Allowing users to independently make bookings offers many benefits, both for your customers and your business. This article will guide you through how first-time users can make bookings, and why encouraging self-served bookings should be a priority.
Why self-served bookings should be promoted
Promoting self-served bookings enhances both customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. Here are the key benefits:
Convenience & Time Savings
Self-served bookings give users the flexibility to make bookings whenever they want, without waiting for assistance. This convenience caters to modern consumer expectations, where speed and autonomy are highly valued.24/7 availability. Your users can access the member web or mobile apps and make bookings anytime, regardless of business hours.
Increased efficiency. Self-served bookings reduce the workload for your team, freeing them up to handle more complex or personalized requests. This leads to improved service delivery and a better overall experience for customers, as routine tasks are handled automatically.
Valuable customer insights. Self-service systems provide valuable data on user behaviors and preferences. By analyzing this data, you can improve your offerings, tailor marketing strategies, and boost customer retention.
How to promote self-served bookings
To effectively promote self-served bookings, consider implementing the following strategies:
1. Connect payment gateway
Ensure to have a payment gateway integrated to allow customers to make online payments for their bookings in the member web and mobile app. Accept payments
2. Enable public visibility
To offer any resource publicly on the Rooms, Desks, Parking, or Offices pages, select "Public" in the "Visibility" property when creating or editing the resource.
To make the Support page visible to external users, set the visibility of the entire page to "Public". Get started with Support
3. Integrate with the marketing site
To allow your marketing website users to conveniently create a booking, add a Book a Room or Book a Desk buttons on your site and embed links below these buttons. Users will navigate to the member web portal or mobile apps independently and can quickly complete the booking.
4. Place QR codes around your space
Generate and place QR codes around your space (e.g., at the reception, common areas) that direct users to the Rooms and Desks pages of the member web portal and mobile apps. This allows users to scan the code with their smartphones and instantly access the booking system.
5. Provide promo codes redeemable via the app
Provide special promo codes that can only be redeemed via the member web portal and mobile apps. This encourages users to book through the app, familiarizing them with the platform and increasing the likelihood of future self-served bookings.
6. Provide clear instructions and support
Consider creating a guide on the Information page with some helpful information related to bookings. Additionally, ensure the Support page is public, so users can reach out by creating a ticket if needed.
7. Promote self-served bookings through communication channels
Use communication channels like newsletters, social media, or Feed page to remind users about the benefits of making bookings themselves. When users ask you to book for them, share a link to book the resource directly in the member web portal or mobile apps. This allows your customers to book quickly without waiting for assistance.
How users book for the first time
Users can easily access Member Web Portal and Mobile Apps to create a booking independently.
1. Access the Member Web Portal and Mobile Apps
First-time users can navigate to your member web and mobile apps via a direct link from your marketing website or social media channels. We recommend you use the landing page.
2. View the public content
By pressing Continue users can view your public content. No sign-in is required to browse.
3. Booking a Resource
When a user wants to book a resource, they can see its availability in real-time. For example, when booking a room, users will view the room's calendar and can select an available time slot.
3. Making the Booking
To register their booking, users must sign in by entering their valid email address and the OTP code.
No passwords are required in member web and mobile apps - this makes the process quick and user-friendly. If it's their first time, users will go through a short onboarding process before proceeding with the booking.
This way, user contact information, and billing details are saved for future bookings. Users must enter the email address and confirmation code only once (unless they cleared the cache or logged out).
4. Pay for the booking
After confirming their booking, users select a payment method, apply a promo code they may have, and complete the purchase via a connected payment gateway.
5. Booking Confirmation
Once the payment is processed, the booking is confirmed. Administrators will receive notifications about successful bookings and payments made by nonmembers, allowing for smooth tracking and management.
Administrators receive notifications about successful bookings and payments of nonmembers on the Notifications page. Find more information on how to view nonmembers' data and activity in this article.
Allowing users to make independent bookings is a key feature of a modern, user-friendly app. Promoting self-served bookings not only enhances customer satisfaction but also increases operational efficiency and provides valuable insights.
FAQ
How to create a booking on behalf of a user?
How to create a booking on behalf of a user?
We highly recommend encouraging users to make their own bookings, as it can save a significant amount of time. However, if this isn’t feasible, administrators can book resources for customers:
For a member booking:
1. Go to Spacebring and start creating a booking for the desired time.2. In the "Booker" section, enter the member's name and select the preferred payment method (credits, day passes, or invoice).
For a nonmember booking:
1. Collect the name and email address of the person paying for the booking.
2. Go to Spacebring and invite the user as a member.3. Create the booking on behalf of the user and choose the "Personal Invoice" payment method > issue an invoice.
This ensures the booking is linked to the customer and the correct invoice is issued.
Please note that by inviting a member, a user will gain member-only access. If you'd like to remove their access after issuing the invoice, simply delete them from the Customers page.