Home Business Types Sports, Fitness & Gyms How BookBoll.com Became Qatar’s Top Sports Rental Platform | Case Study
Sports, Fitness & Gyms, Case Studies

How BookBoll.com Became Qatar’s Top Sports Rental Platform | Case Study

Daena Skinner
30/09/2024
Eye icon 890
Comment icon 0
Qatar's leading sports rental

This post is also available in: French Spanish Portuguese (Brazil) German

BookBoll.com is the leading sports facility rental platform in Qatar. Before its creation, people in Qatar booked sports facilities through WhatsApp, a manual process that was inefficient. Seeing this gap, the founder of BookBoll.com wanted to simplify the booking process with an online solution. After evaluating multiple systems, BookBoll.com selected SimplyBook.me because of its flexibility and ability to handle complex bookings.

For the past three years, BookBoll.com has used SimplyBook.me to manage facility rentals and meet the growing demand in the market. With features like online payments, “pay later” options, and Google Analytics integration, the platform enhances both user experience and business management. As a result, BookBoll.com has become the top choice for sports facility rentals in Qatar, thanks to SimplyBook.me’s customizable solutions and operational support.

Bookboll.com facilities
Some of BookBooll.com’s facilities

The Interview – Gaining Insight into BookBoll.com’s Operations

Osama Safdar, the founder of BookBoll.com, took time to discuss how SimplyBook.me has transformed his business. Despite the interview being conducted remotely, Osama provided valuable insights into the inner workings of his company and its success story in Qatar. His firsthand experience with SimplyBook.me offers a clear understanding of how the system has been instrumental in automating and improving the booking process for sports facilities in Qatar.

BookBoll.com, being the top sports facility rental platform in Qatar, has used SimplyBook.me’s customization features to streamline operations and provide a seamless experience for both customers and staff. Osama was eager to share how the platform’s flexibility and integration capabilities have allowed his team to focus more on growing the business while ensuring clients have an effortless booking experience.

A Little History of BookBoll.com

BookBoll.com started with a simple idea: to solve the booking chaos that came from using WhatsApp for sports facilities in Qatar. Osama Safdar saw the need for a better system and set out to find an online solution that would work for both facility owners and their clients.

Three years ago, he discovered SimplyBook.me and quickly made it the backbone of BookBoll.com’s operations. With features like facility division, advanced customizations, and integrations with tools like Google Analytics, BookBoll.com was able to streamline processes and attract more clients. Today, it’s Qatar’s leading platform for sports facility rentals—a true success story fueled by a clear vision and the right technology.

BookBoll.com Homepage

Spotting the Need for Change

Every successful business starts with solving a real problem. For Osama, the issue was clear: people were struggling to book sports facilities using outdated methods like WhatsApp. He knew there had to be a better way, and that’s where SimplyBook.me came in.

Can you tell us about BookBoll.com and what inspired you to start using SimplyBook.me three years ago?

I saw a gap in the market where people were using WhatsApp to manage their facility hourly rental booking for sports around Qatar and wanted to create an online booking platform. After trying various online booking systems, I found that SimplyBook.me offered more customization freedom.

Did you consider or use any other booking system before SimplyBook.me? If so, which ones and why did they not work for your business?

I explored other systems but found them too basic. SimplyBook.me’s features, such as “related resources,” allowed me to manage the availability of dividing a single facility into three parts, making it easier for users to understand and navigate.

How has your business grown since you started using SimplyBook.me?

Introducing this new system in Qatar’s market allowed us to become the number one sports facility rental platform in Qatar!

Making Implementation Simple

Switching to a new system can feel overwhelming, but Osama and his team found the setup process with SimplyBook.me surprisingly smooth. It didn’t take long for them to get everything up and running, making life easier for both staff and clients.

What was the process like to implement SimplyBook.me into your business operations? Were there any challenges, and if so, how were they resolved?

The implementation process was smooth, as I could create user accounts for my operation staff with different access levels. There were no significant challenges, and the flexibility of the platform facilitated a seamless integration.

Which features of SimplyBook.me have been most beneficial for your business?

Features like “related resources” and customization options have been crucial in optimizing facility management and enhancing the user experience. Additionally, the system offers a variety of custom features that we have found particularly useful, such as online payment, pay later options, Google Analytics integration, Facebook Pixel tracking, custom client fields, custom domain names, SMTP features, book soon reminders, the ability to accept deposits, loyalty programs, and comprehensive business insights.

Customization and Feature Utilization

Can you share how you’ve customized the SimplyBook.me system to meet your specific needs?

I customized the system to allow the booking of specific parts of a facility, implemented user-friendly navigation, and set up distinct access levels for different staff members. We also took advantage of SimplyBook.me’s extensive custom features to enhance our business operations and customer engagement.

Which of the 33 custom features are you actively using, and how have they contributed to your business?

We actively use features like online payments, the pay later option, Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, custom client fields, custom domain names, SMTP features, book soon reminders, the ability to accept deposits, loyalty programs, and business insights. These features have streamlined our processes, provided valuable customer data, and improved our marketing efforts.

fitness business scheduling

Operational Impact

How has SimplyBook.me impacted your day-to-day operations?

SimplyBook.me has significantly streamlined our booking and facility management processes, reducing manual work and improving efficiency.

Can you provide examples of how the system has improved efficiency or customer experience?

The system’s ability to handle complex bookings and provide clear information has reduced customer inquiries and confusion, leading to a smoother booking process.

Creating a Better Client Experience

Clients love simplicity and clarity, and that’s exactly what BookBoll.com offers now. Automated notifications, clear booking options, and easy payment methods have all contributed to making their clients’ lives a lot easier, while also cutting down on admin time for the team.

What kind of feedback have you received from your clients regarding the online booking experience?

Clients have appreciated the ease of use, clarity in booking options, and the convenience of online payments.

How has SimplyBook.me helped in managing client relationships and communication?

The platform has improved communication through automated notifications and reminders, keeping clients informed and reducing no-shows.

Did you notice a reduction in no-shows after implementing SimplyBook.me?

Yes, the system’s automated reminders and clear communication have significantly reduced no-shows.

What features of the system do you believe contributed to this improvement?

Automated reminders and easy rescheduling options have been key factors in reducing no-shows.

Have you had the opportunity to use SimplyBook.me’s customer support? If so, how would you rate your satisfaction with the service you received?

Yes, the customer support has been excellent, responsive, and helpful in resolving any issues promptly.

Have you encountered any challenges while using SimplyBook.me over the years? How have these challenges been addressed, and what solutions were implemented?

There were minor challenges with initial setup and customization, but these were quickly resolved with the help of SimplyBook.me’s support team.

best scheduling software

Sales and Growth

Have you noticed an increase in sales since implementing SimplyBook.me?

Yes, there has been a noticeable increase in sales due to the streamlined booking process and improved customer experience.

Are you using the product sales, service add-ons, and tips features to enhance sales?

We are exploring these features to offer additional services and enhance the overall customer experience.

Competitive Advantage

What do you believe sets SimplyBook.me apart from other booking systems you might have considered?

The customization freedom, comprehensive feature set, and excellent customer support make SimplyBook.me stand out from other systems.

How has using SimplyBook.me given your business a competitive edge?

The platform’s flexibility and ability to handle complex booking scenarios have given us an edge in managing our facilities more efficiently than competitors.

Admin App Usage and On-Site Payments

Are you using the SimplyBook.me admin app for managing your bookings and business operations?

Yes, the admin app is a crucial tool for managing bookings and business operations on the go.

How has your experience been with the app, and what features do you find most useful?

The app is user-friendly and provides easy access to booking information, making it convenient for quick updates and management.

Do you use the SimplyBook.me system for accepting on-site payments?

Yes, the system’s integration with on-site payments has streamlined our financial processes and improved convenience for clients.

How has this feature affected your business operations, and how does it integrate with your overall service experience?

The integration of on-site payments has made transactions smoother and more secure, enhancing the overall service experience.

Are there any improvements or additional features you would like to see in the admin app in the future?

Additional analytics and reporting features would be beneficial for better understanding customer behavior and business trends.

Admin App on the go

Recommendations and Future Outlook:

How do you envision the role of SimplyBook.me in your business’s future?

SimplyBook.me will continue to be a vital part of our operations, helping us expand and improve our service offerings.

What do you believe sets SimplyBook.me apart from other booking systems you might have considered?

The extensive customization options, reliable support, and comprehensive feature set make SimplyBook.me the ideal choice for our business. However, if key features like a wallet system for managing pending cash booking no-shows, a customer referral rewards system integrated with the wallet, different pricing customizability for different hours, and customizable payment methods for each service (e.g., service A being cash payment only and service B being online payment only) are introduced, there will be no need for people to create their own systems. Everyone will use SimplyBook.me.

Would you recommend SimplyBook.me to other businesses, and if so, why?

Absolutely. It’s a versatile and user-friendly system that has significantly improved our operations and customer experience.

What advice would you give to other businesses considering adopting an online booking system?

Choose a system that offers flexibility and comprehensive features to meet your specific needs, and invest time in setting it up correctly to get the most benefit.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

We want to extend our sincere thanks to Osama Safdar and the team at BookBoll.com for sharing their experience with SimplyBook.me. It’s been inspiring to see how the platform has supported BookBoll.com’s growth and helped them become the leading sports facility rental service in Qatar. We’re excited to continue supporting their journey and look forward to seeing even more success in the future!


Check Out More of Our Case Studies

How to Build Financial Projections for Your Startup in 3 Easy Steps
Arrow iconPrevious post
How Online Booking Systems Can Improve Cash Flow for Small Businesses
Next postArrow icon