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Are Web Based Software Solutions for
Hospitality Finally Coming of Age?
July 14, 2004 - The Hitec show is always a great venue for showcasing new technologies and this year's in Dallas was no exception.  There was undoubtedly a buzz at the show to accompany the general vendor comments referring to attendees of, "quantity down, quality up."

Some PMS vendors announced, or renewed their commitment to, web based solutions.  Although this technology is often cited as "new", it is clearly not so: it is really just harnessing the Internet to process data the old fashioned way - on big computers at remote (computer bureau) locations. 

So what should a potential new user of this technology expect?

First, experience counts.  Many web-deployed solutions are often first generation systems that still need to be cleared of bugs and have operational functionality streamlined.  This can take years and requires many 'alpha' and 'beta' sites to provide good feedback to the software developers. 

Running a system with data held at a remote location begs the question of what happens in the event of a communications failure.  Hoteliers should expect a clear, working and workable strategy as far as "Disaster Recovery" (DR) is concerned.  There are many DR strategies available and a hotel operator needs to be upfront with their vendor about their price/risk balance. 

Hotels should ask of their vendor what added value their web-based system can give them.  Everyone wants Internet bookings; a few vendors provide integrated web bookings free of transaction costs.  Chain, or enterprise solutions, should give any hotel under a management company umbrella the capability to share guest history and thus build a single, enterprise-wide customer database that helps build recurring revenue by allowing pro-active, corporately managed and executed marketing campaigns.  How about centralized Accounts Receivable to reduce labor overhead and manage corporate receivables?

Some vendors, such as New Jersey based Ramesys, have recently announced integration with Expedia.com(r) and Hotels.com(tm).  This brings the capability to enjoy real-time, online reservations from the largest sellers of hotel rooms online.  Customers using their Entirety web based PMS will be able to receive reservations from sources such as these without human intervention: another plus by being able to further reduce costs.

Ramesys has been actively involved in deploying web based PMS for over five years, and has an installation base that reflects this experience.  Andrew Sanders, director of sales and marketing for the company, comments, "Our first installations were pretty basic but it established us as an early pioneer of this type of technology.  Over the years our install base now exceeds 450 hotels worldwide, making us, we believe, the most experienced vendor anywhere."

Ultimately there can be huge cost savings for independent hotels and chains opting for a web solution.  With no need for servers at each hotel, nor associated power/surge protection, nightly backup routines to follow or potentially complex local area network set-up and maintenance, hotels can typically save upwards of $5,000 and gain from a more resilient solution that is managed professionally.

Ramesys is experiencing a huge level of interest in its web solutions from chains and independent properties alike - all wanting improvements in functionality and reductions in cost of ownership.  They demonstrate that web solutions certainly have (finally) come of age.

About Ramesys: 
Ramesys provides single source IT solutions with application software focused on the needs of specific industries supported by a comprehensive range of e-business services. Ramesys has revenues of around $95m and employs over 650 people.  The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of products and services, and, by consistently exceeding customer expectations, has achieved market-leading status in a number of industry sectors.

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Contact:
Ramesys Hospitality

Heather Fay
Marketing Coordinator
eMail: [email protected]
  
1 Cragwood Road, Suite 202
  South Plainfield, New Jersey 07080

  Tel:  908 941 1300
  Fax: 908 941 1312

E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.us.ramesys.com


 
Also See Ramesys Dominates as the Leader of UNIX and Web Based Property Management Systems (PMS) and Brings Latest Enterprise Offerings to HITEC / June 2004
Ramesys' Latest PMS Is Lightning Fast, Ultra Thin And Web-Based - How This Technology Meets The New Demands Placed On PMS Solutions Today / June 2004
GL Resorts to Implement a Web Based, Multi-Property PMS, Online Reservation and CRM Solution from Ramesys / May 2004
Technology Update - ASP Solutions: Latest Benefits and Lower Costs Without the IT Headaches / May 2004
Hoteliers Are Selecting Ultra Thin Web Based Property Management Solutions (PMS) that Are Simple to Install, Require Little IT Expertise and Are Reliable and Cost Effective / April 2004
Ramesys' ImagInn Platinum Property Management System is on Par for Emerald Hills Resort / March 2004
USFS announces Project Reveille; Guests to receive free local and long distance calls and high speed Internet; hotels to get upgraded PMS from Ramesys / March 2004
Price, Dependability and Service Keep The Hotel Group Turning to Ramesys for their Telecom Needs / February 2004
Best Western Soldiers Field, MN, Marches Forward with Latest ASP Solution / February 2004
Hotel Operators Must Make Difficult Choices to Exploit Their Most Profitable Asset: How They Get the Best Return on Their Known Customers / February 2004
Reliable, Fast, Secure, No Transaction Fees � Ramesys Offers Hosting Service for Both Their Independent Hotel and Chain Customers / December 2003
Ramesys Web Reservations Drive Down Costs and Improves Customer Service with Transaction Fee-Free Bookings / November 2003
Tech Savy Smaller Hotel Operators Expect Full Service Technology Options / June 2003
Ramesys to Unveil New Products at HITEC: Entirety PMS for Windows and Imaginn Search Data Mining Tool / June 2003
Reliable, Fast, Secure, No Transaction Fees - ASP Implementations Are Coming of Age / June 2003
Maximize the Value of Customer Relationships with the MPower CRM Tool From Ramesys / May 2003
Ramesys/InnLink Two-way Central Reservations Interface Installed at 160 Baymont Inns & Suites and Woodfield Suites / May 2003
Ramesys� Entirety Enterprise Suite Proving to Be Tough Competition for Companies Seeking
Scalable, Affordable, Enterprise Solutions / May 2003
Marshall Management Uses Ramesys' Web Reservations and CRM to Gain New Customers Over the Web and then to Recognize and Reward Them On an Ongoing Basis / May 2003
Hansji Hotels Selects Entirety Enterprise Suite to Increase RevPAR with Integrated PMS, CRES and CRM / April 2003
Lancaster Hotel and Motel Assoc. Uses Ramesys' Entirety Enterprise Suite to Offer Over Five Million Area Visitors Real Time Reservations / April 2003
The Internet Is Becoming Increasingly Important to Hotels, Chains and Management Companies; But How Can the Smaller Players Compete On a Level Playing Field? / April 2003
Ramesys Increases Options With the Addition of Entirety PMS - A Windows Based PMS Module Within the Entirety Enterprise Suite / April 2003
Six Continents Retail Experiences Rapid Growth Coupled with Reduced Costs Using Ramesys Solutions / June 2002
Benchmark Hospitality Acquires New Properties at Record Pace with Support from Ramesys / June 2002
Tage Corporation Benefits with Enterprise Solution from Ramesys / May 2002 


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