The World of Hospitality Issue 60 2024 | Page 18

EDITOR ’ S CHOICE

Where style meets innovation - STAR-EMEA -

With the hospitality industry facing challenges on a number of fronts , the right technology choices can provide opportunities for enhanced customer service and loyalty , whilst delivering solutions to specific challenges such as rising operational costs and staff shortages . Coupled with this , a growing consumer appetite for multi-channel ordering and delivery options within hospitality is driving demand for advanced POS , bar and kitchen order printing solutions that boast innovative , feature-rich technology .
International POS hardware solutions provider Star Micronics discusses the pivotal role front and back of house hospitality technology plays in overcoming the challenges venues currently face .
Superior Connectivity for a Seamless Ordering Experience
In order to ensure a seamless customer ordering experience , a range of connectivity options are essential so as to facilitate the printing of remote orders as well as local print jobs via wired or wireless connectivity for both mobile and fixed POS . Moreover , a single printer that offers such a solution provides a cost-effective , futureproof option as well as the flexibility to manage multiple networking infrastructure upgrades and the seamless transition from traditional POS to tablet and cloud POS .
Technology such as Star CloudPRNT™ offers the ideal solution for venues keen to integrate online , table and mobile ordering . For example , Star ’ s mC-Print™ series and TSP143IV series with built-in CloudPRNT technology enable order printing directly from web and Cloud based apps and , at the same time , can handle local print jobs from the point of sale . With customer orders sent directly to the printer , Star CloudPRNT increases order accuracy and eliminates the need for an additional tablet in the restaurant or bar . Moreover , table ordering can reduce long queues at the bar , while printers can fire out tickets for different stations within the venue , avoiding bottlenecks during peak times .
Clearly , technology has to be flexible and scalable as well as operate efficiently to avoid unwanted downtime in a busy environment . A managed cloud service such as StarPrinter . Online allows the relevant hardware to be connected to the online ordering system within minutes and receive orders from any location as well as from customers using any kind of device .
Providing enhanced online visibility of connectivity and print jobs , the service also offers device management via an online dashboard to equip venues with an overview of all devices and activity including reliable tracking of print jobs with notification of device status changes , barcode scans , new device connections to a group , etc . Additional printers and peripherals can simply be added without the need for server upgrades , further enhancing the versatility of the service and operational efficiency .
Solutions for Self-Service Terminals
With greater customer demand for self-service terminals to facilitate food and beverage orders and the added opportunity for venues to redeploy staff who would otherwise be taking orders , a reliable printer that is equipped with the specialist features and connectivity for integration into unattended selfordering terminals is pivotal .
Easy to install and maintain , the packaged Star mC- Print3 with its front operation and wide range of connectivity options alongside large paper roll and paper near end sensor to give ample warning of paper changes is the printer of choice for some of the largest hospitality chains and independent venues that have introduced self-ordering into their channel .
Advanced Labelling Solutions
With the rise in multichannel ordering across hospitality in recent years accompanied by increasing demand for customer collection , third party delivery and legislation around accurate ingredients and allergy identification for pre-packed food , the requirement for efficient labelling solutions has surged . Amongst the range of labelling solutions currently available , linerless labels stand out for their eco-friendly
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