Management software is the nervous system of your campsite. Choosing the wrong provider means years of workarounds, manual Excel exports, and the phone ringing every time there is an update. Yet most managers choose software based on the best-looking demo or a colleague's recommendation. This guide will help you make a more informed choice.
The 12 questions to ask any provider
- 1Is the software developed in-house or does it rely on third parties? A reseller of foreign software cannot modify anything if you have a specific request.
- 2How much does it cost per booking? Are there commissions on revenue? Some management systems take a hidden percentage of every transaction.
- 3Is Alloggiati Web integrated, or do I have to use separate software? Managing both systems is the biggest waste of time at campsites.
- 4Does it support integration with barriers, ANPR, and IoT hardware? Even if you do not need them today, you might in the future.
- 5Where is the data stored? Servers in Italy/EU or the USA? Relevant for GDPR and latency.
- 6Can I export all my data at any time? If you want to change providers in three years, you must be able to do so.
- 7Who answers the phone in August at 2:00 p.m.? Ask for the developer's direct number, not the call center's.
- 8How many facilities similar to mine use this software? Real references, not slides.
- 9How frequently are updates released? And by when are Italian regulations (Alloggiati, ISTAT) updated?
- 10Is the booking engine native or a third-party iframe? Iframes have slower loading times and are often not customizable.
- 11What happens if I do not renew the contract? Will the data remain accessible? Read the contract clause by clause.
- 12Can I try it without a credit card for at least 30 days? A serious provider is not afraid to let you try the product.
Essential features in 2025
| Feature | Why it matters | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic Alloggiati Web | Legal requirement; manual entry means errors and penalties | 🔴 Critical |
| Commission-free booking engine | Booking.com takes up to 17%: every direct booking is pure profit | 🔴 Critical |
| Digital check-in with document recognition | Eliminates queues and reduces transcription errors | 🟠 High |
| Dynamic pricing by period/pitch type | In high season, it can increase RevPAR by 15–30% | 🟠 High |
| Mobile app for your guests | Self check-in, campsite maps, bar orders | 🟡 Medium |
| Hardware integration (barriers, RFID) | Automates access and reduces night staffing | 🟡 Medium |
| Revenue reporting by source | Understand where profitable bookings come from | 🟡 Medium |
| Open APIs for custom integrations | Flexibility for needs not anticipated by the provider | 🟢 Desirable |
The most common mistake: buying based on price
Management software that costs €50/month but makes you spend 2 hours a day on manual operations costs you much more than software costing €150 that automates everything. Do the calculation: 2 hours/day × 30 days × the hourly value of your time = the real cost of the apparent saving.
Ovvo Camping is developed 100% by SeoSoft, an Italian software house specializing in accommodation facilities. You can speak directly with the people who wrote the code. Request a free, no-obligation demo.
Warning signs from a provider
- It does not provide references from facilities similar to yours.
- The contract includes early termination penalties exceeding 3 months.
- The interface is in English without a complete Italian translation.
- It does not respond to emails within 24 hours during the evaluation phase.
- The 'support' is only an online form or ticket system with no phone support.
- It cannot demonstrate the Alloggiati Web integration live during the demo.