Managing a bustling sports hub is no small feat, and at Fairfield Community Sports Hub, efficiency and organisation are key to ensuring that everything runs smoothly. With facilities like a 3G pitch, changing rooms, and a studio available for hire, the Hub was facing significant challenges when it came to managing bookings, payments, and availability.
In this blog post, we speak with Claire Puzey, Facility Manager about how Pitchbooking has transformed the way Fairfield Community Sports Hub operates and the benefits they've experienced since implementing booking software.
The Challenges Before Pitchbooking:
Before partnering with Pitchbooking, one of the biggest challenges Fairfield faced was managing payments. The Hub Manager explained:
"The main issue we had was getting teams to pay monthly or weekly invoices. It was a lot of admin work and often led to missed or delayed payments, which complicated our finances."
“With so many teams to manage and a constant flow of bookings, relying on traditional methods like spreadsheets and manual invoicing led to inefficiencies and lost revenue opportunities.”
How Pitchbooking Solved These Issues:
The introduction of Pitchbooking's online booking system was a game-changer for Fairfield Community Sports Hub. Claire highlighted how the platform helped streamline their operations:
"The upfront payment feature has been fantastic for us and has reduced a lot of work. Now, we can direct customers straight to the booking system, and they can see availability and pay on the spot."
This move towards automation not only saved time but also ensured that the hub was more organised, with fewer payment delays and cancellations.
The Key Benefits of Using Pitchbooking
Since using Pitchbooking, Fairfield Community Sports Hub has seen three key benefits:
Simplified Booking Process:
“Customers can now easily see availability and make bookings directly through the system, reducing the back-and-forth of phone calls and emails.”
Upfront Payments:
“The upfront payment system has significantly reduced the workload related to chasing invoices and managing late payments. It has made a noticeable difference in the hub’s operations.”
Improved Organisation:
“With the majority of teams moved away from monthly invoices to paying on the day, the financial side of managing the hub has become much more streamlined.”
"I’ve now taken all teams except one off monthly payments, and they all pay on the day. This has simplified everything for us."
Support from the Pitchbooking Team:
While the technology itself has been a huge help, the support from the Pitchbooking team has also been invaluable. The Hub Manager had glowing praise for the assistance provided:
"Matt has the patience of a saint! He’s always very quick to reply or jump on a video call to go over anything. The support has been excellent."
The personalised and responsive support offered by Pitchbooking has helped Fairfield maximise the platform's potential, allowing them to make the most out of their system.
If you’re managing a sports facility and struggling with invoicing or manual bookings, Fairfield’s experience demonstrates how Pitchbooking can offer a seamless solution to simplify your booking processes and improve overall operations.