Short Breaks Digital Account - one log in for the whole Short Breaks offer!
Following feedback that multiple registration and booking platforms were difficult to navigate, and positive feedback relating to the updated caravans and beach hut booking system, Essex Short Breaks is moving towards a single registration and booking system for all Essex Short Breaks provision. The system has been designed and implemented by Booking Lab. This is being delivered in stages:
Stage 1: Caravan and beach huts is complete and now families can access bookings by logging into their Short Breaks Digital Account.
Stage 2: All registrations are now live on the platform. In a small number of cases families that have legacy accounts are not receiving emails when trying to reset their password. This should be raised with shortbreaks@essex.gov.uk and typically takes a day to be resolved.
Stage 3: Clubs and Activities providers will move their bookings to the new system. This has several benefits as families will be able to access their bookings from within their accounts, and see across the County wide offer what is available. Butterflies is the first club to go live and is working with Essex Short Breaks to help families transition to the new way of booking, and acting as a conduit for reporting user experience back to Booking Lab. Other Clubs and Activities providers will follow and in the future any provider issued a Clubs and Activities contract will be required to use the booking system to ensure a consistent and fair booking experience.
Stage 4: Max cards and tickets will be automated and be available directly through the Short Breaks Digital Account, with reminders sent out when the offer renews each year.
Stage 5: Competitions and other add hoc provision will be added to the platform.
Essex Short Breaks recognises that change can take some time to adjust to, and improvements are being developed and implemented regularly in line with what we are hearing from families. Over time, we hope that this will make accessing different parts of the Short Breaks offer simpler, more consistent and fairer for all.