Benson Software, a South African-developed property management system (PMS) and web booking engine, provides a solution for operating hotels and guesthouses, which allows hoteliers to run establishments with maximum efficiency and minimum effort, leaving them with more time to interact with guests.

Benson Software is a technology company that offers industry-leading cloud-based products that empower hoteliers to run their properties more intelligently. “The whole world is moving towards cloud computing. The advantage of cloud is that you can log on anywhere, there are no servers, and if you by chance lose your laptop it makes no difference,” says James Peech, Owner of the Peech Hotel in Johannesburg and the brains behind Benson, together with Angus Moir, CEO of Agatha, an established software development company.

In 2014, Peech was disillusioned with his old and outdated management system, he started to search for a new system that could take his hotel forward for the next decade and embrace the developments in technology that he felt it needed. Together he and Moir, met and the idea to create Benson was born.

Experts in their respective fields, Peech and Moir have built Benson to meet specific needs. It is designed to improve the life of the hotelier, meaning they can get on with what they do best, which is looking after guests.

The software was launched earlier this year, and so far has been well received by the trade. Although developed locally, Peech says Benson Software has a global reach as far as Malta. Peech describes Benson as “a butler behind the scenes, running a hotel seamlessly. It’s nice and easy to use, an intuitive product”.  

“South African product made by hoteliers for hoteliers,” says Peech, mentioning that computer programmers do not necessarily know what hoteliers need. With Benson, the gap has been filled as it was developed in accordance with hoteliers’ needs.

The software allows hoteliers more time with guests, providing recommendations, tours, and attending to guests needs. “Hoteliers have more time to develop and deliver customer experience with Benson,” adds Peech.

Looking to the future, Peech says a customer portal is being developed, where guests can log on and manage their own bookings, change dates, request airport transfers and so on. “You can do it all yourself.”

The team behind Benson works on distilling complex processes into a package that is simple and seamless. They are always tweaking and improving the system, living by the mantra that good design does not stand still.

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