Technology is set to make travel even easier this year, just don’t lose your smartphone – you’ll be using it for more than just calling.
If your company’s website isn’t mobile responsive, It’s time to redesign.
We’ve seen a massive change in the way we access data in the last couple of years. A research collaboration between Google, Ipsos MediaCT, the Mobile Marketing Association and the Interactive Advertising Bureau in 2013 revealed that:
- A whopping 90% of smartphone owners accessed the Internet via their smartphones daily.
- 58% of smartphone owners used Search engines on their smartphones daily.
- 52% of smartphone owners visited the website of a business after performing local search on their smartphones.
Having said that, this year we’ll be using our smartphones for more than just browsing the internet.
Goodbye roaming fees
There are now new apps available that help you to avoid roaming charges, but for European travellers, roaming charges may be a thing of the past within the EU. European Parliament voted to end roaming charges within the EU by December 2015.
Pay by mobile
Some travel apps already have a built-in payment function, including taxi services such as Uber and Hailo and last-minute hotel service HotelTonight. Restaurant app is trialling payment direct from its app in several US cities, including New York and San Francisco. How are your customers paying for your products and services, perhaps it’s time you looked into allowing your customers to pay via mobile.
Smart case
The suitcase has been around for a long time, but “smart luggage” will touch down in 2015. New York start-up Bluesmart has successfully crowdfunded a carry-on suitcase that weighs itself, and which you can lock, unlock and track via GPS from your smartphone.
Wearable Tech
Smart Watches are all the rage with both Apple and Android iterations available. Travel apps will start utilising this hardware to make the most of this. For example, Sabre’s Tripcase App will be providing flight alerts, gate changes, or delays directly on your wrist.
Techy Hotels
Guests can already check in from a phone with the Starwood SPG and Hilton HHonors apps, for example. Both hotel groups are rolling out mobile phone keys during 2015, so you will be able to walk straight to your room and enter with one tap of a phone. Starwood’s iOS app is even ready for check-in with an Apple Watch.