We cannot deny that technology is changing at a high rate and so many industries have been affected and forced to go digital. The hotel industry is no exception. Hotel managers have been forced to adopt new technological ways to increase their customer experience in the hotel. It is good to note that technology can be costly, so every manager should be careful when selecting the technology to install in the hotel to ensure it is within their budget. It does not increase the running or maintenance cost higher than necessary. Innovative hotel technology has enabled hotel owners to attain satisfactory profits by offering various cost-saving technologies to adopt in the business.
Below are various hotel tech that can be used to shape the business and increase the customer experience.
1. Mobile Key
On average, a hotel will spend $1000 or more on discarded plastic keycards. These discarded keycards can lead to pollution of the environment. Instead of using plastic keycards, hotels should adopt a mobile key where a customer can check-in and out of the hotel without visiting the front desk. This technology uses Bluetooth to allow customers to use their smartphone device as a room key. The cost of printing keycards and also managing the keycards is eliminated.
2. Smart Windows
Smart windows have the capability of adjusting their tint automatically throughout the day to control the amount of light that passes through the window. They help block the UV rays. They also help heat or cool the room as required. They use less energy than bulbs assisting the hotel in saving up more on power.
3. LED Lighting
LED bulbs are energy efficient as they use 75% less energy. They are also very long-lasting. By installing the LED lighting bulbs, the hotel will be saving on maintenance costs and also lower the electricity bills.
4. Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is one of the highly considered as an essential factor by customers before making a booking to a hotel. Hotel managers need to ensure that they avail of this service for their customers. If you already have one installed, make it better. Slow Wi-Fi will disappoint your customers, and in return, they will give very negative reviews, which will affect your hotel’s marketing. On the other hand, better Wi-Fi better marketing helping you get more bookings.
5. Contactless Payments
We all agree that it is safer not to carry your cash with you all the time. So what happens when if you forget your wallet or misplaced your credit card? Managers need to consider contactless payments from customers to improve their experience with them. Contactless payment is a fast way of making payments and prevent clouding of people at the reception area.
6. Chatbots
This software the application allows online conversation through texting. This new trend in technology has enabled the customers and hotel staff to interact with no human contact. In this manner, customers have had their questions answered—the complaints taken care of properly. The hotel staff also get first-hand responses from customers, get recommendations and improve their services and customer experience.
7. Thermostats
Technology has brought about thermostats that have occupancy sensors. They detect whether a room is occupied or not. They adjust the temperature accordingly. If space is occupied, then they will increase the temperature if the weather is cold and lower the temperature slightly if the weather is hot. This technology saves the hotel energy cost translating to more savings.
8. Smart Bathrooms
This software is automatic, and it updates the latest features, making the customer experience better. The temperature of the water is automatically controlled, and the pipes are systematically sanitized. The advantage with smart bathrooms is that it saves 30% of power and water per room compared to typical bathrooms. This, in return, saves on water and electricity bills. It also gives the clients a better experience.
9. Air filter Technology
According to research, a portion of the population breathes in polluted air. This is not the experience you want to give to your precious and loyal customers. If a bad smell is the first thing, the customers notice when they visit your hotel, there are high chances of never returning to the hotel again. Air purifiers remove all the pollutants. This creates a healthy environment for your customers. The maintenance cost of the air filter technology is very low.
10. Energy Star Appliances
All the appliances should be energy star certified. When they get old or damaged and want to replace them, it will be less costly. The reduced cost will help you save an extra amount which is worthwhile.
11. Smart Reserved Parking
By the use of hotel apps and smart sensors, customers can reserve parking for their vehicles. They are assigned their spot before they arrive. This method will ensure efficiency and a smooth experience. The hotel will also save on labor costs that could have been incurred if it was controlled manually.
12. Cybersecurity Technology
The hotel wants to ensure that their data and the data of their customers are secure. Wi-Fi could be free, but it is not safe browsing with Wi-Fi when in public. You have to ensure that the IT infrastructure is up to the task of keeping everyone’s information safe. You could lose all your customers in a blink of an eye in case of a breach of data. This could be costly when trying to gain back the confidence of your customers.
Final Word
Technology has impacted businesses both negatively and positively. Hotel tech, however, seems to have done more good than bad for the industry. The labor costs have been reduced, the cost of power consumed is highly reduced by technology. Technology has also brought about new ways of giving customers better experiences in our hotels. The fact that I appreciate most about these recent trends in technology is how cost-effective they are.
