Intelligent CIO Africa Issue 16 | Page 83

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// INDUSTRY WATCH the guest enters the room, without any switches being touched, sensors turn the lights and the air conditioning on and open the curtains. This undoubtedly is a delightful experience for guests. In the future custom- built apps for in-room controls will allow guests to access everything from their own smartphones and other mobile devices. They could for example set the climate controls to a certain temperature before they even arrive in their room. HOTELS CAN BOOST REVENUE BY SENDING PUSH NOTIFICATIONS VIA BLE BEACONS TO GUEST DEVICES THAT ARE CONNECTED TO THE HOTEL’S WI-FI. Once in the room, the hotel’s IoT-enabled and location-aware infrastructure will work in other ways. For example, it can permit guests to stream personal content onto their in-room television while using the hotel’s mobile app to schedule a massage in the spa and order a beverage to arrive pool side the same time as they do. As wireless solutions advance, expect even more options, such as using a mobile device to project a preferred fitness routine onto a full-length mirror. devices that are connected to the hotel’s Wi-Fi, without invading privacy by promoting offers that are relevant to the guest’s interests, needs and preference as they wander around the property. Geofencing using the wireless network allows property owners to know where the guest is in the property and when they pass a particular beacon they can receive a personalised message, coupon or loyalty points. Data analytics will be the secret sauce here. Hotels can boost revenue by sending push notifications via BLE beacons to guest Property owners can deploy navigation features within the hotel’s mobile app to guide guests to food and beverage and all amenities in the property as an option, again using BLE beacons. Asset tags for efficient resource utilisation Luggage cart delay is often the case of guest frustration. Cost-effective asset tracking technologies via asset tags added to a location-based solution can enable hotel staff, or even guests, to locate carts for quick retrieval on the hotel’s mobile app. Another use case could be that the asset tag is used to track how long an asset remains stationary, for example in a guest room, and then alert staff so that they can take action like calling the guest to find out whether he or she has finished. Latest IoT security innovations IoT-enabled systems must also be secure. Advanced IoT security options include the ability to group connected IoT devices into ‘zones’ for segregating them on the network and then applying different sets of security policies. Solutions that infuse real-time intelligence, advanced analytics and AI-based machine learning can spot changes – at millisecond speeds – in user or device behaviour that may indicate a security breach and affected devices can then be automatically quarantined and an alert sent to a designated human to investigate. In conclusion, one thing for sure is that the hospitality industry has an exciting future given the continuous evolution of technology. n www.intelligentcio.com INTELLIGENTCIO 83