Can we minimize gaps in Appointments?

[styliststef]

Is there a way to minimize gaps in Appointments? When a client schedules right in the middle of a gap, it limits the services that I can do that day and leads to breaks and wasted time. I already have it set so that I have to approve appointments but moving them is a pain. I've been researching other schedulers and they offer settings that minimize this. I really don't want to go through the work to switch but I'm seriously considering it. 

[Kassi_]

Welcome back to the Community, @styliststef

I am curious on another setting you have a your Online Booking set up to help with this gap issue. 

It would be on your Dashboard under Appointments > Settings > Online Scheduling 

How do you have your appointments being scheduled? Changing them to "According to Service Duration" could be an option for you. 

Please let me know if you have any other questions or that doesn't do the trick. 

[Luckys25443]

Hi,

I have been struggling with this as well. I have only been opened for 10 months and have had to change this twice. WAY too many gaps and wasted time in my days. I had it set on duration of service for 8 months and then changed it to quarter hour and that did not help at all, made it worse with folks only booking on the hour. Like you, I have researched other products and would like to change over but dread the switch over as I really like this service otherwise. My other gripe is that there are no reports that list no shows or track that data. Hope we can figure out how to avoid so many gaps.

[Kassi_]

Hey there, @Luckys25443 - 

Thank you for taking the time to post your feedback on new features you'd like to see in the Appointments platform. 

I would be happy to get this over to our Product Team, so they can look into this. 

[MALqueerhair]

Yes please share this feature request with the Product Team! 🙏

Squarespace offers a Minimize Gaps setting that when enabled, the booking flow only suggests available appointment slots near an already scheduled appointment that way if there is a gap, its closer to the end of the day. 

Their Minimize Gaps options are

- Avoid any gaps between appointments during the day

- Avoid small gaps but allow gaps of at least [hour drop-down] (ex. 2 hours)

This will improve my day-to-day experience GREATLY... I hate wasting time midday.

[MALqueerhair]

@Kassi_ 

I should follow-up to say that because Square does not have this Minimize Gaps feature, we've had to open up another day.

Instead of working 4 days, we now have to work 5 days!

This is because clients can book anytime during the day which means there are gaps between appointments eating into our day & costing us money.

PLEASE ADD A MINIMIZE GAPS FEATURE FOR APPOINTMENTS!! You will save service providers MONEY & TIME!

[Kassi_]

Thank you, @MALqueerhair - 

I will add this to the Feature Request. Thank you!

[Bareaestheticsb]

Hi Any updates on this end? Im loosing 1 or 2 slots a day due to these gaps in between clients. Its very frustrating but i love the square app layout and convenience that i would hate to switch. Thanks!

[BernadetteA]

Welcome to the Seller Community, @Bareaestheticsb

We do not have any updates to provide at this time, unfortunately. We will make sure to update the thread when, or if we have more information to provide. 

[MALqueerhair]

Hey, if this issue is still bothering you, please go and show support on my Feature Request:
https://www.sellercommunity.com/t5/Square-Appointments/Minimize-Gaps-in-Appointments/idi-p/397132

[SuperiorImages]

Any headway on getting this capability? 
Having unusable gaps in the day is such a time/money waster. 
Thanks!

[SuperiorImages]

Has there been any progress in the feature to minimize gaps yet?  I also struggle with 15 and 30 minute gaps that are unnecessary, the platform should somehow only show them the next spot for that time frame or leave the gap big enough for my shortest appointment , so it could be filled somehow,  also if a client books in the middle of a 4 hour time frame, it makes the times on either side of the booking too short for a chemical service.  It would be nice if the first slots offered on an empty section could be prioritized somehow.

[MALqueerhair]

nope 😞

[Bareaestheticsb]

What about now? Any news on this end? Im loosing 1 or 2 slots a day due to these gaps in between clients. Its very frustrating but i love the square app layout and convenience that i would hate to switch. Thanks!

[MALqueerhair]

nope 😞

[Tuliphairstudio]

I posted this recently, didn't realize there was already a thread. I would REALLY love to see this feature, as well, being that a lot of my most common services are 2-2.5 hours and I keep getting gaps of 45 minutes to an hour, so they sit open. I recently switched from Squarespace and this was a feature that I loved.

[MALqueerhair]

Agreed with you! I only switched from Squarespace Booking because Square had a register!

If this issue is still bothering you, please go and show support on my Feature Request:
https://www.sellercommunity.com/t5/Square-Appointments/Minimize-Gaps-in-Appointments/idi-p/397132

[Awsmhair]

Any updates one this???

i cant believe that this isnt already possible...smh

[Bareaestheticsb]

Nope! Now square is charging $29 monthly and they don’t even add these features. The closest you’ll get is changing your booking options to “by appointment time” instead of every hour or half hour 

[MALqueerhair]

Yeah haven't had much luck with that setting...

If this issue is still bothering you, please go and show support on my Feature Request:
https://www.sellercommunity.com/t5/Square-Appointments/Minimize-Gaps-in-Appointments/idi-p/397132

[WildSoul]

Id like to also request this feature: we are losing time slots and I don’t want to have to switch systems again.