Hospitality CIOs are embracing the cloud and the preferred Software-as-a-Service (Saas) model. This forward-thinking mindset is a GOOD thing for the hospitality industry! However, SkyTouch Technology and other best-of-breed vendors share the following advice with CIOs: leave the technology to vendors! Today’s dedicated vendors have spent at least a decade in the cloud, they are on top of the latest trends and developments, and they are equipped to handle the hotel’s technology needs so that hotels can remained focused on meeting the needs of guests.
Understanding the cloud and SaaS
It’s important to recognize that they are not one in the same. While SaaS is a type of cloud computing, true SaaS involves more than simply running software through the Internet. It encompasses the overall maintenance and upgrading of the system. SaaS customers have no hardware or software to buy, install, maintain, or update; all of the system’s software and data is hosted and managed at a central data center operated by the technology vendor. The hotel property manager accesses the system through their web browser and a broadband Internet connection in order to manage and monitor essential functions. Under the true SaaS model, the technology vendor takes over from there, handling all data backups, maintenance, and updates on behalf of the hotelier.
Outside vs. In-House
Today’s best-of-breed SaaS-based property management systems are steadily replacing on-premise legacy systems… and hotel IT departments. With SaaS services delivered via the Internet and hosted off-premise, there is no longer a need for the in-house IT department to install or maintain on-site equipment and hardware. Rather than handling within, CIOs are finding there are many more benefits to reaching out, both in cost and time savings. Reputable vendors such as SkyTouch Technology have already spent at least a decade in the cloud, their primary focus is cloud-based property management, and they seamlessly handle maintenance, compliance, and upgrades on behalf of their hotel clientele. Users of their platform reap savings by eliminating costly on-premise systems, support, and training and also drive revenue by utilizing rate and distribution management and other integrated features of the cloud-based PMS.
CIOs are urged to consider the alternatives when it comes to their cloud-based hotel property management approach. Selecting a technology vendor — whose primary business is building in the cloud — offers a better alternative than trying to recreate the wheel from within. Going “outside” allows the hotel to free itself of unnecessary expenses (and headaches) by letting the vendor shoulder the software and hardware management. Hotels who stop thinking about the cloud and let the vendor do the thinking for them are positioning themselves for success.
