My thoughts about digitalization in my field of expertise
My profession is a hospitality specialist. I have been working in variety of hotels as well as restaurants. Different companies have digitalization on different levels. In my experience, hotels use more digital products such as platforms for check-in and check-out.
For example, now is very popular to have a self-check-in/out, when you just get a code from the door and do not need to meet any receptionist. Of course, it is easier for the companies, because they do not need to pay extra salary for the worker on his duty all day long. Personally, I love hotels with reception, especially when I travel. They work the best for me. Reception is a place for me, where I go to ask best places to eat, some guidance advice around the city, tips on transportation and so no. Reception is a communication, it is a face of the city which you are visiting. You can get viral information, as well as solve probably problems. For me is very sad, that more and more hotels try to take out receptions. In addition, more and more people will be losing jobs. I do not think that it is right use of digitalization.
Talking about hotels, some of the processes can be digitalized, for example communication between cleaning staff and maintenance. It might be faster to use some automated system neither try to find a person among the rooms or try to call them. Then the repairing or cleaning can happen faster, and workers could be more productive.
Concerning restaurants, it is quite hard to digitalize all the processes. In some big restaurants it might be wise to use different platform for making order and communication between kitchen and waiter staff. I have been working in one restaurant, which was popular during summer, so that there were plenty of people. We were taking orders from the customers on papers and bringing them to the kitchen. It was a disaster on a busy day. Firstly, paper can get lost or wet or whatever. Secondly, waited had to write so clear that chef could read it without any problem. Such places should have some platforms.
Nowadays, digitalization s everywhere – online shopping, making applications to different authorities, studies online, booking hotels and trips and so on. People love these processes because they give possibility to do it at any time of the day. It is easy to open internet or ask Chat GPT all necessary information. It saves time and strength, but it misses the part where people socialize. Sometimes, it is scary how fast small children use how to use smartphones. For example, I have a two – year old girl and she already tries to use the phone. Sho loves to move the screens and press buttons on keyboard. No one teaches her that. However, one of the problems with digitalization are elderly people, or people who do not own computer or smartphones. Nowadays, for them is very hard to do anything, because physical places are opened short time or closed at all.
In my opinion, more digitalization – less communication. Communication is a very important part of society. We can learn new things, make someone’s mood better, support a colleague and make guest’s stay amazing.
My thoughts about Data protection reform
From my point of view, one of the main risks of open digital society is that you cannot hide, it is a feeling of being under magnifier all the time, everyone knows everything. People laughed about the famous tv-show ‘Big brother’, but know it is entering our daily life. When you discuss during lunch with your friend or spouse or family about buying wash machine, in some time the only advertisements which you will get is about wash machines. It is scary.
Honestly saying, I did not notice much influence of Data protection reform because I am always very careful with the data which I put on the internet. For example, I do not use any social media with my real name, try to avoid of entering my own full name anywhere, only if it is completely necessary. From my point of view, it is important to protect information about yourself, especially special one such as bank accounts or health history.
My thoughts about Chat GPT as a modern tool
I asked ChatGPT about places to visit in Paris. It suggested me several the most popular touristic points. After ‘talking’ with ChatGPT about those places and best times to visit them, it created a whole tour for my purposes. It saved me a lot of time.
I would say that it is quiet useful tool for some basic needs. It is very important to check the information, because it can do mistakes, as everyone else. For example, it suggested me to visit a Catacombs on Monday morning without booking the ticket. But when I checked the website, I found out that on Monday it is closed, and you have to book a time for a visit.
I think that artificial intelligence is a useful tool for some purposes. It can help you to prepare your trip instead of browsing millions of websites by yourself. For example, it can be useful if you need to get a translation of some text. It translates better than Google translator. But it is important to be careful with it and know when a possibility is to use it.
My self-evaluation about this topic
I learned about Data protection reform which is quite new. I did not know about it before. I wish to learn more about digitalization in the current world. It was interesting to watch videos about this topic, because each of them had its own perspective. Sometimes, we do not see the things at the same angel. Especially, I loved video ‘watch your day’. It amazingly shows our current world, and we are just some years apart. Society is using too many tools which are making lives easier and harder at the same time. We should be careful, because we forget the main – communication. Communication is very important for person.
Blogs which I read and commented
Thank you for reading my thoughts!