## What Is a Provider?

A provider is any person or resource that customers can book time with. This could be a sales agent, a support specialist, a doctor, or a meeting room.

## Adding a Provider

1. Go to **Settings → Appointments → Providers**.
2. Click **New Provider**.
3. Fill in:
   - **Name** — The provider's display name.
   - **Email** — Used to sync with their calendar.
   - **Linked Agent** — Associate with a Voxys Connect agent account (optional).
   - **Calendar Integration** — Connect Google Calendar or Outlook.
4. Click **Save**.

## Setting Availability

Open the provider's profile and go to the **Availability** tab:

1. Toggle on the days they are available (e.g. Mon–Fri).
2. Set start and end times for each day.
3. Set the **Slot Duration** (e.g. 30 minutes, 1 hour).
4. Set a **Buffer Time** between appointments to avoid back-to-back bookings.
5. Add **Break Times** (e.g. lunch 13:00–14:00).

## Services

Services define the type of appointment. For example, "15-Minute Intro Call" or "60-Minute Consultation".

1. Go to **Settings → Appointments → Services**.
2. Click **New Service**.
3. Set name, duration, and optionally link to a specific provider or allow any available provider.

## Calendar Integration

Connecting a calendar ensures the provider's booked appointments block their availability and existing calendar events prevent double-booking.

**Google Calendar:**
1. Go to the provider profile → **Integrations**.
2. Click **Connect Google Calendar**.
3. Authorise with the provider's Google account.
4. Select which calendar to sync.

**Outlook (Microsoft 365):**
Same flow via **Connect Outlook Calendar**.

## WhatsApp Confirmation Templates

Go to **Settings → Appointments → Templates** to set which WhatsApp template is sent as a booking confirmation. The template must be approved and should include variables like `{{customer_name}}`, `{{service_name}}`, `{{appointment_date}}`, and `{{appointment_time}}`.