How to Choose the Right Technology Tools for Hospitality Managers
Technology products and services for the hospitality industry can be a major investment, but they also offer the potential for huge returns. It's important to choose the right ones, though, as not every product or service is a good fit for hotels. In this article, we'll discuss some of the factors that you should consider when making your decision. We'll also offer some tips on how to get the most out of your technology tools.
Guide for adopting a new tool
To determine whether or not you should adopt a new technology-based tool, we recommend implementing four phases.
Step 1
Ensure you are clear about what problem you are looking to solve and what your future technology strategy will be. There are some very interesting new technology advancements, but it might not be right for your business.
Step 2
Know what your business needs truly are, and get the foundations in place for the longer term. There is no point streaming TV's if your broadband, Wi-Fi or bandwidth doesn't cut the mustard.
Step 3
Evaluate the tool's advantages against your needs to see if there is a suitable match. Also investigate how easy this will be to integrate and support long term.
Step 4
Do your research and get some advice to sense check what you are looking to achieve. Paying an expert like Siemlus can save you money in the long term. Knowing the industry and what is just marketing speak, and what is tried and tested in live environments is invaluable insight you can't turn down.
Consider the wider implications to your business
It's crucial to keep in mind that technological progress is not automatically beneficial for everyone. You must assess if a specific technology upgrade is cost-effective in light of your company's present position.
Consider the implications for current systems and how long it will take to make adjustments, implement new systems, train employees, and so on. Try to adopt technology that solves an immediate problem.
Only use a new technology if it will truly improve your business. Because new technologies frequently promise major change in the industry, or may be over-hyped by excellent marketing, this is sometimes more difficult to do than it appears.
Understanding complex technology: Focus on what they deliver
Fortunately, it does not require a degree in technical engineering to evaluate a tool - all that is required is for the tool's users to know what value it offers. Focus on the benefits rather than technology itself.
Hospitality managers must determine the potential value of a new technology tool to first figure out what it's supposed to do to streamline the business. Ideally it will save you money, time and ultimately improve guest experience. But new technologies can also be categorised as follows in the tourism industry:
Automated Technology
Innovative Technology
Technology that Analyses
Infrastructure and Support
At Siemlus we know that each type of technology can be vitally important to managers, but in completely different ways. We go above and beyond to aggregate and research the many new technology tools coming to market each year. It is essential that we help our clients understand what a particular type of technology is actually designed to do before they decide to implement it.
Automated Technology
Automation is frequently used to minimise repetitive activities in order to make things more efficient, faster, and/or more accurate. Many of the data collection processes at a hotel are repetitious. When they may be automated, real labour savings may be realised.
If a technology tool claims to be able to automate an existing procedure, it must be one in which time or labour savings can readily be identified.
“The value of innovation resides in the new technology product's capacity to expand your customer base, increase sales and enhance internal processes. The goal should be clear: to build awareness, generate interest, create a need for what you are offering and emphasise how it is superior in comparison to competing options.”
Technology That Innovates
A second category of technology is one that provides a new service or product that didn't exist previously. Because our industry is primarily built on the temporary exchange of a room stay, truly innovative technology is frequently less common than other businesses.
Property Management Software (PMS) would be one innovation that is constantly evolving and has some new player. These tools allow hoteliers to keep track of their reservations, staff schedules, and more. In addition, Google has created a special program for hotels called "Google Hotels." This program allows hoteliers to list their properties on Google Maps and receive bookings directly through the search engine.
Even the most technologically advanced hotels kept their current room rate and room availability data on-site, and most often required Property Management System (PMS), before cloud-based technologies were introduced.
Digital key enabled locks are becoming increasingly popular among hotels as a substitute for traditional magstripe locks. Digital key enabled locks allow guests to use their smartphone as a room key, eliminating the need to carry an extra card or fob. Mobile key locks also give hotels more control over who enters the facility and when, allowing them to monitor guest attendance.
Individual hotel properties' PMS data may now be seen from one (or many!) globally accessible sites, thanks to the advent of cloud-based technologies.
The value of innovation resides in the new technology product's capacity to expand your customer base, increase sales and enhance internal processes. The goal should be clear: to build awareness, generate interest, create a need for what you are offering and emphasise how it is superior in comparison to competing options.
Technology That Analyses
The third form of technological innovation is that which analyses. This is perhaps the most essential area of technology to comprehend for many specialists. There are constant progress in this field, and several of them have an impact on a hotel's revenue-generating activities.
To explain technology that analyses, it's crucial to realise that good data analysis has always been critical to successful revenue management efforts. Because revenue managers are dealing with a strict supply issue (the number of rooms available in a property is constant regardless of demand for rooms), they must be extremely careful about predicting room demand and adjusting room fees.
Essential data reporting can give hotel managers a better understanding of exactly where their business is coming from, and which types of business they need to target more.
Infrastructure and Support
It goes without saying that Wi-Fi access is essential for all hotels of any size. Bandwidth, bandwidth, bandwidth. There's never enough of it. Hotels are having difficulties keeping up with the growing bandwidth demands as a result of the numerous devices they have to support. To accommodate more than just visitor equipment, blanket Wi-Fi coverage has become essential to cover not just guest needs, but also staff and business requirements.
Hotels worldwide rely on efficient operations to deliver exceptional guest experiences. Slow networks may have a negative influence on the speed and effectiveness of your hotel's operations, which will impact your guests' experiences.
Here's a quick rundown of technologies that may be reliant on your hotel's Wi-Fi access points, each of which needs fast internet connectivity:
CCTV
PMS
Payment Card machines (PDQs)
Tablets & Laptops
Web-based platforms
Housekeeping
Remote check-in
Concierge service
Door Access Control
In-Room Entertainment
Plan your network correctly, from the beginning. To begin, first establish robust and constant wireless coverage throughout your hotel by utilising technological systems that can handle the demands of your network.
The Siemlus support is available round the clock, seven days a week, to maintain your properties operating properly. Siemlus Connect is a first-line technology support desk that takes care of all your IT and technological difficulties.
With a nationwide engineering workforce, we can provide all services for your property from structured data cabling, telephony, Wi-Fi, Audio Visual, Door access control and much more.
Conclusion
Hospitality managers must be able to identify the appropriate questions to ask when considering a new technology service. If they approach each new offer from the correct perspective, they will have a better chance of cutting through the hype and adopting only those technology tools that provide a clear benefit to them and their properties. If you need some advice on your operations and technology get in touch to discuss with a member of our team.