This article covers how to set up and manage arrival windows for service appointments in Thryv® Business Center™, including global arrival windows, service-specific arrival windows, appointment-specific arrival windows, how arrival windows appear during online booking, and how arrival windows display on your calendar. This article does not cover creating appointments or configuring services from scratch. For help scheduling an appointment, see how to schedule an appointment in Thryv Business Center.

Why Arrival Windows Help You Set Better Expectations With Clients

When your work requires travel between job sites, a fixed appointment time can create unrealistic expectations for clients. An arrival window is a pre-determined time slot that communicates to your client the range of time during which you or your technician may arrive, rather than committing to a single exact time. For example, a 2:00 PM appointment with a 2-hour arrival window tells the client to expect arrival between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM. Arrival windows reduce last-minute calls from clients asking where you are, set clearer expectations upfront, and give your scheduling the flexibility it needs without sacrificing professionalism. Arrival windows appear on your client's booking confirmation, appointment reminders, and online booking page automatically once configured.

How to Set a Global Arrival Window for All Appointments

A global arrival window applies to all appointments across all services by default. To set a global arrival window, select Settings in the left-hand navigation of your Thryv Business Center account. Then select Booking Options, and then select Booking Policies.

The screenshot above shows the Booking Policies screen in Thryv Business Center. The screen is accessed by selecting Settings, then Booking Options, then Booking Policies. The Arrival Window section appears on the Booking Policies screen.

The screenshot above shows the Arrival Window section on the Booking Policies screen. The section displays a dropdown menu for selecting the global arrival window duration. The arrival window begins at the start time of the appointment. For example, a 2:00 PM appointment with a 2-hour arrival window will have an arrival window of 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Locate the Arrival Window section on the Booking Policies screen. Use the dropdown menu to select the arrival window duration. The arrival window begins at the Start Time of the appointment.

The screenshot above shows the Arrival Window dropdown menu on the Booking Policies screen. The dropdown displays preset duration options. A Custom option appears at the bottom of the list for setting a non-standard arrival window duration.

How to Set a Custom Global Arrival Window Duration

To set a custom arrival window duration that is not available in the preset options, select Custom from the Arrival Window dropdown menu on the Booking Policies screen. Two additional dropdown menus will appear — one for hours and one for minutes — allowing you to set a precise custom arrival window duration.

The screenshot above shows the custom arrival window duration selector on the Booking Policies screen. Two dropdown menus are displayed — one for hours and one for minutes. Select the hours and minutes values to define the custom arrival window duration. The global arrival window set on the Booking Policies screen applies as the default to all services.

How to Set an Arrival Window for a Specific Service

A service-specific arrival window overrides the global arrival window for that service only. To set an arrival window for a specific service, select Settings in the left-hand navigation. Then select My Services. Find the service you want to update and select Edit on that service.

The screenshot above shows the My Services screen in Thryv Business Center Settings. The screen displays all services configured for the account. Each service entry includes an Edit button that opens the service editor where the arrival window can be configured.

Once the service editor is open, scroll down or use the quick navigation to locate the Arrival Window section. Use the dropdown menu to select the arrival window duration for the service. If a global arrival window is set, the global arrival window appears as the first option in the dropdown. Selecting a different duration here overrides the global arrival window for this service only. To set a custom duration, select Custom from the dropdown — two additional dropdown menus for hours and minutes will appear. If you have multiple services that require specific arrival windows, repeat this process for each service individually.

The screenshot above shows the Arrival Window section in the service editor in Thryv Business Center. The dropdown menu displays preset duration options with the global arrival window listed first. Selecting any other option from the dropdown overrides the global arrival window for this specific service.

The screenshot above shows the custom arrival window duration selector in the service editor. Two dropdown menus appear — one for hours and one for minutes — after selecting Custom from the Arrival Window dropdown. The custom duration set here applies only to the specific service being edited.

How to Set an Arrival Window for a Specific Appointment

A one-time arrival window can be set for a specific appointment during the appointment creation process. The arrival window cannot be added or edited after an appointment has been created — if you need to change the arrival window after creation, you must cancel and reschedule the appointment. For a full guide to scheduling an appointment, see how to schedule an appointment in Thryv Business Center.

When selecting a service during appointment creation, if the service has an arrival window configured, the Arrival Window field will populate automatically with the service's arrival window. Use the dropdown menu to change the arrival window duration or to add an arrival window if none was set for the service. To set a custom duration, select Custom from the dropdown — two additional dropdown menus for hours and minutes will appear.

The screenshot above shows the Arrival Window field on the appointment creation screen in Thryv Business Center. The field appears after a service is selected and displays the service's default arrival window. The dropdown menu allows the arrival window to be changed for this specific appointment only.

If you select an arrival window that is different from the service default, a checkbox will appear giving you the option to set the new arrival window as the default for all future appointments using that service. Leave the checkbox unchecked to apply the arrival window to this appointment only.

The screenshot above shows the checkbox that appears on the appointment creation screen when a different arrival window is selected. Checking the box sets the new arrival window as the default for all future appointments using that service. Leaving the box unchecked applies the arrival window to this appointment only without changing the service default.

The screenshot above shows the custom arrival window duration selector on the appointment creation screen. Two dropdown menus appear — one for hours and one for minutes — after selecting Custom from the Arrival Window dropdown. The custom duration set here applies only to the specific appointment being created.

How Arrival Windows Appear During Online Booking

When a service has an arrival window configured, clients booking online will see the arrival window displayed on the booking confirmation screen. The arrival window makes clear to the client that while they are selecting a start time, the actual arrival time may vary within the window. The arrival window also appears on all appointment confirmation emails and reminder messages sent to the client automatically.

The screenshot above shows the online booking confirmation screen as seen by a client in Thryv Business Center. The selected appointment time is displayed along with the arrival window below it. The arrival window is shown as a time range indicating when the technician may arrive. The confirmation screen does not allow the client to modify the arrival window — the arrival window is set by the business.

The screenshot above shows an appointment confirmation or reminder message sent to a client. The message displays the appointment time and the arrival window time range. The arrival window appears automatically in confirmation and reminder messages when an arrival window is configured for the service.

How Arrival Windows Display on Your Thryv Business Center Calendar

On the Thryv Business Center calendar, appointments with arrival windows display the appointment time only — the arrival window is not shown directly on the calendar block. To see the arrival window for an appointment, hover your cursor over the appointment block on the calendar. The arrival window will appear in the hover detail. The arrival window also appears when you select the appointment to view the full appointment details.

The screenshot above shows the Thryv Business Center calendar with an appointment block selected. The calendar block displays the appointment time only. A hover tooltip appears showing the arrival window time range. The calendar does not block the arrival window time on the calendar — only the appointment duration is blocked.

The screenshot above shows the appointment detail view in Thryv Business Center. The detail panel displays both the appointment time and the arrival window time range. The arrival window time range is visible in the appointment details panel but does not affect the calendar block duration.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this article cover?

This article covers how to set up and manage arrival windows for service appointments in Thryv Business Center, including global arrival windows, service-specific arrival windows, appointment-specific arrival windows, how arrival windows appear during online booking, and how arrival windows display on your calendar. This article does not cover creating appointments or configuring services from scratch. For help scheduling an appointment, see how to schedule an appointment in Thryv Business Center.

Will my calendar be blocked for the entire arrival window duration?

No. The calendar is blocked only for the duration of the appointment itself, regardless of the arrival window duration. An arrival window can overlap with a different appointment on the calendar, including appointments booked online.

I do not see the arrival window on my calendar. Where can I find it?

The calendar block displays the appointment time only. To see the arrival window, hover your cursor over the appointment block on the calendar to view the arrival window in the hover tooltip, or select the appointment to open the full appointment detail view where the arrival window is also displayed.

Can I apply an arrival window to a single appointment only?

Yes. A one-time arrival window can be set during appointment creation using the Arrival Window dropdown on the appointment creation screen. Leave the "set as default" checkbox unchecked to apply the arrival window to that appointment only. If you did not set an arrival window during appointment creation and want to add one, you must cancel and reschedule the appointment.

Can I edit an arrival window after an appointment has been created?

No. Arrival windows cannot be edited after an appointment has been created. To change the arrival window, cancel and reschedule the appointment with the correct arrival window, or notify your client directly of the updated arrival time.