Set up customer reminders
Send automatic reminders before appointments so fewer customers forget. Pick the timing and the channel once, and TradeBooked sends them for you.
What it does
Customer reminders go out automatically before an appointment, so people turn up and you waste fewer slots. You set the timing and channel once and it runs in the background.
There are two reminders you can switch on:
- 24 hours before: a day-before nudge so the appointment is not forgotten, sent between 9am and 8pm
- 1 hour before: a real-time arrival reminder as you are on the way
Confirmation email for jobs you book in
When you add a booking yourself, your customer gets a Booking confirmed email as soon as you save it. It is included on every plan.
It shows the service, the date and time, the job address, your phone number and a booking reference, with a calendar invite attached. If you enter a price, the email shows it as the booked price, so leave it blank until the price is agreed. There is no cancel link. To change anything, they reply (replies go to your business email) or call you.
It is sent through TradeBooked, so it arrives from your business name via TradeBooked.co.uk, or from just your business name if you have switched on Remove TradeBooked branding on Pro or Autopilot. Mention it on the call so they know to look out for it.
It is on for every booking. Before you save, a line above the button shows the email address it will go to. Tap Don't send to skip it for that booking, or Send one to put it back. It is set for each booking, not in Settings.
Nothing is sent when:
- you tap Don't send
- the customer has no email address on file (the line tells you before you save)
- the time you booked has already passed
- their email address is bouncing (phone them instead)
Book another day makes a new booking, so the customer gets a second confirmation with its own reference. Tap Don't send if they do not need one.
What each plan includes
| Plan | Reminders |
|---|---|
| Pro | 24 hours before, via email, SMS or assisted WhatsApp |
| Autopilot | Adds the 1 hour before arrival reminder |
Before you start
You will need:
- A TradeBooked account on the Pro or Autopilot plan (the 1 hour reminder is Autopilot)
- For SMS reminders, you are on Pro or above (SMS is not on Solo)
Follow the full setup in TradeBooked
This is a Pro feature. Start a 10-day free trial to follow the step-by-step setup. No card needed.
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Common questions
What is the difference between the 24 hour and 1 hour reminders?
The 24 hour reminder is a day-before nudge so the appointment is not forgotten, sent between 9am and 8pm. The 1 hour reminder is a real-time arrival heads-up as you are on the way. No reminder goes out before 7am or after 9pm, so a job very early in the morning gets the day-before reminder only. The 1 hour reminder is an Autopilot feature.
Which channels can I use?
Email, SMS, or assisted WhatsApp. Email and SMS send automatically. SMS needs Pro or above. WhatsApp is assisted: we email you a tap-to-send button at the right time.
Do I have to set a reminder for each booking?
No. You set the timing and channel once and reminders send automatically for every booking.
Why do customers no-show on tradespeople?
Same reasons NHS GP appointments get missed (around 16 million a year, roughly 1 in 23): forgotten dates, lost track of the week, plans changed and no one cancelled. A 24h reminder shifts cancellations into rescheduled slots instead of empty half-days.
What is the best time to send a reminder?
A day-before reminder (24 hours) is the sweet spot for "did I forget anything tomorrow?" On Autopilot, layer a 1 hour arrival reminder on top so the customer knows you are about to set off, which cuts the "I am not in" no-shows.
Can I customise the wording?
Yes. Reminder text uses your business name and supports placeholders (such as the customer's name and your booking link). Keep it short and human.
Do reminders send by SMS or email?
Email, SMS or assisted WhatsApp. Email and SMS send automatically. SMS reminders are live and require Pro or above. WhatsApp is assisted: TradeBooked emails you a tap-to-send button at the right moment.
Do customers reply to reminders?
Some do. Email replies land in your normal inbox. For SMS, replies behave per your carrier and the inbound SMS handling we already provide for missed-call STOP / START. Reply handling on WhatsApp depends on your own WhatsApp app, since the channel is assisted.
What plan do I need?
Reminders are on Pro and Autopilot. The day-before reminder is on Pro, and the 1 hour arrival reminder is on Autopilot.
Related guides
Related searches
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References
This is general guidance, not legal, tax or financial advice. For your own circumstances, speak to a qualified professional.
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