GuestWare Going Mobile with Microsoft at HITEC

CRM Leader to Showcase Mobile Guest Response, Housekeeping Work Inspection Applications

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. October 14, 2008

SEATTLE, WA, June 20, 2007-Diversified Computer Corp., maker of GuestWare, announced that it will showcase its guest response and housekeeping work inspection applications for Windows Mobile-powered handheld devices at HITEC. The demo will take place at the Microsoft Corp. booth (#409) and also at the GuestWare booth (#1024). HITEC, the lodging industry's annual technology exposition and conference, will be held June 25 to 28 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.

"We are pleased to have GuestWare in our HITEC booth showcasing how its mobility solutions, utilizing Microsoft technologies, can help hoteliers and their employees improve operations, increase productivity and deliver better service to their guests," says Matthew Shigenobu Muta, industry director for Microsoft's Worldwide Hospitality Group.

"By using wireless devices powered by Windows Mobile and GuestWare, hoteliers will have the ability to take guest satisfaction to an even higher level," adds Mike Benjamin, vice president of Seattle-based Diversified Computer Corp. "Many of the hotel processes tracked in GuestWare are very well suited for wireless mobile deployment. These include requests for housekeeping, bell, valet, engineering and room service, as well as inspections. Hotels benefit from higher employee productivity and improved management information."

Guest Response System Goes Mobile

GuestWare's SmartRunner application for Windows Mobile-powered handheld devices enables an associate in a hotel to use two-way text messaging to accept and close a guest request from a mobile device. Work orders also can be generated. Messages can be configured to include the room number, guest name, and the request or problem. Every guest request logged into GuestWare streamlines work flow and provides valuable information for follow-up and process improvement.

For housekeeping, Diversified Computer Corp. is introducing a new application for Windows Mobile devices that will make it easy for housekeeping managers to inspect rooms. On the mobile device, either wirelessly or through batch synchronizing, managers will be able to scroll through a checklist and flag deficiencies as rooms are inspected. Management reports will support training and quality initiatives.

"Guest response and housekeeping are just the beginning," Benjamin says. "These new innovations are all driven toward increasing the number of staff-reported issues and decreasing the number of guest-reported ones."

GuestWare back-of-the-house applications have been used by hundreds of hotels for years to track and monitor guest requests and incidents, and to schedule and track work orders and preventive maintenance. These applications have helped hoteliers deliver outstanding guest service, lower operating costs, improve employee performance, eliminate recurring problems and improve operational efficiency.