Managing Pitchbooking Subscriptions: Stay Flexible, Streamline Operations, and Maximise Revenue

In 2020, no industry was immune to the disruption caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, and grassroots sport was no exception. With regional lockdowns coming into effect on a rolling basis, managing multiple block bookings across different facilities became a logistical challenge for clubs and facility owners. The added complexity of money already exchanged for booked slots only heightened the stress for all involved.

Under normal circumstances, Pitchbooking customers simply set up a subscription for their weekly block bookings. The subscription covers both the slot itself and the recurring payment, securing the booking for the future. For more on how subscriptions work, visit our Knowledge Centre.

However, the unpredictable nature of the pandemic meant that many bookings were disrupted due to national lockdowns and regional restrictions. To address these issues, Pitchbooking has expanded its subscription feature to accommodate these new challenges, ensuring facility owners and clubs have the flexibility they need.

New Features to Manage Disruptive Bookings

Based on feedback from our valued customers, we've introduced two new ways to manage block booking subscriptions: Pause and Exclusions. These tools allow facility owners to maintain control over bookings, even in challenging times.

Pause – Temporary Suspension of Payments

When facilities face closures due to lockdowns or other unforeseen events, the Pause feature allows facility owners to temporarily suspend payments on active subscriptions. This ensures that the slot remains reserved for the original booker, but payments are paused until the service is resumed.

• How it works: The Pause feature retains the booking slot and keeps it secured for the booker, but stops payment until the subscription is "Unpaused".
• Best used for: Situations like lockdowns, site maintenance, or any period where facilities are completely closed.
• Important: The Pause feature does not free up the slot for new bookings during this time.

Exclusions – Temporarily Free Up Slots

In situations where specific dates or times are no longer needed, Pitchbooking offers the Exclusions feature. This option suspends payment and frees up the slot for other users to book, making it ideal for seasonal changes or when a team gives advance notice they won’t need their regular booking.

• How it works: The slot is made available for others to book, while the payment for that time is paused.
• Best used for: Teams who know in advance that they won’t need a slot for a certain period, or for facilities that need to manage seasonal bookings without creating new subscriptions each time.
• Key Benefits:
  • Available slots are visible on Pitchbooking.com.
  • Once exclusions are set, they cannot be overwritten or deleted in the Manager Dashboard.
  • Can be applied to single or multiple dates.
  • Can be added when creating a subscription or at any time thereafter.

Benefits of Pause and Exclusions

Both features offer facility owners greater control and flexibility, providing a better customer experience while also ensuring that bookings are secured. Here’s what you gain:

• More control: Manage disruptions with ease.
• More revenue: Keep your slots available to other users when appropriate.
• Less admin: Reduce the need for manual adjustments, saving you time.

Introducing Pay as You Play Subscription

In addition to the Pause and Exclusions updates, we’re excited to announce the new Pay as You Play subscription feature. This addition enables facility owners to offer weekly slots to teams or bookers without requiring upfront payment, providing a more flexible option for those who prefer to pay on arrival.

• How it works: Just like a regular subscription, facility owners can assign weekly slots and apply both the Pause and Exclusions features. Once the customer has paid on arrival, you can easily mark the booking as paid in the Manager Dashboard.

This update expands the payment flexibility options for your facility, allowing you to accommodate various customer preferences.

Easy Oversight and Management

In 2021, we will introduce even more features to streamline subscription management. The Pitchbooking system will allow facility owners to view all recurring payment information directly from the Manager Dashboard with just a click. This will provide full transparency and ease of use when managing subscriptions.

Why Pitchbooking Subscriptions are Essential for Your Facility

With Pitchbooking subscriptions, facility owners can tackle any potential disruption head-on. Whether you’re dealing with seasonal changes, regional lockdowns, or simply want to offer more flexibility to your clients, Pitchbooking has the tools to streamline the process.

• More bookings: Increase your revenue by opening up slots for new bookings.
• Less admin: Automate the management of payments and bookings, reducing administrative overhead.
• Increased flexibility: Give facility owners and customers more control over their bookings, ensuring a seamless experience.

Get Started with Pitchbooking Subscriptions

To learn more about managing your subscriptions or to see a demo of the platform, visit our solution page or contact us for more details.

We’re here to help you manage your facility more efficiently and keep your operations running smoothly. For answers to common questions, explore our Knowledge Centre for helpful guides and resources.