better.tab (by Betterspace) vs. Volo:
Which Is Right for You?

Is better.tab (by Betterspace) or Volo Better for Hotels?

better.tab by Betterspace and Volo both deliver in-room tablet solutions designed to replace traditional guest directories and enhance guest engagement through digital platforms. better.tab focuses on energy management integration, combining room control features with guest information, appealing especially to hotels aiming to reduce operational costs through automation. In contrast, Volo emphasizes interactive guest services like in-room dining orders, guest messaging, and real-time service recovery, positioning itself as a revenue-driving tool.

Both products address the core hotel challenge of improving guest communication while reducing printed materials and manual staff interventions. better.tab excels in European markets with a strong presence in boutique and city center hotels, using integration with PMS to automate heating control and reduce energy consumption. Volo’s broader geographic reach, notably in North America, and its comprehensive feature set target hotels seeking to boost ancillary revenue and guest satisfaction through highly customizable guest interaction. The choice hinges on whether a property prioritizes operational cost savings with energy management or enhanced guest service and upselling capabilities.

better.tab (by Betterspace) vs Volo: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If you operate a boutique or city center hotel in Europe seeking to reduce energy costs and streamline guest information dissemination, better.tab’s integration with PMS for automated heating control and digital guest directories offers clear operational value. This is supported by 28 boutique hotel reviews averaging 4.5/5 and specific praise for energy savings and guest communication. However, the product’s hardware durability concerns and slower tablet performance warrant consideration.

Conversely, if your property is located in North America or includes a larger portfolio with varied guest service needs—such as in-room dining orders, guest messaging, and spa wellness modules—Volo’s broader feature set and higher ratings (4.8 overall from 101 reviews) make it more suitable. Hotels with 30 to 700 rooms have reported rapid implementation and strong support, particularly appreciating Volo’s adaptability and user-friendly interface. Hotels prioritizing revenue generation from upsells and guest engagement should favor Volo, backed by its extensive feature set and higher likelihood to recommend (97%).

For properties outside these segments, data is limited; better.tab’s European focus and Volo’s North American presence suggest regional suitability. Both lack recent review activity in the last six months, especially Volo which saw a 100% drop from an average of 10 reviews per six months to zero, indicating less current feedback to assess recent product changes.

Is better.tab (by Betterspace) or Volo Easier to Use?

Volo leads on ease of use with a 4.9/5 rating across 101 reviews, compared to better.tab’s 4.5/5 from 82 reviews. Reviewers consistently highlight Volo’s intuitive user interface requiring minimal training for both staff and guests, enabling quick guest adoption and efficient front desk workflows. The ability to customize the home screen to fit organizational needs further simplifies usability.

better.tab users generally find the interface relatively easy, particularly praising the integration with Oracle S8 and other PMS platforms that automate energy and guest communication tasks. However, some note the tablets run slower than expected and encounter occasional glitches, particularly with telephony functions, which can affect guest satisfaction and staff efficiency.

Onboarding also favors Volo at 4.7/5 versus better.tab’s 4.4/5, with Volo’s swift installation and minimal disruption to opening teams noted. better.tab completes rapid commissioning but requires more backend configuration and occasional manual adjustments.

Edge: Volo.

Which Has Better Features: better.tab (by Betterspace) or Volo?

Volo offers 10 unique hotel-relevant features beyond the 23 shared with better.tab, including late checkout, digital concierge, bell services, in-room dining ordering, spa and wellness modules, guest messaging, video concierge, and multi-currency support. These features directly enhance guest experience by enabling interactive service requests and upselling opportunities, reducing front desk workload and increasing ancillary revenue.

better.tab’s 6 exclusive features focus on energy and room control: bedside alarm, sponsorship opportunities, TV and room controls, express check-out with bill viewing, and guest marketing. These features optimize operational efficiency and reduce costs, notably through energy management tied to PMS occupancy data.

For hotels prioritizing guest interaction and revenue generation, Volo’s feature set provides broader operational benefits. For hotels emphasizing sustainability and cost control via energy savings, better.tab’s unique capabilities hold value.

Edge: Volo.

Which Has Better Customer Support: better.tab (by Betterspace) or Volo?

Volo scores 4.9/5 for customer support and onboarding, outperforming better.tab’s 4.6/5 and 4.4/5 respectively. Reviewers commend Volo’s 24/7 availability and rapid issue resolution, with several citing responses to late evening or weekend requests and proactive problem-solving without burdening hotel IT teams. This ensures minimal downtime and sustained guest service quality.

better.tab’s support receives mixed reviews. Many users appreciate quick response times and effective problem-solving, but some highlight difficulties in obtaining replacement parts and wish for more frequent communication of updates. Hardware procurement delays and backend registration issues occasionally hamper operational continuity.

Edge: Volo.

Which Has More Integrations: better.tab (by Betterspace) or Volo?

better.tab has 27 verified integrations compared to Volo’s 22, exceeding by roughly 23%. Both share six common PMS and hospitality system partners, including Oracle Hospitality, Mews, and Access Hospitality, covering standard hotel operational needs.

better.tab integrates exclusively with 10 partners, including hotelkit, apaleo, protel, and Vingcard, which may benefit hotels using these systems for facility management and energy optimization. Volo’s unique integrations with Systems Associates Inc, WebRezPro, RoomKey PMS, and others align well with North American properties and specialized operational workflows.

Hotels using partners like apaleo or protel may favor better.tab for native integration, while those on RoomKey, WebRezPro, or stayntouch PMS benefit from Volo’s ecosystem.

Edge: better.tab.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: better.tab (by Betterspace) or Volo?

Volo holds a higher overall rating of 4.8/5 from 101 reviews versus better.tab’s 4.4/5 from 82 reviews, indicating stronger satisfaction across a larger sample. This rating advantage spans property types; for example, boutique hotels rate Volo at 4.9/5 (66 reviews) compared to better.tab’s 4.5/5 (28 reviews). Bed & breakfast/inns also show a clear preference, with Volo at 4.8/5 (43 reviews) versus better.tab’s 4.2/5 (27 reviews).

However, Volo’s review activity has sharply declined, with zero reviews in the past six months versus an average of 10 per six months over the prior two years. This drop raises caution about whether its high ratings reflect current product performance. better.tab has no reviews in the last six months either, but its prior review frequency was lower (0.3 per six months).

Edge: Volo.

How Much Do better.tab (by Betterspace) and Volo Cost?

better.tab does not publish pricing information or offer free trials, monthly flat, or per-room pricing. This lack of transparency requires direct vendor inquiry and may pose challenges for budget planning.

Volo publishes a base price of $1,200 with no monthly fees or trials. This upfront cost covers the hardware and setup, with no additional implementation charges. Pricing clarity aids in budget assessment, especially for hotels weighing initial investment against anticipated ROI from upselling and operational savings.

Without comparable pricing models, a direct cost comparison is not feasible.

What Type of Hotel Should Use better.tab (by Betterspace)?

• Hotels that prioritize energy savings through automated heating control integrated with PMS, as supported by multiple user reviews highlighting cost reductions.
• Properties aiming to replace traditional physical guest directories with digital in-room tablets that consolidate radio, telephone, and clock functionalities.
• Hotels operating in Europe, particularly boutique, city center, and airport/conference hotels, where better.tab has a strong user base and integration ecosystem.
• Teams seeking digital guest communication tools to reduce manual front desk interactions and provide multilingual content.
• Properties valuing sustainability efforts by reducing paper usage through digital guest information.

Not ideal if:

• Hardware durability is a primary concern, given multiple reviews citing fragility and charging issues.
• Fast, responsive customer support and hardware replacement are critical, as some users report delays.
• A wide range of interactive guest services like in-room dining ordering or video concierge are required.
• Operating outside better.tab’s core European markets where integration and support might be limited.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Volo?

• Hotels looking to maximize guest engagement through interactive in-room tablets offering dining orders, guest messaging, bell services, and wellness bookings.
• Properties aiming to increase ancillary revenue via upselling capabilities and push promotions integrated with guest tablets.
• Mid-sized to large hotels (30 to 700 rooms) needing a scalable solution with quick installation and strong customer support.
• Hotels operating primarily in North America or Europe with systems compatible with Volo’s integrations, especially RoomKey PMS or WebRezPro users.
• Teams requiring a highly customizable platform that can adapt to specific operational workflows and guest profiles.

Not ideal if:

• Upfront capital costs around $1,200 pose a budget challenge without clear monthly fees for smaller properties.
• You require recent user feedback for assurance, as Volo’s review activity has ceased recently, limiting insight into current product status.
• Properties needing advanced energy management and room control integration to reduce utility costs.
• Senior guests form a large portion of clientele without additional accessibility features like larger text or audio aids, which are currently limited.

better.tab (by Betterspace) vs Volo: The Bottom Line for Hotels

The core difference is better.tab’s focus on operational efficiency through energy management automation and digital guest directories, chiefly serving European boutique and city center hotels. Volo emphasizes guest engagement and revenue growth by providing extensive interactive features such as in-room dining, guest messaging, and wellness services, with a strong presence in North America.

Choose better.tab if your priority is reducing energy costs and consolidating room controls with guest information on one platform. Its integration with PMS systems like Oracle Hospitality and apaleo supports automated heating control based on occupancy, leading to measurable operational savings. The paperless guest directory and multilingual support also improve guest experience while advancing sustainability goals.

Opt for Volo if you seek a comprehensive guest interaction platform that drives upselling and service recovery. Its unique features like late checkout, video concierge, and spa modules enable hotels to enhance guest satisfaction and increase revenue streams. Volo’s high ease of use, responsive support, and broad customization make it suitable for properties of various sizes aiming to elevate guest services.

Note that Volo’s review volume has dropped 100% in the last six months from an average of 10 to zero, indicating a lack of recent feedback. This absence of current reviews suggests caution, as its all-time high ratings may not fully reflect recent product or support changes. better.tab has also seen minimal recent review activity, but its smaller review base moderates this concern. Prospective buyers should seek direct vendor engagement to validate current product performance.