Push notifications: your diary buzzes your phone

Email is fine at the end of the day. A booking that lands while you're mid-haircut needs to reach you now. The Business app on iPhone now pushes alerts to your lock screen the second something happens.

What you get told about

• New bookings — who booked, what for, and when they're in.
• Cancellations — so you can offer the slot to someone else.
• Changed times — when a customer moves their appointment.
• Messages — a customer replies to a confirmation or reminder.
• Payments — a card payment clears, with the amount.

Tap any alert and the app opens on the right screen — the diary, your messages or your payments.

You choose which ones

Tap the bell at the top of the app to switch notifications on for that phone, then turn each type on or off to taste. Turn everything off but new bookings if you like, or mute the lot while you're on holiday. Each phone you sign in on is remembered separately, so a manager and a stylist can have completely different settings.

There's also a Send a test notification button, so you can prove it reaches your phone before you rely on it.

Nothing to install

If you already have the Business app, the bell is waiting for you. iPhone will ask for permission the first time — say yes and you're done.