Calendar scheduling infrastructure for in-person appointments
When we talk about things like booking links and calendar scheduling infrastructure, we often immediately associate them with online meetings. However, products like Cal.com are essential tools that can make a big difference when organizing in-person events as well. Cal.com users don’t have to restrict themselves to only using teleconferencing since our infrastructure also supports appointments with physical locations.
You see when we designed the product, the goal wasn't to create something that people would only use online. We wanted to ensure that all users regardless of whether they work remotely, in-person, or in a hybrid environment, would be able to benefit from Cal.com and the resources we offer.
Cal.com has a whole host of features nestled within the event settings. This makes it easy for users to customize their appointment booking parameters. The options users have access to range from automated workflows to booking limits, payments, and webhooks.
However, we also have some unique features that have been directly created with in-person meetings in mind. The purpose of this article is to highlight and explain how one of these features can be used.
Cal.com’s lock timezone feature
The feature we're going to cover today is called “Lock Timezone”. This feature is located within the advanced section of your event-level dashboard. Like all event-level settings, this feature is applied on a per-event basis, so you don't have to worry about it impacting all your bookings globally.
The lock timezone feature is both simple and impactful in its application. Activating this feature means that the timezone the booking in question references won't change depending on where the potential booker is located. This is a simple and effective feature that can help avoid unwanted confusion around appointment times.
Think of it this way: Let's say, that you run a dentistry practice that specializes in cosmetic procedures, and you're using Cal.com to power your booking portal. Your overseas client has already booked appointments using Cal.com before, but prior to this, they were all virtual consultations.
Now it's time for your client to schedule a series of in-person appointments which they're required to travel for. If the lock timezone feature isn't activated, then when the client is booking the appointments, the time that they'll see will be reflective of the timezone in which they were located at the time of booking.
This isn't ideal because timezones vary according to geographic location. By choosing to enable this feature, you'll be able to ensure that when an overseas or out-of-country client books an appointment that's supposed to be in-person, the time and date that they’re sent reflects the timezone in which the appointment will actually be occurring.
How to activate the feature
To enable the lock timezone feature in your Cal.com account, follow these simple steps:
Log into your Cal.com Account
Select a previously created event or create one.
Select the Advanced tab.
Scroll down until you reach “Lock Timezone”.
Select the toggle and click it, so it switches to the ON position.
Finally, scroll to the top of the page and save your changes by clicking the button in the upper right-hand corner.
Using Cal.com's lock timezone feature is a great way to minimize confusion, create an efficient booking process, and make sure that your customers and clients always have the information they need. If you'd like to learn more about our product by experiencing it firsthand, you can sign up for a free account by clicking on the link below. Happy scheduling!
