Checking Out of Checking-In: Automating Scheduling & Check-In Management

As someone who’s in the business of helping clients simplify and streamline their processes, I’m always looking for new ways to help business owners save time and minimize the grind. A huge proponent of this is automating any aspect of your business that doesn’t need your personal touch.

Many small businesses have a need for scheduling appointments, checking customers in for services, and managing waiting queues. Without automation, these tasks can be a logistical nightmare. It’s easy for customers to fall through the cracks when you’re managing so many details and have your hands in so many other pots.

Luckily these tasks can easily be automated, saving you time and hassle and providing your customers with a more efficient and convenient experience.

Here are just a few of the ways a check-in management system can be a total game changer for your business.

Self-Scheduling

Especially as your business grows, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to keep track of all your scheduling needs yourself.

Without automation, there’s bound to be a lot of back and forth as you and your customers settle on a time that works for both of you. Not only is all this coordination frustrating for your clients, but you’ll waste so much time managing an everyday task that can easily be addressed with software.

With a check-in management system, you can empower your customers to schedule appointments themselves. These tools allow you to set up an online calendar with available dates and times that customers can confirm directly with their schedules.

Contactless Check-In

Now that your customers have been scheduled for their services, you’ll likely need a way to manage them once they arrive.

Check-in management software offers many convenient options for checking customers in with ease and efficiency – and without you having to do the work! Depending on what works best for your business, you can either set up check-in kiosks using computers or tablets in your storefront or have customers check in with their mobile devices by scanning a QR code.

Your customers will appreciate not having to wait in line for a receptionist, and it’ll be much easier for you to keep track of who has arrived and serve them in a timely manner.

Queue Management

It’s peak hours, and you’ve got a long list of customers waiting for your services. Or maybe your customer service team is flooded with a high volume of calls.

Check-in management software can help here, too, providing queue management features that keep your customers informed while also minimizing idle time.

For example, once customers check in, you can trigger SMS alerts to notify them of their place in the queue and when it’s their turn. You can also set up callback queues for customer service calls, which enable customers to fill out an online form with their contact information to request a representative get in touch. No more time spent on hold (or listening to pesky hold music)!

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Looking for a great check-in management solution? Check out LobbyCentral, the only check-in management system that’s constantly updated to keep pace with an ever-changing market environment. If you mention BOSS™ Talk, you will receive 30 days of LobbyCentral for free.

This post is sponsored by LobbyCentral - however all opinions and ideas included in this blog are my own.