Why it matters
The Appointments Dashboard is your clinic's home base for the day. The Inbox is where you manage conversations with clients; the Dashboard is where you manage appointments. Instead of jumping between the calendar, the inbox, and client records, your team can see what's coming in, spot what still needs attention, and act on it from a single screen. Oliver's automated reminders confirm most appointments for you. The dashboard shows you the ones that slipped through, so you can reach out before a no-show happens. That means fuller schedules, fewer surprises, and a front desk that always knows what to expect.
How it works
1. Open the dashboard
Click Dashboard in the left menu. (Oliver opens to the Inbox when you log in, so you'll switch over from there.)
The dashboard has two views. Switch between them with the button at the top of the page:
Appointment List: a full, filterable table of appointments
Unconfirmed Appointments: a focused action list of what still needs follow-up
2. Read the appointment list
Appointments are listed in time order, so the next visit is always near the top. Each row shows the essentials at a glance:
Type (for example Wellness Exam or Sick Exam)
Client Name and Patient Name
Time, Clinician, and Room
Created At: when the appointment was booked
Notes: the reason for the visit
Appointment Status: for example Requested, Accepted, Confirmed, Canceled, or Finished
Deposit Status: for example Not Collected or Requested. As you scan the list, the Appointment Status and Deposit Status columns tell you at a glance where each visit stands.
Pro tip: Check the Notes column. When clients book online, they can tell you why they're coming in. Notes can also come over from your practice management system (PIMS).
3. Find what you need with search and filters
Use the bar at the top of the list to narrow things down. Filters work together, so you can combine them.
Filter | What it does |
Search | Type a client or patient name |
Date range | Choose which days to show (the default looks about one month ahead) |
Client Type | Show all clients, only new clients, or only returning clients |
Status | Show Requested, Accepted, Confirmed, Canceled, or Done appointments. Especially handy for reviewing cancellations or checking what's already confirmed |
Appt. Type | Show one type, like Sick Exam or Puppy Core Vaccines |
Online Bookings | Show only appointments clients booked themselves online |
Deposit Paid | Show only appointments where the client paid their deposit through a payment link |
4. Take action on an appointment
Check the box next to any appointment. A row of action buttons appears at the top:
Confirm Appointment: use this when you've spoken with the client, for example by phone. The status changes to Confirmed right away.
Text this client: opens the full text conversation so you can pick up where you left off.
Client Profile: jumps to the client's record.
Send a Form: sends the client a form to fill out.
Add to Waitlist: adds the client to the waitlist in case an earlier time opens up.
Send Payment Request: sends a payment link, for example for a deposit.
Cancel Appointment: cancels the visit.
Pro tip: Adding clients to the Waitlist is one of the most valuable functions of the Dashboard. Often clients will opt into the Waitlist when booking an appointment online, but knowing how to add them manually when they call looking for a sooner appointment is a best practice. Once a client is added the Waitlist will do the work for you!
To clear your selection, click the X at the end of the button row.
5. Work through unconfirmed appointments
Click Show Unconfirmed Appointments at the top of the page. This view cuts a long list down to the three things that matter most right now.
Upcoming Unconfirmed Appointments (center) Each card shows the client, pet, date and time, appointment type, and when it was booked. From each card you can:
Call the client
Text the client
Confirm the appointment once you've heard from them
Cancel the appointment
When someone on your team clicks Call or Text, the card shows a note like "Someone started contacting a few seconds ago." That way, two people don't reach out to the same client.
Upcoming Online Bookings (right) A list of appointments clients booked online, each marked Confirmed or Unconfirmed, with quick buttons to call, text, or confirm.
Reminder Engagement (left) Two progress bars show how well your reminders are working:
Last 7 days engagement: how many clients responded to reminders recently
Next 3 days confirmation status: how many upcoming appointments are confirmed so far
To change the number of days, click the gear icon, adjust Past days range and Future days range, and click Save.
To go back to the full table, click Show Appointment List.
Pro tips
Client on the phone? Search for them. Type the client's or pet's name in the search box to pull up their appointment, then confirm, cancel, text, or send a form while you're still talking.
Treat the unconfirmed view as a to-do list. Aim to clear it every day. An empty list means everyone coming in has said they'll be there.
Start each morning with the next 3 days. The confirmation bar gives you a fast read on how solid the upcoming schedule is.
Filter by Sick Exam (or any type you care about) to prepare for what's coming in.
Check the Online Bookings filter to see how many appointments your booking page is bringing in.
Read the Notes before the visit. Knowing why a pet is coming in helps your team get the room ready.
Text before you call. Many clients answer a text faster than a phone call, and the whole conversation stays on record.
FAQ
Does Oliver confirm appointments automatically?
Does Oliver confirm appointments automatically?
Yes. Automated reminders confirm most appointments for you. The dashboard shows the ones that still need a personal touch.
I confirmed a client over the phone. How do I update the appointment?
I confirmed a client over the phone. How do I update the appointment?
Select the appointment and click Confirm Appointment, or click Confirm on its card in the Unconfirmed view. The status updates right away.
How do I know if a teammate is already contacting a client?
How do I know if a teammate is already contacting a client?
In the Unconfirmed view, the card shows a note such as "Someone started contacting a few seconds ago" after someone clicks Call or Text.
Where do appointments on the dashboard come from?
Where do appointments on the dashboard come from?
Appointments booked through your online booking page, created directly in Oliver, or synced from your practice management system all appear here. Use the Online Bookings filter to see only the ones clients booked themselves.
What's the difference between the Inbox and the Dashboard?
What's the difference between the Inbox and the Dashboard?
The Inbox is built for client conversations, like texts and messages. The Dashboard is built for managing appointments. You can still text a client from the Dashboard, and it opens the same conversation you'd see in the Inbox.
Can I see canceled or finished appointments?
Can I see canceled or finished appointments?
Yes. Use the Status filter and choose Canceled or Done.
What does "Deposit Status" mean?
What does "Deposit Status" mean?
It shows whether a deposit has been collected for the appointment. Use Send Payment Request to send the client a payment link, and the Deposit Paid filter to see which clients have paid.
Can I change the time periods in Reminder Engagement?
Can I change the time periods in Reminder Engagement?
Yes. Click the gear icon on the Reminder Engagement panel and set the past and future day ranges.