The key to improved efficiency and productivity at a hotel is automation. Many other industries have found that adding automation offers a range of benefits, and the same is true when it comes to hotels. Below are some of the major benefits provided by automation.
Benefit #1: Automation Reduces Manual Errors
As careful as your team might be, they are still human. This means they are prone to making errors from time to time. One of the first and most important benefits of automation is that the system will reduce the amount of manual entry that’s needed.
Good software will also automatically update room statuses in real-time. This means that if someone books a room online, your front desk staff won’t be able to mistakenly double-book a room.
Benefit #2: Automation Reduces Employee Workload and Increases Productivity
Automation also reduces the overall workload for your employees. All of the manual, repetitive work can be automated, which allows the employees to spend more time on other tasks. They don’t have to waste time on all of the tedious administrative work they used to do.
Naturally, this is going to help boost productivity. One of the other nice things about automation is it tends to make your employees happier. They don’t feel as though their time is being wasted.
Benefit #3: Automation Allows for Faster Reactions
Some types of automation allow you to react more quickly when it comes to things like sending out emails. You could have emails automatically sent to guests within 72 hours of them leaving the hotel. You can also react to negative reviews and complaints more quickly, as front desk software modules can gather all of that data for you. Having that knowledge allows you to resolve those sorts of problems faster.
Benefit #4: Automation Creates a Happier Work Environment
This is one of the extra benefits of automation. It has the potential to help create a more satisfying, happier workplace. Employees aren’t going to be worried and stressed with all of the repetitive tasks they used to have to handle. It can help to simplify complex processes, as well.
Excellent front desk automation software will help with the overall management of the hotel. It can help to ensure the various teams in the hotel are working with one another and from the same interface.
Benefit #5: Automation Promotes Efficiency
Setting up the processes in your software will instantly make your hotel run more efficiently. You can run the system for a month or so and then make some changes to the processes and the rules you want to follow. You could add another module, too, for example. With quality front desk software, you will be able to customize it to get the perfect fit.
Benefit #6: Automation Reduces Costs
Automating processes will also help you to cut costs at the hotel. One of the wonderful things about software systems like these is that they will work for you around the clock. They perform at the highest possible level 24/7, which is something people can’t do. Relying on software for automating certain processes means you will not need to hire as many people to handle the job. It can help your company to save a substantial amount of money.
Benefit #7: Automation Is Scalable
When you opt for the right front desk software for automation, you will be happy to know that it is scalable. The amount you will pay for the software will often be determined by the number of rooms you have. You can add more rooms as needed when your company grows. You can also choose the modules you need.
Benefit #8: Automation Improves Guest Experiences
The hotel business is all about making your guests happy. When guests have a great experience at your hotel, there is a much better chance of them returning. They will also tell friends and family about their experiences. If it was poor, you can be sure they will relay that information, as well.
Automation makes all of the processes at the hotel faster and more efficient from booking to checking in and out of the room. Those little things that help to speed things up will make a difference in how the guest views their experience.
These are just seven of the biggest benefits of automation. Of course, automation will require the right front desk software to be truly effective. Below are a few things to keep in mind when searching for the best option for hotel front desk software management.
What to Look for with Quality Front Desk Software
Using cloud-based, centralized platforms that have core functions already integrated into the system is one of the most important things to look for when choosing front desk software. The system should also allow for integrations with popular third-party software, it should have an online booking engine and channel manager, and it should provide reporting and analytics features.
Check to see what can be customized and what elements allow for automation. Built-in online booking is a major help and having a system that automatically updates rooms as they are booked, checked into, and out of, makes hotel management much easier.
One of the other things to consider will be the pricing and how it works. Ideally, you will find a solution that has a monthly subscription program. This will ensure that you don’t have to worry about large upfront costs.
It’s also a good idea to see what types of plans are available. Check to see what features and interfaces are available with the various plans and if add-ons are available to customize the front desk software to work for your particular needs.
Before choosing any software for your business, see if the company you are considering offers a free trial. Use the trial to put the software through its paces, see how it works, and whether it will be a good choice for you or not.
More Ways to Improve the Performance of the Front Desk Team
Automation is one of the most important elements to introduce to your hotel. However, there are other ways that you can improve your team’s performance, as well. Let’s look at a few of the things that can be done with your team.
Proper training is the first step. All of the employees who will be working the desk will need to know how to use the front desk software. They will also need to go through other training specific to your hotel. Creating a training manual that covers all areas of the job is a good idea.
It’s also nice for those who are working the front desk and who have direct interaction with the guests to have at least some area knowledge. With larger hotels, this might be the job of the concierge. However, with smaller properties, guests will often ask the front desk staff for some guidance. Having at least a little familiarity with places to eat, things to do, and places to shop will help.
Some extra training for the front desk, coupled with high-quality front desk software that allows for the automation of many tasks, can make a world of difference in your team’s efficiency.