Reservation Software for RVs: Advantages of Online Reservation Tools

A few decades ago all RV rental bookings, client communications, and financial requirements were handled without any digital technology. Today, online reservation software for RVs can simplify the entire process, allowing you to focus on other areas that help you grow your business.

With the above in mind, not all RV rental providers are aware of the benefits that online reservation software can bring. At Wheelbase Pro, we developed our platform with the direct involvement of RV rental businesses, so we’re very familiar with the benefits that these powerful tools can bring. 

In this article, we’ll discuss why online reservation software is essential for your RV rental company. In addition, we’ll also go over the 9 main advantages of implementing a solid RV reservation tool into your business website.

Is Online Reservation Software Essential for Your RV Rental Business?

It’s no secret that most people turn to the internet when looking for a product or service and RV rentals are no exception. As a matter of fact, 59% of all shoppers admit to researching online to ensure the best deals — and that number is much higher when focusing on the RV rental industry.

Rather than simply providing information through your website, reservation software adds another dimension because it can help customers plan, book, and pay for their trips without any friction. This empowers them to take control of their own holiday and reduces the number of resources RV renters need to have available.

With the above in mind, remember that there are different providers you can work with and not all of them provide the same results. As long as it comes from a reliable provider, free reservation software is always a good alternative, especially for businesses that have large fleets or want to ensure top-notch security.

If you’re looking for a powerful online reservation tool designed specifically for RV rentals, Wheelbase Pro may be a great alternative. If you want to learn more or book a demo, get in touch with us today and we’ll be glad to help.

The Advantages of an Online Booking System

Implementing an online reservation tool can sound like a scary step, especially if you’re used to running your business through physical recordkeeping. However, implementing a reliable piece of reservation system software can boost performance across the board and give you more time to achieve sustainable growth.

Let’s take a look at the top advantages of having an online reservation platform on your site.

1. Improved Availability

Before the widespread adoption of internet-capable devices, RV rental businesses could only receive bookings during their hours of operation. Needless to say, this created a very small window during which these companies were available, reducing the number of deals they could close.

Having an online reservation tool on your site will make you more available to your customers because they won’t have to contact you within a limited timeframe. Which, in turn, means that you’ll be receiving bookings around the clock, even while you spend quality time with your loved ones. In simple terms, having an online booking system means that your site will do most of the work for you.

2. Higher Number of Reservations 

Getting reservations while your business is not open can directly increase the number of clients you get on a weekly and monthly basis. Not only this, but the fact that these clients actually took the time to book specific dates and process payments means that they’re almost certainly going to show up. And, if a client does decide to cancel his or her booking, your online reservation software can reflect the change immediately, opening up the dates for the next potential client.

3. Faster Payments

Online reservations work on a prepayment basis in almost all industries, so RV rental businesses actually receive payments much faster than traditional methods. Plus, the whole payment process can be automated even if payments occur in stages. So, when the rental day arrives customers don’t have to open up their wallet again and can start enjoying their RV that much quicker!

4. Eliminates Phone Dependencies

Many rental providers only allow over-the-phone bookings to create a personalized experience, but this can actually lower the number of clients they close. The good news is that an online reservation system can eliminate phone dependencies and let customers make bookings whenever they want. Plus, you can always provide phone support during your business hours for clients that need a little extra assistance!

5. Increases the Number of Up-Sells, Cross-Sells, and Add-Ons

One of the biggest obstacles with having phone-only booking is that attempting upsells and cross-sells can have a negative effect on customer experience. But, having these additional features as small options on an online booking platform can have the opposite effect, increasing the number of add-ons you include per sale.

6. Easy Calendar Management

RV reservation software allows you to easily manage your booking calendar while giving you an eagle-eye view of your business schedule. The best part is that the calendar is updated automatically according to the bookings you get, so you can set up workflows to automate other processes and reduce the amount of work you have to do.

7. Creates a Safer Payment Ecosystem

Even if most people are comfortable making online purchases, RV rental companies need to protect client information and eliminate external threats during the payment process. A piece of reliable RV reservation software like Wheelbase Pro can help create a safe payment ecosystem that ultimately results in a better customer experience.

8. Unveils a Huge Amount of Information About Your Business

Online reservation tools have also grown in popularity because they can unveil a huge amount of information about a business and the services or products it offers. For example, you can see where clients are coming from, how much money they spend on average, the most popular seasons, and many other details.

9. Seamlessly Integrate Additional Features

Lastly, online reservation platforms tend to be flexible, so you can implement, remove, or edit additional features seamlessly. From including popular add-ons to making special mobility requests, you can give customers the ability to make these requests by implementing small checkboxes, comment sections, and similar elements directly onto the platform’s front-end.