The 7 Days Inn hotel franchise group has recently introduced an automated check-in system for its members in China.

With the system, members of 7 Days Inn can book a room and pay in advance through 7 Days Inn's online website or by telephone, and then they can choose a room after swiping their second-generation ID cards through the CI system in hotel lobbies. No deposit is needed for this new system.

Information included in the self check-in system is the same with the central system of 7 Days Inn, said Lin Yuezhou, chief information officer who is in charge of technology research and value-added service for members in 7 Days Inn. The new system will not only save time for guests, but lower hotel's management costs.

In 2008, 7 Days Inn introduced 24-hour booking via Internet, telephone, SMS message and WAP and easy checkout services to offer more convenient services to guests.