An internet based appointment scheduling system can save the business
owner time and money. It is also very convenient for the customer to
schedule his own appointment without waiting for a return phone call.
step 1:
Write out your needs for an appointment scheduler. This might include
flexibility in the calendar, multiple rooms to fill or multiple service
providers. Be very specific about your needs and the way you schedule
appointments now.
Step 2:
Ask colleagues or business friends about their experiences with online
scheduling software or appointment schedulers. Preferably find a colleague
that has similar scheduling needs: a fellow dentist that needs to have
multiple appointment categories, or an out-call plumber with an employee
that can see to smaller jobs or give quotes.
Step 3:
Research online through message boards or chat rooms related to your profession.
What is the industry using?
Step 4:
Call or email the companies you are considering and inquire about their
customer service and customization options. Will someone be available
if you have a problem that needs to be resolved ASAP? If you need to add a
feature later on is this possible or will you have to upgrade to a
different system?
Step 5:
Test drive the available online schedulers (see resources for link) through
their trial or demo programs. Ask a few friends to play the "customer" part
and get their feedback for each program: was it easy for the customer, which
one was more intuitive, did they get exasperated and quit before scheduling?
Tips & Warnings
1.Choose your online scheduler based on ease of use for yourself as the business owner,
and the customer.
2.Take into consideration any needs for future upgrades.
3.Consider the business budget and whether you will save money adding an online scheduler to your company or if your employees will spend extra time walking clients through the scheduler over the phone.
4. Online schedulers are subject to data and webpage failure as the rest of us. Be sure to backup appointments booked online and client contact details regularly to avoid loss.
Article By Amy Kreydin
