Suppliers in Software

Meet the experts

Nadia Mayen
Marketing and business development manager, Tevalis

Nadia has almost a decade of new business experience, and joined Tevalis Middle East at the launch of the company’s Dubai office offering marketing research, consultancy, marketing management and business development. Nadia started her career as a journalist working for reputed agencies and media outlets along the way.

Javier Segovia
Sales director, hospitality EMEA, Lutron

The Spanish-national is the sales director Lutron Electronics EMEA and India. Javier has over a decade’s experience in the industry, and has held several senior positions in Lutron. Till recently he served as the sales director in Southern Europe and Africa, prior to which he held the same position for the company in Spain and Portugal. Javier holds a masters degree in International business from Spain.

Q: What are the latest trends in hospitality software?

Nadia: There is a shift in how operators are approaching the point of sale (POS) system. There is an increasing demand for new functionality, features and/or modules to be added and updated to current POS systems. As well as development and deployment of POS for mobile devices and tablet.

Javier: While guest room management systems have been in the market for a while, we are witnessing a slight shift in paradigm. From being tech-laden and complicated to use, to assuming a more simpler and user-friendly operation mechanism.

Q: What is your best seller to the hospitality industry?

Nadia: Our user friendly enterprise web-based portal; it holds intuitive and powerful stock management and customer relationship management modules, as well as a reporting module that permits the management to centrally analyse one or more outlets’ performance in real-time, anywhere in the world.

Javier: Lutron’s new myroom solution is receiving a fabulous response from the market and we are handing over the first batch of installations.

Q: What new products have you launched recently?

Nadia: We’ve recently released a powerful and comprehensive customer relations management solution which drives new and repeat business. The CRM system keeps a record of important details from customer transactions, interests, returns, frequency of purchase and so forth. This allows outlets to target clients more effectively by offering them promotions that relate to products they have bought previously, and provide an exclusive experience for the individual.

Javier: We have recently launched myroom, which is a complete package that includes room lighting, air conditioning controls and motorised shades. All of the features are packed in an easy-to-use package that goes a long way in improving guest comfort. Over and above, myroom provides energy­­-saving benefits to the hotel operators as well.

Q: What other news is there from your company?

Nadia: We are delighted to be launching several innovative solutions by the end of this year. The Tevalis Enterprise Portal via mobile application provides the management team with the freedom to access the modules of their businesses on their smartphones. The Tevalis Delivery Module offers businesses the requirements to manage deliveries and take-out orders smoothly, as well a mobile payments solution that allow users to learn, transact and interact through dedicated applications on their mobile devices.

Javier: Lutron offers its cost-effective shading solution that operates automatically. The Alena Motorized Drapery Tracks deploys a pull-to-start mechanism that is designed specifically for the hospitality market. The motorised operation — with or without controls — uses the right amount of technology, thereby ensuring guest comfort. Coupled with Lutron’s Quantum facility management tool, hotels can easily control and monitor facilities.

Q: What’s the main challenge for hoteliers when it comes to software and how do you help overcome this?

Nadia: Historically the industry has been supplied by a handful of vendors where it has been the vendors’ market more than the buyers’. However, this trend, in recent times, has started to change and the market place for EPOS solutions is becoming increasingly competitive. This comes as good news for buyers as they are presented with more choice and competitive pricing. Meanwhile, software developers, such as ourselves, are seeing amazing opportunities with the ability to provide fully customised end-products.

Javier: To absorb the technology, obtaining the best of it without complications is the main challenge. Lutron has launched the Quantum Software, a very intuitive software that can be accessed not only from a PC but also from any tablet devices, instantly rendering energy saving information, controlling alarms and scheduling.