Why You Should Move Your Salon or Spa to Online Booking
September 1, 2023
Scheduled appointments are the wheels that keep your spa or salon turning.
So, whether it be transitioning away from pen and paper or saying goodbye to Google Calendar—your hesitation for changing something so important is understandable.
That said, now that your business is back open, online booking is more important than before. Your team is busier than ever, which means the more streamlined your processes, the better.
Now's not the time to be bogged down by a scheduling system that isn’t as efficient as possible. Taking your scheduling online will make all the difference for both your staff and client.
Online booking will:
Streamline your processes
Online booking lets you know who’s coming when. With so many folks ready to get back to their normal wellness routines, it may still be a challenge to accommodate as many walk-ins as you once did. You want to make sure you're able to deliver an exceptional experience to your customers, and online booking is the first step.
Give your team more time to focus on clients
Perhaps your front desk used to be able to juggle calls while checking out clients, attending to maintenance issues, and helping other staff members. That’s no longer the case with the influx of clients ready to return to your business.
Instead, your team needs to focus their attention elsewhere—on reaching out to your most loyal (and highest spending) clients, managing client flow in your space, and maintaining sanitization protocols.
Although scheduling an appointment may only take five minutes, as clients rush to their phones to book post-quarantine haircuts, facials, and massages, it won’t be long before your team is dedicating hours to fielding and recording appointments.
With online booking, your team can focus less on the phone and more on what matters right now: creating an exceptional experience for clients and staff.
See how Messenger[ai], the AI receptionist, turns missed calls into bookings.
Eliminate scheduling errors
Now that you’re finally able to welcome back clients, every appointment matters. A late arrival, a no-show, or a mistake on your schedule will cost your salon or spa, impacting your staff and your clients. These days, there’s no room for errors on your schedule.
Unfortunately, when you record your appointments by hand, human error is likely to happen which can lead to:
- Double bookings. With the right online booking system, though, clients won’t physically be able to book an appointment with a staff member or service that’s already been booked for the same time or during times set aside for deep cleaning. Instead, they'll be prompted to choose a different time available.
- Coverage gaps. With online booking, your staff’s schedule is neatly and systematically laid out. You can clearly see every staff member’s shifts for the week, identify any unnecessary overlaps or gaps, and make any necessary adjustments.
Minimize last-minute cancellations and no-shows
Last-minute cancellations and no-shows are the banes of every spa and salon owner’s existence—especially now. Empty gaps in your schedule can add up and be crippling for business.
Any good online booking system will include some automated reminder functionalities to drastically reduce the number of empty seats at your spa or salon. With Mindbody, you can even customize with any updated protocols and policies as well as send client forms, pre-appointment, too. No more shared tablets or clipboards necessary!
With automation, you and your staff don’t have to worry about manual appointment reminders (Hallelujah!). Again, you’ll spend less time completing admin tasks and more time creating a memorable welcome-back appointment.
Make it easier to start upselling earlier
You need to make the most of every ticket. The more opportunities you have to promote product and offer add-ins, the better. When you allow your clients to book online, you can take advantage of automated email marketing that does the hard work for you. Let your clients know how you can make their appointment extra special!
Manage your business anywhere, 24/7
Whether you’re working from home or in and out of your salon or spa, your booking system should be as flexible as your lifestyle.
With online booking, you can take your business on the go—wherever you are. Any worthwhile online booking system is cloud-based, which means you can view and edit your appointment book anywhere, at any time, off any device—all in real-time.
Need to alter a scheduled appointment when you or your team are away from the front desk? Just access your schedule from your phone and change accordingly. Want to run numbers from the couch? Log into your software from your tablet or phone. Being disconnected from your business can be a little unsettling for a devoted owner, especially during a time of uncertainty. Thankfully, with online booking, you never have to feel that way again.
These are just a few of the many reasons online booking is a worthwhile investment for your business—and we didn’t even get into the reasons your clients will love it too (hint: it’s convenient and easy-to-use).
