The expanding role of cameras, sensors and AI-based technology in the future of hospitality

It’s a widely acknowledged fact that the hospitality industry is at a technology crossroads. While many hoteliers have seen the green light and chose the road ahead, some operators are still hesitating and may see competitive advantages ceded to their competitors. Hospitalitynet reports that, “The hospitality industry’s landscape is set to undergo significant transformations characterized by increased personalization, automation, AI, and cybersecurity, just to name a few.”

Hotel operators are looking into AI, as part of their ongoing digital transformation. That’s due to the growing realization that AI can indeed offer efficient solutions to ongoing challenges in the hospitality industry. Still plagued by staffing shortages, hoteliers are looking to optimize staffing resources to focus more on guest-centric activities. This can be accomplished by automating many processes and operations, including streamlining check-in and predictive room preferences. This frees staff to engage with guests and deliver a brand's promise face to face. 

HotelTechReports asserts that the use of AI can improve operations by automating repetitive tasks, freeing up human staff to focus on guests. AI can drive housekeeping and maintenance by using sensors and cameras to control temperature, lighting, and security in guest rooms. AI systems can also help to optimize pricing through data analysis and predictive modeling while driving energy efficiency by using smart building systems.

Hoteliers are also using AI to drive personalization, and PwC reports that “A key element in this strategy involves deploying AI to analyze guest data from loyalty programs and mobile apps.” In fact, 76% of hospitality executives told PwC that personalizing the customer experience to boost loyalty is a high priority.

However, the successful use of AI is dependent upon the ability to gather the data these systems run on. According to Hotel News, “Collecting data on customer behavior becomes essential for personalizing the guest experience, where there is no room for guesswork. By 2026, it’s expected that nearly two-thirds of hospitality players will add location-based awareness to their unified customer data strategies. This move aims to boost loyalty and lifetime value, potentially enhancing offer and marketing effectiveness by 35%.”

Gathering the right data with IoT (Internet of Things)

But where is all this data coming from? Well, smart hotel rooms are powered by the Internet of Things (IoT). This is accomplished by enhancing guest room features and appliances with internet connectivity, so that guests can customize room features to their specific preferences, such as controlling lighting, thermostats and window treatments. 

Consequently, by allowing guests to personalize various aspects of their stays, hoteliers can gather invaluable and proprietary first-party data. Hoteliers can use this data to power their AI system to make personalized recommendations, and anticipate needs on future visits, based on a guest’s interests and information saved in their account profile.

Hotel News notes, “Certainly, the need for more data means companies must improve their existing infrastructure. Today, one of the biggest challenges for hoteliers is unreliable or slow internet connections for their onsite systems. To address this, 55.8% plan to increase their spending on physical infrastructure this year.”

Hoteliers can transform any place into a smart space with a modern infrastructure, complete with a network that integrates environmental sensors, smart cameras and wireless access points. Such a network solution can enable monitoring and analyzing an array of information from a property. 

Using smart cameras to enhance physical security and guest experience

Managed network solutions exist that are integrated with cameras that provide important data, analytics and control to enhance your operations. For example, hoteliers concerned with physical security can opt for systems designed to allow pinpoint supervision from any remote location. Indoor wide-angle cameras can provide overhead views of corridors and public areas, and outdoor cameras can be angled and adjusted to zoom in on surrounding objects, such as vehicles in and around the parking area. Live or archived footage can be viewed via an online portal. Most cameras come with encrypted solid-state storage and two-factor authentication to keep footage from getting into the wrong hands. Beyond security, motion sensors in the cameras streamline monitoring of equipment, public areas, deliveries and a diverse range of other applications.

Spectrum Enterprise can help

At Spectrum Enterprise we understand how technology can be the key to satisfy guests and how you manage your property(s) operations. Seamless, ubiquitous connectivity, flexible content delivery and a modern network can help you deliver hyper-personalized and elevated guest experiences, while supporting your hotel staff with the latest network management tools and expertise. Managed Network Edge for Hospitality is an end-to-end managed solution that includes security and routing, local network switching, network management and WiFi. Built on the Cisco Meraki ecosystem, you can also easily expand services to meet a landscape of new opportunities. Cisco Meraki IoT smart cameras and sensors, delivered and managed by Spectrum Enterprise, can help hoteliers reduce risk, save money and further sustainability goals.

Will we see you in Charlotte at HITEC? Stop in and see us at booth 3647.