Start-Up Spotlight: A New Approach to Maintenance Management for Hospitality
Maintenance operations are foundational to providing an excellent guest experience. Yet, despite the growing array of digital solutions, many maintenance teams in the hospitality sector remain under-equipped with tools that truly support their needs. Limble, a CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System) founded by Bryan Christiansen in 2015, is changing the way hotels manage their maintenance processes. With a focus on usability, flexibility, and actionable insights, Limble could be a great solution for maintenance woes within the hospitality industry.
The Birth of Limble
Christiansen launched Limble after extensive conversations with hundreds of maintenance professionals, gaining insight into the unique challenges they face. Christiansen noted that the available CMMS solutions often came with complex, rigid interfaces that were difficult for maintenance teams to implement successfully. This feedback led him to create Limble as a mobile-friendly, intuitive platform that empowers maintenance teams in real time, facilitating a system “built by maintenance professionals, for maintenance professionals.” The platform is designed to support teams wherever they work, whether on large resort grounds or within bustling urban hotel facilities.
What Makes Limble Unique for Hotels?
The hospitality sector has long relied on CMMS solutions for asset management, inventory control, work order tracking, and vendor management. However, Limble’s innovative mobile app provides seamless, on-the-go access for maintenance teams, making it easy for technicians to stay connected across hotel properties and complete tasks efficiently.
Limble’s user-friendly interface minimizes the learning curve, enabling quick adoption across all team members. Additionally, Limble provides a range of reporting features that provide hotel management with insights into maintenance operations and allow them to make data-driven decisions, from hiring needs to budget allocations. Limble’s award-winning customer service further enhances its value, providing round-the-clock support from implementation through ongoing use. This level of support helps maintenance teams overcome potential adoption barriers and enables hotels to see the full benefits of the platform.
Limble Addresses Common Hospitality Pain Points
Limble offers hospitality maintenance teams a variety of solutions aimed at improving both operational efficiency and guest experience. For hotels, effective maintenance means a smoother guest experience with fewer complaints about broken appliances, malfunctioning thermostats, and other facility issues. By automating preventive maintenance, Limble allows hotel teams to proactively service assets before issues arise, reducing the likelihood of guest complaints and minimizing costly, unexpected repairs.
Limble also streamlines work order management and centralizes critical information, making it easier for technicians to access facility details, troubleshoot, and complete repairs in less time. According to Limble, these operational efficiencies can significantly reduce maintenance team stress, increase job satisfaction, and even minimize after-hours calls. As a result, hotels using Limble experience improved morale among their maintenance staff, translating into more productive teams and a more reliable maintenance operation.
A Platform Built for Efficiency and Accessibility
Limble’s CMMS platform is accessible through both desktop and mobile applications, enabling maintenance teams to manage tasks efficiently wherever they are on the property. Managers can schedule preventive maintenance, assign work orders, and communicate seamlessly with technicians. Limble also offers QR code functionality, allowing any hotel employee to submit work requests with ease, attach photos, and notify the maintenance team directly.
All maintenance data is stored in one centralized system, making it easy to generate maintenance reports for audits, compliance, and management reviews. Limble also provides pre-built and customizable reporting dashboards, allowing hotel technology leaders to track KPIs and uncover insights that guide operational improvements.
Success Stories: Real-World Impact in Hospitality
Several hotels and resorts have already seen impressive results with Limble. For instance, Panorama Mountain Resort, a sprawling 3,000-acre property, uses Limble to manage its diverse maintenance needs across various terrains, including hiking trails, ski lifts, and snowmaking machines. Limble has helped the resort centralize its maintenance tasks, create a time-stamped record of activities, and streamline regulatory compliance and auditing processes.
At a large resort in Barbados, Limble has facilitated a 95.4% planned maintenance rate, significantly reducing unplanned breakdowns and enabling the resort to adopt a proactive approach to maintenance. Similarly, an international resort operating in both the U.S. and Canada reported a 60% reduction in labor costs within the first six months of using Limble, demonstrating the platform’s impact on operational efficiency and cost savings.
Limble’s Vision for the Future of CMMS in Hospitality
Limble aims to expand its reach and enhance its feature set without compromising user experience. According to Limble, the key to its success lies in balancing the robust capabilities of legacy maintenance software with the ease of use that today’s tech-savvy teams expect. As such, Limble continues to refine its interface and ensure it remains intuitive for end users while introducing powerful new features.
A significant part of Limble’s roadmap includes expanding its integrations and partnerships. By connecting CMMS to the broader technology ecosystem within hotels, Limble plans to help reduce manual workflows, improve data consistency, and drive greater operational efficiencies. For hotel technology leaders, this integration potential could mean a more seamless maintenance process across the organization, reducing silos and fostering collaboration across departments.
Advice for Hoteliers: The Importance of Investing in Maintenance Teams
Limble advises hoteliers to recognize the strategic value of their maintenance teams and to invest in the tools and resources needed for success. For example, maintenance is often considered a “cost center,” but empowering these teams with technology can transform them into strategic assets. But when maintenance teams have access to reliable data, set KPIs, and participate in higher-level business conversations, their efforts can reduce costs, enhance guest experience, and boost team morale. For hotel technology leaders, showcasing maintenance achievements and tying them to organizational goals can strengthen the overall operational framework of their properties.