Notification automations

Automations are Bookinda's smart system. They don't just send notifications, they decide WHEN and WHO to message based on rules.

Where to find it

/manager/automations – automated message templates
/manager/settings/automations – automation toggles

Each category has multiple templates that can be toggled.

The 4 main automations (settings/automations page)

1. Waitlist Auto-notify

When a booking is cancelled, the first waitlister gets an auto-email.

2. Gap Killer

Hourly cron checks: any short (30-60 min) free slot on the calendar that a waitlister could fill? If yes, auto-email.

3. Abandoned Booking Recovery

Customer started booking but didn't finish (e.g., stuck at payment). 30 min later, auto-email: "Want to finish booking?"

4. Smart Deposit

AI scores customer risk (no-show probability). High risk → asks for deposit during online booking. Low risk → no deposit.

Settings

Toggle (on/off)
Frequency cap – max messages per day/slot
Cooldown – hours between notifications (e.g., 1 customer max 1 daily)
Threshold – risk score, age, value

Gap Killer example

Calendar shows a 11:30-12:00 gap. Gap Killer:

Finds who's on waitlist for this time or next 24h
Finds customers whose 30-min service fits
Emails them: "30-min slot opened at 11:30, book now!"
If they click and book, slot fills, no further sends

Abandoned Booking example

Customer:

Opens booking page
Picks service, time
Enters details
Stops at payment, doesn't finish (coffee break, phone call)

30 min later, auto email: "Hi! See you didn't finish? Here's the link, complete it."

Retention rate typically 30-50% (a third to half of abandoners eventually book).

Smart Deposit example

Customer books:

Low risk (10 no-no-shows, loyal): no deposit
Medium risk (new, hasn't paid before): 30% deposit
High risk (3 prior no-shows): 100% deposit or can't book

When to use it

Scenario 1, small salon trying first Only enable Waitlist Auto-notify. After a week: 5 cancellations, 3 filled from waitlist. ROI positive, enable Gap Killer too.

Scenario 2, mid-sized salon optimizing All 4 automations on. Smart Deposit especially helps offset no-show losses.

Scenario 3, marketing mode Milestone automations on: welcome on first booking, small discount on 10th. Build loyalty.

Scenario 4, team event use Inventory low stock: borax low → auto-email to buyer: "Reorder."

Tips

Start small, enable 1-2 automations, measure for a month.
Frequency cap matters, otherwise customer feels spammed. 1-2 weekly per automation is enough.
Smart Deposit is salon "no-show protection", don't skip if no-shows are common.
Gap Killer is strong with an active waitlist. Empty waitlist = nothing to fill from.
Abandoned Booking needs a good CTA: not just "Complete it," but "Complete and get 10% off" (if budget allows).
Automation visualization in Marketing module: campaigns and automations summarized there.

Automations, gap killer, smart deposit, abandoned booking