3 Additional Business Scheduling Software Features To Get?
1. Look Only For Cloud Computing Scheduling Software
Cloud computing is accessing your software on the software service provider’s server through a login. Without a doubt, the most important feature to look for with business scheduling software is that it’s cloud-based. This means the software you use is hosted with the service provider. A classic example of cloud-based software is Google Docs. You simply log in to your Google account and use their fleet of document-producing software (word processing, spreadsheets, etc.). This is a must-have feature of scheduling software.
I’ve used desk-top scheduling software and like most desk-top software, it costs much more in the long run, and is very difficult to add new users (i.e. adding computers to the network). The bulk of the long-term cost with desk-top software is paying a tech consultant to network the software among your computers. Moreover, your scheduling software is not available anywhere - only on computers on which it’s installed. Don’t even think about the cost when you upgrade computers or if you use a server.
The solution is simple. Cloud computing solves all these problems because all you need is an Internet connection in order to access your software dashboard. You don’t have to pay for networking, installation, and/or have a server. Instead, most cloud-computing software services simply require a monthly payment for access. It’s easy to scale up - you simply add new users to your account. Your cost only increases as your business grows. Any time you can attach your expenses to scaling up, then do so.
2. E-Commerce and Credit Card Processing Capability
Wouldn’t it be fantastic if you could have customers pay upon self-booking their appointments? This frees up you and your staff from two time-consuming activities - booking appointments and taking payment. Moreover, you can book appointments if you’re busy, thus reducing lost appointments. Often saving one booking will pay for an entire month’s software cost. Not to mention gain you another potentially loyal customer. If you’re looking to get top-of-the line scheduling software, look for software that can process payments automatically upon a booking.
3. E-Mail and Text Messaging Capability
Do you and your staff send out appointment reminders via e-mail and/or text messaging? This too is time-consuming. Maybe you don’t do this because you’re too busy - but wish you had the time or resources to send out reminders to reduce no-shows. When deciding on scheduling software, be sure to opt for the capability for automated reminders. Yes, this is available. Once you have a customer’s contact information in your system, and a customer books an appointment, you can set up the software to automatically send e-mail reminders and text messaging reminders about upcoming appointments.
Automated reminders serves 3 important functions:
i. You’ll provide a great service reminding your customers about their upcoming appointment.
ii. You’ll reduce no-shows.
iii. You proactively encourage re-booking appointments. If a customer realizes they can’t make an appointment, they can re-schedule. This frees up appointment space which you can fill from your wait-list - which can also be notified about openings automatically via … you guessed it … automated e-mail and text messages.
Oh yeah, with e-mail and text messaging integration, with the right software, you can configure it so that once an appointment slot becomes available, e-mail notices are sent to your wait-list giving them an opportunity to take up that time - all done automatically.