Bookings
Manage scheduled reservations for services with availability, capacity, and resource allocation
Bookings represent scheduled reservations for services in Tiquo.
Any time-based service is managed as a booking. A booking records when a service will take place and which resources are allocated to fulfill it.
Bookings are the operational component of the system, managing scheduling, capacity, and resource allocation.
Examples include:
- Massage appointment
- Spa treatment
- Fitness class
- Meeting room reservation
- Workshop session
Bookings can be created by either customers or staff.
How Bookings Work
Bookings are created from services and connected to inventory resources.
The relationship between systems works as follows:
Service → Booking → Order Item → Order
This means:
- The service defines what is being booked
- Inventory provides the required resource
- The booking schedules the reservation
- The order manages the commercial transaction
This separation allows bookings to operate independently from payments.
Booking Information
Each booking contains operational information about the reservation.
Typical booking details include:
- Service name
- Booking date
- Start time
- Duration
- Party size
- Assigned inventory resource
- Associated customer
These details define when and how the service will take place.
Booking Creation
Bookings can be created through several workflows.
Customer Booking
Customers can create bookings through customer booking flows. These flows guide customers through selecting:
- Service
- Date and time
- Party size
- Payment details (if required)
Staff Booking
Staff members can create bookings directly from the platform. Staff booking flows allow bookings to be created from:
- The dashboard
- Mobile devices
- Point-of-sale devices
This allows staff to schedule appointments on behalf of customers.
Booking Lifecycle
A booking represents a time-based service and remains active until the customer checks out.
The lifecycle of a booking typically follows these stages:
Pending → Confirmed → Checked In → Completed → Cancelled
Pending
A booking may begin in a Pending state when confirmation or approval is required.
This can occur in situations such as:
- Manual approval workflows
- Enquiry-based bookings
- Bookings awaiting confirmation
Confirmed
Once a booking is accepted, it moves to Confirmed.
At this stage:
- The booking is scheduled
- The required inventory resources are reserved
- The booking appears in operational schedules and calendars
Checked In
A booking becomes Checked In when the customer arrives or the service begins.
While a booking is checked in:
- The booking is considered active
- Orders and products can be added to the booking
- Staff can manage the service in progress
Completed
When the customer checks out, the booking moves to Completed.
At this stage:
- The service has finished
- The booking is closed
- Items can no longer be added to the associated order
If additional purchases are required after checkout, they must be created as a new order.
Cancelled
A booking may move to Cancelled if it is cancelled before completion.
When a booking is cancelled:
- The booking is closed
- Any reserved inventory resources are released
Active Bookings
A booking is considered active from the moment the customer checks in until they check out.
Examples of active bookings include:
- A customer currently receiving a massage
- A guest currently staying in a hotel room
- A customer currently attending a class or event
Booking Duration
The duration of a booking is determined by the service configuration.
Examples include:
- 60 minute massage
- 90 minute treatment
- Full day rental
The duration determines how long the inventory resource is reserved.
Party Size
Some services allow multiple participants.
Party size defines how many people are included in the booking.
Examples include:
- Spa treatments for two
- Group classes
- Workshops
The service configuration defines the minimum and maximum party size allowed.
Inventory Allocation
When a booking is created, Tiquo assigns an available inventory resource.
Example:
Service: Massage Appointment
Available inventory:
- Treatment Room 1
- Treatment Room 2
If Treatment Room 1 is available at the requested time, it will be assigned to the booking. If it is unavailable, another available resource may be used.
Booking Availability
Availability is determined by a combination of:
- Service scheduling rules
- Inventory availability
- Booking limits
If no inventory resource is available, the booking cannot be scheduled for that time.
Booking Limits
Services can apply booking limits such as:
- Minimum advance booking time
- Maximum advance booking time
- Cancellation deadlines
These rules determine when bookings can be created or modified.
Auto Checkout
Services may enable auto checkout.
When enabled, the system automatically checks customers out after the booking duration ends. Auto checkout only occurs if no additional order items have been added to the booking.
Bookings and Orders
Bookings appear in orders as order items.
Example:
Order:
- Massage Appointment (booking)
- Herbal Tea (product)
- Face Cream (product)
The booking manages the scheduling of the service, while the order manages the commercial transaction.
Booking Cancellation
Bookings can be cancelled according to the cancellation rules configured in the service. Cancelling a booking releases any reserved inventory resources.
Booking Notifications
Services can trigger automated booking notifications.
Examples include:
- Booking confirmation emails
- Appointment reminders
- Cancellation notifications
- Follow-up emails
Notifications help customers stay informed about their bookings.
Summary
Bookings represent scheduled reservations for services.
They manage the operational side of service delivery by controlling:
- Scheduling
- Resource allocation
- Capacity
- Availability
Bookings connect services and inventory with the commercial order system, allowing businesses to manage appointments and transactions within a single platform.