02 December 2024
Background
Throughout 2024, we’ve made a number of improvements and optimisations to our Bookings Widget. We started by introducing our Widget Customiser to make it even easier to brand and style to match your tone of voice, without the use of CSS.
We’re also soon to introduce a number of usability changes, such as combining the date and time selection with the cover counts as well as automatically skipping menu and area selection if only one has been defined.
In 2025, we want to continue to simplify and refine our Booking journeys. In order to do this effectively, we need to understand how guests are interacting with the widget to make the most positive impactful changes.
Upcoming changes
|
As a result, In Bookings 1.77, we’re introducing analytics to our Bookings Widget.
On initial launch in 1.77, the analytics captured will be used by Zonal’s product team to further understand guest behaviour, which will then inform the roadmap prioritisation for possible improvements.
Later in 2025, we are intending to allow customers to capture their own analytics through Google Tag Manager. The rationale behind the phased release is to ensure that we are capturing the right events to provide accurate data.
As a by-product of introducing analytics, and in accordance with GDPR; the Bookings Widget is required to capture consent by the guest.
The consent will be in the form of a cookie notice that is displayed at the bottom of the widget. The guest will have the ability to accept, which will enable analytics tracking. Alternatively, if they reject, no analytics tracking will be captured.
|
|
Frequently Asked Questions
The Widget will use Google Tag Manager as it provides an agnostic approach where other analytics providers can be used.
We see this as a positive change that bring impactful improvements to the journey, as well as provide meaningful metrics and therefore all widgets will receive this change.
For guests using the widget, no analytics will be tracked if they reject the cookie notice.
On the initial launch, the analytics will only be available to Zonal’s product team. Later in 2025, we intend to open up to allow you to add your own Google Tag alongside Zonal.
The current aim is to provide access in Q2 2025.
Unfortunately not, the cookie notice on the widget covers Zonal’s collection of analytics through an optional cookie. As this cookie is treated as a 3rd party by browsers, it’s not possible to set this cookie programatically.
Not in the initial launch, we are making improvements to the Guest Portal in 2025 and analytics is under consideration.