Picture this: Andrew walks into a hotel lobby after a long flight, exhausted and looking forward to a seamless check-in experience. As he approaches the front desk, facial recognition technology instantly identifies him, retrieving his reservation and preferences without him having to say a word. His room key is promptly issued, and he heads to his room.

Andrew is impressed and the hotel is successful in facilitating an optimized customer experience. But how do you think this was possible? The answer is computer vision! In this blog, we will explore the top five use cases of computer vision in the hospitality industry and how this advanced technology can elevate your business to new heights.

Computer Vision: Key Facts & Statistics

Before we dig into the use cases, here are some interesting statistics about computer vision that you’d not want to miss:

–> The computer vision market is expected to reach a market value of 50.98 billion USD.

–>In 2024, the market is projected to reach 25.80 billion USD.

–>The market is growing at a CAGR of 6.9% from 2021 to 2030.

–>More than 75% of businesses are expected to leverage computer vision as their business intelligence strategies.

–>The Asia-Pacific region will see the highest CAGR in the computer vision market between 2021-2030.

–>The machine vision market size will reach 14.7 billion USD by 2026.

–>By 2025, over 80% of all data consumed across industries will be visual data.

To learn the detailed meaning of computer vision and why it matters, head over to our interesting read – Top 4 Computer Vision Trends to Watch in 2024.

How computer vision is transforming the hospitality industry – Use Cases & Benefits

1. Ensure smooth check-in and check-out experiences

Nearly 78% of hotel businesses expect their technology investment to increase over the next three years. They are fastly moving towards AI and machine learning solutions to meet the expectations of modern, tech-savvy customers. Here we talk about one of the key areas where computer vision enables smooth customer journeys – check-ins and check-outs! Facial recognition technology facilitates the process.

Let’s say a group of guests are arriving at your hotel. Instead of waiting in line at the front desk, they simply approach a kiosk equipped with facial recognition technology. The system identifies the guests, retrieves their booking details, and prints a room key within seconds. When checking out, the guests can repeat the process at the same kiosk and automatically generate their final bill and process payments without human intervention.

Here’s how you’ll benefit:

–>Speeding up the check-in/check-out process will minimize queues, reduce waiting times, and will help you optimize guest satisfaction.

–>Your hotel operations will be more accurate and there will be less chances of human error in managing reservations and billing.

–>The best part is your staff will be enabled to greet guests by name and tailor their service based on the guest’s preferences and history.

2. Be on top of hotel security and access control

You can leverage two things to achieve this – facial recognition and object detection. Any large resort has various areas such as pools, gyms, and VIP lounges that require restricted access. Using computer vision, cameras installed at entry points can recognize authorized personnel and guests, and allow entry only to those with the correct access permissions. The system can detect and alert staff to any unauthorized attempts to access restricted areas.

Here’s how you’ll benefit:

–>You ensure that only authorized individuals can access certain areas and enable maximized guest and property protection.

–>It becomes easier to remove the need for extensive physical security measures and personnel. You get real-time insights and instant notifications of security breaches or suspicious activities.

–>You get real-time insights and instant notifications of security breaches or suspicious activities.

3. Level up guest engagement & event management

The key is to leverage crowd analysis and interactive displays to achieve this effectively. Let’s say there is a conference at your hotel. Computer vision technology analyzes crowd movements and density in real-time. This information helps event organizers manage foot traffic and ensure that popular sessions are allocated to larger rooms. It enables them to avoid overcrowding. Interactive digital displays use facial recognition to provide personalized greetings and information to attendees, and optimize their overall experience.

Here’s how you’ll benefit:

–>You ensure the efficient use of venue space based on real-time crowd analysis.

–>Easily analyze attendee facial expressions and body language during presentations to gauge engagement levels. This data can be used to identify areas for improvement in future events.

–>Safety is improved – You get real-time insights into areas experiencing congestion. Organizers can then make adjustments, such as directing traffic flow or deploying additional staff to manage crowded areas.

4. Analyze guest behavior and preferences like a pro

Let’s consider you are a restaurant and have cameras with computer vision capabilities. You can monitor guest interactions and preferences. For instance, the system can track which dishes are most popular, how long guests spend dining, and peak dining times. What can you do with this data? Well, the list is long! You can optimize menu offerings, staffing schedules, and dining room layouts. This enhances the overall dining experience.

Here’s how you’ll benefit:

–>Cater to individual preferences and enable personalized marketing. Based on guest preferences identified through computer vision, you can send targeted email or in-room promotions highlighting menu items that align with a guest’s previous selections. This personalized approach is more likely to resonate with guests and drive repeat business.

–>Computer vision data on peak dining times can be used to create data-driven staffing schedules. When you have the right number of staff available during busy periods and a leaner team during slower times, you can ensure efficient service and optimize labor costs.

Check out AlignMinds’ success story about a complete restaurant solution powered by AI.

5. Improve housekeeping and maintenance operations

Traditional housekeeping operations involve manual inspections after guest check-out, which can be a time-consuming process. CV automates this task. Automated visual inspections can help you manage your hotel business operations effectively. Let’s say your guest checks out. Computer vision systems scan the room for cleanliness and maintenance issues. They detect unclean areas, missing items, or damages, and automatically notify the housekeeping staff with specific instructions. Similarly, in the case of a malfunctioning appliance or furniture damage, maintenance staff can be promptly alerted.

Here’s how you’ll benefit:

–>As there’s no need for manual inspections, staff productivity gets improved and your employees can prioritize different tasks. For example, if the system detects a heavily soiled bathroom floor, the housekeeping staff can attend to the issue on priority. They focus their efforts on areas most in need and ensure a higher cleaning standard and a more positive guest experience.

–>Identifying potential issues before they escalate reduces downtime and repair costs. You are able to perform preventive maintenance effectively.

Implement a winning computer vision strategy with Alignminds

Looking for computer vision service? We can help! We provide comprehensive AI consulting services to guide businesses across the US, Canada, and Australia in crafting customized AI strategies that address their unique needs and goals. Our solutions are not one-size-fits-all, but precisely tailored to overcome the challenges faced by businesses across industries and locations.

Get solutions including, object and facial recognition, scene understanding, and real-time video analytics for applications ranging from security to content moderation. Initiate a conversation today.