Checklist for your hotel management system
A hotel management system is a big investment for hotels of all sizes, consequently, if there are problems and the system needs to be updated then the impact can be catastrophic. Having spent many years with hoteliers, we at HRS Hospitality & Retail Systems are well qualified to share with you what we believe are the most important factors you must consider when choosing a PMS (Property Management System).
Reports and complex uploads
A good hotel PMS must be able to provide as many different types of report or complex upload as is possible, using any criteria. This enables each department to not only monitor its own performance but to see what is happening in other areas of the hotel as well. Armed with such information a hotel can react to any challenge, such as adjusting prices or changing the loyalty levels.
With OPERA everything is transparent and limited only by user rights levels. This makes it possible to gain access to the smallest details from the system, allowing the user to analyze the overall revenue and efficiency of the services that are being provided to the guests.
Forecasting
A well-designed and up-to-date PMS can make revenue forecasts and calculate benefits by capturing all the booking data. With a system like this, you can plan everything, even down to how many towels or linen you will need to change.
In F&B, you should be able to see how many breakfasts, lunches, and dinners you will need (if it is a package), and with banquets, it should allow you to plan the number of rooms required and the menu to be served.
Future revenues should be predictable, allowing the operator to understand exactly how much the hotel is both spending and earning. At the same time, the ability to compare past and future activities can assist in the decision-making process.
The more reporting options your system has, the more useful it is for the hotel. It is worth investing in a system that can output non-standard reports and upload data in the form of text files. This is a very handy feature for management, allowing them to construct and process reports.
OPERA comes with over 700 pre-set reports, so straight out of the box it can answer nearly every question that could arise in the running of a hotel. Whether you are a manager or a maid, there is a report that you need, and Opera will have it.
Flexible connection to other systems
A good PMS aims to make the guest feel special and can assist in giving the guest a personal welcome. This requires the flexibility to integrate with other systems, such as the TV or tablet in the room, ordering room service, or get in touch with the hotel management.
OPERA is structurally closed, but fully open for external partner systems, so it can enable any service required by the hotel. These features, accessible via a simple interface with partner systems, can help to make the guest feel happy and fulfilled.
Check-in from home
Allowing guests to check-in and make payments from home is another feature that scores high on customer satisfaction. A system with this capability helps you avoid queues at check-in and will increase guest loyalty many times over.
Passport Manager in OPERA has already been integrated with a partner system. This sends the required data directly from the booking website and places it in the hotel PMS which dramatically speeds up the check-in process.
Can be installed on different devices
It is an advantage to be able to install the hotel PMS on various devices, such as a tablet or smartphone, making it convenient for all hotel employees. Managers no longer need to be tied to the reception and maids can change a room’s status instantly.
Our new OPERA Hotel Mobile module allows you to work with your guests in a more interactive way. The software is installed on either a tablet or a smartphone and allows you to track everything, from room cleaning to guest check-in, online. You to work with OPERA instead of behind the counter, freeing you to escort an important guest directly to their room or be in the hotel restaurant welcoming clients.
The hotel engineering department will also appreciate the convenience and will be aware of repair requests, complete with photos.
Hotel management systems are live organisms, so it is important that you pay very special attention when it comes to choosing one. If you do this carefully and treat it with love, it will be sure to pay you back many times over and bring your hotel success.
Author:
Andrey Volodkin
Product Manager OPERA
This article has been originally published in Russian on hotel.report.
