The wheels that keep your spa or salon spinning are scheduled appointments.
So, whether you’re shifting away from pen and paper or saying goodbye to Google Calendar, it’s reasonable that you’re hesitant to change something so significant. However, now that your business is open again, online booking is critical. Because your workforce is busier than ever, the more efficient your processes are, the better. This isn’t the time to be slowed down by a scheduling system that isn’t up to par. Taking your scheduling online will benefit both your workers and your customers.
Online reservations will allow you to:
Streamline your workflows.
You can see who is coming when you book online. With so many people eager to return to their regular wellness routines, it may be difficult to accommodate as many walk-ins as you used to. You want to ensure that your consumers have an outstanding experience, and online booking is the first step.
Allow your team to give more attention to clients.
Maybe your front desk used to be able to handle calls while also checking out clients, dealing with maintenance issues, and assisting other employees. With the inflow of clients eager to return to your firm, this is no longer the case.
Instead, your staff should concentrate on reaching out to your most loyal (and highest-paying) customers, regulating client traffic in your space, and adhering to sanitization rules.
Although booking an appointment may only take five minutes, as clients race to their phones to schedule post-quarantine haircuts, facials, and massages, your team will soon be spending hours fielding and logging appointments.
With online booking, your team can spend less time on the phone and more time on what matters most right now: providing an outstanding experience for clients and employees.
Get rid of scheduling errors.
Every visit is crucial now that you’re finally allowed to welcome back clients. A late arrival, a no-show, or a scheduling error will cost your salon or spa money and have an impact on your staff and guests. There’s no place for mistakes on your schedule these days.
When you record your appointments by hand, however, human error is likely to occur, which can result in:
Double booking. Clients won’t be able to book an appointment with a staff person or service that’s already booked for the same time or during deep cleaning hours if you use the right online booking system. Instead, they’ll be asked to select another time slot.
Coverage gaps. Your staff’s schedule is cleanly and systematically laid up with an online booking. You can see every staff member’s weekly shifts in detail, see any unwanted overlaps or gaps, and make necessary adjustments.
Reduce the number of last-minute cancellations and no-shows.
No-shows and last-minute cancellations are the banes of every spa and salon owner’s existence—especially now. Gaps in your calendar can accumulate and become detrimental to your business. Any excellent online booking system will offer automated reminder functionality to substantially reduce the number of empty seats at your spa or salon. You can also personalize Mindbody with any new rules and policies and send client forms and pre-appointment reminders. There’s no need for sharing tablets or clipboards anymore.
Make it easier to begin upselling earlier.
Must utilize every ticket must use every key to its full potential. It’s great to have more options to promote your product and provide add-ons. When you allow your customers to book appointments online, you can use automated email marketing to perform your legwork. Tell your clients how you can make their appointment even more memorable.
Manage your business from anywhere, at any time.
Your booking system should be as adaptable as your lifestyle, whether you operate from home or in and out of your salon or spa.
You can take your business with you everywhere you go with online booking. Any worthwhile online booking system is cloud-based, which means you can access and change your appointment book from any device, at any time, in real-time.
When you or your staff are away from the front desk, do you need to change a booked appointment? Simply access your schedule on your phone and make changes as required. Do you want to do some math from the comfort of your couch? Use your tablet or phone to access your software. Being cut off from your company can be unnerving for a dedicated owner, especially during a period of change. Thanks to online booking, you’ll never have to feel that way again.
These are just a few of the numerous reasons why online booking is a wise investment for your company—and we haven’t even mentioned how much your customers will appreciate it
