Property management technology platform Hostfully announced Wednesday the launch of an artificial intelligence-powered communication tool that it said will cut down the time property managers use to address guest inquiries.
Margot Schmorak, CEO and co-founder of Hostfully, which is a partner to Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com, said the AI software will cut the time property managers spend presiding over their assorted properties - especially if they manage multiple units.
"Our research revealed that 19% of hosts and operators struggle with guest communications,” said Schmorak. “Any slight improvement in guest communication can make a significant difference for vacation rental operators, and we set our sights on solving, not simply improving this."
Stephan Osmont, chief technology officer and co-founder of Hostfully, agreed, adding focus groups with customers showed a real need for a messaging agent that provides responses that extend beyond basic listing information.
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The AI tool can learn from data stored by Hostfully’s property management software. It also takes into consideration the history of guest conversations along with details stored in digital guidebooks. It will note property information, reservation specifics, past interactions and more. Hostfully said that knowledge base bolsters a smart, context-aware AI tool that can produce highly personalized and accurate answers.
"By integrating the rich insights from our guidebooks with the robust capabilities of our property management software, we've created a powerful tool that enhances guest communication while giving property managers full control over the responses,” said Schmorak. “This new technology not only streamlines operations but also elevates the guest experience, embodying the synergy between our products and Hostfully's mission."
The tool’s key features include instant responses via AI, personalized communication and comprehensive data integration. It’s meant to enhance efficiency, and Hostfully said it has a user-friendly interface.
"Beta testing this feature revealed significant efficiency improvements for guest experience staff," said Brise Carpenter, vice president of customer success at Hostfully. "The Al essentially saves the team from having to craft a hospitality-friendly response to repetitive questions each time.
"This solution not only ensures that every interaction meets high standards but also allows staff to efficiently manage multiple conversations simultaneously."