As I mentioned last week I wanted to give you an update on a meeting I had with a software developer that has integrated powerful mapping and database technologies in several industries, including farming.
One example is John Deere, the heavy equipment manufacturer. As a farmer, you can log on to a web site find your particular farm on a map and zoom in down to the individual parcel level. The mapping software is tied to several databases, including weather conditions, crop yields etc. and then give the farmer recommendations for the type of crop recommended for this parcel.
If you own a John Deere loader you can even download programming information for your loader to ensure the highest yielding mix is distributed on the fields. That is just one example of many more applications.
Now translate this concept to the hotel or hospitality industry. Lets start with the consumer. Imagine you have a hotel brand and combine all your databases, whether they’re hosted at headquarters or in the individual field locations. These databases include guest histories, room inventories, frequent travel programs, rate plans and anything else that you can imagine.
Your client can log on to your web site, select locations on a map and find hotels, reservations, based on their preferences not only with your brand, but each individual location, type of travel, weather etc etc. Answers to questions are generated from the pool of databases also become individualized.
Even without the smart cards we discussed last week, you have developed a very powerful web based tool to build loyal long-term guest relationships and chances are your top of mind awareness increases significantly.
For companies, imagine the possibilities with all this cross-referenced information available to every sales person in the organization. Sales efforts can be extremely targeted and solutions offered to potential clients become tailor made. Chances are that the success rate on closing sales will go up and again you have immediately started a new guest/ customer relationship.
These are just a few basic opportunities available with this technology. If we all did some brainstorming the potential applications and benefits could be enormous.
Use this concept as food for thought. If you would like to learn more or are interested in developing these types of applications, drop me a line.
In hospitality Thomas
