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The client experience we provide can make or break our businesses. As owners, we must seek ways to make it easy and convenient for clients to order, pay, and provide feedback. 

While web-based ordering has been the norm for years, app-based ordering systems are rising in popularity.

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of both.

App-Based Ordering

App-based ordering allows clients to place and track orders through a mobile app without logging into a website.

The Pros

• Customization: Apps can be tailored to reflect your brand, creating a cohesive client experience. 
• Push Notifications: These keep clients engaged with your business through reminders, instant notifications, and announcements
• Convenience: Clients can easily access the app without logging in through the web.
• User Experience: Apps offer a more streamlined and intuitive interface.
• Feedback: It's often easier for clients to provide feedback through an app.
• Client Insights: Apps can provide valuable data on client behavior (while respecting privacy laws).
• Engagement: Users tend to spend more time in apps.
• Offline Access: Apps can work even without an internet connection.
• Speed: Apps typically load faster than websites.

The Cons

• Cost: Building an app can be expensive, but some POS systems now offer it as part of their subscription tiers.
• Updates: Clients can run into issues if they don’t update the app
• Memory: Apps take up space on a device, which can be a problem for clients with limited storage.
• Download Requirement: Clients have to download the app to use it.
• Switching POS Providers: If you switch POS providers, it might be harder to get app users to switch to your new platform.
• Development Time: It takes longer to develop an app than a web-based ordering system.
• Maintenance Cost: Apps have higher ongoing maintenance costs.
• Platform Compatibility: You need a version of the app for each platform (Android, Windows, iPhone, etc.).

Web-Based Ordering

Web-based ordering allows clients to browse, select, order, and pay for services through a website without downloading an app.

The Pros

• Customization: Like apps, web-based ordering systems can be customized to your brand.
• No Download Required: Clients don't have to download anything to their device.
• Cost: Compared to apps, it's cheaper to build a branded ordering site.
• Accessibility: Web-based ordering is easy to access from any device.
• Search Engine Visibility: Web-based ordering systems have better visibility on search engines.
• Shortcut: Clients can add a shortcut to their homepage for easy access to your web ordering form.
• Login Options: Clients can log in using other platforms like Google, Facebook, Microsoft, etc.

The Cons

• No Push Notifications: Unlike apps, web-based ordering systems can't send push notifications.
• Speed: Websites typically load slower than apps.
• Engagement: Websites have lower engagement than apps.
• Internet Connection: Clients need an internet connection to use web-based ordering systems.
• Gamification: It's harder to incorporate gamification into a website.

As always, the best choice for your laundry business depends on your specific needs, resources, and client preferences.

If you can’t decide, you're in luck. 

Several POS providers have started offering custom-branded apps and branded web ordering to their clients which gives you the flexibility to choose the best of both worlds.

That's all I got for today.
Waleed
✌️🏴‍☠️

P.S. Use the code LAUNDRYCEO for $100 off your tickets.

Thinking about, the thinking of laundry

From the words of speaker and trainer, Kevin Stirtz.

Know what your customers want most and what your company does best. Focus on where those two meet.