Online Reservations (#OLSORS01)
| Last updated: | Applies to: | In industries: | Of versions: | Article notes: | Special contents: | |||||
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| 20101103 (Andy) | Pro, MultiUser, MultiSite, MultiView | 
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8.1.13 (and higher) | n/a | How it works / Requirements / Info for web developers / FAQ |
About Online Reservations
StorMan's Online Reservations system allows you to accept reservations (for berths / items / units / vaults) from your customers via your website.
How much does it cost?
Please contact us for pricing information in your region. Note: If you run StorMan MultiView, you will only need to purchase 1 webserver module for your head office site; all other sites will fall underneath this 'master' site. However, if you have (for example) 7 sites but do not use StorMan MultiView, then you will need to purchase 7 separate webserver modules.Note: Our Online Payments system also requires a webserver module - so if you already use our Online Payments system, you will not need to purchase an additional webserver module.
How does the Online Reservations system work?
- The customer visits your website and clicks a button .
- The customer is redirected to the Online Reservations website for your company, which is hosted on the computer that runs your StorMan database for the site in question.
- As the first page loads, it checks to ensure that the StorMan application running at the site in question is licensed for the Online Reservations module and that it has at least one berth type / item type / unit type / vault type enabled for online reservations.
- The customer clicks to begin the process.
- The customer then enters their name, email address, phone number and date that they require the berth / item / unit / vault.
- Scrolling down the page a little, the customer selects the berth type / item type / unit type / vault type that they wish to reserve. The berth types / item types / unit types / vault types are shown in tabular format (fields include the berth type / item type / unit type / vault type code, its description, monthly & weekly rates plus deposit amounts and whether there are currently any vacancies for that berth type / item type / unit type / vault type ). This data can be configured by the site & rates can be hidden if required.
- The customer can then select whether they wish to be setup on a weekly or monthly plan (this can be configured by the site in StorMan).
- The customer is then shown marketing information which they can use to select how they found out about the business, etc. These fields come directly from the marketing fields in StorMan & the options can be enabled / disabled / made mandatory by the site in StorMan.
- The customer then confirms the information they have entered. Once they are happy with the information, the customer clicks and an email is sent to both the customer & the site confirming the reservation. Data entered by the customer is entered into the site's copy of StorMan instantly and automatically, as a new Reservation.
- If the site has been configured to require immediate payment of the deposit, the customer is then taken to the StorMan Online Payments page for the site in question to make a payment using their credit card . If not, the process is now complete.
Requirements for Online Reservations
Before you can 'go live' with the Online Reservations system, you will need to ensure that...
- You have purchased a StorMan webserver module (refer to the note in the Cost section, above).
- You have completed & submitted an Online Reservations application form.
- Your site internet connections have static IP addresses (ask your ISP or IT technician for details).
- Your site needs to be paid-up on a valid technical support & upgrades plan (you can compare our plans here).
- You are running StorMan Professional or higher (you can compare our versions here)
- Your IT technician has opened / forwarded the relevant ports in your router / modem .
- Your web developer has read our Online Reservations guide for Web Developers.
- Your web developer has created a button or link on your website (more info is available in our Online Reservations guide for Web Developers).
- Your web developer has customised a stylesheet file for Online Reservations (optional) and provided them to us with any images & stylesheets (refer to our Online Reservations guide for Web Developers).
- You have completed & submitted a merchant application form for one of our payment providers (optional; refer to note below). Note: Use of our Online Payments system is only required if you want your customers to pay a deposit using their credit card at the time of making the online reservation.
Can I try Online Reservations for myself?
Yes - please refer to our Demo Storage Company website, then click to give it a try for yourself!
Tips, information & notes for web developers
Please ensure that your web developer reads our Online Reservations guide for Web Developers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I set what berth types / item types / unit types / vault types are available for online reservation?
A: By enabling this option for any desired berth types / item types / unit types / vault types, via the Berth Types & Rates / Item Types & Rates / Unit Types & Rates / Vault Types & Rates section of StorMan .
Q: How can I set whether or not the price is shown?
A: By enabling this option for any desired berth types / item types / unit types / vault types, via the Berth Types & Rates / Item Types & Rates / Unit Types & Rates / Vault Types & Rates section of StorMan .
Q: How can I set whether rates are shown for Weekly, Monthly or both?
A: This is set in System Setup, under .
Q: How can I set the deposit amount?
A: This comes from the regular per-berth / per-item / per-unit / per-vault deposit field, configured via the Berth Types & Rates / Item Types & Rates / Unit Types & Rates / Vault Types & Rates section of StorMan .
Q: How can I collect marketing information?
A: Under , you can specify whether or not any options within the following 4 marketing types are displayed online or not (Marketing type, Customer type, Business type & Reason for storing).
Q: How do I make marketing information compulsory?
A: You can set this via , , then . When they have been made compulsory an asterisk will be displayed next to the field on the website, denoting a compulsory field.
Q: Can I customise the deposit amount (per-site) so that it's different online to what it is for a walk-in customer?
A: Yes! Your web developer will need to create & set certain options in an XML file for this to happen. Please provide them with this link for more details on setting this up.
Q: Can I display the deposit amount on the screen, but not charge it?
A: Yes! Again, your web developer will need to create & set certain options in an XML file for this to happen. Please provide them with this link for more details on setting this up.
Q: How can I set the system to require immediate payment of the deposit?
A: You can make it a requirement for a deposit to be paid within a specific time period. This is to prevent malicious users from reserving all available Berths / Items / Units / Vaults and making them unavailable for legitimate users. Activate this function via , , then ) and configure a time limit (in minutes) within which the Customer needs to pay their deposit; this is displayed to the customer on the website. The default time limit is 5 minutes. If a deposit is not made within the specified time period, the reservation will be cancelled. Nb. This option is only available if you have our Online Payments service as well .
Q: Can I customise the email that the customer is sent?
A: Yes; see #NTCNWSN01 for details.
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