In this day and age, over 50% of today’s travellers are choosing to book online instead of over the phone. It’s officially impossible to ignore the need for online booking software.But tour operators are swamped with a multitude of options. With so many choices, how do you find one that perfectly meets the needs of your tour or activity business?Here are 3 steps to finding your perfect booking software match. Step 1: Know the costs involved Paid vs. FreeFree software:Has limited functionality.Is often very basic.Does not allow for the best user experience for staff or customers.Paid software:Has more flexible features.Offer customer support.Is more convenient for you and your customers.Paid software is designed to save you more time and make you more money.Cost factors to considerSetup & training.Licensing fee (fixed fee or commission-based).Support.Licence per user. Fixed Fee vs. Commission-Based PricingFixed fee:Often a low monthly rate.Predictable pricing.Helps you scale as you grow.Rate is not dependent on the bookings you make.Commission-based:You only pay when you get a booking.Costs more as your business grows.Cost can change each month.Better for businesses who are just starting out. Step 2: Decide which features you want Basic requirements:Web-based (in the ‘cloud’).Real-time booking.Payment options (PayPal, credit card, bank transfer, deferred payment processing, cash).Visual calendar.Currency and language settings. Complex requirements:Email customization.SMS and email automation.Detailed sales reports.Resource management.Voucher and promo code management.Distribution channel management. Step 3: Assess the software vendor Option 1: Custom built softwarePros:Designed to your exact needs.100% in your control.You can create custom features.Cons:Very expensive (tens of thousands of dollars).Your job to maintain it.No 24/7 support when things go wrong. Option 2: Ready-made online booking softwarePros:Quick to set up and get going.MUCH more affordable.Dedicated to system maintenance and customer support.Cons:Can’t create custom features (but can suggest them).Some vendors have commission-based pricing (which can work out to be very costly). Take your timeIt’s a big decision, because it is so central to the running of your business.Do your research byTaking free trials.Evaluating each system.Talking to their customers (ones that run businesses like yours).It would be worthwhile to get a live demonstration of the software and getting all your staff (ie. the ones who will ultimately use it on a day-to-day basis) to sit in and give their input.To include Rezdy in your research, sign up for a free trial:[hs id=”cbf39995-f3b1-4a6e-8292-f62dbf0b2063″]You can also download the complete guide to choosing booking software by clicking here.Embed this presentation on your websiteCopy and paste the code below<iframe src=”//www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/37623647″ width=”427″ height=”356″ frameborder=”0″ marginwidth=”0″ marginheight=”0″ scrolling=”no” style=”border:1px solid #CCC; border-width:1px; margin-bottom:5px; max-width: 100%;” allowfullscreen> </iframe> <div style=”margin-bottom:5px”> <strong> <a href=”https://www.slideshare.net/rezdy_com/how-to-choose-an-online-booking-software-for-tours-activities” title=”How to Choose an Online Booking Software for Tours & Activities” target=”_blank”>How to Choose an Online Booking Software for Tours & Activities</a> </strong> from <strong><a href=”http://www.slideshare.net/rezdy_com” target=”_blank”>Rezdy Tour Booking Software</a></strong> </div>