The perfect hotel tech stack: operational efficiencies with housekeeping apps

Feb 20, 2024 | Blog

Operational efficiency is vital – and housekeeping apps enable staff to be more productive and focus on quality service delivery without time-intensive administrative processes.

Housekeeping apps play a crucial role in the modern hotel tech stack, digitalising core tasks to streamline and optimise housekeeping operations. They improve the team’s efficiency and productivity, and ensure effective staff communication by updating key hotel management systems in real-time. 

Through digitalising housekeeping processes, hotel staff can focus on delivering exceptional service that enhances the overall guest experience, and eliminate the need for paper-based processes. This not only empowers employees but supports hospitality frontline staff to do their jobs to the best of their ability. 

housekeeping

What is a Housekeeping app?

A hotel housekeeping app is a mobile application available on tablets or smartphones that is designed for hotel staff throughout the property for task management, communication and guest services. 

Using intuitive displays and job management processes, the apps streamline and improve the management of housekeeping operations within hotels. These apps typically offer a range of features to assist hotel staff in efficiently organising and executing cleaning tasks, housekeeping, maintenance, managing room assignments, tracking inventory, and communicating with other departments.

Hotel housekeeping apps should enhance operational efficiency, improve guest satisfaction, and maintain high standards of cleanliness and service throughout the hotel.

Examples of housekeeping apps for hotels

There are several housekeeping apps available on the market designed specifically for hotels. Each app may offer different features and pricing plans, so hoteliers should evaluate their specific needs and requirements before choosing the right solution for their property.

SIHOT.MOBILE connects with housekeeping, maintenance, breakfast and reception teams to offer a more dynamic working style that translates into better customer service. Ditching clipboards of scruffy paper-based lists and complicated telephone updates and instead using smartphones, these apps are popular with staff. They show which rooms have just been vacated and allow room status changes in the PMS at the touch of a button. A dashboard provides an overview of the current room situation and how many arrivals and departures are still due on the day.

Time consuming writing, filing and distribution of maintenance requests is a thing of the past. Maintenance tasks are recorded via smartphone supported by a complete description and photographs wherever necessary. Maintenance staff can schedule tasks efficiently and ensure they have the right tools for the job. On completion, a simple “OK” on the app tells housekeeping the room is ready again. At the same, this information is also available for reception staff in SIHOT.PMS.

These apps also provide functionality for restaurant staff, meal plans, lost property and guest accounts – so wherever staff are on the property they have access to essential information to provide services to guests and fulfil their tasks in the most efficient way possible. 

Hotel housekeeping apps available with integrations to SIHOT.PMS include EISI HOTEL, Flexkeeping, HMobile, hotelkit, HubOS and our own SIHOT.MOBILE; view a full list of recommended Housekeeping apps that currently integrate with SIHOT’s PMS.  

Integrating your hotel PMS and Housekeeping app

By linking the hotel housekeeping app to the PMS, team members throughout the property can provide real-time updates on the status of rooms including maintenance, cleaning, room services and housekeeping, as well as access guest accounts to provide a higher level of service. 

Integrating your hotel’s PMS with a housekeeping app not only improves internal communications by allowing teams to communicate with one another and share updates, it also reduces huge amounts of mundane, paper-based administrative procedures creating a more productive work environment for staff. 

What are the benefits of a housekeeping app in a hotel? 

A housekeeping app can benefit many areas of a hotel, particularly when integrated with your PMS. Here are some of the key uses of a housekeeping app in a hotel:

  • Room assignment management: Allows managers to assign specific rooms to housekeeping staff based on occupancy and priority.
  • Task lists: Provides housekeepers, operations and maintenance teams with detailed task lists for each room or area of the property, including cleaning instructions and any special requests from guests.
  • Real-time updates: Allows staff to update the status of rooms (e.g., cleaned, in progress, needs maintenance) in real-time, providing managers with instant visibility into room availability.
  • Inventory management: Enables tracking of cleaning supplies and amenities to ensure sufficient stock levels and timely replenishment.
  • Communication tools: Facilitates communication between housekeeping staff and other departments, such as maintenance or front desk, to address guest requests or room issues promptly.
  • Reporting and analytics: Generates reports on housekeeping performance, such as room turnover times or cleanliness scores, to identify areas for improvement.
  • Integration with PMS: Many housekeeping apps integrate with the hotel’s Property Management System (PMS), allowing seamless synchronisation of room status updates, guest information, and reservations. This integration ensures that housekeeping staff have up-to-date information and can prioritise tasks accordingly.

In today’s digital world, operational efficiency is essential. Providing staff with tools that enable them to be productive and deliver the best quality services is key. Automation via apps saves a huge amount of time, keeping teams informed and systems updated to deliver exceptional service and enhance the overall guest experience.

Contact us to find out more about how SIHOT solutions work with your existing technology vendors to ensure the perfect tech stack for your hotel.