IoT-platform solution for a hotel complex

This makes it possible for you to know precisely what your customers want and create those products or services that match their needs. Millennials and Generation Z have become the largest number in history. Generations who value experience and emotions more than material things. They grew up on the Internet and have been surrounded by digital technologies since their childhood. They form unique requirements and preferences that have a significant impact on various industries, including the hospitality industry. According to Skift, about 68% of Millennials believe that high-speed Wi-Fi is one of the most important services in a hotel, and more than 50% of Generation Z expect to use smart technologies in rooms.

To remain successful and have growth prospects in the hospitality industry, it is important to adapt to and pay more attention to digital innovations. It is important to introduce new technologies, personalize services, and focus on sustainability and social responsibility to attract and retain customers.

Our client foresaw possible challenges in the future, so they decided to reconsider the strategic approach to their business by changing the culture and processes within the company. They were looking for solutions that would help them optimize operations and improve the quality of guest services using modern technologies and automation in the hospitality industry. The main goal of the project was to create a single system platform that combines various components of a network infrastructure, as well as software and hardware.

The project was focused on finding and developing solutions that will help optimize operations and improve the quality of guest service using modern technologies and automation in the hospitality industry. To achieve these goals, we developed a single system platform that combines various components, including network infrastructure, software, and hardware.

The platform solutions package includes:

• Property Management System (PMS): a system that integrates all the aspects of hotel operation on one centralized platform. This included convenient management of rooms, bookings, staff, cleaning, and other functional units, which significantly increased the efficiency and the level of guest service.
• Restaurant and lounge area management systems: for orders accounting, warehouse accounting, personnel management, and sales analysis.
• Spa and fitness centers management systems: for recording clients appointments, managing schedules and inventory, as well as analyzing the efficiency of spa and fitness services.
• Mobile application: an application for guests that allows you to book and pay for rooms, make check-ins and check-outs, order food, use hotel complex services, control the air conditioning system and lighting using the "smart room" function, use a virtual key to open and close the doors with full access rights and permissions management by an Administrator. Also, guests can use the app to confirm the possibility of using an elevator and getting only to their floor.
• Analytics and reporting systems: systems that allow an Administration to generate reports and analyze data for decision-making.
• Security system: the integration of video surveillance systems and sensors for guests’ and employees’ safety.

To ensure clients’ security and confidentiality, access to personal data is provided only to a limited number of people who pass the system of authentication and authorization. Important data and client’s information go through the encryption stage and are stored on confidential servers, access to which is restricted.

The use of the Wirepas system allowed us to use the IoT technologies to implement the "smart lock" function with a QR code and a "smart room", monitoring and video surveillance of security on the territory, automatic fire safety, access settings, and registration of visits to various parts of the hotel. AI technology is used for data analysis and process optimization: demand forecasting, personalization of recommendations for guests, resources optimization, analysis of reviews and feedback, forecasting room service, and inventory accounting. With the help of AWS Alexa Skills, we also added the ability to voice control the services of the hotel complex and the mobile application functions.

Implementing a single system that combines various components can be a complex task that requires a lot of effort and resources. It is especially important to take into account the interaction with the existing systems. The developer company should not only have an in-depth knowledge in the development of such multi-level projects but also be as flexible as possible, and be able to quickly respond to new tasks and conditions. A key element of success is transparent and effective communication between the development team and the client.

Our client had already used programs for managing room bookings and hotel staff, accounting for finances, and generating reports. Therefore, they were looking for a partner who would provide a full range of services and expertise at all the stages of development and solutions implementation, which will help avoiding possible problems.

We held several detailed meetings to identify the client's problems and understand their business goals. Based on the collected data, a draft of a new unified system and a plan for its implementation were proposed. As a bonus to our full range of services, we were ready to provide staff training on using new technologies and long-term support in case of problems.

The hybrid approach to development used in this project turned out to be an ideal option due to the possibility of ensuring interconnection and consistency between the various elements of the platform being developed and the existing solutions. We analyzed the existing structure, identified its bottlenecks, and collected preliminary data to create an MVP, following the Waterfall methodology. This made it possible to understand more precise requirements for the system and its possible functionality for further stages. After creating the MVP, we moved to the iterative development methodology, which made it possible to develop and improve the components of the system if needed. This approach made it possible to effectively manage all stages, ensure independent scalability of each part, and be flexible in the choice of technologies, which was necessary for the successful implementation of the complex and multi-level project.

As a developer company, we played a central role in the successful implementation of the project, providing design, development, integration, testing, and support of all the modules of the single system platform. The results of the transparent collaboration with the client had a positive impact on the business, improving operational activities, service quality, and clients’ satisfaction. This not only affected the profit growth but also strengthened the client's position in the hospitality market.

The Aionys team created a single system platform that allows you to manage all the operational processes of the hotel, the lounge area, the spa, and the fitness center, generate reports and analyze data, integrate the video surveillance system and security sensors, personalize access to movement on the territory. A mobile application was also created for clients, which allows them to book rooms, order food, the hotel complex services, control the air conditioning system and lighting using the "smart number" function, and use a QR code to open/close the door. The introduction of the single system platform allowed our client to optimize operational processes and increase the efficiency of staff, which increased profit and gave a significant advantage over competitors in the hospitality industry.

Due to the cooperation with Aionys, the client managed to achieve the following results:

• A single system platform was created that allows you to manage all the operational processes of the hotel, the lounge area, the spa, and the fitness center, generate reports and analyze data, integrate the video surveillance system and security sensors, and personalize access to movement around the territory.
• A mobile application was developed for customers that allows them to book rooms, order food, use services of the hotel complex, control the air conditioning system and lighting using the "smart number" function, and use a QR code to open/close the door.
• Automation and optimization of operational processes, the increase of staff performance annual indicators by 19%.
• A high level of application security is achieved by implementing the data encryption standards in accordance with the PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) requirements.
• A reliable system of authentication and authorization of people to prevent unauthorized access to information about users’ personal and payment data.
• A secure and configured automated security system on the territory of the entire hotel complex.
• An increase in clients’ satisfaction indicators by 30%, which resulted in the growth of booking numbers and, consequently, of the annual profit.