<p>A property management system (PMS) is a software application that supports the operations of hospitality accommodations and commercial or residential rental properties. Though sometimes referred to as a hotel operating system or hotel OS, a PMS transcends that industry; manufacturers, hospitals and government agencies also use them.</p><div class="ad-wrapper ad-embedded"> <div id="halfpage" class="ad ad-hp"> <script>GPT.display('halfpage')</script> </div> <div id="mu-1" class="ad ad-mu"> <script>GPT.display('mu-1')</script> </div> </div> <p>A PMS provides a centralized system to organize, schedule and perform the daily functions and transactions involved in accommodation businesses. Computer record-keeping and PMS applications have significantly increased the efficiency of hospitality industries by making it possible to update and consult <a href="https://www.techtarget.com/searchcontentmanagement/definition/records-management-RM">centralized records</a> from multiple computers and devices. Enhancements targeted to hospitality industry needs have increased the ease of those operations.</p> <section class="section main-article-chapter" data-menu-title="Capabilities of a property management system"> <h2 class="section-title"><i class="icon" data-icon="1"></i>Capabilities of a property management system</h2> <p>A PMS facilitates the automation of many common tasks, including the following:</p> <ul class="default-list"> <li><b>Bookings.</b> Automatically update availability and room occupancy.</li> <li><b>Check-in and checkout.</b> Assign rooms and mark for cleaning.</li> <li><b>Telephone system integration.</b> Manage phone calls from guests and charges for outbound calls.</li> <li><b>Point-of-sale integration.</b> Handle credit card and sales transactions.</li> <li><b>Event planning.</b> Schedule event spaces and other services.</li> <li><b>Food and beverage costing.</b> Manage hospitality orders.</li> <li><b>Hotel inventory supply management.</b> <a href="https://www.techtarget.com/searcherp/definition/inventory-management">Inventory supply management</a> tracks availability and costs of supplies and eases ordering.</li> <li><b>Reporting of key performance indicators.</b> Monitor <a href="https://www.techtarget.com/searchbusinessanalytics/definition/key-performance-indicators-KPIs">KPIs</a> such as occupancy and sales rates.</li> <li><b>Security and room locks.</b> Assign key cards and door access.</li> <li><b>Guest satisfaction.</b> Advance insight on guests' experiences with a goal of improving customer retention.</li> </ul> <figure class="main-article-image full-col" data-img-fullsize="https://www.techtarget.com/rms/onlineimages/custex-%20collect_customer_data.png"> <img data-src="https://www.techtarget.com/rms/onlineimages/custex-%20collect_customer_data_mobile.png" class="lazy" data-srcset="https://www.techtarget.com/rms/onlineimages/custex-%20collect_customer_data_mobile.png 960w,https://www.techtarget.com/rms/onlineimages/custex-%20collect_customer_data.png 1280w" alt="A chart listing ways customers knowingly or unknowingly produce data that companies use."> <figcaption> <i class="icon pictures" data-icon="z"></i>A PMS typically encompasses data that can help companies better serve customers. </figcaption> <div class="main-article-image-enlarge"> <i class="icon" data-icon="w"></i> </div> </figure></section> <section class="section main-article-chapter" data-menu-title="Cloud property management systems"> <h2 class="section-title"><i class="icon" data-icon="1"></i>Cloud property management systems</h2> <p>Hosting a PMS on-premises can be costly because managing the systems requires maintaining servers and software expertise. Many PMS platforms are now software as a service, or <a href="https://www.techtarget.com/searchcio/definition/Vertical-SaaS-Software-as-a-Service">SaaS</a>, and hosted as a cloud service.</p> <div class="youtube-iframe-container"> <iframe id="ytplayer-0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4oQjPlS2gSg?autoplay=0&amp;modestbranding=1&amp;rel=0&amp;widget_referrer=null&amp;enablejsapi=1&amp;origin=https://www.techtarget.com" type="text/html" height="360" width="640" frameborder="0"></iframe> </div> <p>Besides potentially lower costs, a centrally managed cloud PMS can offer advantages over on-premises deployments in the following areas:</p> <ul class="default-list"> <li>Guest mobile apps and services can address self check-in and checkout.</li> <li>Customer relationship management, or <a href="https://www.techtarget.com/searchcustomerexperience/definition/CRM-customer-relationship-management">CRM</a>, integration can advance automated campaigns based on guest and reservation data.</li> <li>Employee mobile apps give housekeepers and maintenance workers timely data, enhancing efficiency and morale.</li> <li>Centralized records can help unify sales, forecasting, occupancy and pricing data across several properties and support data-driven business decisions.</li> </ul></section> <section class="section main-article-chapter" data-menu-title="Property management systems in other industries"> <h2 class="section-title"><i class="icon" data-icon="1"></i>Property management systems in other industries</h2> <p>Local governments sometimes use a PMS to manage numerous properties under their care. Centralized, electronic record-keeping helps to more efficiently manage diverse facilities such as schools, sports and recreational centers, or community gardens and parks.</p> <p>In manufacturing, a PMS helps companies monitor materials and supplies, as well as employee-owned property and equipment. Electronic maintenance logs can reduce unscheduled <a href="https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/uptime-and-downtime">downtime</a>.</p> <p>Hospitals and medical facilities can use a hospital management system, or HMS, as a comprehensive tool to manage their facilities. This might encompass <a href="https://www.techtarget.com/searcherp/Guide-to-supply-chain-management">supply chain management</a> and inventory management for all hospital equipment.</p> <p><em>The integration of AI tools and systems is significantly shaping the real estate industry, offering valuable benefits for numerous ventures. Explore <a href="https://www.techtarget.com/searchenterpriseai/feature/How-AI-is-changing-the-real-estate-market">seven use cases for AI in real estate</a> as well as the challenges that might accompany its adoption.</em></p></section>
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