Introduction to Augmented Reality within the Hotel Industry
The hospitality industry is considered one of the numerous sectors which can be diving into Augmented Reality (AR) as a tool to extend customer satisfaction and boost their bottom line. AR has emerged as an important marketing tool, allowing businesses to alter the way in which customers perceive the environment they’re in. This technology is incredibly beneficial to the hospitality industry because hotels are essentially selling a physical environment, which might be enhanced through AR.
Why is AR Becoming Important within the Hospitality Industry?
AR has change into a crucial concept throughout the hospitality industry in recent times since it allows hotels and other related businesses to reinforce the physical environment they’re selling, or enhance the experience of exploring the encompassing area. Another key reason is the quantity of data guests are inclined to ask for, each before they arrive and once they’re there. AR technology could make a number of this information available to customers in any respect times of the day, improving their entire experience.
Front-of-the-House Applications of AR
AR might be seen as a two-fold concept within the hotel industry: front-of-the-house and back-of-the-house applications integrated with other technologies. Here are a number of examples of how guests use AR technologies as a front-of-the-house concept:
- Interactive Hotel Rooms: The ability to see a map of the inside of a room before check-in, which has been utilized in UK hotels.
- Augmented Hotel Environments: Hotels are in search of ways to entertain their guests while on property, aside from the standard activities. For example, Holiday Inn created an AR hotel experience, which allowed guests to point their smartphone and see realistic virtual depictions of famous celebrities within the hotel.
- Beacon Technology: Starwood Hotels used this technology to send virtual keys to guests, allowing them to unlock their door through their phone.
AR Applications and Hospitality Integration for Workers
In order for the front of the home to operate properly, the back of the home must have applications that can keep customer satisfaction high, keep costs down for hotels, and ultimately keep the assets of the property intact and in working fashion. Facility managers are continually considering of the way to extend productivity, decrease costs, and keep engineers protected while they perform work tasks. AR is an ideal example of how engineers/employees can use these tools and incorporate them with an Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) solution.
Examples of AR Technology for Workers
Some firms are already incorporating AR technology into their day-to-day tasks to extend employee/engineer knowledge, ramp up the on-boarding time for brand new employees, and keep engineers safer by seeing instructions in real-time on real objects. For example:
- DAQRI developed a wearable AR tech smart helmet for industrial use, allowing engineers to see 4D images above assets of their facilities that prompt them with instructions.
- UpSkill connects the workforce through AR in its wearable technology, guiding technicians in real-time to finish tasks, checklists, work orders, and send media to managers.
- Worklink has made it possible for users to create their very own smart instructions for assets, allowing for less human error, increased safety, and step-by-step repair processes.
The Future of AR within the Hospitality Industry
The possibilities have gotten infinite with regards to how the Internet of Things (IoT), AR, Virtual Reality (VR), and Machine Learning will help facilities with energy savings, labor savings, worker safety, and more. A CMMS has the potential to offer maintenance management and staff with an automatic tool able to scheduling inspections, preventive maintenance, managing inventory, work orders, and retrieval of recorded asset history. The future is a scary and exciting thing, but ultimately inevitable for change.
Conclusion
In conclusion, AR is becoming an important tool within the hospitality industry, each for front-of-the-house and back-of-the-house applications. Its ability to reinforce the physical environment, provide guests with information, and increase employee productivity makes it a beneficial investment for hotels. As technology continues to advance, we are able to expect to see much more modern applications of AR within the hospitality industry, resulting in increased customer satisfaction, improved efficiency, and reduced costs.
