— By Lee Lowis — Durable parking lot repairs with less downtime. Henry Ford did not invent the automobile, nor did he invent the assembly line. His efforts did bring the horseless carriage within reach of the middle class. Similarly, neither Microsoft nor Apple invented the computer. They saw an opportunity to take computer technology and make it available and useful to everyone. These are just two examples of ingenuity making a difference. Innovative Technology for Your Parking Lots How could your retail store or restaurant benefit from a …
Industry Voices
— By Paul Bothner — Selecting proper water heating solution can improve restaurant’s bottom line. Restaurants use as much as five to seven times the amount of water per square foot than other commercial businesses, according to the National Restaurant Association (NRA). Water (often heated) is used to cook meals; clean dishes, floors and equipment; quench the thirst of customers; and to wash countless hands (staff and guests). NRA has also reported that quick-service restaurants consume 500 to 1,500 gallons of water each day while full-service eating establishments use …
— By Brent Lammert — Thermal imaging tools for post-hurricane water restoration and remediation. Thermal imaging tools integrated with moisture meters can speed up the post-hurricane recovery process, improve repair quality, and add to contractor credibility. A thermal imaging camera can help you identify moisture areas faster and can lead to more accurate inspections with fewer call backs for verification by insurance companies. Many times, a good thermal image sent via email may be sufficient documentation to authorize additional work, leading to improved efficiency in the repair process. Post-Event Process …
— By Tim Blanchard — The impact of LED lighting in retail facilities. Without a doubt, it’s important for retail facilities to maintain a well-kept and organized store to guarantee a positive environment for customers. The overall environment should be aesthetically pleasing as it has the potential to make or break the customer’s experience. With the many factors that contribute to an overall pleasant environment, a pertinent one is lighting. As it is, retail facilities can be quite costly to maintain. Due to the cost savings as well as the …
— By Ian Eyberg — Secure servers in foodservice: how to freeze the hackers out cold. 2018 was a record-breaking year for data breaches. Everyone from Facebook to Marriott to even Google suffered and continues to suffer. What’s the rub? Unfortunately, every year seems to be a record-breaking year. Restaurants have traditionally not had to worry as much about all the nastiness involving technology — after all, what’s a frying pan or an oven have to do with computers? In the past, restaurants have only had to pay attention to …
— By Shane McCoy — How technological developments are changing pest management. Pest management is an ancient practice, one that has existed since crops have been cultivated for food. Just because it’s been around since the beginning of time, though, doesn’t mean it’s stayed the same. In the last 10 to 15 years, technology has revolutionized how we communicate, how we socialize and how we do business. The pest management industry is no exception. The use of technology, whether created specifically for or adapted to the pest management industry, has …
— By Jennifer Morris — Fast-casual concepts breathing new life into historic buildings. In the competitive restaurant industry, it’s often a challenge for concepts to break away from the pack. The dining experience and brand identity aren’t solely limited to the cuisine and culinary approach, but rather also developed through the site, decor and ambiance. Looking to differentiate themselves, many fast-casual concepts are taking the approach of choosing older, historical buildings to invest in, as opposed to commercial space that is new, modern or sleek. In the process, …
— By David Goodwin — Should I retrofit my sign with LED lights? The commercial sign market has experienced a watershed shift in the use of one of a sign’s crucial components. Fluorescent bulbs long were the favored technology for giving signs their glow, but LED bulbs have emerged in recent years as a preferred choice for many sign-makers and their customers. Newly fabricated signs now often are installed with LED bulbs. In addition, shopping center operators and others increasingly are weighing the value of retrofitting their existing …
— By Borja del Nido and Brian Cook — Retail continues to grow through mixed-use developments. The retail industry is in the middle of a major transition. Traditional, pure retail developments are decreasing, but that doesn’t mean retail construction itself is on its way out. Instead, developers are successfully incorporating retail space as part of larger, mixed-use projects. These developments focus on being unique and experiential — places where people want to live, socialize and shop. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of national retailers …
— By Belinda O’Kelly — How to captivate ‘captive’ audiences at airports with stunning design. The thing that makes the design industry interesting is that our world as a context is constantly changing, and in turn, the changes influence design. The current innovations of the sharing economy, immersive technology and strides in wellness allow society to capitalize on the one fixed constant, the passage of time. There is now an elevated expectation on service, amenity and environment as we judge what is worth the time. There is a premium to …