GDU Ninja Update 32 - Future New Product Releases
Please 'scan' this, it could be useful to know;
New Upcoming GuestDiary Features
We have many new features for the GuestDiary System that we have planned for release in the coming months.
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Coming December 1st - Automatic Payments (Version 1.0) -
How will this work?
At a specified time (ie 02.00) any reservations in the system with todays arrival date with a Credit card number will be automatically charged.
Available for GuestDiary Users with a Stripe Account.
Ideal for simple accommodation providers but may need 'Behaviour/Process' changes for larger/older properties. (Ie Some properties take Corporate Bookings without a credit card number, obviously these reservations cannot be automatically charged).
This module is more complicated than it seems so it will be developed and released over time.
Jan 1st 2025 - Booking Engine 2.0 -
What is the difference?
In the past we have tried to be 'clever' with what we display to customers after a search, but this always creates problems; If someone searches for a Double Room and you dont have any, why not display the Single Rooms instead of losing a sale? etc etc
The New Booking Engine (known internally as 2.0) is streamlined and simplified and simply shows everything that is available in a more condensed format......much like the larger OTA's who have spent millions researching this subject.
Our own internal research has show that customers will find and select what they want much more quickly....and this is important. If at present your property is generating 50000 of sales through your website this is most likely done with a 2% conversion rate (a typical industry figure). If you can improve the booking process so that the conversion goes from 2% to 3% then this will increase room sales to 75000. In short increasing the conversion rate can have a large effect.
Booking Engine 2.0 is the result of 12 months of development, and includes many other smaller improvements. One key addition is the option of a 'calendar' for Self Catering Properties. These types of properties have 'Minimum Stays' and 'Closed to Arrivals'. Anyone who is doing a standard Arrival Date/Departure Date Search will be lucky to select the days that match the properties setup. More information is needed for these customers so for these types of properties we are giving them the option of a colour-coded calendar that highlights minimum stays and days when the guest can arrive.
January 1st 2025 - Line Item Invoicing
At present invoicing is done at the reservation level, and not at the room level (or in our language 'line item'). This means that in the future it will be easier to create individual invoices for a particular room in a reservation.
Although this sounds simple it strikes at the heart of our system and has necessitated many backend changes. For this reason we have taken the opportunity to simplify the customer process flow from checkin to checkout and invoicing. THE GUESTDIARY SYSTEM IS GOING TO LOOK DIFFERENT but dont panic, in fact it is the same but with a clearer/simpler layout. No longer will you have to go out of the reservation to generate a bill etc. You will be able to do everything from inside the bill.
More information coming in future weeks;
RELEASED LAST WEEK - Reviews Module -
https://www.guestdiary.com/blog/gdu-ninja-update-31-features-release
https://youtu.be/mspPs5wtiQ4
RELEASED LAST WEEK - Messaging Inbox -
https://www.guestdiary.com/blog/gdu-ninja-update-31-features-release
https://youtu.be/bXrUAt3efTM