The hospitality industry was hit very hard across 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and even today we are still seeing the significant impacts that restrictions are having on business’ turnover and customer spending. Facing more uncertainty for the future as a result of the new Omicron variant surge can mean that organisations such as hotels and restaurants are not being able to reach their full revenue potential.
Although there are many uncertainties, there is so much competition within this industry, making it vital for those working in this sector to ensure their business stays one step ahead of their rivals when we do return to a new normality.
In order to provide hospitality businesses with a great customer experience they must have robust and reliable IT infrastructure in place. This can facilitate easy and secure bookings, payments and other transactions, for instance. One way to achieve this is through employing a managed service provider. However, what does this mean exactly, and how can a hospitality business benefit?
A managed service provider is a specialist in IT solutions who can offer guidance, support and advice to those businesses working in the hospitality sector. With many hospitality companies heavily reliant on IT systems, such as for making bookings and payments, a managed service provider can assist with looking after all of their IT needs.
When you choose managed services, hospitality industry businesses can decide what level of support they might require, according to their individual needs. This could include keeping IT systems and data secure and up to date, helping when systems malfunction, and offering advice and information about the most cost-effective and appropriate IT systems to use.
Many businesses in the hospitality sector don’t have the time or resources to fully employ an IT specialist, so using a managed service provider means their IT needs can still be taken care of by working with an outsourced supplier who has expertise in this field. This means the hospitality manager can focus on other aspects of the business.
There are many benefits that come with employing outsourced hospitality IT services – here are just some of them.
1. Reduced business costs
This is because you don’t need to employ a full-time IT technician; using managed IT services can lower business costs, such as recruitment, training and salary.
2. Eliminate problems fast
When IT systems go down, it is very likely to be detrimental to a business, so having an expert IT provider on hand to help can get your systems back up and running again in no time. In many cases, managed service providers can assist remotely.
3. Ensures compliance
Many hospitality businesses hold a lot of customer data, so they have a legal obligation to comply with GDPR data protection laws. Managed service providers can offer advice regarding the protection of data that is covered by the relevant laws.
4. Safe and secure
By being up to date with the latest IT software and technology, managed service providers will ensure your data is safe and secure, and protected from threats of viruses, data breaches and malware. They can perform daily back-ups so that important data won’t get lost should systems fail, as well as handle risk and plan ahead.
5. Improved customer experience
Hospitality is very much people-oriented, so providing a great customer experience will be crucial. Using expert, outsourced IT services can ensure systems and processes meet these high expectations.
If you’re reading this with more questions that need clearing up, why not take advantage of our knowledgeable IT experts who will know everything that you need to know about managed IT services. Contact our professionals at Vantage IT today.
Image Source: Unsplash
