Calendar scheduling infrastructure is a necessity. However, it can be challenging to implement or achieve. People often face various challenges when trying to build a calendar scheduling infrastructure solution from the ground up or adapt a previously existing one. In this article, we're going to look at some of the most common challenges people face and consider a possible solution that solves all of them.
One: The Cost
One of the most significant issues when it comes to implementing or creating calendar scheduling infrastructure is cost. I'm not just talking about the dollars and cents that go into paying someone to build a custom solution. I'm also referring to the time-based cost. You're taking a risk when you hire or contract a company or individual to build a brand-new calendar infrastructure solution. There's no guarantee that the solution you're paying for will work how you want it to immediately. Bugs may need to be sorted out, and each fix will add an additional line to your ledger. In addition, you also have to consider the number of projects being handled simultaneously by the contractor and how they could indirectly contribute to unforeseen delays. All of these financial and time-based variables have a way of adding up, and you might find that your scheduling infrastructure costs a lot more than you thought it would.
Two: Customization and White-Labeling
Let's say you found a calendar infrastructure project that works for you or looks like it might. It claims to be an out-of-the-box solution. How are you going to customize it? Is this product developer-friendly? Can the average person utilize this product? Does it come with a no-code or low-code UI? If your business grows, can this product easily be scaled to meet your new needs, and exactly how difficult will it be to white-label? The problem with so many of the current calendar infrastructure products on the market is that they've been built in such a way as to ensure that their customers are walled off. These products are often overly complex, difficult to customize, not white-label friendly, and challenging to integrate with other products. This is sometimes because many appointment booking products are part of more significant subsidiaries and are vested in keeping you and your business within their ecosystem. This becomes extra apparent when trying to find or enable white-label features. Even if you want your brand to remain first and foremost in the mind of your customers, that might not be what the product you're using wants.
Three: Privacy and Security
Right now, there are many calendar scheduling and bookable appointment solutions on the market. However, only some have a longevity guarantee, and almost none are simultaneously GDPR, SOC2, and HIPAA compliant. This means that even though there are a whole host of products regarding what's available for individuals working within industries that require a high degree of security, the options could be more extensive. In addition, we also have to think of security from the consumer privacy perspective. How many products are there on the market that respect the privacy of your clients and only gather the minimum amount of data required? What do I mean when I talk about a minimal amount of data? I'm talking about only collecting the number of bookings you make instead of collecting more in-depth information about your users. The fact is that many scheduling infrastructure products are profiting twice, once from your subscription and then a second time from all the data they gather from your users.
Four: Usability
The final challenge we have to consider is usability. If the average person cannot utilize, customize, and implement a solution, it will not be widely implemented. This means that when choosing a calendar scheduling solution, you need to find a product equally usable by developers and the average person. This means that the platform you choose needs to have clear and extensive developer documents and low-code and no-code user interfaces. When selecting a scheduling infrastructure product, considering ease of use is a good idea. Can digital calendars, bookable events, and routing forms be added without touching a line of code? How difficult is it to set up multiple availability schedules? Can the product handle payments and numerous time zones? What about integrations? How difficult is it to connect the product to other third-party applications like Zapier, Close.com, and Salesforce? Finally, how easy is it for a novice user to set up things like routing forms, automated workflows, and recurring events from within the app? Can the product you've chosen facilitate all of this simply and efficiently?
The Solution: Cal.com
What's the solution? When it comes to the specific issues outlined above, the best solution is Cal.com. Cal.com is an open-source scheduling infrastructure product that has been built with both individuals and enterprises in mind. We're customizable, white-label friendly, and affordable. We have a variety of packages constructed with a wide variety of needs in mind. Our basic individual plan is free and allows you to create any number of calendar connections or events. Our enterprise-level plans include 24/7 customer support and GDPR, SOC2, and HIPAA-compliant options. In addition, Cal.com comes with a minimalist, user-friendly interface and clear and concise developer docs. Cal.com can be used to manage everything from individual one-on-one in-person meetings to group teleconferencing events. The product can even power an online time-based marketplace or be implemented to manage large-scale booking for things like visas, passports, and vaccinations. To get started, you have to do is sign up for a free Cal.com account.
From there, check out our plans to see which is best for you.
Next, click the sign-up button.
Then choose a username and enter an email address.
Remember to create a password and then click the sign-up button.
Alternatively, you can also create an account using SAML SSO or Google.
Next, enter your full name and select your primary time zone.
Select the black button labeled "Next."
Choose the calendars you would like to connect with.
Next, set your default availability schedule.
Then upload a profile picture and some bio text.
Next, click the "Finish" button.
Finally, create some bookable events and share your meeting link.
Once you've completed signing up for your free Cal.com account, you can start exploring our product or even book a meeting with a member of our team to find out which of our plans is best for you and your business. The great thing about our product is that it doesn't just save time, it takes the stress out of scheduling. This means you have more energy to devote to the things that matter to you.
