Hospitality
industry is synonymous to service industry whose ultimate aim is to provide
customer satisfaction and serve them the best in the right time. With digital
revolution and automation control, the hospitality sector strives to be more
informative, convenient and communicable in its relation with their customers.
ACCESS
CONTROL
Modern
hotels offer connection, comfort and convenience to their tech savvy customers.
Hotels no longer use the cumbersome metal detectors and baggage checking
machines at their entrance, rather today security technology is discreet and
smoothly merges with the interiors. Apart from a metal detector, there are a
host of other security devices that are 24*7monitoring the place.
Hafele
has made a significant achievement with the area of access control systems with
its product Dialock. This is a fine product with smart identification and
locking system that uses radio frequency identification technology. The beauty
of this product lies in the fact that it not only gives the guest access to his
room and floor but also ensures that he can access his spa or fitness-room
locker, elevators and public areas, where access is required and can be validated.
These
pre loaded Key cards with Dialock softwares allows for a detailed audit to be
downloaded from the terminal. Visionline, another smart and suave product provides
with unique electronic hotel locks, operating by online mode through a radio
frequency based on an open platform. This product enables the cancellation of
key cards remotely, caution the security about open doors and intruders about
guests who did not vacate the room, track card users, receive room change
requests from remote locations, manage automatic check outs, access maintenance
records and track remote audit trails.
SELF
CHECK IN KIOSKS
The
check-in processes at hotels have also been updated. The basic motive of the
check-in kiosk is to ensure the fact that the guests get a smooth check without
any hassle and avails the comfort of his room after his arrival;
The self check
in kiosks is a revelation in itself and it manages and gives assistance for
various processes, such as:
1. In understanding, the user interface design and information for room services,
business concierge, existing and upcoming hotels, city information, help lines, maps, what to see around the hotel, important festivals etc.)
2. Helps
in registering Guest fingerprint identification
3. Document scanner
4. Initiates the encoded room key generation
5. Hands over the printed receipts to the guests
6. Issuing notification guest card printing for guest service associates at the front desk.
SOUND SYSTEMS
In a hotel sound is everywhere and each of these
sound are different from each other. Thus, the new trend is to accentuate the
sound system of the hotels aided with automated controls and music servers. Hotels
are now using server based systems such as DMX and Moodmedia which run 4 or 5
streams simultaneously. These are fine systems and handle with finesse the art
of selecting music from a meticulously made song list and to run the daily management
including delivery, updating and licensing requirements.
MOBILE APPS
In India the scope of mobile apps is much less and is majorly restricted
to booking of rooms but internationally this is extended to reservation of
desks and F&B areas. Many hotels with good business acumen are thing of
taking it to a new height by offering the guest to download their favourite
newspaper and magazines, novels and music etc while enjoying in the lounge.
There is an acute need of a universal app which can transcend the Hotel brands
as well as the operating system and can be used as a route to avail these
multifarious activities.
IN-ROOM TECH
TV was an example of IN Room technology, but now the
in room management can come with integrate lighting, curtain and temperature
control and other functions in the bedside panel. Many hotel rooms have I pads
and tablets along with access to integrated online hotel management services to
preserve the preference of the guest for more customization.
A new widely accepted product which is a wireless ,battery
less controller which performs multiple tasks like controlling of key card
access, lighting and HVAC in hotel rooms etc. It will be connected to
thermostat and will be able to receive signal when someone would insert the
room key card. It will enable switching of the lights and will also adjust the
lights to the optimum level. It will also be able to detect if the card is not
in the slot, and will thereby set the HVAC in economy mode, it would give
flight details of certain airlines etc.
The pace at which the technology is growing, there
will be products launched which will be geared on hands free technique, which
will function mainly on voice recognition.
