NATIONAL REPORT—The hotel industry continues to be slow to adopt new technology. It’s not surprising since it’s human nature to resist change. However, the real problem isn’t that the industry needs to adopt new technology; rather, it needs to change their processes for implementing it.
Many companies implementing new technology think they want a customized solution. Hoteliers need to ask themselves, “Why is my business so unique that I need customization?” Best-in-breed technologies are developed to apply industry best practices and are often flexible enough to accommodate customer needs. If a company wants to truly customize an enterprise tool, they should be prepared for increased complexity as well as added time and expense.
As a result, it’s often better to adapt your processes to the tool. Enterprise tools are built to evolve with the industry. As they change to meet new business or regulatory demands, the companies that use them benefit. Hoteliers can then focus on day-to-day operations as enterprise software experts drive advances based on best practices from the industry they serve.
Even when implementing off-the-shelf enterprise solutions, it can be difficult to get buy-in from a team that is comfortable with the tools they know. Here are some tips for introducing new technology to help ease the transition:
- Clearly Define Goals
Goals for new technology need to be defined from the start. If the goal is to increase revenue by 12%, then everyone on the team needs to know. For new tool implementation to succeed, you must be able to answer the question, “What’s in it for me?” A good answer ensures your team will be on board.
- Own the Process
A common misconception is that enterprise technology is plug-and-play. It’s actually a collaboration requiring people, processes and technology. As you change one aspect, the others must react. You can’t simply change your technology and expect your people and processes to work the same. It is therefore highly recommended you partner with vendors who provide both technical and educational support.
- Change the Culture
Implementing new technology is an excellent time to apply continuous improvement theory to change your work culture. The message needs to be that change is good. It may be easy to say, but it’s difficult to do. Technology implementation is always more about the process and culture than it ever is about the technology itself. It therefore requires a holistic approach.
- Avoid Silos
Data integration is key to the success of your new technology. If you are interested in enterprise solutions and think that you will get the most value by using it in isolation, perhaps you should challenge your perspective. The value of technology is multiplied when it is integrated into every possible system. Integrated systems are the future. Putting all the pieces together in real time multiplies its value.
About Broadvine
Broadvine eliminates the time and expense associated with organizing data from multiple properties, enabling companies to analyze the resulting data and improve the profitability and operations of their properties.
For more information, go to www.broadvine.com.