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Tech Trends Transforming The Future of The Serviced Apartment Industry
November 28, 2023
They’re all over social media: laptop in one hand, fresh coconut in the other as they work beachfront in an exotic location. In addition to their photo-taking skills, there’s a lot to potentially learn from these digital nomads - individuals who travel place to place while working a full-time job from wherever they go. If you also travel for work, especially for extended periods of time, it may be a good idea to look to these fellow travelers (so to speak!) for trips and tricks.
Like many extended stay business travelers, you may find yourself staying in a serviced apartment, such as those offered by Synergy Global Housing. You’ll have everything you need for a long-term stay: furnishings, a full kitchen, housewares, linens, 24/7 guest service and more. However, there’s always room to make your business travels even more efficient, comfortable and productive.
We’ve rounded up numerous resources that digital nomads love, divided into categories, that business travelers like you can benefit from as well. Take advantage of them on your next trip.
Technology is evolving at an unprecedented rate, and leaders within the serviced apartment industry are constantly adapting to stay ahead of the curve. In the recent discussion in webinar “Tech Talk: Serviced Apartments and Extended Stay Evolution” hosted by Serviced Apartment News, key industry players—including Synergy’s Head of Information Technology, Lance Bradwell—shared their insights into the trends shaping their businesses and the challenges they face. Here’s a snapshot of the key takeaways from this fruitful and thought-provoking conversation.
1. Blurring the Lines: short term stay vs. long-term stay
One of the prominent trends highlighted during the webinar was the blurring of lines between short stay and long term stay accommodations. While noting technology has come a long way within our industry creating efficiencies across the end-to-end process, Charlie Delamare, Solutions Architect at Mews, noted the challenge lies in managing both lengths of stays in one system due to the different operational nuances and pricing strategies. Marc Vilar, CEO at Apartool seconded Charlie’s sentiment, noting that technology was lagging behind for long term stays.
2. The Inevitable Adoption of AI
With AI progressing at breakneck speed, artificial intelligence was a topic that came up multiple times throughout the discussion. The overarching message between each panellist included AI’s progression at an almost scary speed—and from chatbots to generative AI, the consensus was that artificial intelligence holds the capabilities to re-shape the end-to-end management of serviced accommodation programmes, offering highly personalised experiences based on data-driven insights.
On data and AI, Lance noted the ability to capture up-to-date, relevant information was the key to getting AI right. On the back of that, Charlie also noted the collection of this data has gone way beyond general demographics such as age and gender, but AI can now provide the ability to predict booking trends in temporary housing via more in-depth behavioural data such as the impulsivity of guests.
3. AI’s impact on data security
On the heels of Lance and Charlie’s stance on artificial intelligence, the discussion turned to data security within furnished housing. The panellists agreed that with AI’s requirement for vast amounts of data to be successful, comes a substantial data security risk which needs to be managed carefully. On a more positive note, Lance noted that businesses are only as strong in data security as the individuals using such data—highlighting an opportunity to invest in robust associate training programmes and encryption practices to ensure individuals don’t unknowingly put the security of data at risk.
4. Cloud-Based Transition
When questioned by Eloise Hanson, Editor at Serviced Apartment News, on the concept of cloud-based technology and its impact on traditional storage functions, Lance emphasised the transformative impact of adopting such a tool describing it as a “godsend”. Lance did, however, note that while the cloud offers speedy and easy access to information which could streamline temporary housing programmes, he also described it as a double-edged sword in relation to data security concerns. He noted that careful management was required in order to prevent unauthorised access to sensitive client data.
5. Temporary Housing and The Digital Customer Journey
When questioned on the digital customer journey for furnished housing, Andrea Rother, Director of Expansion at limehome shed light on her company’s fully automated approach, citing the importance of driving efficiencies at various points of the customer journey from reservations through to the stay, which in turn will enable organisations to scale quickly and drive costs down for corporates. Touching on customer demographics, Andrea also noted a preference for contactless services in temporary housing, most prominently adopted by younger generations such as Gen Y and Gen Z.
6. Challenges in Flexible Stays
When questioned on the challenges with technology, Charlie highlighted the importance of flexibility for both bookers and guests, noting that technology within our industry has traditionally been built on a short-stay hotel model, making it difficult to service diverse businesses and guest preferences. On the heels of his observation, Charlie brought up the need to create systems which support both serviced apartment operators and agents in a short-stay and long-stay capacity.
7. Human Touch and Technology
Despite a colourful and insightful conversation about technology, it’s benefits and the speed at which it’s advancing, the team all agreed that the power of human connection was still very important. More specifically, Marc spoke to the importance of the requirement of “24/7 human attention” for when technology doesn’t work as perfectly as we would like. On the other end of the spectrum, Andrea highlighted that in order to stay relevant in today’s world, firms must adopt technology. However, she also agreed on the importance of the requirement for an online/offline approach.
As technology continues to evolve at the speed of light, this particular discussion provided an insightful—and almost scary—look into the technological landscape, its challenges and opportunities in the furnished housing world. The future promises exciting possibilities for those who can harness the power of technology to drive efficiencies and personalisation across the board, all while remembering to keep the human element at the forefront.
Our friendly team is on hand to discuss your furnished apartment requirements today.
Need to pack a hefty coat or jacket, or even a puffer? Use vacuum storage bags to compress them so they don’t take up your whole suitcase. Most come with a small hand pump, perfect for travel.
Noise-canceling headphones
Just like at home, there’s never a guarantee that your workspace during travel will be quiet. Thankfully, you don’t have to don a clunky pair of bucket-style cans: today’s noise-canceling headphones are slim and sleek. Get yourself a pair of AirPods Pro, Bose QuietComfort® Earbuds, or any of these alternatives.
Laptop stand
A laptop doesn’t have to be on your lap, or even flat on a surface. Being able to elevate and adjust your laptop can vastly improve your ergonomics while on the road, and you can do so with a laptop stand. The one appearing most frequently on digital nomad blogs is the Roost V3, or any similar products by Roost.
Wireless mouse
Using a mouse can make all the difference when it comes to precision and dexterity on your laptop. Stay minimalist and go with a wireless one, for which you can’t beat Logitech. Your filthy touchpad will thank you.
Long charging cables
Most of us have a standard 1-meter charging cable for our smartphone, but savvy travelers know to pack a 2-meter or even a 3-meter cable as well. You never know where your nearest outlet is going to be, and we all love being able to use our phone in bed while charging it.
Getting Around
On an extended stay business trip, the travel doesn’t end when you reach your destination. Here are some great solutions for transportation and finding your way around during your stay.
Turo
Looking for an alternative to traditional rental car companies? Turo is like Airbnb for cars, in that you rent a car directly from the car’s owner. It’s available in major cities across the US, as well as Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto and London (all cities Synergy serves, by the way!).
Uber One / Lyft Pink
We all know Uber and Lyft, but did you know they each offer memberships? Uber One is $9.99/month and gets you 5% off Uber rides, 5% off Uber Eats orders and other perks. Lyft Pink is $19.99/month and gets you 15% off Lyft rides, priority airport pickups and more. Use the services enough and the membership will pay for itself.
Google Maps (with a hack)
You can’t beat Google Maps for directions, especially when it comes to public transit. And there’s a great hack for international travel or poor reception: find out how to use the app offline. It’ll save you on international data fees – and frustration.
Rome2rio
Sometimes you just need to figure out the best way to get from point A to point B, but your usual maps application isn’t cutting it. Rome2rio will help you plan a route to where you need to be, even if it involves multiple modes of transportation: car, bus, train, bike, walking, ferry or plane.
Work & Productivity
Put the “business” in business travel with the help of these resources for working on the go.
ExpressVPN
Using a virtual private network, or VPN, is a good idea no matter where you’re working from. When traveling for work and using unfamiliar WiFi networks, like in a hotel or coffee shop, it’s even more important.
ExpressVPN is a favorite among many, not just digital nomads. It costs as little as $8.32/month, and is a frequent advertiser on podcasts – listen in to your favorites and look out for a discount code. NordVPN also tops many lists.
Workfrom
A change of scenery from time to time is a great way to keep the creative juices flowing and break up your workday. When the need arises, use the search functionality offered by Workfrom, which allows you to find places to work nearby! You can filter by which establishments have power outlets, fast WiFi, late-night hours and more.
World Time Buddy
What time is it? What day is it? Business travel across time zones can be disorienting, and it’s important to know your local time and that of your colleagues.
World Time Buddy is a popular solution that allows you to see world times in a simple visual format, convert time zones and even schedule meetings. No more accidentally Slacking your coworker when it’s 2am where they are.
Google Workspace
Most of us are familiar with Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc. However, you’d be amazed by how many (free!) apps and tools Google Workspace offers, all cloud-based, including but not limited to:
Google Drive – Cloud storage up to 1TB
Google Flights – Search for flights across multiple airlines, all at once
Google Calendar – Create shared calendars
Google Meet – Video and voice calls
Google Forms – Generate and distribute simple forms or surveys
Google Keep – Maintain notes, lists, photos, audio, drawings and more
All of these apps can be accessed on desktop or mobile, for the ultimate on-the-go productivity.
Health & Wellness
Work-life balance still matters when you’re on business travel. Stay physically and mentally well while away from home with these resources.
Classpass
Although it’s evolved a bit over the years, Classpass is still going strong. Here’s how it works: first, choose a plan that allots you a number of credits per month, ranging from 6 to 80 credits. Then, use your credits to attend classes at local fitness establishments (yoga, spin, crossfit, etc.) or for open gym time.
Here’s the best part: you can also use credits for beauty and wellness treatments, such as manicures, haircuts or massage! Participating establishments are located all over the world, so it’s great to use while traveling.
Teladoc
Ask your healthcare provider if they offer Teladoc, or a similar telehealth service. It’s a tremendous benefit during travel when you need to speak with your doctor, and you can usually secure an appointment on short notice – even same-day. If you need medication, your provider can prescribe you what you need via video call and have it sent to a local pharmacy.
Calm
Move over Headspace, hello Calm. This increasingly popular meditation app can help you get better sleep, reduce stress and anxiety, improve your focus and more. Plus, who wouldn’t want to drift off to a calming Sleep Story read by Matthew McConaughey? Try it free for seven days, after which a premium subscription is $14.99/month.
Food
Whether you prefer to go out, stay in or a little of both, these foodie and traveler-approved resources will keep you well-fed during extended stay business travel.
Eater
You may think Yelp is the go-to site for finding the best local restaurants, but real foodies know that’s not the case. Many Yelp reviews are written by tourists, not locals, and people are generally more likely to write about negative experiences than positive ones on review sites. Instead, see if the city you’re staying in has an Eater site. Eater has a pulse like no other on local restaurant scenes, from ethnic eateries to fine dining.
The Infatuation
The Infatuation is another great food site for honest reviews, guides and features on local restaurants. With coverage in nearly 50 cities, including international ones, there’s even more to love. Follow them on Instagram, too – they have an account for almost every city they cover!
Meal kit delivery services
Those staying in a serviced apartment or other extended-stay housing are fortunate to have access to a full kitchen. Being able to cook your own meals is a huge plus, and meal kit delivery services can make it a whole lot more convenient. The ingredients for each meal come in just the right amounts, so you’re not stuck buying a bundle of carrots when all you need is a single carrot. Travel blogger Cory Lee lists even more reasons it’s great for digital nomads and extended stay business travelers. There are too many options to name just one, so check out Bon Appétit’s top favorites.
Community
Creating a sense of community is worth the effort no matter where you are, and for how long. Use these tools to help you connect with others during your travels, either online or in-person.
Reddit
Reddit is one of the best places on the internet for people from all over to discuss topics and share resources. Because it’s less commercialized, you’ll find some of the most honest and real insights. Topics are divided into what are called subreddits.
For instance, there’s a subreddit on business travel, one on travel hacks and one for digital nomads. You can also find subreddits for almost any country, city or neighborhood in the world. Just use Reddit’s search bar to find subreddits, or individual posts.
Meetup
Who says you can’t make friends during business travel? It’s important to socialize and meet new people outside of work, even in a city you’re only staying in temporarily. Meetup is where people go to do just that. Use the site or the app to find in-person meetups near you, or host your own!
Nextdoor
You may use Nextdoor at home, but why not use it away from home too? Download the app and find the neighborhood you’re staying in, then get to know your temporary neighbors and the community. Members use it to share information and resources, ask question.
Other
We couldn’t let you go without mentioning these resources, which can save you a lot of hassle.
Dark Sky
No one can perfectly predict the weather – but Dark Sky comes pretty close. The hyper-accurate, hyper-local weather app can tell you down to the minute when to expect rain, snow, sun, clouds, etc.
When you’re traveling and unfamiliar with the local climate, this level of accuracy is key. You can even enable push notifications to know just when to whip out your umbrella. Dark Sky is $3.99 to download, and only available on iOS.
CLEAR
You may have noticed lately that TSA PreCheck lines at airports are getting longer and less efficient. Due to its popularity, PreCheck’s benefit of shorter, smoother security lines is beginning to dwindle. It may be time to upgrade to CLEAR, which allows you to confirm your identity via biometrics rather than traditional ID documents. CLEAR operates in over 50 airports throughout the US, and its lines tend to be shorter than those for PreCheck. An annual membership is $189, a bit more than TSA PreCheck, but some credit card reward programs offer a complimentary or discounted membership.
Technology is evolving at an unprecedented rate, and leaders within the serviced apartment industry are constantly adapting to stay ahead of the curve. In the recent discussion in webinar “Tech Talk: Serviced Apartments and Extended Stay Evolution” hosted by Serviced Apartment News, key industry players—including Synergy’s Head of Information Technology, Lance Bradwell—shared their insights into the trends shaping their businesses and the challenges they face. Here’s a snapshot of the key takeaways from this fruitful and thought-provoking conversation.
1. Blurring the Lines: short term stay vs. long-term stay
One of the prominent trends highlighted during the webinar was the blurring of lines between short stay and long term stay accommodations. While noting technology has come a long way within our industry creating efficiencies across the end-to-end process, Charlie Delamare, Solutions Architect at Mews, noted the challenge lies in managing both lengths of stays in one system due to the different operational nuances and pricing strategies. Marc Vilar, CEO at Apartool seconded Charlie’s sentiment, noting that technology was lagging behind for long term stays.
2. The Inevitable Adoption of AI
With AI progressing at breakneck speed, artificial intelligence was a topic that came up multiple times throughout the discussion. The overarching message between each panellist included AI’s progression at an almost scary speed—and from chatbots to generative AI, the consensus was that artificial intelligence holds the capabilities to re-shape the end-to-end management of serviced accommodation programmes, offering highly personalised experiences based on data-driven insights.
On data and AI, Lance noted the ability to capture up-to-date, relevant information was the key to getting AI right. On the back of that, Charlie also noted the collection of this data has gone way beyond general demographics such as age and gender, but AI can now provide the ability to predict booking trends in temporary housing via more in-depth behavioural data such as the impulsivity of guests.
3. AI’s impact on data security
On the heels of Lance and Charlie’s stance on artificial intelligence, the discussion turned to data security within furnished housing. The panellists agreed that with AI’s requirement for vast amounts of data to be successful, comes a substantial data security risk which needs to be managed carefully. On a more positive note, Lance noted that businesses are only as strong in data security as the individuals using such data—highlighting an opportunity to invest in robust associate training programmes and encryption practices to ensure individuals don’t unknowingly put the security of data at risk.
4. Cloud-Based Transition
When questioned by Eloise Hanson, Editor at Serviced Apartment News, on the concept of cloud-based technology and its impact on traditional storage functions, Lance emphasised the transformative impact of adopting such a tool describing it as a “godsend”. Lance did, however, note that while the cloud offers speedy and easy access to information which could streamline temporary housing programmes, he also described it as a double-edged sword in relation to data security concerns. He noted that careful management was required in order to prevent unauthorised access to sensitive client data.
5. Temporary Housing and The Digital Customer Journey
When questioned on the digital customer journey for furnished housing, Andrea Rother, Director of Expansion at limehome shed light on her company’s fully automated approach, citing the importance of driving efficiencies at various points of the customer journey from reservations through to the stay, which in turn will enable organisations to scale quickly and drive costs down for corporates. Touching on customer demographics, Andrea also noted a preference for contactless services in temporary housing, most prominently adopted by younger generations such as Gen Y and Gen Z.
6. Challenges in Flexible Stays
When questioned on the challenges with technology, Charlie highlighted the importance of flexibility for both bookers and guests, noting that technology within our industry has traditionally been built on a short-stay hotel model, making it difficult to service diverse businesses and guest preferences. On the heels of his observation, Charlie brought up the need to create systems which support both serviced apartment operators and agents in a short-stay and long-stay capacity.
7. Human Touch and Technology
Despite a colourful and insightful conversation about technology, it’s benefits and the speed at which it’s advancing, the team all agreed that the power of human connection was still very important. More specifically, Marc spoke to the importance of the requirement of “24/7 human attention” for when technology doesn’t work as perfectly as we would like. On the other end of the spectrum, Andrea highlighted that in order to stay relevant in today’s world, firms must adopt technology. However, she also agreed on the importance of the requirement for an online/offline approach.
As technology continues to evolve at the speed of light, this particular discussion provided an insightful—and almost scary—look into the technological landscape, its challenges and opportunities in the furnished housing world. The future promises exciting possibilities for those who can harness the power of technology to drive efficiencies and personalisation across the board, all while remembering to keep the human element at the forefront.
Our friendly team is on hand to discuss your furnished apartment requirements today.
For extended stay business travel, a hotel may not cut it. Most of them are not well suited for long-term stays, containing little more than a bed, bathroom, nightstand and dresser. Let us key you in on another extended stay travel secret: serviced apartments.
They’ve got everything you need for a longer stay, and Synergy has them available all over the world. Search and book your accommodations and make your next business trip your most seamless one yet.
We have worked relentlessly to secure ISO 27001:2022 certification, the gold standard in global data security practices. This gives you absolute confidence that we uphold the most stringent standards of data security, and that your sensitive information is safeguarded to the highest possible degree.
Health & Safety
SynergySMART (Simple Mobile Apartment Reporting Technology) is a cloud-based application that facilitates the tracking and measurement of Synergy’s health, cleanliness and safety protocols across our global apartment inventory. A first of its kind in the accommodation sector, SynergySMART aims to elevate the level of consistency across our global portfolio to ensure guest satisfaction and traveler confidence.
24/7 support
By developing local teams with deep knowledge of their regions allows us to seamlessly serve clients everywhere. Our 24/7 regional teams are the cornerstone of Synergy's renowned guest support, but it's our real-time communication that truly sets us apart. We collaborate directly with clients, ensuring immediate responsiveness and adaptability in any market situation. This level of transparency and partnership creates lasting value for every guest.
Our friendly team is on hand to discuss your furnished apartment requirements today.
