If you’re used to using an old school pen and paper system, a spreadsheet, or an outdated property management system to manage your small hotel, it can be hard to make the switch to a more advanced cloud-based hotel PMS—even when you know you should. We totally get it!
If you’re used to using an old school pen and paper system, a spreadsheet, or an outdated property management system to manage your small hotel, it can be hard to make the switch to a more advanced cloud-based hotel PMS—even when you know you should. We totally get it!
Small hotel owners have a lot on their plate and change is scary. Adding new software to the mix can feel complicated and overwhelming, and the call of your old faithful system can be hard to resist. However, it’s always wise to evaluate the pros and cons of your current system and look carefully for opportunities to increase support and improve your operations, from bookings to scheduling housekeeping to managing revenue. A cloud-based PMS might be exactly what your small hotel needs.
In this post, we’ll take a closer look at three key reasons to consider a cloud-based hotel PMS, including:
- Managing your property from anywhere
- Access to all-in-one property management features
- Reduced IT costs and 24/7 support
But before we dig in, let’s take a moment to understand exactly what a cloud-based PMS is.
What Is A Cloud-Based PMS?
A cloud-based PMS for hotels is a hotel management software system that is completely web-based, giving your small hotel the support and functionality you need to manage operations on any device from a single online dashboard. On-premise PMS systems, on the other hand, are locally hosted, meaning you’ll also only be able to access the software on devices with the software installed.
Both systems are designed to help you automate tedious processes, improve guest experience, and increase revenue, but they are not created equal—especially when it comes to small hotels.
Compare cloud-based PMS vs. on-premise PMS systems in the chart below:
3 Reasons You Need a Cloud-Based PMS for Hotels
Now that you have a more thorough understanding of what a cloud-based property management system is, let’s dive into the top 3 reasons a web-based PMS system will benefit your property.
1. You can manage your small hotel from anywhere
As the owner or manager of a small hotel, you know that managing your business is a 24/7 operation, and you can’t always be sitting behind your computer reading reports, adjusting reservations, and scheduling tasks for your staff. Coordinating your daily responsibilities, your team members, your hotel’s operational performance, and ensuring a top-notch guest experience is a complex balancing act that requires great attention to detail, organization, and flexibility.
A cloud-based PMS for hotels provides small hotel owners with the flexibility and support they need to operate a true 24/7 business by providing access to your management software from any device with an internet connection. Whether you are traveling between properties, are attending an off-site meeting, or are cleaning a room because your housekeeper is out sick, cloud-based PMS systems keep you in total control of your hotel’s operations from wherever the workday takes you.
2. You get access to all-in-one property management features
When you switch to a cloud-based hotel PMS, you get access to all the essential property management features you need from one dashboard. Not only can you manage your reservations easily, but you can launch an easy-to-navigate booking engine for your guests, streamline operations like housekeeping and maintenance, and even use revenue management tools, channel management features, and securely process credit card payments from any device.
Look for an all-in-one cloud PMS for hotels that offers:
- A top-tier booking engine that offers an intuitive booking experience so guests can make a booking at your hotel with the click of a button, while you can easily oversee and modify each reservation. At innRoad, our booking engine also cuts out the third parties so payment processing for direct bookings is more efficient and secure.
- A channel manager to connect your property with all the major OTAs so guests can find you wherever they prefer to book.
- Reservation management features so you can easily manage guest reservations with features like a drag and drop tape chart, group reservation capabilities, multi-property functions, and mobile optimization so guests can book rooms on their devices. Built-in flexibility also allows you to add additional rooms or new hotel locations so you can manage all of your properties from one fully integrated, web-based system.
- Revenue management features like surge alerts so you can dynamically adjust room rates based on demand on all booking platforms.
- Performance reports so you can monitor daily tasks like housekeeping or explore strategic data to see how your hotel performs year-over-year.
- Unlimited users so your whole staff will have access to the software, making sure no reservations get lost or confused.
3. Reduced IT costs and 24/7 support
Unlike on-premise PMS software, cloud-based PMS software like innRoad does not require you to purchase and install dedicated servers or special hardware—upgrades that can run you tens of thousands of dollars. With cloud-based hotel PMS software, your software vendor is responsible for securing and encrypting data stored in the cloud. That means that with a cloud-based hotel PMS, independent and small hoteliers can reduce high IT costs, stop relying on your tech-savvy team members to act as your in-house “IT expert”, and avoid hefty charges for technical service calls.
Cloud-based software also typically offers automatic free system updates without requiring on-site installation. innRoad’s development team pumps out new features every month and we are constantly improving our software so our clients gain value and unprecedented business growth. Updates are rolled out automatically so you don’t have to worry about keeping up with your software.
With certain providers like innRoad, you may also get a dedicated implementation advisor, 24/7 technical support, and unlimited training for all hotel staff so you’ll have an expert by your side whenever you have questions or need help.
Checking Out
We know that updating your hotel management software can be a scary prospect. Learning a new system is always challenging, and taking time away from your guests to learn a new system might seem overwhelming. With easy-to-use functions and an intuitive interface that make it easy for you and your staff to get comfortable with a new system, cloud-based property management systems make it as easy as possible to get up to speed and start noticing benefits.
A cloud-based PMS also positions your hotel for future growth, with extra support available to help you achieve your goals. Features like reservation management tools, booking engines, channel managers, and reporting can help streamline your operations, reduce your operating costs, and improve your guest experience.
Want to learn more about how innRoad helps get each hotel on its path to profits by focusing on increasing bookings and revenue? Schedule a personalized demo with our team today to learn about our cloud-based PMS for hotels.
