What is the importance of an online booking system for your home service company? Online booking systems are not only useful, but necessary if your business is to grow. Here are the best booking software platforms currently available.
For a home service business, your key to growth is capturing (and keeping) as many clients as possible. Offering convenient ways for your customers to interact with your business is crucial to achieving these goals.
Why Online Booking
Smartphones are being used by more consumers to perform everyday tasks. Even with the growing use of smartphones, online booking isn’t just for people on the go. Consumers should also be able to schedule home services no matter where they are or what they are doing.
Are you working from a desktop computer at work? Clients can schedule an appointment online.
Using a tablet while on vacation? They can leave an online review.
And if they have a smartphone? They can do the same. Invoices can be paid online.
Benefits of Online Booking
You can get real benefits from online booking software when it comes to your business. Below are a few major benefits your home service company gains from online booking software.
24/7 Hassle-Free Booking
Despite the fact that your business closes each day, current and future customers still need your services. 40% of online bookings occur after a business’s regular business hours, according to research. Additionally, roughly one-third of consumers looking for a service provider are more likely to choose one with online scheduling capabilities.
Stronger Google (and Social Media) Presence
In order to grow your business consistently, increasing your exposure on Google is essential, specifically with local or “near me” searches. The majority of scheduling providers are aware of this as well, connecting their software to Google’s most popular tools.
Your business can be found by searching Google or Google Maps and booked directly from the results page or your Google My Business listing. Local searches are crucial to increasing your business.
Marketing and advertising through online booking platforms are also more dynamic. Your appointment platform can be linked directly to ads you place on social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram, increasing the likelihood of booking conversions.
Better Time Management for Your Team
Appointment platforms that offer more than self-service for customers are the best. Furthermore, robust software options can integrate oversight into your service team’s schedules to improve time management.
Automating schedules keeps your staff off the phone and reduces the likelihood of human error. A team free from fielding calls is one that can focus on providing superb services.
Reduction in Cancelled or Missed Appointments
When home service booking was in its infancy, you trusted the client to remember their appointment. You also didn’t have a consistent way of confirming the appointment. Over time, your field teams missed or canceled a fair number of service calls.
Online booking systems, on the other hand, automate the entire process, adding appointments to clients’ calendars and sending them email or text reminders. In the health care industry, SMS reminders proved to be effective in reducing missed appointments. A similar approach may work for your company.
Improved Customer Retention
Make it simple for your clients to do business with you if you want to keep them. It makes sense that the easier it is for them to book an appointment, pay an invoice, and leave a review, the more likely they are to use your service again.
Boost in Customer Acquisition
In order to get new customers, word-of-mouth is important. Referrals are crucial in the home service industry. A convenient way to generate new business is to offer online booking. By caring about your clients, you will increase your company’s reputation. Customers often seek out simple and friendly solutions.
What to Look for in Online Scheduling Software
Online booking software is becoming increasingly dynamic. More than just a way to keep track of appointments and manage team schedules, some of the most popular solutions also offer the following features.
Real-time, Online Scheduling
Booking in real-time is the key to modern scheduling. This ensures an appointment is available immediately. In more advanced platforms, wait-list capabilities are integrated with automated filling of schedule blocks when appointments are canceled or rescheduled.
Calendar Oversight (for Clients and Employees)
Sync and manage multiple calendars in real-time including many third-party applications, such as Google Calendar and iCal. This feature allows clients to share and sync their appointment times across multiple devices. You can track an employee’s time and workload through their calendars in real-time for your business.
Customer Options
Is your home service tailored to the preferences of each customer? Choose a software provider that lets clients schedule their preferred technicians based on their availability.
Automated Reminders
An automatic text or email notification reminds customers of their upcoming appointment is sent after they make an appointment. Some platforms even offer the option of notifying the client as the tech approaches.
Promotions, Payments, Reviews, and More
You can do much more than just support online booking with a multifaceted platform. A platform may have marketing functionality, invoicing and payment solutions, methods for gathering reviews, and features for managing challenging clients. Some of these products are even full-featured management tools with bookkeeping integrations and inventory tracking capabilities.
Best Online Booking Software
You should consider a few potential providers before making a final decision about online booking capabilities for your business. As different software providers bring different strengths to the home service industry, there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
Do you have a small, family-run cleaning business that is looking to add customer-friendly automation? Maybe you would like a simple solution that focuses on scheduling and booking.
Are you a midsize window replacement company that needs an enterprise-level solution to cope with rapid growth? Your brand will benefit from a full-suite online booking platform with dynamic functionality.
Choose a software provider that can meet both your current and future online booking needs. The following list represents nine of the best online scheduling platforms for home service businesses.
You’ll find simpler solutions focused primarily on online booking that are moving away from platforms designed primarily for home services. SimplyBook.me is one such software provider.
The features include booking functionality that integrates with Facebook, email and SMS confirmations and reminders, and the ability to accept payments through popular processors like Stripe and PayPal.
The company also provides marketing and promotion services. Among the promotional features are rewards and referrals, coupons and gift cards, Instagram photo sharing, and the ability to sell services or add-ons to products.
There is a free plan for the first 50 bookings plus one custom feature; a plan for 100 bookings plus three custom features; a plan for 500 bookings plus eight features; and a plan for 2000 bookings plus unlimited custom features for $59.90 per month. You will also receive two months free if you pay annually.
2. Appointy
Although Appointy does not specifically advertise itself as a home service appointment solution, its flexibility makes it an ideal solution for any business. Landscape, cleaning, pest control, pool maintenance, auto detailing, and pet sitting companies rely heavily on appointment setting and repeat business.
The main selling point of Appointy is its simplicity. In addition to online appointments, the service offers client notifications, social media integration, and Google calendar integration. No website? Not a problem. You can create a booking page for your business with Appointy’s sub-domain option.
Four service tiers are available, including a free option with a cap of 100 appointments per month. Bookings are unlimited starting at $19.99 per month, and increased services are available at tiers 3 and 4 for $49.99 and $79.99, respectively.
3. SuperSaaS
As the definition of customizable, SuperSaaS allows for booking home services. Besides the essentials, this platform offers real-time booking, automated SMS and email reminders, Facebook integration, and the ability to accept customer payments. An equipment rental solution is also available.
With SuperSaaS, users have a high level of comfort. Schedules, bookings, and registrations can all be customized to fit your brand. You can also customize your sync settings.
With 11 packages to choose from, pricing is also extremely flexible. For free, there are 50 appointments per month. You’ll pay $8 for 100 appointments per month and $186 for 15,000 appointments per month in the paid tier.
4. BookedIN
Despite its simplicity, BookedIn offers a lot of functionality. It is certainly helpful that you have 30 days to test out the software before committing.
Using your website (including all major platforms), promotional emails, or social media channels like Facebook and Instagram, your customers can schedule appointments with you. You can capture as much or as little client data as you need with custom onboarding forms branded specifically to your business.
Aside from the free option, plans cost $24, $39, $54, or $69 per month based on the number of calendars you want managed.
5. BookSteam
Another service that caters to a number of different business types is BookSteam. With the product, you can schedule appointments online, receive SMS and email notifications, and make online payments with credit cards stored on file.
The features of BookSteam extend well beyond basic scheduling, including client database management, review management, marketing and promotional tools, inventory tracking, and client accounts.
BookSteam does not offer a free option but has a 14-day free trial. Pricing is based on users and runs from $19.95 for one user, $29.95 for 2 to 5 users, $39.95 for 6 to 10 users, and $69.95 per month for 11 to 50 users.
9. Genbook
Our list concludes with the cloud-based Genbook platform, which targets midsize companies looking to better manage their online booking process.
Genbook manages the booking lifecycle from first booking to final payment, tracking appointments and the technicians that fulfill them. In addition, it allows you to accept payments online or at a standalone location, making it ideal for pool service or home design and furnishing companies.
For a single employee, Genbook starts at $29 a month with a 30-day free trial. Plans increase to $59 per month for 2 to 5 members and $99 for 6 to 12 users. If you need more than 12 users, they will build a custom plan for your business.
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