How Managed I.T. Services Will Give Your Hospitality Business an Advantage

Focusing on your core activity is vital to the success of any enterprise. When it comes to the hospitality industry, tending to the needs of your guests should be a top priority as the customer...

by Jay Mark

1 minute read

Focusing on your core activity is vital to the success of any enterprise. When it comes to the hospitality industry, tending to the needs of your guests should be a top priority as the customer experience is the essence of your business. However, as with every other industry operating in today’s digital world, technology in the hospitality industry continues to disrupt and transform the way organizations and customers interact with one another. An integrated suite of applications runs the entire business from front desk to housekeeping, and guests have come to expect an array of technical facilities from online booking portals to free Wi-Fi.

Trying to run I.T. in-house distracts a hospitality business from its core focus, which is to keep guests happy with engaging customer experiences. As such, it makes good business sense to outsource your I.T. to a managed services provider (MSP). Not only can an MSP give the organization the time and resources it needs to concentrate on its guests, but the right MSP will have the skills, experience, and partnerships required to transform technology into a real competitive advantage.

New Technologies Create a Competitive Advantage

One of the primary reasons an organization outsources the management of its technology to an MSP is to gain access to specialized, scarce skills. Multiple waves of technological innovation which have disrupted business models across the global economy have also affected the hospitality industry. With modern consumers embracing online and mobile services, hospitality businesses have been forced to invest in connectivity and technologies their guests expect and demand.

Investigating, implementing, and maintaining new systems and technical solutions takes time and effort. It also requires a specialized set of skills from resources which know how to deploy these hospitality solutions efficiently and cost-effectively. With the near-constant wave of innovative solutions which need implementation, hospitality businesses need access to specialist skills which not only understand the technology but also have the experience to align it with the organization’s requirements. Partnering with an MSP who has access to these resources, and a proven track record in deploying successful technical solutions in the hospitality industry, is the quickest and most efficient way to gain the competitive advantage new technologies have to offer.

Security and Compliance

A digitally-driven hospitality business has a competitive advantage due to the automated processes that orchestrate the entire guest experience. From the moment the guest books their stay online until they leave your establishment, systems gather information that needs to be secured. As a hospitality business primarily deals with the personal information of customers, they must comply with a range of standards and regulations from PCI-DSS to GDPR. If hackers were to compromise this confidential data, not only could it lead to severe fines and regulatory sanctions, but it could also result in serious reputational harm and the potential loss of future business.

Securing applications, systems, and networks is a specialized area of I.T. operations. The ever-evolving nature of cyber attacks means organizations need to remain in touch with current cybersecurity trends and practices. Investing in in-house resources can be expensive, especially if you consider the specialization required in different areas of information security. Contracting with an MSP who has a range of skills, technologies, and solutions needed to secure a hospitality environment reduces the risk of a cyber attack and is far more cost-effective and efficient.

Cost Control

Every hospitality business needs to maximize their profitability. Increasing the bottom line can either be achieved by improving revenue inflows or decreasing operating costs. Although commercial organizations should focus on trying to do both, lowering costs is far easier than trying to increase revenue, as the business has direct control over what it spends. In an industry as competitive as hospitality, efficiency and the cost-effective management of operating expenses could be the difference between success and failure.

Partnering with an MSP is a proven way to not only reduce risk and increase efficiency but also to lower operating costs. Due to economies of scale, MSPs can provide hospitality businesses with resources and services efficiently and cost-effectively. If you compare the costs of hiring and managing a complement of full-time I.T. staff as well as operating I.T. infrastructure, outsourcing these services to an MSP is far more cost-effective. Furthermore, as MSPs provide similar services to a wide range of customers, they develop processes and controls which allow them to offer a service that is both efficient and effective.

Time to Market

In today’s disruptive business environment, enterprises that can bring products and services to market faster than other organizations in their industry have a distinct competitive advantage. As technology is the underlying platform that enables organizations to offer these innovations to their customers, the ability to rapidly deploy a technical solution can give a business the upper hand. The hospitality industry has often leveraged new technologies as a catalyst for growth, providing their guests with products and services which enhance their customer experience.

An MSP with experience in the hospitality industry has access to specialized skills and possesses the relevant expertise to implement technology solutions rapidly, efficiently, and cost-effectively. The right MSP should also be able to guide a hospitality business and help them select the right technologies that align with their strategic requirements and customer expectations. Partnering with an MSP that has these qualities not only ensures the effective and rapid deployment of technical solutions that are secure and cost-effective, but can also give the hospitality business that competitive edge it needs to succeed and grow in a dynamic market.

The Right MSP Can Be Your Secret Weapon

In the hospitality industry, technology is essential. Not only does the business need it to operate, but guests have come to expect it. Running a hospitality business demands that you focus on providing your guests with an excellent customer experience. However, if you are also trying to manage your technology internally, this could distract you from your core focus. Partnering with the right MSP not only provides a hospitality business with the freedom to focus on offering their guests a world-class experience, but it can also give it a distinct competitive advantage. An MSP with expertise in implementing hospitality related technologies can help deploy the correct solutions rapidly and efficiently. It can also ensure any systems are secure, compliant, and cost-effective. Taking all these factors into account, a hospitality business that has the right MSP as its technology partner clearly has a competitive advantage.

JMARK has been helping businesses in Springfield and Tulsa increase their success with the help of innovative I.T. solutions for thirty years. The driving force behind everything we do is to help our clients move their business forward and achieve their goals. To learn more about how we can provide your hospitality business with a competitive edge, contact us today.