Choosing an online booking system for your shop: 8 things to check first

A system that suits service shops in Thailand should let customers book through LINE without installing an app, send reminders automatically, take PromptPay deposits, and have a back office simple enough for the owner to manage. Most importantly, the customer data and LINE friends list must belong to the shop and be exportable if you ever stop using it.

1. Customers can book without installing an app

Most customers won't install a new app to book one shop. A good system lets them book from a web link or from a button in your shop's LINE chat. The shorter the steps, the more bookings get finished.

2. It uses a LINE OA in your shop's name

Thai customers open LINE every day, and confirmations and reminders on LINE get read far more than SMS or email. Check that the LINE OA is in your shop's name, not a shared account belonging to the provider. Otherwise your customers become friends with someone else's brand, not yours.

See how to set it up in taking bookings through your shop's LINE OA.

3. Automatic reminders, and customers can cancel or reschedule themselves

Check how many reminders go out before each appointment, and whether there is a link for customers to cancel or reschedule. The shop hears about it in advance and can resell the slot instead of waiting for someone who won't come.

4. PromptPay deposits

Long services and slots that fill up fast should take a deposit. Choose a system where the customer scans a QR code when booking and the money goes straight to the shop's account, with no middleman and no fees.

5. It handles shops with several staff

If your shop has several nail technicians or therapists, the system should let customers pick one, show open times per person, and add up each person's work or commission at the end of the month.

6. A back office the owner can manage

Open the back office before you decide. Adding a new service, changing a price or closing for a holiday should take a few clicks, without waiting for the provider or paying someone to edit the site.

7. A shop website people can find on Google

A booking system that comes with a shop website helps new customers find you, see your services, prices, reviews and map, then book straight away without switching to chat.

8. The data belongs to the shop and can be exported

Ask clearly: if you stop using it one day, do the customer data and booking history still belong to the shop? Can you export them to Excel or CSV? Does the LINE friends list stay with the shop?

Checklist

Booking from a link and LINE, no app to install
The LINE OA is in your shop's name
Automatic reminders, and customers can cancel or reschedule themselves
PromptPay deposits straight to the shop's account
Customers can pick a staff member, if you have several
A back office you can manage yourself
A shop website people can find on Google
The data belongs to the shop and can be exported

MineTurn covers every point on this list. See what each plan includes on the packages page.