Questions To Ask
You must ask the right questions while evaluating software. It helps prioritize your requirements and understand how the vendor operates. Use these questions to start a discussion internally:
- What are the major pain points in your reservation workflow?
- Which areas of your business need automation?
- What’s your preferred deployment mode?
- Which other software needs integration with the new CRS system?
- How many team members need access to the platform?
Use these questions to start a conversation with vendors:
- Which channels does the software connect with?
- What are the support options?
- How can you integrate the platform with external systems?
- Do they provide onboarding and implementation support?
- How do they safeguard customer data?
FAQs
What’s the difference between CRS and channel managers?
A channel manager helps distribute your property’s ARI data, descriptions, pictures and videos on multiple channels and syncs information in real time.
CRS systems are more about centralizing and managing data sent to and received from a channel manager. Their primary function is to track reservations made through online and offline channels and offer you a unified dashboard to edit the ARI data.
That said, many central reservation systems in the market have a built-in channel manager. These CRS systems can handle both the management and distribution of property information across sales channels.
What’s the difference between GDS and CRS?
GDS connects your hospitality business with a global network of travel planners, agents, airlines and car rentals. Most businesses and corporate tours use a GDS to plan and reserve their travel plans. But it isn’t widely accessible and not used by individual travelers and guests. This is where a CRS system comes into play.
Central reservation systems cover every GDS functionality and then offer you some more. They connect with OTAs, metasearch sites, personal websites and social media to attract travelers and use GDS integrations to take corporate bookings.
Do you need a CRS if you already have a PMS?
It completely depends on which PMS you’re using and your business scale. You don’t need additional CRS systems if:
- Your existing PMS already has built-in CRS functionalities.
- You only use a handful of sales channels and can manage them manually without automation and software assistance.
On the other hand, you should consider getting a central reservation software if:
- You manually market your property across several sales channels.
- You get a lot of double bookings.
- Your existing PMS doesn’t have CRS functionalities and dashboards.
What is a computerized reservation system?
A computerized reservation system is just another name for CRS. They are computerized systems used to store and retrieve information. Traditionally, the airline industry designed the software to store traveler details, PNR and other information. But now, the hospitality industry has adopted it to centralize its ARI data before sending it to sales channels through channel managers.
