Running a rental business comes with plenty of tasks like confirming orders, updating spreadsheets, reminding customers about pickups, and more. Doing all of these by hand can quickly eat up your time. Luckily, you do not need to be a tech expert to automate some of these everyday jobs.
If you think about it, you probably already use automation without realizing it. Do you get reminders on your phone before an appointment? Or an email telling you your online order has shipped? That is automation at work. The same idea can be applied to rental businesses, and that is where Zapier for rental businesses comes in.
Zapier connects with over 8,000 apps, which means you can link Booqable to many tools that can help the day-to-day running of your rental business. Whether you want to keep track of bookings in a spreadsheet, send reminders to customers, or update your team, Zapier makes it possible without manual work.
In this article, we will go through some practical ways to use Zapier together with Booqable. You will see how real rental businesses, from camera shops to event rentals, use these tools to save time and keep their customers informed.
What is Zapier?
Zapier is a tool that connects different apps so they can “talk” to each other. When something happens in one app, Zapier can trigger an action in another. These automations are called “Zaps.”
Each Zap has two parts:
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Trigger: the event that starts the automation.
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Action: what happens in the next app.
For example, when a customer makes a booking in Booqable (trigger), Zapier can automatically add the order details to a Google Sheet (action).
The good news is you do not need to know any coding, as anyone can set up a Zap in a few minutes.
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How Zapier works with Booqable
When Booqable and Zapier work together, you can create simple “if this, then that” automations. For example, when a customer completes a payment in Booqable, Zapier can automatically send them a confirmation email through Gmail.
Triggers
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Reserved order: Fires when a new order is reserved in Booqable.
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Started order: Fires when an order is marked as picked up.
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Stopped order: Fires when an order is marked as returned.
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Updated order: Fires when order details are changed.
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Finalize invoice: Fires when an invoice is finalized.
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New customer: Fires when a new customer is added.
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Completed payment: Fires when a payment is completed (manual or online).
Actions
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Create customer: Add a new customer in Booqable from another app.
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Update customer: Update details of an existing customer.
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Find customer by phone or email: Look up a customer using contact details.
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Delete customer: Remove a customer from your Booqable account.
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Find customer by ID: Find a customer using their unique ID.
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Find order by ID: Locate an order in Booqable using its unique ID.
5 useful ways to use Zapier with Booqable
Now that you know what Zapier is and how it connects with Booqable, let’s look at some practical examples. These are five of the most popular ways rental business owners are already using automation. Each one is easy to set up and can save you from doing repetitive manual tasks, while also improving the customer experience.
Route Booqable orders into a Google Sheets spreadsheet
Many rental businesses like to keep a spreadsheet for tracking bookings and analyzing trends. For example, a costume rental shop may want to see which outfits are most popular during festival season.
Instead of exporting CSV files every week, you can set up a Zap that sends each new order directly into Google Sheets. That way, your data is always up to date without lifting a finger.
Send payment confirmation emails automatically in Gmail
Imagine you run a bike rental shop. When someone pays for their order online, you do not want to manually type out a confirmation email each time a payment is made. With Zapier, you can connect Booqable and Gmail so a payment confirmation email is sent instantly after checkout.
This not only reassures your customer but also gives your business a professional touch. You can even add details like the customer’s name, the rental dates, and what they rented, all pulled directly from Booqable.
This is a great example of how to integrate Booqable with Gmail without needing technical skills.
Create Google Calendar events for reserved orders
For equipment rental companies like a construction tools supplier, keeping track of reservations is critical. By connecting Booqable with Google Calendar, each new booking can appear on your calendar automatically.
This helps you and your team stay on top of pickup and delivery schedules without having to copy details by hand.
Send WhatsApp confirmation texts when an order is delivered
Picture a party rental company delivering tables and chairs for a wedding. Once the order status is changed to “delivered” in Booqable, Zapier can automatically send a WhatsApp message to the customer letting them know their order has arrived.
It is a simple touch that improves customer service, especially in industries where clients appreciate real-time updates. No need to send texts one by one, Zapier does it for you.
Send automatic reminder emails before pickup or delivery
For a camera rental store, missed pickups can be frustrating. With Zapier, you can set up automatic reminders to go out a few days before the customer’s rental begins.
The email could include details like the pickup location, business hours, and any documents they should bring. This reduces no-shows and keeps the rental process running smoothly.
This approach works well across different industries, whether you are renting kayaks, sound systems, or formalwear. Customers appreciate the reminders, and you do not have to remember to send them manually.
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In summary
Automation does not have to be complicated. With Zapier for rental businesses, you can handle everyday tasks like sending confirmations, updating spreadsheets, and reminding customers without extra effort.
Whether you are wondering how to use Zapier for rental businesses or looking for ways to integrate Booqable with Gmail, these examples show that even small improvements can make a big difference. By choosing just a few of these Zaps, you will save time and keep your customers happy while staying focused on running your rental business.
