Ways Hotel Self-Check-In Technology Can Help You Through 2020

The tendency to steer clear of tedious tasks, as is the case with in-person check-in, is a feature of modern hospitality. Hoteliers now have a rare opportunity to develop a more adaptable check-in process due to developments in hospitality technology. Hotel self-check-in kiosks and self-service apps give customers and hospitality providers the ability to conduct business transactions while interacting with one other less frequently. Even if the concept itself can appear unwelcoming at first, it is unquestionably something that guests will want in 2023. Your business can benefit from self-service technology by concentrating on the following:

1. Limited front desk interaction: Self-check-in technology can be extremely helpful in the current hospitality environment, which requires limited interaction between guests and staff. The entire process of making a reservation at your hotel and checking in can now be handled by a collection of user-friendly self-service hospitality solutions, like a hotel self-service app and mobile hotel kiosks.

By letting guests to book directly through your hotel's direct booking engine, you can reduce RevPAR and avoid paying online travel agency costs. The self-service software then gives visitors their unique booking number, which they may use to check in at your hotel kiosk once they arrive.

Guests can select the suite of their choice at the kiosk itself, with the option of a last-minute accommodation upgrade. The kiosk shows the guest your establishment's rules in the language of their choice before letting them finish the purchase by inputting the details of their credit or debit card, which will also serve as their digital wallet while they are there. If a guest needs to add further charges to their accommodation, they can do so by asking the front desk employees or by using the hotel's self-service app.

Self-check-in hospitality technology significantly reduces the amount of time a guest must spend checking in upon arrival and enables your business to waive set check-in hours in favour of a 24 hour check-in policy. The hotel kiosk can be expected to be used for the same amount of time as an ATM, which will result in a sparser guest flow and shorter waits at the registration desk.

2.Hotel staff can focus on more relevant tasks: Even while guests can still choose to check in directly with your hotel staff, there is no need to overbook workers in the event of a large group because the hotel kiosk serves as a staff around-the-clock. Your workers will have more time to concentrate on important activities as a result.

Health and hygiene are some of the top concerns of guests. Self-service technology would allow your staff to maintain a strict timetable for sanitation while also giving tourists a safe and enjoyable stay and your staff a healthy working environment. Health and hygiene are some of the top concerns of guests.

Additionally, you are reducing the possibility of human error by eliminating the human element from check-in procedures. The self-check-in kiosk will notify the guest when they enter information wrong and provide them the chance to discover a problem early. In a sense, a kiosk can alleviate part of the conflict that might result from a booking or check-in error made by your staff, preventing it completely.

3. Self check-in encourages direct booking: Customers must make a direct reservation with you through your hotel's booking engine, either through your hotel's website or your self-service app, in order to use your self-service kiosk. Potential guests are persuaded to make direct reservations instead of using OTAs by the convenience of not having to wait in line or check in at a specific time of day.

The self-check-in kiosk's interface with your hotel's property management system makes all of this possible. With the aid of simple, fully integrated tools that automatically relist late cancellations and adjust room rates across all channels, your PMS enables your team to manage inventory and room rates. The most recent offers you may provide your guests are always synchronised in with your kiosk, giving you additional flexibility for effective upsells.

4. Self check-in technology as a revenue optimisation rule: When it comes to upselling your guests on extra facilities, services, and the numerous packages your facility offers, your hotel's self-service app and self-check-in kiosk take over. In many ways, self-service technology is a lot more subtly effective technique to upsell customers because it gives them the freedom to browse the options your business gives while also enabling them to buy with just a few easy clicks.

Buying online has been shown to be less stressful than shopping in-person. When visitors make bookings for dinner, spa services, and other activities using your hotel's self-service app, you'll see that they tend to favour the more upscale offerings.

This is the outcome of an innate cognitive bias that is not activated when purchasing online or through a device. When a guest is presented with an offer from your staff, their decision to accept that offer will depend less on whether they would enjoy it and more on whether they believe the advice is reliable. Some guests may even choose not to participate if they feel pressured.

Given the current state of world health, recommending prolonged encounters between hotel staff and visitors is just not a sensible idea. It takes time for your team to establish a connection with your guests. However, guests are considerably more likely to choose a room upgrade if they are presented with a variety of options when they check in via your kiosk rather than at the check-in desk. The kiosks display a list of your available room inventory along with a few pictures of each suite, letting customers pick the room they want while also raising your RevPAR.

5. Reduced need to overstaff or hire seasonal help: Until services are completely operating, several hoteliers have been compelled to either fire staff or place them on an indefinite leave of absence. The labour costs of maintaining your entire workforce on retainer may be too high given the continued global travel restrictions and the revenue losses from the lockdown.

Outsourcing some of your staff's duties to self-service technologies is one approach to mitigate this. It is important to note that the advent of self-service does not mark the end of all service members. Even with fewer employees working a shift, your staff can still fulfil guests' needs by giving them excellent service. Additionally, self-service equipment reduces the need for seasonal staff, which may be a huge relief if you are managing a business on a tight budget.

Self-check-in technology will always be available to you, letting you manage an unexpected check-in wave or by helping you upsell vacant suites during an extended dry spell, even if you can't foresee the flow and demand of the travel industry.