Delivering Custom Solution for German Football Association in 3 Weeks
Client
dfb.deProperty Type
Football club
Location
Frankfurt, Germany
The project launch
January 2023
About German Football Association
The German Football Association (DFB), headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, is the main governing body of football, futsal, and beach soccer in Germany. With significant influence over the German football league system, the DFB boasts over 25,000 clubs and 6.8 million members across its regional and state associations.
Their accomplishments include notable victories such as the 2014 FIFA World Cup win and unprecedented success in qualifying for various European and World Championships.
To uphold their commitment to excellence, the football association is striving to create a training environment that promotes player focus. This involves reducing distractions for athletes and optimizing their arrival at the club’s hotel to avoid any potential friction. Mainly dealing with large group bookings, they actively sought a versatile property management solution capable of meeting these requirements
Challenges
The DFB’s training base needed an efficient property management solution that could cater to the needs of the football club. The primary goal was to automate as many operations as possible, helping staff to simplify the handling of large group bookings, and allowing players to focus solely on their game.
Solutions Provided by HotelFriend
HotelFriend took on the challenge and delivered a customized PMS for the DFB training base hotel. Recognizing the urgency, the developers got it up and running in just 3 weeks for this VIP client.
The custom solutions were developed based on the Grow package, which allowed them to use the PMS and the features they needed while seamlessly integrating it into the daily workflow alongside the systems they already had in use. Some of the custom features developed include:
Automated group bookings tailored for football teams
- Import functionality for group bookings from a CSV file, which allows the addition of all guest details in one file, with the possibility to drag and drop players in different rooms.
- Initially, reservations are made under the name of the group's responsible person. Once imported, the system automatically updates the reservation names to reflect the football players.
- Hovering over a reservation reveals a small window displaying guest names, allowing you to quickly view the occupants of each room.
- A seamless one-click process for receptionists to import guest lists, automatically allocating rooms to guests.
Quick login into the system with Microsoft Azure Single Sign-On
- Quick and secure login using Microsoft Account credentials.
- Leveraging Microsoft identity platform for authentication, ensuring enhanced application security.
- Integration with industry-standard protocols OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect for robust identity management.
Two types of custom reports, required for regular use
- A comprehensive Guest List report for easy guest management and additional PDF with legal information.
- Options to filter by timeframe, individual guests, or specific stays.
- Provides a consolidated "room list" for a specified period, including guest names, group affiliations, FC details, check-in/out dates, and room numbers.
- Possibility to download reports in Excel format.
VIP support with elevated service
- Service Level 1 support was provided in response to the client’s request, ensuring continuous assistance and prioritized responses to any queries.
- Support is available via phone, written communication, and Zoom calls, providing personalized assistance.
Results Achieved
HotelFriend's tailored PMS solution for the DFB football club has successfully automated key processes, enabling the football club team and staff to focus on the preparation for the upcoming match.
100% automated bookings for groups of players
The system's capability to handle group bookings, import guest details from CSV files, and automatically allocate rooms has eliminated manual tasks and streamlined the booking workflow. This helped staff to save time and reduced the risk of errors associated with manual data entry.
Higher security level with Microsoft Account login
Leveraging Microsoft Account Single Sign-On, the football club now benefits from a quick and secure login process. This feature helps DFB to ensure enhanced authentication, safeguarding sensitive data related to player accommodations and club operations.
90% less time spent on report creation
With the introduction of custom reports and streamlined reporting functionalities, the DFB has experienced a remarkable reduction in the time spent on report creation. This efficiency gain empowers staff members to allocate their time and resources more effectively, focusing on strategic tasks and player preparation activities.
Eliminated any possible friction during player check-in
The automated processes, such as hover-over reservations displaying guest names and the one-click import functionality for receptionists, contribute to a seamless arrival experience. This ensures that players can check in without any unnecessary delays or complications, allowing them to maintain focus on their training.
Uninterrupted workflow due to integration with existing systems
The flexibility of the Grow package and the ability to integrate with other systems used in the hotel ensures that the new solution complements the existing infrastructure. This integration minimizes disruptions, allowing staff to adapt quickly and efficiently to the new system.
«HotelFriend stood out as the only provider customizing their solution to our football club's needs. They've been quick and efficient in addressing all our inquiries.»
IT Manager at the German Football Association
Bastian Krebs