A truly groundbreaking mobile app doesn’t just change the way you interact with your device, it changes the way you experience the world. The travel and tourism industry is all about seeing the globe, whether it’s to wander the streets of Paris, see the sights in New York, or find the perfect beach spot in Punta Cana. Developers have transformed the ways people book their trips and how they explore their destinations. Ever since online airfare booking became available, travelers have fretted over losing their printed-out confirmation numbers. Vacationers don’t exactly keep tabs on the nearest Kinko’s, but some tech-savvy airlines have begun to accept mobile boarding passes, keeping everything from itineraries to confirmation numbers in their customers’ hands.
As smartphones and wearable play larger roles in many facets of life, consumers have begun to expect the path of least resistance from companies. As much as tourism is meant to be part of a vacation, flying has only become more stressful over the years. They may not be able to do much about security, but smart airlines and booking companies are taking the pain out of tickets, itineraries, and check-ins.
Maps, city guides, travel journals, and restaurant and entertainment guides all have the potential to transform urban tourism as well. Businesses in the tourist industry are adapting to this new brand of digital guide, transforming the way visitors experience their destinations. Visitors are turning to their mobile devices to enhance their vacations. Dedicated sightseers are using map and transit apps to zip through unfamiliar streets while those with a “live-like-a-local” philosophy have access to the latest trends in local nightlife and entertainment at their fingertips.
Some travel companies have moved to platforms like Chromecast and Apple TV, turning trip planning into a social activity. The larger screen targets families who hope to turn trip planning into a shared experience, especially for parents who want to include their kids’ opinions on vacation destinations and accommodations. Rather than replicate more text-based listings, accommodation apps for Apple TV are focused on visuals. It’s important to consider each platform as a unique medium with its own benefits and drawbacks requiring developers to adapt. According to app developer Clearbridge Mobile, tvOS (the Apple TV’s operating system) closely resembles iOS, and Apple-tested designers are well positioned to develop for their newest medium. Top-tier application developers have hundreds of technology stacks and dedicated teams for working with iOS, tvOS, Chromecast, Android, and Windows. Airlines turn to innovative app developers for more than just booking and mobile boarding passes, though these are some of the most direct ways to create easier customer experiences. Companies like Clearbridge have incorporated city guides, trip reminders, flight schedules, inflight entertainment, status notifications, and loyalty programs into airline apps, and even made Apple Pay available for inflight purchases.
User abandonment rateswere enormous in 2015, with one in four applications getting dropped after the first use. Ultimately, the best practices for user retention are value-added functions and innovative user experience. Companies looking to increase their retention rates may want to visit Clearbridgemobile.com for more info on product strategies and development processes. Turn your retention strategy around today and partner up with a creative, innovative developer.
