Automated reservation confirmation and reminders via SMS or email

Purpose

1.1. Automate all reservation confirmations and reminders for guests via SMS or email, reducing no-shows and manual workload, automatically updating guests about reservation status, timings, and changes.
1.2. Automates personalized communication post-reservation, improving guest experience, reliability, and business efficiency for an Eritrean restaurant within the Food & Beverage sector.

Trigger Conditions

2.1. Reservation created or updated in POS or online booking system.
2.2. Reservation date-time is approaching (e.g., 24 hours or 1 hour before).
2.3. Reservation marked as changed or cancelled.
2.4. Guest information (email/phone) is valid and permissioned.

Platform Variants

3.1. Twilio SMS
• Feature/Setting: Use programmable SMS API (Messages resource); set triggers for reservation events; configure sender ID, automate personalized templates.
• Sample: POST /Messages with reservation data.

3.2. SendGrid
• Feature/Setting: Automate transactional emails via Mail Send API; use dynamic templates for confirmations/reminders.
• Sample: POST /mail/send with dynamic template data.

3.3. Nexmo (Vonage SMS)
• Feature/Setting: SMS API (Send an SMS); configure triggers for confirmation/reminder based on events.
• Sample: POST /sms/json.

3.4. AWS Simple Email Service (SES)
• Feature/Setting: Use SendEmail API for automated customized reservation messages.
• Sample: SendEmail with dynamic body fields.

3.5. Mailgun
• Feature/Setting: Messages API, automate sending reservation confirmation/reminder emails via scheduled events.
• Sample: /messages endpoint with reservation template.

3.6. Plivo
• Feature/Setting: Send SMS API; automate text distributions triggered by reservation status.
• Sample: POST /v1/Account/{auth_id}/Message/.

3.7. ClickSend
• Feature/Setting: SMS and email API, schedule reminders, automate with reservation triggers.
• Sample: POST /v3/sms/send.

3.8. Slack
• Feature/Setting: Incoming Webhooks, send automated team notifications for new reservations/modifications.
• Sample: POST to webhook URL.

3.9. Telegram
• Feature/Setting: Bot API for automated direct messages to customer or staff.
• Sample: sendMessage method.

3.10. Zapier
• Feature/Setting: Automate emails/SMS across connected platforms with Triggers and Actions.
• Sample: Zap connecting booking app to email/SMS app.

3.11. Outlook 365
• Feature/Setting: Automated email confirm/reminder flows via Outlook REST API.
• Sample: POST /sendMail with dynamic content.

3.12. Google Calendar API
• Feature/Setting: Insert event with reminders; automate notification emails based on event.
• Sample: POST /calendars/events with reminders.

3.13. HubSpot
• Feature/Setting: Workflow Automation to email reservation confirmations and reminders to contacts.
• Sample: Trigger: Reservation creation → Action: Send email.

3.14. Salesforce Marketing Cloud
• Feature/Setting: Automated Journey Builder emails/SMS notifications upon reservation events.
• Sample: Entry Event API for journey initiation.

3.15. ActiveCampaign
• Feature/Setting: Automate confirmations/reminders via Email/SMS Automation workflows.
• Sample: Trigger: Reservation received → Automation: send message.

3.16. MessageBird
• Feature/Setting: SMS API, set up automator flows for reservation reminders.
• Sample: POST /messages endpoint.

3.17. Infobip
• Feature/Setting: Automated SMS campaigns using SMS API for each booking event.
• Sample: POST /sms/2/text/advanced.

3.18. Pipedrive
• Feature/Setting: Workflow Automation—trigger reservation event to send emails/SMS via integration.
• Sample: Reservation event → integration module.

3.19. Intercom
• Feature/Setting: Custom Bots & Email automation for sending confirmations on reservations.
• Sample: Automated messages on reservation triggers.

3.20. Freshdesk
• Feature/Setting: Automate email/text updates from reservation tickets using automation rules.
• Sample: Ticket event triggers message.

Benefits

4.1. Automates guest communication, reducing manual tasks and human error.
4.2. Automated reminders minimize no-shows and maximize reservation attendance.
4.3. Consistent, automatedly personalized service increases guest satisfaction.
4.4. Automates multi-platform notifications for staff visibility and workflow.
4.5. Automation analytics provide insights into reservation patterns and guest engagement.
4.6. Save staff time by automating repetitive tasks, allowing focus on customer service.
4.7. Adapt automation logic per platform, choosing best fit for business needs and local compliance.