What is Hotel Automation?
Hotel automation uses technology to automate tasks in operating and marketing the hotel while providing the guest with a superior experience. Automated tasks can range from reaching out to customers, deciding room prices, taking reservations, checking in a customer, interacting with a customer, providing bills, checking out a customer, in-house services, and post checkout experience.
Benefits of Using Hotel Automation
Advances in hotel technology have led to an increasing number of processes that can be automated. More and more hotel owners are looking into the idea of automation as a way to reduce labour costs, improve customer experience and increase profits.
Automation streamlines processes within your hotel business, which helps save a significant amount of money in the short and long term. The biggest cost savings from automation is saving in manpower costs through optimal resource utilisation while providing the same quality of services.
Let’s take a look at a few areas where automation can minimise your manpower utilisation and bring about greater efficiencies:
- Contactless Automated Check ins and Check outs
Check in and check out processes that keep the front desk busy and the customers waiting can be automated to make them more efficient. Automated check in and check out processes are not only contactless (keeping in mind the pandemic-driven health and safety protocols) but ensures that they do not tie down your staff to one location. Your staff is free to provide other important services and ensure a better customer experience. Additionally, through automated check ins and check outs, guests can quickly proceed to their rooms or check out the hotel without spending time at the front desk. - Better, Instant and Personalised Communication Between Client and Staff
Automated processes have opened the doors to better client involvement and clearer communication. A hotel automation software allows your guests and staff to interact more effectively through its built-in client portals. Guests can request any type of services (housekeeping, laundry, or maintenance) without visiting or calling the busy front desk. Traditionally, guests would call or visit the front desk requesting a service. The front desk executive would then delegate the task to the relevant person. Hotel automation eliminates the need for a middleman, allowing guests to contact the relevant person directly. This means you save time and money on staffing costs. - Cut in Operational Costs
Inefficient operations and outdated processes could mean that you are operating with more staff than you require. By leveraging hotel automation, you can cut your staffing costs by more than half. Additionally, energy cost is a significant portion of your operational costs. By implementing energy control automation in guest rooms, you can monitor and control energy consumption. This makes your hotel energy-efficient and reduces your operational costs even further. - Overall Control of Your Hotel Operations
Hotel automation tools easily integrate with your existing PMS systems, thus creating a centralised hub giving you full control over your hotel operations. The hotel automation system empowers you to control the following from a single dashboard:
- All devices in the hotel
- Staff and guest access
- Employee scheduling and task management
- Energy consumption
- Inventory management
- Bookings and reservations
- Channel management
- OTA management
Moreover, you empower your guests to personalise their stay while you retain the ultimate control to ensure efficiency, cost-effectiveness and security.
