Beyond Retail: RFID Applications within the Hospitality/Hotel Management Industry

While RFID for Retail remains the primary focus at Truecount, the needs of our growing client base have pulled us beyond that industry to create solutions for other verticals. The Mobile Merch solution we developed for event merchandisers sent RFID traveling with the band, proving its capacity for rapid counting and near perfect accuracy remain constant under the toughest road conditions. Our newest projects involve RFID applications and tagging for sports equipment, including ski, kite surfing and baseball gear.

RFID’s combination of near-perfect accuracy with real time visibility can be employed in unlimited ways for counting and tracking. RFID has the ability to count thousands of items per minute with 99%+ accuracy, providing unprecedented visibility into all functions related to inventory management while keeping the cost to perform these activities extremely low. Recently, we were asked to advise on leveraging RFID technology for the hospitality/hotel management industry. We were happy to begin counting the ways hospitality professionals can benefit from RFID:

1. Managing Linen and Other Guest Room Inventories

Washable RFID tags make it possible for all towels, sheets, pillowcases, tablecloths, napkins, guest robes and other items can be validated/counted when being laundered or transported, ensuring everything is returned to the proper location. RFID helps locate towels or robes left by the pool, in the spa or on the beach, saving time otherwise spent in locating/retrieving and also saving money for replacement/replenishment. If stolen, RFID can identify when and where the item(s) are leaving the premises, and in what quantities.

RFID also expedites sending and receiving of items (to and from laundry vendors) and can minimize billing discrepancies and human error. It can be used to track lamps, telephones, radios/televisions and other portable room inventory items.

2. Keeping Track of Uniforms:

Tagging uniforms with RFID ensures they are accounted for, clean and ready for employees when they report for work—and returned on time by staff after use. It takes the guess work out of reordering and keeping the right sizes in stock at the right locations.

3. Enhancing Standard Key Cards:

New-generation key card systems feature RFID readers in the doors and RFID chips in the cards themselves. Instead of sliding the card into a slot, a hotel guest only needs to wave the card over the door handle to unlock the door. These systems can also allow guests to pay for drinks or dinner and to access specific areas of the facility (pool, gym, spa or parking lot).

RFID-enabled hotel key cards can also allow for purchases while at the hotel or resort. The technology provides added layers of safety and security to guest and to staff, with all data and information on the cards encrypted. Repeat or regular guests can be issued permanent RFID cards, allowing them to check in and check out quickly —without having to interact with the front desk! Using their RFID guest card, individuals can reserve their rooms, pay online, receive their room assignment, then on arrival, proceed right to their room without having to check-in. If desired, they can even record their preference for certain types of pillows and other personal requests.

RFID door lock systems are also energy efficient, generally requiring fewer battery changes than traditional electronic locks. As a result, the facility benefits from lower costs while reducing its environmental footprint.

4. Monitoring Food and Beverage:

When implemented on liquor pour systems, RFID can reduce waste and improve profit margins by monitoring the exact volume of alcohol and beverage served to customers. This reduces liquor “theft” (via free pours) and helps keep the bar fully stocked for more sales.

Food and beverage items can be tagged and monitored to maintain inventory accuracy, monitor freshness and reduce shrink, including employee theft. At the bar, RFID can help control inventory and speed restocking, including the replenishment of service items. With RFID enabled guest cards and POS, facilities can offer contactless / cashless payment options

5. Enhancing the Customer Experience

By positioning RFID “readers” at the entryway, hotel staff is able to capture and use the information transmitted by the RFID-enhanced guest loyalty card as guests enter the facility. This means hotel staff can now greet guests by name, deliver messages, follow up on special requests or add other elements to deliver a more personalized guest experience.

RFID tags can help monitor the movements of guest and staff for better service and higher security. RFID enabled access cards, wrist bands or staff badges with in-built RFID chips can help accomplish this. Guests can track their children and other members of their groups present anywhere inside the premises of the facility.

When staff members are provided with RFID-enabled IDs and badges, management can more easily monitor staff activity properly; keeping a check on their locations, monitoring staff attendance, and also keeping an eye on unauthorized access in critical areas.

6. Capturing Data

RFID can help facility owners track patterns of use to see what food, beverage or gift items are selling or not selling in specific locations, or at specific times. It provides data to help facility owners discern patterns of guest behavior to see which areas of the facility are visited most frequently, etc.
In any operation, RFID is most effective when applied to items that have a high level of shrink due to theft, mishandling and human errors. Within the hospitality sector, this includes everything from pool towels to bar stemware. Because RFID is so effective in reducing labor for items that require manual counts, such as linens, many facilities are opting to use RFID to count items that were not being counted before because doing so was too labor intensive or too difficult. Just a few reasons, hotels, resorts, cruise lines and other hospitality venues are welcoming RFID with enthusiasm.

How are you harnessing the power of RFID for your industry? Let us know by commenting here or emailing Success@truecount.com