What Is a Scheduling Software?

Whatever the type of your organization, your teams surely have schedules to work by and the larger the organization, the more complicated it is to integrate and manage such tasks. Fortunately, information technology has come up with lots of great scheduling software options, with easy-to-use, streamlined solutions to help you stay on top of all those meetings, appointments and schedules.

A scheduling software is a digital tool deployed in private and public organizations with the purpose of managing meetings and appointments with exterior clients and customers as well as with the goal of managing employee schedules. These software packages come in many different forms and types and they offer functionalities tailored to your specific needs – here are some important details that you should know before you choose your software.

Types of Scheduling Software Solutions in Terms of the Platform Used

Scheduling software tools come either in the form of desktop applications, run on the organization’s own servers or as web-based applications, provided by third parties that host the software on their own servers and provide their clients access to the tool based on subscriptions. Desktop applications are most often used by large companies internally, for managing internal scheduling and for reporting, while web-based applications offer the functionality of internal scheduling and reporting and they can also made available for external clients and customers.

Nowadays we use our mobile phones for performing tasks that we needed a desktop computer in the past and these transformations have increased the demand for scheduling applications that can run on mobile platforms. Most web-based scheduling applications today are optimized for mobile platforms as well, allowing for easy usage from any mobile device connected to the internet.

Types of Scheduling Software Solutions in Terms of the Purpose of Usage

Scheduling software solutions are available for internal and external use. Internal programs are used for workforce management, including the task of keeping track of departmental and interdepartmental meetings and scheduling and time management for shift work. The applications made available for clients and customers (usually web-based and mobile applications, but in some cases applications run on the organization’s own servers, accessible for clients based on special protocols and following verification) usually serve the purpose of making the booking process easy and comfortable for clients. This latter category of online booking software solutions can be efficiently used by any business that entertains customer relationships, such as beauty salons, healthcare providers, home repair and renovation companies or fitness centers.

online booking software

The Most Important Functions Offered by Scheduling Software Applications and Programs

Regardless of the platform that serves as basis, most scheduling software packages offer the following functionalities:

  • Continuous availability – whether desktop applications, web-based or mobile apps, these software options are available 24/7 for making and changing appointments;
  • Reminders – some systems offer the options to send notifications to the participants of an event recorded in the system, informing them about the time left until the event starts. Some systems send notifications via e-mail, others send text messages;
  • Statistics – most systems are able to generate various reports based on the schedules made through them, offering important and valuable insight about the efficiency of the scheduling process and many other aspects.