Current Situation
Robots and other automation principles are used to service guests and deliver amenities to customers’ rooms, but selectively. Robotics are being used for repetitive and undesirable tasks such as over-high heat grills or cleaning rooms, freeing humans for more high-value interactions, but costs per unit remain prohibitive.
Goals and Objectives
Robots are deployed and processes automated that are involved in delivering not just amenities to guests/travelers wherever they are but also peripheral activities, which currently involve a lot of human intervention. Autonomous services that enhance guest experiences will also be viewed as helpful in employee retention and satisfaction as machines are used to help with labor.
Technology Deployed
Hardware: Beacons, enterprise hardware, sensors, personal devices
Software: AI/ML, data management, POS, supply chain management
Services: IT services, connectivity services
Other: Robotics/drones/automation, IoT, geolocation, 5G
Use Case Summary
Autonomous services will extend to autonomous bots for customer service as well as robotics. Connected and automated accommodation services offer an almost humanless technology-centric guest experience from check-in to checkout, factoring in local travel to and from the hotel. Autonomous delivery vehicles can be outfitted with sensors and biometrics to facilitate delivery/payment and confirmation that the right guest receives the order wherever they may be on property or in a terminal.