The Future of Hospitality – How Tech Innovations Will Influence Success
The future of hospitality is always a common topic in today’s age as people have mixed opinions on what’s going to happen.
COVID, the cost of living and tech innovations can turn the industry on its head within months.
Technology in the hospitality industry has come a long way since glitchy apps, POS systems that take ages to load, and physical tickets.
With the pub and nightclub sector worth more than $35.3 billion, the time is ripe for innovation to kick in.
This means that establishments need to start embracing technologies that may initially seem futuristic to stay one step ahead of their competition.
This article explores six tech innovations shaping the future of hospitality that you need to know in order to remain competitive in the hospitality sector.
1. Portable and easy-to-use card readers
2. Video analytics
3. Virtual assistants
4. Gamification via VR technology
5. Artificial intelligence
6. Service robots
1. Portable and easy-to-use card readers
Whether you’re involved in nightclub management or restaurant management, you’ve probably experienced first-hand how clunky and glitchy card readers can set you back.
Fortunately, you can stop wasting time, worktop space and resources by upgrading to a portable card reader.
Portable card readers are undoubtedly changing the hospitality industry in a big way, as they allow business owners and their employees to accept payments on the fly.
Not only does it offer customers a more flexible payment device – but at peak times when you’re dealing with multiple customers at once – it reduces waiting times for the customer and, as a result, unnecessary complaints.
In addition, the latest portable card readers are multifunctional, enabling you to track transactions and update your inventory in the corresponding app and they also accept payments as standalone devices.
They also work seamlessly whether connected to WiFi or mobile data, so you can rest assured you’re covered wherever your business may be.
2. Video analytics
Video analytics is a rapidly growing field, especially as it allows business owners to gather important information about who actually visits their pub, club or restaurant.
In short, video analytics software analyzes video, movement patterns, and events in real-time.
It detects crucial information such as the age and gender of your customers, as well as the most popular days and times when each gender or age group visits your venue.
It can also analyze which spots within your premises are most popular with your customers and track occupancy rates.
In terms of safety, it can also detect which areas need to be cleaned and send immediate notifications when there’s a fire or safety hazard.
3. Virtual assistants
Tired of responding to the same queries?
Do customers expect an immediate response even when your business is closed?
If the answer to these two statements is yes, you may need a virtual assistant.
They can answer repeat queries, respond to customers who come through your website or social media 24/7, reserve tables and make recommendations.
What’s more, custom-built virtual assistants also have the ability to adapt their conversation style and even language to meet your customers’ needs.
Each potential customer receives a personalized service – which goes a long way to building a solid customer base.
By opting for a virtual assistant, you can free up time for you and your staff, allowing you to focus on the more complex tasks at hand.
4. Gamification via VR technology
According to the latest sports bar industry trends, more and more sports bars are incorporating interactive gaming options like virtual reality activities and esport viewing parties.
Undoubtedly, this trend extends beyond the sports bar industry, as the use of gamification through VR has become a crucial unique selling point for many businesses in the industry.
By incorporating game design elements such as leaderboards and points, gamification not only enhances the guests’ experience but also gives them a reason to return to your establishment.
For example, by hosting a VR treasure hunt night in your pub, you can tap into these gamification elements, increase your footfall, and encourage your customers to choose your pub over your competitors.
5. Artificial intelligence
We can’t talk about the future of hospitality without mentioning the two words on everyone’s lips: artificial intelligence.
In recent years, AI has made its way into every industry, including the hospitality industry.
One of the most advantageous ways hospitality establishments can use artificial intelligence is to extract and analyze valuable data.
AI allows you to easily process and examine large amounts of data and gain a deeper understanding of customer preferences.
From knowing whether they prefer going to a nightclub vs bar on a Saturday night, to the top dishes and drinks ordered, AI empowers business owners to deliver the experiences their customers truly want.
But AI capabilities go beyond guest experience management.
AI data analysis can help you save time, resources and money by collecting data from the Internet, including customer reviews, complaints and employee performance metrics.
This is extremely handy, as it helps identify what your business’ bottlenecks are, and ultimately, helps you make more informed decisions.
6. Service robots
Service robots may seem futuristic, but they’re already being used in various areas of the hospitality industry.
They’re designed to perform repeat tasks, making them the perfect tool to support your employees during particularly hectic periods.
Whether it’s vacuuming floors, delivering food to tables, cleaning windows or disinfecting tables, service robots can do all this and more.
This frees up time for your team and gives them the space to interact with customers without having to worry about cleaning sticky floors.
Plus, having service robots also sets your pub or club apart, as who doesn’t like experiencing something different?
Wrapping up
Customer expectations and competition in the hospitality industry are at an all-time high.
It’s no secret that in a hyper-competitive industry, such as the hospitality industry, businesses must embrace these tech innovations to remain competitive.
By leveraging these technologies, forward-looking businesses will not only elevate their guest experience, but also ensure they’re still relevant and profitable in the years to come.
