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Calling time on slow service
Being forgotten or ignored by bar or waiting staff has long been a common complaint among diners and hotel guests. While there is rarely an acceptable reason for it in a deserted guesthouse or restaurant, a successful establishment can suffer if just one customer is left waiting longer than they feel is fair. All it takes is for that one person to make a complaint to the management - or, worse, the press - and the business's reputation could be tarnished for a long time to come. Thankfully, however, technology can provide a variety of solutions. The last few years have seen real progress in the field of service-call products, and one particular firm is committed to developing communications systems specifically for the hospitality industry. Catering in Scotland meets Call-Systems Technology, and discovers a number of applications aimed at helping hoteliers and restaurateurs to offer improved service and more effective staff-management tools…
With over 10,000 customers worldwide and an acclaimed, award-winning product portfolio, Call Systems Technology (CST) are leading providers of on-site paging systems, voice-communication devices, alarm and security monitors and other wireless products. With their existing range and endless bespoke solutions, CST's experienced staff work closely with companies to develop a communications system specifically tailored to suit all locations and budgets.
Here are some of their bestsellers:
HotelGenesis
Increase efficiency, and your profits
Whereas traditional pagers require intrusive tannoys or two-way radios for instant or emergency communications, HotelGenesis is a PC-based software programme that consolidates a hotel's entire communications package, including text-pagers and phones, into a single, easy-to-use interface. It allows reception or management to control and monitor them simultaneously, and keep in contact with staff and guests.
Where a traditional pager might simply tell housekeeping to call reception, HotelGenesis allows detailed instructions to be paged to staff instantly, telling them where and what service is required.
The system will even show if a customer's request for service isn't responded to quickly enough, and with this data managers can quickly identify areas of weakness or strain in their hotel and staff.
HotelGenesis features:
- Is Windows-based, user-friendly and simple to operate
- Discreet, fast and efficient - staff need only to carry one pager or phone
- Simultaneously monitors alarms, logs maintenance jobs and coordinates phones, email, burglar & fire alarms, customer-service buttons and pagers
- Pagers alert staff by sound, vibration or flashing light
- Allows for groups messages to multiple pagers
- Automatically and instantly alerts the relevant staff via pager, email or text if an alarm sounds or security is breached
- Sends SMS messages to mobiles
- Is virtually maintenance-free
- Increases efficiency and saves labour costs
- Banishes the need for separate pagers, phones or radios
- Durable, unobtrusive, easy-to-install hardware
- Delivers significant profit potential
- Backed by a comprehensive low-cost support and maintenance package
You called, Sir?
The latest generation of CST's popular CustomerCall and WaiterCall pager systems uses the latest technology to deliver superior paging coverage in restaurants, speeding up service and enhancing the dining experience.
The new version of the CustomerCall pager is given to customers to prevent them from missing their place in the queue as they wait for a table. As soon as a space is available, the pager alerts them for seating.
CustomerCall:
- Banishes queues
- Improves table turnover
- Is supplied with a variety of pagers
- Includes a panel for promotional or third-party advertising
WaiterCall:
The original pager system for restaurants, WaiterCall allows chefs to discreetly alert waiting staff when food orders are ready to go. Because it works in the background and ensures quick and efficient service for the customer, WaiterCall is one of CST's most popular products and is now used by over 5,000 restaurants throughout the UK.
Contact Call-Systems Technology 0800 389 5642, or visit www.call-systems.com
This article has been edited from its original version. For the complete feature please see Catering in Scotland magazine February/March 2007.
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