Beacons or specifically iBeacon technology created an enormous buzz all over the world when Apple unleashed it in 2013. It is an exceptionally advanced hardware transmitter that incorporates BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) technology for transmitting context-aware and location-specific messages to mobile devices. Being a technology that lets mobile apps to broadcast their position on a micro-distance range (within 20-50m distance), it helps in delivering personalised messages to users who are in the proximity zone of iBeacon. The technology has been fast penetrating into different apps provinces including retail, health, education, food or restaurants, to provide offers based on users’ location. However, how iBeacon is casting a spell on the travel industry is worth seeing. Still, in its prior days, it is getting good vibes from all agents in the travel segment and can be applied at various crucial nodes with iPhone apps development to boost industrial revenue. Here’s a take on that.
Location-specific apps are helping travellers/adventurers to explore more
The essence of iBeacon and location-based apps’ functionality especially flourished in the travel domain to assist travellers in the discovery of new places, adventures spots, and in more exploration. Travel apps incorporated with the technology can offer exclusive information and data to travellers regarding a particular destination that exhibits as a tourist spot on the app. For instance, tourists can know about the historic features, attractive spots, amusement places, shops, restaurants and even weather conditions of a destination just as they enter.
Apps are boosting business revenues through personalised offers
Travel apps integrated with iBeacon is definitely a boon for businesses or travel agencies who can lookout newer avenues to augment their profitability. Depending on the services they offer, they can send away personalised offers to the visitors in the proximity. Popular offers like a rebate on sightseeing trips, discounted transportation by cabs and Volvo, food buffets coupons, shopping vouchers, free tickets to amusement spots, work great in fetching a considerable number of customers every season for the agencies.
Apps brought efficiency in the hotel industry
While mobile apps are already the crucial ingredients for augmenting hotel businesses by providing information on accommodation packages and allowing advance reservations, iBeacon implementation is like icing on the cake for them. With it, hoteliers can provide exemplary guest services to their visitors. On knowing their location, they can guide them with the route to the hotels. They can send them pleasing notifications of tariffs on room charges and special offers on food. Besides, knowing their preferences via apps’ customer database, hotel managers can serve accordingly and grow a friendly and loyal relation with every visitor.
Air travelling got easier with beacon based apps
iBeacon came as the best mean for air travellers in transmitting themselves and their luggage in the airport terminals. Apps are helping passengers in the airports to navigate simply through all the checkpoints along with their belongings as they get all essential information on their mobile screens with a tap. This included every single information, from checked-in time to security checkup, baggage collection system to departure/arrival time.
To put in a nutshell, iBeacon along with iPhone app development define the future of travel industry and has wonderful potential to revolutionise the way travellers explore destinations. While one hand, it improves the experiences of tourists, on the other, it fosters great opportunities for travel businesses to expand their customer base and revenues.