How to Add a Pinpoint Booking System Calendar to Your WooCommerce Checkout (Even If You’re Not a Developer!)
Want to offer your customers the convenience of selecting a specific date and time for delivery, pickup, or appointment right within your WooCommerce checkout? You’re in the right place! Integrating a calendar, specifically using the popular Pinpoint Booking System, into your WooCommerce checkout can dramatically improve user experience and increase conversions.
Imagine you’re selling custom-made cakes. Instead of just letting customers order and *then* emailing back and forth to figure out a delivery date, they could pick a guaranteed slot right at checkout. This saves you time, reduces frustration, and makes your shop look much more professional.
This guide walks you through how to achieve this, even if you’re not a coding wizard. We’ll explore the most common (and easiest) methods!
Why Integrate Pinpoint with WooCommerce Checkout?
* Enhanced Customer Experience: Customers choose their preferred date/time directly, eliminating back-and-forth communication.
* Reduced Cart Abandonment: A seamless booking process minimizes friction, leading to higher completion rates.
* Improved Order Management: You receive orders with pre-selected dates/times, streamlining your workflow.
* Increased Sales: Offering flexibility and convenience attracts more customers.
* Real-Time Availability: Customers see instantly what dates are available. No more double bookings!
Method 1: Using the Official Pinpoint Booking System Plugin (Recommended)
This is the easiest and most reliable method. The official Pinpoint Booking System plugin is specifically designed for seamless integration with WooCommerce.
Steps:
1. Install and Activate:
* Download and install the Pinpoint Booking System plugin from the WordPress plugin Learn more about How To Add Woocommerce To Facebook repository (Plugins > Add New and search for “Pinpoint Booking System”).
* Activate the plugin.
2. Install the Pinpoint Booking System PRO (Premium Add-on):
* Install PRO version to allow users to add booking to cart and checkout.
* Upload the PRO version from the WordPress plugin menu.
3. Configure Pinpoint:
* Go to Pinpoint Booking System > Calendars to create and configure your calendars. Define your availability, pricing, rules, and more.
* Important: Carefully configure your availability. This includes setting your working days, holidays, and any other limitations. For instance, if you only deliver cakes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, make sure to reflect that in your calendar settings.
4. WooCommerce Integration Settings:
* Go to Pinpoint Booking System > WooCommerce > Settings to activate “Enable WooCommerce integration” option.
* Set “Checkout” to “Enable” mode.
* Select the calendars to use.
* Fill in the “Price” field and “Availability” fields
* Select the language and currency to use.
* Customize the calendar to match your WooCommerce store’s branding. Adjust colors, Explore this article on Woocommerce How To Videos fonts, and other visual elements to create a cohesive look.
5. Test Thoroughly:
* Add the product to cart and see if the calendar appears.
* Perform a test checkout to ensure the date/time selection is captured correctly.
* Verify that the selected date/time is included in the order details.
Example:
// This isn't actually code you need to add. This is just an example of the settings. // Pinpoint Booking System > WooCommerce > Settings // Enable WooCommerce integration: Yes // Checkout: Enable // Select calendars: Cake Delivery Calendar // Price: 1 // Availability: 1
Method 2: Displaying the Calendar on Product Pages and Passing Data to Checkout (Slightly More Advanced)
This method involves displaying the Pinpoint calendar directly on your product pages and then using custom code or a plugin to pass the selected date to the WooCommerce checkout. It’s a more flexible approach but requires some coding knowledge.
Steps:
1. Display the Calendar on Product Pages:
* Use the Pinpoint shortcode `[dopbsp id=”your_calendar_id”]` within your product description or using a plugin that allows adding content before or after the product description. Replace `”your_calendar_id”` with the actual ID of your Pinpoint calendar.
* You can find the calendar ID in the Pinpoint Booking System settings when you edit a calendar.
2. Capture the Selected Date and Time:
* You’ll need to use JavaScript to capture the date/time selected by the user in the Pinpoint calendar. You can use jQuery or standard JavaScript.
* Example (using jQuery):
jQuery(document).ready(function($) {
$(document).on(‘dopbsp.calendar.select_day’, function(event, data) {
var selectedDate = data.year + ‘-‘ + data.month + ‘-‘ + data.day;
// Now you have the selected date in the ‘selectedDate’ variable.
// You need to store this in a hidden input field.
$(‘#selected_date’).val(selectedDate);
});
});
*Add this code to your `wp_footer`. You can use a plugin like “Code Snippets” to add custom code to your WordPress site.*
3. Create a Hidden Input Field:
* Add a hidden input field to your product page (ideally before the “Add to Cart” button) to store the selected date:
* You’ll likely need to modify your theme’s product template Learn more about How To Remove Taxes And Shipping Calculated At Checkout Woocommerce or use a plugin to inject this HTML.
4. Pass the Data to the Cart/Checkout:
* Use a WooCommerce hook (e.g., `woocommerce_add_cart_item_data`) to capture the `selected_date` value and store it with the cart item. This will associate the selected date with the specific product in the customer’s cart.
add_filter( 'woocommerce_add_cart_item_data', 'add_selected_date_to_cart_item', 10, 3 ); function add_selected_date_to_cart_item( $cart_item_data, $product_id, $variation_id ) { if ( isset( $_POST['selected_date'] ) && ! empty( $_POST['selected_date'] ) ) { $cart_item_data['selected_date'] = sanitize_text_field( $_POST['selected_date'] ); /* Make sure unique cart id is set */ $cart_item_data['unique_key'] = md5( microtime().rand() ); } return $cart_item_data; }
add_filter( ‘woocommerce_get_cart_item_from_session’, ‘get_cart_items_from_session’, 20, 3 );
function get_cart_items_from_session( $cart_item, $values, $key ) {
if ( array_key_exists( ‘selected_date’, $values ) ) {
$cart_item[‘selected_date’] = $values[‘selected_date’];
}
return $cart_item;
}
add_filter( ‘woocommerce_checkout_cart_item_quantity’, ‘display_selected_date_checkout’, 10, 3 );
function display_selected_date_checkout( $product_name, $cart_item_key, $cart_item ) {
if( isset( $cart_item[‘selected_date’] ) ) {
$product_name .= “
- “.__( ‘Selected Date’, ‘woocommerce’ ).”:
- “.$cart_item[‘selected_date’].”
“;
}
return $product_name;
}
//Optional: Display the selected date on order details pages (admin)
add_action( ‘woocommerce_checkout_create_order_line_item’, ‘add_selected_date_order_meta’, 10, 4 );
function add_selected_date_order_meta( $item, $cart_item_key, $values, $order ) {
if ( isset( $values[‘selected_date’] ) ) {
$item->add_meta_data( ‘selected_date’, $values[‘selected_date’] );
}
}
* Add this code to your `functions.php` file (use a child theme!) or a custom plugin.
5. Display the Selected Date in Checkout/Order Details:
* Use a WooCommerce hook (e.g., `woocommerce_checkout_cart_item_quantity`) to display the selected date in the checkout.
* Use a WooCommerce hook (e.g., `woocommerce_order_item_meta`) to display the selected date in the order details (both admin and customer).
Reasoning:
* The JavaScript code is responsible for capturing the selected date from the Pinpoint calendar when the user selects a day.
* The hidden input field is a temporary storage location for the selected date.
* The WooCommerce hooks allow you to intercept the cart and checkout processes to add and display the selected date.
This method requires coding knowledge and debugging skills. It’s more complex than using the official plugin.
Method 3: Using a Third-Party Plugin (Potentially Easier)
Several third-party plugins claim to integrate Pinpoint with WooCommerce checkout. These plugins typically offer a more user-friendly interface and simplify the integration process.
Steps:
1. Research and Choose a Plugin:
* Search the WordPress plugin repository or CodeCanyon for plugins that specifically integrate Pinpoint Booking System with WooCommerce checkout.
* Read reviews and check ratings to ensure the plugin is reliable and well-supported.
2. Install and Activate the Plugin:
* Follow the plugin’s installation instructions.
3. Configure the Plugin:
* Each plugin will have its own configuration settings. Carefully follow the plugin’s documentation to connect it to Pinpoint and customize the checkout integration.
4. Test Thoroughly:
* As with any plugin, test the integration thoroughly to ensure it’s working correctly.
Caveats:
* Plugin Compatibility: Make sure the plugin is compatible with the latest versions of WooCommerce and Pinpoint Booking System.
* Plugin Support: Choose a plugin that offers good support in case you encounter any issues.
* Cost: Some plugins are free, while others are premium (paid).
SEO Considerations:
* Keywords: Weave keywords like “Pinpoint Booking System,” “WooCommerce checkout,” “calendar integration,” “appointment booking,” “date picker,” and “time slot booking” naturally throughout your content.
* Headings: Use descriptive headings (like we’ve done here) that include relevant keywords.
* Internal Linking: Link to other relevant pages on your website (e.g., your WooCommerce product pages, your Pinpoint Booking System landing page).
* Meta Description: Craft a compelling meta description that accurately summarizes your content and includes relevant keywords.
* Alt Text: Use descriptive alt text for images, including relevant keywords.
Troubleshooting Tips:
* Plugin Conflicts: Deactivate other plugins one by one to identify any conflicts.
* Caching: Clear your website’s cache to Check out this post: How To Disable Quantity In Woocommerce ensure you’re seeing the latest version of your changes.
* JavaScript Errors: Check your browser’s developer console for JavaScript errors.
* Theme Compatibility: Try switching to a default WordPress theme (like Twenty Twenty-Three) to see if the issue is related to your theme.
* Consult Plugin Documentation: Refer to the official Pinpoint Booking System documentation or the documentation for any third-party plugins you’re using.
By carefully following these steps and troubleshooting tips, you can successfully integrate the Pinpoint Booking System calendar into your WooCommerce checkout and provide a seamless booking experience for your customers. Remember to test, test, test to ensure everything is working perfectly! Good luck!
