Hotel automation visits: what to ask before a trial

In October 2026, we arranged two days in Shenzhen for the owners of a European hotel group. The visit covered seven companies and a hotel using robots in daily operations. Their question was practical: which tasks could be automated at their properties, and how could a small pilot help them decide?

The published visit case records a supplier comparison and a possible pilot as next steps under discussion. The questions below are a preparation checklist for your own visit. Manufacturer product pages are separate reference material; they do not establish which models were demonstrated on that trip or how a product would perform at your hotel.

Follow one complete task

Choose a task and a specific part of your property before the meeting. Ask to see preparation, operation and the work needed afterwards. Keep a record of staff involvement and interruptions alongside the finished result.

• Delivery: who loads the robot, how does the guest receive the item, and what happens when a route is blocked or the guest does not respond?
• Floor cleaning: which floor surfaces and obstacles are included, and who changes accessories, refills supplies or cleans the equipment?
• Room turnover: ask separately about floors, bathrooms, beds and linen. Request a demonstration of each proposed task and record the work assigned to staff.
• Food and beverage: separate food preparation, restaurant delivery and equipment cleaning. Identify the people responsible for each step.

For a product reference, PUDU's CC1 page describes several cleaning modes and supporting equipment. Use the maker's description to prepare questions about the exact configuration in a proposal. A product page or a showroom demonstration does not establish cleaning quality, staffing needs or savings at your property.

Check building connections separately

Bring your lift models, door and access-control details, property management system (PMS) and relevant software versions. Ask the maker to identify which connections the proposed task actually needs, who implements them and what happens when a connection fails.

• Does the proposal include lift access, guest notifications and PMS integration? Which exact systems and versions have been tested?
• What installation work, permissions and ongoing fees are required for each connection?
• How do staff take over when a lift, door or network is unavailable?
• If several devices share a route or lift, who coordinates them?

PUDU's FlashBot Max page discusses building connections and lift-control approaches. These are manufacturer descriptions to check against your building. Ask for a reference using a comparable setup and confirm the implementation scope in writing.

Include people, training and maintenance

Ask who sets up the equipment, handles exceptions and prepares it for the next shift. For reception or phone systems, test the languages your guests use and the handover to a person. For room controls, ask what installation work is needed in your existing rooms.

Before a trial, name the people responsible for installation, staff training and repairs. Request the training location, language and cost, along with the support hours, consumables, spare parts and steps to follow during downtime. Ask for a customer reference in your target market where one is available; the maker's presence in a region alone does not answer these questions.

Agree what the trial will measure

Start with a clearly defined task at one property. Record the current process so that the trial has a useful point of comparison. Agree which records your team and the supplier will keep:

• tasks attempted, completed and interrupted
• staff preparation, intervention and maintenance time
• guest or staff feedback relevant to the task
• installation, rental or purchase costs, consumables and support charges
• the trial period, review date, responsibilities and what happens to the equipment afterwards

Decide with the supplier what would count as a useful outcome before the trial starts.

Frequently asked questions

Can a robot clean a hotel room?

Ask about the individual tasks: floors, bathrooms, beds and linen. Have the maker demonstrate the proposed scope, including preparation and staff assistance, in conditions relevant to your property. A public-area floor-cleaning demonstration does not answer all of those questions.

Will a delivery robot work with our lift and PMS?

Check lift access, guest notifications and PMS integration as separate requirements. Give the maker the exact systems and versions, then request the tested combinations, implementation owner and fallback procedure for each required connection.

Where should a hotel start with automation?

Choose one task at one property and agree on costs, responsibilities and measurement before a trial. Include completed tasks, staff intervention and feedback, and compare them with the current process.

Prepare your visit brief

List your priority task, building and system details, target market, and the questions your team needs answered. See our hotel automation visit overview, read the published hotel-group case, or send a visit brief.