and SHR embodies that ambition."SHR is undoubtedly the world's leading automated hotel technology platform and a significant addition to our hospitality offering. In this competitive and increasingly complex industry, leveraging AI's immense potential will give hoteliers a competitive edge – enabling them to revolutionize guest experiences, drive operational efficiencies, and increase revenue.“It further bolsters our accommodation offer following the acquisition of Guestline last year – a leading hotel distribution and operations platform provider.”Jonah Paransky, Access Group President, Americas, said: “This deal has taken us a step closer to achieving our goal of being the global go-to technology partner for hotels, helping them deliver exceptional guest experiences and increase their profitability.“SHR’s pioneering use of technology and laser focus on customer experience make it a natural fit for Access. This acquisition is a key milestone in our drive to grow our market share in the US and tap into the massive growth opportunity the market presents.”Rod Jimenez, CEO SHR, added, “We are thrilled to announce that Access has acquired SHR. Access is already a leader in providing software and services to UK and European hotels. Its focus is on offering solutions that support customers in handling their entire operations, enabling hoteliers to deliver excellent guest experiences cost-effectively, profitably, and sustainably.“This strategic move for SHR brings a wealth of benefits to our customers. They’ll gain access to a complete suite of products and services, including hospitality-specific HR, payroll, learning management, and staff scheduling software. They’ll be able to draw on the expertise of Access’ extensive network of partners and find opportunities to learn, collaborate, and grow with a larger community of customers.“We look forward to working with Access to accelerate capabilities and innovation across products, customer support, and security.” - 6/4/2024
Bojangles Partners with ezCater
Bojangles officially offers catering through a new partnership with ezCater.
Customers across the brand’s footprint will be able to place catering orders from participating restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner to feed the whole crowd with convenient delivery and pick-up options through ezCater. Simply visit ezcater.com/brand/pvt/bojangles to place an order.
ezCater’s technology makes it easy for Bojangles’ customers to place their catering orders online. They can simply choose items from the Bojangles menu and schedule a delivery or pickup. There is a $50 delivery minimum, and items are portioned to feed crowds, with descriptions indicating how much food comes with each order.
85% say integrations with other systems is driving POS purchasing decisions, according to HT's 2024 POS Software Trends Survey
“Since Bojangles started in 1977, our brand has been synonymous with bringing people together over delicious, home-cooked food. That’s truly what ‘It’s Bo Time’ is all about,” said Sergio Perez, Bojangles’ Sr. Director of Omnichannel Initiatives. “We’re there for our fans and customers on all occasions, and now we’ve made sharing Bojangles’ famous chicken, biscuits and tea even easier with ezCater.”
This is Bojangles’ first official venture into catering as a company, though select franchisees have previously offered this convenience. The streamlined move indicates Bojangles’ widespread commitment to making its food accessible for gatherings of all kinds and celebrating fans at every moment. From popular breakfast items like its signature made-from-scratch biscuits and Bo Rounds to staple lunch and dinner items like fried chicken, sandwiches, fixins and Legendary Iced Tea, there’s something for everyone on the catering menu. As summer approaches, Bojangles expects fans to take advantage of this offering for graduations, summer celebrations, family gatherings, weddings and more.
“ezCater is extremely well-positioned in the business catering market,” added Perez, “so we’re excited about the potential to bring our beloved breakfast biscuits and popular chicken to more and more businesses all across Bojangles country.”
“We are thrilled to support Bojangles in launching their catering program and look forward to sending them large, incremental orders from workplaces across the country,” said Michelle Smart, Chief Customer Care Officer at ezCater. “They are sure to be a big hit with our customers. What could be better than bringing your team together over a platter of their delicious chicken biscuits?”
Bojangles plans to celebrate the new catering option by catering special moments and gatherings with some lucky fans throughout the summer, so stay tuned for more on the festive opportunities.
- 6/5/2024
Breezeway Now Available on Oracle Cloud Marketplace
Breezeway, a property operations and guest experience platform and a member of Oracle PartnerNetwork (OPN), today announced it is available on Oracle Cloud Marketplace and can be deployed on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) and integrated with OPERA Cloud via the Oracle Hospitality Integration Platform (OHIP). Oracle Cloud Marketplace is a centralized repository of enterprise applications offered by Oracle and Oracle partners.The collaboration means that hoteliers using OPERA Cloud can now sync with Breezeway’s platform to automate operational tasks from one platform.With this integration, customers can leverage new advancements in service optimization software to bring efficiency to their business and elevate the guest experience, including dynamic scheduling and task assignment rules, utilizing smart checklists that allow for personalized service across unique stays, and managing guest communications.The Breezeway integration with OPERA Cloud also includes property guides, smart lock code automation, and the ability to offer customized upsells and guest services.Oracle Cloud Marketplace is a one-stop shop for Oracle customers seeking trusted business applications and services offering unique solutions, including ones that extend Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications.OCI is a deep and broad platform of cloud infrastructure services that enables customers to build and run a wide range of applications in a scalable, secure, highly available, and high-performance environment. From application development and business analytics to data management, integration, security, AI, and infrastructure services including Kubernetes and VMware, OCI delivers comprehensive security, performance, and cost savings. In addition, with multicloud, hybrid cloud, public cloud, and dedicated cloud options, OCI’s distributed cloud offers customers the benefits of cloud with greater control over data residency, locality, and authority, even across multiple clouds. As a result, customers can bring enterprise workloads to the cloud quickly and efficiently while meeting the strictest regulatory compliance requirements.“Our integration with Oracle Hospitality marks an advancement in the accessibility to operational technology for the hotel industry. By combining Breezeway’s property care, operations and guest experience tools with Oracle’s robust property management software, we will set a new benchmark for efficiency and guest satisfaction,” said Jeremy Gall, CEO and Founder of Breezeway. “Breezeway’s participation in Oracle Cloud Marketplace further extends our commitment to the Oracle community and enables customers to easily reap the benefits of our tools. We look forward to leveraging the power of OCI to help us achieve our business goals.”Breezeway, a platform for managing all the work of maintaining and cleaning hotels and short-term rentals, has helped thousands of hoteliers and property managers deliver the highest quality hospitality experiences for millions of guests – across more than 250,000 properties in 80 countries.
- 6/5/2024
Tripleseat Acquires 3D Floor Plan Provider, Merri, to Revolutionize Event Management & Planning
Tripleseat, a sales and event management platform for restaurants, hotels, and unique venues, is excited to announce the acquisition of Merri, a cutting-edge 3D floor plan and event design application for restaurants, hotels, unique venues, and event planners. This strategic acquisition aims to enhance Tripleseat’s robust suite of tools, providing all venues with an all-in-one solution for seamless event planning and management.
As the hospitality industry continues to grow and evolve, the need for efficient, technology-driven solutions has never been greater. By integrating Merri's innovative 3D floor plan design capabilities with Tripleseat's comprehensive event management platform, venue owners and event planners can now access a powerful toolset that simplifies the planning process and enhances guest experiences.
Key Benefits of the Merri Acquisition:
Seamless Integration: Merri's advanced floor plan and event design tools will fully integrate into the Tripleseat platform, allowing users to create detailed, customizable floorplans that align perfectly with their event requirements.
Enhanced User Experience: The combined platform will offer an intuitive user interface, making it easier for users to visualize and plan events, manage seating arrangements, and optimize space utilization.
Increased Productivity: By consolidating event planning and floor plan design into a single platform, hospitality professionals can save time, reduce errors, and improve coordination.
Data-Driven Insights: The integration will provide users with valuable analytics and insights, helping them make informed decisions to enhance event profitability and guest satisfaction
Event Management Innovation’s Impact on the Hospitality Industry:
Tripleseat currently serves over 16,000 restaurants and hotels globally and has managed 34 million events to date. By incorporating Merri’s technology, Tripleseat aims to further solidify its position as the leading event management solution provider in the hospitality industry, ensuring even more efficient and effective event planning processes for its extensive user base.
Jonathan Morse, CEO of Tripleseat, expressed his enthusiasm for the acquisition: "We are thrilled to welcome Merri to the Tripleseat family. This acquisition represents a significant step forward in our mission to provide the hospitality industry with the most comprehensive and user-friendly event management solutions. Merri's innovative technology aligns perfectly with our vision, and we are excited to bring these enhanced capabilities to our customers."
Randi Bushell, Founder of Merri, added: "Joining forces with Tripleseat allows us to bring our advanced floor plan and event design tools to a broader audience. We share a common goal of simplifying and enhancing the event planning process, and we look forward to working together to achieve this."
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