Solving Booking Problems With Smart Program

Media Release 1 July 2009

New Homegrown Accommodation Software Sets Sights On International Market

A Kiwi software developer aims to replace the paper based booking systems currently used by many accommodation facilities and camping grounds with a smart new computer program that can end booking problems for accommodation providers as well as giving valuable marketing information.

The Simply Booked software was conceived by developer Glen Welch when his partner was running a busy Auckland-based accommodation facility and identified continuing problems including double bookings as well as trouble tracking payments. When Welch realised there was no IT based solution on the market in typical Kiwi DIY fashion he decided to develop his own product.

Welch admits he didn’t anticipate how long it would take to get the software market ready as he developed it in his weekends. Now nearly eight years later he is ready to release Simply Booked to the general market after trialing it in accommodation facilities.

Simply Booked aims to offer a cost-effective booking management solution to accommodation facilities and camp grounds to replace paper based systems. The main point of difference with Simply Booked, says Welch, is that it had been developed by someone actually working in the accommodation industry as well as with feedback from accommodation providers. It also offers over 100 different features all included for the one price making it an extremely affordable management solution for both small to large businesses.

The software can be customised and changed by the accommodation provider to suit their particular facility including different number of beds, rooms and camp sites. There are also a number of smart features to make the running of the business more efficient including the ability to add guest photos for easy identification and security to stop unwanted visitors, tracking who is making each sale so owners can identify staff that may require training and reconciliation of daily transactions. An unlimited number of PCs can access the system and Simply Booked can be accessed from remote locations and integrated with DPS eftpos (including broadband), cash draw, receipt and scanning systems giving a single point of sale system. Welch says the software also allows accommodation owners to market their business better by providing valuable information including an historical reporting data feature.

“Simply Booked allows accommodation providers to produce a wealth of information about their business including occupancy rates, sales, nationalities and which types of accommodation are the most popular. They can then use this information to target their marketing and cater to their customer’s needs.”

After researching the international market Welch says there is nothing like Simply Booked on offer anywhere in the world and is aiming for international sales. He suspects many operators may still be married to their traditional pen and paper systems and this has prompted him to offer a free trial download of the product from www.simplybooked.co.nz so people can use the product risk free for 45 days. Each Simply Booked packaged purchased also comes with a free three month maintenance contract giving the purchaser access to free support and product upgrades.

“Before at my partner’s facility it was sometimes tempting to try to remember bookings or write them down on a scrap of paper if we were away from the desk when someone called. Then if we forgot to put it in the book it was embarrassing telling customers and not good business. Since using Simply Booked this is now not a problem. And because of the extra speed we can now do things it has made it possible to run the business with just one person so we have never looked back.”

ENDS

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