Bringing the Internet of Everything to Life for Hoteliers

In my recent post, “The Internet of Everything’s Impact on Hospitality”, I discussed how the Internet of Everything (IoE) is currently transforming the hospitality industry to more effectively enhance the guest experience while ensuring operational efficiencies and sustainability for hoteliers.

As we continue to move into a new age of mobile and connected things, IoE presents a number of advantages for hoteliers, increasing business value as well as securing customer loyalty through enhanced guest experiences. Hotels that leverage IoE capabilities are made possible through technologies such as Wi-Fi-enabled RFID sensors and Bluetooth LE.

I outlined a few IoE-enabled hotel capabilities that will be the foundation of hotels of the future.

Online check in, upgrade and door lock automation – Before arriving, guests can select their preferred room or upgrade their stay in the same way that they select airline seats. On the day of arrival, the guest is able to remotely check-in using his/her mobile device. Once checked-in, their personal mobile device can serve as their room key, unlocking the guestroom door securely without the need of a keycard.

Temperature/environmental sensors and controls – Temperature and room controls are automatically adjusted based on occupancy, time of day, outside temperature, guest preferences, number of people and their location within the property and data collected through the interaction of devices and people in the hotel.

Hotel security – Sensors can detect physical threats to the hotel and notify property staff and guests automatically. This includes detecting the location of people within different areas of the hotel and automatically directing them to safety in emergency situations such as a fire – alerting security personnel to help people evacuate safely.

IoE’s opportunities are nearly endless, but it’s important to understand hurdles that may arise when implementing an IoE-enabled infrastructure. First, we must address the issue of security. As always, when dealing with new technology integration and data gathering, personal security must be top-of-mind.  Security concerns can make or break the effectiveness of how we use IoE.

IoE is dependent on a consistent standards-based industry platform. Today the network infrastructure in hotels is inconsistent or unreliable and many hotel systems are not fully integrated, making it harder to implement a standard IoE strategy across the industry. Additionally, understanding how well this connected technology responds in extreme circumstances such as a fire or natural disaster is a concern. You must ensure that devices such as telephones or alarm systems can operate for a certain period of time without power during an emergency.

And like any new technology, solutions must be cost-effective, self-configurable and remotely manageable in order to be widely adopted in the industry.  How do you think IoE will help hoteliers drive greater intimacy or loyalty with hotel guest s in the future? Leave your response below in the comment section.

For more information on how Cisco is helping bring IoE to life at hotels across the globe, visit cisco.com/go/hospitality.