What is the difference between “Display time slots with automatic dispatch” vs “Display time slots with automatic dispatch (resource)”?
"Display time slots with automatic dispatch” prioritizes the availability of the personnel over the resource, whereas “Display time slots with automatic dispatch (resource)” prioritizes the resource availability over the personnel.
Consider this example to highlight the difference between the two options:
A service has one assigned staff member (available between 9 AM - 5 PM, booking interval is 30 minutes) and one resource (available between 9:15 AM - 5 PM). Note that the earliest time where both the staff and the resource are available is 9:15 AM.
If “Display time slots with automatic dispatch” is chosen, the first available time slot shown to the client will be 9:30 AM. The subsequent times will be as follows:
9:30 AM
10:00 AM
10:30 AM
11:00 AM
etc.
If “Display time slots with automatic dispatch (resource)” is chosen, the first available time slot shown to the client will be 9:15 AM. The subsequent times will be as follows:
9:15 AM
9:45 AM
10:15 AM
10:45 AM
etc.
Choosing “Display time slots with automatic dispatch (resource)” can be useful if, for example, your staff's availability begins earlier than your resource, and you need time to set up the resource prior to an appointment, but also want the service to be offered as soon as the resource is ready. This way, you can offer time slots starting as soon as the resource is ready instead of waiting on the staff.