In this article, we'll explain how to set online booking restrictions based on whether clients are new or existing and if they've previously booked certain prerequisite services.
In this article, we'll cover how you can implement certain restrictions when clients book online, depending on whether they are new or existing clients, or if they have previously booked a specific service that is a pre-condition for the one they are trying to book now.
Defining New and Existing Patients
New clients are individuals who haven't scheduled an appointment with your practice before. Some clients may already have an account created in your booking portal, but if they do not have a scheduled appointment, they will be considered new clients.
Existing clients are those who have had at least one appointment at your practice, and that appointment was marked as completed in your calendar.
Restricting Bookings for Different Client Types
You may want to restrict new clients to only book consultations, while some treatments might only be available for clients who have already had a consultation. To do so, please follow the steps below:
Step 1: Access the Services Menu
Log into your Pabau account and navigate to Setup in the left sidebar menu. Then, select "Services" under Services.
Step 2: Select the Service to Edit
To open the service editing modal, either search for the service using the search bar or navigate through the categories and click on the desired service.
After selecting the service, click on the Online Booking tab.
Step 3: Open Advanced Settings
In the Online Booking tab, click on Advanced Settings. In the "Restrict patient booking to" section, there are four options: Existing & New, Existing, New, and Previously Had.
Step 4: Choose the Appropriate Restriction
It is possible to select only one option per service.
Selecting Existing & New will make the service bookable by all clients. Selecting Existing will make it bookable only by existing clients, as defined above. Selecting New will make it bookable only by new clients.
Another option at your disposal is to make the service bookable for the client only if they have previously had another specific service.
For example, you may want your clients to have had a Botox consultation before booking any of your Botox services. In that case, select the Previously Had option, and choose the service that is a prerequisite for booking the service you are editing.
NOTE: If you select more than one service here, the client will need to have attended all of the services selected in the past.
NOTE: If you select multiple services, the client must have attended all of them previously to book the new service.
Step 5: Save Your Changes
To save the changes, click on "Save" in the top right corner of the screen.
What Clients See
The restrictions you set in the service's settings will be reflected in the online booking portal. If a client doesn't meet the requirements, they'll get an error message explaining the reason.
- New clients attempting to book a service meant for existing clients will be prompted to log in.
- Existing clients trying to book a service for new clients will see the service greyed out and unclickable.
- Clients trying to book a service that requires a prior visit to another service will also see it greyed out.
By following these steps, you can ensure that your clients book the appropriate services based on their history with your practice. This helps streamline the booking process and ensures that all necessary prerequisites are met.
For more guides, refer to related articles below, select additional guides, or use the search bar at the top of the page. These guides will help you get the most out of your Pabau account.
Additionally, to help you fully utilize and understand your Pabau account, we recommend exploring additional guides and resources offered at the Pabau Academy. It offers in-depth video tutorials and lessons, offering a holistic learning experience that can equip you with the essential skills for achieving success with Pabau.