Scheduling

Let people schedule time with you

A booking page is only useful if the times on it actually work for you. Scheduling starts with the calendars you already use, Google Calendar and Outlook, so guests only ever see the times you're really free.

Sync your Google or Outlook Calendars

Cardel connects to Google Calendar and Outlook through their official integrations, and both companies have verified Cardel's integration. Google has reviewed and verified Cardel's access to Google Calendar, and Microsoft has verified Cardel as a publisher, so you'll see a verified badge when you connect Outlook. When you click Connect, you sign in on Google's or Microsoft's own page, not a Cardel form, and you see exactly which permissions Cardel is asking for before you approve it. Cardel never sees your Google or Microsoft password.

Cardel uses Google and Outlook access for three things: checking when you're busy, listing your calendars so you can choose which ones count, and adding new bookings to the calendar you pick. The connection is stored encrypted, and you can disconnect anytime, right from Scheduling or from your Google or Microsoft account settings.

Cardel syncs with your connected calendars in real-time, and checks on a cadence to ensure nothing is missed, even when you're not in Scheduling. If a connection ever drops, you'll get an email asking you to reconnect, so your booking page doesn't quietly fall out of sync.

Blog: How Syncing Multiple Calendars Improves Business Scheduling

Set it up the way you work

You can connect up to three Google or Outlook accounts, in any mix, so work and personal calendars both count. Choose which calendars mark your calendar busy in Cardel, and which calendar Cardel bookings sync back with. Then set your timezone, your weekly hours, how long meetings last, how much breathing room you want between them, and how far ahead people can book. Your booking page lives on your /schedule page, and you publish it when you're ready. You can also add a location or meeting link that comes with every booking.

Guests only see open times, never what's on your calendar. You see everything, including whether a guest accepted, declined, or said maybe. You can your events manually on your calendar in Cardel that sync back with your chosen personal calendar, and block off time for bookings.

A Shop item can use a booking button that takes users to the scheduling page, so someone can go from browsing your services to booking a time in a couple of clicks. On Starter, that button can link to a booking tool you already use. On Pro, you can link the button to scheduling directly in Cardel.

Blog: How to Prevent Double Bookings and Schedule Across Time Zones

How it works

1. Open Scheduling, click Connect, and approve Cardel on Google's or Microsoft's own sign-in page.

2. Choose which calendars to sync with.

3. Set your hours, default meeting length, and how much notice you need for each appointment.

4. Publish your scheduling page, and optionally connect it with your shop items.

A few things worth knowing

Booking on your own site comes with Pro and Studio. Your booking page stays private until you publish it. Events that come in from Google or Outlook are view-only in Cardel. Guest bookings, and events you create in Cardel, are the ones you can edit.