Hospitality is the most thrilling, dynamic and demanding industry of all. It usually involves balancing between providing top-notch services to customers and carefully keeping an eye on costs.
The varying demands and eccentricity of guests, keeping the expenses under control and successfully handling all other responsibilities can be overwhelming, even for the most experienced managers. Actually, it takes much more than an average manager to bring order in the demanding and chaotic world of hospitality.
Key challenges within the hospitality industry
1. Competition
The competition in the world of hospitality has been ever-ripe. Apparently, in the attempt to beat the competition, players in the industry leave no stone unturned. This is a major challenge by itself. They are always striving to improve and grow. And remember, the primary focus on their attempts revolves around enhancing the customer experience.
Why so?
In other industries like banking, automotive, and pharmaceutical, the product is usually the primary determinant of success, and client experience comes secondary. As you might be aware, the hospitality industry is very different. Well, here, customer experience is a key ingredient of the delivered product.
Looking at the many developments that have happened in the recent past, digitization of services has progressively become the center of attention for nearly all kinds of businesses. Basically, these digital advancements are aimed at offering convenience to the customers. Currently, and fortunately, at the crest of this craze stands a fresh addition – electronic signatures.
2. Chaos and mismanagement
Like we have mentioned above, chaos and mismanagement are evident in the world of hospitality, just because of the nature of the services involved. Poor workflow, too much paperwork, and decentralized system lead to loss and mishandling of information. Improving workflow can boost efficiency and allow players in the hospitality industry stay competitive.
3. Too much paper
Some of the typical paperwork synonymous with the hospitality industry includes guest check-in and check-out forms, employee records, operating sheets, supplier invoices, sales reports, and cash receipts. These documents are manually signed, scanned and emailed, sent via courier, or faxed to relevant parties for approval and retention purposes. This is so time-consuming and inconveniencing, right? Your customers don’t wish to be kept from their rest time by mind-numbing paperwork.
The solution to all these setbacks lies in incorporating a simple system that is inexpensive, simplifies workflow, provides cost savings and brings order in chaos. Apparently, an electronic signature solution does all that.
How e-signatures are reshaping the hospitality industry
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Hotel check-ins and restaurant reservations
Presently, hotels and other hospitality facilities are offering the expediency of check-ins to clients through online portals. Customers don’t have to be physically present. This is logical and convenient for traveling business-people who wish to book a hotel at the last minute. Easily, they can perform all the procedures of checking-in by accessing forms via the online portal. They can choose an online payment option and remotely e-sign documents or check-in forms for further processing.
Many hotels are also embracing the process of online reservation. Customers can reserve a table online, pay for the services, and e-sign the request form to confirm the reservation.
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Opting for additional services
Players in the hospitality sector are offering advanced e-sign solutions for customers who wish to get additional services throughout their stay. It could be excursion services, dry cleaning services, car rental services, etc. The hassle of completing and manually signing facilitation documents for these services is minimized. With an e-sign integrated online system, the process becomes automated, thus hastening the whole procedure.
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The invoicing options
The invoicing operations in the world of hospitality have also incorporated e-signature solutions. Patrons nowadays don’t have to wait for the invoice or proof of purchase to be manually sent to them. Actually, the invoice can be uploaded to their account directly or sent to them through emails, where conveniently they can review and electronically sign it as a way of consenting, particularly during the check-out period.
Benefits of eSignature for hospitality industry
- Improved customer satisfaction – E-signature solutions enhance customer satisfaction by offering convenience to the patrons during various stages of receiving/using the ordered services. Additionally, it reduces delays regularly encountered throughout the delivery of such services.
- Improved brand image – Young people are becoming the dominant clientele for the hospitality industry. They have an inborn preference for technological solutions and organizations that use e-signatures, appeal to young patrons more than organizations which provide services the traditional way.
- Improved customer service – With the services now becoming prompt and transaction process becoming semi-automated, the hospitality staff can concentrate on offering what matters most – outstanding customer service. They can spend more time in discovering the needs and preferences of their patrons, which otherwise is not doable amidst the procedures involved in processing the documents manually.
- Reduced overhead costs – By going paperless, the players in the hospitality world can cut the overhead cost. Money could alternately have been used in servicing photocopying/scanning machines or buying things like toner and paper can be used in other important things.
- Centralized repository – With an electronic signature solution, managers can create, save, and import all types of forms and securely store them in a centralized location. You do not have to look for information in different locations. As a manager, you will be rest assured; all your vital documents are secure and easily accessible via the electronic signature software. You can also keep records for future reference and for the purposes of regulatory compliance, without occupying extra office space.
Other benefits
- Simplifies workflow and improves collaboration
- Reduces clutter that comes from too much use of paper
- Improve information availability by electronically maintaining all documents
- Eliminate document loss
- Reinforce your brand repute
- Doesn’t require strong technical skills
Conclusion
Customers come first in the hospitality industry. However, for too many hospitality businesses, paperwork gets in the way resulting in the poor customer experience.
A document delay keeps your customers from entertainment – which is the very key reason they are visiting your premises. Reduce these delays by having an e-sign solution in place. Its benefits to the hospitality sector cannot be overlooked. Certainly, it is an innovative solution that has and will continue redefining the industry.
That said, if you have more questions regarding the effectiveness of electronic signature software to the hospitality industry, the Foxit eSign team is always ready to help you. Feel free to contact us.
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