Not only accommodation and airlines are using mobile apps, but also many small municipalities also develop mobile apps to increase and help traveling today. As an example I introduce the Hailuoto application for mobile devices.
Hailuoto is a small municipality on an island near Oulu. The most popular season to visit the place is in summer time. To get to the island you must prepare to be on the line to the ferry. In the high season there might 1,5 km long row.
How to download Hailuoto application?
You can download Hailuoto app to your mobile phone from play.google.com for android and apps.apple.com for iPhone. Unfortunately the app is only available in Finnish for now on, but they are developing the English version at the moment.
What can you find from the Hailuoto application?
In the application there is lots of information from Hailuoto. You can find for example ferry timetables, events, accommodation, services, camping, weather and so on. There are links to the web pages of the companies which are offering services. But you can´t buy anything or communicate with the travelers through the app.
How did my company end up to the Hailuoto application?
The app was published in 2021 together with Hailuoto municipality and Green & Blue project and it is for local people and travelers. I was participating the project and was able to join the app for paying a fee. I´m offering minivan trips to Hailuoto, so I thought it would benefit me to be in the app.
Why are the apps so popular today?
Today most of the people traveling are using mobile phones. They are used to download apps for accommodation, flying and for many more reasons. In the apps you can easily and quickly find information for your needs. For companies the apps might help to increase selling and communicating with the customers. In Business of apps you can find more information from the most popular travel apps and amounts of the downloads world wide. Creating an application is not cheap, but there are many companies offering services for that, for example here. First you need to carefully find out if apps are suitable for your business.
The benefits of the Hailuoto application for my company
According to Hailuoto municipality the app has been downloaded 8542 times for android and 4666 times for iOS since it was published in May 2021. To my opinion to help my company with business the application needs improvements.
- English language version. My trips are designed for international travelers, so English is a must.
- For customers opportunity to buy from the app. Buying must be easier for customers.
- Marketing the app internationally. Increase the recognizability.
So far the app hasn´t been able to help me selling my minivan trips. But I hope in the future when we get the English version, it might be beneficial.
Hei! En ollut aikaisemmin kuullut kyseisestä sovelluksesta, joten oli mielenkiintoista oppia uutta asiaa. Valitsinkin tämän blogin juuri sen takia. Ihmettelen kyllä, että sovelluksesta ei ole kuin suomenkielinen versio. Olettaisin (tai oletin) myös, että sovelluksessa olisi mahdollista ostaa suoraan palveluja, mikä ei näköjään pidä paikkaansa. Toki aina on hyvä, että on linkkejä suoraan sinne mistä voi ostaa. Olisiko tästä ollut saatavilla näyttökuvia itse sovelluksesta, jos sitä käytät? Niitä olisi ollut myös mielenkiintoista nähdä. Muuten tekstisi oli mukavan tiivis, ja informatiivinen. Kokeilen kyllä ihan mielenkiinnosta sovellusta seuraavan kerran kun käyn. Ja toivottavasti saat tulevaisuudessa myytyä omia palvelujasikin sovelluksen kautta.
Hei,
Kiitos kommentistasi! Olisi todella pitänyt laittaa kuvakaappauksia itse sovelluksesta, mutta jotenkin blogia tehdessäni unohdin sen! No toki parhaiten sovellukseen voi tutustua lataamalla sen ja käyttämällä sitä. Ja kyllä, todellakin toivon, että englannin kielinen versio julkaistaan pian.
I live in Oulu and visit Hailuoto quite often, but have never heard of this app, so this blog post was very interesting. Always when going to Hailuoto, there are the same questions: for example where to find the ferry timetables and what kind of services there at nowadays. Now I know where to find that information, from the Hailuoto app. Thanks for posting about this topic
Hi,
Thank you for your comment! You can find many things from the app, but i still recommend to call to the restaurants and so to be sure they are open!
Hi,
This is the first time I’ve heard about this Hailuoto app and it seems very interesting.
It’s been a while since I’ve visited in Hailuoto even though I live in Oulu. I think next time, when I visit Hailuoto, I’m going to download this app because I think it’s going to be very useful one for the different information of the place.
Hi,
It is nice to spread information also to fellow students! Like I answered before, I still recommend to call the companies for the opening hours and so, to be sure they are open when you visit Hailuoto.
Hello,
I haven’t heard of this app before, so as a person from Oulu, I find this post really interesting. Next time I travel to Hailuoto I think I will download this App, it seems like a really useful tool when traveling to Hailuoto
Hello,
thank you for introducing this app! It was new to me. I wonder that maybe you really don´t find the apps like this if you are not looking for information about the place.
Maybe later the marketing of this app puts money for making the app more familiar -then the English version should really be in use.
But how nice app anyway and – I haven´t been in Hailuoto, maybe now it is time. And I definitely will load this app.