Budget hotels have always been in vogue, and more so in recent times when cost conscious travelers are cutting back on the frills while still packing in a holiday.

This has brought into prominence the long ignored budget hotels. Until recently, these simple, utility based abodes attracted only prudent travelers, but things are rapidly changing and business travelers keen to get their money's worth are also booking into budget hotels.

Even though a budget hotel is a cost optimized facility, it can still use technology to reduce its dependence on manpower, respond to guests faster, locate opportunities to up sell and cross sell and on the whole grow revenue.

Here are some of the ways technology can help a cost sensitive budget hotel enhance its revenue.

Robust Hospitality Software – Wow Guests, Increase Revenue
No matter the size of a hospitality property, robust software designed for the niche needs of budget hotels can automate a host of routine processes that may hog hours of your staff's time, enhance efficiency and speed up response to guest requests. If your budget hotel does not have a restaurant, all you would require is Front Office Management, Telephone Management, Accounts Receivable and Point of Sale. IDS NEXT Pax Xotels has been designed for the niche requirements of budget hotels and lets you optimize your use of manpower.

Point of Sale Solution – Automate Billing and Serve Guests Faster
Delight your guests with faster billing and check out, have the information you enter go directly to your accounting software and have real time information on sales in your hotels property management system. A good point of sale touch screen terminal only enhances efficiency at your hotel and that is noticeable from its increasing popularity.

Mobility Solutions – Connect with Guests Faster and Locate Opportunities to Upsell
The price of tablet PCs is dropping, and a smart mobility solution for your restaurant ensures your guests can independently order their food and drinks without the assistance of a waiter. A mobility solution for your top management also means they are in the know while on the go. Interfaced with your property management system, managers can get alerts and escalations which they can resolve quickly.

Passport Scanner to Hasten Guest Check-in and Enhance Security
A passport scanner is an excellent guest identity management solution. A small but really cool device, it can prevent your staff from running around to take photocopies of a guest's passport. With a scanner your staff avoids typing-in guest's details and it works well with your front office management solution too. With a passport scanner, all it takes is a few minutes for information on the guest to be recorded into the property management system or hotel ERP. This information can also be accessed by your loyalty and feedback management solution and when a guest is a regular visitor to your hotel, the passport related information pops up automatically.

High Quality WiFi - Guests stay connected, Hotel opens up new revenue channel
Most guests want to check official and personal mail, stay connected with friends through social networking sites, upload pictures and share files. A growing number of guests are thus requesting their hotel for high speed internet and WiFi. This offers a new revenue channel that budget hotels can cash into.

These are just few of the many solutions a budget hotel can leverage to reduce costs, automate processes and free hotel staff from mundane, repetitive tasks. Another big advantage of automation and technology is that it prevents wastage of material and time, and does away with revenue leakages. So if you are a budget hotel wondering how to capitalize on the growing market demand, technology is a simple way that can help you retain your competitive edge, delight customers and grow your revenue.

Solomon James is Vice President, IDS Networks Group and can be contacted at sjames@idsfortune.com

About IDS NEXT
IDS Softwares Pvt. Ltd. "IDS NEXT", is a global leader in providing ERP and total technology solutions for the Hospitality and Leisure industries. With a track record that spans over 25 years, we have earned the trust of over 3000 customers globally with a strong presence in 40 countries across South Asia, Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa. IDS NEXT's clients include a host of prominent hotel chains including Sarovar Hotels & Resorts, ITC Fortune Group, Royal Orchid Hotels, Pride Hotels, Ramada Hotels and others.

IDS NEXT's portfolio of  capabilities include Strategic Consulting, Business Outcome Services, Custom Design and Development, Total Technology Solutions and a range of next generation software products that  addresses the hospitality industry, such as independent hotels, chain hotels, business hotels, resorts, clubs, service apartments, limited service, spas, cruise liners and restaurants.

For further information please visit http://idsnext.com