Fixed Time Scheduling Guide

Learn how to set up traditional appointment booking with Fixed Time Scheduling in FieldCamp. This guide covers configuring exact service times, setting durations, and managing team schedules for precise appointment coordination.

What you'll learn:

Fixed Time Scheduling lets customers book specific appointment times with exact start and end times. Perfect for field services requiring precise timing like installations, inspections, or scheduled maintenance.

Example: Customer books 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM for an HVAC inspection.

Step 1: Select Service
Customer chooses what they need from your service list.

Step 2: See Available Times
Exact time slots appear like 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM or 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM.

Step 3: Pick Their Time
Customer selects their preferred appointment slot.

Step 4: Get Confirmation
Instant confirmation with exact service timing.

Smart Scheduling: Our algorithm automatically factors in travel time between appointments, ensuring technicians arrive on time.

Navigate to Settings → Service Areas to get started.

First, choose your area type—Radius, Polygon, or Zip Code. Define your service territory based on where your team operates. Select "Fixed Time Slots" as the scheduling format and save your settings.

Define how long each service takes in your system.

Installation services typically need 2-4 hours. Repair services usually take 1-2 hours. Maintenance visits range from 30-90 minutes. Inspections often require 45-60 minutes.

Automatic Optimization: The system calculates travel time between jobs and only shows available slots that work with your team's schedule.

Set your business hours for each day of the week. Define any lunch breaks or blocked times when you're unavailable. Add holidays and blackout dates when you're closed.

For team schedules, set individual working hours for each team member. Configure skill-based assignments if certain services need specific technicians. Manage personal time off directly in the system.

Select which team members work in each service area. Set their individual availability if it differs from standard hours. Configure skill requirements for specialized services. Save all assignments to activate the schedule.

For system installations, set a 4-hour duration with morning (8:00 AM - 12:00 PM) and afternoon (1:00 PM - 5:00 PM) slots. The algorithm automatically blocks appropriate time based on the customer's location and technician's route.

Repair services typically need 90-minute slots. The system creates appointments throughout the day while optimizing routes between jobs to minimize travel time.

Safety inspections work well with 60-minute appointments. The algorithm factors in travel from previous jobs when showing available slots to customers.

Configure different durations for different service levels in your business.

Quick fixes might only need 30 minutes for minor repairs. Standard services typically require 60-90 minutes for regular repairs. Major repairs could take 2-3 hours for complex issues. Full installations often need 4-8 hours for new system setups.

The system supports team-based availability where different technicians work different hours. You can set service-specific hours so certain services are only available at specific times. Seasonal adjustments let you modify schedules based on busy or slow periods.

Automatic travel time calculation ensures realistic scheduling between appointments. Route optimization groups nearby appointments together for efficiency. Real-time availability updates slots instantly based on current bookings and locations.

You'll enjoy predictable schedules knowing exactly when each appointment starts and ends. The algorithm optimizes technician routes for maximum efficiency. Clear team and equipment allocation improves resource management. Reliable, on-time service increases customer satisfaction.

Customers can plan their day around exact appointment times. Service starts at the scheduled time with no waiting. Clear expectations mean they know exactly when to be available. Professional, reliable appointment times build trust.

Fixed time scheduling works perfectly for equipment installation, system setup, and appliance installation where precise timing matters.

Ideal for preventive maintenance programs, regular inspections, and service contracts that need consistent scheduling.

Great for non-emergency repairs, warranty work, and follow-up visits where customers need to plan their availability.

Perfect for pool and spa maintenance, solar panel installation, or security system setup requiring specific time windows.

Setting durations too short leads to rushed work and poor service quality. Overriding smart scheduling with manual changes can break route optimization. Being too rigid without accounting for service complexity variations frustrates technicians. Offering too few time slots limits customer choice and reduces bookings.

Start by analyzing your current appointment patterns and typical service durations. Use this historical data to set realistic time slots in the system.

Train your team on the new automated system before launch. Consider a gradual rollout with select services or team members first. Monitor performance closely and fine-tune durations based on actual results.

Send advance notice about your new online booking system. Explain the benefits of precise scheduling and guaranteed appointment times. Offer assistance for customers unfamiliar with online booking. Keep phone booking available during the transition period for those who need it.

The system automatically calculates drive time between customer locations using real-time traffic data. It only shows slots when technicians can realistically arrive on time.

Appointments are grouped intelligently to minimize travel and maximize daily productivity. As new bookings come in, available slots adjust in real-time to maintain efficient routing.

Set your availability from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM with 45-minute service durations. The algorithm calculates travel between jobs automatically, creating dynamic slots based on location and resulting in optimal morning routes.

With 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM availability and 60-minute service durations, the algorithm optimizes full-day routing. This maximizes jobs completed while minimizing travel time.

For full-day projects, set 8-hour durations from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The algorithm blocks the entire day for one team, ensuring they have adequate time for complex installations.

A typical HVAC company might offer 60-minute maintenance visits, 90-minute repairs, and 4-hour installations. The smart scheduling algorithm groups nearby appointments, automatically adjusts for traffic patterns, and optimizes technician routes daily for maximum efficiency.

Plumbing services often include 45-minute drain cleanings, 90-minute fixture repairs, and 3-hour water heater installations. The algorithm factors in time for parts pickup, adjusts for emergency call-outs, and maintains service area efficiency throughout the day.

Before launching, make sure you've defined service area boundaries and selected "Fixed Time Slots" format. Set appropriate service durations for each type of work. Configure your business hours and assign team members to service areas. Test the booking process as a customer would experience it. Once everything works smoothly, launch to your customers.

Contact support if you need assistance setting up fixed time scheduling or want to explore if this format fits your field service needs.