What are the best ways to update your property management system for better hospitality service?

1 Choose a cloud-based PMS

A cloud-based PMS is a PMS that runs on the internet, rather than on a local server or computer. This means that you can access it from anywhere, anytime, and on any device. A cloud-based PMS also offers more security, scalability, and flexibility than a traditional PMS. You can easily integrate it with other software, such as online booking engines, channel managers, CRM, and revenue management systems. You can also benefit from automatic updates, backups, and support from the provider.

2 Train your staff regularly

Your PMS is only as good as the people who use it. To ensure that your staff can use your PMS effectively and efficiently, you need to train them regularly. You should provide them with clear and comprehensive manuals, videos, and tutorials on how to use the PMS features and functions. You should also test their knowledge and skills periodically and provide feedback and coaching. Additionally, you should encourage them to share their tips and best practices with each other and to report any issues or errors to the provider.

3 Customize your PMS to your needs

Your PMS should reflect your hotel's unique needs and preferences. You should customize your PMS to suit your brand, market, and guests. For example, you can customize your PMS to generate customized reports, invoices, and confirmation emails. You can also customize your PMS to collect and store relevant guest data, such as preferences, feedback, and loyalty points. You can use this data to personalize your service and marketing campaigns and to increase your guest retention and loyalty.

4 Update your PMS regularly

Your PMS needs to be updated regularly to keep up with the changing trends and demands of the hospitality industry. You should update your PMS to add new features and functions, fix bugs and errors, and improve performance and security. You should also update your PMS to comply with the latest regulations and standards, such as GDPR, PCI DSS, and ADA. Updating your PMS will help you avoid technical issues, data breaches, and legal troubles.

5 Review your PMS performance

Your PMS is a valuable tool for measuring and improving your hotel performance. You should review your PMS performance regularly to identify your strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats, and areas for improvement. You should use your PMS to track and analyze key metrics, such as occupancy rate, average daily rate, revenue per available room, guest satisfaction, and online reputation. You should also use your PMS to compare your performance with your competitors and industry benchmarks and to set realistic and achievable goals.

Updating your PMS is not a one-time task, but a continuous process. By following these best ways to update your PMS, you can enhance your hospitality service and gain a competitive edge in the market.