Hotels Using Tablets in the Business Center?

Hotels Using Tablets

The hotel industry has undergone significant transformations over the years, with technology significantly enhancing the overall guest experience.

One such innovation that has revolutionized the hospitality industry is the use of tablets to provide guests with a seamless experience.

Tablets have transformed the way guests interact with hotels, and the benefits are numerous, including improved guest satisfaction, increased revenue, and enhanced operational efficiency.

Has your hotel added tablets to the business center yet?

The Pros and Cons of Business Center Informational Tablets

In the world of technology, sometimes getting swept up in the new and shiny can be easy. Hotels are attempting to reimagine their hotel business center into a guest enhancement tool that acts as a digital concierge. With that comes new hardware and software challenges.

If you are considering upgrading your current business center hardware to utilize a tablet, here are some pros and cons of hotels using tablets that you should consider before making your decision.

Pros of Business Center Tablet

Tablets give a modern look and contemporary feel compared to a standard PC
There is considerable space saved by implementing a tablet over a PC or Mac.
Option to hand tablets to guests, allowing for ease of usage and smooth interaction between the hotel team and guests without a table or barrier.
Flexibility to be used for guest computing, mobile printing, concierge services, and boarding pass access/printing with the right software and hardware combination.

Cons of Hotels Using Business Center Tablets

Guests that are visually impaired may have issues with smaller screens.
Tablets tend to overheat when in enclosures, as they are not designed to operate 24 hours a day. Consider selecting a table with a built-in cooling system when using an enclosure. This will cost more but less than repurchasing another tablet due to overheating issues. It also ensures the device does not have issues with speed or downloading large files.
When considering the option of mobile tablets that can be handed out, guests and employees are concerned about theft. Lojack or similar programs can be purchased to act as a deterrent if this is a concern.
Utilization of MS Office (Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint) would be difficult to use on a tablet and may cause guest frustration.

Best Practices for Implementing Tablet Technology in Hotels

Implementing tablet technology in hotels requires careful planning and execution. Here are some best practices for implementing tablet technology in hotels:

Define Goals

Hotels must define their goals for implementing tablet technology, including what services and amenities they plan to offer through the tablets and how they plan to use the data collected from the tablets.

Choose the Right Technology

Hotels must choose the right technology for their needs, including the type of tablet and the software that will be used to manage the tablets.

Train Staff

Hotels must ensure that their staff is trained to use the tablets effectively, including how to troubleshoot issues with the tablets and how to use the data collected from the tablets to offer personalized guest experiences.

Future Trends in Tablet Technology for the Hotel Industry

The use of tablets in hotels is likely to continue to grow in the future, with new innovations and technologies being developed to enhance the guest experience. Here are some future trends in tablet technology for the hotel industry:

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is likely to play an increasingly important role in the use of tablets in hotels. AI can be used to analyze guest data and offer personalized recommendations and promotions to guests.

Virtual Reality

Virtual reality (VR) is another technology that is likely to become more prevalent in the use of tablets in hotels. VR can be used to provide guests with immersive experiences, such as virtual tours of local attractions.

Augmented Reality

Augmented reality (AR) is also likely to become more prevalent in the use of tablets in hotels. AR can be used to provide guests with information about local attractions and events, enhancing their overall experience.

Tablets have revolutionized how hotels offer guests services, providing personalized experiences, increasing revenue, and enhancing operational efficiency. However, implementing tablet technology in hotels can be challenging, and hotels must take steps to ensure they have partnered with the right hotel technology company so they can rest assured guest data is protected and that their staff is trained to use the tablets effectively. With the continued development of new technologies, the use of tablets in hotels is likely to continue to grow, providing guests with even more personalized and immersive experiences.