Former Major League Baseball Catcher Turns to Online Scheduling Software at Walbeck Baseball Academy

Oct. 4, 2012 - PRLog -- Scheduling his students’ sessions proved tougher than expected for former Major League Baseball (MLB) catcher Matt Walbeck, who opened his Folsom, Calif.-based Walbeck Baseball Academy in January 2012. Without a receptionist or staff member to assist him, he faced the burden of fielding approximately 45 weekly appointment calls directly, oftentimes spending hours in the evening returning voice messages left while he was conducting his sessions.

He needed an answer to the appointment-scheduling dilemma at his baseball school. He found it in Appointment-Plus online scheduling software.

Appointment-Plus, the leader in online scheduling software solutions since 2001 and creator of the scheduling industry’s most flexible and feature-rich application, has completely transformed the booking process at Walbeck Baseball Academy by allowing parents and students to book their training sessions instantly and conveniently online, 24 hours a day. They simply click on a “Book Now” button found on the Academy’s Web site to view services and availability. Once a service and date is selected, the system automatically schedules them. This feature has proved to be very popular with clients, as 90 percent of them now book online instead of calling them in.

Walbeck, whose MLB career spanned 10 years and included stints with the Anaheim Angels, Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies, says the improved manner of scheduling has allowed him to more efficiently manage his Academy, in addition to providing a better work-life balance with his family.

“Prior to online scheduling, many of my clients would contact me during training sessions, which required me to return voicemail messages well into the evening,” Walbeck says. “I wanted to spend more time with my family, so I looked for a more facilitated approach to scheduling training sessions.
“Now, I can work without being interrupted and focus more time on my students and their sessions.”

Implementing an online scheduling solution has equated into monetary savings as well, as the need for a receptionist or administrative assistant was no longer a consideration. Given the average salary of $13 per hour for a receptionist in the Sacramento area (according to Indeed.com), a part-time employee working 20 hours a week would amount to $250 in weekly expenses.

In addition to online customer self-scheduling, Walbeck Baseball Academy also utilizes the system’s automated messaging functionality to send confirmation and reminder e-mails. These serve a double purpose, as customers can also reschedule or cancel their scheduled sessions right through the e-mail message.

Walbeck adds that running his business without an online scheduling component would be a much more difficult endeavor.

"It (Appointment-Plus) saves a lot of time, and I can now schedule appointments while working,” he explains. “I just wouldn’t have the time otherwise.”
To learn more about how Walbeck Baseball Academy has benefited from online scheduling, read the case study here. For more information on Appointment-Plus online scheduling software, click here.

About Walbeck Baseball Academy: Walbeck Baseball Academy trains and conditions aspiring all-stars ages seven and up in the Sacramento, Calif., metropolitan area. Founded and managed by former Major League Baseball catcher Matt Walbeck, the Academy offers a variety of training options for every skill level from beginners up to varsity-level players, including both private training sessions (30-minute) and group training events (60-minute). All training sessions and events are conducted at the Folsom Sports Complex in Folsom, Calif.

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