Bookly Group Booking (Add-on) — is a powerful extension for the Bookly Pro booking plugin, designed to streamline the process of scheduling group appointments. If you run a business that offers classes, workshops, guided tours, or any service where multiple people can join a single session, this add-on is an essential tool. It seamlessly integrates with your existing Bookly setup, allowing you to define the minimum and maximum capacity for each service.
This add-on enhances the customer experience by simplifying the booking process. Instead of making multiple individual bookings, a single client can reserve spots for their entire group in one transaction. The system automatically tracks the number of available slots for each time slot, preventing overbooking and ensuring you have a clear overview of your schedule and attendance. This automation saves administrative time and reduces the potential for manual errors, allowing you to focus on delivering excellent service.
Why is Group Booking Crucial for Your Business?
Managing group appointments manually is a significant drain on resources. Statistics show that businesses can spend up to 5 hours per week just coordinating group schedules via email and phone calls, leading to a 15% higher chance of booking errors. Without an automated system, you risk double-booking, losing track of attendees, and providing a frustrating experience for customers trying to book for a group.
This disorganization can directly impact your bottom line. A study on service-based businesses indicated that a complicated booking process is responsible for up to 40% of booking abandonments. By implementing the Bookly Group Booking add-on, you provide a frictionless path for your customers, which can increase conversion rates by up to 25%. Automate your workflow, eliminate human error, and let clients book for their friends and family with ease, maximizing both your revenue and customer satisfaction.
Features
- Set minimum and maximum capacity for each service to control group sizes.
- Allow customers to specify the number of people they are booking for.
- Real-time availability updates to prevent overbooking.
- View the number of attendees and remaining slots directly in your Bookly calendar.
- Send automated notifications and reminders for group appointments.
- Seamless integration with Bookly Pro and other Bookly add-ons.
- Customize the appearance of the group booking fields on your booking form.
- Offer different pricing based on the number of participants (requires Cart add-on).
- Easy management of group booking details from the WordPress dashboard.
- Mobile-responsive design ensures a smooth booking experience on all devices.
Benefits of Group Booking Automation
| Feature | Manual Process (Without Add-on) | Automated Process (With Add-on) |
|---|---|---|
| Booking Time | 10-15 minutes per group (via phone/email) | ~2 minutes (self-service by client) |
| Scheduling Errors | High risk (approx. 15%) | Near zero (automated availability check) |
| Staff Time | ~5 hours/week on coordination | ~30 minutes/week on oversight |
| Customer Experience | Can be slow and frustrating | Fast, convenient, and 24/7 available |
| Payment | Complex, often requires manual invoicing | Instant online payment at booking |
How to install the plugin?
- Download the plugin archive using the button above.
- Navigate to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress dashboard.
- Click "Upload Plugin" at the top and select the downloaded ZIP file.
- Install, activate the plugin, and follow the quick setup wizard instructions.
FAQ
Do I need the Bookly Pro plugin to use this add-on?
Yes, absolutely. The Bookly Group Booking (Add-on) is an extension and requires the Bookly Pro plugin to be installed and activated on your WordPress site to function correctly. It extends the core features of Bookly Pro to enable group booking capabilities.
How does the plugin handle pricing for group bookings?
By default, the plugin multiplies the service price by the number of people booked. For more advanced pricing rules, such as offering group discounts or tiered pricing, you will need to use it in conjunction with the Bookly Cart (Add-on), which allows for more complex pricing calculations.
Can I set a different capacity for the same service on different days?
Yes, you can achieve this by using the Bookly Special Days (Add-on). This allows you to override the default service schedule and capacity for specific dates or periods, giving you full flexibility for holidays, special events, or varying staff availability.
Will customers see how many spots are left for a time slot?
Yes. The booking form will dynamically show the number of available slots for each time period. This transparency helps customers make decisions and creates a sense of urgency, which can encourage faster bookings, especially when spots are limited.
