In this article
How Appointments are Added
Appointments in nbound can be created through three different methods. Each method is suited to a different workflow — understanding them helps you know when to act manually versus when automation handles the booking for you.
Manual Entry
Your team manually creates the appointment using the + Appointment button on the Appointments page. You fill in the client details, service, location, date, and technician yourself. This is the method covered in detail throughout the rest of this guide.
Marketplace
Customers can book directly through your nbound marketplace listing or online booking widget. When a customer self-schedules, the appointment is automatically created and appears in your dashboard without any manual input from your team. You may still need to review and assign a technician if not pre-configured.
Perseus
nbound's AI phone agent handles inbound calls automatically — collecting the customer's information, confirming availability, and booking the appointment on your behalf. Appointments created by Perseus are logged with the AI Voice Agent lead source and land in your dashboard ready for dispatch review.
The rest of this article focuses on the manual entry flow — step by step through the appointment sheet your team uses to book appointments directly.
How to Start
To schedule a new appointment manually, go to the Appointments page from your sidebar navigation.
In the top-right corner of the page, click the + Appointment button. This will slide open the appointment details sheet where you can fill in all the information for the visit.
The scheduling flow is organized into two primary tabs: 1. Appointment Details and 2. Date & Schedule. You can navigate between them using the sidebar tabs inside the sheet.
Tab 1: Appointment Details
The first tab captures who the appointment is for, what work will be performed, and administrative tracking details:
1Client Selection
Click the client search input and start typing to find an existing client. If the client does not exist yet, click the Add Client option next to the search box to open the new client creator dialog.
2Service Address (Location)
Once a client is selected, their registered addresses will populate in the location selector. Select the specific location where the service is to be performed.
3Primary Service
Select the main service item to be performed from your service catalog list. This will auto-populate the estimated duration and baseline price for the appointment.
4Additional Options & Notes
You can specify a Lead Source to track the origin of this booking (e.g. Phone, Google, referral). Write any specific gate instructions, parking tips, or customer preferences inside the Internal Notes field. These notes are visible to the assigned technician on-site.
Adding a New Client
If the booking is for a new client, clicking Add Client will open a sub-modal. The following fields are required to create a new client profile:
- First Name: The primary contact's first name.
- Phone Number: A valid 10-digit phone number. The phone number is required to send automated SMS alerts.
- Street Address: The address is autocompleted using integrated location mapping for accuracy. Type the address and select the verified option from the autocomplete list.
Tab 2: Date & Schedule
The second tab handles when the job will occur and who is dispatched to perform it:
1Select Date
Choose the scheduled date for the visit on the calendar picker.
2Assign Technician
Select the staff member or technician assigned to perform the service. If you're not ready to assign a team member, you can select Unassigned and dispatch it later from the board.
3Arrival Window
Select the customer-facing arrival window (e.g. 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM). This represents the commitment time provided to the client for the technician's arrival at their property.
4Notifications Toggle
Choose whether to automatically alert the client and the assigned technician. If checked, nbound will immediately send email and SMS confirmations when you hit submit.
Live Summary & Submission
On the left side of the appointment sheet, a Live Summary box remains visible. As you configure details across Tab 1 and Tab 2, this box updates in real time to show:
- Selected Primary Service & Price
- Selected Client Name & Contact Info
- Scheduled Date & Time Window
- Assigned Technician Name
Review this summary for accuracy. Once everything looks correct, click the Create Appointment button (located in the top-right header on desktop, or the bottom footer on mobile) to save and schedule the appointment.