Digital Check-In for Hotels

Digital check-in allows hotel customers to arrive at their room and check-in without having to pick up a room key (also called a hotel biometric entry), visit a registration desk, or otherwise see someone face-to-face. It is contactless in the sense that it does not require any interaction with personnel or a physical key.

The hotel provides the guest a text or email with a link to the digital check-in site, where they can enter their contact information, scan their identification, and pay for any unpaid charges. 

After completing their mobile self-check-in process, the guest can either pick up their room key from the front desk or a contactless pick-up station, or they can acquire a mobile smart key. 

There are numerous advantages to switching from traditional guest check-in methods to modern, digital check-in procedures. These are some of them:  

• It is practical

‍Everyone is in a rush, regardless of who your hotel's target consumer is (millennials, corporate executives, travellers, or the elderly), and they all need quick ways to do their jobs. People will appreciate your hotel brand if you allow them to check in at their leisure using whatever device they have with them: a laptop, tablet, or smartphone. 

• It shortens check-in lines

Your guests may have travelled long distances in planes, trains, or cars to reach your hotel. After completing their check-in, guests can skip the line at reception and head straight to their rooms to unwind after a long journey. 

• It promotes your brand naturally

 Guests can book a room stay in a variety of ways. Many of them do so through online travel agencies or travel agents. Guests will connect with your brand website because the online check-in mechanism requires them to check-in online regardless of the source of booking. With this, you have the opportunity to promote your brand, hotel amenities, and room upgrades, as well as encourage them to book directly the next time.  

• It improves the overall guest experience

When does the visitor experience begin? Is it when the hotel guests enter the room? Is it as soon as they check into your hotel? Is it when they make a reservation on your company's website? Is it when they're arranging their trip and looking for accommodations, or is it even earlier? 

Regardless of your hotel's star review, the customer experience should begin well before they arrive. They should be aware ahead of time of the level of service that they will receive.

You can use the online check-in to send pre-arrival messages to begin connecting with guests before they arrive. This pre-arrival interaction will assist you in gathering information about your guests so that you can help them feel unique when they arrive. You may set the tone for the rest of your guests' stay by showing them that you care about them before they arrive. 

• It encourages social distance and increases guest trust

The online check-in can assist you in meeting your protection and social distancing obligations. It also aids in reducing unnecessary face-to-face engagement. 

Guests are only allowed to engage with their own devices. This means that there’s no room for paperwork or paying with credit card terminal keypads. From a hygiene standpoint, it's better for both your guests and your employees. 

You can also include essential information as well as your hotel's hygiene and sanitization methods in the pre-arrival email to give your guests the comfort that their experience will be as secure as possible. 

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Some requirements of a digital check-in include verifying the visitor ID (verifying the guests who they are), collecting money (authorizing a credit card to be kept on file without retaining any personal information), and granting entry to the guest room.

All this information must be handled with care and to avoid exposing any visitor data, technology must ensure that data and communication are captured and transferred securely. 

This type of uncertainty rather arises among your guests. So, it is better to implement industry best security practices like multi-factor authentication, notifying or alerting guests, etc. If hotel operators adopt a multilayered approach, it will be more difficult for cyber fraudsters or scammers in terms of data theft.