Zipper Help Center

Appointments Capabilities

Set up flexible appointment scheduling with customizable availability, multiple payment options, and seamless booking experiences. Configure provider schedules, manage appointment types, handle bookings and cancellations, and provide customers with easy online booking—all while maintaining full control over your availability and pricing.

Overview

Appointments allow you to set up provider schedules with customizable availability windows and appointment types. Customers can book appointments online, choose from multiple payment options, and receive automatic confirmations. Manage your schedule with date overrides, handle cancellations with flexible refund policies, and track appointments across multiple providers and locations.

Core Features

Provider Schedule Management

Feature Description User Benefit
Schedule Configuration Set up availability schedules for each provider Control when each team member is available for appointments
Multiple Availability Windows Define different availability for different days/times Accommodate varying schedules (e.g., mornings only, specific days)
Date Overrides Block out specific dates or adjust availability temporarily Handle holidays, vacations, or special events without changing your whole schedule
Appointment Types Create different appointment types with unique settings Offer consultations, private sessions, intro classes, and more with different durations and pricing
Recurring Availability Set up weekly recurring availability patterns Define your schedule once and it repeats automatically
Timezone Support Set timezone per provider for accurate scheduling Ensure appointments display correctly for your location

Appointment Type Configuration

Feature Description User Benefit
Custom Duration Set different durations for each appointment type Offer 30-minute consultations, 60-minute sessions, or custom lengths
Multiple Payment Options Configure free, paid, punch card, or subscription access Give customers flexibility in how they pay
Pricing Control Set different prices for different appointment types Charge appropriately for different service levels
Form Requirements Require customers to complete forms before booking Collect waivers, health information, or intake forms
Location Assignment Assign appointment types to specific locations Organize home visits, studio sessions, and online appointments
Provider Assignment Assign appointment types to specific providers Control which team members offer which services

Booking Management

Feature Description User Benefit
Online Booking Customers can book appointments through your site Reduce phone calls and allow 24/7 booking
Guest Booking Allow customers to book without creating accounts Reduce friction for first-time customers
Authenticated Booking Logged-in customers can book and manage appointments Provide better experience for returning customers
Real-Time Availability Show only available time slots to customers Prevent double-booking and confusion
Booking Notifications Automatically notify customers and providers Keep everyone informed about new bookings
Booking Confirmation Send confirmation emails with appointment details Reduce no-shows with clear communication

Payment Options

Feature Description User Benefit
Free Appointments Offer appointments at no charge Attract new customers or provide consultations
Credit Card Payment Accept one-time payments at booking time Get paid upfront for services
Punch Card Access Allow customers to use credits from purchased passes Sell multi-appointment packages
Subscription Access Grant free or discounted access to subscription holders Reward members with included appointments
Multiple Payment Methods Enable multiple payment options per appointment type Give customers flexibility in how they pay
Payment Link Generation Generate secure payment links for booking flows Accept payments even when customers aren't logged in

Cancellation & Refunds

Feature Description User Benefit
Flexible Cancellation Customers and providers can cancel appointments Handle schedule changes easily
Bulk Cancellation Cancel multiple appointments at once Efficiently handle schedule changes or provider absences
Refund Control Choose whether to refund when canceling Handle exceptions and special circumstances
Automatic Refund Processing Process refunds automatically based on policy Clear policy that customers can rely on
Punch Card Credit Restoration Automatically restore credits when refunding Credits return to customer's account automatically
Refundability Check Check if an appointment is eligible for refund Understand refund status before canceling
Cancellation Fee Charging Charge cancellation fees using parent payment methods for family accounts Enforce cancellation policies across family accounts
Cancellation Notifications Automatically notify customers when appointments are cancelled Keep customers informed about schedule changes

Location Management

Feature Description User Benefit
Physical Locations Create and manage physical appointment locations Organize home visits, studio sessions, and office visits
Virtual Locations Set up online/virtual appointment locations Offer remote appointments with meeting links
Location Types Choose between physical, virtual, or hybrid Support all your appointment formats
Appointment Type Mapping Map appointment types to specific locations Control which services are available at which locations
Public Location Listing Show available locations to customers during booking Help customers choose the right location

Customer Experience Features

Feature Description User Benefit
Calendar Integration Generate ICS calendar files for appointments Customers can add appointments to their calendars
Google Calendar Links Provide deep links to add appointments to Google Calendar One-click calendar integration
Mobile-Friendly Booking Responsive booking experience on all devices Customers can book from phones, tablets, or computers
Anonymous Booking Allow customers to book without accounts Reduce barriers to first-time booking
Booking Success Pages Customize what customers see after booking Provide next steps or important information
Email Reminders Automatically send reminder emails before appointments Reduce no-shows with timely reminders

Key Capabilities

Schedule Flexibility

Capability Details
Multiple Availability Patterns Set different availability for different days of the week or time periods
Date Overrides Block out specific dates or adjust availability temporarily without changing your whole schedule
Recurring Schedules Define weekly patterns that repeat automatically
Provider-Specific Schedules Each provider can have their own unique availability
Availability Windows Set start and end times for each availability period

Payment Flexibility

Capability Details
Multiple Payment Methods Accept credit cards, punch cards, subscriptions, or offer free appointments—all in one system
Dynamic Pricing Set different prices for different appointment types
Product Integration Link appointments to punch card products so customers can use their passes
Subscription Benefits Grant automatic access or discounts to subscription holders
Payment Processing Secure credit card processing through Stripe integration
Family Payment Methods Parents/guardians can use their saved payment methods to pay for children's appointments

Booking Control

Capability Details
Real-Time Availability Only show available time slots to customers, preventing double-booking
Form Requirements Require customers to complete custom forms before booking
Guest-Friendly Allow booking without requiring account creation
Booking Windows Control how far in advance customers can book
Provider Notifications Automatically notify providers when appointments are booked

Cancellation Handling

Capability Details
Flexible Cancellation Both customers and providers can cancel appointments
Bulk Operations Cancel multiple appointments efficiently when schedule changes
Refund Control Choose whether to refund when canceling, with automatic processing available
Credit Restoration Automatically restore punch card credits when refunding
Refundability Check Check if an appointment is eligible for refund before canceling
Cancellation Fee Charging Charge cancellation fees using parent payment methods for family accounts
Cancellation Notifications Automatically notify customers when appointments are cancelled

Customization Options

Option What Users Can Customize
Availability Schedule Set different availability for different days/times, with date overrides
Appointment Types Create multiple types with different durations, pricing, and requirements
Pricing Strategy Free, paid, punch card, subscription, or combination of options
Form Requirements Require custom forms (waivers, intake forms) before booking
Location Settings Physical address, virtual meeting link, or hybrid options
Provider Assignment Assign appointment types to specific providers
Notification Settings Enable/disable confirmation and reminder emails

Limits & Constraints

Limit Details
Availability Windows Set multiple availability periods per day; no system-wide limit
Appointment Types Create unlimited appointment types per provider
Booking Window Control how far in advance customers can book; configurable per appointment type
Date Overrides Unlimited date overrides can be added to block or adjust availability
Locations Create unlimited locations and map them to appointment types
Payment Options Multiple payment methods can be enabled per appointment type

Advanced Features

Appointment Management

Feature Description User Benefit
Search & Filter Search appointments by provider, customer, date range, or status Quickly find specific appointments
Recent Appointments View recent appointments across providers See what's coming up at a glance
Appointment History View past appointments for customers or providers Track service history and patterns
Status Tracking Track appointment status (pending, confirmed, completed, canceled) Monitor appointment lifecycle
ICS Generation Generate calendar files for appointments Easy calendar integration

Provider Tools

Feature Description User Benefit
Schedule Overview View all appointments for a provider in calendar view See full schedule at a glance
Availability Computation System calculates available time slots automatically No manual calculation needed
Bulk Operations Cancel or update multiple appointments at once Efficiently handle schedule changes
Provider Dashboard View upcoming appointments and availability Manage schedule effectively

Customer Tools

Feature Description User Benefit
Customer Dashboard View upcoming appointments and booking history Manage appointments in one place
Self-Service Cancellation Customers can cancel their own appointments Reduce support requests
Rescheduling Update appointment times when needed Handle schedule changes easily
Payment Management View payment history and manage payment methods Track spending and update payment info

Integration Capabilities

Integration What It Enables
Payment Processing Accept credit card payments through Stripe
Family Payment Methods Parents/guardians can use their saved payment methods to pay for children's appointments
Email Notifications Send automatic confirmations and reminders
Calendar Systems Generate calendar links for customer integration
Forms System Require custom forms during booking
Product Catalog Link appointments to punch card products and subscriptions
Customer Portal Customers can view and manage their appointments
Location Services Map appointments to physical or virtual locations