Newsletter 8/10/2009

Enhancements in your system now

• You can now specify a maximum number of people per booking.  Look in Site config -> Booking Details for this parameter.  BTW nothing stops a person from just splitting their booking into two.  But at least they are aware of the rule.
• The login screen is now easier to use, with a radio button that defaults to “member login”.  Administrators must choose the other option to get the “username” and “password” fields.

Enhancements due later this year – decisions for all our clients to make

We are currently writing some important enhancements to your booking system.  These will include a detailed transaction record for members – invoices, payment receipts, credits, refunds, reversals of any of these, and an account balance.    You will be able to create invoices for any purpose, and the system will create invoices for bookings and optionally for annual subscriptions.

However, this only works if members are logged in when making a booking.

From talking to our clients, it seems that everyone would prefer to move to a “tighter” system, in which members must login to make a booking.  This will give you the advantages of the transaction system described above.  It will also bring in a rule that online payments must cover all outstanding moneys owed.  So for example, if a member has not paid their annual subscription and they make a booking online, the payment amount will cover both invoices.  However, you will still be able to receive cheques (e.g.) for any amount and record the payment – the system will record whatever account balance remains after the payment is received.  The decision is also yours as to whether a booking is “CONFIRMED” or not, based on payments received.

Note that this year we added a feature so that members can have their member number emailed to them, making it easier for them to login.

We would like to hear from you regarding the above changes.  Which way will your club prefer to operate?  The two choices are stay with what you currently have, where members don’t have to login to book, but you don’t get transaction details, or move to the new features.  Note that if you allow non-members to book (as guests) this will continue and no login is required, such a booking will not see the member-only tariffs, only guest tariffs.

Please get back to us with your questions and decisions about this major enhancement to the Alpine Booking System!

Don’t forget to bring down any discarded metal ski poles – the Melbourne Bicycle Polo Club thanks you!