| web based/online | |
- A web based system
- All users accessing the system from the same easy to use web interface
- Students can create, edit and cancel their own bookings
- Students can have their own personal homepage where they can view bookings and messages
- Clear booking grid which enables students to view availability in a calendar format
| - Can be accessed by users from home or at your institution
- No additional licenses are required
- Reduces the time and effort involved with deploying and upgrading connect2
- Enhances the self-service environment, eliminating the need for staff involvement
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| self-registration | |
- enables users to create their own accounts including username and password
- forgotten username and password tool
- account activation (automated)
- duplicate detection tool
- import rules to automatically assign users to the correct group e.g. adult/child
- ability for users to update their personal information
| - eliminates the need for staff interaction
- ensures users can make their own bookings
- ensures that those already in the system do not set up a new account and create duplicate accounts
- allows users to keep their account information up to date
|
| wizard pages | |
- Customisable wizard pages provide step by step guidance on using connect2
- Essential information such as contact details can be collected from the student
- Customisable wizards mean that users can only see information that is relevant to them
| - Staff and students are able to quickly familiarise themselves with the system
- Staff can collect all the information they need without having to 'chase up' the student
- Users are not faced with long lists of information that are irrelevant to them
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| roles | |
- Ability to divide users into groups e.g student and staff, Media students
- Each group can have individual permissions and rules assigned to them
| - Ensures appropriate control is maintained e.g. a Music student may be able to book a studio that other students do not have the permission to use
|
| booking rules | |
- Different booking rules can be applied to each resource
- These can then be applied to different user roles
- Limitations can also be applied e.g. how far in advance a booking can be made or how many resources can be borrowed at one time
- Apply open hours and holidays so that resources cannot be used during this period
- Bookings can be cancelled automatically if a student misses their booking within a specified time. The resource can then be made available again for booking
| - Ensures resources are used appropriately and fairly by assigning adequate amounts of booking time to them
- Ensures specific resources can only be booked during appropriate times (e.g. during opening times)
- connect2 can be organised to specifically meet your requirements
- Ensures fair and controlled access
|
| recurring bookings | |
- Enables recurring bookings to be made in one booking, for example a daily or monthly booking
- Using the recreate feature, staff and students are able to set up recurring bookings quickly and easily
| - Facilitates easy management of block bookings e.g. weekly music studio bookings
- Simplifies and speeds up the booking process
|
| messages/notifications | |
- Ability to send automated messages to students, for example, send a message to a student to let them know that their booking has been cancelled
- Notifies the booking owner if a booking is amended by a member of staff
| - Easy to communicate with students
- Eliminates confrontation
- Reduces 'no shows' by sending messages to students
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| centralisation | |
- All resource and booking information is stored in one central system
- The status of each booking can be seen at any time e.g. all bookings that need to be confirmed can be seen at one time
- The entire history of, for example, a resource can be viewed
| - All bookings for all users and all sites can be viewed on one central system
- Information on all bookings can be gathered quickly, making it less time consuming for staff
|
| searching facility | |
- Resources etc can easily be searched for by students and staff
- Searchable fields are customisable, e.g. users might search for resources by location or type
- Through the use of 'role settings', the search facility will only provide search results that are relevant to the user
| - Allows students and staff to quickly find what they are looking for
- Enables staff to provide as much information as possible
- Only provides relevant information to users, making the booking experience a more efficient one
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| customisation | |
- Add your logo and branding
- Customise text, rules and options to suit your institution
- Customise and add specific messages
| - Ensures that the system integrates seamlessly into your institution
- Allows connect2 to be used as a promotional tool for your institution
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| ability to show terms and conditions | |
- Through 'conditions' pages, create a terms and conditions or acceptable usage policy page
- Students have to accept this in order to make a booking
| - Allows you to ensure that students are presented with and accept any regulations, laws and procedures
- The facility to state the library's responsibility
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| integration | |
- connect2 can link to your systems via a connector
| - No need to create a separate database
- Enables users to be automatically authenticated to create a booking without staff intervention
- Student information can be automatically updated with amendments
- The booking system becomes part of your network architecture
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