Hotel management software, most commonly shortened to hotel PMS (Property Management System), has become a must-have in the world of hospitality. A quality hotel management program will save you time, energy and money, creating better experiences for both you and your guests.
But what features should a hotel PMS include? What do you really need? What will help you stay ahead of the competition?
In this article, we’re going to look at 10 things your hotel management program should have – the hotel management essentials – delve into what the best hotel management software needs, and provide some hotel management tips along the way.
A quality hotel management program will save you time, energy and money, creating better experiences for both you and your guests.
First and foremost, your hotel PMS needs to have great design. This goes both for your end and that of your customers.
If the software is sleek and intuitive, it’ll be a lot easier to learn and make use of every day. Some software is so packed full of features it can be confusing to use. Don’t be dazzled by this. You need to find software that is full of features, yes, but it also needs to present them with a simple-to-use and intuitive interface.
For your customers, whether using an app for online check in or making reservations through your booking engine, you need to make sure the software is attractive and, again, extremely easy to use. Smooth experiences equate to happy customers.
Multi-device capability is another essential of a hotel management program. Ideally, your software should be compatible across smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktops, as well Windows and Mac. Otherwise, user-friendliness and productivity are going to suffer significantly. You’ll want everybody to access what they need to access, when they need to access it.
Similarly, if you have more than one location, you’ll want your software to work across multiple properties. Each location will be unique, of course, and you’ll need the software to let you customise each property to its needs, but the ability to use the same software across your hotel business is going to make things simple and effective. You’ll have one central system to work from and it’ll allow you to collate data from across them all too, which will help you make smart business decisions.
Integration across your software tools and hotel management essentials is crucial. Try and find a PMS that syncs up across the tools you already use (web integrations, Google Analytics, etc.), the software you want to use (booking manager, real-time channel management, etc.) and the tools you might need in the future. This will ensure maximum efficiency and smooth-running.
The best hotel management software includes reporting and analysis tools. Detailed reports on your best performing sales channels, when and how customers book, and common maintenance issues will enable you to make smart business decisions and take your business to the next level. How can you improve if you don’t know where you’re going wrong?
Welcome emails, means for customer reviews, a newsletter manager, customisable mail templates, social media marketing… the finer details make a big difference. If your software allows you to personalise your customer communications, you’ll make enormous strides with customer loyalty. These details add a whole lot of professionalism to your business, remind your customers that they’re valued, and, in the end, result in guests coming back again and again.
Another way to add professionalism – and increase your profits at the same time – is to find software that gives you an online store platform. This will allow you to offer added extras for customers, making cross-selling and upselling much simpler. Plus, if it’s built into your PMS system, the design and way of working will be the same, meaning maximum user-friendliness and the bonus of accounting and reports being integrated. An online store will take your hotel brand to the next level.
A secure hotel management program is vitally important. If you can show potential guests that using your website, online shop, booking engine and more are all safe and secure, they’ll be more likely to convert into customers. This means secure document scanning, payment gateways they can trust, PCI and GDPR compliance – everything. The more security the better. Trust is everything online, and it can be the final hurdle in a customer making their choice.
The best hotel management software providers will make sure your software is up-to-date. Technology moves fast, always finding better solutions to problems and normally streamlining operations in the process. If you can find a company that will add booking channels to your manager as they are created or sued, update your webpage design regularly, and make sure you’re running on the most up-to-date systems, you’ll always be able to progress as a business and stay one step ahead of the competition.
Finally, you’ll want quality guarantees for your software. There’s a lot on the market, and a lot to choose from, each with their own features, advantages and downsides. So, the best thing you can do is opt for proven quality.
This is where Avirato comes in. Avirato is Spain’s leading hotel technology company. But it’s not just in Spain: across 35 countries, and with over 8000 customers (generating 46 million bookings every year and over €25,000 every minute), Avirato is the choice of forward-thinking and successful hoteliers. Covering the smallest bed and breakfasts and vacation rentals, to large-scale chain hotels, Avirato has solutions for everyone.
Of course, all 10 of the essentials looked at in this article feature in Avirato’s PMS, but it does so much more. From web design and SEO positioning to Point of Sale software and Channel Managers, Avirato has you covered. Plus, there’s a free trial of the software so you can see for yourself how you could benefit.
So, now that you’re stocked up on hotel management tips and know exactly what your hotel software needs, there’s only one thing left to do… and for that, Avirato is here for you.
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