Split-Provider Online Booking

Split-provider online booking lets eligible multi-service appointments use adjacent availability across qualified team members. It is designed for no-preference bookings where the customer cares more about getting a valid time than having one provider perform every service. OpenChair still checks service eligibility, staff availability, resources, slot holds, and booking creation before saving the booking.

TL;DR

• Split-provider online booking is configured in Booking settings under Split-provider online booking.
• It only applies after online booking is published and at least two active bookable team members exist.
• Split recommendations are for multi-service, staff-led, no-preference bookings.
• Customers can see Sooner with the team at [time] and choose Book team option.

How split-provider booking works

Split-provider booking searches for a valid team plan when a basket has more than one staff-led service. Instead of requiring one team member to carry the full service basket, OpenChair can assign different services or service parts to different qualified team members.

Part of the flow	What happens
Availability	The public booking flow checks normal single-provider slots and can also calculate a team option.
Slot hold	When the customer chooses Book team option, OpenChair holds the split plan and stores the staff assignment snapshot.
Confirmation	The booking summary can show Team booking instead of one staff name.
Booking creation	OpenChair refreshes the held split plan before creating the booking. If the team option is no longer valid, the customer is asked to choose another time.

Turn on split-provider online booking

Owners can configure split-provider booking from Booking settings.

1. Go to Booking settings.
2. Find Split-provider online booking.
3. Choose a mode.
4. Choose Client visibility if a split mode is enabled.

The setting is disabled when online booking is not published. The card shows Publish online booking before enabling team-based availability. The split modes are also locked until the venue has at least two active bookable team members.

Booking modes

Booking modes control when OpenChair offers a team plan to customers.

Mode	What it does
Keep one provider per booking	Only show times where one team member can carry the full service basket.
Use team gaps when needed	Prefer one provider, then recover times by assigning services to different qualified team members. This is marked Recommended.
Maximise availability	Show the best valid team plan even when a one-provider plan also exists.

In Use team gaps when needed, OpenChair can suppress the split plan if a normal single-provider slot exists for the selected time. In Maximise availability, the system is more willing to show a team option.

Client visibility

Client visibility controls how much of the team plan the customer sees in the booking flow.

Visibility setting	Customer-facing behaviour
Show staff per service	Customers can see which team member is assigned to each service or visible service part.
Show team summary	Customers see team-based copy while the exact plan stays internal.
Show requested staff only	No-preference bookings use team copy. Named-staff bookings would show the requested provider, but named-staff split plans are currently disabled.

When staff details are hidden, the customer sees copy such as The team can coordinate these services across available professionals. When details are visible, the flow can show lines like [time] [service] with [staff].

What customers see

Customers only see split-provider recommendations during eligible multi-service online booking flows.

Customer step	Possible copy or action
Pick a time	A sooner team option is available below can appear above the time choices.
Team option card	Sooner with the team at [time] appears with the team summary or staff-per-service details.
Action button	Book team option creates a hold for the split plan. While saving, the button shows Holding...
Review step	The booking summary can show Team booking and, when visibility allows it, the service or segment itinerary.

If the team option is taken before the customer finishes, OpenChair shows That team option was just taken. Please choose another time.

Eligibility and limits

Split-provider booking is intentionally narrow so it does not surprise customers or staff.

Requirement	Detail
Online booking published	The setting is inactive until the storefront booking flow is published.
At least two active bookable team members	Venues with fewer than two active bookable staff stay on one-provider booking.
Multi-service basket	The public recommendation logic only runs when more than one effective service is selected.
Staff-led services	Resource-only bookings do not use the split-provider recommendation card.
No named staff request	Current named-staff split mode is disabled, so recommendations are for Any staff bookings.
Valid staff-service assignments	Each assigned team member must be qualified and available for their part of the booking.

Who can use this

Role	Access
Owner	Can change split-provider booking settings and client visibility.
Manager	Can view booking settings according to normal settings access, but saving uses owner-level permission.
Team	Cannot configure the setting. Team members see the resulting bookings in the calendar and booking detail surfaces.
Customer	Can choose Book team option when the public booking flow offers one.

Common mistakes

Mistake	What to do instead
Turning on a split mode before publishing online booking	Publish online booking first. The setting applies once the storefront booking flow is live.
Expecting split-provider recommendations with one bookable staff member	Add at least two active bookable team members.
Expecting the feature to split a single service basket with one service	Use it for multi-service bookings. Single-service bookings stay on normal availability.
Expecting named-staff split plans	Ask the customer to choose Any staff. Named-staff split plans are currently disabled.

Troubleshooting

Issue	Solution
Use team gaps when needed is locked	Confirm online booking is published and at least two active bookable team members exist.
Customers do not see Book team option	Check that the customer selected more than one staff-led service, chose Any staff, and that each service has qualified available staff.
The team option disappeared at checkout	The held team plan was no longer valid. Ask the customer to choose another available time.
Customers see staff names when you expected team copy	Change Client visibility to Show team summary.
The booking summary says Team booking	That is expected when the appointment has more than one assigned staff member. Review the booking itinerary for the service assignments.

FAQ

What is split-provider online booking?

Split-provider online booking lets eligible multi-service bookings use more than one qualified team member when that creates a valid team option for the customer.

Where do I turn on split-provider booking?

Go to Booking settings and use the Split-provider online booking card. Online booking must be published and the venue needs at least two active bookable team members.

Can customers choose a named staff member with split-provider booking?

No. The current setting keeps named-staff split plans disabled, so split-provider recommendations are for no-preference multi-service bookings.

What does the customer see?

The booking flow can show Sooner with the team at [time] with a Book team option button. Visibility settings control whether customers see staff per service or a team summary.

Related Articles

• Booking Rules
• Booking an Appointment Online
• Managing Services
• Processing Gaps