Editor's Note - We will endevour to update this blog with the latest Government guidance, as and when it is made available.
As we ease out of the Coronavirus lockdown, the Government has outlined a timetable for a return to sport across the UK. The primary consideration for facility owners is that they should only re-open “as soon as they feel able to do so safely. Until you feel it is safe and responsible to reopen you should remain closed.”
There will undoubtedly be changes to how facility owners will have to operate going forward. The guidance now states that taking booking in advance, online, or over the phone is preferable. In addition, facilities should avoid handling cash wherever possible.
At Pitchbooking, we have been enabling online and cashless transactions for several years, processing well over £1,000,000 in online, cashless transactions for our partners, including Oxford City Council, Wokingham BC and Playball at Stormont.
In this 'new normal', having a process where players can book safely from home and arrive at their chosen sports facility, secure in the knowledge that it has already been paid for and confirmed, will be the standard. As a facility owner, you receive confirmation of the booking, as well as payment directly into your bank account - without the need to directly contact the customer at all.
We understand the barriers to implementing an online booking system - we have outlined the most common concerns and how we address them here. But in this new normal post lockdown we are seeing a large increase in facility owners proactively reaching out to us.
Going forward without an online and cashless solution can mean a serious loss of income, breach of Government guidelines and a breakdown in customer trust. That’s why we would encourage all local authorities, facility owners and community teams to be proactive as the lockdown continues to ease. It is possible to re-open facilities to the public safely, and our software is fully equipped to meet this challenge. To learn more, head over to our solution page for a full breakdown of the features available.
We’ve already spoken with various facility owners across the country who are now looking to bring their booking process online. We understand that right now, this might feel like a necessity just to survive in the current climate. But we also understand the many benefits that Pitchbooking brings to the table, both before and after the pandemic. A recent study into the impact of Pitchbooking on one of our partners (Wokingham Borough Council) revealed an 89% increase in booking revenue over a 6 month period year on year. You can view the full testimonial here.
Finally, what does the switch over process look like in practice? You can find more information on how we onboard new customers, as we answer some of the questions we get asked most frequently here.
Check out our bookings and payments solution for sports facilities at pitchbooking.com/solution or get in touch via info@pitchbooking.com to chat with one of our team about switching over.