There was a time when technology and hotels were poles apart. But today, the picture looks completely different; hotels are highly dependent on technology.
Moreover, when I am saying technology, I even mean the highly advanced ones. Both these segments have come a long and exciting way.
While I have covered almost all technological aspects, there’s still something that needs attention — Open API.
Open API in hotel tech is not much talked about; however, it is as important as any other segment. So, I have decided to take it upon myself to introduce you to this technology interface.
In this blog, I will touch upon each and everything about open API and understand how hotels can benefit from it.
Table of Contents
What is Open API?
To learn about open API, you have to first understand what is an API.
The full form of API is the ‘application programming interface’. It is basically a software intermediary that lets two applications connect for a specified task. You can also say that it is a middleman that helps two applications communicate and function in sync.
Now, when we say Open API, it is a publicly available application programming interface. Meaning, it can be accessed freely via the Internet.
Hotels and other accommodation providers that are looking to integrate various software can use an open API. Furthermore, it also helps developers in gaining access to certain features of a software without writing a large amount of code.
How Does Open API Work?
Let me explain this with an example.
Ms Stephenson Pino has recently deployed a property management system in her hotel. Impressed by the capabilities of the system, she has also done a hotel booking engine integration. Every time the hotel acquires a reservation through the booking engine, they don’t have to update it on the system. It happens automatically and has become possible because of the hotel booking API that is used to integrate the booking engine with the PMS.
To give you more clarity, a hotel PMS is the core of hotel management. It also connects seamlessly with other departments and systems that you might have in your hotel.
But from a technical standpoint, making all the systems work in sync might seem like a challenging task. So, what open API does is, it bypasses the entire tedious and lengthy process behind integrating all the systems.
Now, the question here is — how come hotels weren’t aware of such an amazing technology? To learn about this, we have to go back to the past a little.
The Emergence of Open API in the Hotel Industry
As they say “a new technology, an old problem, and a big idea turns into an innovation.” This is exactly what the hotel industry had witnessed in the past.
Even though the technology was solving a lot of problems during the initial phases, it was still in its infancy.
One of the examples of this is the legacy PMS. The system, definitely, helps in many aspects of a hotel’s operations; however, it still requires manual tasks or efforts because many new programs and tools were introduced.
Hotels needed a solution that would connect everything and bring it down under one roof.
Cloud-based property management systems and open APIs are a great solution to these sorts of scenarios. Open API in hotel tech not only streamlines hotel operations and user experience but also enables better data sharing capabilities between hotel management applications.
Today, APIs have become supremely crucial for hospitality establishments because they are user-friendly, skilled, and cost-effective.
Companies like eZee, with its strides, are playing a vital role in this entire scenario of hotel tech. eZee has also stepped in as a hotel API provider and its open API is a one-stop source for hoteliers looking for suitable API and have their systems integrated with the company’s hospitality solutions in no time.
Moreover, open API in hotel tech is going to present various opportunities for innovative and simpler operations for hospitality businesses thus making their work smooth.
What are the Benefits of Open API for hotels?
Why open API? Are open APIs special? Are there any exceptional advantages?
The sole reason businesses are turning to open API is because it is publicly available.
Like I mentioned above, it is complex in terms of technicality. But whatsoever, systems need to have clear and seamless communication and synchronization. Open APIs help with just that. They are designed in a standard manner that makes integration with other programs easy.
Further, open API also accelerates technology implementations. Meaning, if a business has a system with a great API, they can easily build their own reports or entire applications on top of it.
Technology is ever-evolving and there are times when opting for a new tech feels daunting. Open API eliminates that aspect. It keeps various doors open for you to have access to new and exciting technologies.
Simply put, open API positions your business for future growth.
How to Choose the Right API for Your Hotel?
The process of choosing the hotel API integration provider starts by incorporating a hotel PMS. This system will be the one that will connect all your other programs.
We have a detailed resource that will help you pick the right property management system for your hotel. Do give it a read.
Next up, you need to assess certain things before deploying an API. I suggest you consider the following points:
- Does the API support PMS integration?
- Are there any developer portal or any detailed document available that explains all the ins and outs of the interface?
- What are the standard practices that the API follows?
- Is the API open and secure enough to prevent any data breaches?
Based on your requirements, you can extend the list and make the most informed decision.
FAQ
It depends on the hotel and the technology infrastructure. If a hotel has a PMS that is capable of working in sync with other programs, then API integration is possible.
Here are some of the hotel API examples:
– Booking engine integration
– Channel manager integration
– Integration of POS system
– Accounting software integration
Note: These integrations are with a hotel PMS.
There are several instances that present the need for open API integration. Here are three of the common ones:
– If your hotel has deployed a PMS and is now facing data synchronization challenges.
– When developers face challenges while writing code and fixing bugs.
– If you have various programs want to bring all of them under one dashboard.
Outlook
The hospitality industry has faced various obstacles in terms of technology in the past. Many times, it has affected customer experience and staff productivity.
However, things have changed. Hotel technology has evolved tremendously in the past few years. It’s not just the hotel PMS but every other aspect as well.
Today, hotels are highly equipped with technology that people have never seen or heard about before. And it is really appreciable that the industry is embracing all these advancements with an open mind.
Open API is also a part of this evolution. These interfaces have made the lives of hoteliers easy. The to and fro between various systems have become almost negligible, resulting in better hotel operations and guest experience.
Furthermore, hotels that have still not turned to technology are lagging. They must start their search for a hotel PMS and API provider and get things rolling as soon as possible.
The ongoing COVID-19 episode has also changed the way hotels operate; so, they must stay abreast with all the latest trends and advancements.
