For our most recent survey, we asked Member Clubs about mobile apps—if their club has one, if it meets their needs or fills a communications gap. Here are the results.

When asked what issues they were trying to solve with a mobile app, a common refrain was accessibility, enhanced security and improving communications with members. Unique answers ranged from “impressing and delighting members” to “on-water safety” with a crew registration for racing and making information available on the go.

Every app is unique to its club, as it should be, so the question “what are the top five features for members” solicited a variety of responses. Here’s a shortlist:

• Keyless entry, Directory, events registration, message the Front Desk, submit photos
• reservations, online ordering, member search, news, statements
• Regatta info, dining reservations, member roster, club events, member statement
• News, booking, invoicing, communication in groups
• Crew sign on, weather, calendar, boats looking for crew/crew looking for boats, results
• Making Reservations, Sailing Crew registration, and member account information and financials
• Agenda, Balance, Events’ Agenda, Etiquette information, club news
• Statements, reservations, directory, calendar

When asked what the app could do that the website cannot, answers included direct and secure communications to the front desk or departments, keyless entry, push notifications and reminders about upcoming events and easy access to balance and account information.

A couple of respondents indicated that their mobile app doesn’t integrate well with their website or account management software, but most said it did, and that staff were pleased with it.

Has having an app increased revenue for clubs? Most said no. When asked if there was anything they wished the app could do that it currently does not, some of the responses included more two-way communication, such as a chat function and a way to pay directly using the app. One respondent said searching the member directory by yacht name would be popular with members.

Here are additional comments that were made about mobile apps:

• Here in the US, Pacesetter has been awesome!
• We use Northstar, not my favorite. Pacesetter is a better app.
• In general we feel that most members are overwhelmed with communication sent out by different channels. The app is probably just one of the many apps they use. As it is uncertain which channels members use, we have to communicate on different channels, which is adding to the workload…it’s not so easy and more complex to explain.
• Best thing we did.
• During the European Conference last May, I proposed to share the setting to other yacht clubs.
• User friendliness combines with ‘sexiness’ seems key to attract all generations.