Learn how to set up appointment booking on WhatsApp using Bulkwise and AppointO. This guide covers key features like managing unavailable dates, adding available slots, integrating with Google Calendar, and setting up an advanced appointment system with a WhatsApp chatbot.
Step 1: Setting Up Appointment Software
Create an Account:
Open the link provided in the description.
Click Register and complete the registration process.
Log in to view the dashboard.
Connect Google Calendar:
Navigate to the Settings menu.
Click Connect with Google.
Select the email ID to connect.
Click Advanced, then Go to website link.
Click Continue to complete the connection.
Configure Availability:
Scroll to Add Slot to define available hours for appointments (e.g., 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM).
Skip unavailable times (e.g., 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM).
Define Off Days (e.g., weekends) by ticking the appropriate days.
Add Off Dates for specific days or times when appointments are unavailable.
Example: Block January 13, 2025, from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM or the entire day of January 15, 2025.
Step 2: Integrating with Bulkwise
Custom Fields Creation:
Log in to Bulkwise and go to Subscriber Manager.
Select Manage Custom Fields and create the following fields:
Available Dates
Appointment Date
Available Slots
Appointment Slots
Name
Appointment Message
Set Up HTTP APIs:
Navigate to Settings > HTTP API > WhatsApp HTTP API.
Click Create and configure the API:
Method: GET (for fetching dates and slots).
Add the Test Subscriber ID from the subscriber manager.
Copy the endpoint URL from the API documentation and paste it.
Add a header with the key name as “Authorization” and value as “Bearer [API Key]”.
Verify the connection and map the response to the custom fields (e.g., Available Dates, Available Slots).
Configure the Chatbot:
Open the Bot Manager and create a new bot reply.
Add a trigger keyword for the appointment booking chatbot.
Drag a Compose Next Message widget:
Select the date-fetching HTTP API.
Use an interactive list to display available dates dynamically.
Save the selected date in the Appointment Date custom field.
Repeat the process to set up the slots API and display available slots.
Add a confirmation message using custom fields for date and slot.
Create a button for the user to confirm the appointment.
Step 3: Creating an Appointment
Configure the Appointment API:
Create another HTTP API:
Method: POST (for creating appointments).
Add required parameters: date, slot, name, and mobile.
Optional: Add email and event status parameters for advanced setups.
Verify the connection and save the appointment message to the Appointment Message custom field.
Update the Chatbot:
Replace the text widget with the appointment creation API.
Add a text message displaying the confirmation message from the custom field.
Advanced Setup for Collecting User Information:
Use a Condition Widget to check if the user’s email is available.
If not, use a User Input Flow to collect:
Name (save to the custom field).
Email (save to the system field).
Add a thank-you message with an interactive button to resume the flow.
Testing the System
Test the chatbot on WhatsApp to ensure it:
Displays available dates and slots.
Creates and confirms appointments.
Verify the appointment in AppointO and Google Calendar.
Conclusion
By following these steps, you can set up a complete appointment booking system using WhatsApp. The integration allows users to book appointments seamlessly and even supports advanced features like email collection and Google Calendar updates.
If you have any questions or ideas, feel free to reach out to us. Build your ideas easily with Bulkwise!
