News Briefs

WorkJam, the leading digital frontline workplace solution, has unveiled its new Shift Bidding feature, designed to make scheduling in unionized workplaces and similarly complex environments simpler and fairer. This update ensures schedules meet union agreements and comply with relevant regulations while giving employees more say over their work hours.

“Shift Bidding changes the game for businesses navigating the complexities of unionized teams and other complicated workplace environments,” said Steve Kramer, CEO of WorkJam. “Managers often worry about filling open shifts, which can leave businesses short-staffed. Our new feature removes the guesswork by aligning schedules with union rules and letting employees rank their shift preferences. It’s a win for everyone—employees get more control, and businesses get better staffing, compliance, and smoother operations.”

Shift Bidding automates the complicated task of scheduling for unionized teams, saving managers time and minimizing errors. Employees can see available shift packages, rank their choices, and feel confident that the system treats everyone fairly. The platform also ensures compliance with contract enforcement, supporting schedule fairness and seniority rules in both unionized and non-union environments where these factors play a role in the scheduling process. For companies, using Shift Bidding results in fewer complaints, reduced compliance risks, and a boost to employee satisfaction. Shift Bidding helps organizations get the most out of their workforce management systems (WMS) by making employees more engaged, streamlining operations, and promoting equitable scheduling practices across the board.

WorkJam has long been a pioneer in empowering frontline employees with flexible scheduling tools, including its widely used Shift Swapping feature. This functionality has enabled workers to exchange shifts easily, providing greater control over their schedules while ensuring business continuity. With Shift Bidding, WorkJam introduces a union-focused enhancement of the Shift Swapping feature, designed to work seamlessly with collective bargaining agreements.

Shift Bidding is built to work smoothly with WMS platforms like UKG Pro, Blue Yonder, and ADP. Employees can choose from flexible shift packages that work for their needs, whether it’s balancing family commitments or prioritizing seniority. The system uses a built-in Seniority Engine to make sure schedules are fair and transparent.

Shift Bidding is already making a difference for Avis Budget Group. By leveraging the feature, Avis has successfully aligned schedules with employee preferences, reduced turnover, and streamlined operations. Today, 92% of Avis employees actively use WorkJam, making it a key part of their daily operations.

The benefits of Shift Bidding extend beyond improved scheduling processes. By offering flexible shift coverage, businesses can achieve optimal staffing alignment, which translates to improved productivity and higher sales. Transparent scheduling also increases employee satisfaction and reduces turnover. Additionally, organizations benefit from reduced administrative burdens, helping to streamline operations and protect the bottom line.

Industries like grocery, retail, logistics, and services—where union labor agreements play a big role—can benefit greatly from Shift Bidding. By simplifying scheduling and ensuring compliance, businesses can improve trust and engagement with their employees, all while cutting down on admin work and focusing on what matters: delivering exceptional customer service.

Epson  announced a partnership with Kitchen Armor, a restaurant kitchen solutions provider offering a full range of standard and custom kitchen automation products. Through this partnership, Kitchen Armor will bring Curbit capabilities, the industry’s first AI-powered kitchen capacity management solution for restaurants, and new hardware options to TrueOrder  Kitchen Display System (KDS), aiming to further optimize kitchen performance and order status communication via SMS. Through this partnership, Epson and Kitchen Armor are providing state-of-the-art, easy-to-implement kitchen technology to mid-sized chains and single location operators, allowing them to compete with larger corporate competitors on take-out efficiency, order accuracy and guest communication.

TrueOrder KDS with Kitchen Armor is an affordable, easy to set up and easy-to-install kitchen display system for restaurants, enhancing productivity from food prep to order fulfillment. Kitchen Armor manufactures and produces stainless steel touch solutions, along with custom mounting options that feature Power Over Ethernet (POE) capabilities that greatly simplify hardware installation and offer the most effective kitchen consulting services recognized throughout the industry. Kitchen Armor is the official reseller of Curbit’s services, and the partnership between Epson and Kitchen Armor will provide Curbit capabilities within TrueOrder KDS. Curbit helps restaurants manage their take-out orders intelligently by leveraging real-time kitchen data and AI to determine the optimal time to start digital orders and providing real-time order progress to guests and delivery drivers via SMS. Through this partnership, Curbit capabilities, including real-time order SMS progress updates and detailed speed of service reporting data, will be available within TrueOrder KDS.

“Kitchen Armor’s mission is to provide restaurants with the most advanced, industry-leading kitchen solutions that are cost-effective, easy to implement and designed to exceed customer expectations on day one,” said Paul Amestoy, co-founder, Kitchen Armor. “We are excited to work with Epson and strengthen our partnership with Curbit as we continue to be the industry-leading turn-key solutions provider for a diverse array of quick-service restaurants. This partnership will further allow customers to enhance their kitchen production, achieve better order accuracy and enhance customer communication.”

Adding to Epson’s existing TrueOrder KDS offerings from Microtouch, Logic Controls and Elo, this partnership will give customers more options for implementing the intuitive and robust TrueOrder KDS software. TrueOrder KDS is easy to set up and can be customized to fit a kitchen’s workflow with easy-to-use, browser-based configuration utility. The system can support as many as nine stations throughout the kitchen, to help ensure order information is handled by the right station.

“As a market leader with a reputation for providing expertise for both software and hardware kitchen solutions, Kitchen Armor has the experience and know-how to provide a full end-to-end solution for restaurants,” said Tessa Kohl, product manager, Epson America, Inc. “Many restaurants are looking to optimize kitchen efficiency, especially when managing orders coming from a range of third-party ordering and delivery apps, and we are excited to work with Kitchen Armor to deliver world-class solutions to meet these needs.”

For more information about TrueOrder KDS, visit www.epson.com/kds. 

Epson introduces the TM-T20IV Thermal Receipt Printer, purpose-built for taking on the demanding point of sale (POS) needs of today’s businesses. Engineered for a balance of speed, reliability and affordability in a compact package, the versatile TM-T20IV printer supports traditional PC-POS and mPOS systems, allowing for exceptional flexibility and productivity in hospitality and retail environments.

“As the market is migrating towards mPOS systems, merchants are increasingly looking to POS solutions that are modern, sleek and have flexible interfaces,” said John Choi, product manager, Business Systems Division, Epson America, Inc. “Designed with affordability in mind, the TM-T20IV printer provides essential features for modern businesses, including a compact design, flexible connectivity, fast printing, and paper-saving capabilities.”

The TM-T20IV printer features two built-in connectivity options – USB with Serial connectivity and USB with Serial and Ethernet connectivity – allowing for exceptional flexibility and productivity. With print speeds up to 250 mm/sec, an intuitive status LED and paper savings of up to 30%, the TM-T20IV is the ideal solution for keeping POS workflows moving quickly and efficiently. The printer is backed by a 2-year limited warranty, with extended service plan options available up to a total of 5 years of continuous coverage.

A capable and affordable solution for today’s hospitality and retail environments, additional features include:

• Compact, modern design – Small 3-inch thermal receipt printer
• Designed for reliability – 2-year limited warranty and extended service plans, including Spare-in-the-Air™ coverage, are available²
• Multiplatform support – Compatible with traditional PC-POS and mPOS devices
• Easy to use – Status LED with intuitive icons allows for simple troubleshooting and maintenance

Availability

The TM-T20IV Thermal Receipt Printer will be available in Q1 of 2025 from Epson authorized channel partners. For additional information, visit www.epson.com/retail-point-of-sale-solutions

• Guest Experience Management: Facilitates quick, coordinated handling of guest complaints, ensuring that any issues are resolved efficiently and enhancing overall guest satisfaction.
• Housekeeping Optimization: Provides real-time room status updates, assists with cleaning schedules, and tracks amenity usage, making housekeeping more efficient and cost-effective.
• Front Office Support: Organizes guest requests, manages lost and found items, and improves communication between the front desk and other departments to ensure smooth service.
• F&B Management: Optimizes minibar management, allowing hotels to track usage, replenish stock efficiently and maximize turnover in food and beverage services.
• Engineering and Maintenance: Streamlines maintenance tasks and preventive measures, ensuring that issues are addressed promptly, minimizing downtime, and improving asset longevity.
• Management Insights: Delivers detailed analytics on asset use, task performance, and cost control, empowering hotel management with actionable insights to optimize processes and control costs.

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) announced the Global Technology 100 (T100) 2025 leadership team, which advises hoteliers on how the latest technological advances can create a more enjoyable stay for their guests.

As part of HTNG, T100 is tasked with driving transformative advancements, revolutionizing guest experiences, and defining the future landscape of hospitality technology for the benefit of AHLA members and the global hospitality industry. HTNG includes over 4,000 professionals globally who are committed to advancing technology in the hospitality industry.

This year, five hospitality technology leaders will lead T100:

• Chair Luis Segredo, CEO of Data Travel LLC
• Vice Chair Edward Malinowski, Chief Information Technology Officer, Aman
• Immediate Past Chair Scott Strickland, Chief Commercial Officer, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
• Program & Membership Chair Laura Calin, SVP, Oracle Hospitality
• Workgroup Chair Dayna Kully, Co-Founder, 5thGenWireless

“This talented group of people helming T100 and shaping the technology future of the hotel industry is a dream team,” said AHLA President & CEO Rosanna Maietta. “T100 harnesses the skills of hospitality technology’s most accomplished professionals to drive solutions and innovation across our industry. I’m grateful for their service to AHLA, their leadership, and their commitment to working on behalf of our industry.”

Learn more about T100 and its membership here.

Interface Systems, a managed service provider of security, actionable insights, and purpose-built networks for multi-location businesses, has identified key security and technology trends that will shape retail and restaurant security in 2025. As threats evolve and technology accelerates, Interface anticipates a convergence of AI, advanced video analytics, and smarter monitoring solutions to drive more proactive and efficient business security systems.

Expansion of Cloud-Based Video Systems

The adoption of cloud-based video systems is expected to accelerate, driven by their ability to provide scalable, remote monitoring solutions. However, growth will be tempered by challenges surrounding appropriate network bandwidth availability and the cost of high-resolution video storage. Interface foresees steady adoption as technology advances to optimize storage efficiency without compromising video quality.

AI for Life Safety and Deterrence

Video analytics will play an increasingly central role as a detection and deterrence tool. Advances in AI-driven systems will simplify deployment and enable companies to implement more robust remote video monitoring (RVM). This next stage of innovation will focus on integrating video analytics with access control, alarms, and environmental sensors to create cohesive, intelligent security solutions. This will enable organizations to leverage capabilities like automated locking mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access or triggering voice-down messages to deter theft or loitering. However, maintaining a “human in the loop” will be crucial to overseeing AI operations, ensuring sound decision-making in high-stakes situations, and building trust in the technology.

Conversational AI and Automated Interventions

Interface Systems anticipates continued advancements in conversational AI to enhance remote video monitoring. Currently, AI-driven systems can identify “what” to respond to — distinguishing between human motion, vehicle movement, or environmental factors. In 2025, conversational AI will advance to determine “how” to respond, providing highly contextual, automated interventions. For example, AI could customize announcements based on situational details like a vehicle’s description or a suspect’s clothing, increasing the effectiveness of automated responses. Over time, machine learning models will refine these interactions by analyzing outcomes and adapting response parameters to improve deterrence.

Growing Sophistication of Retail Crime

Retail burglaries are becoming more sophisticated, with organized theft groups using “imposter” tactics to pose as workers and break into businesses from unprotected spaces. These teams employ cellular jamming to disable alarms, quickly attack on-site video equipment, and exploit weak backup systems. To counter these strategies, businesses must increasingly adopt cloud-based video systems, redundant recording solutions, and active remote monitoring to ensure system resilience and real-time detection.

“As threats continue to evolve, we anticipate that innovation in AI, video analytics, and cloud-based solutions will empower businesses to stay ahead of security challenges. At Interface, we remain committed to developing and delivering next-generation security technologies that prioritize proactive prevention and operational efficiency,” said Sean Foley, Chief Revenue Officer at Interface Systems.