Welcome to the modern world. Today, it’s not enough for a small company to just be in one place and do one thing well. You have to reach out and connect with your customers wherever they are: on mobile devices, TV screens, social media platforms, in stores, and even in their homes. And that means embracing technology, from smartphones and tablets to apps and games, as an essential part of your business strategy. Here’s how you can use technology effectively in hospitality industry operations.
1. It simplifies operations and saves you money
New technology simplifies operations by connecting with your customers in easier and more efficient manners. With today’s technology, you can monitor every aspect of your business from anywhere in the world at any time. You can monitor sales data, customer feedback, inventory levels, and more with just a few clicks. With faster access to data, you have better decisions with less risk and fewer surprises.
Technology gives you access to all sorts of information about what’s going on with your business at any given moment, whether it’s sales data or customer feedback, or inventory levels, without having to be in the office. If you check birchstreet reviews, you will see a great example of how new technologies can help the success of businesses in the hospitality industry. Plus, with a steady stream of information at your fingertips, you can make more informed decisions with less risk and fewer surprises.
By using new innovations in technology, you are also saving money! You can use mobile apps to reduce the amount of time it takes your employees to complete mundane tasks like entering information into a spreadsheet, for example. With faster data entry, you’ll need to print out less paper and scan fewer documents, your company will also spend less time pulling reports and looking up information.
2. It improves customer experience
A hotel’s guests are always looking for new and innovative ways to enjoy their stay. Technology offers many opportunities to improve the customer experience by embracing interactive features like mobile check-in, which provides the guest with an easy way to check-in when they arrive at the hotel, controlling lights and TV with a mobile app, or using an iPad as the key to the room.
These sorts of technologies make it easier for guests to get what they need when they need it. Even something as simple as a quick and easy way to pay their bill will be appreciated by your customers. Offering mobile apps that allow guests to check-in, enjoy personalized content and interact with staff members keeps them engaged throughout their stay.
3. It enlarges distribution channels
Today’s travelers are more connected than ever before. They want more options when it comes to places they can stay and places they can eat. A new technology trend of interactive touch screens allows you to provide guests with better information about your hotel, restaurant, spa, and more. With touch screen technology you can provide personalized information on things like local attractions, activities, events, and dining options in the area, so they can book dinner reservations or buy tickets to a theatre show before checking out of their rooms.
The world is your marketplace, so why not take advantage of the global market in ways you could only dream about before. With technology, you can enter into distribution agreements online (and at low costs) with hotel chains across the world, and not just run-of-the-mill deals either. Why settle for an agreement that limits your business in some way when you can do it better?
4. It attracts a new generation of guests
You’re in the hospitality industry, and that means you’re in the business of making people feel at home. Today’s up-and-coming generation feels most at home with technology, so why not host them by offering apps they can use to check their bill or order room service or make travel arrangements and they will come back again and again (and tell all their friends to come too).
It may be difficult to attract this new generation of guests with technology, but the more hospitality businesses that try, the more experience they will have and lessons they will learn. You can’t just wait for this generation to find your hotel. Be proactive! Reach out to the community college near your location and offer internships to students interested in hospitality, tourism, marketing, or other related fields so they can come work with you over the summer months. Have a company blog online where current employees tell about their day-to-day jobs so it’s relatable for this generation, or use social media so it’s easy for them to share your blog from the hotel lobby. The possibilities are endless, and once you find a strategy that works, people will come flocking!
5. It helps you spot trends
A trend is something new, innovative, or especially popular. Tracking trends helps you stay informed about the latest innovations and changes before they happen. This way, you’ll know if something like a new app is trending within the hospitality industry (for example). You can then implement it into your business before it becomes mainstream.
Technology is all about information, and it’s not just hard data either. Social media, for example, offers a vast source of clues about guests’ needs and desires. By paying attention to social media posts in your area, you can quickly see what customers want and need, whether it’s a certain dish on your menu or a new amenity.
6. It helps you get ahead
It takes some patience to make something as simple as an email campaign effective, but it’s worth the payoff. If you can measure what works and tweak it as necessary, you will quickly figure out how to boost sales from your email list. One way to do this is by using a sales funnel, for example. This tool allows you to collect leads, nurture them with helpful content, and then sell them on your products/services. It’s about being proactive, not reactive. Technology has made it possible for businesses to have access to information that they never had before, use the tools that are at your disposal to help you succeed.
Technology gives you the freedom to test out new ideas in real-time and in real life- and change course quickly if an initiative isn’t working out. These days, businesses that aren’t constantly evolving are falling behind (and fast). That means you don’t have the luxury of wasting time on things that aren’t taking your business in the direction you want to go. The good news is that technology allows you to stay ahead by constantly evolving.
Technology is an integral part of the hospitality industry and it has many benefits that can help you succeed. We hope this article gave you some great ideas on how to make technology work for your business, but before you start planning, make sure to weigh your options and understand the trade-offs. For example, if you want to implement technology into your business, it does involve some expenses upfront (that can be recouped quickly) but once that’s paid off you need ongoing investment in maintaining and upgrading the system. The possibilities are endless when it comes to what new innovations will be available in the future, so stay informed by making sure you’re constantly evolving with the latest technologies!