Online Bookings Diary Feature – How to Set Up and Manage

This guide explains Workshop Software’s online booking feature, which allows your customers to book appointments any time, from anywhere.

Please note: This feature is available exclusively to Gold Subscribers. If you are not yet on the Gold Subscription, click on your dashboard and select Upgrade to access this feature. Alternatively, contact your Account Manager for assistance.

Steps to Set Up and Manage Customer Online Bookings

1. Access Public Booking Settings

Navigate to Settings > Public Booking to begin setting up your online booking feature:

Workshop Software screen showing access public booking settings navigate to settings > public booking to begin…”></figure>



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<p><strong>2. Configure Appointment Types</strong></p>



<p>Set up appointment types that customers can choose when booking. Ensure you:</p>



<p><strong>Define Estimated Hours</strong> (must be greater than 0).<br>Use a valid Workshop Software <strong>Labour Product </strong>item code.<br>Provide a clear <strong>Description</strong> for each appointment type.</p>



<p>Refer to this guide on <a href=Setting Up Appointment Types for detailed instructions.

Workshop Software screen showing refer to this guide on setting up appointment types for detailed instructions

3. Customise Branding and Workshop Availability

In the same settings, set your operational availability to define when bookings can be made, and personalise the public booking page with your workshop’s branding.

Workshop Software screen showing customise branding and workshop availability in the same settings, set your o...

4. Share the Public Booking Link

At the top of the Public Booking settings, you will see a unique booking link. Copy this link to:

View the booking page as your customers would.

Share the link with customers via email, text, or embed it on your website and social media platforms.

Workshop Software screen showing share the link with customers via email, text, or embed it on your website an...

5. Customer Booking Process

Customers fill in their details and select an available time on the booking page (view section 4. screenshot).

They receive an online confirmation that their booking request has been sent.

Workshop Software screen showing they receive an online confirmation that their booking request has been sent

6. Manage Booking Requests

Notifications of booking requests will appear on your dashboard in a yellow bar.

Click the yellow bar to view all requests. From here, you can:

View or approve requests.
Edit or delete bookings as needed.

Workshop Software online bookings diary feature – how to set up and manage showing or delete bookings as needed

7. Approve and Notify Customers

Use the blue magnifying glass to review and approve booking requests.

Adjust the booking date or time if required. If changes are made, you can notify the customer.

Workshop Software screen showing if changes are made, you can notify the customer

Workshop Software online bookings diary feature – how to set up and manage step 8 of 12

Workshop Software online bookings diary feature – how to set up and manage step 9 of 12

8. Automate Notifications

When you press the ‘Approve‘ button an email or text message will generate (depending on the customers preferred method of contact) where you can let them know the details or any changes to the date you have made. You can also set up templates so that the process is even easier!

When you Approve a booking request, you can send an email or a text message to the customer based on their preferred contact method so you can let them know the details or if any changes to their request were made. Save time by setting up templates for these notifications in advance.

Workshop Software online bookings diary feature – how to set up and manage showing time by setting up templates for these ...

9. Bookings in the Booking Diary

Once approved, the booking is automatically added to your Booking Diary.

From the Booking Diary, you can drag and drop the booking to assign it to a mechanic and set the job start time.

Refer to the Assign a Mechanic to a Booking guide for detailed steps.

Workshop Software screen showing refer to the assign a mechanic to a booking guide for detailed steps

Workshop Software online bookings diary feature – how to set up and manage step 12 of 12

For a step-by-step walkthrough, watch the Customer Online Bookings Demo video and discover how easy it is to let customers book directly into your workshop!

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