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Arrival windows and business hours

How long the arrival windows you promise customers are, where each booking method gets its window, and how business hours limit online booking.

An arrival window is the span of time you promise the customer, like "8–10 AM", rather than an exact start time. The window shows in the booking confirmation and reminder texts, and route optimization won't move a visit outside it.

Set your default window

The default window length is set in either of these places (they change the same setting):

  • Settings → Scheduling & dispatch → Arrival window: Exact time, or 1 to 4 hours.
  • Settings → Hours & service areas → Workday & online booking → Arrival window: 2, 3 or 4 hours.

Where each visit gets its window

How the visit was booked Window
New appointment, service call You pick it on the form (Exact time to 4 hours).
New appointment, estimate Exact time, no window.
New appointment, crew days No window.
New job with a date Your default window, starting at the Arrival time.
Book a call and online booking Back-to-back windows of your default length (at least 2 hours) through the bookable hours.
Dragged on the dispatch board, AI Suggest, or Add visit on a job 2 hours from the start time.

Business hours

In Settings → Hours & service areas → Business hours, check the days you're open and set opening and closing times. Unchecked days are closed.

Business hours control what customers can book themselves:

  • Online booking and Book a call only offer windows inside that day's hours.
  • On a closed day, no windows are offered.

Business hours don't stop your office from booking outside them. You can still drag a visit to any time on the dispatch board or pick any time on New appointment.

Workday

Under Workday & online booking, set when the Workday starts and Workday ends. The workday is used:

  • As the bookable hours on any day without business hours set.
  • For the hours shown on the dispatch board (the board always shows at least 7 AM to 6 PM).
  • For capacity (how many hours each tech has available).
  • For the open times AI Suggest looks at.

The Online booking switch on the same card turns self-booking on or off.

Service area

Add ZIP codes under Service area to turn away online bookings from outside them. Leave it empty to accept every ZIP. The Service radius is shown to your team but isn't enforced.

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