5 reasons your workshop needs online booking

Managing appointments manually can eat up hours of your day. Between answering calls, scheduling, and entering data into your system, the time adds up quickly.

With an online booking system like ZF [pro]Manager, those repetitive tasks are simplified. Customers can schedule appointments themselves and provide key details - such as their car information, the issue they’re experiencing, and their contact info - directly during the booking process. This information is automatically added to your calendar and client database, eliminating back-and-forth calls and manual data entry. The result? Your team is fully prepared for every appointment, saving time and ensuring a smoother, more efficient workflow.

Consider this: If your team handles 20 calls a day, each lasting 6 minutes, that’s 2 hours spent on the phone. With online booking reducing those calls by half, you’d gain an hour every day. Over a week, that’s five hours. Over a month, that’s ... well, you get the idea.

Here’s an interesting stat: 35% of customers prefer to book appointments outside of regular business hours. This makes sense—while you’re busy repairing cars, they’re focused on their own work and need the flexibility to book at a time that suits them.

With an online booking system, you don’t have to choose between missing out on these customers and working 24/7. Customers can schedule appointments at their convenience - even if it’s late at night when they finally decide to address that persistent clunking noise.

With ZF [pro]Manager, you stay in full control. You can determine which services can be booked automatically and which require your approval. You can also set notification periods to avoid last-minute surprises. It’s a flexible, efficient solution that puts you in charge of your bookings while improving the customer experience.

Most customers start their journey online, so why not make it easy for them to choose your workshop?

Turn Google searches into bookings

You know those customers searching for “car repair near me” on Google? You can make your workshop the obvious choice for them by adding a booking button directly to your Google business profile. No phone calls. No extra steps. Just a few clicks, and they’re booked. It’s convenience at its finest, helping your workshop stand out from the competition.

Leverage your social media profiles

Your workshop’s Facebook and Instagram profiles aren’t just for showcasing your expertise—they’re a gateway to bookings. Embed your booking link on your profiles or include it in posts to turn your social media followers into customers.

By offering easy online booking on platforms your customers already use, you position your workshop as modern, efficient, and customer-focused.

Here’s an important insight: Convenience is a top priority for customers. In fact, 86% of them are willing to pay more for a satisfying experience.

By implementing an online booking system, you send a clear message to your customers: “We respect your time.” No more busy signals or repeated calls just to secure an appointment. With ZF [pro]Manager, customers also benefit from instant confirmations and reminders, ensuring they have all the details they need for a hassle-free experience.

This system also benefits your team by providing accurate booking details ahead of time. It’s streamlined, professional, and satisfying—for everyone involved.

A recent consumer survey on booking preferences revealed that 44.1% of respondents prefer scheduling appointments online, while only 29% still favor phone bookings. The shift toward online booking is even more pronounced among millennials, who represent a significant share of today’s customer base. This tech-savvy generation grew up with convenience at their fingertips—and if your business doesn’t offer it, they’ll quickly find one that does.

But it’s not just about keeping up with trends. Today’s customers—of all ages—expect you to adopt technology that makes their lives easier. By embracing online booking, you show that your workshop is prioritizing customer convenience. It’s a signal to your customers that you’re dedicated to providing the best service possible, from the first interaction to the final repair.

Adding an online booking system to your existing process is like expanding your toolkit. It’s not about replacing what already works. It’s about enhancing it to better meet the needs of today’s customers.

With ZF [pro]Manager - the workshop communication hub - you can offer customers the convenience of online booking while still accommodating those who prefer to call. It’s about giving your customers choices, saving your team time, and ensuring your workshop runs like a well-oiled machine. ZF [pro]Manager brings efficiency where it counts and loyalty where it pays.

Leanr more about ZF [pro]Manager

Contact us today to learn more about how ZF [pro]Manager can transform your workshop’s booking process.