One of the main changes in the hotel industry over the last decade has been the addition of cloud-based software. It gives hotel owners a safe and dependable way to run their property, and the cloud gives owners an incredible amount of answers to the problems that on-premises systems have. Even with this in mind, changing systems to a cloud-based system is a big undertaking, and hotel owners are often wary of taking the next step, therefore losing out on more profit. By switching to a cloud-based option, you will ensure your business is more efficient while reducing your workload.
Before implementing or adopting cloud technology, you will want to have an understanding of what it is exactly and what options you have when thinking about your deployment. Stuart Scott’s course, What is Cloud Computing? covers a wide range of cloud computing topics areas providing you with a solid foundation of understanding.
Here are the top reasons you should make the switch to cloud-based software now.
Greater security of data
Like with any type of work, hotel owners have a responsibility to clients to protect their data, as well as to the staff and the business as a whole to store all information in a safe and secure way. That means running frequent security checks and making sure that you’re always upgraded to the latest version so you know that your data is as safe as possible in the most up to date system.
If the software has any updates that could fix a patch or increasingly secure your information, it will happen to your system automatically so you don’t have to take time out of your busy day to do it yourself manually.
As per Rob Tyne, a business writer at Writinity and Last Minute Writing:
You’re also reducing and eliminating the risk of your hardware failing and losing all of the data you have. No matter what solution you choose, you’ll know that your data and that of your clients is safe in your software.
Better access
If you’re using a system on-premises, you’re limiting any work and activity that can be done about it to your physical property site. On the other hand, having cloud-based software means that you can access the whole system remotely, so you can make updates and changes to how the hotel is running whether or not you’re physically in the building.
For example, if you go home for the evening but a guest reaches out to request an early check-in, you wouldn’t be able to see if the room will be ready for them. However, on a cloud-based software solution, you could check if the room is already serviced or what the housekeeping schedule is to make sure the room is ready for the guest. You can then update the notes on file to make the reception staff aware that an early check-in will be happening, and then respond right away to the guest with your answer, increasing customer service. All of this can be done simply by removing the boundaries and obstacles created by the on-premises system.
Flexibility
Time is precious when you work in the hospitality industry and it can take a lot of time and work to change systems. The good news with cloud-based systems is that they’re both quick and easy to start using without much of a learning curve involved. You don’t need to spend months training your employees to use new, complicated software because most options are clear to use and intuitive.
All you need is a computer and a basic internet connection and you can troubleshoot any issues on the spot. Once you’ve set everything up and transferred all your data over, the system itself becomes easy to regulate or customize as needed. You can have it tailored to suit the exact needs of your hotel and business.
For example, some hotel owners run almost completely on repeat customers. Their average clients return once or twice each year for the past twenty years. Cloud software is great in those cases for sending automated updates by email with the latest room prices at the same time each year as their previous stays.
The automation of cloud-based software, as well as being easy to use, means you and your team can run a more efficient business without the hassles of huge staff training and hours away from time that could be spent face-to-face with customers.
Integration
It’s not easy managing and smoothly running a hotel. There’s so much to keep track of, from payment systems and email to accounting and channel managers, every single day. On-premises systems can cause big headaches just trying to get everything to line up properly. When you start with a cloud-based system, it might take a few days, but you can eventually integrate all the tools that you use for your business to keep running it seamlessly and more efficiently.
The integration of a cloud-based system means that you can increase your revenue thanks to smarter pricing and automation without any hiccups. Dale Armstrong, a cloud technology expert at Draft Beyond and Research Papers UK, explains that:
Software tools that are cloud-based can be seamlessly integrated to your cloud-based hotel management software without a problem so you can easily and quickly customize your solution.
Automation
Cloud software helps you to automate the majority of your menial, repetitive tasks that are needed to run the hotel. You can regulate all of your booking rates through every distribution channel in real-time. You can also update your website and other platforms instantly and even automatically. This means that you’re saving yourself hours of work, money, stress, and you’re increasing your revenue.
This automation helps you spend more time controlling more important aspects of your business. By eliminating a lot of the frustration that exists with handling on-premises systems and their updates, you can focus more on what matters. By coordinating all of your processes across the board, you can not only be more efficient but also make the experience better for your employees and boost their job happiness and satisfaction.
Pricing
Another great appeal of cloud-based software is that they’re typically not expensive. On-premises systems require setup costs for the software and hardware, but also all of the associated infrastructure. Then, you need to run regular maintenance that can become quite costly. With a cloud system, though, there is no need to be concerned about costs of staff training, licensing fees for the software, maintenance, or paying for large servers.
All of this is sold as a service inside the cloud-based software, and all you need to do is add as many features (or as few) as you want for your business. This will cut down all the costs you already have and also increase your revenue in the long run.
This world is constantly changing and there are always new technologies coming and going. That’s why you want to get a system that you know is able to change and adapt to all of this flux and fluidity. None of us can predict the future and what the next technology will be, but you can do your part to be prepared, along with your team, for any eventuality. Cloud-based systems can help with that because it’s a flexible and user-friendly system that can adapt just as quickly as the hospitality industry.
The financial benefits associated with cloud migration are endless. If you haven’t yet moved over to a cloud-based system, you and your business are missing out on increased profit margins. You want to be able to move with the time and be updated to keep up with competitors.
