Mobility for Hotels

If you are a guest in one of the hotels in Sweden, instead of a key, you will be given a mobile with a pre-loaded app. The mobile app allows you to avail hotel information, reserve for dining, avail room service, travel booking and event booking.  Brand promotion, On-the-go reservation/menu selection & order placement, Real time data for customers on events are few features which are driving mobile app adoption in hotel  industry. These features give the guests a whole new hospitality experience. Menu selection and order placement apps reduces the time taken for order fulfillment and allows the attendants / waiters to focus on customer service. Event information apps helps the guests to plan better and Marketing apps help the hotels to promote and build their brand.

In a recent visit to one of the restaurant, I came across the first live experience of an enterprise mobile solution. It seems that this chain of restaurants is an early adopter in this geographic region.

As we got seated, the attendant did his routine of giving the menu cards &  when we were about to place the order, he pulled out a sleek iPad to take the order.  I was surprised at the speed with which the mobile apps have penetrated in a segment which is not looked upon as an ideal candidate for mobile adoption. I got to know that the device communicated with backend system which the Kitchen uses to prepare the orders. The system also generates the bill.

This has reduced the number of visits of the waiter to the kitchen. His availability to attend the guests has increased.  It has also eliminated manual entry and associated errors.  I left wondering what next? May be a menu card with visuals and details on an iPad?