Thursday, 4 July 2013

How can travel apps make a difference?

Globe with flags of countires
There are millions of apps flooding the market that are tailored specifically for travelling and to assist in all stages of the travel journey. 

We are much more likely to use our mobile devices today to research and book a trip with Hotels.com stating that 1 in 4 people research their holidays via their mobile phones whilst at work

It is therefore essential that apps are available in the market to help people find information quickly (and slyly for those at work) as well as making the booking process as seamless as possible to encourage people to book there and then rather than leave a time delay where they may change their mind.

When it comes to the design of an app, companies should cater for smaller screens and smaller buttons to encourage people to use the app and find value. It is important to remember that any unnecessary information that is not critical or useful to the visitor should be removed to simplify the information held within the app and make it as easy as possible to find what they are looking for.

Nielsen, xAd and Telmetrics' new study Mobile Path to Purchase found price, deals, reviews and location-related look-ups were the most important criteria for people researching via their mobiles. Apps for booking travel must therefore include this information in an easy to use layout to help increase the number of customers using their services.

There are apps exclusively designed to make the travel experience itself more enriching. For example, The Heathrow Airport Guide is a free app and includes live flight tracking and status updates, interactive terminal maps, shop guides, restaurant listings and many more features, just for Heathrow Airport. For a traveller, this helps make the journey more enjoyable and straightforward, and gives them more information on any potential delays, helping them plan ahead and make any necessary arrangements if needed.

Mobile apps are also said to be changing the way we use information. TripAdvisor is now the second most downloaded travel app following Google Earth for planning travel. A great example of one of their apps is City Guides which can be used offline and therefore not accruing any roaming fees. Each city guide provides itineraries given by experts, local area maps, reviews of top visitor attractions, and a “Point Me There” function that directs travellers to places using the GPS on the mobile, as well as being able to share their experiences on Facebook via a journal.

These apps help ensure people gain the best possible travel experience and gives travellers advice and useful tips when they need it. Enabling travellers to get to places using transport links helps travellers get to places quickly and avoid the dreaded panic of getting lost.

By providing these types of services for travellers, helps strengthen customer relationships. Learn more about how mobile technology is helping the travel industry or read our Transport section to find out more.

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