1. Does the available music fit your hospitality concept?
Music can contribute immensely to a positive customer experience. And when people feel good in a space, they behave differently. Therefore, it is important to know who your ideal customers are. What is their age, gender, and place of residence? What do they like to do and what taste in music do they have?
If the music in your bar or restaurant matches this, you will get exactly the atmosphere you are looking for. Therefore, it is crucial that you find a supplier that has the right music for your hospitality concept and your customers.
2. How soon can you get started?
Want to get started quickly and without too much hassle? If so, it's best to bear the following in mind: with music computer suppliers, you should allow for plenty of time. You often start by making a no-obligation appointment, then buy or rent the equipment, and finally the supplier sends someone on site to help you with the installation and configuration.
With a streaming service, you don't need specific hardware. If the vendor offers a free trial, you can even get started right away. In just a few clicks, you will be up and running. Usually, all you have to do is connect your smartphone, laptop or tablet (wirelessly) to your audio system.
3. Can you also use the music service in your business?
Spotify, Apple Music and Deezer sound familiar to most people. However, you can only use them as an individual. Moreover, they lack useful business functions and you risk high fines if you do use them in a commercial setting.
Music streaming services for business use, such as Tunify, focus specifically on the needs and wants of the business user. Obviously, it is perfectly legal to use such services in your hospitality business.
4. Is the product easy to use?
Can you try a music service for free? If so, be sure to check if you can easily find the right music. In the best case, you don't even need to know anything about music to do so, but will be guided to the most relevant playlists and categories for your business. However, what if you’re really into music? In that case, it's nice if you can also compile your own playlists.
Make sure to check whether a music service offers additional useful features. For example, do you want to be able to request new songs or do you want the option of excluding some? Among other things, Tunify also includes the ability to import your own Spotify lists. That way, you can still play them legally.
5. What if something doesn't work?
Do you get a quick response when you call or email your music supplier? This is important if a failure were to crop up. With hardware solutions such as a music computer, though, there is a good chance that a technician will have to come on site after such a call. Streaming services can view and fix most problems remotely.
6. Does a supplier have satisfied customers?
On a music supplier's website, you can usually read testimonials from customers. You can also read reviews on Google or on websites such as Trustpilot. Who knows, you might even find a review from someone you know or maybe you recognise yourself completely in another customer's story.
7. How much does it cost?
A final point is - as always - price. In general, streaming services are a lot cheaper than music computers because you don't have to pay for hardware or maintenance. Moreover, most music streaming services operate without notice periods, allowing you to switch faster to another supplier.
Step ahead
Thanks to the seven questions above, you will undoubtedly make a smart choice and stay one step ahead of your competitors. The question is: do you play the appropriate music at any time of day, thus always creating the right atmosphere in your business? Yes? Then you’ll become the place to be in no time!
