Today, technology is critical to every industry’s growth. That said, innovative technology has also shaped the hospitality industry dynamics. With the power of technology, every accommodation provider, whether small B&Bs or hotel chains, can increase sales and improve customer relations.
Global health crises are the most common reason why the use of technology has helped in running a hotel business smoothly. The pandemic highlighted the importance of keeping a safe distance, which shifted the focus toward implementing technology. Implementation of smart technology exceeded guests’ expectations through a contactless experience.
Besides enhancing customer experience, modern innovation replaced the manual with technological labor reducing the likelihood of errors.
Other than reducing the risk of errors, it saves time that can be invested in overseeing other essential tasks. Automation streamlines various operations within the hospitality industry, from managing housekeeping to maintaining inventory.
Businesses and guests benefit from technological advancements, improved communication, reservations, and efficient customer service.
Nowadays, hotels are focused on providing a sustainable environment to their guests. The particular concern rose due to a global survey that emphasized how travelers, especially millennials, prefer environment-friendly hotel stay.
To fulfill customer expectations, hoteliers can use occupancy sensors that trigger measures like automatic temperature and light adjustments.
Besides visitor dynamics, hotel owners and managers face a common obstacle of scheduling staff for multiple positions. It calls for using scheduling software that streamlines various tasks like maintenance, staff hiring, and communication.
Let’s look at some more ways how technology can transform the future of the hotel industry.
1. Smart Key
One of the most convenient technological updates hoteliers can make is replacing the traditional physical key with a mobile key. Today, hotel owners understand travelers seek comfort, security,and efficiency in unfamiliar places.
Smart room keys offer that ease by allowing guests to open their rooms by motioning the phone towards the lock. The key identifiers are stored in the smartphone, providing access throughout the stay and eliminating the need for an internet connection to stay connected.
Every visitor’s worst nightmare is waiting in line at reception when all they want to do is drop their suitcases off immediately and relax. This is where virtual keys play their part by reducing the check-in time.
The digital setup of the virtual key interface with the hotel’s PMS platform offers functionality similar to the front desk agent. These functionalities include payment collection, identity verification, and even help with room selection.
Smart keys save customers from key card loss or malfunctioning,leading to poor customer satisfaction and aggravating customers’ worry. Mobile keys also relieve the staff and allow them to improve customer interaction and resolve queries.
2. Artificial Intelligence
AI devices create a lasting impression on guests and provide hotels with the opportunity to upgrade their services. Hoteliers can program these devices with respective information like wake-up calls or check-out.
Information based on customers’ likes and dislikes can be programmed to deliver service accordingly, enhancing their experience and ultimately increasing the likelihood of sales. The primary goal of every hotelier is to attract as many visitors as possible, which means using every available resource strategically.
Artificial intelligence using occupancy data and guest feedback gauge the upgrades that must be implemented first and the areas that require repairs. With the help of pattern recognition, artificial intelligence detects issues before they arise.
Reputation is as important as expanding the customer chain. The hospitality industry thrives on reputation, and having a long list of negative reviews compared to positive feedback only leads to poor outcomes.
AI, in such instances, is a saving grace for hoteliers, alerting them of possible public relation disaster and giving them ample time to prepare an appropriate response. Positive feedback can also be amplified white poor customer experience can be dealt with by reaching out personally.
3. Cloud PMS
When discussing the impact of technology in the hospitality industry, you cannot ignore its role in streamlining communication, especially among staff members. Smart technology has changed how interactions work and how they help get the work done.
Hoteliers are primarily concerned with providing impeccable service, so there shouldn’t be any communication hindrances between every department. Cloud PMS facilitates in this regard have taken interaction to new heights.
In old times, duties and guest-related information were verbally communicated, which caused problems. However, things have changed. Staff members can leave a note in the PMS, and the receiver is notified about pending tasks in real-time.
Besides other elements of success within the hospitality industry, maintenance and housekeeping significantly impact visitors’ overall experience. By generating a housekeeping report, the cloud PMS allows hoteliers to monitor the room status and pending tasks.
As mentioned earlier, travelers loathe the idea of waiting for their turn at the reception desks for check-in. Hotels or resorts can save time by using the property management system.
The system allows the staff to prepare the magnetic guestroom keys in advance. The system also has a digital registration option that cuts down the lengthy check-in process.
4. Information Technology
Data-driven insights are the key to running a successful business. Gone are the day when business owners relied on the guessing game to estimate the market’s demand. The same is true for the hospitality industry. Hotel owners understand that solely relying on ‘guestimations’ gets them nowhere.
For that reason, information technology helps hoteliers make wise decisions based on data analytics. Data analysis provides hotel owners critical information regarding customer behavioral patterns and effectively handling the customer base.
Like any other business or industry, staying at the top of the game is the key to climbing the success ladder. With the help of business intelligence tools, hoteliers can analyze various competitive-related information, from supplies and electricity bills to annual revenue.
Understanding the audience’s needs is critical to launching the appropriate marketing strategy for promotion. For instance, create relevant marketing campaigns if your target audience is corporate individuals looking for frequent flyer miles with hotel accommodations.
For better performance, hoteliers must use technology to perform data analytics efficiently. To make that happen, various tools like key performance indicatorscan help evaluate the hotel’s progress. The indicators are used to assess performance benchmarks against competitors and the data on hand.
Data analytics also provides information about booking patterns, rates, and guest spending behavior which helps hoteliers develop an efficient pricing strategy and increase occupancy rates.
Conclusion
Technology is gradually shaping the future of the hospitality industry as we speak. While many hoteliers understand the need for change to secure the future, others still hold onto traditional practices. As a result, the only way left for them is a complete shutdown.
Visitors always look for a seamless experience when visiting hotels at the end of a hectic traveling schedule. In that case, hoteliers should adopt innovative solutions like artificial intelligence and cloud PMS to enhance guests’ experience and improve management’s performance.
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