10 Free Expert Tips For Selecting The Right Hotel PMS
Technology has changed how we live; people rely on the internet to carry out their daily activities. The internet is changing the lives of people.
Therefore, the hotel should not be left behind. That is why employing systems such as hotel PMS is crucial in making hotel operations effective and smooth.
Suppose you want to manage a hotel accurately and comprehensively, in addition to a stable and reliable hotel door lock system and system management software. In that case, you also need to use professional hotel PMS.
This article will introduce hotel PMS in detail to help you know how to choose a suitable Hotel PMS while understanding.
Therefore, advancements in technology are helping us achieve this goal. This article will help us understand the property management system’s functions and why you should use it.
A Hotel PMS
What Is A Hotel Management System (PMS)?
Its systems or software manage all hotel business operations, such as delivery, experiences, and interactions. Initially, it was used for only front office work, like bookings, bills, guests’ check-in and out, and room assignments.
However, as time passes, hotel PMS has advanced, making the hotel’s work compelling and smooth.
How does Hotel PMS Works?
For hotel PMS to work and function effectively, it has the following functionality to enhance it. These tools help the PMS to perform effectively, and for us to understand how PMS works, we must know how these tools aid the functions of hotel PMS.
1, Control calendar
The calendar helps you know the available rooms and make reservations with clarity. When you can see the calendar in excel, you can see available rooms that are hidden.
You are in a position to maximize profit because you will assign the room before the reservations. It also helps avoid confusion because you can know the free space and occupied ones.
A Hotel PMS Work.
2, Housekeeping management function
This aids in automated work, making the system more effective and efficient. It helps all properties run smoothly. This is where the hotel maintenance report is found, which shows the room that must be cleaned and prepared before the guest can arrive.
With Cloudbeds PMS, you can make a list or report for housekeeping and assign the person cleaning the rooms for a particular day. You can update the status when the rooms are ready for occupation, making check-in smooth.
3, Integrated payment processor
This is another advantage of hotel PMS, which helps deal with guest payments and accounting processes and keeps clean records. Suppose the PMS doesn’t have a payment processor.
In that case, making the payment is tedious, and the likelihood of making errors is that you have to create reports, chargebacks, and reconciliations manually.
An Integrated Hotel PMS.
4, Booking engine
A PMS system equipped with a commission-free booking engine helps make direct bookings, which is a quality that increases your revenue for properties.
If you plan to acquire PMS, ensure it has a booking engine integrated within our websites or social media, is user-friendly and fast, and can also be used with a phone.
5, Channel management
You can control and generate more reservations and profit when a channel manager is integrated with PMS. More so, you’re able to avoid overbooking.
Therefore, you need software to help you sell your inventory to different online channels and information updated in real-time from and to your hotel PMS. You can do so if you want to change charges and update the updates in real-time.
Additionally, online reservations reflect on your PMS, helping you be in total control of your occupation and make any changes immediately if need be.
6, Control dashboard
Hotel PMS should have a friendly and easy-to-read control dashboard. The dashboard should show crucial information such as arrivals, departures, and inventory. The report influences clients’ decisions, meaning they need to see this information before making the right decision.
Owners and managers can access credible information when the dashboard is easily understood. It also helps the employees to execute tasks fast and efficiently.
7, Open API
It is an additional tool that aids the PMS software; it helps select the tech that will work best for your market-specific needs. With this tool, you can sync with hotel PMS via API. Purchasing hotel PMS software with an open API that is supported and documented is necessary.
8, Reporting
Reporting is one of the main functions of hotel PMS. Reports range from reports about revenue management, rates, and reservations. Words are essential for you to analyze the progress of your business.
Therefore, you need software to help you access these reports anytime required. With this, you can take the property to the next level.
9, Revenue management
It is another functionality integrated with hotel PMS to help you align your pricing process. With the advancement in hotel PMS technology, you can maximize your pricing plans and profit using RevPAR.
With the help of revenue management, you can stay competitive and confident in deciding on prices because you can gather information from the market, monitor competitors’ fees, and automatically change prices.
10, Guest management
It is a module added to the hotel PMS to help you keep guest data and communication in order. Guest communication is vital. It helps gather information about customers’ satisfaction and experience.
Therefore, it’s crucial to have a smooth method of communication that alerts you when there are emails or any other messages from the clients.
Why do you need a hotel property management system (PMS)?
A system that makes the front desk work is vital because it will give customers a seamless hotel experience. Therefore, a hotel in an accommodation business appreciates the need for software that makes work easy.
Employees need a system that will make instant updates. Moreover, the owner can manage the property anywhere and anytime.
Technological advancements can upgrade the PMS with third-party technologies such as channel managers and payments.
It makes them more valuable because the capabilities are beyond mere functions like reservations, inventory, and hotel housekeeping. You can know to carry out more tasks with hotel PMS.
You can expand your hotel business to reach a broader market by listing properties with different OTA platforms and receiving direct bookings from clients. You can also connect with online travel agents across the globe, making hoteliers maximize their reach.
The first impression on customers is fundamental; it leaves memories. You want the customers to have the best image and experience upon arrival. You must ensure the guest doesn’t take time before being directed to their rooms.
That is why you need software to help you gather the information at a glance to make the processes smooth and fast. You’re not surprised when a client cancels a booking or needs changes because you received the lead at the right time.
Communication is critical; it helps get client feedback, which helps know their experience and satisfaction are essential for a business that desires to grow and retain its customers.
Acquire software that will help you receive feedback smoothly from clients. You also need a system that will enhance smooth communication between the departments, resulting in a better result because they will work in line to meet customers’ needs effectively.
You need a system to help you receive occupancy updates to avoid overbooking problems or underbooking. You don’t want to have challenges when guests arrive, and there is no room for you to start relocating them, which creates a wrong impression about your management skills.
Therefore, you need a system with a strong channel manager to be updated on available and booked rooms.
Interaction with the customers is vital. To maintain that interaction, you must go the extra mile to reach the clients and know their progress and your customers’ experience. Making communication and other services fast is impossible without robust hotel PMS software.
Clients want to be assured of having accommodation ready once they travel from far distances. It is not possible if they can’t book a room from anywhere online. A mechanism is needed to help clients eradicate their fear of not having a room, making hotel PMS a vital tool.
What Are The Benefits of Hotel PMS?
1, Easy housekeeping
Housekeeping has become effective; you can receive and monitor housekeeping activities via mobile phones. Management is easy the before because you can free rooms for cleaning, monitor progress, and ensure the client’s needs are met on time.
There is much flexibility because managers and owners can control and run hotels from a distance.
2, Increased market
The hotel PMS increases room occupancy because the customers can make direct bookings. Due to distribution channels and sales increases, clients from all over the globe can book directly online.
3, Smooth check-in and check-out
Due to hotel PMS software, clearing customers in and out is fast and effective because the system employees can easily access client information with less hassle. Furthermore, monitoring can be conducted anywhere because it can be done via a mobile device.
4, Safekeeping of guests’ information
With an organized and centralized system, customers’ data is kept accurately and in order. Reporting and analyzing customers’ experiences is fast and easy. You can define the service packages that you will offer to your customers.
You can also meet national and international standards because you are to gather information about other hotels and how they conduct their operations.
5, Integrated services
Hotel PMS With Several Integrations.
With hotel PMS you can integrate accounts payable and receivable, property infrastructure, payment gateways, and commission handling. You can accurately do billing and do guest folios fast. The work becomes easy and effective because you can use the same software.
Who works on a hotel PMS?
Anyone with the skills required to operate a hotel, the owner, manager, and any other employee with skills to work PMS can use it. It made it so that the dashboard was easy to understand, making it suitable for anyone. The system is user-friendly, with all the necessary tools that make the system effective.
What is the difference between PMS AND HMS (HOTEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM)?
Property Management Software (PMS) software is designed to manage properties relating to businesses. The system helps the owner, stakeholder, or investor to get information about the property.
Mainly, PMS can manage multiple and single properties, occupancy and vacancy, agreements, lease, billing, contracts, reports, costs and expenses, and access management. It helps to save time and avoid errors by reducing manual work.
You don’t have to sort and analyze data; this system works automatically in your comfort. Therefore, PMS is solution-based software and targets to make management easy by helping managers and other stakeholders handle their work.
Hotel Management System (HMS) is end-to-end software that automates most hotel operations. The system can handle many sales, accounting, and marketing procedures.
The software can handle several operations, including production, housekeeping reservation, finance, and other management forms like room and facilities. HMS offers more in comparison to PMS because it tackles the challenges related to management.
What Features Should A Good Hotel PMS Have?
A Hotel PMS with various features.
A user-friendly dashboard should be easy to use and understand by the employees and clients who want to navigate it as they make their bookings.
A calendar is essential; it helps you make a reservation with clarity. It helps you identify hidden or booked places with ease.
An integrated payment method makes the payment easy to handle and avoids errors when carrying out these duties manually.
The other essential tool is the booking engine that aids in booking; other critical tools improve the function of the PMS, such as the open API and guest management.
What To Consider When Choosing Hotel PMS?
Allow integration
A system that allows you to integrate with distribution channels such as OTAs is safe because these platforms help you to reach a broader market.
After all, direct booking may come from anywhere in the world. These channels are also controlled, meaning you can get the report and know the progress of your hotel business.
Cover the high number of operations.
Besides performing the usual tasks, you need a system covering more than 80 % of your jobs. You may be operating different businesses, and the system must be able to separate them while giving you reliable reports, feedback, and analysis.
User-friendly
The system dashboard should be user-friendly. Any board can learn quickly and understand it. Your employees will feel comfortable using a system that is easy to customize. Additionally, the system should be friendly so that the clients will not find it hard to use.
Cheaper in the long-run
The system should be cheaper in the long run. As you continue using it, the charges should not keep increasing, or the maintenance cost will increase continuously because this will reduce your profit.
How To Choose A Hotel Management System Provider?
Reliable
The provider should be reliable, not the one in the market today and tomorrow anywhere to be found. The provider should not be changing charges now and then.
Be transparent in price.
The provider should be transparent in their prices; there is no need to hide costs. If the provider tells you the price, you will know the right one and avoid trial and error by trying many solutions before deciding on the most suitable one.
Secure
The provider you want to acquire your software should have a record of offering safe and secure systems; you can’t receive plans from a provider that cannot resist external threats posed by hackers.
As technology advances, new threats are experienced, meaning a system that can resist these threats is critical to ensure vital information about the business is not leaked.
How Much Does A Hotel Property Management System Cost?
In many cases, on average, software range between $1,000 to $2,500 per year. However, there are several factors that you need to consider before you can decide to pick a specific provider.
Check on the hidden costs, some providers have a way of making prices appear cheap, but in the real sense, there are other costs, such as training costs, access to APIs, and implementation services. These are additional costs apart from the monthly fee.
More so, have other fees like maintenance and commission when direct booking.
You should be aware that customer services are not cheap. Therefore, anytime you make a call, you are charged. If you are not operating a business 24/7, there is no need for 24/7 customer service on the phone.
Factor in costs such as training and implementation. Be keen on what your service provider offers for performance. If you install your own PMS system, is it worth it?
Furthermore, you need to consider the size of your hotel. Is it a mid-size hotel? It will help you to budget yourself based on the quality you need. This is because the number of rooms, an installation by the provider, and integration much influence the price of the software.
Selecting the best-priced hotel PMS is not accessible. You need to know how different vendors price their software.
However, if you get a suitable PMS, the customer experience will improve significantly due to increased efficiency from management to the subordinate staff.
In addition, you can also try to use advanced hotel lock management software and a keyless RFID hotel lock system to help you efficiently complete hotel room management.
We are a supplier specializing in providing intelligent and modern hotel locks. Contact ShineACS Locks for the perfect locking system for your hotel.
Vincent Zhu has 10 years of smart lock system experience and specializes in offering hotel door lock systems and home door lock system solutions from design, configuration, installation, and troubleshooting. Whether you want to install an RFID keyless door lock for your hotel, a keyless keypad door lock for your home door, or have any other questions and troubleshooting requests about smart door locks, don't hesitate to contact me at any time.
https://www.acslocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/1644494936-Best-Hotel-Management-Software-For-Modern-Hotels.jpg453800Vincent Zhuhttps://www.acslocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/1640937985-ShineACS-Locks4.pngVincent Zhu2022-02-17 18:00:192023-03-11 13:48:28The Top 5 Best Hotel Management Software For Modern Hotels
https://www.acslocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/1642525688-best-hotel-reception-design.jpeg452800Vincent Zhuhttps://www.acslocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/1640937985-ShineACS-Locks4.pngVincent Zhu2022-02-06 16:53:292023-03-11 13:50:03Top 20 Best Hotel Reception Design in the World 2023
https://www.acslocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1642518117-Top-16-Best-Hotel-Designers-Honored-In-The-World-2022.jpg452800Vincent Zhuhttps://www.acslocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/1640937985-ShineACS-Locks4.pngVincent Zhu2022-02-03 15:04:022023-03-11 13:51:17Top 16 Best Hotel Designers Honored In The World 2023
https://www.acslocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/1640657602-Best-Hotel-Designs-In-The-World-2021.jpg447815Vincent Zhuhttps://www.acslocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/1640937985-ShineACS-Locks4.pngVincent Zhu2021-12-28 02:13:382023-03-11 13:54:13The Top 20 Best Hotel Designs In The World 2023