The future of short-term rental monitoring: challenges and opportunities
[SPONSORED CONTENT] From US cities introducing noise monitor mandates to Airbnb announcing an integration with Minut [a property monitoring company], noise monitoring has become a short-term rental tech staple in the last few years.
That’s because it can help with many of the problems the industry faces: unauthorised parties, damage, neighbour complaints etc. At the same time, it’s a rapidly growing and evolving area, where new challenges and opportunities are addressed every day.
Here are three trends to watch out for:
Native outdoor solution
Noise monitoring was originally developed for indoor use, where it has been tested and proven. Just one example is the Minut x Airbnb Prague pilot programme, where the noise sensors solved 100 per cent of noise issues in 20 minutes or less.
The challenge: false positives
However, going outdoors brings a whole new set of challenges. Chief among them are false positives caused by natural phenomena like wind on the sensor. It’s not enough to just build a weatherproof device; it needs to be smart enough to know when to alert and when not to. Yes, we’re talking AI.
The opportunity: AI
Minut is taking on this challenge with its new generation of hardware. The new sensor offers indoor and outdoor modes, which adapt to the environment. The outdoor mode in particular sports a new feature called AudioID. It uses AI and edge processing to eliminate wind noise from the readings while preserving guest privacy. An extra piece of good news is that it’s a standalone sensor that can be used indoors or outdoors, on its own, or in combination with other sensors.
In pursuit of connectivity
As short-term rentals adopt more and more tech, the amount of disparate dashboards and systems is quickly becoming burdensome and costly. That’s why in the current market it’s a necessity, not a luxury, for systems to connect.
The challenge: too many systems
If the amount of OTAs, PMSs, smart locks, and other smart tech can be challenging for the operators, it also poses a challenge for the tech companies themselves. Since it’s impossible to connect with all the systems out there, the teams need to make some tough choices. Especially since integrations can take time to negotiate, build and test in the field.
The opportunity: seamless monitoring through integrations
Having the right integration partners can give a tech company a huge competitive advantage and make the product itself more efficient. In terms of short-term rental monitoring specifically, integrations can help solve issues and enhance guest experience.
Minut’s integration with Airbnb, for instance, enables Minut to contact guests via Airbnb Messages when it detects noise. This solves most noise issues without the need to even involve the host!
Minut also integrates with smart locks, climate control providers, Zapier and over 20 property management systems, connecting major players from all areas of the industry. With the new generation of the sensor coming soon, all these integrations will be available outdoors as well.
Broadening insight
Finally, noise monitoring is perhaps the most well-known category of STR monitoring; but it actually works best when supported by other factors, such as occupancy and motion tracking.
The challenge: going beyond noise
Elevated sound levels can be a great indicator of a potential party kicking off but it’s always good to have more information before you act. That’s why hosts nowadays want to have a wider range of insight into what’s happening at the property. Peppering the rental with multiple types of sensors, however, is rarely the optimal solution, so we’re bound to see more demand for all-in-one sensors.
The opportunity: new features within all-in-one sensors
Some sensors, including Minut, already provide insight into multiple factors in addition to noise.
Occupancy monitoring can alert you when a crowd is assembling.
Motion can notify of unexpected movement in the rental.
Temperature and humidity [available in both indoor and outdoor modes] help you protect your home from damage and keep energy bills low. We’ll certainly see even more development in this area in the future as companies find ways to provide more privacy-safe insight within just one device.
Curious about what the future of STR monitoring looks like? Check out the new generation of Minut here.
