Crave Interactive Tablets (acq by HCN) vs. Volo:
Lequel vous convient le mieux ?

The Decision

Choosing between Crave Interactive and Volo hinges on your hotel’s specific needs, budget, and guest experience goals. Both products aim to improve guest engagement, operational efficiency, and revenue, but they diverge in features, regional presence, and support. Crave offers a more extensive feature set and broader global reach, while Volo emphasizes simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and strong customer support. Which of these solutions aligns better with your hotel’s strategic priorities?

Is Crave Interactive or Volo Better for Hotels?

Crave Interactive and Volo provide in-room tablet solutions designed to streamline operations and enhance guest experiences. Crave’s platform is recognized for its extensive feature list, including room controls, multi-lingual support, and integrated payment options, helping hotels offer a rich, customizable experience. Volo, on the other hand, focuses on core amenities like service ordering, local info, and guest messaging, with a simpler interface. Crave has a higher overall rating (4.6/5 vs. 4.89/5), but Volo’s recent reviews (more in the last 6 months) are more plentiful and more positive, which lends greater confidence in its current performance.

Crave’s reviews highlight exceptional customization, advanced integrations, and a polished UX, but some users find content updates challenging. Volo’s reviews emphasize ease of use, quick support, and a nearly flawless user experience, making it attractive for hotels prioritizing straightforward deployment. Both products aim to elevate guest engagement, but do their differing strengths match your hotel’s priorities?

Crave Interactive vs Volo: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel needs a highly customizable, feature-rich system capable of managing multiple guest touchpoints, Crave is the way to go. Its extensive feature set (31 exclusive features and 24 shared) enables hotels to offer digital menus, contactless payments, room controls, and more, making it suitable for luxury and resort properties wanting advanced guest interactions.

If your hotel prioritizes simplicity, rapid onboarding, and strong support, Volo is the better choice. With only 9 unique features but a more recent surge in positive reviews (11 in the last six months), Volo appeals to boutique hotels, mid-scale properties, or brands seeking reliable, straightforward tech to boost guest satisfaction without complexity.

For hotels seeking a comprehensive, customizable experience, Crave is preferable. Conversely, for properties needing quick deployment and consistent support, Volo is the better fit. The decision boils down to your operational complexity and guest engagement strategy.

Is Crave Interactive or Volo Easier to Use?

Crave’s user interface has received solid ratings (4.5/5), with reviews highlighting its intuitive design and fast performance. However, some users point out that content updates are complicated, requiring external support or technical know-how, which can slow down responsiveness.

Volo’s interface boasts a higher ease-of-use rating (4.85/5), and recent reviews praise its simple, guest-friendly layout that requires minimal staff training. The onboarding process is also rated higher (4.62/5 vs. 4.37/5), reflecting faster setup and quicker staff adoption.

Edge: Volo.

Which Has Better Features: Crave Interactive or Volo?

Crave’s platform offers a broader feature set, including hotel directory, multi-lingual support, in-venue ordering, guest messaging, digital menus, contactless payments, and room controls, totaling 31 unique features. Its integrations with POS systems, NFC, and sponsorship opportunities further enhance revenue potential.

Volo’s platform has 9 unique features, including in-room dining, news & weather, guest messaging, and digital concierge, with a focus on core amenities. Despite fewer features, Volo’s streamlined approach reduces complexity and deployment time.

Edge: Crave Interactive.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Crave Interactive or Volo?

Crave’s support team is highly praised in reviews, with overall ratings of 4.6/5, and users mention quick responses and attentive service, especially during onboarding. Some reviews note that content updates can be slow and support response times could improve.

Volo outperforms slightly in customer support ratings (4.89/5), with recent reviews emphasizing their responsiveness and proactive assistance. Customers appreciate the dedicated team’s availability for troubleshooting and the ease of resolving issues swiftly.

Edge: Volo.

Which Has More Integrations: Crave Interactive or Volo?

Crave integrates with 17 verified partners, including major players like Oracle Hospitality, Infor, and Amadeus, with several unique integrations like Interel and Kipsu, facilitating diverse property management and marketing integrations.

Volo offers 22 verified integrations, including popular PMS and booking platforms like WebRezPro, Mews, and RoomKey PMS, with shared partners such as Oracle and Infor. Its broader integration set supports more seamless property management.

Edge: Volo.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Crave Interactive or Volo?

Crave’s overall rating (4.6/5) is slightly lower than Volo’s (4.89/5), but Crave’s reviews cover a broader global hotel base, including luxury hotels (4.6/5). Volo’s reviews are more recent, with a high percentage of hotels (97%) willing to recommend.

In terms of hotel segments, Crave is favored in resorts and independent hotels, while Volo has higher ratings from boutique hotels and properties in North America, reflecting its strong regional presence and recent positive reviews.

Edge: Volo.

How Much Do Crave Interactive and Volo Cost?

Both products are priced at a base fee of $1,200, with no ongoing monthly fees, implementation costs, or freemium options. Exact costs for additional services or customizations might vary, but the base pricing is identical, making the decision more about features and support.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Crave Interactive?

• Hotels that want extensive customization for their guest experience.
• Resorts and luxury hotels seeking advanced in-room controls and multilingual support.
• Properties aiming to integrate with multiple systems like POS, NFC, and sponsorship features.
• Teams that prioritize a scalable, feature-rich platform for diverse guest needs.

Not ideal if you prefer quick deployment, simple interfaces, or limited technical support.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Volo?

• Boutique hotels or mid-scale properties seeking easy-to-implement, reliable technology.
• Hotels focusing on guest messaging, local info, and basic service ordering.
• Hotels looking for a cost-effective solution with high support responsiveness.
• Properties with a regional focus in North America and Europe, especially where rapid onboarding is valued.

Not ideal if you need extensive customization, advanced integrations, or operate in regions where Volo has limited presence.

Crave Interactive vs Volo: The Bottom Line for Hotels

Crave is the most feature-rich in-room tablet solution, suitable for hotels that want to tailor every aspect of guest interaction and have the technical capacity to manage complex integrations. Its global presence and high-quality support make it a solid choice for large or high-end properties.

Volo offers a simpler, more intuitive system with a faster onboarding process, excellent support, and a focus on core amenities that resonate with boutique and mid-scale hotels. Its recent review momentum indicates ongoing improvements and high guest satisfaction.

Choose Crave if your hotel demands advanced functionality, extensive customization, and global reach. Opt for Volo if your priority is reliable, easy-to-use technology that enhances guest experience without overwhelming your team.