Changing Property Management Systems, how to Reduce the Disruption

There is no doubt that changing the property management system for your Hotel, Resort or Inn is disruptive to the business routine for your team, and the change can also be disruptive for your guests.  Anyone that has been through the replacement of software that is an integral part of their business will agree.

Preparing your entire team mentally and organizationally to make the change is the key to a successful, less disruptive and less stressful switchover to your new property management system.  The time to get everyone excited about the change is during the preparation stage.

The preparation stage begins during the evaluation process and will continue into the training and implementation phase of your new property management system.  If the targeted implementation date is sooner rather than later, the evaluation process will need to overlap the planning of the implementation phase.

Some factors that may affect the timing or urgency of changing your property management system are:

• Current property management system is at the end of its life cycle and needs to be replaced.
• Franchise agreement ending, the business is dropping the flag (going independent, no longer a franchise).
• Purchasing a Hotel or Resort and the existing property management system is not part of the deal.
• Opening  a new Hotel or Resort and you require a property management system.

Once you have purchased a Property Management System, your property management system vendor will assist with the planning process, however the Project Manager responsible for the Property Management System evaluation and the Hotel Management Team need to step up to the plate and lay the foundation since it all starts prior to the purchase and during the Property Management System evaluation.

Good luck with your evaluation and planning!

Jeff Sefton

Comments

[software development in Surrey]

That was an inspiring post,
This is some great advice towards reducing the disruptions that can occur in the workplace,
Thanks for writing about it