Sometimes you need to create bookings directly rather than through the AI agent or online booking. This article explains how to create manual bookings.
When to Create Manual Bookings
Manual bookings are useful for:
- Phone-in reservations handled by staff
- Walk-in customers you want to track
- VIP guests with special arrangements
- Bookings transferred from other systems
- Testing and training purposes
Accessing Manual Booking
To create a booking:
- Navigate to Bookings in the sidebar
- Click Add Booking or the + button
- Or click an empty time slot in the calendar
- The booking form opens
Required Information
For Restaurant Bookings
- Date and time — When the reservation is for
- Party size — Number of guests
- Customer name — Guest's name
- Customer phone — Contact number
- Duration — How long to block the table
For Service Bookings
- Date and time — Appointment time
- Service — Which service they're booking
- Customer name — Client's name
- Customer phone — Contact number
- Staff member — Who will provide the service
Optional Information
You can also add:
- Customer email — For confirmations
- Special requests — Dietary needs, preferences
- Notes — Internal notes for staff
- Zone preference — For restaurants
Creating the Booking
After entering details:
- Review the information
- Check availability is confirmed
- Click Create or Save
- Booking appears in the calendar
- Customer receives confirmation (if email provided)
Table/Staff Assignment
Automatic Assignment
The system can automatically:
- Select the best table for party size
- Choose available staff for the service
- Optimize resource allocation
Manual Override
You can also:
- Select a specific table
- Choose a particular staff member
- Override automatic selections
After Creating the Booking
Once created:
- Booking appears on the calendar
- Reference number is assigned
- Customer receives confirmation email (if configured)
- Team receives notification (if configured)
Best Practices
- Double-check details — Verify before saving
- Use customer phone — Required for identification
- Add notes — Capture special requests
- Confirm availability — System checks, but verify if needed