Here's What It Takes to Build an Application Like Airbnb

Now, that you have decided to move out from just being an online business, to be an interesting mobile application why not research a little? Well before that, let’s put our heads together on a few questions. 

As the idea of exploring new exotic destinations pops in your mind, what is that one thing you desire most? Certainly, a perfect place to stay at an affordable cost, isn’t it?

Yes. The question seems off-track? Unfortunately not. The answer to these questions is your inspiration for building a mobile application. Well, the mobile application that satisfies the requirements is “Airbnb.” For those travel aficionados who seek affordable traveling accommodation, Airbnb is one such app that helps them find the right lodging place and makes them feel like a home away from home.

The app is no less than a perfect solution to the queries it was supposed to address. So, if you are planning to build a mobile application and be as perfect as Airbnb, you’re at the right place.

I’ll start here with a mobile application model similar to Airbnb but a unique one. Airbnb uses an extensive number of tools and technologies. But using exactly the same technology may not work for your MVP.

According to the enterprise mobility development teams in different organizations, apart from the core business model, the selection of technology plays a significant role in application development. It is the nitty-gritty of developing any application since it affects the overall budget, decides the scalability, and development time.

Besides following the basic application developing procedure, you would need help to incorporate the latest technology in your business model that fits with your market niche and enhances the user experience. 

Essential Features Required to Be Like Airbnb

You can always reach the best mobile app developers to build a mobile application like Airbnb and include the following listed features to gain a competitive edge. Let’s begin.

1. A Well Sorted Admin Panel Is Must!

When you are building a mobile application understand that there would be two different categories of users. 

  1. Customers: The front end users who would be navigating through the website and selecting the services they want to exploit.
  2.  Admin: The back-end users from whom things work a little differently for the Admin panel. 

A great product needs a greater product design blueprint.

User Panel Features Host Panel Features Admin Panel Features
  • Authentication
  • In-app messaging
  • Profile/Edit profile
  • Wish list
  • Referral codes
  • Place Booking / Cancel Booking
  • Search Filters
  • Online Payment
  • View Amenities
  • Social Sharing
  • Personalized Feeds
  • Review
  • Booking category
  • Guidebook
  • Manage Listing (Edit/view/delete/view stats)Listing Approval
  • Manage Booking Request
  • Manage Calendar
  • Reservations
  • Policies
  • Payment Setting
  • Transaction history
  • Login
  • Dashboard
  • Role-based dashboard
  • Manage payment
  • Manage referral/invites
  • Real-time Reporting & analytics
  • Add / Edit / Delete Registered Host or user.
  • Activate / inactivate Registered Host or User.
  • View experience feedback as per booking / Host / Providers
  • Manage CMS

·         Email Setting

·         Member Management

·         Manage Amenity (view/add)

  • Manage Bookings
  • View booking details and status.
  • Manages Promotions and Discounts.
  • Manage messages and notifications.

The integration of the following features will make your app user-friendly. 

User-Friendly App Holds the Key

2. Admin Authentication Lets You Dive in the Customers’ Wishlist

Admin authentication is required for both types of app users – traveler and host. The users are supposed to sign up from their registered email IDs to start using the platform and get access to its functionalities. All a user needs is an easy on-boarding procedure.

A social media login feature is also added to give an easy start to the user.

Knowing your customers’ requirements is important. This can help you make a long jump to success easily. When we shop we often have a pattern that we follow. It is an unconscious pattern, but almost a unique way of shopping that we follow each time we shop. 

When you are working on developing your mobile application, make sure you have something related to admin authentication so that it is just your team that can track the patterns and use them in the marketing strategy further. 

3. Leave No Stone Unturned to Provide the Solutions

For Airbnb, the host gives a brief idea about the accommodation and amenities they are offering to the guest. He can add/update the property details under this section and can upload pictures of the same. It may also include property type – whether it’s just a single room or a huge villa.

Customers find solutions to all the potential problems that may arise on the tour.

When you work on your mobile application, make sure you research well and find out all the potential queries your customer may have. Then integrate into your mobile app all the features that answer these queries. 

A good app needs to address customers’ problems in a go!

4. Let Them Decide How They Want to Pay

This is something really important. Integrating a few payment gateways is important. A lot of apps and business websites restrict their payment methods to a particular type and thus see a churn. It is better to let your customers feel the business is for them and they have their set of choices to proceed

5. Make Use of Their Contact List

Social media integration helps your customers promote your application on a social media platform.  The integration of social media allows the users to share the listing with their friends and also invite other hosts and users. This is a free marketing strategy that you can follow and promote your business. 

A lot of businesses even share the stories of their clients on their social channels thus making it a more profitable collaboration. 

6. Take Care of Your Customers with Gentle Reminders

If you track a visitor who has added a few products in their cart but did not make any payment, a gentle reminder would be a great way to turn this traffic to a lead. You can also ask them if they have any issue and provide a personal chat option that would increase the probability of the purchase being made. 

7. Ask Them Their Budget!

Let your customers decide how much they want to pay. According to their priorities and requirements bring forth a few quotes they can choose from. For Airbnb, the traveler can apply a filter and sort the accommodation as per their preferred price. Your client should be able to get a few quotes to decide what features of your business suit them the best and pay accordingly. 

8. Customize to Make Them Feel the Solution Is Exclusively for Them

  • Notifications

This section updates users regarding their booking details. It also notifies guests about the ongoing offers.

  • Language Translator

The integration of this feature makes the application convenient for the user as the information can be translated into their desired language.

  • Currency Converter

Adding a currency converter API makes the payment procedure easy and seamless for a user. This feature displays the payment value in the chosen currency.

  • Geolocation

Mapping the listed location and finding them requires a great deal of effort. This feature allows travelers to search for accommodation as per their convenience.

Geolocation has made it easier for businesses to reach their potential clients and mark their presence.

  • Coupon Control System

Coupons earned through referral codes can be used at the time of checkout.

  • CMS Integration

CMS integration is essentially required to manage the content displayed on the application and making it SEO friendly.

Winding It All

So, now you know what it takes to be the solution to every query that your customer may have. If you are done with the specification, just be ready with the budget and reach to a mobile app development company now!

How much does it cost to build a mobile application like Airbnb?

The cost of app development is considered by determining the number of factors. Let’s learn, what they are:

  • Type of Platform (Android, iOS or Windows).
  • API integration cost.
  • The investment decision on maintaining the data security of the mobile application.
  • The number of persons working on the project (Basic or Extended team).
  • Use of the different technology stack.

Once all the above factors are considered, the cost can be determined by analyzing your business model and estimating the number of hours required to build an app like Airbnb.

Voila!

I hope now you can understand it takes sweat and blood to be at the top. So get ready to take risks and see wonders happen. Understand your customer and rush to answer all their queries with a perfectly designed and developed mobile application today!