SYDNEY, NSW and AUSTIN, TX – October 13, 2011 –At Perisher this winter season, it’s not only the skiers and boarders who are on the move. The resort is reporting excellent results after equipping its lift crews and IT department with Motion Computing® F5v Tablet PCs. On the first day of the 2011 ski season, the tablet PCs and radio-frequency identification (RFID) gates were launched to process lift passes and immediately changed the way the resort services its guests.
Tweet this: @PerisherResort cuts IT response time by half w/ @MotionComputing F5v #TabletPC http://bit.ly/k4Uffm
As the southern hemisphere’s largest snow resort, with 3,075 skiable acres and 72 lift gates at 30 locations, Perisher has the highest terrain, the greatest number of lifts and the most reliable snow in Australia. Perisher’s management team wanted to implement a paperless ticketing system and mobile computing solution to provide the more than 700,000 yearly skiers with even more efficient service and enhance the overall resort experience. The lift crews rely on the F5v Tablet PCs as a portable interface to the RFID-enabled gates, showing real-time information on guest identity and ticket usage. This helps Perisher protect against revenue loss from prohibited ticket transfers or guests who purchase lift access outside their age demographic, such as an adult skiing on a child’s ticket. The snow-sports department also uses the tablet PCs to manage instructor schedules while out on the slopes and to process credit card payments at lesson meeting places. The IT department uses an F5v Tablet PC to fix any faults with the RFID gates and reports that trouble-shooting time has been cut back from 30 minutes to just 15 minutes. “We’ve significantly upgraded our service at lift gates and the snow-sport areas. If there are any pass or gate issues, skiers and boarders don’t have to go back to the ticket window; the lift crews promptly deal with it right there, improving efficiency and customer service,” said Michael Fanning, IT manager, Perisher. “The lift crews and the IT department now ski from location to location with the F5v Tablet PCs in their carry cases, so it’s truly a mobile solution for us. The IT staff won’t let theirs go, and we’re finding the tablet PCs extremely easy to work with.” |
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Fanning noted that the resort was quick to adopt Motion® supplier POSMarket’s recommendation that the F5v Tablet PC was the right device for Perisher’s particular environment.
“Motion came highly recommended by POSMarket, and during our evaluation period, the F5v Tablet PCs outshone on every level,” said Fanning. “We looked at a couple of other devices, but they didn’t have what we required. We needed a rugged solution, it had to be wireless and it had to have stylus input because of the intricacies of the application that we are using.”
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“The environment that we work in is very harsh, and days can rapidly go from bright and sunny to blizzard conditions with snow, sleet and wind,” added Fanning. “We proved that the tablet PCs could withstand the environment early on when we were out fixing an electrical problem with one of the RFID gates. Wiping snow and ice off the screen, the F5v Tablet PC continued working without any hitches. It just typified how good they are.” Martin Wheeler, business development manager for POSMarket, noted that the F5v Tablet PC’s Solid State Drive (SSD) was a crucial element for Perisher. “Because of the rugged environment that they work in, skiing around in those snowy conditions, a normal hard disk drive (HDD) would find it tough going. The tablet PC’s SSD is the right match for Perisher, and the tough Corning® Gorilla® Glass screen was also a key factor. It was a foregone conclusion for us to recommend the F5v Tablet PC – we knew that it would integrate perfectly into their environment.” |
Perisher also benefitted from the F5v Tablet PC’s hot-swap battery feature, which allows the tablet PC to remain live, meaning that the staff out on the mountain does not lose their sessions when swapping out the battery. “The battery life is good, and the hot-swap functionality clinched it for us that this was the right way to go,” said Fanning.
The F5v Tablet PCs are also providing more personalised contact with guests. As an example, if guests have entered personal data when buying their lift passes, staff can now greet them by name when scanning their passes with the tablet PCs, much to the guests’ delight.
As its first successful snow season working with the mobile computing solution draws to an end, Perisher is so satisfied with the Motion F5v Tablet PCs, that the resort is looking at further operational uses and additional purchases for the 2012 season.
Web Resources
F5v Tablet PC: http://www.motioncomputing.com/products/tablet_pc_f5.asp
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/12982
Twitter: http://twitter.com/MotionComputing
Facebook: http://facebook.com/MotionComputing
About Perisher
Perisher is Australia’s largest ski resort with 47 lifts accessing 1,245 hectares of skiable terrain. It encompasses the four resort areas of Perisher, Smiggin Holes, Blue Cow and Guthega and includes five terrain parks, a superpipe, Tube Town and the Skitube Alpine railway which provides access from below the snowline. Resort facilities include Ski-in/Ski-out accommodation, Snowsports School, Retail and Hire, numerous Food and Beverage outlets, Creche and Child Minding. Perisher also owns the luxurious Perisher Valley Hotel and the Station Resort in Jindabyne, which offers great value accommodation and is one of the premier entertainment venues in the Snowy Mountains. For more information about Perisher, visit www.perisher.com.au.
About POSMarket
POSMarket is a leading provider of point of sale, barcode and mobility solutions to businesses and government organisations in Australia and New Zealand. With thousands of satisfied customers, their expert consultants can tailor a solution for any industry. POSMarket is vendor independent but has partnerships with leading manufacturers such as Motion Computing, IBM, HP, Zebra, Motorola, Microsoft, Epson and more. POSMarket supports a broad range of industries including retail, hospitality, manufacturing, transport, education, healthcare, mining and government. For more information, visit www.posmarket.com.au
About Motion Computing
Motion Computing is a global leader in integrated mobile computing solutions, combining world-class products with services customised for the unique needs of target vertical markets. The company’s enhanced line of rugged tablet PCs, mobile point of care solutions and accessories are designed to increase mobile productivity while providing portability, security, power and versatility. Motion Mobility Solutions offer a complete portfolio of products, services and support that help ensure a successful mobile deployment for increased productivity, reducing project risk while delivering a more rapid return on investment. For more information, visit www.motioncomputing.com.au
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| Media Contacts: | Stephanie Hueter Motion Computing (512) 637-2745 Shueter@motioncomputing.com |
Lynne Peterson Motion Computing 1300 654 978 lpeterson@motioncomputing.com |