In a cut-throat industry, what does a hotel chain require to remain viable? A strong SOP that assures exceptional customer service on-site, and at the absolute least, two vital things: an online presence that makes bookings easier. The first draws people to your property, whilst the second encourages them to become advocates. Thanks to property management systems, or PMSs, savvy hotels can successfully manage both online and offline operations without sacrificing either.
When you enter a posh hotel complex, you will see that many different operations are carried out efficiently with little chance of a communication breakdown. It is difficult to oversee and keep track of the many departments and staff assignments and activities. Because of this, smart hoteliers use technology, like spreadsheets, to increase transparency.
For hotels all around the world, a hotel property management system (PMS) is a crucial business tool. It is the technology that hoteliers rely on to manage their operations, including front-of-house activities (such as the front desk) and back-of-house operations.
An improvement over conventional spreadsheets is the property management system! A unified system called Hotel PMS automates routine business processes and office duties. One of the most key categories for obtaining client happiness is this system. A solid property management system also helps you save time and money.
The PMS’s primary duties for hotels and other lodging establishments include:
- A manager of channels
- Managing visitors
- A schedule of reservations
- Reporting
- A dashboard of controls
- Exchange/Open API
- A system for managing revenues
- A booking engine online
- Transaction processing
- A module for housekeeping
All of those features should be included in a decent PMS, which will streamline everyday operations.
Since the pandemic’s beginning, guests’ expectations have changed, and the outdated PMS system is unable to satisfy both the needs of today’s passengers and the most recent technological advancements. In simple words, it is required to have hotel software that keeps up with the changing demands of both your visitors and your staff.
Self-service check-ins, keyless entry, and flexible payment methods are just a few of the amenities that travellers are beginning to expect from hoteliers.
When we talk about the evolution of PMS technology we can say that the advancement of PMS technology ought to and may follow that of the cell phone. The speed of cell phone development is incredible. What was once only a tool for making calls when we weren’t near our primary landline at home is now considered a vital extension of our brains, capable of storing contact information, documenting memories in photos and videos, and directing us via GPS and online searches, and much more.
Only large hotel chains employed hotel property management systems for a long time.
However, with technology advancing, erstwhile corporate employees are increasingly becoming savvy. Additionally, as smart hoteliers, also known as e-hoteliers, joined the hospitality industry, proprietors of hostels, bed-and-breakfasts, and homestays are also looking towards technology to help them manage the issues of their businesses.
Hotel owners or property managers may check the status of reservations and manage bookings with the use of user-friendly hotel property management software. In addition to the fundamental reservation feature, it helps with organising housekeeping schedules, enhancing food and beverage stock and inventory management, tracking POS revenue generating, etc.
As we take into account the most modern developments in travel. A tourist may have called the hotel directly or used a travel agency in the past to make a reservation. Since the majority of hotel reservations are now made online, innkeepers and operators must have a booking engine on their website in addition to being connected to OTAs or running online advertisements to draw customers. The capability of PMS software had to be increased due to this move in digitalization.
Meanwhile, all of this is only possible with the right software with which the guests will be able to make online bookings and have easy access to the staff at the point time in the day while all their hotel-related activities and services will be made available through one click on their phone.
The question that arises from here while we look into the positives of the PMS technology we might also wonder about the negative or the downside of this sort of technology.
The problem arises when the obsolete PMS technology, which is designed in such a way that it works as a standalone programme, makes it unable to fully interface with the new features and technologies required for a contemporary hotel to function. It is possible to integrate disparate systems, such as a PMS and a channel manager which leads to issues like data fracturing and accidentally creating numerous profiles for visitors.
What kind of solution is involved in this?
A cloud-based PMS offers a plethora of advantages that older PMSs simply did not. One of those advantages is that the systems receive routine, seamless updates without being interrupted by personnel visiting the site. Additionally, the majority of cloud-based systems will have an open-source API, making it simple for them to interact with other technological tools, apps, and services. All of this also includes the freedom of the hoteliers in deciding which tools fit their property the best and which ones adhere to the guest’s needs.
The PMS of the future is cloud-based, adaptable, integrated, and offers thorough reporting to provide you with the tools you need to manage a profitable business. If hoteliers decide not to replace their obsolete PMS, they face the danger of disappointing visitors and staff and being surpassed by rivals.
The characteristics of various cloud-based PMSs will vary. Any PMS you select should include a channel manager, booking engine, integrated payments solution, revenue management tool to assist with price changes, and an open API so you can add on tools to construct a tailored solution for your company for simplicity and efficiency.
So, in conclusion, using a cloud-based solution as the software will help make all your hotel operation easier and adhere to all the roles that are to be lived up to fulfil guest expectations and need. Using advanced technology is the future of PMS technology in the hotel industry and organizations like Hotelogix provide that from a highly advanced software platform which helps in increasing the efficiency and occupancy rates.