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🚀 Getting Started with Valet-in-a-Box

Welcome to Valet-in-a-Box! This guide will help you get up and running quickly with our comprehensive valet management platform.

📋 Table of Contents​

🚀 Quick Start​

For Customers​

  1. Visit the application: Go to your valet service's website
  2. Create an account or use anonymous access
  3. Park your car and receive a ticket
  4. Track your visit in real-time
  5. Pay online when ready to retrieve your car

For Employees​

  1. Login with your employee credentials
  2. View assigned visits on your dashboard
  3. Update visit status as you work
  4. Communicate with customers via SMS
  5. Track your performance and tips

For Administrators​

  1. Login with admin credentials
  2. Set up your organization and sites
  3. Create employee accounts and assign roles
  4. Configure pricing and payment settings
  5. Monitor operations with real-time analytics

💻 System Requirements​

Web Browser​

  • Chrome 90+ (recommended)
  • Firefox 88+
  • Safari 14+
  • Edge 90+

Mobile Devices​

  • iOS 14+ (Safari)
  • Android 8+ (Chrome)

Network​

  • Internet connection required
  • HTTPS for secure operations
  • JavaScript enabled

📦 Installation​

For End Users​

No installation required! Valet-in-a-Box is a web application that runs in your browser.

For Developers​

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/your-org/valet-in-a-box.git
cd valet-in-a-box

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Start development server
npm run dev

For Organizations​

Contact us at support@valetinabox.com for:

  • Custom deployment setup
  • White-label configuration
  • Integration with existing systems
  • Training for your team

⚙️ Configuration​

User Settings​

  1. Profile Setup: Complete your profile information
  2. Notification Preferences: Choose SMS and push notification settings
  3. Payment Methods: Add and manage payment options
  4. Language & Region: Set your preferred language and timezone

Organization Setup (Admins)​

  1. Organization Details: Company name, address, contact info
  2. Site Configuration: Add parking locations and details
  3. Employee Management: Create accounts and assign roles
  4. Pricing Setup: Configure rates and payment options
  5. Communication Templates: Customize SMS and email templates

🎯 First Steps​

1. Explore the Interface​

  • Dashboard: Overview of your visits and operations
  • Navigation: Use the sidebar to access different features
  • Search: Find visits, customers, or employees quickly
  • Filters: Narrow down results by date, status, or location

2. Create Your First Visit​

  • Customer Arrival: Log when a customer arrives
  • Vehicle Information: Record car details and license plate
  • Key Management: Assign and track key storage
  • Status Updates: Track the visit through its lifecycle

3. Process Payments​

  • Payment Options: Credit card, mobile payments
  • Invoice Generation: Automatic invoice creation
  • Tip Management: Handle tips and gratuities
  • Receipt Delivery: Email or SMS receipts

4. Communicate with Customers​

  • SMS Notifications: Automated status updates
  • Push Notifications: Real-time mobile alerts
  • Custom Messages: Send personalized communications
  • Delivery Tracking: Monitor message delivery status

👥 User Roles​

Customer/User​

  • View visits: Track your own visits
  • Make payments: Pay for valet services
  • Receive notifications: Get status updates via SMS/push
  • Access history: View past visits and receipts

Employee​

  • Manage visits: Update visit status and details
  • Customer communication: Send SMS notifications
  • Performance tracking: View tips and ratings
  • Shift management: Clock in/out and view schedule

Site Manager​

  • Site operations: Oversee daily operations
  • Employee management: Manage staff and schedules
  • Customer service: Handle customer issues
  • Reporting: Generate operational reports

Site Owner​

  • Business oversight: Monitor site performance
  • Financial management: Review revenue and costs
  • Staff administration: Hire and manage employees
  • Customer analytics: Analyze customer behavior

Organization Owner​

  • Multi-site management: Oversee multiple locations
  • Strategic planning: Set business goals and targets
  • Financial oversight: Review organization-wide metrics
  • System administration: Configure system settings

Super Admin​

  • System management: Full system access and control
  • User administration: Manage all user accounts
  • Platform configuration: Set up organizations and sites
  • Support and maintenance: Handle technical issues

🔄 Basic Workflows​

Customer Workflow​

graph TD
    A[Customer Arrives] --> B[Receive Ticket]
    B --> C[Car Parked]
    C --> D[Track Visit]
    D --> E[Ready for Pickup]
    E --> F[Make Payment]
    F --> G[Car Returned]
    G --> H[Visit Complete]

Employee Workflow​

graph TD
    A[Clock In] --> B[View Assigned Visits]
    B --> C[Customer Arrives]
    C --> D[Log Vehicle Details]
    D --> E[Park Vehicle]
    E --> F[Update Status]
    F --> G[Customer Requests Return]
    G --> H[Retrieve Vehicle]
    H --> I[Return to Customer]
    I --> J[Complete Visit]

Payment Workflow​

graph TD
    A[Payment Requested] --> B[Create Payment Intent]
    B --> C[Customer Payment]
    C --> D[Payment Processing]
    D --> E[Payment Confirmed]
    E --> F[Update Visit Status]
    F --> G[Generate Receipt]
    G --> H[Send Confirmation]

🐛 Troubleshooting​

Common Issues​

Can't Login​

  • Check credentials: Verify username and password
  • Reset password: Use "Forgot Password" link
  • Clear cache: Clear browser cache and cookies
  • Try different browser: Switch to Chrome or Firefox

Payment Issues​

  • Check card details: Verify card number and expiration
  • Try different card: Use a different payment method
  • Check internet: Ensure stable internet connection
  • Contact support: Reach out for payment assistance

Notifications Not Working​

  • Check phone number: Verify phone number format
  • Enable notifications: Allow notifications in browser
  • Check spam folder: Look for SMS in spam/junk
  • Update contact info: Ensure correct contact information

Performance Issues​

  • Clear cache: Clear browser cache and data
  • Close other tabs: Reduce browser resource usage
  • Check internet: Ensure fast, stable connection
  • Try incognito mode: Test in private browsing mode

Getting Help​

Self-Service​

  • Documentation: Check our comprehensive guides
  • FAQ: Browse frequently asked questions
  • Video Tutorials: Watch step-by-step guides
  • Community Forum: Ask questions and share tips

Contact Support​

  • Email: support@valetinabox.com
  • Phone: 1-800-VALET-01
  • Live Chat: Available on our website
  • GitHub Issues: For technical issues and bugs

Emergency Support​

  • 24/7 Hotline: For critical issues
  • Priority Support: For enterprise customers
  • Escalation Process: For unresolved issues
  • SLA Guarantees: Response time commitments

📚 Additional Resources​

Documentation​

  • API Documentation: Complete API reference (coming soon)
  • Architecture Guide: System design overview (coming soon)
  • Deployment Guide: Production setup (coming soon)
  • Contributing Guide: Development guidelines (coming soon)

Training Materials​

  • User Guides: Step-by-step tutorials
  • Video Training: Interactive video lessons
  • Webinars: Live training sessions
  • Certification: User and administrator certification

Community​

  • GitHub Discussions: Technical discussions
  • User Forum: Community support
  • Feature Requests: Suggest new features
  • Bug Reports: Report issues and bugs

Welcome to Valet-in-a-Box! We're here to help you succeed! 🚗✨

Need help? Contact us at support@valetinabox.com or check our documentation hub.