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Reservations from your desktop

Hotel booking software has evolved in recent years, to the point of finding solutions based entirely on the cloud today. Interaction, versatility and security are the elements to consider when choosing one of these systems.

By Vanesa Restrepo B.
 

Until years ago, guest books were the most precious element of a hotel establishment. In it were deposited the signatures of the guests and their personal data; but in the face of any catastrophe, the fragility of the paper was the first victim.

Fortunately for us, technology came to save our lives and facilitate the operation in the hotel, thanks to the software that allows us to manage reservations, special room services and even manage the customer database from a single platform.

- Publicidad -

The importance of booking software is indisputable; but like any other technology, they are also constantly changing. The first reservation management programs occupied a local server and required one application for each unit (computer) that accessed the reservation system.

At the time, this was the biggest breakthrough in the industry. However, by taking a look at the booking solutions offered in the market today, we understand that the evolution has continued and that the limits, at least for now, are not visible.

Breakthroughs
The advent of the Internet has changed business schemes in the tourism sector. The possibility for the traveler to compare the rates of several companies, take services from different suppliers and adjust the packages at will, requires that hotels, travel agencies and tour operators be more organized with information to avoid inconveniences, over-sale of rooms and tickets, among others.

Additionally, social networks have made the failures and successes of tourism service providers more visible. There are already many portals that allow you to recommend or criticize a hotel, suggest destinations, share photographs and even make virtual tours. Indexes such as TripAdvisor's have become a benchmark for travelers and a focus of interest for hotels, as their brand is exposed to comments that are out of their control.

That is why current booking solutions have developed applications that allow you to integrate your own social networks with those of customers. Nikki Hudson, Sales Director at software vendor Vizergy, explains that as interaction spaces grow on the network, fallback systems seek to integrate so as not to become a "hole" in the corporate system.

Thus, we see that elements such as 'share' buttons to recommend content to contacts on the Internet are becoming more common, because they allow users to value the information and make it visible also to their contacts through buttons such as Facebook Like, Google +1, among others. "Even some hotels are choosing to put links to their booking systems from their social media profiles," Hudson confirms.

Another novelty that has most caught the attention of hotel managers are cloud-based booking software: these are applications whose structure and backup is completely installed on the Internet.

- Publicidad -

According to Eligio Bernal, CEO of the Mexican firm Consisho, the massification of backup software with cloud computing technology is just beginning in Latin America. The main reason why they have not been massified is the distrust of users in front of applications that are on the Internet. "People ask a lot if the system is sensitive to computer attacks or hacking, but it should be noted that the program has encrypted codes and other options that make it very secure."

Additionally, he explains, these systems generate significant savings for hotels, since it is no longer necessary to make installations on different computers or have their own server, but all the information is on the network to be accessed by administrators and authorized officials, whenever necessary.
 


Custom designs
The services offered by the hospitality sector vary greatly, both in features and price. Not in vain one of the maxims of the business is to adjust to the needs of customers to meet their expectations. In fact, on account of the variables of occupancy, rates, corporate agreements and others, it is that the revenue management systems were designed.

However, since the end of 2010 some companies introduced to the market a series of software for the management of reservations with a significantly lower price, but with a pre-designed scheme. The director of Consisho explains the phenomenon best: "This is a standard solution for all hotels, with five or six variations. The idea of its creators was to have a cheap and massive solution, but the hotelier is a very dynamic market, and the idea of a good software is that it can change to fit the needs, based on rates, seasons, availability, among others. "

Vizergy's Nikki Hudson agrees with her peer in typifying flexibility as a key element when thinking about a solution for a hotel's booking system. He adds that usability, from the perspective of buyers is ultimate for the success of the system: "It's all about the convertability of your website. If the system is difficult to use and does not allow you to make a reservation that includes groups, packages and transient guests, then it is likely that the customer will make reservations elsewhere or desist from their purchase."

Thus, in addition to being easy to install, safe to use and easy to operate for hotel employees, it is preponderant that reservation software allows customers to adjust their packages and products through the web, which today is a sales channel almost as efficient as the others.

- Publicidad -

Mobile reservations
The mobility that users have today is made easier thanks to the proliferation of solutions that keep them connected to their world, no matter where they are. Smartphones are one of those elements that are changing consumption habits and, therefore, the services offered by companies.

A recent report published by Google and the firm eMarketer, explains that between 30% and 40% of smarthpones are used by travelers to search for information. Even about 25% of them are used to manage online reservations. For this reason, says the Vizergy representative, having a website and booking engine friendly to mobile systems is becoming a necessity. "Websites can be built to detect if the user is accessing from a mobile device and thus display information (including booking software) in a format that works properly on smartphones."

Details that make you fall in love
That the web portals of the hotels and their profiles on social networks facilitate contact and booking can make a big difference for the image and turnover of the company.

Vizergy and Consisho officials recommend installing customer-friendly solutions, as well as drawing on all the information he can provide.

Thus, for example, they recommend sending a confirmation email to the customer who books on the web: "This is an opportunity to contact him, confirm the reservation, thank him for having chosen us and connect our social networks with his," suggests Nikki Hudson.

 

Author: Vanesa Restrepo

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