Reminders
Missed appointments can disrupt your schedule, reduce productivity, and cost your business time and money. The Reminders feature in Availabu ensures your clients remember their appointments, improving attendance rates and maintaining smooth operations.
Why Use Reminders?
Reduce Missed Appointments
The most common reason for missed appointments is clients forgetting their scheduled time. A simple reminder, such as a text message or email, can reduce missed appointments by up to 90%, turning lost opportunities into valuable client interactions.
Decrease Waiting Time
Automated reminders notify clients of their appointments in advance, giving them the chance to reschedule or cancel if necessary. This proactive communication minimizes disruptions and helps maintain a well-organized schedule.
Welcome Clients
Gentle reminders are especially helpful for busy or long-term clients who may feel embarrassed about missing an appointment. Automated communication ensures they stay informed and engaged without additional effort from your team.
Setting Up Reminders
You can use the Reminders feature to send SMS or email notifications before and after appointments. Here’s how to configure reminders using the workflow system in Availabu:
Example: Setting an Email Reminder 10 Minutes Before an Appointment
- Create a Workflow
- Navigate to the Workflow Module and click Create Workflow.
- Name your workflow and select “Booking starts” as the trigger.
- Choose the action (e.g., “Send Email”).
- Click Create to proceed to workflow configuration.
- Configure the Trigger
- Edit the “Booking starts” trigger.
- Set the desired time for the reminder:
- Before: Send notifications before the appointment starts (e.g., 10 minutes).
- After: Send notifications after the appointment starts.
- The same functionality is available for the “Booking ends” trigger, allowing notifications before or after the end time of an appointment.
- Apply Filters
- Use filters to target specific reminders for:
- Services: Apply reminders to particular services.
- Staff: Notify clients based on staff members assigned to the appointment.
- Locations: Customize reminders for specific business locations.
- Click Save after adjusting the filter options.
- Configure the Action
- Set up the action (e.g., “Send Email”).
- Use the Save & Test button to preview the notification template.
- Customize the message to suit your branding and communication style.
Benefits of Reminders
- Enhanced Client Experience: Clients appreciate timely and informative communication.
- Streamlined Operations: Automated notifications save time and ensure consistency.
- Higher Retention Rates: Encouraging long-term clients to keep appointments strengthens relationships.