WhatsApp or email for each customer

For shops with WhatsApp switched on, the staff New booking form asks how this customer wants their updates, under Send their updates by. There are two tick boxes: WhatsApp and Email. Shops without WhatsApp see the form as before.

What is ticked to start with

• WhatsApp is ticked if the customer has said yes to WhatsApp before. For a customer who has never been asked, it is ticked when your Booking counts as a yes setting is on and there is a phone number. A customer who said no stays unticked
• Email is ticked unless the customer is saved as WhatsApp only. It cannot be ticked without an email address
• At least one has to be ticked, and WhatsApp needs a mobile number

What each choice does

• Both: updates go by WhatsApp and email
• WhatsApp only: the confirmation, the day-before reminder, moved, cancelled and bike-ready updates go by WhatsApp. The email version only goes if the WhatsApp could not be sent
• Email only: no WhatsApp, and a yes the customer gave before is withdrawn
• Quotes and receipts still go by email whichever you tick

The choice is saved on the customer, so their next booking starts the same way. Only tick WhatsApp if the customer asked for it. They can reply STOP at any time.

Quote and payment links

Sending a quote or a payment link by message now tries WhatsApp first, when the customer has said yes to it. If WhatsApp cannot send it, a text goes instead, as long as your shop has texting switched on. A message that went on WhatsApp is never also texted. The button names follow what your shop has: Send by WhatsApp or text, Send on WhatsApp, or Send via text.

If nothing could be sent, Velobook says why, for example that the customer has not said yes to WhatsApp and texting is off for your shop. A note you type only goes with the email.