Elektraweb offers efficient and personalized solutions to hotels in their digitalization process
Talya Bilişim, which develops technologies for tourism and healthcare facilities as well as public institutions, contributes to increasing the operational efficiency of facilities. While contributing to the digitalization of hotels with its Elektraweb software, Talya Bilişim also helps reduce costs with its cloud and web-based services. Talya Bilişim Managing Partner Nilüfer Durukal answered our questions about the digitalization processes of hotels.
Can we get to know Talya Bilişim briefly?
Talya Bilişim is a technology company that has been developing software technologies for nearly 30 years; with three offices in Antalya, Ankara, and Istanbul, a team of 160 people, it provides solutions to Turkey’s largest public institutions, tourism and healthcare companies, and exports the software it produces abroad.
What are your solutions for the tourism sector?
Our most well-known brand in the tourism sector is Elektraweb Hotel Management Software. To elaborate; Elektraweb is a comprehensive HOTEL ERP system with its sub-modules. It includes software for managing hotels, restaurants, spas, accounting, and procurement, as well as integrated and standalone software such as the "KIMLIKOKUR" ID and passport reading system, the "ISAFE" Internet Security and Logging System, and the Task Management System that facilitate and speed up hotel operations. In summary, Elektraweb includes a solution that enables the management of all departments of the hotel.
Digitalization is of key importance in the tourism sector, as in all sectors... How do you contribute to the digitalization of hotels as Talya Bilişim?
As you know, digitalization has three fundamental goals: reducing costs, increasing efficiency, and delivering personalized service quickly. We help our hotels reduce costs by providing web-based and cloud infrastructure. Elektraweb eliminates costs such as servers that need to be renewed every few years, server licenses, antivirus programs, and backups. The program can be easily used with a smart phone, tablet, or computer with internet access. This feature also brings mobility.
Another important aspect of digitalization is, of course, Cyber Security; cloud systems are highly protected and ensure data security by keeping simultaneous copies of data in different parts of the world. Moreover, the information processed and stored in Elektraweb is recorded in compliance with the Personal Data Protection Law (KVKK) and the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). These features enable businesses to save both time and budget.
A significant portion of our hotels have already transferred their service production to digital. They can run room sales, restaurant services, accounting, and all reservation processes online. Perhaps the greatest increase in efficiency in digitalization is achieved by all software being able to communicate with each other. Since all modules of Elektraweb can work in an integrated structure, it allows the facility to be managed digitally from end to end. It can also be easily integrated with third-party software via APIs.
This integration mindset is reflected in the entire operation of the hotel: “Perhaps the greatest increase in efficiency in digitalization is achieved by all software being able to communicate with each other. Since all modules of Elektraweb can work in an integrated structure, it allows the facility to be managed digitally from end to end.”
For example, to save energy in the hotel, we can ensure that air conditioning operates according to the guest's check-in and check-out times. The program turns on the air conditioning just before the guest arrives and adjusts it to the desired temperature. It automatically turns it off after the guest checks out. In this way, rooms are not cooled unnecessarily, electricity is saved, and the environment is protected.
End-to-end digitalization also completely eliminates paper usage. From housekeeping to e-invoice sending, everything can be managed digitally and paperless. Room attendants can see the rooms they need to clean that day on a simple Android tablet and can update room status in real time. With e-invoice, e-archive, and soon-to-be-mandatory e-check applications in accounting, the hotel can be completely paperless.
Can you evaluate the importance of using automation systems in hotels in terms of guest satisfaction and operations? Why should hotels digitalize?
First and foremost, to stand out in international competition, it's necessary to gain a cost advantage and ensure profitability. This is only possible through digital technologies. A hotel trying to manage its sales and reservation process manually will, at the very least, miss out on sales and then have to bear high labor costs.
Being on online sales channels is an absolute must for every tourism facility, and we believe that building and managing your own CRM data is equally crucial. Creating their own CRM data allows hotels to easily plan every kind of marketing strategy tailored to their brand.
It's important for the hotel to maintain communication with the guest at every point—before arrival, during the stay, and after departure. At Elektraweb, we achieve this through mobile applications and contactless guest solutions. Online surveys or orders placed via the system while inside the facility keep the hotel and guest connected at every point. For example, while staying at the hotel, the guest can book a yacht tour via the hotel’s app. Or they can make a reservation for the golf course through the mobile app.
When a guest fills out a survey, it’s done in digital form rather than on paper, and it is analyzed and sent to guest relations. If there’s a problem, the hotel is informed while the guest is still there.
How was 2022 for Talya Bilişim? Did you have any new hotel projects?
In 2022, we added 1,000 new hotels to our user portfolio. For example, the Kaya Hotels Group with nine hotels, IP Hotels with five, Queen's Park Group with two, Alaiye Hotels Group with three, Jura Hotels with four, Justiniano Hotels with six, Peninsula Group with six, and Aska Hotels with four joined the Elektraweb family.
We also added high-end luxury segment hotels such as Cullinan Belek, five-star Mirage Park Resort, Mirada Hotel, Royal Garden Beach, as well as the Fenerbahçe Sports Club Guesthouse, and many teachers' lodges and police guesthouses to our references. We achieved 30% growth in foreign currency.
Can you share your goals and expectations for 2023?
The Elektraweb Hotel Program, which we developed entirely with Turkish engineers for the tourism sector, is used across 23 countries on four continents—Europe, Asia, America, and Africa—including leading tourism nations such as the UK, France, Italy, Spain, and Thailand. We have over 5,000 users, 2,000 on the web and 3,000 on desktop.
By the end of 2023, we aim to be in 1,500 more hotels. We plan to continue our international expansion by increasing our presence in countries we already operate in, and we aim for 40% growth in foreign currency.
In 2023, we will also focus more on our existing solutions for health tourism, which has become one of our country’s key sources of revenue. We had already completed the infrastructure long ago. Now, we are on the way to becoming a key player in the market.
Can we get to know you briefly?
I was born in Ankara. I graduated from Bilkent University, Department of Business Administration. Technology and innovation have always been topics that interested me. I owe my entry into the IT world to this interest. I am the Co-Founder of Talya Bilişim. Since 2018, I have been a member of KAGİDER, the Women Entrepreneurs Association of Turkey. KAGİDER is an association that aims to empower women economically through entrepreneurship and increase their influence in society. In line with my knowledge and experience, I also provide training and mentoring support to women entrepreneurs.
