Integration of a website reservation system with Google Calendar
Today, many companies use Google Calendar to manage customer appointments. Although Google provides you with a way to accept reservations online, using an online reservation system is a much more professional and powerful way to provide your customers with the convenience of reservations on the website.
There are several existing online reservation systems that claim Google Calendar integration. The simplest and most common way that these booking systems integrate with Google is by publishing calendar feeds that Google collects and displays. The problem with calendar feeds is that firstly they only go in one direction (you cannot update the booking system by adding events to Google) and secondly there is a delay of up to 24 hours before they are show on Google. This often results in double bookings and dissatisfied customers.
A better way for an online reservation system to integrate with Google Calendar is to use the Google “API”. Basically, this is a way for the reservation system to communicate directly with your calendar, inserting and modifying events instantly in both directions. The result is that there are no double bookings and an always up-to-date calendar.
An online reservation system that integrates with Google Calendar using the API must first obtain your permission to write to your calendar. This can be done without asking for your Google username and password. The reservation system directs you directly to Google, where Google will ask if you grant permission for the calendar integration. Once you have granted permission, the reservation system can insert, update, and delete reservations on your calendar as needed. Be wary of online reservation systems that ask for your Google username and password. This is not necessary to connect to the Google calendar.
Once you have chosen the online reservation system you want to use, it is just a matter of connecting it to your website and watching customers arrive. It’s important to keep your online booking system and Google Calendar in sync to avoid double bookings and prevent customers from booking times that are no longer available. You can do this by entering a manual reservation in the reservation system itself or by creating an event in Google Calendar.
Google Calendar is a great tool for businesses, large or small. Using an online booking system that integrates with Google makes sense if your business deals with customer appointments. Give it a try – it’s a smart business move that’s guaranteed to attract new customers.