Public Booking Portal Setup

Public Booking Portal Setup

The public booking portal in EquiBillBook allows customers to book tables online through your website. This guide explains how to set up and configure the public booking portal.

What is the Public Booking Portal?

The public booking portal is a web-based interface that allows customers to make table reservations online without contacting your restaurant directly. Customers can view table availability, select tables, choose dates and times, and complete bookings through your website.

Enabling Public Booking

To enable the public booking portal:

1. Navigate to Settings → Restaurant Settings
2. Find Public Booking or Online Booking section
3. Enable "Allow Public Bookings" or "Enable Online Booking"
4. Configure public booking settings
5. Save the settings

Configuring Booking Settings

Essential public booking settings:

• Operating Hours: Set when bookings can be made
• Advance Booking: How far in advance customers can book
• Same-Day Booking: Allow or restrict same-day bookings
• Booking Duration: Default duration for online bookings
• Deposit Required: Whether deposits are required for online bookings
• Payment Gateway: Configure payment gateway for deposits

Table Slug Configuration

Set up table slugs for public booking:

• What are Slugs: Unique URLs for each table or branch booking page
• Creating Slugs: Generate unique slugs in table settings
• Slug Format: Use readable, memorable slugs (e.g., "downtown-restaurant")
• Multiple Branches: Create separate slugs for different branches
• Sharing Slugs: Share slug URLs with customers or embed on your website

Public Booking URL

Booking portal URL structure:

• Base URL: Your website URL + booking path
• Slug URL: Base URL + table slug (e.g., /booking/downtown-restaurant)
• Direct Access: Customers access booking through slug URL
• Embedding: Embed booking widget on your website

Date Overrides

Configure date-specific settings:

• Holidays: Mark holidays when booking is not available
• Special Dates: Set special availability for specific dates
• Closed Dates: Mark dates when restaurant is closed
• Special Hours: Different hours for specific dates

Time Slot Configuration

Set up available booking time slots:

• Time Slots: Define available booking time slots
• Interval: Set time slot intervals (e.g., every 30 minutes)
• Start Times: Define earliest and latest booking times
• Peak Hours: Configure different availability for peak/off-peak hours

Customer Information Collection

Configure what customer information is collected:

• Required Fields: Name, phone, email (typically required)
• Optional Fields: Special requests, dietary requirements
• Account Creation: Option to create customer account during booking
• Guest Booking: Allow bookings without account creation

Deposit Configuration

Set up deposits for public bookings:

• Deposit Required: Enable/disable deposit requirement
• Deposit Amount: Fixed amount or percentage of estimated bill
• Payment Gateway: Configure online payment processing
• Payment Methods: Accept credit cards, debit cards, online payments

Booking Confirmation

Configure booking confirmation:

• Email Confirmation: Send confirmation emails to customers
• SMS Confirmation: Send SMS confirmations (if configured)
• Confirmation Template: Customize confirmation message
• Booking Reference: Generate unique booking reference numbers

Integrating with Website

To integrate booking portal with your website:

• Direct Link: Add link to booking page on your website
• Embed Widget: Embed booking widget on your website
• Booking Button: Add "Book a Table" button linking to booking portal
• Menu Integration: Add booking link to website menu/navigation

Testing the Portal

Before going live, test the booking portal:

• Test Booking: Create a test booking to verify functionality
• Check Availability: Verify table availability is displayed correctly
• Test Payments: Test deposit payment processing (use test mode)
• Email Testing: Verify confirmation emails are sent
• Mobile Testing: Test booking portal on mobile devices

Best Practices

• Set clear booking policies and communicate them on the portal
• Keep table availability updated in real-time
• Make the booking process simple and user-friendly
• Provide clear instructions and helpful guidance
• Test all functionality thoroughly before launch
• Monitor bookings regularly and respond promptly
• Keep operating hours and availability accurate
• Provide customer support for booking inquiries

Managing Public Bookings

After setup, manage public bookings:

• View Bookings: All public bookings appear in your booking calendar
• Confirm Bookings: Review and confirm online bookings
• Manage Availability: Update table availability as needed
• Handle Cancellations: Process cancellations and refunds

Next Steps

After setting up the public booking portal:

• Test the booking portal thoroughly
• Integrate with your website
• Promote the online booking option to customers
• Monitor bookings and customer feedback
• Optimize based on usage patterns and feedback