Waitlists automatically fill canceled appointment slots

Last-minute cancellations are a reality in service businesses, often resulting in revenue loss and under utilized time. While you can’t eliminate cancellations entirely, you can implement systems to quickly fill these unexpected openings. 2BookNow’s automated waitlist feature transforms cancellations from a problem into an opportunity.

When your calendar is fully booked, clients can join a waitlist for their preferred appointment times. If another client cancels, the system automatically notifies waitlisted clients about the newly available slot. This automated process works around the clock, maximizing your chances of filling unexpected openings even outside business hours.

The waitlist system is designed to be seamless for both you and your clients. When clients can’t find their preferred time slot, they simply indicate their desired appointment time and join the waitlist with a few clicks. There’s no additional administrative burden on your staff, as the system handles the communications automatically.

When a cancellation occurs, the system searches for waitlist entries requesting times within one hour (before or after) of the newly available slot. It then sends an email notification to those clients, allowing them to book the open slot online. This targeted approach ensures that only clients with genuine interest in that approximate time receive notifications.

For clients, the waitlist provides a convenient alternative to repeatedly checking your booking page for openings. They can submit their request once and trust that they’ll be notified if a suitable slot becomes available. This improves the client experience while increasing your booking fill rate.

The waitlist feature is particularly valuable for in-demand services or during your busiest periods. It helps maintain your schedule at maximum capacity while providing more booking opportunities for clients who might otherwise be turned away.

You can enable or disable the waitlist feature through your booking policy settings. When enabled, it works automatically in the background, helping recover potentially lost revenue from cancellations without requiring manual intervention from your staff.