The Gateway

Wednesday, April 13th, 2011

Check out our latest press release:

ReServe Interactive Launches ReServe Gateway - Web Services Enabling Third-Party System Integration and Aggregated Data Analysis

ReServe Interactive, an industry leader in hospitality management solutions, has launched  ReServe Gateway™, a robust web services platform enabling enterprise customers to integrate and share operational and financial data stored in their ReServe Interactive software with third-party software applications to streamline operations, improve productivity and enhance guest services.

“Many of our customers require our software to share information with other systems that help them manage their business such as POS systems, CRM programs and financial applications,” explains Mike Edmeyer, Vice President of Sales for ReServe Interactive. “ReServe Gateway is a reliable, responsive and cost-effective engine that enables on-demand communication with any of these services and is seamless in even the most PCI compliant environments.”

ReServe Gateway supports ReServe’s entire software suite including Reservation Management functions such as the facilitation of checking dining availability, making and cancelling reservations, and reporting reservation activity; Table Management services including the checking of wait times, changing table status, recording dining preferences, and reporting turn rates; Event Management services that facilitate the reporting of event scheduling activity and financial details, and checking availability and booking events, as well as Contact Management services that facilitate account and contact detail management.

“Web services is a standard communication protocol used across a variety of industries which means it’s proven, efficient and effective. And it’s easy to integrate with any desktop or hosted application,” explains Lynn Carter, Chief Technology Officer. “It enables us to focus on our core competency, which is designing productivity software for restaurants and catering operations, and efficiently sharing important data that our systems accumulate with other business functions. ReServe Gateway transforms how our software is used within an organization, and we expect the resulting links between ReServe and other systems to expand rapidly, providing great value to our customers.”

Do you do the resolution thing?

Wednesday, December 29th, 2010

Did you know that 3 out of 4 people eventually break their New Year’s resolutions?  Are their goals too lofty? Are their resolutions too challenging?

There are several ways to help people make their resolutions stick. Some make their resolutions public, so they can be held accountable by more than just themselves. Some write them in journals and keep track of their progress throughout the year.

Whatever your plans to help you stick to your resolutions, remember personal resolutions are just that, personal. But what about your business resolutions? Do you plan on doing some things different in 2011? There are plenty of ideas out there like developing and growing a private dining business or reducing labor costs. How about investing in technology to improve your efficiency and support your growth? What about enhancing customer service across your organization?

We’re going to make some of our 2011 resolutions public. First, we’re going to continue to listen to our customers so that we can further develop our software to meet their unique business needs. Second, we’re going to keep a watchful eye on the industry so that we can continue to be relevant to our strategic partners and prospective customers. Third, we’re going to remember that our customers are the foundation of our success and make sure to frequently remind them of how much we appreciate their partnership. And finally, we’re going to bring new technologies to the table that will serve the restaurant industry in such a way that they can maximize their operations and increase their profitability.

We wish you luck with your New Year’s resolutions and hope that you can stick with them throughout 2011. In the meantime, we’re going kick off the New Year with some special wishes for you. We wish for your personal and professional success. We wish for you to take time to celebrate your family and friends.  We wish for you to be able to look back on this past year with wise eyes, and the determination to make 2011 better. Most of all, we wish you much joy and laughter in the upcoming year and for many years to come.

Changing with the Times

Thursday, September 16th, 2010

 The hospitality industry is being inundated with technology and those technologies are changing at a rapid pace. Different areas of the industry exhibit various levels of acceptance of this fact. In some cases, there isn’t much of a choice. For example, everyone agrees that PCI compliance is important and steps need to be taken to ensure the right technologies are in place to protect consumers and merchants.

In other cases, the choice to implement new technologies is considered an option. The old way has always worked, so why change it? We understand. We also understand our customer’s desire to use technology to improve operations and the hesitation associated with changing the way things are done.

We understand because we face the same challenges. Whether it’s implementing new technologies internally to help us do business better or finding ways to advance our existing technologies to provide a better product for our customers, there’s always that moment of resistance; that moment of hesitation because things are going to be different than before. But once we open our minds to the benefits of the technologies we have chosen, the easier it is to implement and execute. And, before too long, we find ourselves wondering how we ever functioned without it.

Times continue to change and we’re looking to the future. Not next Friday, not October, but next year and the years to come.  We’re in the business of technology so making sure we’re on the cutting edge is one of our priorities. It won’t be long before you hear about our latest advancements, new tools, and plans for the future. We continue to change with the times and we hope you decide to join us.

When is simple better?

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

Easy. When it’s smarter.

Boasting technology that is easy to use can put certain suppliers in a vicarious position. Simplified software can be so diluted or ‘dumbed-down’, that it doesn’t meet the basic needs of the user. Besides touting simplicity, the software may have nothing of real value to offer. Just because it looks like other, more universally known, software products, or has an attractive screen display, or is a plug and play platform, doesn’t mean it’s a fully evolved product. While it may seem appealing to a user at first, they soon realize that with all of the ‘simple’ bells and whistles, functionality has been compromised and a comprehensive tool is nowhere to be found. On the flip side, what if simplicity is positioned as a dominant feature, but the software is so complicated to navigate that the user throws up their hands in frustration and heads back to their pile of file folders or a tattered reservation book?

In our case, the software we design is complex on the development side and user-friendly on the front end. Our development processes are lengthy and detailed. We critically study the work environment of users so that we completely understand the process flow of information and the unique demands of their environment. We gather user input at various stages in the development process to make sure that we’re addressing the subtle details that make all the difference between a usable finished product versus one that becomes simply another obstacle in the way of completing required tasks. This iterative, user-centered design approach results in a product that is truly assistive – easy to navigate, rich with valuable functionality, easily integrated into the normal process flow of the work environment – and simply smarter than the rest.

Our software simplifies user practices without watering down functionality. Our platform is intuitive so that the software does what users need it to do and want it to do, all while prompting them through their own internal, operationally specific processes. The software speaks the user’s language, utilizes their unique business parameters, as well as incorporates industry knowledge and assumptions to help anticipate next steps.

We’ve been known to say that our software is simple to use. We’re not going to deny that. The difference is that we’ve taken simple to the next level and made is smart. We would never assume that the industry is only drawn to pretty screen displays or try to fool them by saying we’re as easy to use as other software products just because we have similar layout. The industry’s needs are diverse and layered with complexity and our job is to make the user’s job easier. Because our software is smart, we become that extra pair of hands, that second set of eyes, that extra reservationist or that catering sales assistant. There’s real value there. We know that. Our customers know that.

That’s how simple really becomes better.

Do you want to be everything to everyone?

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

The hospitality industry is so unique. It is highly segmented, thematically diverse and powerfully resilient. On top of all of those things, its needs are vast, from food and beverage to operational needs, financing to marketing resources, and equipment to technology requirements. Suppliers, with a passion for the industry, sometimes find themselves wanting to fill as many needs for their hospitality customers as possible.

The problem is, when you try to be everything to everyone, you lose sight of who you are. And so do your customers. Not only do you lose your competitive edge, but you run the risk of becoming forgettable.

The pool of hospitality suppliers is large and our offerings cross over a myriad of operational needs. With so many choices, hospitality professionals are often at a loss with where to start. It’s our responsibility to make our offerings crystal clear so our customers have the right information to make the best possible choices. By muddling features and benefits or using deceptive language, it’s impossible to stand out and be seen as a viable, long-term solution.

Many successful hospitality professionals have figured this out long ago and can serve as a great example. They are the ones that have thrived through a struggling economy, and quietly boast a solid, targeted and growing customer base. They have honed in on what makes them unique and have built a reputation on that uniqueness that is accompanied by industry accolades and customer ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’. Some examples – Wolfgang Puck Catering, McCormick & Schmick’s and Gaylord Entertainment. They are the masters of their brands and have earned their success by decidedly not trying to be everything to everyone.

While we offer several hospitality management software solutions to our customers, our message is clear and so is the ReServe Interactive offering. We would rather be something incredible to someone than run the risk of being overlooked because we tried to be everything to everyone.

Does anyone really like change?

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

There’s a saying that goes ‘The only thing constant in life is change’. Very true. And, in some cases, very hard to accept. When people are used to doing things a certain way, it can be difficult to change their course of action. People get caught up in what they have to give up and what has made them comfortable, versus what they may gain in the long run. You may find that some are eagerly willing to make the change, while some people dig in with their heels and fight you every step of the way.

Technology is often a trigger for significant change and therefore, a potential trigger for resistance. Whether you’re implementing software to take the place of manual processes or replacing one system with another, it’s important to remember that the reaction to that change will vary across your organization. To ease the pain, consider choosing a provider that will take the time to provide adequate training to your staff, as well as remain accessible throughout the implementation process, so concerns can be addressed and minds can be set at ease.  Take a moment to zero in on employees who are eagerly embracing the change and have them assist you in training others. Let their enthusiasm become contagious.

Our new customers are often surprised at how easy our software is to implement, train on and use. It is technology after all.  But our users, regardless of any resistance, or enthusiasm for that matter, are typically up and running, using the software to book actual events or dining reservations within a few hours of training. We work closely with them and provide all of the tools they need to ease any discomfort they may have with making the change.

Paul Pace from Treasure Island Hotel & Casino is a great example of an individual embracing change. When his company’s legacy dining reservation software system was phased out and ReServe Anywhere® was implemented, he said, “I came on board after implementation, and because the system is so user friendly and easy to use, I logged in and taught myself how to use it. I was able to take single and group reservations, make changes to floor plans and update menus within a couple of days.”

Change is inevitable, yes. But resistance to it doesn’t have to be.

Have recent economic conditions made you stronger?

Thursday, July 15th, 2010

Reports vary across the industry – some hospitality segments have continued to show steady growth, some have struggled and are eager for a comeback, while others have remained stable.

Where did your organization fall over the last couple of years?  What changes have you made to position yourself for growth as economic conditions improve? 

Many industry segments have taken this challenging time as an opportunity to improve operations, develop management and build relationships with industry partners. They have focused on improving existing processes and finding ways to save money without sacrificing service and quality. Many have decided to invest in technology solutions developed to help them streamline operations and enhance efficiencies.

We’ve found that more of our newer customers are choosing ReServe Anywhere®, our web-based Dining Reservation, Table Management, Catering and Event Management solutions, because they offer all of the functionality and efficiency-creating features of our traditional client/server software without the costs associated with purchasing extra hardware and investing in additional on-property IT resources. All they need is a high speed internet connection and they can connect to their business from anywhere, at anytime. This allows them to take advantage of tools that help them make great strides in improving productivity, streamlining operations, and enhancing customer service, all while positioning themselves strongly in today’s competitive landscape.

When considered smartly, technology can be an ally in the fight for growth in this touchy economic environment.  Let the solutions you choose give you the added strength you need to thrive.

Customer service skills matter just as much, if not more, than computer skills

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

Technology is everywhere – The Ipad and Smart Phones, Twitter, Facebook, Cloud Computing, Software-as-a-Service, new versions of this, expanded versions of that. It’s overwhelming – and very exciting.

Technology has proven to be a valuable resource to the hospitality industry.  Customer facing technologies like kiosks and online reservation systems, as well as front-of-house software applications are helping venues better manage their businesses from the hostess desk to the floor to the kitchen. Businesses using the right technologies the right way are seeing efficiencies, productivity and revenues at levels they haven’t seen before.

One study from the Center for Hospitality Research at Cornell University called Customer Preferences for Restaurant Technology Innovations highlights the impact customer facing technologies like kiosks, pager systems and online reservation systems can have on customers, as well as restaurateurs. http://www.hotelschool.cornell.edu/research/chr/pubs/reports/2009.html.

Here’s a twist – technology, if implemented without thorough examination or simply used incorrectly, can hinder a business’s ability to grow and properly service customers. More time spent troubleshooting software or staff relying too heavily on the tool rather than spending face time with customers can be a detriment that compromises the integrity of your business.

Regardless of the latest technology tools and trends, it’s important to look at your selection from a customer service standpoint. Tools that detract from customer care will hurt you in the long run. Tools designed to help you service your customers and treat them like VIPs is a worthwhile and smart investment for the long term.

And it’s also important to remember that your customers don’t always know, or necessarily care, what technology tools you’re using. Ultimately, they care if the food is good, the price is right and the service is spot on.

Introducing…. Keith Ewell, Strategic Account Manager

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010

Keith joined ReServe Interactive in August of 2005 as an Account Executive, and is currently in the position of Strategic Account Manager, which he admits is a pretty fancy title for a sales guy!  Keith was drawn to ReServe because his position allowed him to couple his five years of experience in the restaurant industry with his 17 years of consultative sales experience, helping hospitality professionals understand and choose effective technology solutions to solve operational issues and take their businesses to the next level. By his own admission, Keith LOVES his job!

Keith grew up in Vacaville, California and began his love of the hospitality industry at the Nut Tree, a landmark restaurant group.  Corporate giant, Chevron, soon lured Keith to San Francisco with the promise of higher income, benefits and “normal” hours.  Ten years later, Keith tired of being “normal” and returned to his one true love, hospitality, joining Paragon, which operated three restaurant concepts nationwide.  At Paragon, Keith was part of a team that travelled to under-performing stores and implemented new service standards and menu concepts, optimized systems and successfully moved the bottom 30 percent into the top 25 percent across the brand.

From there, Keith began his sales career where he found he enjoyed helping people navigate the labyrinth of technology solutions, and seeing their eyes light up when they realized how much easier their lives could be.

When he’s not busy doing demos and servicing clients, Keith enjoys playing golf, collecting fine wine, reading and playing more golf!

“It was a pleasure to work with Keith; he provided the needed info clearly and concisely and was more than willing to provide the referrals necessary to insure our continued partnership for the next year, overcoming a proposed change to the competition. Keith should be considered a valued asset to your operation.” Rita Norman, Holiday Inn Hotel – Odessa

What’s your unique selling proposition? What makes you different?

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

There are a lot of event management and dining reservation products on the market today, all claiming to do pretty much the same thing. You’ll see words like ‘efficiency’, ‘productivity’, and ‘money saving’ thrown around like birdseed in Central Park. But how many of those companies can back up those words with real action?

At ReServe, we know that there is no other product on the market that does exactly what our product does. Our technology platform is proprietary and entirely unique with intuitive features like our Event Lifecycle Technology and Smart Reservation Technology. We offer both dynamic catering & event management and dining reservation & table management software modules that were designed to easily integrate with one another to provide a comprehensive tool for users to manage all functions with one product. Not to mention more than 20 add-ons or interfaces that range from room diagramming to no-fee online dining reservation capability.

Most of all, our people help us stand out above the crowd of software providers. We still believe in a good old fashioned handshake, a voice on the other end of the line and customer service that goes above and beyond at a time when it seems to have fallen by the wayside.

We know who we are, what we do and why we do it best. Do you know your unique selling proposition? What makes you rise above the rest?