Benefits of VoIP for Hotels & Hospitality
An efficient communication system is the backbone of most industries and hospitality is one of them. Rewind 20 years back, and hotels were stuck with the traditional phone system, which came with a number of limitations. The hardware-heavy PBX phone systems meant extensive wiring throughout the building, stress and difficulty of continuous system maintenance, and of course expensive service. The risks and costs associated with traditional PBX landlines made them more of a liability than an asset.
With the passage of time cloud telephony redefined the way organizations interact with their customers. The development of digital and internet voice services, or VoIP phone systems, offered more features in terms of capability, cost, and reliability. With all the ingredients to create a delicious customer experience, VoIP is an ideal solution for all communication needs in the hospitality sector.
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What is VoIP?
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication, converts voice into a digital signal that travels over a broadband connection and adapts to correctly reach the recipient. If the recipient is using a traditional phone, the signal converts to a regular telephone signal. Calls that have been made to a computer app or a VoIP-based phone, remain in their digital form.
Why Switching to a VoIP System Makes Sense?
VoIP operates over the internet, which means no copper wiring, no installation costs. This, in turn, translates into cost savings, and an added advantage of flexibility, and performance. As VoIP communication systems run solely on broadband services, it eliminates the dependency on costly phone companies. Adding more lines to your phone service can be done without the need for any additional physical space. Though one would still need to partner with a VoIP provider, a lot more can be done at a far lower cost.
Here’s the icing on the cake. Switching to a VoIP system enables hotels to offer a bouquet of services to guests such as on-the-go voicemail, multi-line capabilities, and a multitude of options that came at very high costs earlier. As technology continues to evolve, VoIP ensures that hotels and hospitality firms stay ahead of their competition.
Benefits of VoIP for ‘Hotels and Hospitality’
The hospitality industry benefits from VoIP services in many ways. An efficient communication system is vital for running seamless operations as a lot of activity happens behind the scenes in this sector. The moot purpose of this industry is to provide a comfortable, and satisfactory experience to guests. When we think of hospitality communications, besides guest phones, there are also phones for staff-to-staff communication, reservations, guest services, and more. Since this is an industry that stays awake and works round-the-clock, an effective phone communication system is non-negotiable. VoIP phone systems are reliable and come packed with features that spell varied benefits for all your hospitality needs. Let’s dive in!
#1. Low maintenance
Bad weather, power failure, old wiring, and many unforeseen circumstances may impact the phone system and at times result in an outage. The physical infrastructure (desk phones, wiring) of traditional PBX systems requires regular maintenance, upkeep, and periodic replacement to keep them in perfect working condition. Modern VoIP systems require no elaborate physical infrastructure hence there are no maintenance and repair worries. Also, being a subscription-based service the maintenance and upkeep is your VoIP provider’s responsibility. Being an internet-based communication system, you always stay connected.
#2. Low cost
Traditional PBX systems involve substantial financial investment for wiring the hotel for phone lines and building the required infrastructure. An add-on data option means an additional charge. Features like a conference call, conference bridge, call forwarding, etc. will attract additional charges. These features are a must-have for the hotel and hospitality industry. A VoIP system runs over broadband, letting you use voice and data over the same network. It also saves on the extensive wiring and handsets cost. Most VoIP software can be installed on existing laptops/desktops, smartphones, etc. which means hotels can save money by integrating their current equipment with this technology. VoIP systems can also integrate with the existing analog infrastructure and telephones that the hotel is already using, which makes the switch to VoIP easy and cost-effective.
#3. Efficient and improved front desk service
There is never a dull moment in the hospitality sector. The incoming and outgoing calls from a hotel front desk never seem to stop. Be it guest room/dinner table reservations, vendor orders, or guest inquiries, front desk phones rarely stay on the hook. A traditional phone system would mean, busy phone lines, long call queues, waiting times etc. However, VoIP features such as IVR (Interactive Voice Response) systems and auto attendants offer automated menus and responses to efficiently manage the heavy flow of incoming calls. IVR enables you to build customized interactive menus allowing callers to access the right department easily, make reservations, and answer FAQ even without speaking to a staff member at all. VoIP systems can also route calls to off-site answering services, making sure guests speak to a real person if they really need to. Guests can reach out to you 24×7 anytime, anywhere.
