Should I invest in hotel operations software? How do I choose which one is right for my team and hotel? Are these questions you’ve asked yourself before? Well you’re not alone. Choosing hotel operations software is an investment and should be a considered decision.
There are many misconceptions about technology in the hospitality industry, which is what has led to such a slow adoption in the past. Now, guests are demanding more from their hotel experience and operations teams are facing greater challenges around labor shortages, therefore, it is more important than ever to make the right decision.
In this blog we are going to cover the myths and misconceptions around hotel operations software to help guide you to make the best decision for your future.
I think my hotel operates just fine as it is. Do we even need it?…
Many hotels still rely on traditional pen and paper methods, which may appear to work well on the surface, but in today’s operating environment where you are asking your teams to do more with leaner teams, manual processes leave your operations vulnerable to mistakes.
Technology eliminates that risk. The right operations software will take your operations to the next level as you can be assured that nothing is getting missed, your teams are optimized and resources and time are being spent in the right places to ultimately boost your guests' experience.
Check out our Buyer’s Guide to see what the essential elements of a hotel operations software are, what you would need to consider if you’re looking to invest and how we compare to others.
It’s going to be difficult to onboard and manage…
For any technology solution to be successful it needs to be intuitive and easy-to use. Is the interface user friendly and easy to understand? Can you easily navigate around the various elements of the solution? Are you able to access insights into your team’s operations clearly? These are all questions to bear in mind when considering a tech solution.
An important thing to remember with any good hotel operations software is that you have a team ready to help you with all your questions at any stage of the onboarding process and beyond. With Optii you have a full customer support team, who are available 24/7 that can help with any onboarding or training questions. From the early planning stage through to implementation and ongoing we will be there to support you.
Our Success Coaching also ensures that your team is getting the most of the technology, as we want to make sure you know all the features and tips and tricks to help your team do the best job with this tool.
I’m not sure my team will embrace the change…
Change can be difficult to implement, especially if you’re operating across various properties and departments. But we like to think of hotel operations software as an essential tool to empower your teams to do more with less.
With Optii you can access schedules and information regarding your daily operations through your mobile device, so if your team members can use a mobile phone, and navigate the likes of iMessage and Instagram then they can use hotel operations software as long as it’s available on those devices. If you teach your teams how to use the features and tools of your new software, then they can see the real benefits for them in their day-to-day job. It really is that simple!
It is also important to communicate with your teams how this technology is going to help improve their daily operations and save them time on manual tasks. At Optii we’ve seen a reduction of 60% in manual communications and an increase of 25% in team productivity, and those are figures that would be a welcome sight to any hotelier's eyes!
It’s too expensive…
This can be one of the biggest misconceptions and easy mistakes to make when it comes to hotel operations software. It is important to understand exactly what it is you’re getting from the provider before you confirm your decision. How does it integrate with your current systems and processes? What features apply to you and can be bespoke to your challenges? Without truly understanding the return on investment and value that technology can bring to your team, then it can end up being an expensive mistake.
By automating workflow schedules, showing cleaning progress in real-time and decreasing unnecessary paperwork and phone/radio calls, predictive technology can enable increased levels of productivity for both room attendants and supervisors, helping lean teams to run more efficiently and essentially save your hotel money.
To help ease your mind on costs, we have created our very own ROI calculator so you can see how much your hotel can save in labor costs. By looking at elements such as hotel size, average occupancy, room attendant wage we can provide an estimate on the return on investment with Optii.
