It’s a partnership, not a transaction.
Your mission: finding hotel software that is going to make your life easier, your work smoother, and obviously sprinkle a little extra magic into your day. Sounds easy right? But honestly… How do you ACTUALLY do this in practical terms?
The Goldilocks Conundrum: Too Few, Too Many, Just Right!
Imagine you're Goldilocks and you've stumbled into the world of software providers. You don't want to settle for the first one you meet, that would be like tasting the first bowl of porridge and declaring it a winner!
No, you're looking for the “just right” moment. We’ve put together a few practical steps for you to take to make this process easier, and easier means less time and less money spent so you can focus on what the revenue drivers of your business are. Yes, we’re using buzz terms. But we’re being honest. So let’s go with it.
Narrow down your feature requirements
Get prepared. Before you even start your purchasing process, know exactly what you are looking for. This will likely take some teamwork with your staff and colleagues. Get a list of their top ten features. Then, consider these things: what are the struggles you’re having with your current provider now, that you need fixed? There’s a reason you’re searching for something new so make sure those make the top of the list. What are the features you love about your current platform that you’d like to bring over with you? Are there any features that you require to keep your business running day-to-day, hour-to-hour?
Find a platform to help you match those requirements to the best vendors
Here is the real time-saver. You can find a platform that will actually help match you to the best vendors based on your needs. There are very few out there, but they do exist. Some will allow you to talk to a person and they will help you make an informed decision. Some, like Affixify, will actually use an unbiased algorithm to take your software requirements and match you on a percentage basis based on your needs. Welcome to 2023 - where the buying process is made infinitely simpler.
Select your potential vendors
Using a platform that matches you makes it super easy- you can literally make your choice based on who has features most closely aligned to your needs. Yes, we said literally ;).
Start a conversation
It’s time to get social. Start conversing with potential vendors.
Pro tip- your time and the vendor’s time are both valuable. Set times to meet and demo their platform that works well for you and your team. Both buyer and seller should be prompt, attentive, and end on time! Be prepared with questions- and pay close attention to the answers provided to you. Think of it as speed dating for your business.
Get to know them- and their customers too
Get References
So you’ve matched up with a few great vendors, you’ve sat through several conversations, and at this point, you and your team have narrowed it down to 2 or 3 potential partners. Now’s the time to call references. Don’t be afraid to ask for two types of references- a client who loves them, and a client who challenges them. This is your investment. It’s okay for everyone to feel uncomfy sometimes- we grow in our discomfort. Listen carefully to the feedback you receive on the other end of the line. Features are a huge part of your purchase- but service and partnership are equally as important.
Make your decision a long-term one - it’s a partnership
It’s time to propose. Pricing negotiations, and contracts, are the easy parts (unless your legal team is picky, but that’s another blog post entirely *insert mischievous laugh here*). Here’s the deal- you’re investing your time, your team’s time, your money, and your trust in this decision. Make sure it’s the right one. Think of this as a partnership- not a short-term relationship. Once you get to this step you should be committed. Ready to do what it takes to make this work! But oh yeah, don’t be afraid to have an “out” clause in your contract- because sometimes things DO happen.
That wraps up this edition of Words of Wisdom with the Affixify Guy. Come back next week for more!
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