Online Service Scheduling Software Makes Booking Winter Service Appointments Easy

Oct. 21, 2010 - PRLog -- Scottsdale, Ariz. – Home service providers in many parts of the country are keeping busy with customer requests for furnace cleaning and maintenance, chimney sweeping, window and insulation repairs, home heating oil and other tasks as they prepare their homes for the upcoming winter months. Properly managing customer appointment dates and times can be a tedious and time-consuming process, which is why home service providers nationwide are tuning to online scheduling software from Appointment-Plus (http://www.appointment-plus.com/scheduling_software/service_call_management_appointment_scheduling_software.php) to automate, streamline and improve their appointment-setting procedures.

A leader in online appointment- and reservation-scheduling software since 2001, Appointment-Plus helps home service providers better manage their service calls and customers with such functionality as: online customer self-scheduling, which allows individuals to conveniently schedule their service appointments at any time of day, not just during normal business hours; automated e-mail and text message appointment reminders sent prior to a scheduled service; online payment options; robust record-keeping and reporting; and e-marketing capabilities.

Service providers that offer online customer self-scheduling can add a button to their Web site where customers can securely and quickly access the online scheduler. This popular feature can have an immediate and positive effect on scheduling procedures, as it will reduce the number of phone calls and e-mails from customers requesting service, thereby freeing up staff time for other tasks.

Appointment-Plus is also ideal for managing the more traditional call-in appointments, as it provides more functionality than a paper appointment book, electronic calendar or spreadsheet.

“The need for accurate and seamless appointment-scheduling is vital for all home service providers, especially this time of year when many are busy getting their customers’ homes ready for the winter months,” says Bob La Loggia, president and founder of Scottsdale-based StormSource Software, the developer of Appointment-Plus. “Our advanced, Web-based scheduling software gives them the necessary tools to effectively manage their service appointments and customer information.”

Because it’s Web-based, Appointment-Plus scheduling software is accessible from any Internet connection and doesn’t require costly hardware or program installations. This makes it ideal for technicians, administrators and personnel who routinely check and manage their appointment schedules from their Smartphones, PDAs and other mobile devices when at home, on-site, on the road, and from other locations outside the office.

Pricing starts at $39 per month (based on 500 appointments per month) with no long-term contracts, along with free set-up assistance with a dedicated coach. Additionally, no Web site is necessary to utilize Appointment-Plus.

“Managing appointments and customer information need not be a tedious and time-consuming task,” La Loggia adds. “Turn to Appointment-Plus and focus less time on your appointment-scheduling and more time on your customers’ service calls.”

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About Appointment-Plus:  Appointment-Plus (http://www.appointment-plus.com) supplies over 4,000 clients throughout the United States, Canada and 10 other countries the tools they need to efficiently and accurately schedule appointments and reservations, book rooms, accept registrations and many other services. The flagship product of Scottsdale, Ariz.-based StormSource Software, the online application has scheduled over 50 million appointments since its launch in 2001. Users of Appointment-Plus include service providers, tutors, instructors, medical offices, spas, health clubs, massage therapists and other small businesses, as well as healthcare agencies and facilities, shipping, freight and delivery services, Fortune 500 companies, colleges and universities, and federal and local government.

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About Appointment-Plus: Appointment-Plus (http://www.appointment-plus.com) supplies over 4,000 clients throughout the United States, Canada and 10 other countries the tools they need to efficiently and accurately schedule appointments and reservations, book rooms, accept registrations and many other services. The flagship product of Scottsdale, Ariz.-based StormSource Software, the online application has scheduled over 50 million appointments since its launch in 2001. Users of Appointment-Plus include service providers, tutors, instructors, medical offices, spas, health clubs, massage therapists and other small businesses, as well as healthcare agencies and facilities, shipping, freight and delivery services, Fortune 500 companies, colleges and universities, and federal and local government.