Insights + interviews
In Conversation With Tony Soh
We had a chat with The Ascott Limited’s Chief Corporate Officer, Tony Soh on what the company’s vision of the next generation serviced residence entails and what makes for a ‘smart’ building/residence.
Singapore is getting smart…
Recent announcements and articles have began the process of sharing information about the roadmap, the movement towards and the benefits to be gained by becoming a connected Singaporean home. Singapore’s government agency Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) hopes the smart nation platform will provide access to more meaningful information that Singaporeans can use to make decisions related to transport, health and services.
Beyond residential properties, the advantages of having a well connected residence that is intelligent enough to provide a higher and smarter quality of living experience has also attracted the attention of the hospitality industry. One such industry member is The Ascott Limited, a company that runs serviced residences in Singapore, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Gulf Region. They recently entered into a partnership with Samsung to design the next-generation serviced residence.
The partnership aims to build a residence that will enable guests to control and manage devices through a single application. This application will connect and control personal and home appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, smart TVs, smartphones and perhaps even wearable devices.
Mr Tony Soh tells us more about The Ascott Limited’s vision and what it means for their guests and the benefits of living in a smart service residence.
AA: Hello Tony, this is an interesting development for a serviced residence. Can you share your vision of the company’s next generation serviced residence?
TS: Our vision is to create a more seamless, convenient and personalised ‘smart’ living experience for guests staying at any Ascott property around the world. Our focus continues to be about delivering the same personal touch and award-winning hospitality that we have provided for over 30 years to all our guests.
AA: At the Smart Nation Conference held in Singapore in April, IDA’s Steve Leonard opined that connectivity is the key to a smart nation. In Ascott’s perspective, what makes a ‘smart’ building or residence?
TS: We are not limiting the adoption of ‘smart’ technologies to individual properties – we are looking at bringing about a change in lifestyles and experiences, to redefine accessibility and convenience. Our aim is to enhance the stay experience of our guests by customising their living environment to make it more personalised and at the same time help simplify routines as well as reduce time spent on chores.
Ascott is proud to be the first global serviced residence company to embrace smart home technologies, and we’ve recently announced our partnership with Samsung to harness the Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in our serviced residences. In the new generation Ascott serviced residence, guests can enjoy ‘smart’ home convenience – customising their smart TV settings, air conditioning and other home appliances that best fits their lifestyle preferences. In addition to improving guest experience, we are also exploring the use of automated technologies such as robotics to enhance employees’ productivity, thus allowing them more time to devote their attention in pleasing our guests.
Innovation is one of Ascott’s key business thrusts and we’re constantly exploring and introducing new technologies and ideas to improve the guest experience. With the emergence of the digital age and increasing connectivity of our global travellers, we are working with like-minded partners such as Samsung to ensure that every touchpoint and guest stay is seamless and efficient.
AA: In your opinion, what will the next five years bring for travellers and customers staying at serviced residences, given the emphasis on connected residences and smart devices?
TS: Travellers can look forward to more personalised services and experiences, catered to their individual needs and lifestyles. The introduction of ‘smart’ technologies is one of the ways in which guests are able to customise their stays according to their needs. Ascott will work closely with Samsung to co-innovate and test customised hospitality solutions at Ascott’s Innovation Hub in Singapore before piloting these solutions at our properties by the first half of 2016. Guests may try out the new technologies in specially-created Samsung Experience Suites for a trial period.
AA: What benefits will the next generation serviced residence bring to visitors and customers?
TS: We often host business travellers and long-stay guests who are away from home for extended periods. Ascott offers the comfort of a home away from home, quality services and peace of mind at our serviced residences. For travellers with packed schedules, the ease of connectivity provided by Ascott’s next generation serviced residences will allow them to improve their quality of life by focusing their time and energy on the things which matter most.This will leave them more time to recharge, relax and unwind at the end of a long day.
AA: What are some of the smart technologies Ascott hopes to connect through the integrated platform?
TS: Guests will be able to use customised settings on their mobile devices or smart TV to control multiple devices simultaneously no matter where they are. For example, they can turn on the air conditioning or monitor the laundry cycle while inside the apartment or outside the serviced residence. By knowing when the day starts for the guests, the smart devices can turn on the lights and heat up a coffee pot and provide the perfect brew just in time.
AA: Do you think there will be a case of too much data or sharing happening with the ‘smart home’ concept?
TS: We recognise the importance of customer data security and privacy in this age of data-driven technologies. Our guests’ data security and privacy is an important factor for us as we design the technologies around a ‘smart home’. We look to offer guests a seamless experience by understanding their preferences and allowing them to customise their stay.
AA: How can travellers turn off or tone down the connecting if it’s a case of ‘too much at the same time’?
TS: During our pilot period, we will actively gather feedback from guests and employees so we can review, improve and tweak the technologies. Guests will have varying levels of receptiveness to smart technology and connected devices. Our apartments will continue to offer simple controls to cater for the preferences of different guests.
