Digital transformation is taking many industries by storm. Not only does technology make operations simpler and streamlined, but it also allows industries to put their data to good use.
After making big changes in industries like Healthcare, Manufacturing, etc., technology and digital transformation are quickly being embraced by the hospitality industry. We are seeing major transformations in the lodging sector of the hospitality industry.
The hospitality industry was hit hard by the pandemic, and this further increased the need for technology to help hospitality businesses jump back into the game. While the adoption has been slower than in other industries, it is steady, and we expect to see some big changes in the coming years.
Let us discuss in detail how hotel technology innovations have the ability to transform the sector.
What Do We Mean by Technology Adoption in Hotels?
Customer expectations evolve with every passing year. Guests expect seamless experiences during their stay in hotels. By providing personalized guest experiences through tech, hotels can improve customer loyalty and satisfaction.
Technology adoption means using software and custom cloud-based solutions to improve internal processes and enable the staff to meet guest expectations. It also means improving efficiency for the work staff so that they can put their energy into providing seamless customer experiences.
Another important aspect of hotels adopting technology is consolidating all the data, allowing a centralized source of truth and improved data analytics and business intelligence.
In short, Technology adoption in hotel businesses uses software solutions that allow them to:
- Meet guest expectations
- Automate and streamline internal processes
- Improve staff efficiency
- Analyze data for improved decision-making
What are the Major Trends in Hotel Technology Innovations?
There is no doubt about the fact that all the hotel technology innovations are gradually transforming the hospitality sector. Around 81% of hoteliers believe technology to be important for hotel business success in the coming years.
Hotel technology has many faces, from contactless payments to automatic check-ins and check-outs. However, all of the hotel technology is online, from cloud-based systems to AI-enabled solutions, like Oracle Property Management or Cloudbeds. This means that by integrating technology into all of their processes, hotels become increasingly dependent on the Internet. Only a high-speed internet like Xfinity, a high-speed and reliable network, can provide them consistent connectivity to benefit from digitized operations. Let us view the most popular trends in hotel technology innovations that are improving customer experiences and business efficiency.
1. Contactless Guest Check-Ins
No guest prefers waiting at the counter for the hotel staff to cater to their hotel check-in. Most guests just want access to their rooms as soon as possible. However, that is not possible when hotel staff has to manually manage guest check-ins.
Contactless check-in systems enable guests to skip the long wait at the check-in counter and get access to their rooms right away. A contactless check-in does not require any physical contact with the staff. Guests usually do this via self-service kiosks or filling out forms online, prior to their arrival. Moreover, contactless check-ins also enable guests to get digital room keys on their phones.
This speedy service allows guests to get to their rooms without waiting in long lines. Plus, it also frees up the hotel staff to focus on more important processes like customer engagement.
2. Smart Room Management
Guests’ expectations have evolved from clean and comfortable rooms to personalized stays. Thanks to smart room technology in hotels, guests can now stay in rooms that provide personalized experiences. What is interesting is that smart rooms are not a luxury; they are a standard for guests and travelers instead.
Smart room technology allows guests to have smart temperature control that sets the room temperature to their preferences. Furthermore, most smart rooms are equipped with intelligent voice assistants that can adjust lighting and temperature or even draw the curtains for the guests. Apart from this, smart rooms are also equipped with IoT (Internet of Things) for hospitality. Interconnected smart TVs, lights, and other appliances allow guests to control them even when they are outside the room. Lastly, feats like keyless entries and wireless charging can further improve the stay.
3. Mobile Applications
Using mobile applications to meet guest expectations and streamlining operations is also becoming a norm in the Hospitality industry. Since every person has a smartphone, so offering hotel mobile applications for booking and other services is a great way to introduce convenience to guests. Imagine not having to ring the kitchen or room service and being put on hold.
A mobile application can allow guests to do feats like contactless check-ins, online payments, dinner bookings, etc. Since a mobile application connects all aspects of a hotel, guests can also order dinners and schedule room cleaning in advance. Some hotels further design their hotel apps to include suggestions for nearby tourist attractions and local restaurants. All in all, a mobile application is a great way to provide guests with a comfortable stay. On the back end, mobile applications are also a great way for the hotel staff to get notified about their duties and shift changes as well.
4. Artificial Intelligence
The wonders of Artificial Intelligence (AI) are not a secret anymore to the world. Just like it has transformed other industries, AI has also opened up new possibilities for hotels to make their processes intelligent and improve their customer experiences.
AI is being used in hotel management cloud-based applications. Not only do they allow hotels to centralize their data, but they also allow them to run intelligent analytics on the data that helps in business decision-making. Moreover, AI can also help hotel staff with process automation, like automated data entry, welcome emails, etc. This automation can save a great deal of time for hotel staff. Moreover, AI can also help hotels prepare in advance through predictive analytics. This allows them to increase or decrease their staff capacity as needed. On the customers’ end, AI-powered concierges or virtual assistants are also a popular application of AI that improves customer experiences.
5. Energy-Efficiency
Sustainable tech innovation in hotels is another popular trend that helps hotels minimize their carbon footprint and environmental impact. This is because there has been an increase in the need for green technology to minimize the environmental crisis. Most hotels are using technology to adopt energy-efficient practices. Not only does it help them cater to the environmental crisis, but it also helps them make sustainability part of their brand.
Hotels incorporate technology and Artificial Intelligence in their processes to make them energy-efficient. For example, they equip their rooms with smart appliances that save energy. Moreover, hotels are also turning towards renewable energy resources that help them use clean energy that is not harmful to the environment. Apart from this, by equipping rooms with AI, hotels can optimize the use of HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems. AI assistants can turn off the HVACs running in empty rooms. It can also help hotels with water and waste management, allowing hotels to save on bills.
Technology has proved itself to be very beneficial for hotels. Not only does it drastically improve customer experiences, but it also helps hotels improve their processes to save operational costs. This is why there has been a sharp growth in the Hospitality software market that surged to a whopping $8.2 billion in value.