The traveler in the digital age
Published on 11 septembre 2017
With over 60% of smartphone users in France, digital tools have become an essential element in customer relations. Traveler expectations are constantly evolving at the same pace as new technologies. They are looking for more personalized services that meet their needs, and the smartphone has almost lost its original purpose: making or receiving calls. It is now a real management interface and accompanies the traveler throughout their journey: booking tickets, renting a car, finding accommodation, geolocation, and more. There are many opportunities to develop new services, and we present an overview:
In this article
1. Boarding Pass via Smartphone
Although electronic boarding passes have been available for several years, they are still gaining popularity. This service allows travelers to receive their boarding pass via SMS and/or email on their phones. On the day of departure, travelers only need to bring their identification documents. This is an effective way to save time and give travelers more autonomy by reducing long waiting lines. However, some airports still resist this trend and only accept printed tickets.
👉 Tip: The WALLET app, available only on iOS, gathers all your tickets and reservations (train, plane, cinema, etc.)
2. Travel Reservations via Smartphone
A study shows that mobile app downloads increased by 20% between 2015 and 2016, and the time spent on these apps more than doubled in some countries. The smartphone is the preferred tool for travelers! In 2016, travel reservations via apps reached 54%, compared to 12% in 2014.
Nearly a quarter of connected travelers make tourist reservations from their smartphones. These mainly involve activities, restaurants, and accommodation, but this trend is also expanding to transportation. To date, the main tourism providers have at least one e-commerce website that is "responsive" (adapts to various mobile and PC devices) and a mobile app.
Your mobile phone is a real travel companion that you can use during your journey, provided you download the right apps!
👉 Accommodation: Booking, Airbnb, Abritel, Mapstr
👉 Weather and Maps: Google Maps, Maps.me, Via Michelin, Wind Guru
👉 Transportation: Voyages SNCF, Trainline, Blablacar, Liligo, Opodo
"Connectivity appears as an interesting lever of action for transport actors," notes Nadia Grimoult, Communication Manager at liligo.com
Blue Valet is following this trend by digitizing and democratizing a traditional profession: valet parking. Air and train departures can be a source of stress for travelers. Thanks to the proliferation of tools and mobile apps, the customer journey is simplified, and all small inconveniences disappear!
With our "door-to-door" solution, we guarantee a "seamless" experience, i.e., without any friction points. How? By simple and quick online reservation of your parking space with valet service. On the day of departure, dropping off your vehicle with your dedicated valet will take only a few minutes, avoiding all parking problems at an airport or train station. Upon your return, your vehicle will be delivered to you in front of your arrival terminal, ready to hit the road... simply!
In the coming weeks, the Blue Valet mobile app will be launched, providing travelers with more flexibility for a smooth and 100% connected experience!
With the advent of connected objects, purchasing scenarios multiply, and new consumption experiences emerge... your smartphone becomes your only management tool and accompanies you from start to finish of your journey!
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