In today’s digital world, hoteliers find themselves in an environment that provides them with all the tools they could possibly need. From property management systems to revenue management tools, there are almost no areas left uncovered when it comes to optimizing hotel management today.
However, while that’s the good news, the bad news is that there are now so many providers available that making the right decision has become difficult for professionals today.
All property management systems are not made equal
A quick online search reveals dozens of property management systems on offer – with several of them available for free. While such deals may appear attractive, it’s important to remember that it’s impossible to develop free software that addresses the right needs. That’s because developing software to manage all the comprehensive activities taking place in a hotel is no minor feat – it requires a good deal of money to be spent on research and development.This helps the developer better understand the market’s requirements, and engineer a better system.
Even when it comes to reputed developers, choosing a PMS isn’t as simple as going for the best one in the market. Different properties have different requirements and these are reflected in the features of the systems. For instance, a serviced apartment would not require POS terminals and would only need basic functionalities strictly corresponding to rooms and staff management. Similarly, a 15 room hotel with a handful of employees would not require a housekeeping module.,
It’s important to identify the various pain areas at your hotel and consider them when choosing a PMS. And don’t be swayed by special offers, there’s no point implementing a system that doesn’t fulfil all your requirements.
System evaluation is a critical to discovering the best hotel PMS
Evaluation is an extremely important part of the process while searching for the best property management system. It can be extremely time-consuming and unproductive to have to switch systems once your staff have become accustomed to it. Unfortunately, in our current setting it’s quite difficult to come across providers that offer unrestricted access to even their trials. It’s understandable to an extent, since companies may be wary of the fact that clients may find the system too complex if they try it out without the support of a representative. But in a busy hotelier’s life, it complicates matters and wastes precious time.
There are a few systems that allow unrestricted access to their free trial however, such as the Hotelogix PMS which permits new users to set up their trial account in a few minutes.
It’s important to remember that when expecting results, you need to give the system at least a few weeks, preferably a couple of months before you come to a conclusion. Implementing a PMS will improve operational efficiency at your hotel and help you attract bookings from dozens of global OTAs simultaneously. But it won’t improve your hotel’s brand, guest appeal or push more people to stay at the property – that’s down to you!
