The problem
Your phone rings while the dispenser is mid-fitting, and callers who hit voicemail book elsewhere. If you get 40 booking calls a week at 3 minutes each, that's 120 minutes a week, about 8.6 hours a month (120 x 4.3 / 60).
What the AI does
Blink lists online booking as an optional extra that lets new and existing patients book their next visit directly from your website, into the practice diary. You choose what's bookable and put the booking link on your site. Staff still handle the patients who prefer to ring.
A worked example
An independent optician in Harrogate gets 40 booking calls a week. They add Blink's online booking and half of bookings move to the website.
Before
40 calls a week at 3 minutes each: 8.6 hours a month
After
20 calls a week: 60 minutes, about 4.3 hours a month
What it's worth
About 4.3 hours a month saved (60 minutes a week x 4.3 / 60), worth around £60 if front-of-house time is worth £14 an hour, plus bookings made out of hours. The £15 a month add-on (plus VAT) assumes you already use Blink; the £95 base covers the whole system.
How to set it up
- Check Blink's current prices: the online booking add-on is £15 a month plus VAT.
- Ask Blink for the booking set-up, then decide which appointment types are bookable, such as follow-up and contact lens aftercare.
- Keep new eye-examination bookings for people with symptoms as phone-only and put a line on the site telling them to ring.
- Add the booking link to your website and Google Business Profile.
- Check the diary each morning for bookings that need a call.
What goes wrong
- Online booking lets a patient pick an appointment type that doesn't suit them, such as a routine test for a sudden change in vision. Tell patients with urgent symptoms to ring.
- The saving shown depends on how many calls move online. If few do, it won't cover the £15.
- Booking forms collect names and contact details. Make sure your privacy notice covers it.
- A booking link on the site only works while the diary is kept current.