International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2023: Full and equal participation of women and girls in STEM fields promoting gender equality and eliminating gender discrimination Drew Faust, an American Historian and the first woman to serve as the President of Harvard University, said, “We educate women because it is smart. We educate women because it changes the world.” Data from UNESCO in 2022 says that only 35% of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) students in higher education globally are women. But India shows that 44% of total graduates in STEM are women. India ranks second in the world’s top 20 countries with the highest number of women Tech CEOs. The International Day of Women and Girls in Science observed on 11th February every year since 2015 acts as a testimony to Drew Faust’s statement on women’s education and India’s efforts. Melody Lopez Director & Chief of Staff Crayon Software Experts India The United Nations passed the resolution as an acknowledgement of how women have been under-represented in STEM fields. This year’s theme is ‘full and equal participation of women and girls in STEM fields promoting gender equality and eliminating gender discrimination.’ The data from UNESCO shows that the trend in India for women in STEM education is positive. While education in STEM fields shows a higher number of women graduating, the numbers are declining as they progress into the workforce. Organizations must stabilize the work environment with a sustainable approach for women. The ‘silent resignation’ by women holds a mirror for the difficulties in bridging the gaps within organizations. The lack of leadership training, toxic environment and no right DEI measures is just the surface. Mentoring women for leadership positions and allowing flexibility in the workplace for women to thrive in STEM fields will certainly help break the glass ceiling. With India already leading at a global level in terms of women graduating in STEM fields, even minor fine-tuning in work culture will do wonders. This will boost the efforts of world forums in forming and dedicating the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.  

Milind M Borkar – Security Expert and Consultant A physical security system is an important investment for most businesses. Here are some factors to consider when determining if your business needs a physical security system. Do you have assets that require protection? This could include physical assets such as inventory, equipment, and cash, as well as digital assets such as customer data and intellectual property. Is your business located in an area with a high crime rate? A physical security system can help deter criminal activity and provide evidence in the event of a break-in or theft. Do you have employees or customers on-site? A physical security system can help ensure their safety by preventing unauthorized access to your premises. Are you required to comply with industry regulations or standards? Certain industries such as healthcare and finance have strict regulations regarding the protection of sensitive data. A physical security system can help you meet these requirements. If any of these factors apply to your business, it is likely that you could benefit from having a physical security system in place. It is important to assess your specific needs and risks to determine the best type of physical security system for your business. Physical security systems involve using multiple layers of interdependent systems designed to protect people and property from damage, theft, and harm. These layers include access control, alarm intrusion, video surveillance, security guards, door locks, fire protection, and other systems designed to protect people and property. One of the key components of physical security is physical access control, which involves the use of measures to restrict and regulate who can gain entry to different locations or assets within an organization. Physical access control is important for several reasons. First, it helps to protect employees by providing them with a safe working environment. By controlling who has access to different areas of the organization, physical access control can help to prevent unauthorized individuals from gaining entry and potentially causing harm. Second, physical access control can help to track visitor and employee access. By actively monitoring who has the keys to come in and out of different areas of the organization, it is possible to track any unusual behavior and take appropriate action if necessary. Third, physical access control can help to protect an organization’s assets. By restricting access to sensitive areas or assets, physical access control can help to prevent theft, damage, or unauthorized access. Fourth, physical access control can provide access schedules. By setting up schedules for when certain individuals are allowed to access certain areas or assets, it is possible to ensure that only authorized individuals are able to gain entry at specific times. Fifth, physical access control can provide remote control of permissions. By using electronic systems to manage access permissions, it is possible to remotely grant or revoke access as needed. The physical security requirements should be integrated into a single pane within the physical security system. This enables users to control all elements quickly and efficiently. These include integration of access control, alarm intrusion, video, facial recognition, HR database, hardware management, mobile credentials, visitor management and credentials (card, mobile, facial). Additionally, the physical security system should include various features/ functionality that allows comprehensive management, configuration and administration. Leaving the physical environment vulnerable because of perceived budget or time constraints can have serious consequences for a business. If a business does not invest in adequate physical security measures, it may be vulnerable to theft, vandalism, and other forms of unauthorized access. This can result in significant losses, both in terms of financial costs. Overall, while it may seem like an added expense, investing in physical security is essential for protecting a business’s assets, personnel, and data. By taking the time to assess their needs and budget for physical security measures, businesses can help ensure that they are protected against potential threats and risks. Determining the budget for physical security involves considering a variety of factors such as the size of your business, the type of assets you need to protect, and the level of security required. Here are some steps you can follow to determine the budget for physical security: Identify your needs: Start by identifying what you need to protect and what level of security is required. This will help you determine what type of physical security measures are necessary and how much they will cost. Consider the features of the best business security systems (e.g., easy access, current technology); look for systems that integrate well with each other. Consider the cost of installation and maintenance when choosing a system. Plan for future growth: Keep in mind that your physical security needs may change over time as your business grows or evolves. Make sure to budget for future upgrades or expansions to your physical security system. To summarize, physical security is essential in protecting people, assets, and data from potential threats and risks. Without effective physical and data security measures in place, an organization may be vulnerable to theft, vandalism, and other forms of unauthorized access. Since 1997, IMRON Corporation has been a leader in developing innovative software solutions for the security industry, with a focus on providing peace of mind to customers. In 2003, they expanded their offerings to include complete software and hardware solutions under the IMRON brand. The founder, Imron Hussain, was a pioneer in the development of fully integrated Windows-based applications for Access Control, Video Management, and Alarm Management. Their flagship product, UnityIS, is an award-winning web platform that offers a powerful and versatile solution to users. With its unique features and integration capabilities, UnityIS can be deployed in the cloud or on-premises for complete air gap environments. It provides unparalleled flexibility and choice by integrating with more non-proprietary open access hardware platforms than any other solution on the market. IMRON Corporation’s products have been installed and field-tested at thousands of sites worldwide, across a variety of industries and scales. Our emphasis on customer responsiveness and product innovation drives our…

Manish Dahiya Head – Corporate Security & Liasion The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group Manish Dahiya chronicled a distinguished career of two decades in corporate security in diverse domains mainly into hospitality with hotel chains of the Lalit Suri Hospitality Group. He possesses a committed, efficient security deft in private security industry. He excelled in training and emplacement of almost 1000+ security professionals during his career. He successfully and seamlessly managed the stay of VVIPs during the international events like stay of 650+ media professionals during Commonwealth Games in 2010, stay of 5 heads of various states during 3rd India-South Africa summit in 2015 and stay of 7 heads of different countries during maiden summit of International Solar Alliance in 2018. He exemplifies the elemental ability to build significant association and critical business liaisons. His expertise in technologically advanced emergency management process is a key factor in crisis preparedness & business continuity with optimum facility of safety & public security. He also received multiple prestigious awards, including the Best Hospitality Personality Award from the International Hospitality Council 2017 Introduction Over the years, the hospitality industry has been evolving to keep pace with technology. The emergence of new technologies and new practices have completely changed the experience & spectrum of travel and hotel stay. The buzz word is to stay competitive by innovating way and adoption of technologies. The future of hospitality will be determined and dominated by the latest tech trends to provide guests with personalized experiences that meet their specific requirements. Keeping pace with tech developments calls for continued innovation. Therefore, we will be looking at some of the most important trends that are expected to shape the future of the hospitality industry in 2023. How Technology relates to Hospitality Sector Hospitality technology constitutes a wide range of IT, e-commerce, and similar technology solutions within the hospitality industry. It is either intended to improve the overall experience for hospitality customers or make life easier for a business’s employees. This is done by enhancing the automation content and reduce the workload of hotel staff, to accelerate the processes resulting in saving of money & time and to help the customers at multiple points along their journey in hospitality industry. What makes Technology a key element in shaping the future of Hospitality? The rise of the digital community signifies that competition is rife. Customers are now demanding more personalized options to meet their discrete requirements. Hotels, therefore, need to leverage the resources and systems at their disposal if they wish to retain loyal clients. Technology in hospitality sector is here to play a significant role and its presence is bound to increase in future. Hospitality industry must showcase the amenities digitally which people can access at home and even aim to exceed those expectations. It’s all about customizing the services to meet the aspirations and demands of customers. Technology enables hotels to meet guest demands and preferences with a click of button. Hotel technology also helps businesses focus on strategy saving valuable time and resources on routine everyday tasks. Latest trends defining the hospitality industry Virtual Reality Tour of Hotel In particular, this can make the difference when customers are ready to make a booking, because it will give potential customers a much clearer sense of what they can expect when they visit. Those working in hospitality marketing have a particularly good opportunity to capitalize on virtual reality technology and gain an edge over rivals because it allows customers to experience elements of a hotel or to see the layout of a restaurant before booking. Most modern virtual reality tour videos can be viewed within a web browser, making them easily accessible. A greater level of immersion can also be achieved if users have access to a VR headset “Hospitality technology constitutes a wide range of IT, e-commerce, and similar technology solutions within the hospitality industry. It is either intended to improve the overall experience for hospitality customers or make life easier for a business’s employees. This is done by enhancing the automation content and reduce the workload of hotel staff, to accelerate the processes resulting in saving of money & time and to help the customers at multiple points along their journey in hospitality industry” Mobile Check-In Mobile check-in hospitality tech is another trend to improve the customer experience at the point of their initial arrival. Crucially, mobile checkins swerve the need for face-to-face customer interactions, meaning customers can potentially have greater flexibility regarding when they check in. Contactless check-ins let you skip frustratingly long wait times at the front desk, reduced staff productivity, and manual errors. The introduction of mobile technology will enable guests to use their smartphones to control room temperature, turn on the lights, and even order room service among other things. Recognition Technology Recognition technology is one of the most important emerging tech trends, but its potential uses in the hospitality industry are especially interesting. In particular, biometrics is used to usher in a new age of seamless authentications, which could benefit hotel processes and customer purchases. Fingerprint or facial recognition technology can be used in hotel to unlock rooms, check-in and check-out purposes. “The rise of the digital community signifies that competition is rife. Customers are now demanding more personalized options to meet their discrete requirements. Hotels, therefore, need to leverage the resources and systems at their disposal if they wish to retain loyal clients. Technology in hospitality sector is here to play a significant role and its presence is bound to increase in future. Hospitality industry must showcase the amenities digitally which people can access at home and even aim to exceed those expectations. It’s all about customizing the services to meet the aspirations and demands of customers. Technology enables hotels to meet guest demands and preferences with a click of button. Hotel technology also helps businesses focus on strategy saving valuable time and resources on routine everyday tasks” Robotics Robotics and robots are revolutionizing hospitality industry to carry out tasks traditionally performed by…