A hospitality business like Beauty Point Hotel and Spa cares about giving clients the best services possible, especially women. The spa is located in California and has other locations across the country. Facials such as skin analysis, cleansing, and clarifying, mask and exfoliation, toning, and hydration are among the services provided at Beauty Point Spa. Other services include reflexology, saunas, massages, and body treatments including salt scrubs and massages. Manicures and pedicures that feature nail art are available. The spa also has hotel services, and the target market for these services includes the youth and the women who need to look fabulous as well as the young people in need of having a good and relaxing time out.
Technology has been rapidly changing. Every industry is trying to incorporate technology to give the best services to the clients. It is also the same scenario in the hospitality industry, especially in the spa business. Technology ranges from the machines which are being used to even the products that are available for use. Each of them ensures that the clients receive services that leave them being fully satisfied. Some of the technology is for security purposes while others ensure that there is the proper management of the services (Law, 2013). For the Beauty Point Spa, various technological options have been considered. This ensures smooth running and quality service delivery for the customers. Some of the options that are available for the Spa include:
Hardware and Software
Hardware is the tools and equipment that are available for use in the Spa. Softwares are the programs that are available for the operation of the equipment to ensure that the equipment functions well. In a spa, many machines are available. They use software to ensure the accuracy of the services. The main reason for using the new equipment connected with some programs is to be able to provide services with accuracy and precision. The use of computers is also important in the running of the spa. They enable the staff to be able to keep good records of the customers and the services each of the customers is receiving.
E-commerce
With the advancements in technology, a business transaction for a Spa is done online. They ensure that the company can be run in a manner that is convenient. With e-commerce, the spa can undertake bookings from different customers and be able to keep a record of all the bookings. It is also possible to be able to purchase the stock requirements for the spa online to improve the inventory management in the spa. Technology also enables the spa to be able to use some of the software that makes it possible to use of online shopping carts. With the utilization of this technology, it is possible for the people to purchase the products online without having to go to other pages (Ashraf, Thongpapanl & Auh, 2014). Online payments are also possible by the option of adding this service to the credit cards such that the customers can make payments and have their products delivered to them.
Product promotion
Competition in the hospitality industry has taken a high level. Most of the companies involved in the industry try to use the best technology to achieve the competitive advantage. However, product promotion has gone a new level in helping the businesses to reach their competitive advantage. Most of the firms in the industry want to be the first in delivering a particular service to the consumers so that by the time the others start to use the technology; then they would have gained a significant market share. The other reason is to strengthen the brand name of the company. With the new technology, it is possible to use various product promotion strategies. Some of them include online advertisement where advertisements are made through the internet to be seen by a large number of internet users. The other strategy is the use of websites where the customers can log into the company website and be able to find the services and the products they are searching for on the company website. It is also possible to use other sites such as the Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube to be able to increase the awareness of the products and services offered in the spa (Galician, 2013). This modern technology used in the bath is to ensure fast and efficient dissemination of the information and to increase the number of people who view the promotional messages.
Security
Safety in a spa is important since the customers need to feel secure when visiting the premises. Inventory in the spa should be free from pilferage and theft. Since the spa is also involved in the online sale of the products, it is also important to ensure that the products reach the customers safe during delivery. Therefore, use of technology can be used to enhance security in the spa. Installation of the cameras in the facility enables the staff to be able to monitor the activities taking place in the resort and ensure that customers are safe within the premises (Chan & Lam, 2013). It is also important to use technology in the management of the inventory such that activities such as theft are minimized and hence setting a secure environment for all the people. Technology also enables the use of electric fences around the premises to provide enough security, especially at night. Technology, therefore, plays a significant role in ensuring that there is adequate security in the operations of the spa as well as the safety of all the customers.
Point-of-sale Systems
These systems enable the running of the resort to be more efficient. Such activities as the tracking of the sales in the spa, payments made in every day as well as the employee activity and all the information concerning the customers can be done easier with the use of this system (Simón, Narangajavana & Llorente, 2016). In the service industry such as the spa, there is a need for robust scheduling tools that make the interaction with the customers more effectively. The different POS systems available for the resorts include Vend which is software that is capable of managing the business as well as accepting payments and scheduling appointments for the clients. It also makes it possible for one to be able to control the working of the employees as well as take the inventory of all the products being sold (Simón, Narangajavana & Llorente, 2016). This software can be operated in Mac or computers, and it can be able to work both online and offline. SalesVu is another POS that offers various beauty and wellness management features. Some of the functions that can be performed using this software include information gathering of the different activities in the spa, employee management as well as inventory management. It also enables the management of the customer bookings by making it possible for the customers to identify the free time slots available. It also makes it possible to make online reservations with some non-refundable deposit being made (Simón, Narangajavana & Llorente, 2016). Clover Mini is software that provides better POS and makes it possible to use some advanced payment options such as Apple Pay. It accepts some payment formats making it versatile enough to handle any of the clients coming to the spa. MindBody is another form of POS that is used mostly for resorts to make efficient bookings. It enables the clients to make online reservations, regularly gives reminder related to the bookings made as well as automatically prompting the customers to make bookings (Simón, Narangajavana & Llorente, 2016). All these allow the spa to run efficiently and ensure that the customers can come in when their turn is ready instead of waiting in line.
There are various technology alternatives available that can be used in the spa. One of them is incorporating the use of online business. The operations in the resort are entirely run online. The bookings can be made online with other acquisition for the products also being done online. This approach ensures that there are a systematic record keeping and flow of the services being offered. The other approach is the use of technology as a security measure to ensure that the operations of the spa are done in a secure and safe environment. Technology can also be adopted in the payment system where the payment mode used is far from cash.
The best technological approach that can be utilized in the running of the spa is that which comprises of online bookings, payments and inventory control. Such an approach ensures fast bookings and that the services given to the customers can be readily advertised online. However, there are some limitations to use of this technology such as the increased cost associated with the acquisition. It also requires some level of literacy such that illiterate people cannot use it. The advantages of this technology include improved service delivery and accurate record keeping. Use of online security measures is good in ensuring that the business achieves a better environment to perform its activities. However, it has the disadvantages such as high cost when implemented. Therefore, the best technology to be applied is the use of the online platform that enables the online advertisement, bookings, payments and inventory control.
Successful strategies that are implemented in the hospitality industry especially the spa include the use of the online platform for the sale of the products. Such an approach results in social networking and the clients can access the products at any time. Other successful strategies are the use of the customer database strictly managed by the company such that the information can be retrieved at any time.
In conclusion, technology is improving very fast. This requires that the hospitality industry especially the spa to be right ahead and be able to use the latest technology in providing the best services to the clients. Technology can be applied at any level ranging from the record keeping, employee management, and inventory control and payment system. Right technology ensures that the spa runs most efficiently.
References
Ashraf, A. R., Thongpapanl, N., & Auh, S. (2014). The application of the technology acceptance model under different cultural contexts: The case of online shopping adoption. Journal of International Marketing, 22(3), 68-93.
Chan, E. S., & Lam, D. (2013). Hotel safety and security systems: Bridging the gap between managers and guests. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 32, 202-216.
Galician, M. L. (2013). Handbook of product placement in the mass media: New strategies in marketing theory, practice, trends, and ethics. Routledge.
Law, R., Leung, D., Au, N., & Lee, H. A. (2013). Progress and development of information technology in the hospitality industry: Evidence from Cornell Hospitality Quarterly. Cornell Hospitality Quarterly, 54(1), 10-24.
Simón, F. J. G., Narangajavana, Y., & Llorente, R. (2016). Information systems management in hotel chains. The Routledge Handbook of Hotel Chain Management, 324.
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