How to choose the best AI solution for your hotel?

The adoption of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in the hotel industry is a growing trend, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the staff shortages that followed. According to the latest report on technology in the hotel industry, 70% of hotel managers are turning to technology tools to automate some of their operations and improve employee efficiency. 

They are embracing tools that not only improve operational efficiency but also appeal to guests. While the hospitality sector will always need the human touch, travellers are starting to appreciate technological support more and more. According to a recent study by PwC, more than 60% of them are open to using a chatbot.

What are the benefits of setting up an AI-based solution, and above all, how do you make sure you choose one that really meets your hotel’s needs? Check out our checklist of “must-haves” to consider! 

What are the main benefits of implementing an AI-based solution in your hotel?

If you’re still at the stage where you’re wondering about the key benefits of adopting AI in your hotel, there are many! Among them: 

• Improved guest experience. Using AI helps improve customer relationships through more personalised and instant interactions. And this, throughout the entire guest journey, from before booking until departure! 
  
  
• Increased guest retention. By providing a quality guest experience, you will increase guest satisfaction and, as a result, increase the chances of your customers returning to your hotel. Additionally, you can leverage AI to strengthen your loyalty programme and thus boost your guests’ loyalty.
  
  
• Personalisation of offers and services. Analysing guest data allows you to offer targeted campaigns tailored to each of your guests. Personalisation is appreciated by travellers. According to an Oracle study 67% of travellers are interested in hotels that use AI to provide offers that are more relevant to them.
  
  
• Improved operational efficiency. AI-powered technology can help you better manage guests’ requests, when they come through different channels. Some solutions, such as the one offered by HiJiffy, also allow you to prioritize and directly assign those requests to the relevant department, facilitating teamwork.
  
  

• Process automation. Thanks to AI, you will be able to automate repetitive tasks such as check-in and check-out or answers to the most frequently asked questions, freeing up your staff to focus on higher value-added tasks.
  
  
• Increased revenue. AI-based solutions allow you to increase direct bookings and take advantage of many upselling opportunities, thus increasing your revenue. 
  

Keeping these benefits of AI in mind, all you have to do is choose the best solution for your hotel by following the checklist below. 

Checklist of things to consider when choosing the best AI solution for your hotel

• Determine your needs.
  Start by asking yourself about your hotel’s needs and making a list of the goals you want to achieve. Once you’ve analysed a potential solution, you can compare your goals with the proposed functionalities. Also, consider factors such as your hotel’s type, size, location, and target audience when making your choice.
  
  
• Check out the possibilities for integration.
  Once you’ve found a solution that meets your needs, evaluate its compatibility with your existing hotel software. It is essential that this new solution can integrate seamlessly with your existing software such as your PMS or your booking engine. The HiJiffy solution integrates with the main hotel systems on the market, such as Mews, Bowo, D-EDGE or Thaïs, and is always on the lookout for new integrations.
  
  
• Take a look at the interface and test how intuitive it is.
  A solution may well meet your needs and integrate seamlessly with your other hotel software, but if you and your teams can’t use it easily, then you’re not going to be able to benefit from it. So, evaluate the interface and user experience of the solution you’re considering. It should be intuitive, user-friendly and improve overall guest satisfaction, while being easy to use for your teams.
  
  
• Make sure you have a dedicated, responsive Customer Success team at your disposal.
  It’s not enough to implement the solution; it’s important that your teams are well-trained and supported throughout its use. If your teams have any issues or questions, they need to be able to speak with someone easily and receive support quickly. At HiJiffy, the Customer Success team has a strong background in the hotel sector, which allows them to understand your specific challenges and ensure that you speak the same language. If need be, you can access our Help Centre at any time. 
  
  

• Ensure the AI solution complies with data privacy regulations (such as GDPR).
  The solution you use will store a lot of sensitive customer data. It is therefore essential to ensure that these data are protected. Of course, this is the case with the HiJiffy solution. We use HTTPS (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure) to secure all communications between your guests’ devices and our server. This ensures that all data and messages exchanged between your hotel and your guests are encrypted and protected against eavesdropping and cyber attacks.
   
• Choose a solution that measures and analyses performance.
  Look for an AI-powered solution that provides actionable insights and metrics. This will allow you to track performance, identify areas for improvement, and make data-driven decisions to optimise your operations. The “Reports” menu in the HiJiffy Console gives you an overview of both the performance of the chatbot and that of your team members.
  
  
• Choose a solution that is continually developed and always at the cutting edge of technology.
  Make sure the solution you’re considering continually evolves and improves to give you the best possible product. At HiJiffy, our dedicated team is fully committed to bringing you the latest AI features, such as AI Power Tools or sentiment analysis. Learn more about HiJiffy’s AI.
  
  
• Ask for opinions and feedback from those around you
  Finally, before making your final decision, consider collecting reviews from hotels that use the solution you’re considering. Are they satisfied? Word of mouth is the best recommendation, so don’t hesitate to discuss the solution(s) you plan to take with other hoteliers to understand if it’s a good match. If available, consult official case studies and testimonials from real customers. You can also base your opinion on independent review platforms like Hotel Tech Report. Just as you check TripAdvisor or The Fork before booking a restaurant, why not do the same when choosing your next hotel software?
  

Finally, of course, ensure that the cost of setting up the technology you choose fits your budget. If you want to go further, you can always check if the company’s values and culture behind the solution align with yours. For example, does it have environmental concerns, and does it promote a good work ethic? At the end of the day, by choosing a brand, you are also supporting its values. And, above all, ask yourself: is it ready to support you and adapt throughout the evolution of your business?

We believe HiJiffy meets all the criteria – let’s explore how our solution can work specifically for your hotel in a personalised demo call.