IoT in Hospitality: Redefining the Benefits for Hotels and Guests
IoT in Hospitality: Redefining the Benefits for Hotels and Guests
Imagine yourself waking up in the morning. The blinds open up. The moment you come out of the shower, the coffee maker starts preparing your favorite cup of coffee. You notice that your favorite TV channel is ON… And you are not dreaming! In reality, the hotel implemented smart technologies to adapt to your unique preferences. This way, this stunning customized experience will stay in your heart forever!
Hospitality has long been at the forefront of top-notch digital innovations. Its mission is to meet consumer needs and to create a personalized customer experience. IoT is one of the most popular technologies that improves data collection and automation levels. Besides, it allows controlling devices from a single centralized place.
Enormous transformation potential enables one to leverage data and to automate processes differently. IoT brings up a new paradigm, making businesses smarter and more efficient. Industry players that have implemented IoT solutions already see return on IoT investments. Even more, they got a chance to track everyday assets in real-time. As a result, it enhances decision-making, saves on energy costs, and reduces waiting times.
“IoT Is not about connecting things or services – it’s about the way things and services deliver value to the clients.”
So, how does the hotel industry incorporates IoT?
- Process optimization – Operation management, supply chain optimization, and equipment maintenance are more efficient now. By integrating your ERP and CRM to the Internet, it is easier to send quotes, manage inventory, and control un/paid invoices. IoT solutions aim for the hassle-free check on the existing sensor-data to identify potential risky trends. Thus, the maintenance personnel gets notified about the problem before the situation gets out of control.
- Deeper insights into the customers’ behavior – The adoption of IoT allows us to learn more about the customers and to foresee their needs. As a result, the hotels provide services based on the guests’ particular interests.
- “Hotel- guests” increased engagement and connectivity – The introduction of IoT solutions has dramatically changed the concept of “hotel-guest” engagement. Many hotels can send customized recommendations to the guests based on their interests. With IoT, the location-based suggestions are now going digital. So, it’s easier now to deliver more valuable information to the guests than ever before.
- Inventory tracking and management – IoT is revolutionizing the way hotels track and manage their inventory. The industry coins the term “smart warehouse”, where smart devices keep tabs on inventory changes. The workers can focus on essential tasks.
- Marketing automation and access to location-based information –Mobile customer engagement, beacon technology, and GPS inform about customers’ locations/buying patterns. The hotels can send messages to the customers about menu items in a nearby restaurant. Also, they provide them with updates on local transport links or key attractions in the area. No doubt, there should be a balance between user privacy and the timely delivery of products/services.
- Better speed and data accessibility – IoT solutions ease the research and purchase cycle for the customers. Hence, the “service-buying-research” cycle gets shorter. The consumers find a required product/service with quicker delivery and instant gratification.
How does IoT in Hospitality benefit guests?
Guest experience and positive guest reviews are crucial in a hotel evaluation. It is the seamless experience that counts, and it can impact the positioning of your hotel. People are looking forward to relaxing after a tiresome journey. Nobody wants to stand in endless check-in queues waiting for a room of choice.
IoT solutions for hotels provide comfort to the guests ensuring that:
- There are no more check-in and check out queues;
- In-house navigation and voice-controlled room assistants. By speaking to a device in their room, the customers can request room service, or book a table at a restaurant;
- The guests enjoy customized services/food offers based on their preferences;
- Room settings are personalized in line with the guests’ preferences. The guests are welcome to set night temperature in a room or ideal water temperature. The exclusive settings also allow us to play the guests’ favorite music and TV channels;
- The guests take advantage of electronic key cards. When sent to the guests’ mobile phones, the cards communicate with the lock on the door, unlocking it, and, thus, eliminating the need for a separate key.
At the dawn of the new digital era in hospitality
In the future, many new IoT trends will be emerging to further improve technology in the hospitality industry. The industry will inevitably undergo significant transformation. As the hotel owners are eager to offer the very best in guest services and modern amenities, smart hotels will soon become the standard to follow.
Hospitality businesses should adapt to emerging technologies. It’s essential to integrate these technologies into the existing infrastructure. Enhanced IoT solutions and the right market are critical for guest satisfaction.
Make sure that your guests feel like home! Pamper your guests, so that they’d like to come back again and again!
