Technology solutions are often purchased for the now, but how can hoteliers make sure the tech they are implementing will be more than a passing fad or temporary fix?
The path to technological success can feel like an uphill trek. Especially in times like these, when the hospitality industry has spent the last year trying to keep up, first with the contactless solutions necessary during the pandemic and now with tech solutions to pad out a smaller workforce. But setting yourself and your properties up for success means looking to the future and selecting tech that will help you run your hotel optimally for a long time. Here’s how to start:
- Don’t waste your money on siloed tech.
Short term and long term, the best way to ensure your tech will not be wasted or become obsolete in a few years is to prioritize new tech that integrates with the tech you already have. The fastest (and often most common) way to take a loss when it comes to hotel tech is by throwing money at a platform or product that will not communicate with your existing systems. As you look to purchase and implement new tech, double and triple check that it will integrate well with the tech you currently have.
- Use your tech to fulfill, and exceed, guest expectations.
When guests book a stay at a hotel or resort, they aren’t necessarily just looking for a room to sleep in, they are buying a particular experience. The expectations your guests have when they enter your property are what drives revenue, especially when it comes to microtransactions and upgrade purchases. Travellers today want the convenience of self service that comes with mobile guest solutions, as well as the ability to choose the level of access they want with staff. Your tech should facilitate this balance by offering a platform that makes your staff feel present and available. You can offer this guest experience by enabling your guests the ability to request services, look up property info, book treatments, order food and more—all from a personal or smart-room device.
- Your tech success is linked to your guest data.
Ensuring your tech is successful, not just now, but in a lasting way, means understanding where tech trends are heading. The most advanced players in hospitality tech platforms are prioritizing data, specifically data surrounding guests’ experience. Tracking and acting on guest preferences to create a more personalized experience for them and more revenue for the hotel will be necessary in order to remain competitive. For hoteliers hoping to get in on that in the next few years, the sooner you shift operational management to the cloud the better.
- Choose vendors who will be partners and guides.
Tech is ever-changing, right? It can feel like every time you invest in one product, another, shinier one appears on the market. But success doesn’t always mean getting the next best thing. It means investing in the next right thing. That’s why it’s vital to partner with vendors who understand your established systems, current pain points, and future needs. When you’re looking to implement new tech or are considering a different system make sure you have a trusted vendor who can be your guide.
- The future of your tech depends on what you do now.
Finally, setting your property up for success means being proactive in your adoption of tech, not simply reactive. During the early days of COVID, the hospitality industry was forced to step-up their contactless and mobile capabilities. And now staff shortages have many scrambling for tech to optimize operational efficiency. Don’t wait for the next calamity, set yourself up for success now.
Want to learn more about technology solutions for both now and the future of your property? Let’s talk.
