Gap-Based Booking Guide

# Gap-Based Booking Guide > **Quick Start**: Hover over any empty space in the schedule to see what you can book there! ## Overview The schedule now shows both what's booked AND what's available. The empty spaces (gaps) between bookings are interactive - just hover or click to see booking options that fit. ## How It Works ### 1. Look for Gaps Empty spaces between bookings are your booking opportunities: - **Green background** = Available time - **Hover** to see options - **Click** to book ### 2. Visual Indicators Gap sizes have different hover effects: - **Small gaps** (< 2 hours): `•••` icon - **Medium gaps** (2-4 hours): `↔` icon - **Large gaps** (> 4 hours): `⟷` icon ### 3. Hover for Options When you hover over a gap, you'll see: ``` ┌─────────────────────────┐ │ 4 hours available │ │ 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM │ ├─────────────────────────┤ │ ⏰ Hourly Rental │ │ 10:00 AM (4h) - $396 │ │ 11:00 AM (3h) - $297 │ │ 12:00 PM (2h) - $198 │ ├─────────────────────────┤ │ [Book This Time] │ └─────────────────────────┘ ``` ### 4. Quick Book - Click any option to book immediately - Or click "Book This Time" for more options ### What Quick Book Creates (Cart) - Quick Book adds the selected timeslot to a new or existing cart for the customer. - The cart uses a unified hold timer (per your account setting) during Pending/Checkout so all items in the cart share the same expiration. - Staff can continue adding items, adjust quantity, or proceed to checkout; the timer remains consistent across items. ## Common Scenarios ### "What's available this afternoon?" Look at the schedule and hover over any green gaps in the afternoon. You'll instantly see what fits! ### "Can I get 3 hours?" Hover over gaps - if 3 hours fits, you'll see it as an option with pricing. ### "What's the earliest available?" Scan left to right for the first gap, hover to confirm availability. ## Mobile/Tablet Use On touch devices: - **Tap** gaps instead of hovering - Options appear at the bottom of the screen - **Swipe** through different timeslot options - Large buttons for easy selection ## Tips & Tricks ### 1. Efficiency Tips - Hover multiple gaps quickly to compare options - Look for the gap size indicators (•••, ↔, ⟷) - Gaps smaller than 30 minutes aren't bookable ### 2. Understanding Colors - **Green background** = Available time that can be booked - **Light gray background** = Unbookable gaps (too short or no timeslots) - **Blue segments** = Reserved/Same-day rentals - **Green segments** = Multi-day starting - **Gray segments** = Multi-day middle - **Red segments** = Multi-day returning ### 3. Keyboard Shortcuts - **Tab** to navigate between gaps - **Enter** to show options - **Escape** to close tooltip - **Arrow keys** to navigate options ### After Quick Book: Checkout or Modify - To change dates/times after a Quick Book, open Dashboard → Carts and click **Modify Cart**. Changes are staged safely and the sidebar shows any extra charge or refund. - If a stock conflict appears when editing, the cart will highlight it and suggest alternatives. Apply a suggested time to resolve. ## Troubleshooting ### "I don't see any gaps" - The unit might be fully booked - Try a different date or unit - Check if you're looking at past dates (grayed out) ### "Gap won't show options" - Gap might be too small (< 30 minutes) - No active timeslots for that time - Unit might have restrictions ### "Options don't appear on hover" - On mobile? Try tapping instead - Wait a moment for options to load - Try refreshing the page ## Benefits ### For You - **Faster booking**: See and book in seconds - **No guessing**: Only see what actually fits - **Visual clarity**: Gaps show opportunity - **Less clicking**: Book directly from schedule ### For Customers - **Better availability**: Fill more gaps - **Accurate quotes**: Prices for exact duration - **More options**: See all possibilities - **Faster service**: Quick booking process ## Advanced Features ### Multi-Unit Booking 1. Find gaps that align across multiple units 2. Book the first unit 3. System suggests matching times for others ### Extension Checking Click the gap after a current rental to see extension options. ### Price Shopping Hover different gaps to compare prices - some may have special rates! ## Best Practices 1. **Start with the schedule** - Don't use separate availability views 2. **Trust the gaps** - If it shows as available, it is 3. **Use hover preview** - Check options before clicking 4. **Book immediately** - When you find what you need ## Staff Tips: Holds & Capacity - With exclusive cart reservations enabled, adding from gaps starts a unified hold timer for the cart (typically 15–30 minutes). The timer applies to all items in the cart. - Increasing quantity requires enough parallel capacity across the full duration. If capacity is tight, try decreasing quantity or picking a slightly different start time. - If a cart expires, items are released. Build a new cart rather than trying to revive expired holds. ## Need Help? - **In-app help**: Click the ? icon - **Training videos**: Available in the Help Center - **Support**: Contact [email protected] --- *Remember: The empty space IS the interface - just hover where you want to book!*