Transition Planning

Transitioning to the Blue Sky Booking software can be made easy by spreading your transition period over a range of days or weeks.

System launch

Phase 1: Determine your milestones

1. Choose a Reservation date.
   This is the date that reservations will accept bookings into both the current reservation system and the Booking Agent.
2. Choose a Launch date.
   This go live date is when all bookings will be processed solely in the Booking Agent.
   All check-in procedures will be executed from the Booking Agent.

The time between the Reservation and Launch date will determine the level of effort required.

Determining a reasonable transition period depends on:

• Volume of existing bookings.
• How fast existing bookings can be transferred to the Booking Agent.
• Training requirements and scheduling for employees.
• Transitioning of existing products.
• 1 – 2 weeks is generally recommended.

Phase 2: Preparation

1. Install the Booking Agent on all company computers.
2. Perform the Setup Checklist.
   » Setup Checklist
3. Enter your full schedule into the Booking Agent starting from the launch date.
   » Create a Schedule
4. Run training for employees.
   » Launch in Training Environment
5. Contact your web developer to integrate the online booking engine.
   » Web and mobile bookings

Phase 3: Booking Date

In this phase:

• The current reservation system will be active, running in parallel with the Booking Agent.
• The reservations department will use both the current reservation system and the Booking Agent to process bookings.
  • Booking requests before the launch date will be entered into the current reservation system.
  • Booking requests after the launch date will be entered into the Booking Agent.
  • Return bookings may require splitting up if the departure and return date straddles the launch date.
• The front counter check in procedures will continue to run solely with the current reservation system.

1. Disable the ability to create new bookings in the current reservation system after the launch date.
   It is recommended to make this change after closing time the night prior.
2. Transfer all bookings in the existing reservations system booked after the launch date into the Booking Agent.
   This work can be completed between the booking and launch dates.
3. Your web developer can activate the online bookings.

Phase 4: Launch Date

1. Employees switch all check in tasks and reservations over to the Booking Agent.
2. Remove any website code referencing the old reservation system.

Phase 5: Clean up

1. Remove or disable old reservation software on computers.

Web and mobile bookings

I have a booking request form or no online bookings

Your developer can integrate and activate the online bookings anytime prior to the launch date.

I have online bookings

Your developer can use separate links for customers desiring to book before and after your launch date.