Technology is moving ahead at a rapid pace. The travel industry in
particular is experiencing an explosion in technology driven
opportunities. Keeping abreast of the changes in technology, has never
been more important for your business. Failing to do so could see your
business left behind in the race to secure bookings, maximise yield, be
found on the web and capture add on revenue.
Technology that was once
separate and disjointed has now come together with significant cost and
timesavings coupled with the ability to enhance revenue streams. For
accommodation businesses, an all-encompassing, computerised property
management system a most essential business tool. It is the engine room
of your business.
The choice of a PMS is critical. There are a myriad
of systems on the market that infinitely vary in quality, capability,
price and customer backup. Just working through the choices available
can be daunting and can also be affected by so many specialised
requirements and, often, by quite trivial elements.
When choosing
reservation software there is a number of criteria to consider –
breadth of functionality, scalability and integration of platforms and
easy access. Also consider how such systems help you to comply with the
relevant legislation, protect you in the event of litigation and ensure
the delivery of your duty of care to your clients and stakeholders.
Some programs are specifically designed for holiday complexes others
are for permanent complexes. Some are designed for real estate offices,
others for management rights or motels specifically.
The needs of your
complex dictate your software requirements. If you have a holiday
complex for example, a program suited to permanent complexes would
cause you no end of frustration. By the same token if you have a
permanent complex, you don’t need to pay for the extra features needed
in a holiday complex. If you have a mix of permanent and holiday lets,
you will need a program that has it all.
It is essential that you
choose the right kind of software for your style of business.
The
latest version is everthing in software. A software release from three
years ago is ancient history in the technology world. Consider the
impact of new Windows systems, database technology, Internet
connectivity and communications such as SMS. Make sure the cost of any
future upgrades is factored into your choice of PMS as you will most
certainly need to upgrade your software regularly.
You’ll need make
sure you properly investigate the support options offered by PMS
companies. You’ll need to know the expected response times, hours of
operation, and the method of support. Some companies offer a call
centre for telephone support, others channel support via email. The
best reference for a company's support PMS – the Right Choice is
Critical quality is another manager.
As stated earlier, just working
through the choices of PMS available can be daunting and be affected by
so many specialised requirements and, often, by quite trivial elements.
A checklist assembled before approaching any PMS will help focus on the
most important criteria and will equip you to make a better choice. You
will then be better prepared to survey suppliers and assess how the
various products stack up against your priorities.
To download the full Tips for PMS in a PDF version click here
