What do you want from software?

[dyoung]

Hello, I am trying to find out the best information for what bed and breakfast and inn owners look for in their software?
My friend and I are software developers, we were asked to help out a family hotel with a solution so we had a look around and noticed that products are either too expensive, aren't effectively scale-able or only solve a few problems. Some appear to tackle this by using multiple software solutions and paying quite a lot for that. What Ive ascertained is that we need to develop a product that solves website, calender, reservations, distribution, online bookings and payments.
If you use software what areas do you find you need and if you don't use a solution what would you want to see from one? any feedback is great and welcomed!
Thanks,
Daniel

 

[EmptyNest]

we have discussed this many times before. do a search of the threads. youll find what we think.
most here are totally satisfied with reservation key

 

[dyoung]

That solution like others only covers one area and costs quite a bit considering. I am thinking more in terms of all things you may use software for, our aim is to make a solution that cover multiple areas such as reservations, website management, online distribution and payments.
Thankyou for the reply, I will certainly have a read through older threads. I am hoping this will be slightly more of dialog than just research.

 

[OnTheShore]

That solution like others only covers one area and costs quite a bit considering. I am thinking more in terms of all things you may use software for, our aim is to make a solution that cover multiple areas such as reservations, website management, online distribution and payments.
Thankyou for the reply, I will certainly have a read through older threads. I am hoping this will be slightly more of dialog than just research..

I think you are under-estimating ResKey -- it does all of that: reservations, online distribution, payments, bookkeeping, customer relations management, and even website management (in a sense). It's cost is actually much less than the other leading available options.
All that said, I am wary of all-in-one "swiss-army-knife-type" multi-tools that try to do everything (such as you seem to be proposing), because they are usually full of compromises, and are almost never best-in-class in any of the areas they try to address.
So I tend to look more for dedicated specific function software tools that can cooperate with others and use standard interchange formats so that I can move data between and among different applications to accomplish what I need to get done.

 

[Generic]

That solution like others only covers one area and costs quite a bit considering. I am thinking more in terms of all things you may use software for, our aim is to make a solution that cover multiple areas such as reservations, website management, online distribution and payments.
Thankyou for the reply, I will certainly have a read through older threads. I am hoping this will be slightly more of dialog than just research..

The only piece that seems to be really missing at the moment is total CRM and outside ways to increase income. For example, sell to the customer add-ons even in a later email closer to the date or trying to sell an extra day that might be an orphan at a discounted price. How about a tour? Or dinner? That kind of thing.
There is software hooks for payment systems and for GDS which are pretty easy to set up. It's the CRM that isn't 100%.

 

[JBloggs]

DYoung the reason there is not a ton of banter as we just had another here last week asking the same exact thing. So it is not a one off idea.
You are also here in the midst of many peak season and the last thing anyone wants to do is change anything at this point in time, and that includes even thinking about changing it, it gives me a stomach ache to think about it.
I wouldn't put all my eggs in one basket, if that helps answer your all inclusive idea. I am sure there are those out there who may want the whole ball of wax, but the majority on this forum are more keen and net savvy than your average bear. I agree with your cost savings idea, of course. We always will agree with that one!
All the best. I hope you get some more concise answers.

PS I have a vpn issue if this posts ten times I apologize...

 

[dyoung]

DYoung the reason there is not a ton of banter as we just had another here last week asking the same exact thing. So it is not a one off idea.
You are also here in the midst of many peak season and the last thing anyone wants to do is change anything at this point in time, and that includes even thinking about changing it, it gives me a stomach ache to think about it.
I wouldn't put all my eggs in one basket, if that helps answer your all inclusive idea. I am sure there are those out there who may want the whole ball of wax, but the majority on this forum are more keen and net savvy than your average bear. I agree with your cost savings idea, of course. We always will agree with that one!
All the best. I hope you get some more concise answers.

PS I have a vpn issue if this posts ten times I apologize....

Appreciate the response! I understand it isn't quite a unique idea - mainly a belief that we can do it better.
We don't want it to feel like all the eggs in one basket by forcing the issue of adding everything we can think off, just the essentials done well.
Thanks again, great feedback

 

[dyoung]

That solution like others only covers one area and costs quite a bit considering. I am thinking more in terms of all things you may use software for, our aim is to make a solution that cover multiple areas such as reservations, website management, online distribution and payments.
Thankyou for the reply, I will certainly have a read through older threads. I am hoping this will be slightly more of dialog than just research..

The only piece that seems to be really missing at the moment is total CRM and outside ways to increase income. For example, sell to the customer add-ons even in a later email closer to the date or trying to sell an extra day that might be an orphan at a discounted price. How about a tour? Or dinner? That kind of thing.
There is software hooks for payment systems and for GDS which are pretty easy to set up. It's the CRM that isn't 100%.
.

Thanks for the feedback we had planned to add a system that interacts with previous and existing customers, very helpful comment !

 

[dyoung]

That solution like others only covers one area and costs quite a bit considering. I am thinking more in terms of all things you may use software for, our aim is to make a solution that cover multiple areas such as reservations, website management, online distribution and payments.
Thankyou for the reply, I will certainly have a read through older threads. I am hoping this will be slightly more of dialog than just research..

I think you are under-estimating ResKey -- it does all of that: reservations, online distribution, payments, bookkeeping, customer relations management, and even website management (in a sense). It's cost is actually much less than the other leading available options.
All that said, I am wary of all-in-one "swiss-army-knife-type" multi-tools that try to do everything (such as you seem to be proposing), because they are usually full of compromises, and are almost never best-in-class in any of the areas they try to address.
So I tend to look more for dedicated specific function software tools that can cooperate with others and use standard interchange formats so that I can move data between and among different applications to accomplish what I need to get done.
.

Thank you, this is super helpful. I believe we can tackle areas without it being compromised. Good to know that people may like to keep products compatible.