Mobile Apps for Hotels: A Game-Changing Necessity or a Costly Mistake?

Maximizing Hotel Success with Mobile Apps
Abhishek Founder & CFO cisin.com
In the world of custom software development, our currency is not just in code, but in the commitment to craft solutions that transcend expectations. We believe that financial success is not measured solely in profits, but in the value we bring to our clients through innovation, reliability, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.


Contact us anytime to know moreAbhishek P., Founder & CFO CISIN

 

Our mobile phones are our travel companions on trips, whether they be for business or pleasure, as well as life-changing adventures to find out more about ourselves.

Apps on these devices are the ideal way to link your services with consumers interested in them.


Mobile Technology: A Boon for Hotels

Mobile Technology: A Boon for Hotels

 

Anything that is beneficial to the Hospitality Industry should simplify the operations of a hotelier and improve the comfort & experience for your guests.

Mobile technology is no different! Imagine that you are the host of a room with no. The front desk receives a call from 101 to place an order for the hotel kitchen. Right? The order will be passed to the kitchen by him.

Imagine that in a rush to complete other tasks, the person at the reception desk forgets to call the kitchen or gives the wrong room number.

Or the wrong order? You won't impress your guests with your generosity. Look at the same example, but now add mobile technology. In this instance, yes, you have a hotel PMS mobile application.

You can ask your guests during check-in to download the mobile app of your hotel and show them how to use it. This visitor is in room 101.

Therefore, he won't need to make a call. There is no need for this visitor to dial from room 101. The hotel's app will be used to place the order. Your culinary crew will automatically get this order via mobile PMS.

Your visitor will have adequate time to look over your offerings and make any necessary requests. As soon as a task is assigned, you are aware of what needs to be done. It looks like everyone is going to win.


The Numbers Speak for Themselves

In addition to the scenario above, there is some statistical evidence that demonstrates the benefits & importance of mobile advanced technology for the hospitality industry.

  1. Around 70% of travelers use hotel mobile apps to make bookings.
  2. Nearly 70 percent of all last-minute reservations are made using mobile devices.
  3. 74% of travelers prefer to use an application when booking a hotel or getting other information.
  4. Hotel guests want a mobile app that gives them an experience tailored to their needs.

Mobile Technology can Help Streamline Hotel Operations

Mobile Technology can Help Streamline Hotel Operations

 

Your hotel needs mobile technology, whether you like it or not. If you still choose to be without it, let me share with you what you're missing in this section:


Digital Integration

You can monitor the user flow of bookings at any time of day, whether you're at the reception desk or not. You can also make bookings on your phone if you need to.

What is the same as something? You may receive an email from the hotel manager asking you to reserve a room in his name for a friend. What if, however, you're not working and the room must be kept available no matter what?

Call your co-workers or run directly to the hotel. The digital integration between your hotel PMS and your mobile app will save you the extra effort of making the booking.

This will save you time and prevent any mistakes or delays in bookings.

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Remote Access

One of the biggest and most significant advantages that on demand app development in mobile technology may offer the hospitality sector is likely remote access.

Imagine you want to know how things are going even when you are not in your hotel.

Through the portal, you can quickly delegate tasks to app development team members. Applications for mobile devices help hotel staff manage operations from any part of the building.

They do not need to coordinate to communicate a task or its specifics physically. The app would update them constantly on what they need to do.


Contactless Hospitality

The pandemic has left you with the task of ensuring contactless hospitality in your hotel. It isn't easy to keep up with such an item without the necessary support.

It would be best if you served potential guests at the closest possible physical distance. It would be best if you had devices to ensure minimal contact between your guests' belongings and you. You can maintain your contactless service and still give guests privacy.


Check-In and Out are Easy

Everything at your front desk, from check-in through to check-out, should be designed to give guests a feeling of freedom throughout their stay.

Check-in at the Front Desk is first.

You can use OCR Scanner to check in quickly and easily using mobile devices. You can also allow your guests to use their mobile app directly for checking in.

One thing you do can make a significant impression on guests. How? You can also make payments for his hotel stay through this system. You will be notified directly by the Hotel PMS about this check-out.


Requests from Guests

Hotel staff can quickly meet guests' needs with mobile apps. How? Anyone can make a mistake when using the traditional method of writing down your guest's unique requests on paper.

A fantastic technique to remember the room number and the request is to use your property management software on your mobile smartphone. Or a dining room table. Everything is going to be kept. All of your information will be kept.

Additionally, synchronization is crucial since all other members will be informed of changes made by one person on one system.

The task update is promptly communicated to the department in the responsibility of fulfilling the request.


Staff Coordination

It is essential to ensure that your staff is in sync by allowing them to receive updates via their mobile devices.

The message is delivered quickly, and your order could be ready by the time you get to the kitchen. You can earn extra points for delivering quick and efficient services. Your staff's ability to work together and communicate will reduce the time required to respond to guests.


Work Division

The workspace will be ambiguous if tasks are distributed amongst staff. When working in a significant entity such as a hotel, it is essential to divide the work amongst your crew.

The use of mobile technology to automate the division of tasks among your managers is essential. How?

Contactless hospitality today comes with personalized logins for staff. They can perform all assigned tasks or those that are pending on the go if they use the mobile app.

This ensures each individual is always aware of the next task and what is most important. When a system tracks the progress of each task, you can get an accurate picture of how your employees are performing.


Paying with Cashless

Many people now use cashless transactions in this digital age. When you discuss the hotel guests, this statement becomes more apparent.

When your customers book online, what payment method do they use? How many customers prefer to pay by mobile for offline bookings?

It is important to remember that mobile payment systems aren't a fad that will come and go. You should adapt your system so that it can accept the various payment methods your guests use today.

It is easier to calculate money using traditional methods.


Advantages of Mobile Apps for a Hotel

Advantages of Mobile Apps for a Hotel

 


1. Bookings with Just a Few Clicks

Your hotel app, if well-developed, can store important user information and payment information. With this information stored, users only need to make a few clicks to book a space.

This is a critical factor in creating a pleasant customer experience for the user.


2. Consolidate Your Guest Information

A well-executed app can keep track of the behavior and Hotel booking app development patterns of guests, such as whether they make a reservation for a dining room, if they order room service, etc.

You can then anticipate their needs for the future.


3. Apps for Hotel Loyalty

When integrated into your loyalty program, a hotel app can be compelling. The guests will have the ability to earn points on their direct bookings and stays.

These can then be converted into rewards.


4. A New Level of Communication

The hotel staff will be able to respond quickly and accurately to guest requests with the help of a new app. Guests can also order room service and request early check-ins.

They can even request the valet to pick up their vehicle.


5. A Viable Marketing Platform

Mobile apps are a viable platform for marketing. A hotel app lets you share information in a variety of ways. From general information to news to search functions, you can do it all.

A hotel app allows you to share important information with your clients. You can now promote your hotel business in the manner you choose by directly addressing the potential customers.


6. Boost Your Hotel Staff Productivity

As a manager of a hotel, you can boost your staff's productivity by using mobile apps. You can send them requests using a mobile application, which in turn will improve the efficiency of your staff.


Disadvantages of Mobile Apps for Hotels

Disadvantages of Mobile Apps for Hotels

 


1. Independent Hotels don't Have as Much Value as Hotel Apps

People value their phones highly. Only the apps they commonly use will be downloaded. The user's choice of the app determines the size of a hotel app, whether it be social media, productivity tools, gaming, or music.


2. Highly Complex and Costly

It is a complex development process that requires significant investment. Don't forget to consider the difficulties of integrating the app with virtual concierge services and mobile check-ins.


3. It is Not Flexible When it Comes to Different Devices or Technology Upgrades

You need different versions of the mobile site for iOS and Android, while all devices can access one website. Each year, new devices and operating systems are released.

This means that app updates and compatibility problems will be required. These things can cause headaches over time and require a significant investment. Hotels are becoming more tech-savvy, and they are now replacing their traditional mobile apps with AI-powered chatbots.

They are interactive and conversational.

Read More: Features And Cost Estimation For Hotel Booking Apps


4. Share Your Hotel Profits with the App Store

If you plan to create revenue through your app (whether it is through paid app downloads or purchases of viable products and services on your app), be aware that the store will share a portion of your profit.

According to an article, the store gets 30% of the revenue if you use Apple iTunes for payment. Don't forget to include sales taxes and any other applicable taxes.


5. Perpetual App Maintenance

Technology will keep advancing. To keep pace with the fast-paced world of technology, your app will need to be updated regularly.

It will require constant updates to make sure that your app runs on the latest versions of the phone (iOS or Android). Mobile apps require long-term investment.


Why Mobile Apps in Hotels Should Be Mandatory?

Why Mobile Apps in Hotels Should Be Mandatory?

 

The use of mobile apps in hospitality is increasing. We will explore how PWA Development company can help you expand your hospitality business with mobile apps:


Understanding Customer Priorities

You must constantly be prepared to meet the needs of your clients. It is impossible to provide each consumer with individualized service and attend to their demands.

This can be done by launching a single app customized to your brand.

Mobile apps can give you a plethora of information about consumer behavior that will help you better understand the preferences of your customers.

It would enable your company to understand customers' preferences better and so forge deeper relationships with them.

Customers expect to receive personalized information that matches their preferences when they launch a mobile app.

This can be easily met by analyzing the previous searches your customers made for travel via your mobile app and then displaying similar content.

Additional benefits include:

  1. List of services and their prices.
  2. Show current specials that will benefit your customers.
  3. List the complementary services and those that you have to pay for.
  4. Please provide images of the services that you offer.
  5. App recommendations can be filtered and sorted by customers using additional features.
  6. Set up different portals in the app to receive quick feedback and reviews.

You can fix the areas that require attention by analyzing the feedback and reviews of your app. The reviews of past customers will give a new customer a feeling of security about the service quality.


Book Itineraries Effortlessly

In today's world, comfort and convenience are the main factors that influence our decisions. Travelers from around the world prefer to avoid scheduling problems when choosing their accommodation, whether it is a hotel or homestay, the transportation mode to the destination, and the restaurant they dine at.

The more hassle-free you can make it for your customers to receive these services, the more customers you'll attract. This calculation is straightforward.

Mobile apps can significantly simplify the Hotel Booking System and selection processes.

By developing a mobile application for your business, customers may browse the services you provide at their fingertips. These apps motivate users to express greater interest in your products and services.

The same benefits include:

  1. Instant booking platforms for clients are a great way to increase your business.
  2. Establish timelines by your industry policy to make cancellations easier.
  3. Save client data securely for future transactions and bookings.
  4. Estimate the number of people you expect to see on a given day.

Track Customer's In-House Behavior

Apps for mobile devices can help you collect data about your clients' preferences and interests during their visit or stay at your hotel, restaurant, or other establishment.

You can then use this information to make future offers based on their previous experiences with hospitality solutions services.

The development of an industry-specific app will include features such as push notifications and pop-up messages that facilitate interaction between you and your customers.

These predictions could help you determine which of your services are most in demand and which are the least. The services with high demand can be enhanced, and the services with low demand can keep their quality.

To guarantee a smooth process, you can schedule human resource availability and anticipate peak customer service hours.

It enables you to provide service effectively while also upholding high levels of client satisfaction.


Send Authorized Information

It would be an inconvenience if your customers started contacting you to ask about the availability of services.

For example, are your rooms pet-friendly? Are there toilets on your buses? Do you offer vegan food in your restaurant?

App developers from the USA can help you create a mobile application that lists the services your brand offers, along with the terms and conditions.

These apps will provide your clients with all the relevant information they need and answer any questions that may arise. It would make your brand's details more visible and accessible. Still, it will also enhance its authenticity because the information comes from a trusted source.

The following are other benefits that can be derived from improved information access through mobile applications:

  1. All app user base can view the latest updates on service changes.
  2. Automated emails are sent to a wide audience about new updates to an app.
  3. Use push notifications to notify customers 15 minutes before check-in or check-out times.
  4. Offer your clients holiday discounts and offers.

Apps can also prevent false information about your services from spreading and save your brand from having to deal with customers who are not informed.

You will have complete control over the information you share with customers and other public figures. This improves brand trust.

Read More: MVP Features to Create a Hotel Booking App


Break Language Barriers

If you were to modify the scenario above, where you answer millions of phone calls from customers seeking clarification on service issues- what would you do when the majority of the calls you receive in one day are coming from foreign tourists who don't speak a language you know? Are you willing to let customers go because of a simple miscommunication? You would say no to that question!

Each and every customer is a precious asset in the hospitality industry. If you lose one customer, your rival gains one more.

Mobile apps can help you avoid such inconveniences. Multilingual options within the mobile app of your brand allow customers to change between languages according to their level quickly.

It would help your business grow by attracting a broader customer base. This is especially true for those customers who do not speak English.

Local and international tourists will praise your services for their user-friendliness and the way they promote equality between cultures and societies.


Improved Marketing

You can use mobile apps to promote your business. It will eliminate similar services offered by your competitors and focus your customer's attention on the service you offer.

You may use your app to execute several marketing techniques to promote freshly created services within your business.

For example, you can convey the most recent offers via video ads and visuals that resemble posters. Apps might advertise flash sales with deep discounts on less popular services to increase sales.

Selling the service would be helpful, as well as preventing potential losses from lack of use.


Chatbots can Now Assist Customers

A mobile app that covers all aspects and services associated with your hotel brand may provide your customers with an impersonal experience.

A chatbot can give your hospitality brand's mobile app a more personalized touch.

A wider audience will experience less loneliness when making reservations and using your services. The fear that clients won't receive support if they make mistakes because of technical faults or other concerns is eliminated by chatbots.

You may integrate chatbots into your app to give those who need assistance automatic, step-by-step assistance.

Chatbots that run on apps can list the keywords most commonly used in user inquiries. You can create automatic responses based on this list to make it easier for users to receive information or assistance.

It will help you interact with users who have the same concern.


Build a Loyal Community

Everyone enjoys feeling like they are a part of a community. The feeling of belonging to a community can be gratifying, especially if it rewards you.

To build a lasting partnership, you need to find loyal customers that will return in the future to use your hospitality services. These partnerships will only last if the customer receives benefits for being part of your brand's community.

Mobile apps can help you manage loyalty programs for returning customers and the rewards that go with them. Customers will feel rewarded as soon as they make a reservation through your app.

This will also encourage them to remain loyal.

You can enjoy the following benefits through your loyalty program:

  1. Earn points on every service purchase.
  2. Customers can get a discount on their next booking.
  3. Added complimentary services to increase customer loyalty, etc.

By encouraging them to refer additional people to use your service, the app-based loyalty program can help turn devoted customers into brand ambassadors.

Getting your name out there in the hospitality industry might be beneficial.


Sideline Competitors

There are few brand-specific apps for mobile devices in the hospitality sector, mainly because their advantages are not well known.

You can put yourself ahead of the competition by developing a mobile application for your brand. Apps can help you expand your clientele and enhance your brand experience.

Leading American mobile app developers also seek to create more robust software for the hotel industry. Your business will become one of those innovators who adopt modernized hospitality promotion marketing strategies if you utilize these technologies early on.

A mobile app specifically for your business would reflect the services it offers.

It would lessen the need for extra personnel to manage services like reservations, cancellations, and customer support.

The decrease in human error when addressing client needs is another advantage. This might be the result of carelessness or lack of accuracy. Mobile applications are capable of managing all of these duties with minimal oversight.

A better user experience increases customer loyalty to your brand. You would be opening the door to a constant source of financial profits.

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Conclusion

You may expand your hospitality business by using mobile apps. You might keep in touch with your customers directly if a mobile app was created for your company.

Mobile applications feature a user-friendly interface and are simple to use. You may monitor and manage your performance using a mobile device or tablet from a distance.

These applications aim to improve engagement and connectivity. Therefore, it's critical to remember that well-built mobile apps will only result in satisfactory outcomes.

A group of expert mobile app developers or mobile app development company will assist you in perfecting your app. We also offer a range of fully integrated hotel management solutions to help you manage your business with the desired personal touch.