Guest post by FRANK TRAMPERT, Managing Director at Sabre Hospitality Solutions Asia Pacific

The hospitality industry is undergoing a rapid transformation – moving from cumbersome, manual back-office processes to innovative, nimble technology-driven solutions. At the same time, consumer preferences are changing – largely driven by the rapid shift online for work, life… and travel. Today hotel guests expect to be engaged through the same platform they do everything else – online and, increasingly, on their mobile. This is driving the need for ongoing investment by hoteliers in more user friendly, content rich applications.

20 years ago operational excellence was the primary focus of the hotel industry and its leadership. Of course this still remains important, but without highly integrated systems and well-designed digital platforms powering the shopping experience hoteliers will struggle more and more to compete in the increasingly complex world of distribution.

Thanks to the Internet and an explosion of powerful open source technologies, new entrant tech companies and cloud based solution providers are surfacing faster than mushrooms after a lightning strike.

So where to start in determining the Companies and Solutions that are right for your business?

Know the Need.

Firstly you must have a clear understanding of what you want to achieve. Engage with experts in the field to conduct a deep dive into your current infrastructure and systems. Assess the strengths, weaknesses and gaps, and then determine in which order you want to address the areas where you can be doing more.

Think Infrastructure Light.

Remove the burden (as much as you can) on technology that requires heavy lifting and support from your IT teams. Outsource where you can and choose a system that provides you with the most flexibility, and scalability, to expand as you grow your business.

Breadth of Service.

Your technology partner should be present or able to support you in all areas of your operations. A one-stop shop is preferable, but not always available. Make sure you ask the right questions upfront to really understand how your properties or corporate office will be supported, leaving no surprises down the line.

Flexible Customisation.

Depending on your specific needs, the technology integration may be fairly complex – requiring some customisation. Make sure you understand how this will impact your business over time and whether there will be flexibility to make changes if your business needs evolve.

When you Compare, Compare Accurately.

Don’t just look at your transactional costs; you should also look at your total cost of ownership over the lifetime of your contract(s). Do a thorough review of your one-off implementation costs alongside the recurring fees; and have a clear understanding of how these costs might change as and when you make adjustments to your business.

Your strategy must be clear, and your technology partner must be equipped to meet the needs outlined upfront, but also adapt quickly to your evolving requirements.

Be sure to engage with other members of the industry who may be using new technology systems already to ask for feedback.

It’s a great time to be in hospitality.

Frank