Not long ago, every receptionist or accommodation manager had a special notebook or calendar containing new reservations, contact details for regular guests, notes on individual stays, and a whole host of other similarly essential information. Today, it's better to have all this in digital form, especially given the fact that more and more tourists prefer to book their stays online. And advanced computer systems in the hotel industry can put this to very good use, one that directly translates to occupancy rates, revenue, and a positive change in the organization of work at the resort.
In the past, front desk staff were responsible for guest service, primarily finding available dates for interested tourists and making reservations. This primarily involved answering phones and responding to inquiries sent via email and contact form. However, thanks to computer systems in the hotel industry, a second, virtual customer service point can be established to handle all online orders. And by the way, hotel program will provide a range of tools that will streamline and accelerate the daily work of receptionists. But let's take a look at them one by one:
Channel manager to synchronize availability data
The last few years have seen a dramatic increase in the popularity of various booking services. Booking.com, which strongly focuses on tourist convenience, has probably gained the largest number of loyal users. Well, since the customer is king, hotels must adapt to this new situation. A computer system in the hotel industry becomes essential here – a new, extremely effective sales channel is, of course, excellent (even with relatively high commissions), but with more than one booking source, it's crucial to ensure that bookings don't overlap. Neither a human nor an entire team can handle this. A machine is needed to "remove" the currently occupied room from the reception schedule, the extranet, and all other channels. Therefore, the software must have a channel manager as the best preventative measure against overbooking.
Booking engine for your own online reception
Of course, maximizing occupancy through booking and other online sites brings tangible benefits... but it would be even better to acquire customers without intermediaries who charge commissions of 10 or even a dozen percent. In this case, in hotel computer systems, you can rely on the module responsible for online reservations. This type of booking engine It serves as a full-fledged reception desk, operating 24 hours a day on the website. While optional price negotiations are eliminated, it's practically insignificant. The tourist provides a range of dates, number of participants, and ages, and the program displays available rooms and standards. The client then selects their preferred room. food, packages, and other additional attractions, and the hotel's computer system calculates the total cost of the stay. Users can always see the final price for each standard. All that's left is to choose and pay a deposit or the full amount. instant online paymentsThe hotel program should then automatically send the expected e-mail and/or SMS confirmations about the acceptance of the reservation and the recording of the payment made.
To make work more pleasant and effective
Modern computer systems in the hotel industry – such as NFHotel from the Polish company NetFactory, which has been operating at the intersection of IT and tourism for over a decade – are packed with useful sets of functionalities that positively impact many daily activities for hotel staff. cleaning reports and meals - no more daily counting of rooms to clean, what shopping needs to be done, etc. Just look at the files generated by the hotel program to be able to plan wisely well in advance. A cleaning module to mark rooms that are ready for guests - without having to check in at the reception desk every time the task is completed. Or reports and statistical analyses, providing the most reliable information about how the center is functioning and what could be changed. Not to mention precise tools for financial control.
When it comes to computer systems in the hotel industry, NFHotel is the best solution. This comprehensive software offers numerous functionalities, constantly being developed and enriched with new, practical features.
