Released: May 05, 2025
We’re excited to announce a series of powerful improvements to the Appointments module, designed to make scheduling appointments, managing availability, and integrating with your calendar easier than ever.
This release includes new features now available to all partners, including custom appointment site URLs, admin access to set staff availability, grouped appointment displays, and several user interface enhancements.
It also introduces a direct calendar integration with Google and Outlook, currently in closed beta for select partners.
Custom Appointment Site URLs with Filter Parameters
Create custom links for your Appointments Site using query string parameters to pre-select or hide filters. This gives you greater control over the visitor experience and directs students to the specific appointments you want them to see.
The query string in the URL automatically updates as you apply filters on the page. To create a custom view for a student, set the filters to the desired state and copy the URL—it will include the exact parameters needed.
📙 For more details, check out the Appointments Site + Settings article.
Appointments Site Updates
Grouping
You can now organize the index view of your Appointments Site by Type or Category, making it easier for students to navigate and find the right appointment.
A new “Group By” setting is available in Page Settings with options: None, Type, and Category.
When grouping is enabled, the appointment grid is split into clearly labeled sections. Each section includes a headline for the selected Type or Category, followed by its corresponding appointment options.
Header Design
We’ve made a few minor design updates to enhance the appearance and customization of the Appointments Site.
Renamed header text “Appointment Scheduling” to simply “Appointments.”
Removed the second-level header labeled “Select who you want to meet with.”
📙 Learn more in the Appointments Site + Settings article.
Admin Access to Adding Availability
Admins can now add availability on behalf of any internal user, giving them greater control over scheduling and making it easier to get new users up and running with appointments.
📙 Learn more in the Configuring Your Appointment Availability article.
“Additional Information” Field for Appointment Registrations
A new “Additional Information” system field is now available on appointment registration forms, allowing students to provide extra information when booking.
This field can be enabled in Appointment Type settings and is tied only to the specific appointment without altering data on the contact record.
📙 For more details, check out the Initial Setup for Appointments article.
New Appointments Agent for Staff
Quickly get up to speed on your schedule with new appointment shortcuts in the Bolt Staff Agent side panel.
Appointments are now included in the Catch Me Up shortcut.
Added two new shortcuts—Next Appointment (prepare quickly for your next meeting) and Today’s Appointments (view a summary of all appointments scheduled for the day).
A “Join Meeting” link for virtual appointments is provided from the Next Appointment shortcut, making it easy to quickly join your next meeting.
📙 For more details, check out the Getting Started with Bolt Staff Agents article.
Google + Outlook Calendar Integration (Closed Beta)
🚧 Google and Outlook integrations are currently in closed beta and will be available to a broader audience soon. Stay tuned!
Connect your Google or Outlook calendar directly to Element451 for a faster, smarter scheduling experience.
This direct integration checks your real-time availability and automatically adds appointments to your connected calendar—no more calendar sharing setups or managing separate calendars.
With everything synced in one place, booking and managing appointments become seamless for both staff and students.
📙 For more details, check out the Connecting Your Calendar article.
These updates give you greater control, flexibility, and efficiency in managing appointments. From faster staff setup and easier navigation for students, to more seamless calendar syncing and an improved site experience, the enhanced Appointments module empowers your team to deliver a more intuitive and professional appointment journey—all within Element451.
