Webapp vs mobile application, what to choose for a guest app in the hotel industry ?

There is no doubt that in the hotel industry it is essential to offer a personalized experience to your guests and to facilitate the work of the staff.

And to excel in these areas, more and more hoteliers are turning to the development of a guest app for their establishment. 📲

Integrating an application allows you to bring together, within a single platform, all the services and offers you provide and thus: improve the customer experience, generate additional revenue and unburden (discharge) your team.

Two types of applications that exist:

• The Webapp: an application accessible directly online via a web browser. It does not require any download.

• Mobile application: an application developed specifically for an operating system (Android or iOS). It requires a download and appears as an icon on the home screen of the device.

WebApp vs. mobile application: What are the differences? What should you choose for your hotel? We help you weigh the pros and cons in this article.👇

I. Webapp vs. mobile application: What are the differences?

We can distinguish three main differences between a webapp and a mobile application:

1.The development cost

The big difference between a web application and a mobile application.

The mobile application has to adapt to the operating system of the devices used by the end users and therefore, is much more expensive than a webapp.

For example, an Android application will not be designed in the same way as an iPhone application. This difference often forces to rework the whole creation of the application (graphic model, development according to the language...).

The mobile app additionally requires a subscription to be available on the App Store and Play Store

👉 In the end, it counts between €10,000 and €35,000 in development costs. To which you have to add additional monthly fees for the maintenance of the application and data storage

As for delivery periods, a native application is generally delivered after 3 to 10 months.

In contrast, the development of a web application is quite fast and inexpensive. By opting for a webapp a single development for all devices is enough. You don't need to start from scratch depending on the operating system used by your guests unlike a native app.

👉For example, for the Bowo webapp, you can expect to pay between 59 and 239€ per month depending on the features you want (communication tools, upsell, entertainment...). The hotelier is also completely autonomous to modify the content of his guestapp at his ease, without necessarily having to go through our developers.

Finally, we deliver a functional and fully customized application in six weeks.

2. Downloads and updates

A standard application is installed directly via an application store (App Store or Play Store for example). It is therefore easily accessible since it is listed.

At the end of the download, it generates an access icon from the home screen. The user must update it regularly. Often, it consumes a lot of space on the user's mobile.

The webapp does not require any download. It is accessible from a QR-Code or a URL link via the browser and is displayed on all media (computer, tablet and smartphone). The user has automatic access to the latest update.

It is also possible to create a shortcut on the homepage to access it via an icon.

3. User experience

From an ergonomic point of view, there is not much difference between the possibilities offered by a webapp and a mobile application. This point depends mainly on the developers behind it.

That said, if you do opt for a web application, it is essential to maximize the weight of each page so that users don't waste too much time waiting for it to load.

In terms of guest usage, according to our observations, guests are often opposed to the idea of having to download an application on their device.

📊The statistics shows: the average download rate of a mobile hotel application is 15 to 20% when 8 out of 10 guests use the Bowo webapp during their stay at the hotel.

II. What are the criteria to take into considerations for a Webapp

Now that you know the differences between a webapp and a mobile app, let's see the criteria to take into consideration when choosing a guest app? 🤔

1. Assess the type of features

Depending on your offerings, your type of hotel and the goals you want to achieve, you need to evaluate the features offered by different guest app creators.

Online check-in, check-out, digitalized room directory, push notifications, activity orders and reservations, online payment, personalized city guide, access to Netflix, digital press,loyalty program, e-reputation management, CRM and marketing automation, ChromeCast, home automation ... the guest app features are constantly growing. What do you really need?

2. Connectivity

In order to take advantage of the real power of a guest app and facilitate your administration, it is essential that the provider you choose can integrate with the tools you use within your establishment.

Our guest app connects with many PMS, POS, CRM, housekeeping software, SPA reservations... We are also in partnership with external service providers offering cab services, yoga or activity guides.

ℹ️ To learn more about our connectivity to various hotel tools, please visit our marketplace page.

3. User-friendly interface

The user-friendly interface is one of the most important criteria since it defines the frequency of use of your guests.

If they are easily familiar with the guestapp they will be much more likely to use it during the whole stay (before, during and after).

Ask for demos from several providers before making your choice. For example, we have developed a demo application containing concrete examples of webapps made.

Put yourself in the shoes of your guests and evaluate their ability to use our app!

4. The provider in the market

Before making your choice, check customer reviews and the reputation of the provider. Choose providers whose qualities have already been recognized by reliable customers, who are close to your establishment. Don't hesitate to contact their current clients to get their feedback and to look at the reviews on the internet to get a better idea of the provider's efficiency.

📖 Discover our case studies:

• Hôtel Les Roches Blanches boosts its additional sales thanks to the Bowo webapp and tablets
• Hôtel Paradiso provides a hotel experience that is unique in the world thanks to the Bowo solution
• Hôtel des Saints Pères combines tradition and modernity and improve its quality of services through Bowo

• Hôtel Lodji improving teamwork and guest communication thanks to 1Check and Bowo

5. The budget you wish to allocate to your web application

III. Bowo guest app the solution you need