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Tool To Communicate Common Vision of Enterprise Priorities, Control Costs, Raise Profit Margins in Tough Economy |
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.
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. |
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Jill Wilder
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