Answering the questions people seem to be asking about online booking systems.
It doesn’t matter whether you’ve been trying to remember who scored the winner in the 1979 FA Cup Final or researching the best booking software, when we want to find out about a product, a service or just some general information, what do we do? Ask Google, of course.
So, you can imagine the interest we took when we saw this:
If these are the questions being asked, then we thought it might be a good idea to offer some answers.
Why Are Booking Systems So High?
High as in altitude? Narcotics? Life?
We’re not really sure what this means, to be honest.
Let’s move on.
Why Are They So Cheap? Why Are They So Expensive?
If these questions are a reflection on the current thinking around booking systems, then the world is divided when it comes to their respective costs.
This is not surprising.
If you search through the pages for online booking systems, you’ll soon discover many varieties out there, covering the broadest price ranges, from free plugins to large scale, bespoke enterprise systems.
While we completely agree that you don’t have to spend the earth on a booking system, simply opting for a cheap option, with no real thought to what it will do for the business, can lead to negativity from both the company and their customers.
Any purchase you make, whatever the cost, has to have an intrinsic value and benefit to your business. It’s as true for booking systems as it is for anything else you invest in.
For example:
Does it provide a platform that will make you work more efficiently, or free up your time for business development?
Does it provide the kind of user experience that will encourage customers to book with you?
Does it provide the reports that you want or will it integrate with other software?
Different organisations will have different requirements, and this will be reflected in both the complexity of the system and, by consequence, the price.
If the system is the right fit for your business, then it will deliver a healthy return on your investment. It’s up to you to ensure that you’re speaking to the right provider who understands your needs.
Stressful, Bad and Long? You’re Looking at the Wrong Systems
If these are questions that people are asking in their search for booking software, then it suggests poor experiences with under-developed systems.
This makes us sad.
Frankly, when you install a booking platform into your organisation, the criteria must always be the exact opposite.
Stressful?
One of the core reasons, functionally speaking, for introducing a booking system is to alleviate the stresses associated with traditional processes.
For customers, it should be pleasant, fast and unobtrusive – allowing them to book and pay and get on with their day.
For staff, the system should be taking care of almost all the heavy lifting; cutting out admin and avoiding long-winded confirmations or booking clashes through intuitive, automated technology.
If this isn’t the case with your booking system, then it’s time to search for an alternative option.
Bad?
This is probably a conclusion drawn from using booking software that wasn’t fully fit for the task that it was bought for.
Often this stems from a company opting for a cheap option without giving too much thought to the overall functionality. The result being, a system unable to meet all the demands being placed upon it. Causing a bad experience for the customer and exasperation for the client.
As we’ve already mentioned, you need to consider what tools you require and find a system that meets these requirements.
Long?
Customers want convenience and they want to make their transactions and bookings quickly and easily.
If your booking system is long-winded, makes the customer jump through hoops, puts up too many barriers such as a complicated login process, or makes it hard to find the products they want, then, frankly – it has failed.
Luckily, not all booking systems are born equal and, if you speak to the right people, you’ll find an alternative that can revolutionise your business.
Why Are Booking Systems So Successful?
As the above indicates, not all booking systems are successful.
However, use the right system, with the tools that you need for your business, and there is the potential for unlimited levels of success and benefit.
It’s a two-fold opportunity for success: customer loyalty and cost-effectiveness.
Those customers who have experienced the stressful, bad and long-winded booking journeys? Provide them with a booking journey that’s easy, quick and round-the-clock convenient on all devices, and you’ll go a long way to having a satisfied, long-term and returning client.
Furthermore, if you utilise a feature-rich, fully functional booking system that eliminates those arduous admin tasks, then efficiency is going to improve, freeing up staff time and creating a cost-effective, profitable booking environment for long-term sustainable success.
And, finally, Alan Sunderland scored the winner in the 1979 FA Cup Final. Thanks, Google!
At thinkBooker, we specialise in online booking systems for training courses, classes, activities and events – optimised for efficiency, growth and ongoing client satisfaction.
Browse the site to learn more about course booking systems, sports booking systems, event booking systems and more, or get in touch directly to find out how we can help you.
Read more insight into recommended features for your booking system here:
7 Things Online Booking System Should Offer
thinkBooker Achieves Double Digit Growth
32 Ways to Use an Online Booking System
4 Reasons for Delivering Epic Customer Experience to Your Clients
