CHIP, Other Ownership Groups Eye New Scorecarding
Tool To Communicate Common Vision of Enterprise
Priorities, Control Costs, Raise Profit Margins
in Tough Economy
.
Aptech Announces Metricvue® Balanced Scorecarding Module to Set Milestones, Track Day-to-Day Operational Performance, Link Numbers to Managers 

PITTSBURGH, PA, June 17, 2003 � Ownership groups are taking an increasingly active role in property operation through the use of new scorecarding technology that sets performance milestones; highlights operational areas where cost cutting could improve revenue; and communicates a common vision of enterprise priorities.  To facilitate this, Aptech Computer Systems, Inc. is adding the Metricvue® Balanced Scorecarding module to its Execuvue® business intelligence application.  Dolce International, Melrose Hotel Company, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, American Property Management, Host Marriott, and others already use Execuvue.  Metricvue is a management tool designed specifically for the hospitality industry that lets corporate managers define strategies as a set of inter-connected performance indicators, and communicates goal-driven metrics and third party data, such as Smith Travel Research numbers, to management employees across an organization.

Balanced Scorecarding

�Metricvue is the next generation of business performance scorecarding technology; we call it �exception reporting on steroids�,� said Jay Troutman, president of Aptech Computer Systems.  �For companies like CHIP Hospitality, Metricvue stimulates increased efficiency by showing managers how performance in one operational area, or metric, affects the outcome of another.  The tool instantly provides performance data to high-level corporate managers over a browser or PDA, then lets operational managers drill down with Execuvue to find out why.� 

Balanced Scorecarding is a proactive process that begins with an assumption, such as, �We want to cut our cost per occupied room by $2 per day,� and allows users to refine the benchmark with specifics like room type and the number of guests per room.  Users may also assign responsibility for the metric to appropriate staff, like the housekeeper, engineer, or general manager.  The result is a Metricvue performance analysis display showing operational targets in red or green for fast reading.  Metrics listed in red generate action from the manager responsible for its achievement.  Likewise Smith Travel competitive set data may also be used for measurement and benchmarking.  �If your property is turning in RevPAR lower than your comp-set or lower than your internal targets, Metricvue will indicate measurements in red, or in green if performance is acceptable.  It is an operational tool to keep you constantly on target,� explained Troutman. 

Execuvue and Metricvue are easy to use, high-level applications that analyze huge amounts of data and present the information in any format users desire.  The tools make excellent use of graphics to compare income and expenses across families of properties and regions to isolate and correct abnormal operating costs.  When the corporate office completes its analysis, group, brand, segment, and property specific information is available to help managers make decisions and adjust policies such as instructing housekeepers to lower thermostat temperatures in vacant rooms, close off unnecessary floors, change water usage behavior, or realign staffing.

Ownership Groups Hinge Decisions on Business Intelligence 

Economic conditions are driving hotel companies to greater efficiencies, often resulting in leaner management teams who are leveraging technology to increase their productivity.  Metricvue is designed to fill this gap by putting more information in the hands of financial managers for better decisions, with the ultimate goal of increasing revenue.  Metricvue adds reporting strength to Aptech�s Execuvue business intelligence system by delivering key performance information over the Internet, which allows corporate officers to manage their assets more successfully even while traveling.  Once ownership groups are aware of the facts, they can use Execuvue to drill into the data to assess causes of the changes they are witnessing.  Smith Travel Research (STR)-supplied data that includes compset revenue, expense, and payroll cost figures can be integrated into Execuvue�s analysis.  This provides users with an external benchmark for their performance evaluation. 

Aptech�s Execuvue business intelligence system with Metricvue Balanced Scorecarding is browser-based enabling hotels to access Scorecard via the Web.  Hotel companies may also host their application.  The system is built on leading edge Cognos (NASDAQ: COGN) technology, and is very easy to use and understand.

�Aptech�s approach has always been to make the most advanced technology available to small and midsized operators, as well as the largest companies in our industry,� explained Troutman.   �We saw other industries benefiting from this technology so we made the investment to bring Metricvue Balanced Scorecarding to the hospitality industry.  We believe better operating information, more effective cost controls, and more precise labor management will help return better margins and improved bottom lines to our industry.   As revenue and profit margins shrink, the speed at which excess costs are addressed is critical.  Companies using business intelligence analytics are consistently benefiting from better operating information.�

About Aptech Computer Systems, Inc.
Aptech Computer Systems, Inc., based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, leads the Hospitality industry in leveraging change by valuing human relationships and applying technology to solve business problems for people.  Incorporated in 1970, Aptech is a financial and operations technology solutions and service company whose products include two state-of-the-art back office and business intelligence products: Profitvue and Execuvue. Over 700 users, including very large chains, multiple-property management companies and single site hotels, utilize Aptech solutions to manage their financial and operational data.  By offering the hotel industry a solid resource of hospitality professionals, including staff and customers, and through its proven ability to evolve technology offerings as the market dictates, Aptech is proud to have earned 100% customer loyalty. 

For more information, visit booth number 820 at HITEC, or contact: Aptech Computer Systems, Inc. 135 Delta Drive, Pittsburgh, PA  15238; (412) 963-7440; FAX (412) 963-9799; or access their Web site at www.aptech-inc.com.

Attend a live presentation at HITEC, entitled "Business Intelligence, Understanding Your Performance� by Jay Troutman, president of Aptech, on Wednesday, June 25th 1:30 p.m. in room 211. 

Metricvue, Execuvue and Profitvue are registered trademarks to Aptech Computer Systems, Inc.  All other trademarks are owned by their respective holders. 

 

###

Contact:

Jill Wilder 
Aptech Computer Systems, Inc.
135 Delta Drive 
Pittsburgh, PA 15238 
Telephone: (800) 245-0720 or (412) 963-7440
Email:  [email protected]
http://www.aptech-inc.com



 
Also See Dolce International Clicks Through Smith Travel Data To Chart Growth Plans, Increases Market Share 4 Percentage Points / June 2003
The Melrose Hotel Company Installs Business Intelligence Software to Stay Above RevPAR Curve / May 2003
Pineapple Management Benefits: Technology Vendor Invests in Back-Office System Advances for Operators; �New Economy� Demands Greater Efficiency in Hospitality Operations / Mar 2003
Minnesota Hotel Operator Builds Success With Locations Near Chain Restaurants, Web-Based Centralized Accounting / Feb 2003
Business Intelligence Software Identifies, Controls Costs; Focuses on Improving Profitability for Hoteliers in 2003 and 2004 / Dec 2002
Mid-Sized Management Firm Bursts into Creative Boutique Market with Added Services, Web-Based Centralized Accounting / Sept 2002
Marriott, Hilton Management and Real Estate Firm Dominates New Construction Niche With Business Intelligence Software, Relationship Financing / Aug 2002
Starwood, Host Marriott Shine at New York Hospitality Investment Conference; Edge Ahead with Business Intelligence Tools, Rely on Aptech Applications / June 2002
Hotel Undergraduates Shift With the Industry Towards Business Intelligence / March 2002
Interstate Hotels Partners with Aptech to Install ASP Model; ASP Back Office Provides Value to Hotel Owners With Ability to Reduce Capital Outlay, Eliminate Maintenance Costs, Bring Faster Processing Speeds / June 2001 
Jill Wilder Named Vice President and Officer of Aptech Computer Systems Inc. / May 2002
Survival Tactics; New Technology Directions Surface in Business Intelligence Survey / November 2001 
Aptech Opens Business Intelligence Door for Small to Mid-sized Management Firms / October 2001


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