Grow your hospitality business with no-code automation

Imagine running a hotel where routine tasks take care of themselves, freeing staff to personalise guest experiences and create lasting memories? No-code and low-code automation makes this not just a dream, but a reality for hospitality companies of all sizes.

With the words ‘code’ and ‘automation’, you may be under the assumption that you need a tech-savvy workforce with coding and programming skills to create automated processes and workflows – but that’s no longer the case.

No-code automation is accessible to everyone. Rather than writing lines of code, users can design their automated workflows visually, with the use of drag-and-drop features and pre-built blocks to connect actions and triggers. For example, a trigger could be that a guest books a room online. The no-code platform then executes these workflows (such as sending a welcome email) automatically based on the specific logic. 

Why am I only hearing about no-code automation now?

The concept of no-code (or codeless) automation is not new – in fact, some of the most popular no-code tools were founded in the early 2010s. But, during the pandemic, a number of shifts occurred which meant that no-code automation started to become wider-known. Firstly, businesses were forced to focus on digital, and fast. At the same time, we witnessed the “great resignation”, while consumer demands and preferences changed.

Although somewhat recovered, hoteliers are still struggling to match recruitment numbers to pre-pandemic levels, with more than half of hotel operators currently running at 25% to 74% of the workforce they had in 2019. And, across the broad economy, 70% of businesses report they are being held back in their digital adoption because of a shortage of tech professionals.

Staff shortages create a knock-on effect of larger workloads, which can lead to disengagement and burnout if businesses don’t find ways of readdressing this.

These are some reasons why, by 2025, the low-code market is expected to reach $29 billion in revenue. By the same time period, it is estimated that 70% of new applications developed by organisations will use low-code or no-code technologies – up from less than 25% in 2020.

Practical ways of employing hotel automation

The good news is that automation can be implemented across virtually all aspects of hospitality management. Sometimes this involves creating integrations between various hotel technologies, but unfortunately, not all platforms ‘speak’ to one another in the same language.

This is where Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) comes in. Put simply, iPaaS allows different software applications to connect and share data, ensuring seamless communication and collaboration between them.

Once connected, no-code or low-code automation can then be applied to automate certain processes, such as:

• Guest messaging

• Check-ins and check-outs

• Reservations

• Payment processing

• Inventory management 

• Housekeeping 

• Maintenance

• Marketing

• Reports

Many of our clients including Falkentrum Boutique Hotel, Teleport Hotels and The Usual are already using no-code automation to streamline processes, with operations, guest experience and payments and accounting the most common areas our clients are transforming.

If there’s something you’re looking to automate, chances are you’re not the first person to do it. There will be ‘off-the-shelf’ software applications readily available that cater to the most common needs, but if you desire something bespoke, you can either opt for the ‘lego blocks approach’ – where you can piece different functionality together to fit your unique needs – or use a platform that allows you to build your own software applications, all without the requirement for programming.

If it seems overwhelming, start small. Identify tasks and workflows that are currently being carried out manually, and look for ways to optimise these. The beauty of no-code automation is that these new and improved processes can be up and running in a matter of minutes.

No-code automation for long-term success

The reality is, many hotels are still relying on outdated pen-and-paper processes and lagging behind in digitisation.

No-code automation can not only help to level the playing field between you and your competitors, it can create the foundation for the future. Here are a few reasons why:

Low barrier to entry

Traditional automation solutions often require specialised IT knowledge, creating a dependency on a limited pool of experts. As no-code automation tools are designed to be user-friendly, individuals of various skill levels and backgrounds can use them effectively. As they are quick to implement, creators can see almost immediately the value the automated process brings, and this gives a real sense of achievement. It may even spark an interest in employees to learn code, or develop even more advanced innovative solutions, which broadens their career horizons.

Operational excellence

No-code automation streamlines various operational tasks within the hospitality sector, eliminating manual errors and inefficiencies. This allows hotel staff to focus on more strategic and guest-centric activities.

This level of digitisation also empowers IT teams to manage their workloads effectively, using no-code automation for easier or smaller tasks. This frees up skilled developers to focus on more creative or complex endeavours that can really propel a hotel’s digital infrastructure.

Increased revenue

Implementing this new way of working can lead to revenue growth through several channels. You can use it to optimise pricing strategies, for example, helping hotels adjust rates dynamically based on demand, occupancy, and other relevant factors. 

Additionally, automated marketing campaigns and personalised guest interactions contribute to upselling opportunities. By leveraging these tools, hotels can maximise revenue potential, create targeted promotions, and ensure that pricing strategies align with market trends, ultimately driving financial success.

Enhanced guest experience

Imagine how pleased your guests will be to receive instant responses to their queries, or to be able to check-in to their hotel room without the need for a physical key? It’s all about making the guest journey as frictionless and personalised as possible, creating an experience to remember which will translate into positive reviews and repeat bookings. 

Quick to adapt

The ever-evolving nature of the hospitality sector demands flexibility and adaptability. No-code automation provides hotels with the agility to respond quickly to changing market conditions, customer preferences, and industry trends. Since these tools do not require extensive coding or IT expertise, hotels can easily modify and customise automated processes to meet new requirements.

In summary, the adoption of no-code automation in the hospitality sector is a strategic investment that goes beyond immediate efficiency gains. It positions hotels for long-term success by fostering innovation, enhancing guest satisfaction, and ensuring operational excellence in a rapidly changing digital landscape.