Poseidon takes aim at easier control of SkyLounge TVs

The problem is as old as time itself.   Countless TVs, countless sources of content, countless remotes.   And no one who knows how to operate them all!!   That is why Tim Odom, owner of Hotel Poseidon, decided to call in the “big guns” to help unify his control points for the 7 TVs he recently installed in his Sky Lounge Sports Bar.  Step in GeckoTech.   We designed a system that used commercial off the shelf components to redistribute HD video over CAT5 cables to each of the TVs.   The key components were a video switcher and a URC KP900.   These two components will allow the most naive wait staff to push any content to any TV in the SkyLounge or Poseidon Restaurant.  Gone are the days of the 10PM calls to Tim’s house asking “how do I get ESPN2 on the TV4?”.    Life only gets easier with GeckoTech

RoadHouse opens Coffe Shop in Uvita. Exploits gPOS system

Bob Swanson learned a long time ago that it is a safer to “Call in the pros” than to try and build your POS.   This was also the case for Bob’s newest venture “The Road House Coffee Shop”.  Bob turned to the experts at GeckoTech to help him with his second POS system deployment in Costa Rica..    “RaodHouse is a spectacular little sandwich shop off the caratera in Uvita.  Bob’s past experience with GeckoTech, “do as you say and say as you do”, made it an easy decision to “go with GeckoTech” again for his new coffee shop.   GeckoTech helped Bob deploy a single SeePoint terminal running gPOS as both a server and terminal.   A single rcpt/command printer serves the small operation quite well.  We believe that Bob’s delicious sandwiches will turn the town upside down, and he will need to increase his restaurant floor-space and eventually require more terminals to support the increased revenue.   Good luck Bob, and thanks for being a valued repeat customer!!

Arigato Sushi leverages GeckoPOS for its restaurant operations

Arigato, undoubtedly Jaco’s most popular “Casual Sushi” restaurant has decide to take the technology leap. In early October of 2013, Rudy (owner/operator) visited GeckoTech’s office for a first hand demonstration after hearing how other local successful restaurants had benefited from GeckoTech’s gPOS software. After a brief demo of the system itself and a more detailed discussion of the necessity of support Rudy had pretty much made up his mind that the benefits and ROI would be quickly realized with the effective deployment of GeckoTech’s gPOS. Arigato purchased a two terminal license. One license for the fixed-bar-terminal order taking, and the 2nd license as a mobile license for a portable tablet to support table side order entry. Two command printers: one for the kitchen and one for the sushi prep area, while the Bar Terminal’s receipt printer will serve as both receipt and bar-command printer. Saling has been smooth since the installation, and the owners are able to run reports from home at their leisure. Ahhh…. the wonders of the internet and a smoothly running business!!

JacoBeachBar (aka The Point) installs gPOS

The Point is a great little restaurant/bar right on the beach..  It seats only 40 people so you gotta get their early if you want a “good view” of the sunset.   Location makes The Point a great gathering location for both locals and tourists alike.   The result?  A busy bar in desperate need of a Point of Sale system that would eliminate guest/waiter confusion and improve the overall customer experience.   Voila….   gPOS!!   The Point, like so many of GeckoTech’s current customers opted to take advantage of the “bring your own device” concept and hence sourced its own Asus 10″ android tablet.   This saved them a significant amount in upfront costs, while ensuring a more robust (and if necessary, easier to replace) POS terminal for the waitstaff.   Since the deployment of gPOS, the restaurant’s accountability has improved immensely.   The owner’s Tod and Tatiana are able to see sales real time, as well as spot trends on items and “days of week”.    It is hoped the savings in operational overhead (as afforded by gPOS) will generate a funding source for their gStream project/requirement slated in 2014.

Paparazzi Italian restaurant joins ranks of gPOS users

Paparazzi, an established local restaurant, with tico owners that are among some of Jaco’s first developers, has deployed a single terminal gPOS system for tracking restaurant sales.   The system has also been configured to provide time tracking for all employees, as well as “account balance” tracking for those repeat customers that have credit terms with the restaurant.  Maria Salazar Pirola, owner of Paparazzi and sister hotel Sol del Oro, has trained her daughters to use the system for all order taking thus improving the restaurants overall accountability an order of magnitude.   Welcome aboard the gPOS train Maria!!

gStream service for CostaRica Surf Safari

Costa Rica Surf Safari needed a way to bring more traffic to their website to allow higher booking rates..   Carmen, owner of Costa Rica Surf Safari, turned to GeckoTech to deliver a robust (99% uptime) streaming camera capable of delivering upto 5 FPS.   Carmen decided GeckoTech’s gStream managed service was “the way to go”.   Low upfront service initiation fees, and ongoing support the ensured the system remained operational.  The result is a great webcam that allows surfers from around the world see real-time video of the Jaco’s surf conditions.     With gStream Carmen is able to see higher “traffic rates” to her site as her western European demographic “check out her surf cam”..    Check it out yoursef:  http://costaricasurfari.com/webcam-jaco-beach-surf/

 

gEye and gPhoto installed for VistaMar 1A, 5A and 7B

Savings and Security.  What more could one ask for.  Especially when the former pays for the latter.   with a little change to spare.  Such is the case for 3 rental units at Vista Mar that recently became subscribers to GeckoTech’s services:  GeckoEye and GeckoWatch.  Vista Mar. situated in Jaco, is one of Jaco’s first developments.   The owners were experiencing brisk occupancy, but were having their rental income gobbled up by ICE.   So they turned to GeckoTech to help lower their AC operational costs relative to ICE power.   GeckoTech answered their “cry for help” by installing GeckoEye.   The gEye system not only lowered the owner’s AC operational costs by 30% but also allowed them remote managing and monitoring of doors/windows/thermostats.   The subsequent savings afforded them the option to install gPhoto at the front door to track all pedestrian traffic in and out of his rental unit.   gPhoto takes successive photos on one second intervals and sends them to a web service where the subscriber can review up to 30 days of photos.   Gone are the days of wondering if their units are rented..   All three unit owners are now in complete control of their properties even though they might be 1000s of miles away.

South Beach upgrades its video surveillance to GeckoWatch

South Beach Hotel (formerly known as Arenal Pacifico) has been using a 14 camera Aver Media video surveillance system for the past 5 years.   The system was becoming unmanageable.  Cost to support (replace obsolete parts) was beyond annual operational budget allotments.   Step in GeckoWatch (gWatch).   gWatch is GeckoTech’s managed service that allows rental properties to focus on the utility of video surveillance, as opposed to the headaches/costs associated with owning video surveillance.   South Beach hotel is migrating its legacy video recording equipment to new IP technologies.   The new system will allow for unified viewing of all 14 cameras, while allow remote and local access via Laptops, iPhones, Android Phones, and iPads.   Wait, it gets even better.   The new gWatch system scales!!   The subscriber can can add more cameras without being forced to upgrade upgrade components..   And the best part?   The subscriber does not need to worry about the system atrophying or being obsoleted technology.  It is a “managed service” that protects the user/subscriber from this eventuality.

GeckoEye deployed into Los Suenos Colina

After years of hearing about the savings realized by GeckoEye (gEye), a unit owner of a rental property at Los Suenos, has finally “bitten the bullet” and subscribed to gEye.  For those who do not know, gEye is a service that mitigates renter abuse of the property’s Air Conditioner.  Specifically, gEye turns OFF the Air Handler when designated doors are open for more than 2 minutes, and adjusts SET temperatures UP when guests are gone on all-day fishing trips. The particular unit owner of this latest installation was experiencing $300-$400 for nominal occupancy.  We predict this unit owner will experience savings of about $100/mo thus resulting in a $1200 year savings annually (assuming he maintains occupancy).   His ROI will be 12 months…  Everyone is a winner with gEye..  Yee Haw!!

Vista Mar adds another GeckoEye to its rental inventory

This month Vista Mar added its 5th GeckoEye (gEye)  subscriber.  Vista Mar is a multi-tenant condo located in the heart of Jaco.   This newest subscriber had heard about the phenomenal savings being realized by other Vista Mar owners and decided to get on the band wagon.   He was tired of funding ICE with wasteful renters. GeckoTech deployed a two thermostat gEye system that is expected to lower overall energy operational costs by 20% and 40% in this particular condo.   Furthermore, the property owner’s property manager can now monitor the condo remotely and through his/her iPhone.  Double win for everyone.