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As a guest I would love the ability to order room service/food through a tablet, rather than calling the phone, and hoping the other person can understand what

As a guest I would love the ability to order room service/food through a tablet, rather than calling the phone, and hoping the other person can understand what I'm saying. As a hotel owner, yeah, I'm not too sure... it might just be an additional cost, and not worth the ROI.

a13n 9y ago
Yeah, but you could achieve the same value with an app/website on the guest's phone. Sure it's a tad more friction, but way cheaper and potentially worth it.
- AznHisoka 9y ago
  I would then need to know I could do that via an App. I guess if the hotel left a message in front of my room/desk, then yeah it would be the same effect. But then I probably would wonder if ordering through an app would relay reliably to them. With a tablet, it feels more 'real-time'
  - andrei_says_ 9y ago
    Could be a piece of information on your key or a small card delivered to you with the key and a verbal note.
  - jharger 9y ago
    I would also want to be sure that someone else couldn't order something to my room. You'd need some sort of one-time use code/key or something, and then the friction gets even higher.
evrimfeyyaz 9y ago
To justify the cost, the plan is to offer a free trial with a few tablets to collect ROI data on how much more the guests spend, how much time they look at the tablet, etc.
- conductr 9y ago
  Is there a way to build it off the TV. Like an interactive channel? Most hotels have customized channel guides and I don’t know what tech it is but that seems to be a possible route to avoid the tablet expense and it could be pitched as leveraging current assets (tv) which buyers would probably like more
  - evrimfeyyaz 9y ago
    Leveraging TVs in rooms is definitely an interesting idea, and I considered it many times, but decided against it in the end. First of all, the product is more successful the more guests use it. Using a TV with a remote is not as good a user experience as using a tablet while you're lying in your bed. I'm hoping that allowing hotels to try the tablets for free for a few months while we're collecting ROI data will be able to convince them this is a good investment, but we'll see. I'm also developing the client in React Native, and I will create an Apple TV version. I'm planning on first giving in-room tablets a try, and if it doesn't work maybe try to get in with TV apps first. Thanks a lot for the thoughtful response, I appreciate it.
    - conductr 9y ago
      Good to hear you considered it already. However I’m afraid you may be putting too much emphasis on the UX. My case is singular but here’s why I feel that way. I’ve stayed in a dozen or so hotels that have given me an iPad with apps for room service book spa appointments etc. Probably close to a month of time total. I never look at. Ok I have twice. Because they said there was an app of local business (I quickly bounced and opened yelp on my device). Usually I toss it on my table or nightstand and never touch it. So, how do you change that behavior? The fact that I have my own devices is key. Mine is set up how I like it. Why would I use yours? I’m not casually using your device and then maybe stumble into the food app to order room service. The tv however I use casually multiple times a day in a hotel. Usually around times that coincide with meal times, if I’m in room at all. I am always exposed to services like spa food etc. I just need a easy way to book at that moment. Picking up a foreign tablet to do so is a bad UX IMO. Most guests are not tech oriented people. The advantage of a slick tablet UI isn’t going to win you much. Providing the right functionality at the right time in a half as good way will be more valuable. Of course this is all conjecture and personal opinion but wanted to give my two cents. Good luck with the demo and I hope you get good feedback / roi

a13n 9y ago

Yeah, but you could achieve the same value with an app/website on the guest's phone. Sure it's a tad more friction, but way cheaper and potentially worth it.

AznHisoka 9y ago
I would then need to know I could do that via an App. I guess if the hotel left a message in front of my room/desk, then yeah it would be the same effect. But then I probably would wonder if ordering through an app would relay reliably to them. With a tablet, it feels more 'real-time'
- andrei_says_ 9y ago
  Could be a piece of information on your key or a small card delivered to you with the key and a verbal note.
- jharger 9y ago
  I would also want to be sure that someone else couldn't order something to my room. You'd need some sort of one-time use code/key or something, and then the friction gets even higher.

evrimfeyyaz 9y ago

To justify the cost, the plan is to offer a free trial with a few tablets to collect ROI data on how much more the guests spend, how much time they look at the tablet, etc.

conductr 9y ago
Is there a way to build it off the TV. Like an interactive channel? Most hotels have customized channel guides and I don’t know what tech it is but that seems to be a possible route to avoid the tablet expense and it could be pitched as leveraging current assets (tv) which buyers would probably like more
- evrimfeyyaz 9y ago
  Leveraging TVs in rooms is definitely an interesting idea, and I considered it many times, but decided against it in the end. First of all, the product is more successful the more guests use it. Using a TV with a remote is not as good a user experience as using a tablet while you're lying in your bed. I'm hoping that allowing hotels to try the tablets for free for a few months while we're collecting ROI data will be able to convince them this is a good investment, but we'll see. I'm also developing the client in React Native, and I will create an Apple TV version. I'm planning on first giving in-room tablets a try, and if it doesn't work maybe try to get in with TV apps first. Thanks a lot for the thoughtful response, I appreciate it.
  - conductr 9y ago
    Good to hear you considered it already. However I’m afraid you may be putting too much emphasis on the UX. My case is singular but here’s why I feel that way. I’ve stayed in a dozen or so hotels that have given me an iPad with apps for room service book spa appointments etc. Probably close to a month of time total. I never look at. Ok I have twice. Because they said there was an app of local business (I quickly bounced and opened yelp on my device). Usually I toss it on my table or nightstand and never touch it. So, how do you change that behavior? The fact that I have my own devices is key. Mine is set up how I like it. Why would I use yours? I’m not casually using your device and then maybe stumble into the food app to order room service. The tv however I use casually multiple times a day in a hotel. Usually around times that coincide with meal times, if I’m in room at all. I am always exposed to services like spa food etc. I just need a easy way to book at that moment. Picking up a foreign tablet to do so is a bad UX IMO. Most guests are not tech oriented people. The advantage of a slick tablet UI isn’t going to win you much. Providing the right functionality at the right time in a half as good way will be more valuable. Of course this is all conjecture and personal opinion but wanted to give my two cents. Good luck with the demo and I hope you get good feedback / roi