6 Ways Technology Has Transformed Hotel Furniture Manufacturing Processes and Production

6 Ways Technology Has Transformed Hotel Furniture Manufacturing Processes and Production

Hospitality furniture does more than provide a function. It expresses ideas, extends the architectural style, and creates an atmosphere that defines a guest’s experience of the space. 

Advances in technology for hotel furniture manufacturing are allowing designers and builders to collaborate more fluidly and seamlessly than ever before. Here are six ways technology is transforming hospitality furniture manufacturing.

Product Digitalization and 3D Visualization

Product digitalization can efficiently manage unlimited product data. It saves time on information requests and is accessible from anywhere.

Furniture designs that have gone through the digitalization process are represented by a 3D model that can be used in marketing, sales, client presentations, or to generate design ideas. Once digitalized, it’s easy to give the 3D models of casegoods or seating a new finish or see what they would look like using different materials.


Augmented Reality

Augmented reality is an advanced form of communication that can simplify design and production by helping owners and decision-makers see the fully realized furniture design before any of it has been built. Digital models of furniture designs can be placed inside an existing hotel. 

In terms of technology for hotel furniture manufacturing, it’s a powerful way to ensure that any design edits can be addressed before manufacturing starts.


CAD Packages

Now integrated with the digital realm, CAD can design amazingly creative and interactive 3D visualizations of furniture for hospitality. CAD allows designers to present furnishings with realistic textures in different styles, settings, and lighting.

Rich 3D representations allow manufacturing attributes to be resolved in advance without any guesswork or misunderstanding. This results in fewer change orders and lower overall project costs.


3D Printing

3D printing is still fairly new, but it is being used to produce some furniture designs such as chairs, end tables, and modular furniture. Starting with a CAD drawing or a 3D model, a 3D printer will deposit tiny grains of materials layer by layer until the final product is complete.

3D printing is regarded as sustainable in a couple of ways. It can reuse and repurpose plastic waste, ceramic, glass, concrete, or metal. It also uses the precise quantity of material needed to create the desired shape, limiting waste.

An exciting feature of 3D printing is that the printer can use a digital rendering from anywhere in the world. The designer could be in Paris, and the machine in a luxury retreat on top of a mountain, making it a potentially interesting solution for remote locations.

As technology for hotel furniture manufacturing, 3D printing is currently used to create prototypes and exclusive pieces. However, 3D printing furniture for hospitality at an industrial scale may be possible in the future.


Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the remarkable and growing digital interconnection of objects we use daily with the internet. Examples include Alexa, who can answer any question or control the lights and temperature of a room for guests, or a coffee maker that can be started remotely from a smartphone.

But what about hospitality furniture connected to the internet? The potential is full of possibilities for both guests and hotel management. Some hotels are already benefiting from room air conditioners staff can manage remotely and refrigerators that automatically record what guests remove and use. 

Perhaps next is a nightstand with an integrated alarm that can play a guest’s favorite music to wake them up at the desired time. The IOT has enormous potential to improve both guest experience and ease of management. 


Artificial Intelligence

It’s hard to turn around without hearing about artificial intelligence (AI). It’s essential to marketing, shopping, navigation, music and movie selection, and more. Regarding technology for hotel furniture manufacturing, AI is used in generative design.

While it is not anywhere close to replacing a real designer with creativity, expertise, and vision, AI is a valuable tool in quickly developing iterations on a theme. It cannot understand ergonomics or how different materials feel, but it can help generate ideas with given parameters outlined by a designer.


Technology in Hotel Furniture Manufacturing Continues to Evolve

Today’s technology has enormous potential to rapidly enliven new ideas and bring new and exciting potentials into hospitality furniture manufacturing. The highest and best use of any new technology is to improve manufacturing processes, streamline design, improve sustainability, and simplify hotel operations while improving guest experiences. 

Whatever your furniture idea may be, we can build it at any scale. To discuss what is possible for your next project, connect with our expert team today.