STACK STRATEGY Deployment models for core operation- al systems tend to lean cloud-based. More than half of respondents said their core systems are primarily cloud-based or fully cloud-native. Another 38% said their sys- tems are primarily on-premise with some cloud components.
simplicity. Best-of-breed is the most common approach: 49% reported using different vendors for different functions. All-in-one platforms are the second most common strategy at 29%, while 10% of respondents build or customize systems in house, and the remaining respondents were unsure or have strategies that vary by department. Best-of-breed adoption rises sharply with resort size, with 33% of small resorts utilizing this strategy, 39% of medium resorts, 68% of large resorts, and 86% of extra-large resorts. The inverse is also true: Small ski areas are far more likely to prefer all-in-one platforms (46%) than large areas (11%). This suggests that big- ger organizations are choosing flexibili- ty and specialized capabilities, but they also anecdotally report more challenges with integration and vendor limitations. While smaller resorts, which tend to have fewer dedicated IT staff, seem to prefer all-in-one solutions. There are also procurement and administrative dimensions to stack strat- egy. Best-of-breed can reduce dependence on any single vendor, but it increases vendor management overhead: con- tracts, renewals, security reviews, sup- port escalation paths, and the ongoing work of keeping integrations functional as products evolve. All-in-one can reduce that overhead, but it concentrates risk if the platform lags on a critical feature or the vendor’s roadmap does not align with the resort’s needs.
complex environments with legacy sys- tems, local infrastructure investments, or specific physical operational func- tions that are not yet fully cloud-ready. For example, a ski area might run cloud- based commerce while keeping certain operational or identity systems on-site, especially when connectivity, latency, or legacy constraints exist. Tech stack. Not surprisingly, among the current systems, software, and hard- ware in use at resorts, e-commerce or online booking platforms is the most common (92%), followed by digital waivers or forms (88%), finance and accounting technology (86%), and F&B systems (84%). (See chart 4, below.) Use of drones or remote sensing (24%), enterprise resource planning (28%), and AI tools (37%) ranked lowest among tech currently being used, but were also all in the top six (out of 17) technologies that respondents said they are “considering,” led by drones/remote sensing at 36%. The next wave of tech adoption appears geared toward operational effi- ciencies. The top technologies ski areas are currently “testing” include AI tools (24%); automation tools for operations, staffing, and reporting (21%); enter- prise resource planning (12%); and dashboard/data visualization tools and drones/remote sensing, tied at 11%. Best-of-breed vs. all-in-one. When it comes to technology acquisition, ski areas are balancing flexibility against
3. How are your core operational systems currently deployed?
3%
8%
38%
44%
7%
Cloud deployment is notably more common among small areas, with 71% primarily cloud-based or fully cloud-na- tive. More than half of medium-sized respondents also fall into these catego- ries. Large resorts tend to be hybrid: 74% reported their systems are primarily on-site with some cloud components. This tendency toward hybrid solu- tions at larger ski areas may reflect more PRIMARILY CLOUD-BASED (VENDOR OR THIRD-PARTY HOSTING): 44% FULLY CLOUD-NATIVE (NO ONSITE SERVERS): 7% PRIMARILY ON-PREMISE WITH SOME CLOUD COMPONENTS: 38% FULLY ON-PREMISE (HARDWARE HOSTED AT RESORT): 8% NOT SURE: 3%
4. Technologies already in use (>50% adoption):
E-COMMERCE / ONLINE BOOKING PLATFORMS:
92%
DIGITAL WAIVERS / FORMS:
88%
FINANCE & ACCOUNTING:
86%
FOOD & BEVERAGE SYSTEMS:
84%
CLOUD INFRASTRUCTURE & STORAGE:
79%
RENTAL MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE:
76%
HUMAN RESOURCES:
76%
Percent of respondents who indicated each technology is already in use at their resort. Only technologies with greater than 50% adoption shown. Multiple selections allowed, so totals do not sum to 100%.
SNOWSPORTS SCHOOL / LESSON MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS:
75%
RFID ACCESS CONTROL / GATES:
67%
DASHBOARDING / DATA VISUALIZATION TOOLS:
61%
DYNAMIC PRICING / YIELD MANAGEMENT TOOLS:
57%
MOBILE APPS / GUEST PORTALS:
55%
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