A few months shy of the second decade of the millennium – the world has evolved into a technological hub. The smart technology boom has changed everything from how we live to how we work. Technology has touched and revolutionised every sphere of human life.
The business industry has seen a paradigm shift in its operations over the past decade, and the hospitality industry is no different. Everything from operations management, marketing, and servicing to guest experience is hugely dependent upon the use and implementation of technology.
The hospitality industry has always been a witness to cut-throat competition. Today, everyone from a local cafe to a luxury hotel is leveraging technology to up their ante. No business in the hospitality industry, irrespective of how big or small, can afford to overlook the involvement of technology to attract and please the patrons.
Latest technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) are shaping the future of the hospitality industry. Smart tech and AI are transforming how the industry operates, manages customer interactions, but also enabling businesses to cut on costs and add to the business’ profitability.
The hospitality industry offers an array of rewarding careers through its diversified categories that include food and beverage (F&B), accommodation, event management, and travel & tourism. Every hospitality job today requires the candidate to be abreast with the latest technological developments in the industry.
Here are 5 technologies that will help you in making a successful career in the hospitality industry:
1. Internet and Wi-Fi
Internet is the heart of technology. One cannot think of technology while overlooking the importance of the internet and Wi-Fi system. As a hospitality professional, one must be acquainted with the basic working of the internet and Wi-Fi system installed in the restaurant. The basic knowledge can come handy to resolve conflicts arising due to slow or no internet connectivity in the restaurant.
2. Use of Smartphone and Tablets
Mobile phones have revolutionised the way restaurants work. Most of the restaurants these days have an online ordering system that allows the server to accept orders via a smartphone or a tablet which is directly updated in the chef’s device in the kitchen. These online ordering systems helps in providing accurate and efficient service to the patrons. Familiarity with mobile devices and comfort in using those can make the working in a restaurant easy.
3. Online/Digital Reservation System
The biggest issue faced by any restaurant is managing the availability of tables. The wait time is one of the most commonly encountered issues by diners. The online or digital reservation system lets the patron book a table online, and the seating arrangement is allotted as per the time duration of the booking along with the number of people visiting. A large number of restaurants are implementing the software, making it inevitable for the staff to learn to use the software.
4. App Smart
Thanks to smartphones, people are bombarded with mobile applications (apps) that assist them from taking notes to maintaining a healthy diet. Mention the need, and there is a mobile app for it. Many businesses have a dedicated app for their customers that assist them with things like making bookings, paying bills, and much more. As an employee in the hospitality industry, one needs to have a thorough understanding of the working of the dedicated app of the restaurant to be able to assist the customers facing any technical difficulty in operating the app.
5. Cashless Payments
Economies across the globe are going cashless, and India is not far behind. The plethora of digital payment apps and swipe-less card payments are changing the way customers pay their bills. It is vital to know about the digital payment gateways that the restaurant uses to accept transactions from the customers as well as operating the credit/debit card machine.
Technology can play a critical role in the success of a hospitality business. Adoption of technology is not enough. Successful implementation is what will make the difference, and for this, the employees need to be tech-savvy. The right technological infrastructure with an equipped staff is bound to revolutionise the hospitality industry.