Hospitality Solutions Blogs - Hospitality Mobile Apps & Solutions https://www.xcubelabs.com/blog/hospitality/ Mobile App Development & Consulting Thu, 21 Mar 2024 07:20:31 +0000 en-US hourly 1 How AI is Transforming the Transport Industry https://www.xcubelabs.com/blog/how-ai-is-transforming-the-transport-industry/ Fri, 25 Feb 2022 12:31:31 +0000 http://www.xcubelabs.com/?p=20798 Table of contents What is AI? AI in Road Transportation Artificial Intelligence in Aviation Artificial Intelligence in Railway Transport Artificial Intelligence in Navigation, Shipping and Ports Conclusion Transportation, the industry that deals with the motion of passengers and commodities from one location to another, has gone through several examinations, analyses, tests, and polishes to reach […]

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Uses of AI in transportation

Table of contents

Transportation, the industry that deals with the motion of passengers and commodities from one location to another, has gone through several examinations, analyses, tests, and polishes to reach where it is now. Today, the transportation sector has developed to navigate and move without human assistance. Technical improvements have enabled the transportation sector to progress in its journey of creation and development. One new-age technology that has made it prominent in the industry is AI. Leveraging AI in transportation enables the sector to increase passenger safety, lessen traffic congestion and accidents, decrease carbon emissions, and minimize financial expenses.

Before we proceed further, let us understand

What is AI?

Artificial Intelligence is a technology that strengthens machines with human intelligence. Machines with AI abilities can mimic humans, automate manual jobs, and learn like humans.

With automation, repetitive and time-consuming tasks go into the plate of AI. Realizing this unique potential of AI, enterprises in the transportation industry are making considerable investments to enhance revenue generation and stay ahead of their competitors. According to studies, the global market for AI in transportation will reach 3.5 billion dollars by 2023.

AI in Transport

Artificial intelligence(AI) is transforming the transport sector. It is applied in different transport fields, from helping cars, trains, ships, and airplanes function autonomously to smoother traffic flows. Beyond making our lives easier, AI helps to make all transport methods more intelligent, safer, and more efficient. For instance, AI-led autonomous transport will assist in reducing human errors in many traffic accidents. However, with these opportunities come real challenges like unintended consequences and misuses like cyber-attacks.

Now that we have understood AI let’s dive in to comprehend the use cases.

1) AI in Road Transportation

Road transport is one of the areas where AI is successfully implemented, opening up exceptional levels of collaboration between various road users. Technology firms, Automotive manufacturers, and research groups are researching AI technologies to develop and design automated vehicles for commercial and personal transportation. – Cars are based on sensors (such as GPS, cameras, and radar) combined with actuators, control units, and software. Technologies like these can only take over specific driving actions (like parking); others will soon replace the human driver entirely. In general, it is complex to try automated vehicles in urban areas, as there are many factors, including complicated road systems and infrastructure, where the car needs to predict unpredictable signs of movement. AI technologies are also being used in road traffic management, allowing the analysis of traffic patterns, volumes, and other aspects. These can provide drivers with data on the shortest route to relieve traffic congestion. AI technologies also help keep traffic flowing via traffic signals and lights that rotate in real-time to meet on-the-ground traffic flow demands.

A report by Stanford University states that self-driving cars will reduce traffic-related deaths and injuries.

The graph below shows that Autonomous Car Sales will Surge by 2035

Usecases of AI

AI will be mainstream in a few years because it will eliminate the prospect of an error on the road and make traveling a delightful experience. Elon Musk’s Tesla introduced driverless cars on the market, and many other companies are currently engaged with the same technology.

2)Artificial Intelligence in Aviation

The aviation industry is not unknown to AI; they have been using it for decades in various operations and across the value chain. Yet, we are moving into a new era where AI abilities reach heights and will significantly impact the industry. AI in air traffic operations is in its infancy. Advancements in automation and computing power, utilizing technologies related to machine learning and data analytics models, are being used to improve growing air traffic volumes.

What we understand as advanced business intelligence can substantially alter how airlines run their business in distribution, marketing, sales, distribution, pricing, and fleet management.

AI in Aviation

Another place where AI can make a difference with regard to speed or processes is ground handling. Some instances of high potential use cases include aircraft movement operations (pushback and towing), safety checks, aircraft turnaround operations that provide for loading, fuelling, catering, unloading, anti-icing, and de-icing, and ground transportation on the ramp like passengers, baggage, cargo, and mail.

3) Artificial Intelligence in Railway Transport

Railways were among the most innovative and prominent aspects of the Industrial Revolution. With the rapid growth of road and air transport, rail lost its leading role in innovation. The extensive data generated by digital technologies will be a helpful tool, allowing rail corporations to modify their organizational systems, enhance their performance, and design new added value. To reap the full advantages of digitalization, railways can rely on AI. AI will improve operations, manufacturing, and maintenance for rail operators and infrastructure managers.

Therefore, it can be sensed as a lever to enhance management, lower costs, and improve competitiveness. Intelligent train automation is one of the most indicative examples of uses of AI in rail technology and its contribution to the Automation of Train operation (ATO).

ATO transfers responsibility for overseeing operations from the driver to the train control system, with varying autonomy. Today, AI can use the potency of data powered by sensors positioned on trains or infrastructure components to pull information at the right time and recommend actions for safety and maintenance.

The French operator SNCF  says it will forecast 80 % of incidents on catenaries, supplying electrical power to the trains to display AI applications. According to their research report, predictive maintenance reduced incidents involving train switches by 30%, and this technology is applied in numerous train systems and subsystems today. One of its ongoing AI projects is developing the possibility for a train to share its ‘health diagnostic’ with a fleet manager, who can then remotely supervise maintenance using voice recognition software.

4) Artificial Intelligence in Navigation, Shipping and Ports

Over the past few years, sea and inland waterway transport has significantly developed.  traffic has grown more rampant, raising the stakes of marine protection and calling for advances in maritime surveillance. The further growth of container traffic has called for adaptations to port terminals and better connections with their hinterland. Ever-growing vessel sizes have amplified ships’ pressure on ports and cities.

Digital technologies such as the Internet of Things, big data, and automation are game-changers in this industry. Building on that data, AI is making it possible to analyze the information and gain insights that facilitate decision-making and help improve safety, power efficiency, and logistics. The different AI applications used or tested prove the sector’s focus on introducing such enabling technologies.

Detection of oddities in marine procedures can enhance safety at sea. Automatic identification systems (AIS) help transfer data like a ship’s identification number, position, course, speed, and destination. With recorded ship movements and advanced image recognition, vessels can be identified even if they turn their AIS transmitters off. Insights gained from analyzing such data can be utilized to carry out maintenance and technical functions, thus making a ship more energy-efficient and helping it meet emission control standards.

AI in shipping

The Autonomous Ships Market size will reach $165.61 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 6.8% from 2020 to 2030.

Conclusion

The AI Market in Transportation (AITS) is estimated to grow from USD 1.21 billion in 2017 to USD 10.30 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 17.87% during the forecast period. Artificial intelligence is changing the transport sector. It is applied in multiple transport domains, from helping cars, trains, ships, and airplanes to function autonomously to making traffic flow smoother. Further, making our lives easier can help make all transport modes more intelligent, secure, hygienic, and efficient. Artificial intelligence-led autonomous transport could help reduce human errors in many traffic accidents.

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COVID-19: Additional Measures Your Enterprise Needs to Complement Work from Home https://www.xcubelabs.com/blog/covid-19-additional-measures-your-enterprise-needs-to-complement-work-from-home/ Tue, 14 Apr 2020 13:01:15 +0000 http://www.xcubelabs.com/?p=17967 Table of contents COVID-19 implications on business Guide for a company to prepare for a remote work environment How various industries can leveraging digital transformation apart from work from home Retail Information Technology Manufacturing Travel and Tourism Education Hospitality Conclusion Our world has been shaken by a deadly virus that has forced us to change […]

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Table of contents

Our world has been shaken by a deadly virus that has forced us to change the routines of our lives. Businesses around the world have started working remotely to practice social distancing in a bid to keep the virus at bay as they can’t afford to put resources on hold.

So now the questions arise,

  1. What should we do to ensure the business is running as usual?
  2. If we work from home, would that will ensure the continuity and survival of business?

So is your business “work from home ready”?

It’s a question for all businesses out there, whether today or tomorrow, work from home ready is something which should be on the priority list for all decision-makers.

Organisations from various sectors are considering several tactical and strategic measures to protect their employees and to continue delivering value to the customers and clients. The measures that companies will be taking now, may change the perspective of workplace management in the long run. Remote work will become the new normal by leveraging digital infrastructure.

Here are 7 ways a company can quickly prepare a remote work environment:

  1. Digital connectivity: Robust connectivity to servers and applications is the first step. The organisation should ensure that good internet connectivity and desktops are accessible which enable employees to work efficiently from anywhere.
  2. Cloud Computing: It’s very important to invest in good cloud-based software to ensure safety and give your employees a seamless and secure virtual working experience from home. With the help of cloud computing, companies can continuously integrate thereby helping in smoothening the business process. Amazon web services, Microsoft Azure and Google cloud are some prominent leaders in cloud computing which enable the workforce.
  3. Communication tools: The organisation should encourage employees collaboration and ensure that to simplify employees access, they can integrate through interconnected communication channels or tools. This will enhance team engagement and significantly improve productivity. Tools like Google Suite, Slack Skype and other video conferencing tools allow all this to happen in real-time.
  4. IoT:  Internet of things or wi-fi connected technologies creates smart offices at home. Businesses can use IoT devices to allow interaction among employees or with clients as if they are in the same room. Remote devices also allow them to run a presentation while sitting at their home which is a pretty effective and efficient way to cut costs in terms of time and money.
  5. Project Management Tools: While working remotely, it is important to have correct corporate tools in place to ensure projects are executed correctly. Tools like Jira, Trello and Basecamp allow remote employees to collaborate, update files and assign tasks in the dashboard.

    Another notable tool along similar lines is Milanote which is finding increased adoption among creative professionals, project management teams and the development community. Providing a well-designed, intuitive interface, the tool makes organising tasks easy and collaboration a breeze.

  6. Security Protection: Security concerns add complexity to the technological side of remote working and can have serious consequences, employees can become prime targets for hackers. To ensure protection, best practices are to have up-to-date antivirus, device encryption, and firewalls. The IT department should either supply or advise your employees which equipment and software to use. This also includes a virtual private network (VPN).

It has become vital to digitally transform our workplaces to operate effectively. According to Forbes, 51% of senior executives believe it is critical to implement digital transformation in the next 12 months. Those companies who are leveraging technology and rethinking their business model will be able to adapt and stay ahead of the competition. Besides the ability to work from home, ensuring digital infrastructure in place will allow organisations to do business as usual.

Let us take you through how various industries can leverage digital infrastructure apart from working remotely..

Retail

  • Due to the coronavirus outbreak, customers are abandoning stores resulting in the absence of customer touchpoint. Consumers are now actively seeking technology-enabled companies to assist them in everyday tasks like shopping.
  • Companies have started leveraging digital technologies like augmented and virtual realities to meet consumer demands and to bring the in-store experience into their homes.
  • This has created a paradigm shift in strategies adopted by companies to protect them from any sort of crisis and ensure maintain business continuity.

Information Technology

  • The IT industry is one such industry, which has a little edge over other industries due to the normalcy of flexible hours and work from home practice. But this doesn’t ignore the fact that companies still have to bear the burden with varying degrees of impact.
  • When working from home, the employees are using teleconferencing tools to show clients the same static PowerPoint presentation or a product demonstration video to prospects which is less effective than conference room sales. pitch. Now think of sitting at home, wearing virtual reality gears and getting the feel of a conference room or watching a product demonstration is more interactive.
  • With the help of digital technologies, employees will be able to do work differently and engage clients in a better way.

Manufacturing

  • Manufacturing is one such sector, which is leading to a host of challenges to manufacturers as most of the jobs cannot be carried out remotely. Some major manufacturing industries are closing the facilities partially or fully depending on the nature of goods they are manufacturing.
  • Those facilities who are continuing the production must follow WHO guidelines to ensure workers safety and protection.
  • This is the demanding time to explore deployment of digital and automation technologies like robotics and industrial internet of things to ensure the production of goods.

Travel and Tourism

  • Amidst lockdown, tourism is one of the hardest-hit sectors. The tourism industry accounts for 10% of the world’s GDP. People working in the tourism sector will not survive if there are no tourists at all to visit.
  • But with the help of digital tools and technologies like virtual reality and IoT, tourism companies can leverage the immersive travel experience for different places while working remotely. This could be the next disruption in the tourism industry.

Education

  • As the coronavirus is spreading across the globe, schools and universities have decided to switch to virtual or online classrooms. This transition to digital education is disruptive and gives a boost to ed-tech companies. Students from all walks of life have now resorted to online learning.
  • Streaming classrooms are helping institutions smoothen their sudden transition to online teaching format. Google is giving free access to hangouts to meet video conferencing to all G suite education customers till July 1. Even online learning platforms like Coursera are giving free access to universities in times of crisis.
  • UNESCO offers a comprehensive list of technologies which are shaping the digital learning experience.

Hospitality

  • The pandemic in addition to the travel ban and lockdown, has forced the hospitality industry to shut down. Hospitality is among the hardest hit due to fears of community spread. The news has been highlighting the deferment and cancellation of events, conferences, and sports leagues.
  • Companies are resorting to virtual events using platforms like video conferencing and other virtual tools. There is a sudden push for innovation for event organizers and business owners to interact virtually.
  • Leveraging digital technologies will assist companies to enhance customer service thereby impacting customer expectations.

Conclusion

As this global health crisis continues to evolve work from home alone would not suffice. Digital transformation is a necessity to survive in the world of viruses and disasters. It’s the time for leveraging digital technologies and making the transition seamlessly to “all-digital world”.

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5 Ways Chatbots Are Changing The Face Of Travel Industry https://www.xcubelabs.com/blog/chatbots-travel-industry/ Thu, 15 Jun 2017 13:22:32 +0000 http://www.xcubelabs.com/?p=12131 In the race of who will impart the best experience to its customers, companies started experimenting with chatbots. It has taken over everybody’s imagination and is now being used almost everywhere. It all started when Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook said, “people will be able to talk to Messenger bots just like they talk to […]

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Chatbots in Travel Industry

In the race of who will impart the best experience to its customers, companies started experimenting with chatbots. It has taken over everybody’s imagination and is now being used almost everywhere. It all started when Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook said, “people will be able to talk to Messenger bots just like they talk to friends.” A year later Facebook launched its Bots for Messenger app which has the ability to deliver automated customer support. The software has a significant inference for enterprises in making e-commerce suggestions, content and interactive experiences much easier than ever and most effective. Chatbot is now the key practice for all businesses to interact with its customers. A personal service assistant to customers that books tickets, appointments, orders food for them and thus help enterprises to be more effective.

What Is Chatbot?

Chatbot also known as chatterbot is a computer program designed to imitate conversations with a human via natural language text or voice methods. It scans keywords and responds with the matching keywords from a database. Its features can be used in providing more personalized customer service, product recommendations, and so much more, therefore, chatbots are the future of Customer Experience.

“Chatbots have become the biggest thing in tech. They unlock the ability to provide personalized, interactive communication akin to talking to a human customer service or sales rep, but at scale for much cheaper than call centers. A conservative estimate is that chatbots could replace 1-800 numbers, offering more comfortable customer support experiences without the hassle of synchronous phone conversations, hold times and annoying phone trees.” –TechCrunch

Chatbots Growing Travel Industries

Chatbot is a buzzword today. Research says, over 2.5 billion users have at least one messaging app in their smartphone and it is predicted to go up to 3.6 billion users by 2018. Travel industry was amongst the early adopters who found the grip on new technology like bots, virtual attendants to book flight tickets and hotel rooms, wearables, etc,. Adoption of all these technologies has revolutionized the whole travel and hospitality industry by generating efficiencies and elevating customer service. BI Intelligence report says, messenger app usage has become more extensive when compared to  social networks, which brings a huge opportunity for travel industries to target their customers in these platforms.

Online travel organizations such as Expedia, Booking.com, Kayak, Cheapflights, Skyscanner, are already experimenting with the new Facebook Messenger Bots to assist their passengers to find flights at the reasonable prices. Using the bot messenger app users just have to select the date, time and their destination. The app will then  show five different available options to choose from and without leaving the Messenger app users can also select hotels and confirm the booking. Kayak, is a fare aggregator and offers multiple travel sites to the travelers to compare and filter the results. They too have got Alexa, a voice interaction app which allows users to search and compare flights as per their preference and once the user is done with the selection they are taken to the Kayak site to complete the booking process. Kayak CEO, Steve Hafner says, “there’s a whole generation who are more familiar with text messaging and voice via Siri looking for a different interaction with an online travel agency. We have voice interaction with Alexa, where you can actually talk to Kayak and say, ‘Hey Kayak, what’s the status of my flight to Denver later today? Where can I go this weekend for $300?’”

Chatbots in Travel Industry
Source – Social Media Today

Chatbots brings competence and efficiencies to the organization by providing a personalized customer experience and 24/7 service to interact with the travelers in different languages. For example, most of the time travelers have some basic and simple queries for which they need to contact the call center which on the other hand could be handled over a chat interface. With all these automations the dependencies on agents will be less which also means company has to spend less. Travelers also get a quick resolution by simply sending a chat message and the chat robotic will answer and help the customer at any point of time, plus they will have the record of their full conversation in the app. On a recent survey taken by Travelzoo, a global Internet media company reports more than 6,000 travelers in Asia, Europe, North America and South America, said yes to have robots assistant and 80% expected robots to play a bigger part by 2020 in the travel industry. It ensures consistency, accuracy and prompt information to customers which are the key element for a travel industry to run a successful business.

Impact Of Chatbots In The Travel Industry

The evolving technology has furnished unmatched experience for enterprises as well as for customers. It is a well-known fact that the enterprises which provide excellent service are the ones who will lead the brand name and chatbots, having the huge impact in the travel industry are helping the travel and hospitality organization to reduce customer churn, increase sales and revenues.

Chatbots in Travel Industry
Source – Gartner
Though AI is quite in its infancy in the hotel sector, however, it has a massive potential to reshape the entire travel and hospitality industry. As the usage of messaging options is growing, already there are various hoteliers and travel agencies that are building their own apps or initiating messaging apps like Facebook Messenger.

Here Are The Five Ways Chatbots Are Revolutionizing The Travel Industry

1. Acts As A New Digital Touchpoint

For a business to run an agile process it becomes essential to first understand what their customers want and then identify a platform where they can serve a great customer experience. There are multiple channels available, therefore, opportunities to reach broad audiences are plenty. The Chatbot is a new digital medium for the travel industry. It has opened an advanced dimension for customers to book their holidays. It’s easy and 24/7 customer service, which makes it convenient for travelers to resolve their queries or concern at any point in time. Chatbots also offers cost savings by serving millions of customers around the world and take customer experience to the next level.

2. Accentuates Customer Engagement

Chatbots offers a great personalized customer service and boost travelers’ experiences in every stage such as pre-arrival to the post trip experience. For example, chatbots assist potential customers by giving them multiple options to book their holidays. Once the booking is done, it starts sending out automated reminders to travelers about the booking date, time and their reservations in advance. When they arrive at the destination guest will receive a suggestion from the bots about the location, like hotels, spa treatments, transport facilities, and so on. It can even interact with the guest post-trip, by asking them for a feedback of their overall journey.

3. Augments The Staff

Chatbots have the potential to interact with humans at twice the speed. It allows hotel staff to foresee where their service is needed and move accordingly. It helps staff to optimize the guest experience and shun bottlenecks. Well, the front-office needs a human interaction because AI chatbots are skilled in responding only to uncomplicated question. Leaving everything to the bots will help online travel organization to have add-on features, without the aerial or training and payroll. This will lead to maximizing profit and at the same time saves customer time with the quick access and instant booking facility.

4. Creates Cross-Sell And Upsell Opportunities

Google reports, 65% of holiday travelers and 69% of business travelers go online to plan their travel. Research says 92% of millennials are pleased with live chat and 23% are predicted to travel and spend $1.4 trillion by 2020. Chatbots offers solutions to the travel industries to build a powerful relationship with customers and are more likely to bring opportunities which will increase revenue through the Cross and Upsell. These opportunities will allow travel industries to engage with their customers with little risk and drive definite ROI in a small duration of time.

5. Quick Access To Data For Personalized Service

Gathering valuable customer data is one way how chatbots are revolutionizing the entire travel industry. All the chatbots are integrated with PMS, that facilitates bots to interact with the travelers throughout their journey. As all interactions with the customers are recorded it lets travel agencies to create seamless experiences for frequent travelers and offer more personalized services. Chatbots create fantastic opportunities for the travel industry by enhancing customer experience with enlightened service.

In the travel industry, AI chatbots deliver a very simple and effective customer experience. Having a huge potential in future, chatbots offer a superior customer experience that drives superior revenue growth for the organization.

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Mobile For Hotels: Driving Revenues Via Self-Servicing Mobile Applications https://www.xcubelabs.com/blog/mobile-for-hotels-driving-revenues-via-self-servicing-mobile-applications/ https://www.xcubelabs.com/blog/mobile-for-hotels-driving-revenues-via-self-servicing-mobile-applications/#respond Thu, 13 Feb 2014 06:52:49 +0000 http://www.xcubelabs.com/blog/?p=3422 In an industry where “Service is King”, a positive guest experience is a critical factor to succeed. Happy customers become loyal customers and are the best brand ambassadors. More so in the current social media age, where a customer can immediately share his reaction on your services with his friends and the rest of the […]

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In an industry where “Service is King”, a positive guest experience is a critical factor to succeed. Happy customers become loyal customers and are the best brand ambassadors. More so in the current social media age, where a customer can immediately share his reaction on your services with his friends and the rest of the world.
Image courtesy of KROMKRATHOG / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
However, the new-age, mobile armed customers are hard to please. Their expectations are soaring with no room for compromise. Long waits in check-ins, in-accuracy or delay in room servicing or non-availability of mobile booking facility can be a big turn-off. Hotels, on the other hand, already reeling under the financial pressure due to economic downturn are finding it tough to match up to the expectations. This is where mobile self-service apps can play an impactful role in delighting guests by  giving them more control in meeting their stay requirements and also help hotels boost revenues and profitability.

Self-service apps benefits

Self-service mobility tools like mobile check-ins, mobile keys and service request apps can help hoteliers improve their guest experience, get more guests, optimize resources, improve staff productivity and ultimately cut expenses and improve margins.

Taylor Short of Software Advice says “Mobile apps are essential self-service tools for hotel brands who want to add revenue through strategic up-selling, convenient room service ordering, pushing targeted offers to specific guests or direct messaging with customers—all on the smartphone the traveler carries everywhere.”

App-oppurtunities in hotel guest cycle

Whether it is pre-sale, point-of-sale or post-sales, there are ample opportunities for hoteliers to use mobile self-service solutions and improve comfort and convenience of their guests. Agrees Taylor, “Mobile apps can replace the typical in-room menu and list of services that clutter the desks or nightstands. Travelers are constantly on their smartphones or tablets anyway, so give them access with the app to anything they would want during their stay, like spa reservations, concierge recommendations and information about local hot spots.”

  • Check-ins: Mobile check-in apps can enable guests to check-in via the app available in their smartphone from airport or any other place before his visit to the hotel. This will keep the hotel informed about the arrival time of the guest helping it keep the room ready.
  • Mobile Keys: Once the guest check-ins using his mobile app, an NFC (Near Field Communications) technology based keys can be sent over-the-air on his mobile device. The guest can then bypass the check-in line and head straight to his room, unlock the door using his smartphone.
  • Guest Servicing: While he enjoys his stay in the hotel, he can use his mobile device to access various services like ordering food and drinks and room servicing etc. Location-based functionality in mobile apps can be used to guide guests to various facilities in the property like gym, spa, saloon and casinos etc.
  • Check-out: Just like the check-in experience, the check-out process can be made easy and quick, eliminating the front desk stop. The guest can use the app to initiate check-out process, get the bill amount on his device, pay the bill using card swiping machine or other payment methods available, connect with the service staff if required and book a cab or a ticket for his/her onward journey.

As we have discovered, self-service mobile solutions can play a huge role in driving more revenues by streamlining operations, improving guest experience and getting more customers. There are several other benefits as Taylor points out, “Hotels should encourage guests to interact with them directly through the app with comments, concerns or questions. Not only is it a convenient way to engage customers on a personal level and increase satisfaction, but it can be an incredibly valuable source of feedback and criticism that hoteliers can use to improve operations.”
Our latest eBook ‘5 MUST HAVE MOBILE SOLUTIONS FOR THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY‘ dwells further on the role of mobile customer engagement solutions in detail. Download it to discover how mobile can help you delight guests, boost productivity and improve profitability.

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Mobility For Hotels: 5 Excellent Benefits Of Serving Guests With Mobile https://www.xcubelabs.com/blog/mobility-for-hotels-5-excellent-benefits-of-serving-guests-with-mobile/ https://www.xcubelabs.com/blog/mobility-for-hotels-5-excellent-benefits-of-serving-guests-with-mobile/#respond Mon, 27 Jan 2014 06:41:09 +0000 http://www.xcubelabs.com/blog/?p=3319 Picture this: Mr. Anderson, a businessman, is on a work trip to NewYork. Outside LaGuardia airport, he pulls out his smartphone, opens the hotel’s (where he has a reserved room) app to check-in to his hotel. Within seconds, he receives a notification that his room is ready. With the hotel nearby, he decides to stroll […]

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hospitality-hotel-mobile1

Picture this: Mr. Anderson, a businessman, is on a work trip to NewYork. Outside LaGuardia airport, he pulls out his smartphone, opens the hotel’s (where he has a reserved room) app to check-in to his hotel. Within seconds, he receives a notification that his room is ready. With the hotel nearby, he decides to stroll down and again taps into his phone to get directions. As he steps into the hotel property, Anderson receives a welcome notification with the room number and mobile key details in it. By passing the reception, he heads straight to his room, unlocks the door with his smartphone. He then instructs the room attendant through video chat facility in his app to order dinner and book him a car for the next morning.

Easy, isn’t it?

Mobile devices and apps are redefining the guest experience in the hospitality sector. For an industry where service is king, smartphones are playing a critical role, be it in attracting and engaging the customers or to improve the service delivery mechanism. Hotels, both branded and individually owned properties are now arming their staff with smartphones and Tablets to go nimble and innovative in their services, cut costs and create a winning impression on their guests. And the hotel apps are not just limited to booking reservations or loyalty programs but are moving beyond that. Hotels are endeavoring to be innovative in using mobile and get more out of their mobile investments.

So, what’s making hotels, big and small, to embrace mobility? Here are the 5 benefits that’s alluring, compelling and pushing hoteliers to go mobile-

1. Delight Guests

The guest today is expecting world-class standards. He wants cleaner floors, pristine rooms and agile services. If you deliver, he will comeback and recommend other too. If you don’t you loose them. Mobile apps help you standout of the competition by improving service levels.

2. Get More Customers

Mobile apps have become a must-have tool for travelers with a large population using it to search and book rooms. If you are not on mobile then you will miss out targeting this significant group.

3. Boost Staff Productivity

Mobile is a perfect companion to your on-the-move staff. It helps them receive requests on their device, address them faster and significantly improve their efficiency.

4. Better Manage

Mobile dashboards ensure that your manager always gets the top-level as well as detailed view of the entire operations helping him intervene and resolve issue when required. And keep a firm grip on the entire operations. Moreover, analytics help you understand specific needs of your guests based on his history and deliver personalized services.

5. Engage to Retain

A mobile app not only helps you pull customer but also help you engage with them personally. Mobile loyalty programs and gamification techniques can help you keep your brand name at the top of the mind of your customers. Mobile loyalty programs are not only cost-effective in comparison to paper or plastic cards but are also helpful in boosting customer participation as it resides on their device and can be used anytime.

Adoption of mobility in the travel and hospitality industry is significantly contributing to enhanced guest experience and it will continue to do so in the times to come. Apps surely makes for ‘appy’ customers.

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