Digital hotel: your hotel needs these 4 digital must-haves
On your way to becoming a digital hotel, you have a wide range of options for integrating technical innovation into your everyday hotel life. Read our article to find out the 4 must-haves for the perfect start.
Digitalization, hygiene and sustainability – these three topics were the focus of the hotel industry in 2022 and will continue to be so. Digital infrastructures and innovations such as service robots relieve your staff, ensure greater efficiency and provide the solution for a more flexible guest journey. More and more hotels want to go digital and don’t know where to start due to the multitude of options. Is your hotel also facing digital change? These 4 must-haves will help you get started as a digital hotel.
Hotel must-have 1: Digital infrastructure
What is the first step towards a digital hotel? A well-functioning digital infrastructure is the prerequisite for the entire digitalization process of your hotel. The days of WLAN problems and fault-prone telephone systems are now over. This is an important step, as Wi-Fi problems are no longer tolerated by guests these days, and if the telephone system fails, you may lose out on revenue due to missed reservation calls. Therefore, rely on High Efficiency WLAN (WiFi-6) and increase the performance for users. Say goodbye to outdated ISDN connections and upgrade to IP telephony. With the help of VoIP (Voice over IP), your hotel’s internal and external telephony is made possible digitally via the Internet and your guests can make calls conveniently from their mobile devices.
Hotel must-have 2: Digital guest directory
Good communication is the key factor in dealing with guests. If it runs smoothly, your guests will thank you for it. To make your hotel’s communication processes more digital, digital guest folders are in keeping with the spirit of the times.
At KraftCom, we have made it our mission to develop efficient solutions for digitalization processes in the hotel industry. In line with the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) trend, your guests can use our ASE-WEB to receive relevant information and service functions via their own smartphone, tablet or laptop. With a swipe of the finger to the current menu or the hottest events in the area.
The advantages of the digital guest directory for guests and hoteliers:
- Flyers are passé! Act sustainably and reduce your paper consumption.
- You can provide as much information as you like (e.g. events, menus, hygiene concepts).
- Improved hygiene standards thanks to the use of personal laptops, smartphones and tablets.
- ASE-WEB works as a browser app, a download is not necessary.
- Easy handling for guests.
Hotel must-have 3: Mobile check-in
Online banking, emails, bookings – your guests handle many processes with their smartphones these days. Mobile check-ins and check-outs pick up on this trend and will be absolute must-haves for digital hotels in the future. The digital room key on the smartphone reduces the waiting time at check-in for your guests and relieves your lobby staff at the same time. By using the so-called Zigbee function in WLAN interfaces, you save on additional hardware for connecting the door locks and can therefore minimize your costs. It couldn’t be simpler or more digital.
Hotel must-have 4: Voice control
Lights on, but from the comfort of your hotel bed? No problem, thanks to voice control you can make it even easier for your hotel guests. The combination of digital room control and voice control enables your hotel guests to control the lighting and media using voice commands or a mobile device and to contact reception quickly and easily by telephone. This creates a positive guest experience and contributes to the digital guest journey.
The bonus for staff and guests: service robots
With the use of service robots, you are absolutely on trend for 2023. Send a clear signal as a digital hotel and inspire your hotel guests with state-of-the-art technology. Not only does the entertainment factor increase, you also relieve your staff. Another advantage: in times of pandemics, the contactless service reduces the risk of infection.
The robots are used as concierges, mini-bar attendants and waiters, among other things. Thanks to artificial intelligence, the robots can be used to greet guests, give guided tours of the hotel, present gifts to guests, provide mobile catering for guests or deliver food and drinks.
As a full-service provider for digital solutions in the hotel industry, we at KraftCom have developed our own service robots. Our ASE robots Anna and Alfred offer digital support to make your processes easier.
Our friendly service robot Alfred completes service tasks with ease. From welcoming and guiding guests to delivering snacks and presenting gifts, Alfred is an absolute service all-rounder.
Our charming service assistant Anna takes on almost all waiter duties, such as delivering orders or handing over dishes at the service station. It communicates with employees and guests via an integrated monitor and ensures a digital guest experience at the highest level.
Conclusion: Become a digital hotel
Digital innovations in the hotel industry are forward-looking and have great potential. From the hoteliers’ point of view, they ensure greater efficiency in personnel management, energy management and guest management. From the guests’ perspective, digital hotels offer greater convenience, simplified processes, more information and maximum entertainment. Digital processes enable you to implement hygiene protection measures much faster and minimize the risk of infection. Go digital in the future and take full advantage of the benefits for your guests and staff.
As your expert for hotel digitization, Kraftcom offers you a comprehensive digital portfolio and supports you on your way to becoming a digital hotel.
Would you like more information about the equipment of digital hotel rooms? Then discover here what your Smart Hotel could look like.