Hydra Booking - Multi-Vendor Booking Platform
What Hydra Booking Does
Hydra Booking is a powerful multi-vendor booking and marketplace platform that allows multiple service providers to offer their services through your website. It's perfect for creating booking marketplaces, multi-vendor appointment systems, and complex service booking platforms with multiple providers, locations, and services.
Accessing Hydra Booking
After installation and activation, access Hydra Booking through your admin dashboard:
- Log into your admin panel
- Find "Hydra Booking" in the left sidebar menu
- Click on "Hydra Booking" to open the main dashboard
Initial Platform Setup
Platform Configuration
- Navigate to Hydra Booking → Settings → General
- Configure platform settings:
- Platform name and description
- Default timezone and currency
- Commission structure
- Vendor approval process
- Booking policies
- Set up payment processing
- Save platform configuration
Commission and Revenue Settings
- Go to Hydra Booking → Settings → Commission
- Set commission rates:
- Flat rate or percentage-based
- Different rates per service category
- Vendor tier-based commissions
- Payment frequency (weekly, monthly)
- Configure payout methods
- Set minimum payout amounts
Vendor Management
Adding Vendors
- Navigate to Hydra Booking → Vendors
- Click "Add New Vendor"
- Enter vendor information:
- Business name and description
- Contact information
- Business license and certifications
- Service categories
- Operating locations
- Set vendor permissions and access levels
- Approve or set for review
Vendor Approval Process
- Review vendor applications in Hydra Booking → Vendors → Pending
- Verify provided information and documents
- Check business credentials
- Approve, reject, or request additional information
- Send notification to vendor about status
Vendor Dashboard Access
Approved vendors get access to their own dashboard where they can:
- Manage their services and pricing
- Set availability and schedules
- View and manage bookings
- Track earnings and payments
- Communicate with customers
- Update their profile and portfolio
Service and Category Management
Creating Service Categories
- Go to Hydra Booking → Services → Categories
- Click "Add New Category"
- Enter category details:
- Category name (e.g., "Beauty Services", "Fitness")
- Description and icon
- Commission rates for this category
- Required fields for services
- Set category visibility and permissions
- Save the category
Service Approval Workflow
- Navigate to Hydra Booking → Services → Pending
- Review services submitted by vendors
- Check service details, pricing, and policies
- Verify images and descriptions
- Approve, reject, or request modifications
- Notify vendors of approval status
Booking Management
Central Booking Overview
- Access Hydra Booking → Bookings
- View all platform bookings in one place
- Filter by:
- Vendor
- Service category
- Booking status
- Date range
- Customer
- Monitor booking disputes and issues
Dispute Resolution
- Handle booking disputes between customers and vendors
- Review dispute details and evidence
- Communicate with both parties
- Make arbitration decisions
- Process refunds or adjustments as needed
- Document resolution for future reference
Multi-Location Support
Setting Up Locations
- Navigate to Hydra Booking → Locations
- Add business locations:
- Location name and address
- Contact information
- Operating hours per location
- Available services at each location
- Assigned staff/vendors
- Configure location-specific settings
- Enable location-based filtering
Location-Based Availability
- Assign vendors to specific locations
- Set location-specific availability
- Configure travel time between locations
- Set up location-based pricing
- Manage location capacity limits
Payment and Commission Processing
Payment Gateway Configuration
- Go to Hydra Booking → Settings → Payments
- Configure multiple payment gateways:
- Stripe Connect: For marketplace payments
- PayPal Marketplace: Split payments automatically
- Square: For in-person payments
- Set up automatic commission splitting
- Configure payout schedules
Vendor Payout Management
- Navigate to Hydra Booking → Payouts
- Review pending payouts
- Process batch payments to vendors
- Generate payout reports
- Handle payout disputes
- Track payment history
Frontend Marketplace
Service Discovery
Customers can find services through:
- Category browsing: Browse by service type
- Location search: Find services near them
- Vendor profiles: Browse individual provider offerings
- Advanced filters: Price, availability, ratings, etc.
- Search functionality: Keyword-based service search
Booking Flow
- Customer selects service and vendor
- Chooses date and time from available slots
- Fills in required information
- Reviews booking summary and policies
- Completes payment process
- Receives booking confirmation
Vendor Frontend Experience
Vendor Registration
- Potential vendors visit your vendor registration page
- Complete the application form:
- Business information
- Service offerings
- Credentials and portfolio
- Banking information for payouts
- Submit for admin approval
- Receive approval notification
Vendor Dashboard Features
Vendors can access their own dashboard to:
- Add and edit services
- Set pricing and availability
- Manage bookings and customer communication
- View earnings and payout history
- Update business information
- Access booking analytics
Customer Review System
Setting Up Reviews
- Go to Hydra Booking → Settings → Reviews
- Enable customer review system
- Configure review settings:
- Rating scale (1-5 stars)
- Review moderation requirements
- Review display options
- Response capabilities for vendors
- Set up review request timing
Managing Reviews
- Navigate to Hydra Booking → Reviews
- Moderate submitted reviews
- Handle review disputes
- Remove inappropriate content
- Monitor vendor ratings and feedback
Advanced Marketplace Features
Dynamic Pricing
- Enable surge pricing for high-demand periods
- Set up seasonal pricing adjustments
- Configure vendor pricing rules
- Implement demand-based pricing
Booking Analytics
- Access Hydra Booking → Analytics
- Monitor platform performance:
- Total bookings and revenue
- Vendor performance metrics
- Customer acquisition and retention
- Popular services and trends
- Commission earnings
- Generate detailed reports
- Export data for external analysis
Communication System
Messaging Platform
- Enable built-in messaging between customers and vendors
- Set up automated notifications
- Configure message moderation
- Monitor communication quality
Notification Management
- Go to Hydra Booking → Settings → Notifications
- Configure platform-wide notifications:
- New vendor applications
- Booking confirmations and updates
- Payment notifications
- Review submissions
- Dispute alerts
- Customize notification templates
- Set notification frequency and timing
Common Issues and Solutions
Vendor Onboarding Issues
- Incomplete applications: Provide clear requirements and examples
- Payment setup problems: Offer step-by-step payment integration guides
- Service listing difficulties: Create vendor training materials
- Dashboard confusion: Provide vendor orientation and support
Booking Conflicts
- Double bookings: Implement real-time availability checking
- Time zone confusion: Clearly display all times with zones
- Vendor unavailability: Set up automatic booking redirects
- Service modifications: Handle mid-booking service changes
Payment and Commission Issues
- Split payment failures: Verify marketplace payment gateway setup
- Commission calculation errors: Audit commission rules and calculations
- Payout delays: Monitor payment processing schedules
- Currency conversion: Handle multi-currency transactions properly
Best Practices for Marketplace Management
Vendor Quality Control
- Thorough vetting: Implement comprehensive vendor screening
- Performance monitoring: Track vendor ratings and customer satisfaction
- Regular reviews: Conduct periodic vendor performance reviews
- Training programs: Provide ongoing vendor education
Customer Experience
- Clear marketplace navigation: Make it easy to find and compare services
- Transparent pricing: Display all costs including fees upfront
- Reliable booking process: Ensure smooth, error-free booking flow
- Customer support: Provide platform-level customer service
Platform Growth
- Vendor recruitment: Actively recruit quality service providers
- Marketing support: Help vendors promote their services
- Feature development: Continuously improve platform capabilities
- Community building: Foster vendor and customer communities
Reporting and Analytics
Platform Performance Metrics
- Access comprehensive analytics dashboard
- Monitor key performance indicators:
- Booking volume: Total bookings across all vendors
- Revenue tracking: Platform revenue and commissions
- Vendor performance: Individual vendor success metrics
- Customer behavior: Booking patterns and preferences
- Market trends: Popular services and seasonal patterns
- Generate custom reports
- Export data for detailed analysis
Financial Reporting
- Navigate to Hydra Booking → Reports → Financial
- Track financial metrics:
- Total transaction volume
- Commission earnings
- Vendor payouts
- Payment gateway fees
- Net platform revenue
- Generate tax reports
- Monitor payment processing health
Advanced Configuration
Multi-Language Support
- Enable multi-language functionality
- Configure language-specific content
- Set up region-specific vendors
- Manage translations for common interface elements
Advanced Booking Rules
- Set up complex booking policies:
- Service dependencies and prerequisites
- Bulk booking discounts
- Seasonal availability rules
- Group booking limitations
- Configure booking modification policies
- Set up waitlist management
API and Integrations
- Access API documentation for custom integrations
- Connect with external calendar systems
- Integrate with CRM and marketing platforms
- Set up webhooks for real-time updates
- Configure third-party analytics tools