Automated reservation cancellation and rebooking

Purpose

1.1. Streamline manual processes for reservation cancellation and rebooking, ensuring customers can quickly modify or cancel bookings across online, phone, and in-person channels.
1.2. Minimize staff workload, reduce errors, and enhance responsiveness for patrons of Anhui cuisine restaurants.
1.3. Enable instant seat availability updates in real time to optimize restaurant occupancy and revenue management.
1.4. Ensure proper notification and documentation of each change for operational transparency and analytics.
1.5. Integrate reservation data with other systems for seamless payment/billing, loyalty, and CRM activities.

Trigger Conditions

2.1. Customer initiates cancellation or rebooking via web form or app.
2.2. Customer sends SMS, WhatsApp, or email indicating cancellation/rebooking intent.
2.3. Staff manually updates POS or reservation system with cancellation/rebooking.
2.4. Third-party booking platform notifies cancellation or modification request via webhook or API.
2.5. Scheduled task checks for unconfirmed reservations within a cutoff period and triggers auto-cancellation.

Platform Variants

3.1. Twilio SMS
• Feature/Setting: SMS inbound webhook; configure webhook endpoint to process reservation status updates upon keyword match ("cancel", "rebook").

3.2. SendGrid
• Feature/Setting: Inbound Parse Webhook; route reservation change emails for automated processing and acknowledgement responses.

3.3. Slack
• Feature/Setting: Slash command or bot trigger; auto-update reservations when a specific channel message or command is posted by staff.

3.4. Google Calendar
• Feature/Setting: Event updated/deleted trigger via API; sync calendar events for real-time seat availability.

3.5. Microsoft Outlook/365
• Feature/Setting: Graph API; trigger automation upon reservation event modification or cancellation in shared restaurant calendars.

3.6. Salesforce
• Feature/Setting: Process Builder/Flow; auto-update contact or reservation objects upon external trigger from booking channels.

3.7. HubSpot
• Feature/Setting: Workflow webhook; reflect changes in reservation pipeline with automatic emails to customers.

3.8. Shopify POS
• Feature/Setting: POS order update/cancel API; auto-adjust inventory and dining slot availability from cancellations.

3.9. Toast POS
• Feature/Setting: Webhooks for reservation changes; automate order deletion or rescheduling within the POS.

3.10. OpenTable
• Feature/Setting: Reservation API; automate cancellation or rebooking through integration endpoints.

3.11. Resy
• Feature/Setting: Partner API for reservation management; trigger changes and update CRM.

3.12. Square
• Feature/Setting: Booking API for restaurants; automate booking slot reallocation and client notification.

3.13. WhatsApp Business API
• Feature/Setting: Webhook for inbound messages; process keywords and handle reservation changes.

3.14. Google Sheets
• Feature/Setting: On edit trigger via Apps Script; log and respond to changes in reservation rows.

3.15. Zendesk
• Feature/Setting: Ticket automation; trigger workflow to inform customer and update database when cancellation request submitted.

3.16. Aircall
• Feature/Setting: Call webhook; analyze call intent and link automated reservation cancellation workflow.

3.17. Mailgun
• Feature/Setting: Routes and API; process incoming reservation requests and cancellations via email address.

3.18. Calendly
• Feature/Setting: Webhook integration; detect event cancellation/rebooking and reflect in restaurant systems.

3.19. Zapier
• Feature/Setting: Webhook trigger/action; cross-platform automation between booking, POS, and calendar services.

3.20. Freshdesk
• Feature/Setting: Ticket trigger; instantly launch cancellation or rebooking workflow upon customer interaction.

3.21. Microsoft Teams
• Feature/Setting: Bot or webhook trigger; update bookings when messages/commands indicate cancellation.

3.22. Stripe
• Feature/Setting: PaymentIntent update webhook; automate refund/cancellation of pre-paid reservations.

Benefits

4.1. Reduces error-prone manual input; ensures reservations are accurately reflected in real time.
4.2. Accelerates communication and boosts customer satisfaction with instant confirmations.
4.3. Frees up staff to focus on high-value tasks and guest services.
4.4. Seamlessly coordinates information across restaurant, marketing, and finance systems.
4.5. Provides actionable data for operational and marketing improvements.
4.6. Builds reputation for flexibility and responsiveness in Anhui cuisine customer experience.