ARIANE Systems, the world leader in self-service check-in/out technology for the hospitality industry, has introduced its latest innovation, the compact KeyStation guestroom keycard dispenser.
This proprietary device is designed as a complement to the hotel e-check-in strategies properties are implementing through Ariane’s award-winning Allegro web-mobile-kiosk check-in/out solution, which was introduced last year.
The KeyStation, comprised of a nine-inch digital touch screen, a 2D barcode reader and a keycard encoder/stacker, offers many important benefits for both hoteliers and guests, including:
• Compatible with both magstripe and RFID keycards, as well as lo- yalty cards;
• Interfaced with 18 different key card manufacturers;
• Easily portable for use as a coun- tertop unit or free-standing pedestal;
• Simplifies the check-in exper- ience for today’s web-savvy guests;
• Provides added convenience and saves guests valuable time;
• Optimises front desk operations;
• Complements and supports e-check-in strategies;
• Creates strong differentiating factor recognised as a main dri- ver of loyalty and
• Integrates consistent user inter face and branding.
The Ariane KeyStation allows guests who have pre-checked in online to retrieve their guestroom keycard in a matter of seconds without assistance from front desk staff. The addition of this unique hardware component allows hotels to offer a 100-per-cent self-service option.
Once guests have finalised the web check-in process, using Ariane’s Allegro web check-in solution, they automatically receive an email and/or SMS text message with a barcode on the day of arrival. The barcode can be printed out or used directly from the screen of any web-enabled device, such as mobile phone or tablet computer.
Upon arrival at the hotel, the guest places the barcode under the 2D barcode reader on the KeyStation, which searches in the database for and retrieves the guest’s reservation details. The guest then simply selects the number of keycards desired and the KeyStation automatically encodes and dispenses them. The entire process takes less than 12 seconds to complete.
Hotels or chains with a guest loyalty programme may choose to allow members to use their existing loyalty cards as their room key, as an added convenience and programme benefit. Instead of using a barcode, loyalty members simply insert their magstripe or RFID-enabled loyalty card into the encoder and the card is automatically encoded by the KeyStation for use as the room key.
“After enlarging the scope of hotel self-service solutions to web and mobile check-in capabilities with the Allegro platform, it soon became clear to us that we needed to ‘rethink’ and re-engineer the entire guest check-in experience to extend convenient self-service options all the way through guestroom access. By deploying our technology, hotels will make the guest experience easier and the hotel more efficient,” said Laurent Cardot, CEO for Ariane Systems. “Since most hotels will continue using physical keys, such as magnetic and/or RFID keycards for the immediate future, we set out to design a simple and convenient way for guests to retrieve these keycards without staff assistance by leveraging the use of a barcode. The KeyStation is the answer to that challenge, providing our clients with an ideal complement to an e-check-in strategy.”