Are you still using a Filofax covered in sticky notes to manage your appointments? They are great for social events, and your niece’s birthday, but probably not as agile as needed when it comes to managing your work schedule. We’ve got a better solution.
Keeping your schedule up to date with all of your customer appointments, trainings, check measures and installations, and of course, the last minute cancellations of appointments- not to mention office management can be a full-time job by itself! Not to worry, we’ve got some recommendations to help you out.
Try investing in an appointment scheduling app! But which one you ask? Here are a few key considerations when looking for an app that best suits your business.
- Integration and Flexibility: Do you need this app to sync with your website, your Facebook page, or both? It’s important to identify an app that will work with the systems you already have in place- make the app work for you, not the other way around.
- Calendar Sync: It seems obvious- but make sure the app connects with the digital calendar system that you work with- this will enable you to see everything all at once and ensure your personal appointments and business appointments don’t overlap, leaving you in a bind.
- Accessibility: How do you want your customers to interact with your app? Only via your website? Or do you need to be able to send customers a URL for booking as well? Make sure the app is accommodating your business style.
- Customization Features: Many apps have features like accepting payment and identifying the location for the service. In our case, we need to make sure the location feature is available- to ensure there is time for travel to and from various appointments if you offer in-home consultations. Find the app with the features that support the unique needs of your business.
Need a few ideas on where to start; here are a few apps recommended by Zapier, a top tier CRM system.
- Appointlet (Web) Best free option- for when you are still testing the process
- vCita (Android, iOS, Web) Best for managing customer relationships.
- Acuity Scheduling (Android, iOS, Web) Best for customization.
- Setmore (Android, iOS, macOS, Web, Windows) Best for offline access and multiple business system integrations.
- SimplyBook (Web) Best for multiple time zones- We see you guys growing nationally, and we support you!
