ELECTICS ITS Digital Touch for Hajj Pilgrims MeccaBot Provides Assistance in the Holy Land

Image: MeccaBot Application Interface

Surabaya, ELECTICS ITS – The Hajj season is a sacred moment eagerly awaited by millions of Muslims around the world. However, for many pilgrims especially first-timers the spiritual journey can be filled with confusion and concern. This is where technological innovation plays a crucial role. One initiative that has captured attention is MeccaBot a companion app for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims developed by students from the Information Systems Department of the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) Surabaya.

Smart Collaboration Between Lecturers and Students Behind MeccaBot
The involvement of the ITS team in the development and deployment of MeccaBot at the Hajj Dormitory in Sukolilo is far more than an ordinary academic project. The app is the result of a smart collaboration between lecturers and students from the Department of Information Systems at ITS. Led by Ir. Achmad Holil Noor Ali M.Kom the development team included supervising lecturer Rizal Risnanda Hutama S.Kom M.Kom and students Luthfi Hakim Irawan Fathia Rahmanisa Dzakiyyarani Hanny and Kahfin Ilham. Together they saw an opportunity to deliver a relevant digital solution for Hajj pilgrims in 2025.

“We wanted to go directly to the field to ensure this technology is truly useful accessible and user-friendly especially for pilgrims unfamiliar with digital-based applications” explained Fikim one of the student representatives. The spirit behind this initiative is amal jariyah a sincere hope that MeccaBot will continue to benefit the wider public. Their success was recognized through funding from the ITS incubator which enabled further development of the application into a startup. Collaboration with Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI) also paved the way for the team to assist pilgrims directly at the dormitory.

Image: Student Demonstrating the Use of MeccaBot App.

Students played diverse roles on-site including demonstrating the app’s features guiding users through installation and providing technical assistance. “Essentially we serve as a bridge between technology and the real needs of the pilgrims” emphasized Fikim.

MeccaBot is equipped with various relevant features such as comprehensive Hajj and Umrah guides Mecca AI (an intelligent Q&A feature) smart navigation and a digital Quran. All of these are accessible 100 percent free and without advertisements ensuring that pilgrims feel comfortable and well-supported throughout their spiritual journey.

Image: Documentation of Hajj Pilgrims Using MeccaBot

The response from the pilgrims has been overwhelmingly positive. Many felt that MeccaBot significantly helped them understand the steps of the pilgrimage more easily especially those going for the first time. Fikim added “Although some pilgrims were initially unfamiliar with the app after being guided and trying it out themselves they found it very helpful.”

Interestingly some pilgrims who took over the Hajj quota from family members and had not participated in complete manasik (pre-Hajj rituals) also found MeccaBot incredibly useful. The app offers structured guidance on prayers rituals and sequences of both obligatory and recommended acts making them feel more prepared and at ease.

However field challenges persist. Fikim mentioned that the issue was not solely device-related but also due to the dynamic conditions at the Hajj Dormitory. “For instance sometimes there would be a rush of arriving pilgrims then sudden lulls forcing us to quickly adjust our timing” he said. Age also plays a role. Some pilgrims over 50 years old may not see the need for an app. Different levels of digital literacy require a more patient and personalized approach. “But that is where the challenge and the valuable learning lies how we bridge technology and user comfort not by forcing it but by educating with empathy” explained Fikim.

Overall Fikim believes that MeccaBot greatly helps reduce the confusion of pilgrims particularly first-timers. He highlighted the most standout features as step-by-step worship guides and maps of key locations such as tents toilets and prayer areas. The audio prayer feature is also extremely helpful for those who struggle to read Arabic texts. “It is like having a personal assistant during the pilgrimage” he said.

Going forward MeccaBot will continue to evolve. The app is already publicly available on the Play Store and has been downloaded by over 4000 users from various countries indicating widespread demand. The team is also continuously collecting feedback to develop future versions that are more comprehensive and user-friendly.

For Fikim student involvement in social and religious tech-based activities is essential. “This is a form of community service and a source of amal jariyah knowledge that benefits many people” he said. He emphasized that students should not stop at theory but must also learn to apply their knowledge for the greater good.

“Being directly involved in activities like this strengthens our social and spiritual awareness as academics” he added.

Fikim hopes that Information Systems students from ITS will continue to be pioneers in impactful digital innovation. “Do not just focus on coding or theory learn to understand real needs on the ground. MeccaBot is an example of how technology can address modern pilgrimage challenges. My hope is that more innovations like this will emerge from the hands of ELECTICS students at ITS.”