Real-time seat availability and allocation updates

Purpose

1.1. Enable instant visibility of available and allocated seats for airport shuttle bookings, synchronizing updates across all channels in real time.
1.2. Reduce double bookings, optimize shuttle utilization, and enhance passenger experience by maintaining a live seat count.
1.3. Integrate notifications and reservation updates for internal staff and customers triggered by booking actions, cancellations, or schedule changes.
1.4. Support cross-platform synchronization including web, mobile apps, customer emails, dispatch dashboards, and third-party travel partners.

Trigger Conditions

2.1. New booking is made via website, mobile app, phone, or third-party portal.
2.2. Booking modification is submitted (change of passenger count, date, or time).
2.3. Reservation is cancelled by customer or admin.
2.4. Shuttle is marked as full or additional seats become available due to fleet changes.
2.5. Manual override or emergency adjustment initiated by operator/admin.

Platform Variants

3.1. Twilio SMS
• API: Messages API — Trigger SMS alert with seat updates to dispatch and riders.
• Configuration: Use status-change webhook to call Twilio POST /Messages.

3.2. SendGrid
• API: v3 Mail Send — Email notifications for seat update confirmations and waitlist changes.
• Configuration: Connect reservation status change event to Mail Send API.

3.3. Slack
• Feature: Incoming Webhooks — Post seat allocation updates to internal channels.
• Configuration: Webhook URL triggered on each seat-status update event.

3.4. Microsoft Teams
• Feature: Connectors — Auto-post shuttle seat status messages to operations group.
• Configuration: POST status messages to Teams connector webhook.

3.5. Google Calendar
• API: Events API — Reflect seat allocations as calendar events or changes.
• Configuration: Patch corresponding event with latest availability status.

3.6. Salesforce
• Feature: REST API, Cases/Opportunities — Log seat status changes as opportunity updates.
• Configuration: PATCH opportunity records tied to reservations.

3.7. HubSpot
• API: CRM Objects API — Automate property updates for shuttle seat inventory.
• Configuration: PATCH custom property in booking object on seat change.

3.8. Zendesk
• Feature: Triggers/Webhooks — Push ticket updates if booking-related support tickets are impacted by seat changes.
• Configuration: Configure trigger to notify on relevant ticket.

3.9. Zendesk Sell
• API: Deals API — Link shuttle seat assignments to sales deals.
• Configuration: PATCH deal with reservation status in workflow.

3.10. Google Sheets
• API: Sheets API — Maintain real-time seat matrix in shared spreadsheet.
• Configuration: PATCH seat count cell upon trigger.

3.11. Airtable
• Feature: Automations, API — Update 'available seats' field in shuttle records instantly.
• Configuration: Use PATCH request to update relevant record.

3.12. Shopify
• Feature: Inventory API — Manage seat as SKU inventory, auto-adjust on booking.
• Configuration: PATCH inventory levels per shuttle ‘product’ on update.

3.13. WooCommerce
• Feature: REST API, Product Inventory — Mark seat SKU stock via PUT request as booked or released.
• Configuration: Sync seat count on booking creation/update.

3.14. Mailchimp
• Feature: Automation Email — Notify passenger lists via triggered campaigns when seat status changes.
• Configuration: Trigger automation based on integration webhook.

3.15. Outlook
• API: Calendar/Email — Send calendar invites or update emails linked to seat allocation.
• Configuration: Use PATCH or POST to update attendee or message content.

3.16. Freshdesk
• Feature: Webhooks/Automations — Ticket update notifications if seat assignment affects reservations.
• Configuration: Trigger webhook to update ticket notes/status.

3.17. Trello
• Feature: Card Automation (Butler) — Move or comment on cards representing shuttle seats as booked/free.
• Configuration: Automation triggers on seat update.

3.18. Zapier
• Feature: Webhooks/Paths — Transmit seat status change to connected systems.
• Configuration: Trigger zap on booking event update.

3.19. Monday.com
• API: Updates API — Push seat status to boards used by operations.
• Configuration: Update board item column on trigger.

3.20. ServiceNow
• Feature: REST Table API — Record or update shuttle seat allocation in workflows.
• Configuration: PATCH seat status in incident/request table.

21. Plaid

• API: Webhooks — Monitor financial transactions if shuttle booking integrated with payment systems for validation of seat holds.
• Configuration: Trigger webhook on successful or failed charge.

22. Quickbooks Online

• Feature: API, Sales Receipt — Tie seat allocation impacts directly to booking revenue recognition.
• Configuration: Create or update sales receipt entry on booking seat assignment.

Benefits

4.1. Prevents double bookings and over-allocations through instant status locks and releases.
4.2. Improves operational visibility for staff with automated cross-channel updates.
4.3. Increases customer trust by providing up-to-the-minute availability confirmations.
4.4. Enables dynamic rescheduling and reduces lost revenue by reallocating seats instantly.
4.5. Simplifies multi-system coordination with synchronized data across all business tools.