{"id":645,"date":"2021-04-01T17:24:43","date_gmt":"2021-04-01T17:24:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/software.covetrus.com\/apac\/?p=645"},"modified":"2025-07-23T20:08:59","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T10:08:59","slug":"why-online-bookings-are-the-key-to-practice-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/software.covetrus.com\/apac\/veterinary-insights\/article\/client-solutions\/why-online-bookings-are-the-key-to-practice-success\/","title":{"rendered":"Vet online booking platforms: benefits and how they boost revenue and practice success"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sponsored by PetYeti<\/a><\/p>\n

Businesses of all shapes and sizes are now expected to provide an online presence \u2013 it\u2019s no longer a \u2018nice to have\u2019. As customers, we know first-hand how a website often forms our first and often long-lasting initial judgement of a business. These first impressions matter, so it\u2019s important to make them count.<\/p>\n

The easier it is for a customer to navigate a business\u2019 website and achieve what they set out to do, the more likely the customer will use their services, rather than a competitor\u2019s. For veterinary practices, providing a seamless online experience means not only having a good website, where clients can learn more about your team and the services you provide, but also providing an online booking system.<\/p>\n

Supporting this are studies that show 90% of customers<\/a> prefer to book appointments online, and 40% of customers would change to a practice that offers online appointments.<\/p>\n

Reasons an online booking system is important for practice success<\/h2>\n

There are a few key benefits to having an online booking system. The first is simplicity: It\u2019s easier for your clients to book an appointment for their pet online. Convenience is king when it comes to booking online from anywhere and at any time.<\/p>\n

With an online booking system, clients can book their appointments in the middle of the night \u2013 if that\u2019s when it\u2019s most convenient for them. Statistics support this, showing that 55% of customers<\/a> prefer to book their appointments outside of business hours.<\/p>\n

The second benefit is for your practice and your team. Rather than tying up your front-line staff answering the phone or replying to emails and manually booking client appointments, this can be handled online. This frees them up for more valuable face-to-face client interactions in-practice.<\/p>\n

However, for these benefits to be fully realised, the online booking system you choose should integrate seamlessly with your Practice Information Management Systems (PIMS). This way, a client\u2019s scheduled appointment will show up against their record and ensure it\u2019s correctly entered into the vet or vet nurse\u2019s calendar.<\/p>\n

A non-integrated system will mean more manual work for your team members, plus an increased risk of mistakes due to human error. So, when investigating a booking system for your practice, full integration with your PIMS should be a key consideration.<\/p>\n

Online bookings can improve your business performance<\/h2>\n

Giving clients the opportunity to book online has several positive trickle-on effects, including:<\/p>\n