Global tools are excellent for 300-room hotels with an IT team. Legacy Indian tools were built for a PC at the desk. Sarai was built for a phone in a housekeeper's pocket in a 34-room hotel.
| Global cloud PMS | Legacy Indian PMS | Sarai | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Priced in | USD / EUR, per room | ₹, often per PC licence | ₹ per month, flat, no per-room or per-user fee |
| Runs on | Laptop / tablet at the desk | Windows PC at the desk | Any phone in any pocket (laptop optional) |
| GST invoices | Configurable tax rules | Usually yes | Correct by default: 5%/18% slabs, CGST/SGST/IGST, FY numbering |
| UPI payments matched to rooms | Via third-party gateway | Rarely | Built in: room QR cards, links, verification |
| WhatsApp to guests | Add-on / integration | Rarely | Built in: confirmations, bills, replies, owner summary |
| Form C for foreign guests | Not tracked | Sometimes | Flagged at booking, tracked as a task |
| Guest QR: pay, order, request, review | Separate guest-app products | No | Included, no app download |
| Housekeeping checklists with timer & photo | Add-on module | Basic | Included |
| Indian OTAs (MMT, Goibibo) | Through channel manager | Through channel manager | Through channel manager (Aiosell integrated) |
| Setup time | Weeks with an implementation team | Days on site | 10 minutes, self-serve or done for you |
| Support | Ticket, US/EU hours | Phone, local | WhatsApp, IST, from people who run a hotel |
Categories describe typical products in each group, not any single vendor; features and prices of other products change — check theirs directly. Where Sarai is honest about being behind: we do not yet have a native mobile app store listing, revenue management AI, or 500-integration marketplaces. We will, one module at a time.
Sign up, run the 5-step setup, print QR cards. We import your upcoming bookings from a CSV or your OTA extranets.
Team gets PINs. Desk runs both systems for the day. Housekeeping does one turnover with the checklist.
Channel manager switched to Sarai. Old system read-only. Monday's 9 a.m. summary arrives on your WhatsApp.
Free 30-day trial · no card · your rooms, your rates, your team's PINs.