Thursday, September 22, 2011

QuickBooks Integration a Perfect Pairing With Online Scheduling Calendars

Service-based organizations of all kinds-from "mom-and-pop" businesses to Fortune 500 companies and corporations-have quickly adopted Software as a Service (SaaS) applications to improve the efficiency of their operations. These Web-based applications are typically affordable, easy-to-learn, and more affordable than the traditional software and accompanying hardware and programming that comes with it. And they run the gamut of tasks businesses can use them for, from online appointment-scheduling and customer payment-processing, to accounting and human resources programs.

As stand-alone services, these applications are often the best option for the specific task they're designed for. But a growing number of businesses and organizations are looking to integrate these services with other applications they use on a daily or regular basis. Because of this need, many SaaS providers have begun offering integrations between their products and these other programs.

Grow Calendar 2011

In many instances, this can be the perfect pairing. Case in point: The integration between online scheduling calendars and QuickBooks accounting software.

A LOGICAL INTEGRATION

Online scheduling calendar software is a proven way for businesses to automate and streamline their appointment- and reservation-booking procedures. Additionally, depending on the service provider the business uses, a customer scheduling his or her appointment or reservation may also have the ability to pay for it at the same time, with the scheduler automatically managing the transactions through a payment-processing application. If the business uses QuickBooks for its accounting tasks, the owner or staff must then manually input the customer and payment-transaction information into their QuickBooks account.

Recognizing the need business owners and staff have for a more automated and easier process, some online scheduler calendar providers like Appointment-Plus have developed integrations between their scheduling systems and accounting programs like QuickBooks. These are generally very user-friendly and require only a minimal amount of time and effort to set up. Once connected, most allow the seamless transfer of payment and customer information from the online scheduler to the appropriate QuickBooks fields, without having to manually enter it.

HOW ONLINE SCHEDULING CALENDARS CAN INCREASE BUSINESS

The growing need for integrations between online scheduling calendars and QuickBooks illustrates the important role Web-based booking systems play in service-based businesses that depend on accurate and efficient appointment-scheduling. Throw online payment-processing into the mix, and a business owner now has the tools in place to increase revenues and keep appointment or reservation slots full.

In today's Internet-driven society, most people have come to expect their service providers to offer online functionality that makes it easier to interact with them, such as self-scheduling. More and more people are also quite comfortable paying for items online, including services. This creates a perfect scenario to increase sales right through the Internet, as it not only provides a more convenient way for customers to book and pay for their appointments and reservations online without having to pick up the phone, it also gives businesses the ability to automatically conduct transactions 24 hours a day.

In addition to the benefit online scheduling calendars offer customers, they can have a positive and almost immediate impact in how a business or organization manages its appointment- and reservation-booking processes.

In the traditional manner, booking appointments and managing customer information can be quite tedious and time-consuming. And in most cases, it typically involves over-the-phone appointments and manual input of appointment and customer details into a paper schedule book, spreadsheet or the like. This equates into considerable commitments of time and staff resources, which could be used for more pressing tasks.

An online scheduler calendar can automate and streamline the entire process from start to finish, without any additional action from owners, operators and staff. A customer accesses the scheduler through any Internet connection, views services and availability, selects a day and time for the appointment or reservation, and then books the appointment. The online scheduler does the rest; some services can even send out e-mail and text message reminders automatically to booked individuals.

QuickBooks is a common application at most small businesses. Online scheduling calendars are becoming more and more common at these locations. Together, they can form a perfect pairing for businesses to operate more efficiently and profitably.

QuickBooks Integration a Perfect Pairing With Online Scheduling Calendars

Grow Calendar 2011

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