Keeping data secure: playing it safe online is a team effort
Keeping sensitive data and systems safe is crucial for businesses seeking to survive and thrive online – including the accommodation industry. Whilst Seekom’s suite of security solutions provide top-of-the-line security, it’s key to know that online security is a team effort as a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
In this article, we explore the different ways Seekom's cloud-based solution keeps users secure and how you can play your part in reducing the risk of cyber threats.
Password protection is paramount
The first step to playing it safe with data protection is the padlock on the online door, also known as a password.
Passwords can be fun; make them quirky, not “qwerty”, to be memorable. Incorporating a compliment to remind yourself of one of your positive qualities, or using a short joke to bring on a smile at every log in is a great way to do this. Passphrases can be a lot easier to remember than just passwords and are stronger due to their complexity.
Strong passwords are long and wrong – avoid normal spelling of words by substituting capital letters, numbers and punctuation marks and use at least eight characters to beef up that padlock.
Passwords shouldn’t include any personal or business information that might easily be guessed, such as “Hurricanesfan”.
A common password faux pas is to use the same password across different platforms, allowing one password compromise to lead to many.
Bespoke authority levels offer you more control
Seekom’s property management platform allows users to set bespoke authority levels for different staff members, ensuring staff have only got the access they require to get their job done. As well as avoiding any unpleasant surprises, this helps users ensure they are complying with best practise.
Bespoke authority levels reduce the likelihood of staff sharing login details, which is best avoided, and means that access for particular individuals can easily be revoked when necessary, for example when staff members leave.
It may be a good time to double check staff access levels and be aware, for example, of exactly which staff have administration access to amend a property's bank account details on guest invoices.
We recognise you may prefer to grant different levels of access to Seekom iBex for different roles and staff within your business. That’s why our software puts the power in your hands when it comes to controlling who can do what within your business.
Multi-factor authentication adds security
Multi-factor authentication is like a bouncer at a nightclub checking punters’ IDs to make sure that they are who they say they are and that everything adds up.
The way it typically works is by sending a message to a mobile phone when a password is entered, double-checking that anyone seeking access has the right password and the right phone.
The message provides a one-time code that must be provided to gain access, meaning that even if a hacker manages to obtain your password, they will not be able to gain access to your account.
The Seekom Vault has built-in multi-factor authentication that you can enable, due to the extra-high sensitivity of the information it contains.
If you are worried about one of your devices falling into the wrong hands and want to implement multi-factor authentication on your login screen or on any website or login screen that doesn’t currently have it setup, you can do so with a number of third party apps. For example, the Microsoft Authenticator app is available as a free download and allows you to add multi-factor authentication for individual websites. Apple’s operating systems offer the option to use multi-factor authentication on your initial login screen and for individual websites as well.
Seekom's got your back
Seekom provides premium protection to keep your data and systems safe. Behind the scenes we use extra layers of security as well as employing third party security specialists to run independent checks on our systems. We make it easy to comply with General Data Protection Regulation and Payment Card Industry requirements as part of our commitment to best practice.
These measures not only provide peace of mind to users but also demonstrate Seekom's commitment to security and our dedication to providing a safe and secure platform for our users.
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PO Box 9300, Marion Square, Wellington 6141
Phone (NZ) : +64 4 974 9588
Phone (UK) : +44 20 3835 5939
Support: support@seekom.com
Sales: sales@seekom.com
Websites: webhelp@seekom.com
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Copyright 2022 © Seekom Limited (NZ owned)
Booking engine enhanced with multi-property view and custom questions
Our new booking engine has become even more powerful with the addition of new functionality that allows accommodation providers to showcase multiple properties on one web page and add tailored questions for guests during the booking process.
The improvements ensure the new booking engine has all the functionality of the old one, with the added bonus of a smoother and more powerful booking experience, improved online conversions and enhanced performance on mobile devices.
We’ve summarised the latest enhancements below. Please follow our helpful instruction guide to get the new and improved booking engine setup on your website.
Multi property bookings: present all your properties on one page
This much-requested feature allows accommodation providers with multiple properties to list their entire property portfolio on a single web page.
It allows people browsing a website to search all the properties available in one spot and filter them to find the perfect fit using criteria such as location, facilities offered, and number of bedrooms.
This saves time for customers, who no longer have to visit multiple sites, and it also streamlines the process for providers by allowing them to showcase all of their accommodation offerings in a user-friendly way under one brand and in one online location.
To set up multi-property view, follow the instructions in our guide. Keep in mind that you need to have the new and improved booking engine setup first.
Multi property view allows customers to view all the properties you manage
Custom fields: gather extra information during the booking process
The new custom fields feature allows accommodation providers to save time and improve the guest experience by gathering helpful information from customers ahead of their stay. This is done by enabling providers to add their own questions to their online booking form to ensure they have the information they need, ahead of time, to provide guests with a memorable and stress-free experience.
Custom fields can be used to gather information such as vehicle registration, size of campervan, or what kind of milk a guest wants, before their arrival. It can also be used by providers that offer bespoke experiences and want to gather information related to those experiences, such as “What is the age of the child?” for a horse-riding tour option paid for during the online booking process.
Adding custom fields is easy once you have the new and improved booking system set up on your site. Just follow the instructions for adding custom fields on our website.
Custom fields allows you to gather additional details from customers booking online
Want to know more about the new booking system and how to set it up on your website? Check our recent blog post about it.
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PO Box 9300, Marion Square, Wellington 6141
Phone (NZ) : +64 4 974 9588
Phone (UK) : +44 20 3835 5939
Support: support@seekom.com
Sales: sales@seekom.com
Websites: webhelp@seekom.com
Connect With Us
Copyright 2022 © Seekom Limited (NZ owned)
Introducing the Seekom Community
We want to make sure the features we add to Seekom will save you money, bring in more guests, and ultimately simplify the job of running a successful accommodation business.
Introducing the Seekom Community - a place where you can suggest new features, view and vote on ideas suggested by others, and provide feedback on enhancements we are thinking about introducing in the future.
It's our very own shared community, and it's gone live this week.
If you are a Seekom user, just heads across to the new Seekom Community page and log in using your Seekom iBex credentials or Zendesk login (both will work).
Once logged in you will see two places on the Seekom Community page; the Feature Forum and the Seekom Showroom.
Feature Forum
The feature forum is a place where you can add feature requests, make comments, view ideas submitted by others and vote on the ones you think we should priorities.
Our product manager makes use of the forum as a valuable resource, prioritising feature requests that are most popular and needed by our user community.
The Feature Forum lets you post feature requests and vote on other people’s suggestions.
Seekom Showroom
The Seekom Showroom is where we will post initiatives or ideas we are considering developing, to gauge your thoughts. It provides a chance for you to shape the features we propose and to let us know whether they are worth making into reality.
We hope you enjoy the Seekom Community and find it easy to use. Jump in, take a look around, and share your thoughts on what will make Seekom even more powerful for your accommodation management needs.
Visit the Seekom Community (log in with your Seekom iBex credentials or Zendesk login)
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Seekom Blog
Smarts to help you operate more effectively and efficiently. From guides of our systems and integrations to tips and tricks you can use every day - we've got you covered.
Contact Us
PO Box 9300, Marion Square, Wellington 6141
Phone (NZ) : +64 4 974 9588
Phone (UK) : +44 20 3835 5939
Support: support@seekom.com
Sales: sales@seekom.com
Websites: webhelp@seekom.com
Connect With Us
Copyright 2022 © Seekom Limited (NZ owned)
Improvements to promo codes, email scheduling and extra guest rates
We’ve launched three time-saving improvements to our Seekom property management system to help you make 2023 your best year yet.
These improvements enable you to set start and expiry dates for any promo codes you create and give you more power to schedule important emails to be sent to guests at specific times of day. We’ve also streamlined the process for setting the rates for extra guests staying at your accommodation.
Add start and end dates for promo codes
We have added the ability for users to add a date range to promo codes, giving you complete control over when they become active and when they expire. This removes the need for manual intervention and the possibility of being stuck charging a lesser rate because the code hadn’t been updated.
Previously promo codes could only be set as active or non-active, meaning users would need to remember to change them once a promo period was finished.
Add start and end dates for promo codes
Schedule emails to be sent at specific times of day
Communication is key to supporting good relationships, so we’ve given users the option to schedule emails to guests at specific times of day, rather than just a set number of days before or after a ‘trigger’ action takes place.
One way to make use of this new option could be to set up and schedule an email to be sent to all guests shortly before the end of their stay to offer a late check out for an additional fee.
Schedule emails to be sent at specific times of day
Set start and end dates for temporary or seasonal extra guest rates
Our latest upgrade allows you to create start and end dates for any extra guest rates introduced within Seekom. This was already possible for seasonal base rates, but extra guest rates had to be adjusted manually whenever a change was required.
By setting these rates up in Seekom well ahead of time, you can remove the need to remember to manually change anything before or after a seasonal rate period starts and ends.
For example, a campsite that usually charges a base rate of $40 and an extra guest rate of $20 might use the feature to set up a seasonal base rate of $55 and $30 per extra guest over Christmas, and then $55 base rate and $25 per extra guest over their region’s anniversary weekend. These rates could be set up whenever it is convenient, avoiding the need to remember to make the changes manually during busy peak periods.
Set start and end dates for temporary or seasonal extra guest rates
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Seekom Blog
Smarts to help you operate more effectively and efficiently. From guides of our systems and integrations to tips and tricks you can use every day - we've got you covered.
Contact Us
PO Box 9300, Marion Square, Wellington 6141
Phone (NZ) : +64 4 974 9588
Phone (UK) : +44 20 3835 5939
Support: support@seekom.com
Sales: sales@seekom.com
Websites: webhelp@seekom.com
Connect With Us
Copyright 2022 © Seekom Limited (NZ owned)
Seekom’s new and improved booking engine is here
Our enhanced front-end booking screen is now available to all users.
This upgraded booking screen makes it easier for your guests to select multiple rooms and optional extras when paying for accommodation and is designed to work like a dream on mobile devices.
We've developed this enhanced functionality with the support of a group of Seekom users from across New Zealand and the United Kingdom who took part in beta testing. Thanks to their feedback we’ve created something pretty special and we’re excited to make it available to you all.
MAKE MULTI-ROOM BOOKINGS AND ADDING EXTRAS EASY FOR GUESTS
The new front-end booking screen allows guests to make multi-room bookings online, without having to phone you, and it also makes it simple for guests to pay for extras – such as a newspaper, breakfast, or any other options you make available.
INCREASE ONLINE CONVERSIONS
The new system has a modern look and performs much better on mobile devices. It reduces the number of steps guests need to take before confirming a reservation, speeding up the process and boosting the number of online bookings you receive.
EMBED WITHOUT IFRAME
If you want to embed the booking screen directly into your website, you now have the option of doing so without iFrames, allowing for more customisation and a seamless fit with the branding of your site.
At a glance: The new front booking screen
Make it easy for guests to select multiple rooms in one booking.
Allow guests to pay for optional extras during the online booking process.
The new booking experience works seamlessly on mobile.
THE DETAIL
How do I add the new booking screen to my website?
We’ve put together an instruction guide showing you how to add the new front-end booking screen to your property’s website, either using a link or embedded code.
Will the old booking system continue to work?
If you’re an existing Seekom user and don’t want to upgrade just yet, don’t worry. The old booking system will continue to work just fine until you decide to make the change.
What’s next for the booking system?
We’re committed to making our front-end booking system the best in class and we will continue enhancing it in the weeks ahead. We are working hard on adding a multi property booking option, as well as the ability for you to include custom fields in your booking forms. Watch this space!
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