What is mobile check-in at a hotel?
Mobile check-in is a technology-based process that allows guests to check into their hotel rooms using their mobile devices, without having to queue at a desk. This innovative service typically involves a hotel’s mobile app or website where guests can confirm their arrival, select their room, and in some cases even access their room using a digital key.
Online check-in completely revolutionized the airline industry. So far, the hospitality sector has been slow. One of the reasons has been the lack of strong business needs as well as the complexity of the project. But with guest demand, more hotels are embracing this technology.
Every hotel is unique and there are many PMS vendors out there. This makes it very challenging for the hotelier to start planning for their digital transformation.
In this blog, we give you an overview of how to choose the best entry solution for your property.
From your guests’ perspective, the hotel check-in process has been the same for a very long time:
Arriving at the hotel
Wait in line.
Payment
Fill out the registration card.
Take the key.
Go to your room.
All of this can take a lot of time, and if your guest has had a long journey to get to your property, this is not what they want. I don’t care if you have the best smile in town. They just want to get into their room.
In the ideal scenario, guests would only enter their details before arriving at the hotel to avoid this frustrating experience. Then, the hotel provides them with all the necessary details such as breakfast arrangements, safety rules, and door access.
But, in our new reality, guests actually prefer it. For guests, it’s convenience, speed of process, safety, and the freedom to choose when to do it.
According to Oracle, 70 percent of hotels currently use or are planning to use contactless technology for check-in, food ordering, concierge services, and more.
For hotels, it is about saving costs as well as increasing customer satisfaction. Handling each guest manually is a labor-intensive process and can take many hours during peak times.