Front Office Systems
Front office systems are software/tools used by hotels to manage guest interactions and daily operations. 1. Non-automated/ Manual System - This is classic hospitality management—everything’s handled face-to-face, with records kept on paper. Reservations: Logged by hand in a ledger or diary. Check-in and check-out: Guests complete physical forms, and keys are managed from a physical rack. Billing calculations are done manually or with a basic calculator, while communication depends on memos or direct conversation. Typical tools include ledger books, wall-mounted room status boards, and physical key racks. Example: Imagine a small, family-run guesthouse that tracks bookings in a notebook and handles payments with a simple cash box. Advantages: Extremely low upfront costs and no technical know-how needed. Drawbacks: It’s slow, mistakes are common, and scaling up is tough as business grows. 2. Semi-automated (Electo-Mechanical) - Here, you’ll find...