IDS Next is showcasing its intelligent hotel platform, FX1, at HITEC conference in Dubai.
The cloud-based platform offers chain and independent hotels an integrated suite that operates across front office, housekeeping, incident management, CRS and POS modules. It also has an open API to enable integration with distribution, financials and customer relationship management applications.
“As the leader in emerging markets, we have been participating in this great event since the inaugural HITEC Dubai. This year, we are launching the worlds’ first ‘intelligent hotel platform’ called FX1,” says Binu Mathews, chief executive officer (CEO), IDS Next.
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“The guest was our primary focus when designing this platform. Over and above all the transactional needs of a hotel, this platform is embedded with guest experience solutions that covers pre-stay, during stay and post-stay engagement. Our [built in artificial intelligence algorithm] also allows hotels to increase revenue through upsell and cross sell of services and facilities,” he explains.
Cloud-based software offers hotels numerous benefits including centralised management of data, security, application enhancement and support. By hosting applications in the cloud, hotel operators can reduce the associated infrastructure costs and managing its core business application in-house. IDS’ software suite has been designed intuitively to enable staff to use it with a minimum amount of training.
“There are many advantages of cloud technologies,” says Mathews.
“However, enterprise hybrid cloud is important for the hotel industry. Making sure solutions work on thin bandwidth leveraging native mobile applications [amplifies] the success of hotel operations,” he adds.
The software vendor plans to use its HITEC appearance to build on its already sizeable installed base in the region. Of IDS Next’s 4800 sites worldwide, 1000 are based in the region. Existing customers across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, include Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Louvre Hotels, Taj Hotels, ITC Hotels, Ramee Group, City Seasons, Holiday Villa, Atkins Spence and Haile Group.
According to Mathews, key to extending its reach across the region is the vendor’s direct support capability. IDS Next has a 24 hour support centre available, staffed with a team of technical and domain experts. “We believe hospitality is a 24/7/365 days business and we are available through local support, backed by our support centre. We also have a [disaster recovery] site for our 24/7 support centre to ensure true ‘anytime availability.’”
IMAGE Binu Mathews, CEO, IDS Next