No-shows (missed appointments)
A no-show is a customer who doesn't turn up for a booked appointment without notice or cancellation. For medical practices, hairdressers, restaurants and professionals it is a direct cost: the reserved time goes unsold and is hard to fill at the last minute. The main countermeasure is the automatic reminder with a confirmation request, which lets you free the slot when the customer doesn't reply or cancels.
No-shows have predictable causes: forgetfulness, things coming up, bookings made too far in advance, no convenient way to cancel. The last one is the most underrated: many customers don't show up because canceling requires a phone call during office hours. A simple cancellation channel, like replying to a message, recovers part of the no-shows by turning them into slots freed in time and reassignable to other customers.
The anti-no-show strategy combines three levers: automatic reminders with a confirmation request, the ability to cancel or reschedule by replying in chat, and a waiting list to fill freed slots. For repeat offenders, some businesses introduce mandatory confirmation or a deposit. Measuring the phenomenon is the first step: tracking how many appointments are missed, on which days and with how much notice shows where to intervene.
With SendApp, confirmation reminders go out automatically before every appointment and the calendar syncs with Google Calendar: the customer confirms or cancels by replying in chat and the slot frees up in time.
Frequently asked questions
From theory to practice
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