Hospitality management software describes the tech solutions that allow hospitality operators to run their businesses efficiently and effectively.

From web-based platforms to integrated technology solutions, common hospitality software touches every part of the customer journey from pre-visit research and booking through to in-venue touchpoints via EPoS and order and pay technology and post visit optimisation through CRM tools. Hospitality software also supports back-office operations and team member management by streamlining stock taking, property management, staff training, HR and task management. 

The best hospitality software ensures that it solves a business-critical issues such as reducing admin and operating costs or improving workforce management and deliver a strong return on investment (ROI).

A hospitality operator's requirements will change depending on size and site complexities. All hospitality businesses, regardless of size, would benefit from: 

• A reliable EPoS (Electronic point of sale) that is cloud based so has no downtime even if the internet drops. Being able to customise your POS and build bespoke reports alongside comprehensive stock management is essential for growing and larger businesses. 
• Bookings and table management software that enables you to manage all enquiries and bookings in one central location regardless of channel (such as Facebook or website visit). This software will improve enquiry to booking conversions and help reduce no shows through automated reminders. 
• Hospitality Checklist apps help independents through to enterprise businesses replace paper processes with digital checklists and logs, improving compliance and supporting teams to deliver quality guest experiences time after time. 
• Rota technology supports businesses of any size to efficiently schedule rotas, optimise labour spend and approve timesheets. 
• Customer Relationship Management technology not only helps you capture customer data but enables you to drive return visits and maximise loyalty. 
• HR and workforce management software is the backbone of any hospitality business. Having the right technology can improve your ability to attract, retain and develop front and back of house staff. 
• Procurement and menu management technology helps multi-site operators control costs through improved and automated procurement processes and better visibility and control over supplier costs. 

Technology can help hospitality operators in every part of their business from attracting, retaining and managing team members to improving guest experience and driving repeatable guest visits. Looking at the customer journey technology can help in the following ways: 

• Delivering great guest experiences - ensuring customers can find you (through discovery and booking websites such as DesignMyNight.com) to delivering an enhanced booking experience either through your website or social channels. Then maximising on this during in-venue visits by offering flexible ordering capability and easy bill splitting for groups. 
• Optimising operations - With cost control key for every business, hospitality technology can help you keep tighter control on costs, whether that be food purchases or property maintenance.  
• Being able to attract, retain and manage your team members is an ongoing challenge that can be made much easier through the right hospitality technology. Whether it’s speeding up the recruitment process or reducing admin time for rota management, the right HR and learning and development tools can help improve team members' engagement and drive efficiency.