In the hotel sector, supply management has become very important to ensure high quality service and optimize costs. In addition, with technological evolution, the demand for sustainable practices, economic considerations and guest preferences, the way in which hotels manage their resources has changed significantly.

On this article, we discuss the latest news and trends in 2024 regarding supply management in the HORECA (especially in hotels and restaurants) sector, highlighting how technology is redefining operational efficiency and responding to current market expectations.

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‍Importance and benefits of efficient essential supplies management‍

Before going into detail about the latest trends and technologies in supply management for the hotel sector, it is essential to highlight the advantages inherent to effective management when incorporating technological solutions. In an increasingly competitive market oriented towards sustainable development, hotels are focused on:

• Optimizing resource use: By incorporating advanced technologies, the efficient use of resources, such as energy in hotels, reduce waste and improve sustainability.
• Improving operational efficiency: These technological innovations not only reduce operating costs, but they also ensure that supplies are available at the necessary time, avoiding interruptions in service.
• The implementation of monitoring systems: Recent advances allow hotels to use platforms that monitor consumption and costs incurred for each service or supplies, allowing immediate adjustments to avoid waste and additional costs.
• Compliance with environmental regulations: Efficient management helps hotels to comply with environmental regulations, which is crucial for maintaining a responsible and sustainable operation.
• Reducing operational risks: Good management minimizes the risks of cost overruns and interruptions in essential services such as water, electricity and internet, which are vital to the guest experience. You can learn more about how to save water in this guide for HORECA.
• The development of brand image and corporate reputation: The ability to deliver a high-quality experience without supply failures strengthens the hotel's reputation, helping to attract and retain satisfied customers.
• Customer satisfaction: By ensuring that all necessary supplies are available and in optimal condition, the experience and, therefore, customer satisfaction is improved, which is fundamental to the hotel's success and competitiveness.

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Emerging technologies and trends for supplies management‍

From Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), the Internet of Things (IoT), to blockchain and advanced analytics are increasingly gaining ground in 2024.

And these emerging technologies are still a fundamental pillar for business development and supply management in hotels and restaurants. In addition, the creation of multifunctional spaces to offer various areas to adapt to the work and leisure needs of guests and diners, they provide, on the one hand, versatile environments, although, on the other hand, excessive supply costs may be incurred.

Let's see, below, some of today's most important technologies and trends for more efficient supply management:

• Energy management automation systems: Intelligent systems allow you to monitor and adjust consumption in real time, optimizing efficiency and reducing costs. For example, intelligent energy management systems are designed to automatically adjust heating, ventilation and air conditioning according to the occupancy of the establishment, which not only reduces energy consumption, but also improves the sustainability of the establishment.

• Big Data and business intelligence: Big data, which enables the analysis of large volumes of information to identify consumption patterns and opportunities, together with business intelligence, which transforms this data into useful information through analytical tools and dashboards, are driving businesses in the sector to improve their performance and remain competitive in a demanding market. Polaroo, for example, is a solution that integrates both technologies to provide visibility on consumption and costs of electricity, gas, water, internet, insurance, etc., through the essential supplies management software.

• ‍Internet of Things (IoT): Allows connected devices, such as thermostats and sensors, to send data in real time to improve resource management and alert to problems such as water leaks. For example, if a sensor detects a water leak, it can automatically alert maintenance personnel, thus preventing waste and reducing the impact on costs.

• Revenue management systems: They are used so that the strategies of dynamic pricing in hotels can maximize revenues and adapt to market changes, anticipating demand and trends through predictive analysis. This means that better informed decisions can be made based on real data to manage the basic supplies needed for each season, depending on the occupation.

In addition to the technologies mentioned above, hotels are adopting innovative practices for managing your supplies in a more sustainable and efficient way:

1. Positive energy hotels: These hotels generate more energy than they consume, generally through the use of renewable sources such as solar or wind energy. Surplus energy can be redistributed to the local community, which not only improves the sustainability of the hotel, but also provides an additional benefit to society.
2. Water management systems: Water scarcity is a growing problem, and hotels are responding by implementing water recycling technologies and grey water management systems that allow water to be reused for non-critical tasks, such as garden irrigation.
3. Robots and automation: Automation has also come to supply management through the use of robots for cleaning and transporting materials. These robots can operate continuously, reducing the need for human intervention and improving operational efficiency. In addition, digital amenities such as mobile check-in/check-out, digital keys and real-time notifications about rooms and events are incorporated.

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‍Why is it advisable to implement automated management systems?‍

It is recommended if what we want is to ensure that each supply is correctly recorded and accounted for in order to minimize costs and risks in managing supplies.

For this reason, the technology designed for this purpose is becoming part of the daily work tools of managers in the HORECA sector, giving them access to having all the information about what is being spent on each property or what are those utility bills where some adjustment or more management time is required.

Tools for automated supply management enable managers to optimize resources, improve customer experience and reduce operating costs. With the advancement of technology and growing guest expectations, the automation and digitalization of supply management is an essential strategic investment for long-term success.