Tour and Attraction Software - Understanding the Options

In this article, we will examine the differences between the two software systems to understand common reasons why Tour and Attraction businesses run more efficiently on an all-in-one, cloud-based software.

SaaS On-Premises Pros

• Security, Consistency
• Predictable Regular Expense
• Complete Control
• Lower Annual Expense

‍Cons

• Lower Control
• Higher Annual Cost
• Assumes Business Risk
• Spiked Spending

‍On-premises

Software Updates

In the case of on-premises, a business will buy hardware from their preferred provider, buy software from their Tour and Attraction software provider and the appropriate licenses to use it.

In cooperation with their providers, the business will install the software on the hardware and train staff. The process is simple in theory, but can be complicated by common operational issues in practice.

When an update comes from your software provider, it is made available to your business to be installed on your hardware. Since everyone is busy and cannot afford any issues with the update, staff in charge of installing and training often put these updates off for as long as possible.

This accrues a technical debt that becomes harder to ignore until updates must be installed hastily, in sequence, until the most recent version. At this point, employees will be frustrated by using an unfamiliar system and the cycle begins again.

Business Risk

In addition to updates, a business with data stored on-premises assumes all the business risks of security, system downtime, natural disasters and backups.

When your servers and network host all information, it requires expert staff to administer it effectively. Large, publicly traded companies can see cost savings from bringing everything in-house, hiring a great team and negotiating great rates with vendors.

However, most businesses don’t have the budget for this and therefore assume greater business risks.

Spiked Spending

With on-premises software, spending spikes when the platform needs a refresh.

There is an initial outlay of capital in year one as you buy all hardware, software and licenses to get up and running. Then there is a period of minimal spending until it comes time to purchase new hardware and renew licenses.

Some businesses prefer this arrangement based on their capital structure. For instance, non-profits who must apply for grants appreciate the predictable timing of spend because they have a more difficult time justifying an ongoing higher fixed cost.

Other businesses may find it difficult to budget for a large list of expenses when a refresh is needed.

SaaS Platform

Software Updates

In the case of a SaaS platform, your software provider decides when to push out new updates.

Generally, there will be communications through an email list or product updates forum. This aims to open the lines of communication for help with configuration and training.

New features and fixes are often reported by the customer and can be implemented relatively quickly. There may be integrations with third-party software companies when it is advantageous, they are simple and negotiated fully by the software team.

There is a risk that customers receive an upgrade at an inopportune time, or that the update changes the look of a certain process in a way they wouldn’t prefer. The key to mitigating this risk is great communication and customer service.

The software provider can follow the feedback they receive to improve their new releases. RocketRez, for instance, has a standing software maintenance window when updates are pushed.

Each software upgrade includes release notes regarding software changes. This ensures strong communication and no updates during the busy season.

Business Risk

A major advantage of SaaS software versus on-premises is that much of the business risk is fully outsourced to your software provider.

They will have dedicated staff working as experts on security and storage. The cost of dedicated security staff is now wrapped with your software cost.

This avoids hiring IT staff dedicated to this function. Some risks are outright eliminated.

Natural disaster risks and the need for backing up data are fully handled in the cloud computing process.

Smoothed Spending

Finally, SaaS spending is a steady and predictable recurring monthly cost that sits among your operational expenses.

For most companies, this is a preferable arrangement until they pass a threshold where bringing software costs back in-house is cheaper than continuing the usage-based spend. In most cases, this threshold would be for large, publicly traded companies.

Implications for Tours and Attractions

Companies that collect revenue in many different ways benefit greatly from the flexibility that a cloud-based solution can provide.

To maximize revenue, tours and attractions must manage ticket purchases online and on-site, as well as gift shop sales, food and beverage, kiosk and point-of-sale purchases and a host of memberships and discounts that must be updated regularly. With so many moving parts, the reliability and flexibility of the software that drives revenue are key to ensuring a smooth-running business.

By giving you the tools to brand and customize your full user journey, while taking care of updates, security, maintenance and data - SaaS software gives you the control that you want while offloading the responsibilities you don't.

Conclusion

In conclusion, tours and attractions can benefit from the flexibility of a cloud-based software solution. With features that enable you to control your full user journey while taking care of updates, security, maintenance, and data - SaaS software gives you an advantage when it comes to optimizing revenue streams.

Additionally, with predictable recurring costs each month for usage and no need for dedicated IT staff or natural disaster risk mitigation measures in place – businesses can focus on what matters most: providing customers with an amazing experience.

If you’re ready to take your tour or attraction business up a notch by investing in modern technology solutions, book a demo with us to learn more!