SONIFI Revolutionizes Hotel Conference Services with New Network Management Tool

SONIFI Revolutionizes Hotel Conference Services with New Network Management Tool

By Nishang Narayan

Published on June 10, 2024

SONIFI, a leading provider of hospitality technology, has unveiled a new network management tool aimed at transforming internet services for hotel conferences and events. Known as the Event Manager, this feature is part of SONIFI's Authentication and Management Portal (AMP) and caters specifically to hotels' High-Speed Internet Access (HSIA) customers.

Functionality and Benefits:

The Event Manager enables hotel and audiovisual (AV) staff to easily set up custom Wi-Fi networks for conferences and events within specific areas of a hotel. This ensures that event internet access is secure and does not interfere with connectivity in guest rooms and public areas. Through the self-service portal, staff can manage several aspects of the network:

  • Create custom access codes and captive portals.

  • Incorporate branding elements and personalised messaging.

  • Adjust bandwidth and authentication settings.

  • Establish terms of service and device whitelisting.

  • Schedule network availability tailored to the event's timing.

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Paul Johnson, SONIFI's General Manager of Internet Services, emphasises the tool's versatility and control, stating, "SONIFI's Event Manager empowers properties across all chain scales—from full-service resorts to select-service business hotels—to elevate their conference and event services." The tool not only enhances the attendee experience with customizable and branded connectivity options but also supports automation and scheduling for hassle-free access.

Operational Efficiency and Revenue Opportunities:

The Event Manager's dashboards are intuitively designed to streamline network management. Features include event calendars, message boards, default presets, and automatic identification of Wi-Fi access points and wired internet ports. Reporting functions provide insights into bandwidth usage and device connections, helping hotels optimise their network services and monetize their event spaces effectively.

"Event Manager aids our customers in attracting groups that prioritise reliable and private Wi-Fi networks for their events, such as conferences, meetings, or weddings," added Johnson. This tool serves as a significant differentiator, potentially increasing property revenue and enhancing guest satisfaction through superior service delivery.

About SONIFI:

SONIFI is the foremost provider of guest technology solutions in the hospitality industry, serving over a million rooms in 5,000 properties globally. Trusted by top hotel brands, ownership groups, and various hospitality establishments, SONIFI continues to deliver exceptional Wi-Fi, interactive TV, streaming, and in-room entertainment experiences.

For more detailed information on how SONIFI is advancing hotel event services technology, visit SONIFI's website.


Superplum Launches InstaTrace™ to Bring Full Transparency to India’s Fruit Supply Chain

Superplum Launches InstaTrace™ to Bring Full Transparency to India’s Fruit Supply Chain

By Hariharan U

Published on April 10, 2026

Superplum has introduced InstaTrace™, a first-of-its-kind digital intelligence system designed to bring complete transparency to India’s fruit supply chain.

With InstaTrace™, every pack of Superplum fruit carries a unique QR code that allows consumers to instantly access detailed, batch-specific information, without the need for an app or login. From the farm of origin to safety testing and logistics, the system offers a comprehensive, verifiable view of the fruit’s journey.

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At a time when consumer trust in fresh produce largely depends on labels and claims, InstaTrace™ replaces assumption with data. A single scan reveals the fruit’s origin, the farmer who cultivated it, lab-tested safety reports, and the complete supply chain journey.

One of the key highlights of the system is its focus on pesticide safety. Each batch undergoes testing at NABL-accredited laboratories, with actual reports directly accessible through the QR scan. This ensures that consumers are not relying on marketing claims but are instead viewing certified results.

InstaTrace™ also introduces a human element by identifying the farmers behind the produce. Each report includes the grower’s name, photograph, experience, and harvesting details, creating a direct connection between consumers and producers. In select cases, users can even support farmers through additional incentives.

The platform further enhances traceability with GPS-mapped farm locations, offering precise insights into where the fruit was grown. For premium and region-specific varieties, this provides verified proof of origin, adding credibility to quality claims.

Beyond sourcing, the system tracks the fruit’s journey across the supply chain. From harvesting and sorting to transportation conditions such as temperature and humidity, every stage is documented. Hygiene checks across facilities and handling points are also verified, ensuring quality at each step.

Adding a sustainability dimension, InstaTrace™ includes carbon footprint data for each batch, giving consumers visibility into the environmental impact of their purchase, an uncommon feature in the fresh produce category.

Powered by Superplum’s proprietary FreshManager™ platform, the system is the result of years of in-house research and development aimed at digitising and streamlining India’s complex fresh produce ecosystem. Unlike global traceability solutions that offer partial insights, InstaTrace™ combines multiple layers of information into a single, consumer-facing interface.

The launch reflects Superplum’s broader vision of making fruit safety visible and verifiable at scale. Supported by a modern infrastructure that includes cold-chain logistics, automated ripening facilities, and direct farmer partnerships, the company is working to redefine how fresh produce is sourced and consumed in India.

With InstaTrace™, Superplum is not just introducing a feature, it is setting a new benchmark for transparency in the fresh food industry


Hotels Migrate from RFID to BLE door Locks to Stay Relevant

Hotels Migrate from RFID to BLE door Locks to Stay Relevant

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on April 2, 2026

The hospitality industry is entering a new phase where legacy technologies are being left behind. With support for older systems like magstripe and traditional RFID locks gradually coming to an end, hotels are now faced with a clear decision to upgrade.

What was once considered modern is now becoming outdated.

RFID locks, while reliable in the past, no longer meet the expectations of today’s mobile first guests. Key cards are easily lost, duplicated, or demagnetized, and maintaining these systems is becoming increasingly difficult as industry support declines.

In contrast, Bluetooth Low Energy locks [BLE] are built for the way guests travel today.

With BLE, smartphones become secure digital keys. Guests can check in before arrival, skip the front desk, and access their rooms instantly. The experience becomes seamless, fast, and completely contactless.

Security is also significantly enhanced. BLE locks use advanced technologies like AES 128 encryption and mutual authentication, making them far more secure than traditional key based systems. Hotels gain the ability to issue and revoke access remotely, monitor usage, and maintain full control in real time.

Global leaders such as Onity, Dormakaba, SALTO and ASSA ABLOY VingCard are already driving this shift, making BLE locks the new benchmark for modern hotels.

However, upgrading to BLE locks is only part of the transformation. To truly deliver a connected and seamless guest journey, hotels need a platform that brings access, services, and operations together.

This is where products like GuestEzee are playing a key role globally.

GuestEzee is a comprehensive guest management platform designed for the digital era of hospitality. It enables guests to complete check in before arrival, use their mobile phones as room keys through BLE integration, and access all hotel services through a single app. From in room dining to service requests, everything becomes faster, simpler, and more intuitive.

For hotels, GuestEzee integrates with multiple PMS systems, door lock technologies, and F and B POS platforms. This flexibility allows it to work across all types of properties, from independent hotels to large chains and serviced accommodations. It reduces operational dependency on the front desk while enhancing guest satisfaction and efficiency.

With solutions like GuestEzee now available worldwide, the adoption of BLE locks has become easier, more scalable, and more practical for hotels of all sizes.

The shift from RFID to BLE is no longer optional. It is a necessary step toward building smarter, safer, and more connected hotels.

Because in today’s hospitality landscape, the experience begins at the door, and the future opens with BLE.


Palaniappa Electronics Launches Hepi TV for Smarter Hotel Rooms

By Hariharan U

Published on March 28, 2026

In today’s hospitality landscape, guest experience goes far beyond comfort, it directly impacts reviews, repeat stays, and overall revenue. Addressing this shift, Palaniappa Electronics has introduced Hepi TV, a smart in-room hospitality solution that transforms the traditional guest room television into a powerful, revenue-generating platform designed exclusively for hotels.

Powered by the Palaniappa’s Hepi TV Box, the system replaces passive television viewing with an intuitive home screen built around four smart components that focus on convenience, upselling, and operational efficiency.

One of the standout features is interactive restaurant ordering directly from the TV. Hotels can upload their restaurant menus with visually rich video backdrops for each dish, along with pricing. Guests can browse, select items, choose quantities, and confirm orders using the remote. Once placed, the order is instantly shared via WhatsApp with the kitchen team, room service staff, and management, allowing faster processing and billing without any phone calls. This seamless experience encourages impulse ordering and helps increase F&B revenue.

Hepi TV also simplifies room service requests through one-click options available on the screen. Services such as requesting towels, toiletries, laundry pickup, or spa bookings can be placed instantly. Each request is sent via WhatsApp to the relevant department with the room number, enabling quicker response times. The system also generates service usage reports, helping hotel teams understand guest demand patterns and improve planning.

 Another key feature is cab and tour booking through the TV interface. Guests can request transport or tours directly from their rooms, triggering alerts to both the hotel and partnered operators. This adds convenience for guests while opening up commission-based revenue opportunities for hotels.

 On the entertainment front, the Hepi TV Premium Package offers access to all paid HD channels across languages, removing the limitation of single regional DTH packs. Popular OTT platforms are available on the same interface, with complete privacy protection as guest login details are automatically erased at checkout. Adding a personal touch, the guest’s name is displayed on the TV screen from check-in to checkout, creating a warm and premium welcome.

Hotels can further use the platform as a marketing tool by uploading up to six branded 4K videos to promote services, offers, or facilities, turning every TV into an in-room communication channel.

All these features are available at ₹400 plus GST per TV per month, with no capital investment required, as the Hepi TV box is provided free of cost. For hotel owners and general managers, Hepi TV positions itself not as an expense, but as a smart investment that enhances guest experience, improves operational control, and generates additional revenue.

Palaniappa Electronics continues to strengthen its standing as a trusted partner for hospitality electronics, known for reliable quality, timely delivery, and dedicated support. Trusted by multiple hotel brands, the company remains a preferred name in the hospitality industry for innovative products and dependable service.

For more details, contact Palaniappa Electronics | Mr. Muthu at 9003045685 or muthu@palaniappagroup.com.

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