Best Hotel management software in India in 2019

What is hotel management software?

Hotel Management Software (HMS) places all the essential data required for better and faster operations of a hotel. All data can be seen on the screen, printed in an enormous variety of reports or shown on graphs. Attractive client interface gives the management, a brilliant overview of all hotel tasks and enables them to maintain precise administration controls. It is a gainful marketing tool, as it catches a wide scope of information expected to make the right marketing analysis. Hotel management software makes data analysis straightforward and precise. It improves revenue, gives insights for future strategy, feedbacks for improvements. It also helps in segmentation of customers and analysis of other visitor data.
Hotel management software or hotel ERP software features can be hotel billing software, hotel reservation software, online hotel booking software, POS, Inventory, and payroll. It is also responsible for controlling reservation and financial transactions.

HMS generally aims to automate functions such as:

• Guest bookings
• Guest details
• Point of sale
• Telephony
• Accounts receivable
• Sales and marketing
• Banquets
• Event Management
• House-keeping
• Dining services

Types of Hotel Management Software:

• Property Management Software: The hotel property management software is responsible for managing the day to day activities such as accepting reservations, cancelling reservations, etc.
• Channel Managers: It helps hotel owners to connect with various agents and these agents have real-time information about the available rooms and based on this they resell your rooms with greater efficiency for a commission.
• Online booking engines: This is a special type of hotel management software that helps in accepting bookings directly from websites.
• Pricing Tools: It develops an effective revenue management strategy. As the name suggests, you can use this feature to automate the process and get rid of changing rates manually.

Features among best hotel management software:

The hotel management software features are:

• Direct Booking
• Best available rates
• Housekeeping and maintenance
• Reporting
• Shared inventory
• Customer database
• Manages communication
• Connect with online booking portals
• Hotel reservations and front desk support
• Payment gateway
• Gift Coupons
• Employee and manager details
• Retail support
• Restaurant management

Benefits of top hotel management software:

The benefit of top hotel management software are as follows:

• Automated hotel operations
• Dashboard
• Provide ease of access
• Capture and analyse guest details
• Offer security of data, payment gateway
• Strong after-sales support
• Third Party Integrations
• Real-time results
• Prevent Double Booking
• A collaboration of various departments
• Centralized Control
• Invoices and reports
• Dependable system
• Easy to use

Types of Buyers:

• Budget Hotels - The Budget Hotels accommodate customers from upper middle and middle class. Also referred to as Economy Class Hotel, Business Hotels and Discount Hotels, the Budget Hotels support all the modern infrastructural facilities for a comfortable and pleasant stay.
• Luxury Hotels - Equipped with world class infrastructural pleasantries, the Luxury Hotels offer the tourists with a fine lodging and dining experience.
• Resorts - Resorts are mostly found in hill stations and sea-side visitor destinations of India. situated amidst natural scenic beauty, the Resorts are the perfect spot to enjoy some valuable time with family and companions or in isolation.
• Timeshare and Destination Clubs - There are different types of property proprietorship additionally referred to as a vacation ownership involving the purchase and ownership of an individual unit of accommodation for regular usage during a specified timeframe

Potential Issues faced:

There are several issues for buyers while selecting the right software for their problem. Buyers must ensure that the modules of their hotels are included in the hotel management system they purchase. Few other following issues that also may occur are :

• Outdated user interface
• Low Security
• Slow and inefficient handling of multiple hotel operations
• Operating the software is complex
• Use of outdated technology, which may create a problem in implementing new updates and may cause compatibility issue with your system
• For certain hotel billing software, it requires the installation of additional cables across the hotel.
• Some software only provides support for small and medium hotels and not big hotels or resorts.

Market Trends followed in top hotel management software:

• Process Automation - Automation helps to maintain effective and efficient marketing to your business. It also provides customer ease of access and saves time.
• Authenticity - Focus on the unique selling proposition of the hotel has and reel in your guests by showcasing the great experience they’ll get by choosing you. Do not try to be a hotel which you do not support.
• Online Travel Agency (OTA) marketing strategy - Most people will find your hotel either through Google Hotel Ads or through an online travel site. Both play a vital role in the hotel marketing strategy.
• Mobile App - Guests are turning to their mobile devices to reach the specifics of hotels and other specifics for their travels. So the mobile app must be there.
• User-generated content - User-generated content is taking pictures, videos, and even reviews to aid your hotel marketing by using social proof.