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Save Time with Automated Scheduling Tools

Written by Gina | Aug 30, 2022 1:15:09 AM
The endless back-and-forth communication and steps involved in scheduling a meeting can be a hassle before it even starts. Reviewing calendars, determining the best time to meet, setting up a call-in number, and adding the meeting to the calendar are all tasks that need to be completed before the meeting can take place.

That's where meeting scheduling apps and tools come into play. The best scheduling apps remove as much of the pain as possible by integrating with your calendar, keeping track of your availability, and letting clients book time with you on their own. They can also automate agenda settings, send reminders and notifications, and integrate with other business tools.

Benefits of Automating Appointments 

Reduce Errors

Scheduling meetings manually can be prone to human error. Things like scheduling on the wrong day or time, forgetting to enter details into your calendar, or overlapping meetings can easily happen. When you are dealing with multiple clients, the chances of making a mistake increase. A trusted meeting scheduler tool can help reduce these errors and help you focus on your business goals.

Save Time

It can be a waste of time to schedule meetings yourself. In addition, from entering the details of the meeting in your calendar, there are other time-consuming activities like responding to emails to confirm the meeting. When this process gets automated, the scheduling is faster and more accurate.

Efficient Operation

When you automate the process to schedule your meetings, it can help to keep your operations running smoothly. This can free up your time to focus on other important tasks. Using the right tool for meeting scheduling can also help you connect with clients and prospects without affecting other activities. With a streamlined process, your business can run more efficiently.

Better Experience

The tech-savvy generation wants an easy and convenient way to schedule meetings. An automated tool would let them do this in just a couple of minutes without any hassle. Also, giving your clients a straightforward and friendly experience will work in your favor as there will be more chances for referrals.

After Hour Availability

Being available even after office hours can be difficult. However, when you use a scheduling tool, you can create an expanded business hours calendar for those important customers and meetings. In a way, it enables clients the freedom to book meetings 24/7, if that’s what you choose to do. This can be especially helpful for businesses that want to stay top-of-mind with their clients or that have a national client base.

Top Meeting Scheduling Tools

Below are the top tools to schedule meetings, including one that BuddyIns uses.

Calendly

The BuddyIns team uses the Calendly platform because of its robust integration capabilities. It allows us to convert leads into meetings faster. With Calendly, you save time by easily showing your availability to others and allow them to schedule meetings with you. It's a very simple tool that works well for anyone who wants to encourage prospects to schedule meeting requests.

Connect Calendly with your other calendar, such as Google Calendar, Microsoft Office 365, or Outlook calendar. You can create options for the different types of meetings you offer, send a link that lets others see when you are available, and finalize the date and time of the meeting. An automated event is created in the invitee’s calendar as well.

Acuity

Acuity Scheduling is an appointment scheduling app that can be customized to help you schedule meetings more effectively. For example, clients and prospects can reschedule or cancel appointments they have fixed, and you can also change the interval between the start times of appointments. In addition, bookings can be made far in advance, and there is an option to hide your availability so that you don’t have to worry about someone scheduling a meeting when you have other priorities. The app is easy to use and integrates well with other business tools, making it a valuable asset for your business.

Doodle

Doodle is a great tool for scheduling meetings with multiple participants, as it offers suggestions and allows participants to select suitable time slots. Once they do that, the events will appear on everyone's calendar. This makes it an ideal tool for both individuals and businesses of all sizes. Additionally, Doodle integrates well with other tools you may be using.

Things to Consider

The benefits of using a tool to schedule meetings are numerous - but saving time is the biggest benefit. Automating the process can help with tasks like confirming meeting times and locations, which can free up your time to focus on other important tasks. Additionally, using the right tool for meeting scheduling can help you connect with clients and prospects without affecting other activities. With a streamlined process, your business can run more efficiently.

Additionally, providing a simple and convenient way for clients to schedule meetings will work in your favor, as there is a higher chance of them keeping their meeting time. Being available even after office hours can be difficult; however, when you use a scheduling tool, clients can schedule meetings anytime they want without thinking about the business hours and you can determine the times you are available. In a way, it enables clients the freedom to book meetings 24/7, if that’s what your business needs are. This can be especially helpful for businesses that want to stay top-of-mind with their clients or that have a national client base.

When choosing a meeting scheduler, it's important to consider factors such as ease of use and the ability to integrate with other tools or platforms. Security and privacy are also important considerations. Finally, value is an important consideration, as meeting schedulers can vary in terms of price.

If you're still scheduling meetings the old-fashioned way, it's time to upgrade to a modern tool. Using a calendar scheduling tool can help automate the process and save you time. Not only will you be more efficient, but your clients will appreciate the easy online booking experience. Consider using one of the top tools we've mentioned to get started today!