Understanding Service Time Blocks and Time

Modified on Mon, 24 Oct, 2022 at 9:08 PM

There are a number of areas of "Time" that need to be set up on your service items as this determines how your service times are displayed on the Schedule, how they are communicated to your team and clients, as well as how your clients will select a time when requesting services using the Portal.

What is a Service Item?
A Service Item is a description and price for a service, such as a dog walk. Service Items are set for a time and date and then are assigned to a staff member to create the schedule. Service items appear on your Schedule, Service Orders, and Invoices.

Time Type

There are seven available Time Types for Services.

"Time" is the standard time type and is a specific time as displayed in the schedule and in the Portal.
"Time Blocks" provide flexible time windows during which a service will be provided.
"Anytime" is used for services like cat sitting which allows you to be flexible as to when the service is delivered.
"All Day" is used for daycare bookings that don't require a specific time.
"Half Day" represents either an AM or PM half day booking.
"All Night" is used for overnight bookings that don't require a specific time.
"Overnight" is used for overnight bookings that do need a pre-defined start and end time.

Time Blocks

Time Blocks provide time windows during which a service will be provided. You define your own time blocks, which can differ for each service you offer. The Time Blocks you created display on the Schedule and for clients to select from when Requesting a Service from the Client Portal.

Timeframe

You can add a period of time (in hours/minutes) to either side of a scheduled time that a service must be started within, i.e., timeframe ± "30 mins" mean a 10:00AM Service, must be started between 9:30AM (30 minutes before the scheduled time) and 10:30AM (30 minutes after scheduled time).

Default Time

A Default Service Time allows you to set a time that the Service is scheduled for automatically when you add it to the schedule. When you are adding it (or editing it), you can adjust the default time.

Tip: Each Service Item can have a different Time setting to meet your needs.

Note: If you allow clients to book Service Requests in the Portal, the time settings will govern the time that is displayed to clients when they place their order.