Technology and Automation to Resolve Hotel Staffing Crisis

Fremont, CA: The historic staffing issue in the hotel industry is caused by several factors. First, the COVID-19 epidemic caused a flurry of resignations and layoffs, leaving the hotel industry short-staffed with qualified individuals who could perform essential responsibilities. 

The current labor market state is among the most difficult that hoteliers have ever encountered. To overcome this staffing issue, hoteliers must consider every option to attract and keep skilled employees. Hoteliers can address staffing concerns by using automation and technology to increase efficiency.

Increasing Productivity

Hoteliers can achieve the same level of success as other businesses that have used technology to lessen labor strain. The airline sector, for instance, offers contactless in-flight payments, automated check-in, and pre-ordering services on flights. Banking automation has made digital payments and remote deposits possible.

Additionally, customers desire to interact with cutting-edge technological solutions that simplify their lives. Today, over 70% of hotel visitors say they would rather have a frictionless experience without handholding. Automation and technology in hotels improve the visitor experience while lessening employee workload. There are numerous chances for the hospitality sector to adopt technology and automate operations throughout a facility. Here is a summary of some of the tools that the top hospitality companies of today are already using.

Guest Management Systems

With the help of guest management systems (GMSs), hotels can effectively and modernly manage the guest journey from pre-check-in to post-check-out. Guests can enter and exit a property using contactless check-in and checkout, eliminating need to go to the front desk. Additionally, it can lessen the effort for reception workers by enabling hotels to provide customers with upgrades and other amenities from the time of booking through checkout.

Similarly, direct and automated guest-hotel staff contact can cut down on phone calls at the front desk, freeing up agents to spend more time interacting with customers face-to-face. To improve the visitor experience, these digital tools can also offer details about the hotel and nearby activities.

Staff Scheduling

Another area where technology is used to alleviate the staffing shortage is staff scheduling. With automated scheduling technologies, managers may rapidly and effectively construct schedules that account for labor regulations and employee availability. Additionally, hoteliers can better control labor expenditures by simplifying these procedures.

Payments

Technology is also used to increase efficiency in food and beverage payments. With the popularity of contactless payment methods like Apple Pay and Google Wallet, patrons can now pay for their meals without using cash or credit cards.

Robotic Assistance

Robots are carrying food and beverages straight to customers' rooms as part of the automation of room service delivery. To reduce the time it takes for housekeepers to finish rooms and enhance the contactless experience for visitors in a post-pandemic environment, industrial robots are now employed in the housekeeping department to vacuum restrooms and meeting areas.