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Hotel automation system - lower your costs, increase user experience

Time is money, and we are all about saving money. Processes that are more effective waste less time, boosts productivity and leads to lower costs and higher revenue. Consequently, if you are still using Word and Excel to create invoices and reports, it is time to evaluate the impact of manual and out-of-date processes on time efficiency and cost and to begin thinking about hotel automation processes to cut both of those down. The hotel automation system is not just a trendy term. During the pandemic times, hotel automation was a game-changer for many hoteliers. It enabled them to manage their businesses on tighter budgets and with fewer resources.

Make your customers feel safely and trustworthy while planning a trip. Live hotel automation system offer you to proactively manage alerts and communicate with customers over multiple channels like mobile, SMS, or social. Our hotel automation system will help you improve personalized booking and overall customer experience.

Technology advancements can meet customers' rising expectations for a better booking guest experience. According to a Statista report, 24% of hoteliers stated that improving the guest experience was the main reason for using hotel automation technology. 

Hotel automation is the secret to drawing in and keeping guests.

Discover the advantages a hotel automation system can bring to your establishment if you are considering using hotel automation, but are unsure whether the investment is worthwhile. In addition, we'll talk about what aspects of hotel operations ought to be automated in the first place. Also, we will go through the ways how to pick the tool that will work best for your company.

What is a hotel automation system?

The process of turning labor-intensive, manual tasks and processes into automated ones is known as a hotel automation system. To complete hotel processes that were previously carried out by hotel staff now this done with a use of automation services. They continue to carry out necessary hotel operations on behalf of the company even when managers are not present to actively manage the systems because they operate according to settings, rules, and parameters established by the implementing user.

Hotel operators, managers, and owners use hotel automation to streamline processes while keeping tight control of the establishment. It is possible to optimize room rates and manage a hotel's inventory. Automated systems make it possible to monitor market changes and improve customer satisfaction in general.

What are the benefits of a hotel automation system?

When you use automation technologies at your hotel, there are other benefits besides just getting rid of routine tasks. Let's explore how automation can improve hotel staff and guest experience while accelerating company growth.

1. Saves time for hotel staff

The fact that automating your hotel business will save you a significant amount of time is perhaps its most obvious benefit. Every hotel staff can complete daily tasks without wasting time when you streamline them because they know what is expected of them.

In larger hotels, staff members may lose track of completed and unfinished tasks. For instance, housekeeping staff might squander productive time when deciding which room to clean next.

You can keep track of the tasks your hotel staff must complete and make sure they are distributed among your teams in the most effective way by using hotel automation system. Your staff will be able to stay informed about what is expected of them and work more productively as a result.

2. Contactless check-in and check-out

The routine operations of a hotel include check-ins and check-outs. You can avoid tediously long lines at the front desk and decreased staff productivity. Also, you can prevent manual mistakes with hotel automated contactless check-ins and check-outs. According to Statista report, in 2021 self-service check-in technology was the most implemented, so regarding that 25.3% of the hoteliers started to adopt it in their hotels. Without having to wait in line for a staff member, your guests can check in and out quickly and easily at any time.

Contactless check-in is an excellent way for hotels with labor shortages to free up their staff to work on more important tasks rather than repetitive routines.

3. Faster service for hotel guests

The hotel automation system ensures that responses to guests' requests and concerns happen as quickly as possible. Immediate responses from hotel guest room automation impress visitors, increasing their level of satisfaction and trust in hotels. More people than ever before creating custom software that can be customized or handled personally. However, the hotel automation won't be able to respond to every query from guests.

4. Hotel room automation, cut costs and boost revenue

In terms of operations, hotel automation systems can boost revenue in some ways while also lowering costs. Guests can easily request additional services using mob apps and hotel industry software for the service sector. For hotels, that could result in increased sales.

Through direct routing of guest requests to the proper hotel staff members, hotel automation cuts out the middleman, saving you both time and money on staffing expenses.

In addition, an important portion of operating expenses is related to energy costs.

You can monitor and control the amount of energy used in your hotel. Also, you can improve its energy efficiency and reduce costs even more, by implementing a wireless, interconnected network of intelligent, environmentally friendly devices.

Hotel automation helps improve the guest experience. The more satisfied your guests are, the more likely they are to suggest your hotel to others. You'll do more business as a result, and it will help people become aware of your hotel.

5. Improve guest communications and customer service

It is necessary for guests and hotel staff to communicate easily and simply. The majority of hotels continue to employ outdated communication techniques, many of which appear to be ineffective.

If the person who answers the phone doesn't know the answer, they must forward the caller's request to the appropriate party. As a result, the message may get misplaced or diverted while traveling. Those who answer the phone lose time as well by providing the same answers to inquiries.

AI chatbots could give these dated communication techniques a makeover.

The frequently asked questions that guests submit to these chatbots receive automated responses. To gather common requests that result in obvious action items, you can use an app or a chatbot.

Due to your ability to react quickly to guest requests, you are generating an increasing number of positive reviews after check-out.

Such features can be especially useful for the housekeeping department of operations. An app can be updated with housekeeping tasks for guest rooms. In order to ensure that every detail is paid attention to, this gives housekeeping staff a hotel automated task list.

Which processes can hotels automate?

Although each hotel has different requirements for operational automation, the vast majority of accommodations can benefit from it. Here are 5 typical procedures and services that hotel industry professionals are automating to boost productivity, efficiency, and revenue.

1. System integration services

Many hotel revenue managers are switching to automated revenue management systems that can incorporate a request for proposal (RFP) management, pricing tools, and hotel inventory systems.

Automated hotel systems communicate and update as rooms are reserved to ensure that accurate availability is displayed to guests making direct bookings, through the hotel's website, on third-party sites, or on RFP management platforms. Revenue managers use a hotel automation system to make sure that real-time changes are accurately reflected in the property's CRM, revenue, inventory, and sales systems rather than manually tracking and entering data from one system to another.

2. Strengthen your sales department

Hotels with a lot of group bookings automate room block management, so they have more time to concentrate on bringing in new guests. To free up your sales team, give group contacts or travel planners tools to manage their group reservations. Alternately, update rooming lists, and handle other group management tasks.

Offering event planners the ability to reserve meeting and event space in just a few clicks thanks to new automated event technology, such as instant-book meetings, hotel sales teams are maximizing their revenue potential. Also, Live hotel automation system can help you with predictive analytics that collects and processes customer history. Furthermore, booking experiences in order to create persona-based packages is what changed the way the industry work. Being able to upsell and cross-sell at any time will boost your revenue.

3. Hotel guest room automation

Your hotel can save energy by using smart sensors to detect guest movement and control the lighting and air conditioning systems. In the long run, this investment will significantly lower energy costs.

4. Automated messages for hotel guests

Automated procedures make it possible to avoid overbooking, failing to fulfill guest requests and unnecessarily upsetting guests. Service requests, guest messages, and preference notes are all automatically assigned to a team member and given a trackable task through hotel automation. Establish automatic departmental sharing of hotel staff queries and task status updates to boost staff productivity and task completion rates.

Hoteliers use automated messaging systems to stay in touch with guests. In addition, encourage return visits, and lower no-show rates in addition to facilitating internal communications. Send automated hotel reservation confirmations, reminders for reservations, information about deposits, deadline reminders, and more. After checkout, send customers a summary of their receipt along with any rewards or point updates from their hotel loyalty program that may be relevant.

5. Hotel automated billing

By automatically authorizing credit cards for room rates, taxes, additional fees, and holding for potential incidental charges upon arrival, automated billing tools can help hotels in reducing chargebacks. To simplify guest billing, hoteliers can also use a hotel automation system. Hoteliers can lessen the possibility of service fees slipping through the cracks by automating the billing process for hotel amenities, in-room services, and similar guest expenses, and setting all charges to post directly on a guest's bill.

Additional advancements in hotel automation technology have given hoteliers the ability to monitor and bill for billable visitor activities. Automated hotel mini-bars, for instance, use sensors to detect inventory changes and transmit that information to the hotel's property management system, which then updates room rates.

6. Mobile check-in services

According to Sales Cycle statistics, in 2022, 64% of those booking online make purchases on a desktop and 44% make them on a mobile device. This shows a shift from 2021 when 59% of bookings were done on a desktop and 41% on a mobile device. 

Hotels all over the world are implementing hotel mobile check-in services to keep up with the expanding demand from guests for mobile booking technology. Hotels can use automated check-in tools to reduce the workload on understaffed front desk teams. Further, save on labor costs, and improve the guest experience by implementing mobile-friendly guest services.

Important automation solutions to introduce at your hotel

Hotel owners are introducing automated hotel systems to transform hotel operations and improve the guest experience. After the pandemic, the hotel industry's need for technology increased even more. Nowadays, guests demand faster and better service, so hotels must offer hotel automation features and contactless capabilities.

Let's look at software options and tools you can add to your toolbox to enhance operations and cater to guests' needs.

1. Channel manager

With a channel manager, you can prevent overbooking and keep your calendar current across all the booking channels you use. Once you receive a new reservation or a guest cancels their reservation, it automatically updates your availability and keeps it synchronized across all channels.

2. Automated room keys

Allowing guests to completely avoid the front desk will improve the guest experience and optimize guest check-in services. The ability to use a guest's mobile phone as a digital key is made possible by contactless hotel apps and digital check-in services. When they arrive, they can go straight to their room and use their mobile key to quickly unlock the door.

3. Front desk software

Front desk staff use this solution to manage duties like housekeeping and billing, communications, updating inventory, and managing guest information all in one location. It guarantees error-free task and team management while keeping your departments in sync.

4. Digital menu boards

Automated food and beverage digital menu can be beneficial for hotels that provide on-site dining and room services. Hotel guests can quickly order food to go using touchscreen restaurant menus. The restaurant staff is able to give seated guests more attention because the digital technology sends guest orders directly to the kitchen staff. In-room digital menus, which send orders for room service and automatically track charges on the guest's bill, reduce the possibility that the hotel will fail to collect fees for the services rendered.

5. Hotel automated request messaging

Guests can order spa packages, request housekeeping services, choose "do not disturb" preferences, and more using in-room digital hotel technology. Messaging requests will be automatically routed to the appropriate departments.

What should hotels consider when starting with automation?

1. Think about your target guests

To make sure your target audience feels comfortable using hotel automation, it's important to understand who they are. For instance, if you have an older audience, offer alternate options when introducing chatbots.

2. Take into account costs and potential ROI

Consider how the hotel automation system will affect your revenue and profit before making an investment. Calculate the return on investment to see if it is beneficial for your hotel business.

3. Check guest reviews

Regarding your options for hotel automation, you should conduct in-depth market research. Analyzing guest reviews of these products is another smart move. You can learn from reviews about how automation has helped people in your position.

4. Seamless integration

For the most reasonably priced and seamless integration, search for a hotel automation system that is compatible with the hotel systems you already have in place.

Conclusion

Find the points in your hotel's journey where guests are most likely to experience conflict and what is occupying your hotel staff’s time the most. 

Hotel automation is an excellent tool that you can seamlessly integrate into your hotel management to help you expand your business. It can increase revenue, and reduce workload for you and your hotel staff. As a result, will have more satisfied and effective hotel employees. Thanks to the development of hotel automation systems, hotels can now give guests a more customized, effective, and practical experience. Additionally, hotel automation will free up more of your time, so you can concentrate on improving the experiences of your guests.


Learn more about how the Live product family can help you support and improve your customer experience strategy.

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