Online booking software is set to play a vital role in helping businesses growth, particularly in a digital-first age.
The Coronavirus pandemic has accelerated digital transformation for 59% of organizations as they transition to working in an increasingly virtual environment.
With this online shift, digital technology will become even more important for continuity.
Online booking software has been shown to have a continual positive affect on businesses through these difficult times, helping companies adapt, pivot and adjust services allowing them to introduce alternative options to keep their business afloat.
From the introduction of video bookings aiding the healthcare industry in providing appointments remotely via telemedicine to the education sector’s build of online learning platform, booking software looks set to continue to help business growth in 2021.
To find out what businesses were predicting for 2021, Setmore issued a survey to 400 of its members to discover their hopes for the year-ahead.
Cloud-based booking platforms enable appointments to be taken online. Customers can confirm reservations in just a few simple clicks.
Online appointments are also a flexible option. Their editable nature allows companies to enable quick changes to bookings, facilitating pivots and adaptations at any point.
In the Setmore survey, users showed optimism about the future, with 72% anticipating an increase in bookings in the next year.
Education
The education sector has also had to adapt entirely with learning remotely becoming the norm.
In 2020, the number of Setmore accounts amongst educational institutions increased by 66%.
Teachers have embraced the digital shift, utilizing video software integrations creating online classrooms with virtual learning opportunities.
Personal Services
In 2020, personal services were one of the worst-hit sectors due to the complete closures of salons and barbershops.
Within this sector, they were unable to provide remote alternatives for closure times due to the nature of the services.
However, once restrictions had lifted, online booking empowered businesses to provide a safe experience for their customers and staff with the introducing of new cleaning times and spacing out appointments to adhere to social distancing guidelines.
Healthcare
Online bookings via computer or mobile are predicted to grow in the healthcare sector, estimated to hit 72% of all appointments made by 2025.
Virtual consultations enabled patients to seek medical guidance remotely during the pandemic. At Setmore, between January and July 2020, Teleport video calls booked via Setmore increased by over 887%.
Undoubtedly the pandemic has given businesses a stark reminder of versatility within their industry.
Businesses will no doubt require further changes and adaptations to adjust to the new routine when the world starts moving again post-pandemic.
Online scheduling software provides stability for future bookings for companies allowing businesses to quickly adapt to an ever-changing world — while continually taking appointments, growing their business and building revenue.
For more information on how appointment scheduling software has become a vital tool during Covid-19, download Setmore’s FREEwhite paper featuring online booking insights from across industries.
