Pros
Booker is a godsend for so many salons. It is very user-friendly and they have implemented the use of embedded training videos for all the features; this is a wonderful tool and works very well for people who are visual learners, which most stylists happen to be. For salon managers and owners, Booker offers a variety of tools: time-clock, sales tracking, inventory, tip allocation, expenditures/budgets, etc. Being a web-based software, it's very easy to add a widget or embed a link on your website and/or Facebook page to allow customers to easily schedule themselves for services. In addition, there is a built-in point of sale system that makes it easy to check out clients without needing to switch over to another program and/or system.
Cons
The downside to being a web-based software: if the server is down or there is an issue with the website, you cannot access your calendar or your point of sale system. Booker has been awesome enough to provide a separate website where they allow you to report issues of the system being down and also announcing known issues. Their customer service makes up for this issue.
Rating breakdown
Likelihood to recommend: 9/10
Booker does what we need, support has always been responsive and it is easy to use.
Pros
Ease of use so, easy to train. In the Day Spa industry front desk turnover is frequent so it is nice to be able to quickly show a new gal how to use the system.
Cons
We were previously Salon Iris customers and I am a programmer. With access to the database on that system I could run queries on anything in the database. Booker does not provide access to the SQL database so that is not possible. I do however have all of the reports that I need.
Also, it would be nice to have the ability to set access a little more granular. For example, if I give a gal access to look at gift card balances, I will also have given her access to modify gift card balances.
Rating breakdown
Likelihood to recommend: 10/10
Booker handles my salon operations so I can focus on my customers needs
Pros
Booker is easy to set up and very intuitive. The price is good and they have great customer service.
Cons
There are alot of features which is a good thing but it can take time to train your staff on how to use the software
Rating breakdown
Likelihood to recommend: 10/10
I like using Booker for its ease of use. It can get confusing since there are multiple ways to do the same task, though. However, with different learning styles, it is a pretty easy system to teach to people. It is very beneficial as well to allow all therapists to be able to check schedules from home. Our clients like the email and text appointment reminders. We also like the hire Frederick program. It is an easy way to market and bring back old customers or get new ones to rebook. The email they receive after their services is also beneficial for us to understand customer satisfaction and we can immediately respond to negative feedback, grow, learn and maintain customer relations. Their customer service is very good. They are always very prompt with responding to an issue. My problems with Booker are they have a tendency to glitch often or significantly slow down the system so we have had to resort to either trying a mobile device or handwriting credit slips on occasion. We have also had issues with the online booking and how one picks a therapist which makes things confusing and doesn't always work in our favor so a lot of client education comes into play. By this, I mean that even if a client picks no therapist preference at the beginning they still must choose at the end. Or sometimes they pick a therapist and it doesn't show as a request. I am currently finding out that the credit card processing linked to their service does not have the best rates but it would be more expensive to use another processing system and have to pay Booker's fees. Finally, we have learned the hard way that if a client pays in advance and you do not block out the time slot then another client can book in that same slot.
Pros
Ease of use can be accessed remotely by all therapists, no additional cost per therapist for use, HireFrederick program
Cons
Online booking inconsistency with picking a therapist and it not being a request vs no preference and still having to choose a therapist. Glitchiness! Slowness! Taking payment in advance opens time slot for others to book in. Feeling stuck with their credit card processing or high fees to use another one with better rates
Thank you for using Booker Kristin. We'd love to work with you to help with any issues you're having with using the system - reach out to support@booker.com if we can help!
Thank you so much for using Booker!
- The Booker Team
Rating breakdown
Likelihood to recommend: 7/10
We had several manual processes and workarounds to track and fix our data, but the auditing capabilities and ease of use make this system worthwhile!
Pros
Booker makes it easy to book clients, review accurate data, see clients shared to a membership, easily manage gift cards and online certs, easily view status changes of a membership, provide great auditing capabilities...
Cons
The customer support is extremely lacking. We also couldn’t get all the reports we needed and had to use a custom developed Stage 1 reporting system that was insanely slow. Our franchise switched systems to a MUCH inferior system due to the poor customer service. The Booker company doesn’t seem interested to work to improve the system based on the client needs. It’s got a great core but there were several bugs that would go on for years and the typical response would be a time consuming workaround, rather than addressing this issue and providing timelines.
Rating breakdown
Likelihood to recommend: 8/10
Essential $129: Manage your schedule, sell services, and streamline everyday tasks.
Accelerate $195: Keep your clients coming back with email campaigns and text confirmations.
Ultimate $395: Grow your business with advanced marketing tools, automations & analytics.
Booker is a cloud-based business management platform providing local service businesses with a fully redundant infrastructure that helps them run their businesses around the clock from a computer, tablet, or smartphone. Booker helps businesses grow their client base, book customer appointments, process payments, manage employees, track inventory, and build long-term customer relationships. Customers who use Booker can book appointments and class schedules, even after business hours, from the company’s website, social media accounts, or mobile app.
Booker makes the daily demands of running a local business easier while eliminating the need for ongoing technology updates and troubleshooting. Every data point captured is backed up and secured online, so business owners never have to worry about defective or stolen hard drives. Some of Booker’s core features include the Booker Marketing Network, Facebook booking app, integrated credit card processing, comprehensive data management, and its suite of customer retention tools.
For organizations looking for a technology platform that can address the many different aspects of running a business – attracting customers, booking clients, processing payments, managing employees, and nurturing client relationships – Booker provides a full-featured ecommerce and business management system, all in one place. It enables businesses to sell their services online through their website, mobile app, at their business location, and through a network of partner sites.
It simplifies payment processing, automatically keeps track of inventory, manages staff scheduling, and generates real-time reports, among other things. Because the Booker platform is all-in-one, every client interaction – from booking to payment method to upsell to retention – is tied back to a customer record, affording businesses a clear insight into when and why customers patronize them, allowing them to serve their customers better.
An all-in-one cloud-based business management platform, Booker is designed for local service and class-based businesses such as spas and salons, yoga, fitness, and Pilates studios, pet grooming services, businesses engaged in music, swimming, and tennis lessons, and even franchises and enterprises with multiple locations. It supports businesses of varying sizes – very small, midsized, and large enterprises – and can scale with customers as their businesses grow.
Booker users include business owners, their designated staff, and their customers. Some of Booker’s customers include Northwest Ohio, Drybar, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hilton Hotels and Resorts, and Novalaser Body Care Center.
Paying customers are the lifeblood of any business. Booker helps businesses attract new clients and book customers through the Booker Marketing Network, which makes your business bookable on top-rated sites and apps like Yelp, MapQuest, and SpaJour. Once signed up, customers can book directly from your profile page through a “Book Now” button.
Partner sites in the Booker Marketing Network have a combined estimated total of 160 million customer visits per month, which dramatically expands your presence. And unlike other online advertising platforms, the Booker Marketing Network doesn’t require upfront payment, as it’s strictly pay-for-performance. If you get no bookings, you pay nothing.
With Booker, customers are free to book appointments from whenever and wherever it’s convenient for them. Booker’s Facebook booking app gives social media users the ability to make appointments or schedule classes and services through your Facebook business page’s “Book Now” button.
A “Buy Now” button for gift certificates can also be installed.
Booker’s integrated credit card processing and point-of-sale solution provides businesses with the requisite tools to successfully sell their services. It comes with a comprehensive sales management system that facilitates transaction processing, tracking, and reporting.
It enables businesses to accept credit and debit card payments, create customized gift certificates that can be made available online, in-store, and on the company’s Facebook page, and turn mobile devices into instant payment processors, making the checkout process virtually pain-free for your customers.
Because data is captured and stored in one facility, Booker makes it easy for businesses to manage key data pertaining to clients, employees, inventory, and bookings. Schedules are seamlessly integrated across all booking channels, and the mobile app allows managers to manage staff schedule anywhere, anytime, and from any device.
Booker’s reporting and analytics feature lets businesses discover trends and gain solid insight into the factors affecting customer behavior and business processes. Access to customer and business data is regulated through role-based access controls. For example, in a spa or salon, therapists or stylists are given varying levels of access to customer data, including reporting and management functions that largely depend on their managerial level and degree of responsibility.
Retaining existing customers is less costly than acquiring new ones. Booker allows businesses to build long-lasting relationships with customers through its suite of retention tools. Booker’s dedicated mobile appointment app, the Booker Customer App, works on iOS, Android and Kindle devices. It lets your customers book appointments from their mobile device anywhere, anytime.
The loyalty points program gives companies the ability to devise customer reward campaigns for referrals, online bookings, and product purchases. Membership plans and prepaid bundles (e.g., five-pack yoga class, 10-pack massage, five eyebrow waxes), called series, can also be launched to secure repeat business. Survey tools help streamline the process of creating, distributing, and analyzing customer surveys.
Booker has ready-made integrations with merchant processors like Clover, Mercury, subLyme, Integrity, and Web2Pay. [MailChimp] (http://www.getapp.com/marketing-software/a/mailchimp/) is Booker’s email partner. Booker also has partnerships with sites like Google, Yelp, AOL’s MapQuest, SpaFinder Wellness, BeautyBooked, BeautyNow by Groupon, Lifebooker, Locality.com, and SpaJour.
Booker is also directly integrated with Frederick, the smart automated marketing platform that fills your empty appointment slots. Frederick offers a no-risk, 14-day free trial. To learn more about Frederick and get started today, [click here] (http://marketing.hirefrederick.com/free-trial/?utm_campaign=Directory&utm_source=GetApp&utm_medium=Profile/) .
Depending on what your business needs, Booker offers several subscription options. Basic costs $85 a month and includes unlimited logins, online appointment book and bookings, integrated point of sale, detailed customer records, package and series management, gift certificates and ecommerce, optional credit card processing, and offers add-ons like Frederick, Booker Customer App, and Booker Marketing Network.
Standard, which costs a monthly $135, includes all Basic features plus unlimited document storage, loyalty points and rewards, and membership management. Booker also offers customization options for multi-location businesses through Plus. It includes all Standard features plus multi-location options, custom customer fields, IP lock, quick login, and Booker API access options. Plus pricing can be discussed with the Booker sales team.
Hosted by
Jimmy Flores
Australia (English)
Canada (English)
Deutschland (Deutsch)
United Arab Emirates (English)
España (español)
France (français)
Ireland (English)
México (español)
Nederland (Nederlands)
New Zealand (English)
Österreich (Deutsch)
Portugual (Português)
Singapore (English)
South Africa (English)
United Kingdom (English)