We build our own systems. So first the argument for the other side.
A booking platform brings visibility and new customers and charges a commission per booking. Your own system costs one time and then nothing per booking, but does not bring in new customers. With high volumes and many returning customers, the calculation tilts towards self; in building awareness towards the platform.
NEXT TO EACH OTHER
The differences at a glance
| ASPECT | Own system | Booking platform |
|---|---|---|
| Costs | One-off from €950 | Commission per booking or per employee |
| New customers | No, you direct traffic yourself | Yes, that is the core of the offer |
| Customer data | From you | Mostly from the platform |
| Appearance | Your corporate identity | That of the platform |
| Costs of growth | Right | Increase with your turnover |
| Dependency | None | Platform determines rules and rates |
WHEN WHAT
When which
If you are still building fame, a platform provides something that its own system cannot: people who do not know you yet. That commission is then acquisition costs, not waste.
If you mainly have returning customers, you pay commission on bookings that you would have already received. That's the tipping point, and many companies end up doing both.
- Own with returning customers — commission on customers you already had.
- Own at high volume — the payment is increasing rapidly.
- Own if you want the data — customer contact remains yours.
- Own your own working method — buffer times and exceptions as desired.
- Platform when building — visibility that you do not have yourself.
- Low volume platform — one-off construction costs then weigh heavily.
- Platform in a marketplace industry — where customers simply search there.
- Both is often the answer — platform for new, native for recurring.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
More about the choice
How do I calculate this?
Number of bookings via the platform times the average payment times twelve. Contrast that with a one-time construction price. With a few hundred bookings per month, your own system usually pays for itself within a year.
Can I use both?
Yes, and that is often the wisest route. New customers via the platform, returning customers via your own system without any commission.
Will I lose customers if I leave a platform?
Possibly, and you have to take that risk into account. Therefore, first build your own system in addition to the platform before you say goodbye, not after.
CONTINUE READING
Of course, continue reading about this subject.
What does it cost you? remittance now?
Tell us how many bookings you have per month. We charge for when own becomes cheaper.