Your park's new superpower: Understanding AI and Anomaly Detection
Your park's new superpower: Understanding AI and Anomaly Detection
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as a practical tool that can help you run your caravan park more efficiently and profitably. But what do terms like 'anomaly detection' and 'Generative AI' actually mean for your business?
What is Anomaly Detection? The 'sixth sense' for your bookings
At its core, anomaly detection is about finding outliers - things that don't fit the usual pattern. Think of it as a digital assistant who has memorised the entire rhythm of your park's booking history. It knows your typical booking pace for a Tuesday in March versus a Saturday in January.
Anomaly detection uses machine learning to analyse your historical data, every booking, every cancellation, and every night stayed. From this, it builds a sophisticated "normal" range for any given day or week. An "anomaly" is flagged anytime your park's activity falls outside this predicted range.
We’ve recently incorporated anomaly detection into a new module in Parki, which acts as a 24/7 watchdog and alerts you to any unusual activity in your booking performance.
Practical tips and tricks:
- Investigate the dips: A sudden drop in bookings could be an early warning. Did a local event get cancelled? This allows you to react quickly with a targeted promotion instead of waiting until the end of a quiet week.
- Capitalise on the spikes: An unexpected surge in bookings is a valuable clue. Perhaps a new local attraction is gaining popularity, or a significant event was just announced for the town. By understanding what’s driving the increase, you can double down on marketing or adjust rates to maximise revenue.
The goal isn't just to see the anomaly, but to ask "why?" and turn that insight into a smart business decision.
What is Generative AI?
If anomaly detection is about analysing what’s already happened, Generative AI is about creating something new. This technology can understand vast amounts of information and generate human-like text, images, and ideas based on a simple prompt.
Think of it like a massive digital brain that has read most of the internet. A great illustration of this is our new Regional Activity Report in Parki. We tasked a Generative AI model with a specific job: to act like a hyper-efficient local guide. It constantly scans the web for events, festivals, and even roadworks happening near your park. It then synthesises this with your booking data to show you what’s coming up and how it might affect your business.
Practical tips and tricks:
- Automate your research: Use AI to build a calendar of regional events without spending hours on Google. This gives you a forward-looking view of potential high-demand periods.
- Beat writer's block: Once the AI has found an event, it can instantly draft social media posts or a blog article about it. This provides a fantastic, time-saving starting point for your marketing.
Get in touch
By combining the analytical power of anomaly detection with the creative potential of Generative AI, park operators can gain a new understanding of their business landscape. At BDO, we’re excited to share cutting-edge AI tools with our Parki users, and to continue to learn and observe how AI is driving efficiency and innovation across the caravan industry.
Contact your local BDO expert to learn more about our tourist, caravan and holiday park services.
