Founded in 2005, eZee Technosys is a tech based platform engineered for the Hospitality Industry to automate operations in a flawless and seamless manner. Harshdeep brings to the table attributes of being an innovative thinker, problem solver, and go-getter that help him ensure that the company’s technology strategy serves its business strategy.

Last year has been a big game changer for many sectors with hospitality and IT being no exception. Contactless was the operative word throughout 2020. Evolvement in technology has only furthered the ability to make the hospitality sector completely automated.

Hotels implement diverse approaches to appeal to guests, such as quality of customer service, maintenance of the property and its facilities, the interior décor and ambience, food and dining experience, as well as technology. If technology was in the back-seat during the pre COVID-19 era, then it’s suffice to say that now, technology will become crucial, especially with the rapidly changing guest expectations.

Because today’s customer expects personalized options, the operational cost of the hotel continues to rise. Therefore adopting and integrating a digitalized approach to their existing business is the need of the hour, not just a piecemeal of it - by putting it onto the cloud. Hotel technology is already playing a very significant role throughout the hotel value chain, and this is only going to increase in the coming years.

Cloud computing is making it possible for the hospitality industry to take its offerings and services to another level. Today, a large number of hoteliers are still uncertain when they hear “cloud”. Indeed, moving to the cloud can be overwhelming and challenging. But, if you want to bring greater efficiency to your hotel operations, streamline day-to-day functioning and have happier guests, then, cloud technology is your answer.

The term “Cloud” is really just a fancy metaphor for the internet. More specifically, cloud computing is used when you store files, and access certain data via the internet rather than accessing it through your hard drive. The use of Google Drive or DropBox, are good examples of cloud computing – accessing data and files and being able to edit them over the internet. Even though the hospitality industry has been slower than other industries in adopting and moving to cloud, the shift is happening now.

The pandemic in fact has enforced this shift. The industry now sees technology (cloud) as a necessity rather than a luxury. Cloud technology allows you to get rid of your own hard drives or chunky on premise servers, and move things over to the internet, the cloud. One misconception however, is the thinking that such files and applications are then just free flowing or homeless without having an actual home. This is not the case, when something is “cloud-based” it means that it lives on a 3rd party server. Today many hotel software companies have chosen to subscribe to several service providers.

While the concept and history of cloud computing is fascinating, you do need to understand it in depth. Let's also look at some of the most recent trends in the sector -
• Cloud Migration – This is going to happen, sooner than the industry thinks.

• Service Automation & Personalization – Automation and personalization continue to be a major trend in the sector. New ways of tailored digital interaction such as personalized email marketing, AI-powered chatbots and other automated services to remove any and all language barriers, thereby improving guest experience.

• Digitized Guest Experiences & Contactless Technology – This is definitely accelerated by the pandemic. From unmanned self-check in kiosk, digital keys on guests; own smartphones, motion sensors, facial recognitions, to voice-activated appliances, hotels will increasingly offer safe and contactless guest experiences.

• Safety & Hygiene- The importance of safety and hygiene is at an all-time high. Hotels will have to maintain transparent communication with the guests about the measures they take. And to ensure that, efficient technology would be crucial.

• Predictive Analytics – Knowledge is Power. Technology – software and devices – will enable hotels to collect more data on how guests interact with the hotel during their stay. Their profiles can then be saved and used to personalize the offerings and services provided to such guests.

Ending with a note that the future of hotel management includes adopting and embracing new technology, and cloud-based solutions are at the forefront of it all. Researching, evaluating, selecting and utilizing cloud-based technology solutions is therefore an important process, and it will change the way hotels conduct business.

There is a need for the hospitality industry to evolve in order to better adapt to the current dynamics. 2020 has been a very tough and challenging year for the hospitality industry but it has fortunately drawn attention towards digitalization. Cloud technology will become the foundation of all the key trends in the hospitality industry in 2021 and years to come.