What is a self check-in kiosk at hotel?
A self-check-in kiosk is a kiosk that allows guests to expedite more routine tasks like booking, check-ins, checkouts, and room service requests. Guests simply use the electronic kiosk which will ping or notify the hotel staff.
What features do hotel check-in kiosks offer?
In a hotel, a self check-in kiosk can actually do a lot more than a simple check-in. What can a check-in kiosk do for your guests?
Check-in: The kiosk can handle the entire check-in process, including finding the guest’s reservation, collecting a payment method, and creating room keys that are compatible with door locks. Some kiosks have integrated document scanners that can record a copy of a passport or ID card too. Guests can complete the entire check-in process in about a minute!
Check-out: Rather than printing folios for every guest and sliding them under guestroom doors on the morning of check-out, you can let guests decide whether they want to print or email their receipts as they walk out of the lobby. Guests can also drop their room keys and arrange transportation upon departure.
Upgrades: You can generate incremental revenue by allowing guests can browse and purchase room upgrades or add-ons from the kiosk. Upselling additional services and add-ons like parking, bicycle rental, and a breakfast package/room service are all fair game. Some guests feel more comfortable buying upgrades on their own terms, rather than while interacting with a staff member.
Service requests: Guests can notify the front desk about any type of request, like asking for additional towels or to replace a light bulb, without having to pick up the phone or wait in line to speak to someone in person. Employees can also benefit from the opportunity to triage and track these requests when they come in electronically.
Hotel information: Guests can browse information about your F&B outlets, spa, pool, parking options, neighborhood recommendations, and more on the kiosk interface.
Reservations: Some kiosks also allow guests to create, modify, or cancel their reservations, similar to the functionality of the booking engine on your website.
Payment processing: Check-in kiosks must handle registration forms and credit card processing meaning that these systems can also reduce chargebacks and prevent fraud.
Basically, a kiosk can handle nearly any task that does not require assistance from a human. It can also house any hotel information that might otherwise be printed in a guestbook or posted on signage.
The Advantages of Hotel Self Check In Kiosks :
1. No More Lines
The main benefit that comes to mind when first considering a self-serve kiosk is the ability to cut down on queues at the front desk. Even with minimal hotel staff on hand, kiosks make it easy to address the needs of multiple guests at the time. Your guests are sure to appreciate the streamlined check in and out process especially if they are running late. Smart kiosks can check in guests using their names, confirmation numbers, or by scanning an ID. Not only does this provide a more convenient guest experience, but it also improves operational efficiency for your team.
2. Liberate Your Staff
Self-service kiosks free up your staff from needing to conduct the mundane check-in activities for every guest.
3. Improved Guest Data Use
When your guests input their own data into your kiosks, they are less likely to make mistakes when it comes to spelling or email formatting. This data can then automatically be registered within your Property Management System and inform other aspects of the guest experience, such as special requirements and room preferences. Your business benefits through the clearer picture this creates of your guests. This valuable information can be used to improve facilities as well as inform marketing strategies. In addition, you can collect guest emails and other information that they volunteer for promotional purposes.
4. Flexibility to Fit Your Needs
Whether you’re just looking for a simple self-check-in option or a way for guests to interact with other aspects of their stay, you can use self-service kiosks to help achieve the key business goals of your hotel in an aesthetically pleasing way. You can place kiosks near your front desk, in a casual sitting area, or in any other location where your guests could use a self-serve service.
5. More Revenue-Generating Opportunities
When guests use your self-serve kiosks, they’ll be able to browse upgrades and extra services at their leisure. This is an attractive option for guests who would prefer to avoid in-person upselling tactics from your staff. Your kiosks can display a number of upgraded amenity packages which your guests can instantly add to their bill. The best part about using a self-serve kiosk as a revenue source is that there are no additional labor costs.
6. Provide a Personalized Experience
Once a guest logs into your kiosk, they can be addressed in a personalized way.
You can use guest data from your Property Management System to inform the experience that you deliver via your kiosks and deliver a kiosk interaction that is unique to them. For example, you could use images from their home country as a way to make them feel welcome.
7. Give Customers a Choice
Even if a guest chooses to talk to your staff rather than use a self-service kiosk, they will still appreciate having the additional options available to them. More than ever, guests like to feel empowered with a range of self-service options. These include features like being able to message the front desk or order room service with an app. Self-service kiosks fit into the greater theme of personalization and on-demand dynamics that drive the modern accommodation industry.
Conclusion
We can conclude that there are numerous benefits of investing in self-check-in technology. For instance, it will simplify the check-in process, maintain social distance which is the need of the hour, reduces human error.
Moreover, when the workload of staff decreases they can concentrate on building bonds with guests which helps in gaining positive hotel reviews and increasing sales of your hotel.
The guests will be happy and satisfied with your hotel services.