What you gain and what you lose
With instant confirmation the client leaves the flow with a certain appointment. It's the configuration with the highest conversion, because it leaves nobody waiting for an answer, and it works well on everything predictable: cut, blow-dry, retouch on a known client.
With approval the salon sees the request before committing. That's needed on services whose duration depends on what you find: a bleach on an unknown base booked for two hours can take four, and those two extra hours are paid for by the appointments that follow.
The cost of approval is response time. A request left pending a whole day loses part of the benefit, because the person may have booked elsewhere meanwhile. So approval only makes sense if somebody looks at it at least once a day.
Conversion and control
The chart is qualitative and compares the two main effects of the two modes.
Which mode for which service
The table assigns the mode to the type of service.
| Service | Mode | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cut and blow-dry | Instant confirmation | Predictable duration |
| Retouch on a known client | Instant confirmation | The base is on record |
| Bleach or major change | Approval | Duration depends on the base |
| First visit with consultation | Instant confirmation | It is the filter, it needs none |
How to configure it
List the predictable services
They go to instant confirmation.
Isolate the variable ones
They go to approval.
Set an expiry
Unapproved requests must lapse.
Fix a check time
At least once a day.
How to decide
- Confirm the predictable instantly.
- Filter what can change duration.
- Look at pending requests at least once a day.
It isn't a binary choice for the whole salon: it can be made service by service. That's the configuration that works best, because it puts the filter only where it's needed and lets the rest flow.
It's also worth setting an expiry for unapproved requests. With no expiry, a forgotten request blocks a slot for weeks; with a few hours' expiry the slot comes back and the client gets a clear answer instead of silence.
The rule is chosen, and it actually holds
In Saloria the salon decides whether requests are confirmed instantly or need approval, and for how many hours a pending request stays valid. The request holds the slot while it's alive and expires by itself; approval, changes and creation re-check availability in the same transaction, so double bookings don't happen.
Frequently asked questions
Confirm instantly or approve?
Confirm instantly what has a predictable duration and approve what can change duration, like a bleach on an unknown base.
How long can a request stay pending?
A few hours. Beyond that the client books elsewhere and the slot stays blocked for nothing.
Does a pending request hold the slot?
It must, otherwise two people can book the same time. In Saloria it holds the slot and expires after the limit you set.