Sidekick.com

In today's fast-paced work environment, effectively managing meetings and scheduling appointments is crucial for productivity. Sidekick AI offers a range of scheduling solutions designed to simplify this process while integrating with popular calendar systems. This comprehensive overview examines the platform's key features, including its three primary scheduling methods, team collaboration tools, and mobile capabilities.

Company Overview and Key Updates

Sidekick AI launched with a beta user group in May 2020, initially featuring 100+ users (Sidekick AI). The platform quickly gained traction, onboarding hundreds of additional users by late August 2020 (Sidekick AI).

The company introduced several key features during its development:

• Link sharing improvements replaced the original chatbot-based meeting request process with modern scheduling pages (Sidekick AI).

• Direct scheduling functionality added a "+" icon feature for scheduling meetings from the dashboard (Sidekick AI).

Early feedback mechanisms included email support (chris@sidekickai.com) and direct feedback through the dashboard interface (Sidekick AI).

As of 2022, Sidekick operates in over 175 countries worldwide, providing scheduling services through multiple integration points including Microsoft Teams and Google Calendars (Sidekick AI). The platform offers four primary scheduling methods: Forward to Schedule (email automation), Scheduling Pages (individual/team-based), Sidekick Scheduling (peer-to-peer meeting setup), and has expanded to support multiple email account syncing (Gmail and Outlook, with plans for additional providers).

Pricing and Account Options

Sidekick offers two main pricing plans: the free Hero Plan and the $5/month Superhero Plan. The Hero Plan provides basic scheduling features including 3 scheduling pages, integration with Google, Outlook, and Microsoft 365 calendars, unlimited scheduled meetings across Google Meet, Zoom, Skype, and Teams, and support for multiple groups and contacts (Sidekick AI).

The Superhero Plan builds on the free features with additional capabilities such as unlimited scheduling sources and calendar sync, removal of Sidekick branding, advanced AI scheduling through Forward to Schedule, meeting statistics reports, unlimited scheduling pages, and team scheduling functionality (Sidekick AI).

The company has developed Team Plans specifically for organizational use. Users on the Superhero plan can create Team Pages that allow multiple team members to schedule meetings together (Sidekick AI). Team members can join for free by syncing their calendar and creating a free account, though only the Team Page creator has editing permissions. This allows a team of 5 to schedule meetings while requiring only one Superhero plan (Sidekick AI).

As of March 2022, Sidekick has launched a Business Solutions tier for enterprise clients. This tier offers full branding capabilities, similar to a whitelabel service, though it remains in beta testing (Sidekick AI). Users have the option to remain on the free Forever Plan if they prefer not to upgrade their account (Sidekick AI).

How Sidekick Scheduling Works

Sidekick's scheduling functionality is designed to simplify meeting arrangements through its three primary methods: Forward to Schedule, Scheduling Pages, and Sidekick Scheduling.

Forward to Schedule

Users can schedule meetings by forwarding emails directly to Sidekick. This feature allows Sidekick to handle the scheduling process automatically, streamlining communication and reducing back-and-forth between participants (Sidekick AI).

Scheduling Pages

The platform enables users to create both individual and team scheduling pages for quick meeting setup. These pages integrate with popular calendar systems like Microsoft Teams and Google Calendars, allowing Sidekick to find the best meeting times for all participants (Sidekick AI).

Sidekick Scheduling

For users with existing Sidekick accounts, the platform offers a direct scheduling feature accessible via the dashboard. By clicking the "+" icon, users can initiate the scheduling process without needing to navigate through additional steps (Sidekick AI).

The company continually works to improve user experience, particularly through its mobile app. Currently in version 1.0, the app features voice scheduling capabilities and offers detailed meeting status updates through meeting cards (Sidekick AI). Users can view their schedule, access meeting details, and manage their availability through the mobile interface.

Team Scheduling and Collaboration

Sidekick's team scheduling functionality enables users to book meetings with multiple team members efficiently. The platform allows sending team availability to guests who wish to schedule with multiple people on the team at once.

Team Pages and Membership

Creating or editing scheduling pages is straightforward: Team members receive email invitations to join the Team Scheduling Page and Sidekick for free. By accepting the email invite, syncing their calendar, and creating a free account, they become part of the team scheduling page. Only the Team Page creator has editing permissions, allowing a team of five to schedule meetings while requiring only one Superhero plan. The platform currently offers free membership for team members, with no additional charges for joining.

Scheduling Integration and Features

The process integrates with popular calendar systems like Microsoft Teams and Google Calendars, automatically creating calendar events and sending meeting invites to all participants. Sidekick sends reminders prior to meetings and provides detailed meeting status updates through meeting cards, helping reduce scheduling complexity. The company offers multiple ways to sign in, including Microsoft and Google accounts, with free trial access available.

Technical Integration and Support

The platform supports integration with Gmail, Outlook, and Thunderbird, with plans to expand based on user requests. Sidekick has launched a Business Solutions tier, though this remains in beta testing. The company continues to track feature enhancement suggestions and provides support through email (chris@sidekickai.com) or within the dashboard interface. Video tutorials are available for key features, including email account syncing and meeting statistics functionality.

Mobile App Features

The Sidekick mobile app currently operates in version 1.0 and enables users to manage their scheduling needs on-the-go. As of the latest update, the app supports four primary scheduling methods, offering users flexibility in how they book meetings.

Key mobile features include:

• Voice Scheduling: The app's current implementation allows users to schedule meetings through voice commands, with plans for future improvements (Sidekick AI). This feature works alongside the desktop platform's AI-powered scheduling processes.

• Meeting Status Updates: Users can view detailed information on their meetings through the app's interface, including confirmation status, location requirements, and meeting progress. This information is presented through meeting cards for easy reference (Sidekick AI).

• Availability Management: In addition to scheduling, the mobile app allows users to set their availability. This includes the ability to create time away blocks and set general preferences, such as recommended meeting durations. These settings help improve the scheduling process by providing clear availability parameters (Sidekick AI).

The mobile app works seamlessly with the existing desktop platform to create a comprehensive scheduling solution. While the current version offers robust functionality, the company continues to track user feedback and work on improvements for both the mobile and desktop platforms (Sidekick AI).