Appointment Scheudling Application
July 29, 2014 7:22 AM Subscribe
I have a one person business, and need software to manage my appointments with clients. I have spent (wasted) a lot of time investigating different applications that end up having fatal flaws, so I am hoping that someone out there will be familiar with an app that meets a few simple criteria.
Here are the key features I require. So far I have not found an app that meets these requirements:
- Clearly shows 15 minute increments. (I have been working from Google Calendar but it does not show 15 minute increments)
- time zone awareness. I work on Skype with an international client base. When they receive a confirmation email, it needs to show the appointment time for their time zone
- monthly, weekly and daily calendar views. Many applications that were otherwise acceptable do not offer this.
What would also be helpful but I’m exhausted so I’m willing to compromise:
- padding. A meeting may run for 90 minutes, but I would like the software to automatically schedule an additional 15 minute time block to allow the down time that I need in-between appointments.
Here are the key features I require. So far I have not found an app that meets these requirements:
- Clearly shows 15 minute increments. (I have been working from Google Calendar but it does not show 15 minute increments)
- time zone awareness. I work on Skype with an international client base. When they receive a confirmation email, it needs to show the appointment time for their time zone
- monthly, weekly and daily calendar views. Many applications that were otherwise acceptable do not offer this.
What would also be helpful but I’m exhausted so I’m willing to compromise:
- padding. A meeting may run for 90 minutes, but I would like the software to automatically schedule an additional 15 minute time block to allow the down time that I need in-between appointments.
The Windows version of Outlook 2013 exactly meets your first three criteria.
It won't do the automatic padding out of the box, though. If you're not afraid of working with VBA (the programming language for Microsoft Office), there is a script that will do what you want here: Automatically Reserving Travel Time for Outlook Meetings.
This script appends time to the beginning AND end of the meeting, but you (or a developer that you pay in donuts or pizza) could modify it in half an hour or less to only append the extra time to the end.
posted by DWRoelands at 8:07 AM on July 29, 2014
It won't do the automatic padding out of the box, though. If you're not afraid of working with VBA (the programming language for Microsoft Office), there is a script that will do what you want here: Automatically Reserving Travel Time for Outlook Meetings.
This script appends time to the beginning AND end of the meeting, but you (or a developer that you pay in donuts or pizza) could modify it in half an hour or less to only append the extra time to the end.
posted by DWRoelands at 8:07 AM on July 29, 2014
Are these appointments that clients book online? My massage therapist uses Full Slate and it works pretty well. I'm pretty sure it has 15 minute increments, but I don't know about the padding or time zone awareness.
posted by ldthomps at 8:38 AM on July 29, 2014
posted by ldthomps at 8:38 AM on July 29, 2014
My hairdresser uses Schedulicity and it seems to be awfully flexible/powerful.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:57 AM on July 29, 2014
posted by Lyn Never at 8:57 AM on July 29, 2014
I used to use* YouCanBookMe for this. Handles whatever increments you specify, syncs with GCal, handles time zones nicely, and lets you set auto-padding.
*Past tense only because I don't work for myself anymore, not because I had any troubles with or outgrew the product.
posted by okayokayigive at 9:06 AM on July 29, 2014
*Past tense only because I don't work for myself anymore, not because I had any troubles with or outgrew the product.
posted by okayokayigive at 9:06 AM on July 29, 2014
My company likes ScheduleOnce.
For something simpler, what about Doodle?
posted by radioamy at 10:51 AM on July 29, 2014
For something simpler, what about Doodle?
posted by radioamy at 10:51 AM on July 29, 2014
My company uses ScheduleOnce as well.
posted by anotheraccount at 11:25 AM on July 29, 2014
posted by anotheraccount at 11:25 AM on July 29, 2014
This thread is closed to new comments.
http://www.timetrade.com/
They have a free trial if you want to try it out.
Outlook, at least the Windows version, also has several of the features you mention, including time zone awareness.
posted by research monkey at 7:46 AM on July 29, 2014