Online booking has proven to be one of the most time-saving and cost-effective advancements in technology.
And it isn’t just for restaurants and movie theaters anymore. It’s also extending to hair and nail salons, medical practices, and more.
Online booking continues to impact consumer relationships with businesses and will only evolve as technology advances. Let’s take a closer look.
What is Online Booking?
Online booking is a convenient way to book an appointment or secure a reservation.
Most systems allow you to make a reservation, indicate any preferences, and even cancel or reschedule the booking.
What are the Benefits of Online Booking?
Here comes the good part. This change in technology brings a wealth of benefits to businesses and customers alike.
For businesses, it frees the staff up to carry out other tasks, bringing a certain level of ease and organization that’s free from human error.
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For customers, they don’t have to wait on long holds or take much time out of their day. They can multi-task in ways they haven’t been able to before.
Let’s take a look at some of the other perks.
It’s Convenient – Perhaps you’ve had a busy day and didn’t have a chance to pick up the phone to call and schedule your appointment. It’s now 11 PM but you’ll still be able to check this task off your to-do list, thanks to online booking.
It Saves You Money – When booking online, you can shop various websites for the best price. Nowadays, there are many sites dedicated to this. They’ll do all the searching for you and present you with cold, hard facts.
It Saves You Time – The convenience factor applies to initial bookings. But it also brings a level of ease to any rescheduling or cancellations. Not having to pick up the phone and wait on a never-ending queue saves you time and stress.
Who’s Using Online Booking?
Online booking isn’t just for restaurants, hotels, and airfare anymore. That said, can you believe OpenTable has been around for nearly 20 years? These services are only going to continue to develop and expand.
Many salons are using online booking, too. You can select your service, choose your date and time, and submit.
You may be asked to supply a credit card in the event of a last-minute cancellation, but this is true even with a phone call.
Both doctors and dentists are also making the shift. It’s a little trickier for their offices, due to insurance implications, but this will likely be the way of the future for them, too.
Is this the End of Customer Service?
Not at all. The ease that comes from booking online is just the beginning. Some customers will never grow weary of picking up a phone.
Booking online doesn’t preclude in-office interactions. Improving your employee’s customer service skills will always be a priority.
If you’re looking for new ways to build your company’s online presence or earn additional income, please visit our site to learn more!
