Reduced IT costs

SINCE implementing an outsourced "thin client" solution, the Groupe Chez Gerard chain of mid-spend dining outlets has seen its spend on IT reduce significantly as a percentage of business turnover. Its system, implemented and managed by Insite, is expected to pay for itself within two years. One significant saving is that each restaurant only needs a basic on-site data terminal costing around £500 rather than a fully featured PC costing £1000-plus.

Also, there is no need for expensive installation and applications software and support costs are lower because it is no longer necessary to visit restaurants individually to fix problems or install new software. These and other tasks are now handled centrally. Insite is endorsed as a thin client technology specialist by Microsoft, Citrix, Hewlett-Packard and Compaq.

Insite

No.397

CATERING systems specialist Fretwell Downing Hospitality(FDH) showcased its ASP technology at Hostec, including the Saffron system for multi-site operations. The software, which is run on a secure Internet server managed by NetCentral in Keele, can be run from a remote central location and viewed from anywhere using virtually any PC with an Internet browser.

Internet technology makes it possible to operate Saffron as a secure company intranet. Its software is based on Microsoft's SQL server database and provides graphical screen displays which can be customised.

Fretwell Downing Hospitality

No.401

ANOTHER active ASP provider to the UK high street catering market is Crown Management Systems, whose clients include the Aroma coffee bar chain. By outsourcing day-to-day data control covering its 35 sites to Crown, Aroma has managed to avoid the cost of recruiting and employing expensive IT personnel of its own.

As ASP, Crown installs and supports the outlet level system and manages the central database, making any required changes to products and prices as they become necessary. Crown also provides the Caterwide.com Internet-based ordering, stock control and supply chain management system which extends to delivery confirmations, invoice matching and sales analysis.

Crown Management Systems

No.402

A business partnership with the USA's InternetINNS.com, an Internet-based global hospitality brand franchise company, enables AremisSoft Corporation to provide hoteliers with an enterprise-wide solution which includes a remote services ASP (Application Service Provider) version of the Aremis Hotel system.

This allows visitors to the InternetINNS.com site to book and confirm hotel rooms on-line using the actual information on room inventory and rates. Member hotels can also analyse their occupancy information. The concept is designed to appeal to independents as well as chain hotel owners as a cost-effective and flexible marketing brand loyalty alternative

AremisSoft Corporation

No. 329

PROCESSING of sales data is not the only hospitality industry application for Internet-based outsourcing of data processing by Application Service Providers. A new generation of hotel telephone management systems takes call accounting and management headaches away by operating over the Internet using WAN technology. A hotel application can be hosted centrally or at Tiger's own premises.

The hosted solution is claimed to have the same functionality as a system installed on site but with minimal hardware installed in the hotel. Integration is possible with centralised management of tariffs and Web-based access to reports.

Tiger Communications

No.332