Appointment Status Color Codes?

[ricmorin]

Here is an idea for better visual representation of the schedule.

Most shops have 2 types of appointments: waiting and drop-off. The scheduler should distinguish between these two VISUALLY. The waiting appointments hold their place, blocking out the appropriate hours starting at the correct time. The drop off appointments automatically fill in the blank spaces, starting at the beginning of the workday and flowing around the static waiting appointments. If this could be accomplished, the schedule would perfectly match the way shops do business. When you run out of spaces, you're out of available time. If a new appointment doesn't fit, you need to move it to another day.

BTW, I've been doing this very thing every day for the last 20 years. Every day I represent my work day on a white board to track all active jobs throughout the steps of repair per technician. The first block for each technician is a representation of an 8 hour work day. I first put all the waiting appointments in their respective slots, then add all the drop-off scheduled work around the waiters. Finally, I add any leftover work to the mix. THIS WORKS FLAWLESSLY. I know exactly how my day is loaded. I know exactly if I can take in any more work. I know exactly if I have to call someone to reschedule.

Looking at the schedule, it appears that with some tweaking it might become the best thing to our industry since the ratcheting wrench.

Thank you for your consideration.

Ric

[murraymotive]

Here is an idea for better visual representation of the schedule.
Most shops have 2 types of appointments: waiting and drop-off. The scheduler should distinguish between these two VISUALLY. The waiting appointments hold their place, blocking out the appropriate hours starting at the correct time. The drop off appointments automatically fill in the blank spaces, starting at the beginning of the workday and flowing around the static waiting appointments. If this could be accomplished, the schedule would perfectly match the way shops do business. When you run out of spaces, you're out of available time. If a new appointment doesn't fit, you need to move it to another day.

This ^^

Also, there is no representation of the appointment status that I can find anywhere. We have a multitude of statuses to use but cannot see them anywhere without actually opening the appointment window.

1) Can you color code or label appointments at all? This has an Outlook / Google Calendar feel but I can't find a way to actually organize these except by time.

2) Do RO statuses and scheduler statuses interact at all?

3) When techs are assigned to ROs can the schedule be updated to reflect this, and vice versa when you move the appt to a tech's time slot can they be chosen as the default tech for that RO?

[miteygirl]

Is there a way to color code on the new schedule? Previously we prefaced each apt with "WAITER", "LOANER VEHICLE", "SHUTTLE" or "DROP OFF", and at a glance could see how many loaners we needed, how many waiters we had scheduled, etc. If we had the ability to color code each that would certainly help. Also, we can't tell when people actually show up and check in anymore. Does anybody have any suggestions on how we might be able to make that work in the existing parameters?

[Silky7]

All,

I'll be discussing color-coding appointments with our development team and product management this week. Hopefully we'll be able to come up with a solution that will work for most of you.

[GUTHTIRE]

I notice that appointments on the schedule are flagged as closed in the Appointment State however you have to open the entry to see it. Would it be possible to grey out the appointment or hash mark the appointment on the schedule when the appointment is closed. This would avoid having to open it to see the state of "closed".

[Johnny5]

I notice that appointments on the schedule are flagged as closed in the Appointment State however you have to open the entry to see it. Would it be possible to grey out the appointment or hash mark the appointment on the schedule when the appointment is closed. This would avoid having to open it to see the state of "closed".

The next version will include color coding of the appointment state making visually easy to see what is closed.

[nessauto]

We've started setting up the scheduler. One question I have is there a way to highlight the job in the schedule based on it's status. For instance....right now we use a paper schedule.... when a car is dropped off we highlight is so everyone knows that it's here. It would be nice to be able to color code the status like you can the resources. So at a quick glance you could see what is dropped off, done, in the bays.

[ricmorin]

We've started setting up the scheduler. One question I have is there a way to highlight the job in the schedule based on it's status. For instance....right now we use a paper schedule.... when a car is dropped off we highlight is so everyone knows that it's here. It would be nice to be able to color code the status like you can the resources. So at a quick glance you could see what is dropped off, done, in the bays.

They are working on color coding the statuses for a future release.

[nessauto]

Any idea when that realease may be out?

Also do we need to ask for the new releases or are they automatically sent out?

[Silky7]

You'll see notice on here when the next version is ready. It would come automatically, but chances are if you're waiting on a feature you'll just want to grab it before then.