What food and beverage providers can learn from the hotel industry

hotel industry
Sun flare above hotel word with golden letters on luxury hotel with beautiful columns

Rapid technological development has made its mark on the hotel industry. Big data, analytics and advanced customer relationship management (CRM) systems have provided both small independent and large international hotels with a range of tools to better understand and connect with a wider customer base than ever before. At the same time, they’ve enabled online travel agencies (OTAs) – who already attract customers through choice, convenience and the promise of a better deal – to capture even more customer data and drive loyalty through personalisation.

These OTAs have evolved from being hotel partners who provide a platform to access a wider market, to competitors operating with lower overhead costs, higher marketing budgets and greater ownership of customer data. So hoteliers have had to think creatively about how to capture the hearts and wallets of customers directly to build ongoing relationships – all while balancing their presence on OTAs.

Lessons to be learnt

In recent years, the food and beverage industry has started to experience a similar trend when it comes to the “frenemy” relationship hotels have with OTAs. Platforms such as UberEats, Menulog and Deliveroo have offered customers a single source of choice, competitive discounts and loyalty programs, and convenience. Oracle’s recent Get Appy report found almost one in five Australians use these types of food delivery mobile apps.

While these aggregators have provided independent Australian restaurants and cafes with the opportunity to reach more customers, this increased visibility comes at a trade-off as vendors have to forfeit up to 35 per cent off each sale – decreasing their profit margin even further. Additionally, businesses are also sacrificing customer data and website and mobile traffic through these partnerships. This has long-lasting implications for a proportion of the industry as some restaurants and small food vendors have taken to social media to encourage their customers to avoid these platforms and order directly instead.

So what lessons can food and beverage providers learn from the hotel industry?

Meet the evolving customer expectation

Digital technologies’ transformative impact on the industry translates to the end consumer as well. Customer behaviours and needs have changed, and in order to continuously capture these insights, the food and beverage industry needs to have the flexibility to adjust business practices accordingly. Increasingly, the battle for the customer extends beyond the restaurant and can also be lost in the cloud if customer data isn’t clean, accurately captured or used to its full potential.

Customise the relationship

Today’s digital age has resulted in a strong focus on data-driven customisation. Contemporary customers are no longer looking just for a transactional relationship but also meaningful (yet simple) interactions that enrich their experience with the brand. This is a sentiment that transcends the industry, which is why businesses in every sector are all looking to connect with their customers through data insights.

Mobility is key

As consumers become increasingly time-poor, mobility is more important than ever. This highlights a strong area of potential for businesses to recapture their lost market by investing in a branded app which will enable them to better understand what their customers are doing and engage them accordingly.

Ultimately, the food and beverage industry needs to capitalise on customer data as a valuable investment before it’s too late.  The reality is there is no escaping the digital transformation impacting the food and beverage industry, so it’s important to learn from peers across industries wherever possible. Learning from other successes and mistakes will allow businesses to own the relationship with their customers and evolve their offerings, ensuring they can remain competitive, relevant and future-proof.

Fiona Southam, Sales Director – Food & Beverage ANZ, Oracle