Advantages of Mobile Apps for Travel & Hospitality Industry

Mobile devices including mobile phones are now a part of our lives. They are not just communication devices and most of our day-to-day activities require a mobile application. From mundane tasks like waking us up to listening to our favorite tunes, and checking bank accounts to checking out travel photos and videos of friends, mobile apps offer a very innovative experience to everyone’s life.

After the year of complete uncertainty due to the Covid-19 pandemic, travel restarted with a bang, often referred to as revenge travel. Technology is a critical component that can help restore the confidence to travel and also enable a safe, seamless travel experience. The digital transformation, especially with the use and benefits of mobile apps is evident in all industries and sectors including the travel and hospitality sectors.

To quote Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Airlines… "When customers interact with our world-class employees, their satisfaction skyrockets. But what about all those times when one of our famous customer service RedCoats isn’t right around the corner? We see Fly Delta [the app] as a way to complement their expertise and extend their warmth and problem-solving savvy beyond traditional Delta touchpoints to make travel a part of the journey you can look forward to."

There are many benefits that mobile apps provide to the travel and hospitality industry. Let's look at some of them in detail.

Simple booking process. Mobile apps simplify the booking process. Bookings are easy and so are payment and cancellation options. Booking flights or trains to hotels etc is all covered under one app. Scheduling, re-schedules and dates (as per terms and conditions) can all be done at the touch of a screen in hand. Local tourist attractions and booking for such places are also available on these apps, including the local cuisines and delicacies. Using these apps, travelers can book at a time during the day or night. Helpline services are also available 24/7 for any issues that cannot be resolved via the app itself.

Easy transactions. Mobile phones are now a repository for personal documents. Using mobile apps, payment transactions, refunds, and documentation can all be done at the click of a button in the app. Flight and hotel vouchers are available on the app and so are the bookings for cabs, restaurants etc. Along with these options, a customer can also view and compare different prices for flights, and hotels.

Real time tracking. All apps have real-time tracking. The option to use this service is available to everyone. Private taxi companies allow customers to use this option to ensure that they know where the cabs are at any point in time, while public transport uses IoT and GPS devices to allow customers to track and provide live information about buses, trains etc.

Travel planning using social media. It's a great way to check reviews of other people who have used the app, travel, hotel services, destinations and their suggestions and even ways to use the app more effectively. Social amplification is a very important factor for travelers in this connected world and most of travelers prefer to check the reviews before booking or traveling. Tourism and hospitality software development companies can help integrate social networks (API’s), and vendor reviews in the app software for the companies and customers to take advantage of social interaction.

Picture gallery. It helps show customers what the destination has to offer by showing pictures taken by other travelers and travel companies alongside their personal experiences. Such picture galleries and reviews would be appreciated by would-be travelers to understand and plan where to go, what to do and what to avoid.

Safety information. Safe travel and stay are in every traveler’s mind, especially for women who are traveling alone. Mobile travel and hospitality apps offer 24-hour emergency services and also real-time trackers in the apps. This includes weather-related services and traffic hotspots to avoid.

To recap the uses and benefits of mobile apps for the travel and hospitality industry, the apps should offer the following basic utilities…

Navigation. Use of GPS services, route planning via maps etc.

Social interaction. Give travel updates, reviews, picture galleries, easy communication etc.

Marketing. Offer general discounts, use in-app contests to win prizes and more discounts etc.

Security. Offer 24/7 helpline for an emergency, weather forecasts, traffic hotspots, details about nearest medical health agencies and also offer details of consulates where needed.

E-commerce. Offer online travel, hotel, and taxi bookings. Offer payment and refund gateways for a faster and easier booking experience.

People want to travel and mobile apps provide a very convenient and simple way to assist them to do just that. Travel and hospitality companies are investing in apps to provide an in-depth experience to travelers and for their benefit. The future of the travel and hospitality industry is dependent on technology combined with flexibility to enhance customer experience and create a high potential for monetization and revenue generation. Using and leveraging an experienced software company for travel and hospitality software development is the way forward.

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