It hasn’t even been a year since the web based booking software bookatonce launched to support small hotels, guest houses and B&Bs with managing their rooms and availabilities. Amazingly enough, however, people all over the world are already using bookatonce, even though bookatonce was first marketed only in Germany, where the system was developed by protel hotelsoftware GmbH.

Within only a few months, bookatonce had more than a thousand customers worldwide. And the degree to which bookatonce is being internationalised is steadily increasing. Currently hoteliers, innkeepers and B&B owners in more than 58 countries are using the web based solution bookatonce by protel. And almost every day, a new country is added to the list of people impressed and convinced by the innovations bookatonce offers.

bookatonce is easy to use by anyone and requires practically no training. This benefits especially those people, who are new to the computer world and the internet, as there are virtually no entry barriers. And for this reason, more and more guest house owners are happy to replace their antiquated pen & paper reservation book system with bookatonce’s electronic availability calendar. Thus, it’s not surprising that even in countries such as Guatemala, Bhutan and Benin the number of customers is increasing. However, bookatonce is also starting to make a name for itself in high-tech locations such as the USA and India.

Seeing the remarkably high international distribution rate, the bookatonce team will now focus more on developing marketing strategies for further growth of bookatonce’ international business.

The foundation for successful international marketing has already been laid.  bookatonce is available in several language versions: German, English and Spanish. And soon we will launch a French and Dutch bookatonce version.

To conquer new markets, however, much more important than the language versions is to showcase the special features that distinguish bookatonce from its competitors. First and foremost is the fact that bookatonce is a SaaS (Software as a Service) solution, which means that it is business software which is made available and deployed over the Internet. And as the Internet knows no boundaries, neither does the internationalisation of bookatonce.

Another significant characteristic of software that meets the SaaS model is that you lease the applications instead of purchasing software licenses. The investment to deploy bookatonce is minimal, which does not eliminate but shifts the investment risk from the user to the provider, bookatonce. All that is required is any commercially available PC and access to the internet, investing in special hardware is not necessary.

Due to its modular build-up, bookatonce also allows a completely flexible pricing structure.  And the fixed charges are very low. This means that bookatonce is especially attractive to those people who are concerned about high investments and running costs. For developing countries, this innovative solution may even indirectly offer development assistance in the tourism sector.

bookatonce’ pricing structure (freemium model) which entail low costs for the user, is only sustainable, however, if as many businesses as possible realize the many apparent benefits. And this too calls for bookatonce’ international expansion.

Ultimately, bookatonce’ distribution model reflects the business model. The bookatonce basic version is available for free. And even if you customise your system by adding more modules, costs are extremely low.  Thus, sales and distribution of bookatonce has to be efficiently organised. And a large network of dealers, consisting of distribution partners with exclusive territories is not possible. As bookatonce is a web based hotel management software it is therefore only consistent to market, sell and distribute bookatonce via the Internet.

For the international market this, too, is protel’s main distribution channel for its bookatonce product line. Currently, the bookatonce team is looking for further sales and distribution partners and an affiliate program will soon be introduced.

If we’ve sparked your interest and you’d like to share your network, please don’t hesitate to contact us! The bookatonce team, who will happily answer all your questions, also reflects bookatonce’ growing internationalisation.  Our international team members provide excellent service to ensure a continuous increase of international customers and thus contribute to bookatonce’ international success.

Contact us now and be a part of our success story!

Author: Björn Grunert / Translation: Nicole Stöber