The Hudson Group - Hudson Peripherals

Hudson Peripherals

Peripherals are typically, but not necessarily, hardware devices which are designed and configured to interface with Hudson's HWeb application suite and which will extend the functionality of the suite, beyond your office or web site and out into the field. These peripherals allow some of the "work" involved in recording and manging reservations, collecting and charging credit cards and other similar tasks, to be delegated to passengers, drivers, greeters, airport staff and others. The end result is a load balancing: sharing the work responsibilities more equally across the entire business. As new technologies and devices come to market, they will be integrated into the Hudson system and added here for your consideration.

Peripherals – Extending the power of the HWeb Suite....

• HWeb Kiosk
• HWeb MDT
• HWeb Mobile
• HWeb Mobile Printing
• HWeb Mobile Ticketing

HWeb Kiosk
A kiosk is a self-service station that a passenger will use to create a new web reservation on or perhaps use to check in with. HWeb Kiosks can be configured to meet the specific needs of any client and may be positioned on a counter or tabletop or could be a taller freestanding unit. Connected to the Internet, these devices can be stationed in an airport, train station, hotel, convention center or any other location your potential clients are likely to gather. HWeb Kiosks are typically configured with a touch screen monitor, and may also have a keyboard, trackball mouse, barcode scanner, credit card reader, or thermal printer.

The kiosk presents your client with the opportunity to create a walk-up reservation via your company’s web reservation system for either NOW, or a future date and time. Once saved, your dispatcher is immediately notified of the new reservation and vehicles can be scheduled for future deployment or directed immediatedly to the pickup location.

For passengers arriving at an airport, train station or cruise terminal, kiosks are often used to automatically check them in, in a manner similar to many airlines, by swiping a credit card, scanning a confirmation or bar coded document, or keying in a reservation number. Dispatchers are once again notified that the passenger is ready to travel and vehicles are sent to gather the now ready client.

HWeb MDT
Put the power of mobile computing into your vehicles. The HWeb MDT’s (Mobile Data Terminals) are miniature, rugged personal computers about the size of a coffee mug. The new HWeb MDT combined the power of in-vehicle computing, the configurability of Hudson applications and a sleet touch screen interface, yielding a comprehensive and easy to use multi-function communications tool that can be installed in your vehicles.

The MDT case also has a built in GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver allowing dispatchers to track in real-time, the location of all vehicles in the fleet. The driver in the vehicle is presented with a screen comprised of a series of HWeb Dispatcher-like overlays; superimposed screens which are alternatively selected by touching an on-screen tab. Reservation details are sent to the driver in the vehicle and displayed in the vehicle for driver review. A driver will accept the work by touching a button; sending notification back to the office dispatcher.

You can attach a credit card reader, bar code scanner, and/or portable thermal printer to the MDT to produce a powerful mobile computing solution. When finished with a days assignments, drivers can review and reconcile their completed work on the MDT screen, noting additional charges (wait time, extra stops, etc.) that should be added to the trip. These reconciled reservation records are then uploaded to the office database in real time, reducing or eliminating the hours spent by accounting staff reviewing reams of submitted forms and paperwork! Follow this link to download a one page flyer on the HWeb MDT.

HWeb Mobile
Hudson took the versatility of the popular BlackBerry web-enabled telephone, PDA communications tool and developed a slim and trim reservations application which allows the user (driver, greeter) in the field to lookup fares and available service options and create an instant reservation. The reservation is uploaded in real-time to the back office database and can then be managed in the traditional manner: revised, dispatched and reported.

The HWeb Mobile device can also be used to receive reservation assignment details from the office dispatcher. The office will page the comprehensive reservation details to the driver who will review them on a large and easy to read display.The driver then selects from the pre-configured responses (Received, In Route, Client On Board, Dropped Off, etc.) and with the press of a button can notify the dispatcher of their current status, resulting in a truly voiceless dispatching system.

HWeb Mobile also supports driver self-closeout: driving staff complete a template on the BlackBerry screen, itemizing all appropriate trip expenses: tolls, waiting time, service extras, fuel, gratuities, etc. The form is submitted electronically to the back office as soon as the reservation has ended. A reduced accounting staff can now quickly scan and verify completed reservations and then process billing and invoicing in a timelier manner. Driver and trip sheet reconciliation has been reduced from hours to minutes!

Additional hardware peripherals can be attached to the BlackBerry such as credit card readers and thermal printers, (see HWeb Mobile Printing below) to further expand the functionality of this pocket sized reservation system. Of course the BlackBerry also supports cellular telephone, two-way messaging and many other mobile applications. Follow this link to view a flyer on our HWeb Mobile peripheral.

HWeb Mobile Printing
When using one of the popular BlackBerry PDA communication devices as a portable reservation, messaging and driver closeout tool (described in HWeb Mobile above) its functionality can be enhanced and extended by adding a portable credit card reader and thermal printer. With this additional attachment, your staff in the field will be able to capture and authorize credit cards, print receipts at time of service, produce boarding passes, confirmation and other templates, and create driver/agent shift summary reports.

This device can increase revenue and decrease your expenses (live swiping of credit card reduces fees) while improving client service levels (accurate receipts at time of service). Several hardware options exist including both wired and wireless (Bluetooth enabled) devices. The Hudson Group would be pleased to work with you to build a total communications solution. For additional information on one mobile printing option, please follow this link.

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HWeb Mobile Ticketing
A hand-held ticket printing and point of sale cashiering device that contains fare and service rules and can be used for selling tickets and printing boarding passes. Bus companies, tour operators, airport greeters and many others will have the ability to not only issue tickets and receipts to all passengers but will be able to handle walk up passengers: enter reservations, collect payment, authorize credit cards and print boarding passes.

The portable HWeb Mobile Ticketing device is cellular capable, allowing for real time data uploads to the office as well as one or two way messaging. With nationwide cellular coverage, the hand carried or vehicle mounted device will allow coast-to-coast authorization of credit cards in the field. The integrated thermal printer also allows post shift cashiering reports and transaction ledgers. Increase sales and productivity in the field with HWeb Mobile Ticketing. Download our flyer here.