Internet and mobile technologies have definitely made the world a smaller place. It enables us to video-chat with people in other hemisphere of earth., have a 360-degree VR view of the Pyramids or even Everest while tucked in bed. But unless we master teleportation as well, that’s all it can offer- virtual experiences. To get the real feel, we still have to pack our bags and embark on hours, if not days, the long journey to actually meet people and watch pyramids.
No, that doesn’t mean mobile services have no use in travel, in fact, it’s quite the contrary. Once we do get out on our journey or even decide to take it, there is a whole range of mobile solutions to help make our travel convenient, informed, and safe. And while maps and navigation have been the backbone of travel solutions for a very long time, there are now some interesting services cropping up in the domain.
Chatbots
No matter which city you look at, it is guaranteed that their transit network would be the busiest part. In fact, many key networks handle millions of passengers each year. And while most of the airports and train stations have dedicated support counters, they can’t possibly serve the overwhelming demand. To solve this problem, many companies are now resorting to chatbots- they are cheaper to deploy, are available 24/7, and are equipped-enough to handle most of the common queries.
IoT-enabled solutions
Missing luggage remains the most common problem passengers face while traveling and if you have ever been in such a situation, you can understand it not only causes frustration but can also derail travel plans further. Many transit hubs, airlines, and even hotels have found a potential solution in IoT development. In the backend, they have deployed IoT devices in their entire chain of operation and the moment a passenger submits their luggage, it is tagged with an RIFD tag and a link to track it sent on their phone. This way, both the management and passengers are aware at all times where the luggage is and so even if it is accidentally misplaced, it is never lost.
Notifications
This comes more in the realm of travel planning than an in-transit solution. If you are a frequent traveler, you may already have come across one or many of such services. Apart from airlines and hotels that use notifications to inform travelers about real-time status including booking and delays, there are also third-party mobile services that notify users about any price drops or other updates that they request. These services are basically designed to keep users informed throughout their travel to help them plan better.
Digital Assistants
No matter where you are, digital assistants are perhaps the best travel guide these days that ensure you are never lost or mislead. You can ask these assistants about places, directions, reviews and more to make the most out of your trip. Google assistant even tells you about the local transit network including bus, train, and metros, which you can use to travel like a pro.
It may come as surprise to many but travel and tourism is the largest industry globally and given its size and potential, it is natural for app development firms to create deploy solutions for problems of varying complexities. Now if you are a business or entrepreneur looking to exploit the potential, all you need to do is look hard to spot a problem many people face and come up with a genuine solution. And once you have a blueprint ready, hire mobile app developers to turn it into reality.
