How did Bookster come into existence?

Simon introduces the podcast and his guest, Robin Morris, co-founder and CEO of Bookster. Overview of the series’ aim to explore running a successful SaaS company.

Key takeaways

Robin recounts the beginnings of the company as Tribalogic and the development and success of Caravan Site Finder, which was sold to Haymarket Publishing in 2007.

Post-sale, Tribalogic expanded its software capabilities to serve various clients, including event management and holiday rentals, leading to the initial steps toward what would become Bookster.

Around 2009, the company developed a booking button for holiday rental websites, marking a significant shift from custom software projects to creating a defined product.

In 2015, they reacquired Caravan SiteFinder and operated it alongside Bookster, while Bookster continued to grow into a more comprehensive property management system (PMS).

The sale of Caravan SiteFinder in February 2020 provided crucial financial stability as the pandemic hit, affecting many clients in the tourism sector and highlighting the challenges faced by the industry.

Robin explains the SaaS (Software as a Service) model, emphasizing benefits like regular updates, maintenance, and web-based accessibility, which Bookster utilizes for its clients.

Robin discusses his role transition from software developer to Managing Director, focusing on business direction and team guidance. He also highlights the contributions of co-founders Colin Guthrie and Craig Douglas.

Bookster serves a diverse, international clientele, including holiday rental providers from various regions such as the UK, Europe, North America, and Australia, catering to businesses of different sizes.

The story behind the name Bookster and clarification of common misconceptions. Unlike the complex naming process for Tribalogic, Bookster was quickly agreed upon and has proven effective.

Join Simon and Robin next time as they discuss the Four Pillars of Bookster.

• www.booksterhq.com

Robin and Simon talk about Caravan Sitefinder and the four pillars on which Bookster was founded.

Welcome to the Bookster podcast hosted by Simon, talking with CEO Robin Morris.

In episode two of their podcast, Robin and Simon delve into the journey of Bookster, a software company.

Key takeaways

They reflect on the sale and repurchase of Caravan Sitefinder, highlighting decisions around business focus and economic viability.

Robin outlines Bookster’s evolution from a simple booking tool to a comprehensive platform for vacation rentals, emphasizing principles like low entry barriers, high-quality support, and broad service coverage.

They stress the importance of defining business principles and staying adaptable in the competitive landscape of software as a service (SaaS) businesses, offering insights valuable to aspiring entrepreneurs.

The Four Pillars are:

1) Low Barrier to Entry

2) Easy to use

3) High Quality Support

4) Vertical Integration

Join the next episode as Simon, Robin and Adam discuss one of Bookster's key pillars - a low barrier to entry.

• www.booksterhq.com
• www.caravansitefinder.co.uk

Simon, Robin and Adam discuss one of Bookster's key pillars - a low barrier to entry.

In this episode of the Bookster podcast, Simon hosts Robin Morris, CEO and Co-founder, and Adam Aaron, Bookster's support lead.

Key takeaways

They delve into Bookster's ethos of maintaining a low barrier to entry for their holiday rental software.

This approach aims to simplify the client onboarding process, allowing users to swiftly set up and start using Bookster without traditional obstacles like setup fees or lengthy contracts.

Adam highlights the evolution of his role from managing a caravan site finder to focusing on customer support, underscoring Bookster's commitment to adaptability and client-centric service.

They discuss the challenges of this approach, such as potential mismatches with clients seeking solutions beyond property management.

Despite these, Bookster's strategy of fostering trust through accessibility and support appears pivotal in their journey.

The important bits

● [00:00] - Intro to Robin, Adam Aaron our Support Lead and the podcast

● [01:02] - What is Adam's role as a Support Lead?

● [02:50] - Providing a low Barrier to Entry

Key points covered

● How Adam moved to the Support Team

● What is a Low Barrier to Entry and some examples of these?

● What are disadvantages of having low Barriers of Entry?

● How does Bookster achieve the low Barrier of Entry for its' clients?

● Does a low Barrier to entry create a higher support burden?

● How does this build trust with clients?

● How does the size of the team impact how Bookster runs?

Next Episode

In the next episode will be looking further at how high quality support is at the heart of how Bookster provides its service.

• www.booksterhq.com
• www.booksterhq.com/features/136937-self-sign-up
• Smashing Your Holiday Rental Goals Podcast

High quality support is at the heart of how Bookster provides it's service

In the Bookster podcast with host Simon Beattie, CEO Robin Morris and support lead Adam Aaron discuss the company's approach to onboarding and supporting clients.

Key takeaways

They emphasize a personalized onboarding process tailored to each client's needs, aiming for simplicity and effectiveness.

While Bookster offers self-guided initial setup, they highlight the importance of hands-on support to ensure clients effectively utilize the software.

Their approach includes using emails and direct interactions to guide clients through setup, although challenges arise when clients overlook essential steps like configuring payment gateways.

Beyond initial setup, ongoing support involves maintaining open communication and managing client expectations to prevent misunderstandings about the software's capabilities.

Bookster values personalized support, recognizing that different clients require varying levels of assistance based on their familiarity with technology and business operations.

If you're enjoying this series, please follow us, and join us next episode as host Simon and CEO Robin Morris delve into the third foundational pillar of the company: ease of use.

• www.booksterhq.com/faqs

Another of Bookster's key pillars - Ease of Use

In this episode of the Bookster podcast, host Simon and CEO Robin Morris delve into the third foundational pillar of the company: ease of use.

Key takeaways

They highlight Bookster's commitment to reducing barriers for users by making their holiday rental software intuitive and straightforward.

Some of Bookster's clients are not tech-savvy and are more focused on managing their properties and ensuring guest satisfaction. Therefore, the software is designed to be coherent, consistent, and easy to navigate with minimal technical knowledge.

The conversation also touches on the importance of speed in software performance.

A listener's question about AI integration prompts Morris to discuss potential future applications, such as AI-generated property descriptions and photo enhancements.

Key takeaways

Ease of Use as a Core Pillar: Bookster prioritizes ease of use to lower barriers to entry for its clients, many of whom are not technically inclined. The software is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly.

Consistent User Interface: To enhance ease of use, Bookster maintains a consistent user interface throughout its platform.

Fast and Responsive Software: Speed is a critical component of ease of use. Bookster focuses on ensuring that both property managers and guests experience fast load times and responsive interactions.

User-Centric Design: Bookster's design decisions are based on understanding the needs of their users. For example, the guest-facing calendar widget only shows availability and price, as that's the information guests care about, whereas detailed booking information is available to property managers through their login.

Potential for AI Integration: AI could be used to generate property descriptions from photos or enhance the resolution of uploaded images, improving overall user experience and engagement.

These points illustrate Bookster's commitment to making their software accessible, efficient, and user-friendly for both property managers and guests.

• Smashing your goals with holiday rental software

Reaching out to prospective Bookster clients

In this episode of the Bookster podcast, Simon hosts CEO and co-founder Robin Morris along with account manager Johnny Brannan.

Key takeaways

They delve into the company's journey, operations, and client interactions.

Johnny discusses his role as the first point of contact for prospective clients, emphasizing Bookster's shift from cold calling to handling primarily inbound leads.

He contrasts his previous experience at a caravan listing directory with Bookster's focus on inbound business-to-business clients seeking comprehensive property management solutions.

The conversation touches on client suitability assessments, challenges with mistaken inquiries (like from yoga studios or book libraries), and adaptations during COVID-19, such as providing accommodation for key workers.

Robin highlights the company's resilience post-pandemic, reflecting on initial struggles and subsequent recovery phases.

Overall, the episode underscores Bookster's evolution, client-centered approach, and adaptability in the holiday rental software market.

Stay tuned for more episodes as we continue to explore how Bookster works and the challenges it faces.

Join us next time for discussion on bad people on the internet, and how SaaS companies can manage attacks on their business.

• www.booksterhq.com/smashing-your-holiday-rental-goals

There are bad people on the internet. As Bookster is an online application it is exposed to bad people who try to do bad things. Here's our thoughts and how we cope with them.

Welcome back to the Bookster podcast, hosted by Simon from inside the SaaS holiday rental software company Bookster, based in Edinburgh, Scotland.

In this insightful episode, we are joined by CEO and Co-founder Robin Morris, as well as Technical Director Colin Guthrie, to delve into the crucial topic of cybersecurity.

As Bookster grows, so do the cybersecurity threats it faces. Learn how the team tackles these challenges, the common types of attacks they encounter, and the strategies they implement to protect their clients and their data.

Whether you're a tech enthusiast or just curious about the behind-the-scenes workings of a SaaS company, this conversation promises to be both informative and engaging.

The Important Bits:

● [02:00] - Cybersecurity Overview: An introduction to the topic of cybersecurity, its importance, and how it impacts Bookster.

● [04:00] - Cyber Attacks: Colin discusses cyber threats, such as automated tools and phishing attempts, and how these affect both small and large businesses.

● [08:00] - Protective Measures: Strategies implemented by Bookster, such as two-factor authentication, email security measures, and limiting data storage to necessary information only.

● [16:00] - Tools & Services: Stay ahead in the cybersecurity arms race, including static & dynamic analysis tools.

Key Takeaways:

● The growing profile of a company like Bookster increases its visibility to cyber attackers.

● Common cyber threats include automated hacking tools and sophisticated phishing attempts.

● Implementing two-factor authentication and other protective measures is crucial for safeguarding data.

● Limiting stored data to what is necessary reduces risk.

● Continuous monitoring and adapting to new threats are essential in maintaining cybersecurity.

Stay tuned for more episodes as we continue to explore the inner workings and challenges faced by Bookster.

Join us next time for discussion on work in an agile manner, and how that supports Bookster's approach to technical growth.

• https://www.booksterhq.com/smashing-your-holiday-rental-goals

How does Bookster ship software and work on projects? What are some alternative ways to work, and why do we do it like we do?

Welcome to the Bookster podcast hosted by Simon, featuring discussions about the SaaS holiday rental software company Bookster, based in Edinburgh.

In this episode, Simon is joined by CEO Robin Morris and Technical Director Colin Guthrie, co-founders of Bookster. They discuss their roles, the company's agile approach, and the importance of customer feedback.

The important bits

● [00:00] - Intro to Colin and the podcast

● [02:55] - What do we mean by Agile?

Key takeaways

Colin explains his responsibilities, including technical operations and development. Robin describes their interpretation of agile methodology, emphasizing short development cycles and frequent releases to gather user feedback. They highlight the importance of balancing customer requests with the company's vision, avoiding the pitfalls of rigidly adhering to client demands.

The conversation also covers the collaborative nature of their development process and the challenges of maintaining and deprecating features. They share examples of features driven by customer input, such as owner statements, and the process of removing outdated functionalities.

Bookster's agile practices include weekly sprints, daily standups, and periodic planning sessions to stay responsive to market needs. The episode concludes with an explanation of agile versus waterfall development models, showcasing Bookster's commitment to continuous improvement and customer-centric innovation.

Questions answered in this session

● What do we mean by Agile?

● What is an alternative way of working?

● Why is it important to keep a feedback loop with customers?

● How do we unpick your customers' problems?

● How to meet clients' needs?

● How to manage the different terminology of customers and Bookster

● How to choose what features to kill off, or should they stay forever?

● What is Astro-turfing?

● What are our Agile processes?

● What is technical debt?

• Smashing your goals with holiday rental software