> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Ask about schedule, parking, and records

> Use everyday questions to check today's work, parking availability, and customer or vehicle details.

## What you will accomplish

You will learn how to ask the AI Assistant for information that already lives in your facility records—today's schedule, open parking spots, and customer or vehicle details—without clicking through several dashboard pages.

## When to use this guide

Use this guide when a staff member needs a quick answer, such as:

* “What is on the schedule today?”
* “How many parking spots are open?”
* “Look up Alex Morgan's cars.”
* “Where is the 2017 Lamborghini Huracan parked?”

These are **lookup** questions. The assistant shows information for you to review. It does not change records until you confirm a proposal (see [Review AI proposals](/docs/ai-assistant/review-ai-proposals)).

<Note>
  **Lookups vs creating new records**

  | You want to… | Use this guide | Use instead |
  | - | - | - |
  | See what is already in the system | Ask lookup questions here | — |
  | Add a new customer, car, or appointment | — | [Prepare work with the AI Assistant](/docs/ai-assistant/prepare-work-with-the-ai-assistant) |
  | Save proposal cards | — | [Review AI proposals](/docs/ai-assistant/review-ai-proposals) |
  | Send a text or email to a customer | Ask for a **draft** here, then send from Inbox | [Use the AI Assistant](/docs/ai-assistant/use-the-ai-assistant) and [Inbox overview](/docs/inbox/overview) |
</Note>

<Tip>
  **Wait for the full answer**

  After you send a question, you may see animated dots for a few seconds while the assistant works. Let the answer finish before you act on it—or use the stop button if you typed the wrong name. See [Use the AI Assistant](/docs/ai-assistant/use-the-ai-assistant).
</Tip>

## On a customer phone call (quick scripts)

These short questions work well while a customer is on the line. Type them on the start screen or speak them if your microphone is allowed.

<Info>
  | Customer asks… | You can ask the assistant… |
  | - | - |
  | “Do I have anything scheduled this week?” | **What appointments does Alex Morgan have this week?** (use their real name) |
  | “Where is my car parked?” | **Where is the 2017 Lamborghini Huracan parked?** (use year, make, model) |
  | “What's happening at the shop today?” | **What's on the schedule today?** |
  | “Do you have room for another car?” | **How many parking spots are available?** |
</Info>

<Warning>
  **Confirm before you promise**

  The assistant gives fast answers, but important promises—appointment times, spot numbers, invoice amounts—should be double-checked on [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule), [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots), or [Payments](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/payments) before you tell the customer “yes” for certain.
</Warning>

## Before you start

* Sign in as a staff member with access to the area you are asking about (Schedule, Parking Spots, Cars, or Contacts).
* Know at least one specific detail: customer name, vehicle year/make, license plate, VIN, or date.
* Start **New Chat** for each unrelated customer or task.
* Plan to open the related dashboard page if you need to edit a record after the lookup.

## Ask about today's schedule

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open AI Assistant">
    Go to [AI Assistant](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/agent). Click **+ New Chat** if you are continuing an old conversation about someone else.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Ask in plain language">
    Type or say: **What's on the schedule today?**

    You can also tap the suggested chip **What's on the schedule today?** on the start screen.

    **Why this matters:** The assistant reads the same schedule your team sees on [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Read the answer">
    The assistant lists upcoming appointments and events. Check customer names, vehicles, and times.

    **Expected result:** You see today's work in the chat. If something looks wrong, open [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule) and compare.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/JR8mbbyqpigpoy1I/images/ai-assistant/ai-assistant-new-chat-button.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=JR8mbbyqpigpoy1I&q=85&s=8b8e6831b4f860e3dd5a14d4f46c60cd" alt="AI Assistant start screen with plus New Chat button, voice orb, and suggested question chips for schedule and parking" width="1440" height="900" data-path="images/ai-assistant/ai-assistant-new-chat-button.webp" />
</Frame>

*The start screen shows **+ New Chat** in the left sidebar and helpful chips such as **What's on the schedule today?** and **How many spots are available?** Tap a chip or type your own question in **Type a message...**.*

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/JR8mbbyqpigpoy1I/images/ai-assistant/ai-assistant-schedule-lookup.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=JR8mbbyqpigpoy1I&q=85&s=e4eaa3d9d7fe12d9d3c5cdf30affed73" alt="AI Assistant showing a response about today's scheduled appointments and events" width="1440" height="900" data-path="images/ai-assistant/ai-assistant-schedule-lookup.webp" />
</Frame>

*Schedule questions work best when your team already keeps Schedule up to date.*

### More schedule questions you can ask

* What appointments does Alex Morgan have this week?
* Is there a drop-off scheduled for the Porsche 911 tomorrow?
* What is on the schedule for Friday?

### Ask about one customer's week

<Steps>
  <Step title="Start New Chat">
    Open [AI Assistant](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/agent) and click **New Chat** when you are asking about a specific person—not a general “today” question.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Use the customer's full name">
    Example: **What appointments does Alex Morgan have this week?**

    **Expected result:** The assistant lists that customer's upcoming visits with dates, vehicles, and status. Compare times to [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule) before you promise anything on the phone.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/JR8mbbyqpigpoy1I/images/ai-assistant/ai-assistant-customer-schedule-lookup.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=JR8mbbyqpigpoy1I&q=85&s=ddef04b1f0df6f2798911058abf4e0bd" alt="AI Assistant listing Alex Morgan's upcoming appointments for the week" width="1440" height="900" data-path="images/ai-assistant/ai-assistant-customer-schedule-lookup.webp" />
</Frame>

*Customer-specific schedule questions show visits for that person only. Always double-check on [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule) before you confirm a time on the phone.*

## Ask about parking availability

<Steps>
  <Step title="Start a clear parking question">
    Open **New Chat** or continue only if you are still talking about the same vehicle.

    Examples:

    * **How many spots are available?**
    * **Is spot A1 open?**
    * **Where is the 2017 Lamborghini Huracan parked?**
  </Step>

  <Step title="Match names to your floor plan">
    Compare spot numbers and vehicle names to [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots).

    **Why this matters:** The map is only helpful when spot names in the app match signs in your building.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Assign or move in Parking Spots if needed">
    If a car moved in real life but the map is wrong, update the spot in [Assign a parking spot](/docs/parking-spots/assign-a-parking-spot)—the assistant does not move cars for you during a simple lookup.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/JR8mbbyqpigpoy1I/images/ai-assistant/ai-assistant-parking-lookup.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=JR8mbbyqpigpoy1I&q=85&s=2d52ceaf69f5d8bf7dc424fd3a09429a" alt="AI Assistant answering a question about available parking spots" width="1440" height="900" data-path="images/ai-assistant/ai-assistant-parking-lookup.webp" />
</Frame>

*Parking answers reflect assignments on your Parking Spots map.*

**Expected result:** The assistant reports availability or the spot tied to a vehicle.

### Common parking mistakes

<Note>
  **Spot number vs zone**

  If your facility uses **zones** for flexible areas, ask about the zone name or the specific spot. Example: **Is Main Storage full?**
</Note>

## Look up a customer or vehicle

<Steps>
  <Step title="Use the customer's name">
    Example: **Look up Alex Morgan's cars.**
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add vehicle details if needed">
    If several customers share a last name, add more detail:

    * full name
    * email address
    * year, make, and model
    * VIN or license plate
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open linked results">
    When the assistant shows cards or links, open the customer or car page to continue normal work.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/JR8mbbyqpigpoy1I/images/ai-assistant/ai-assistant-record-search-result.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=JR8mbbyqpigpoy1I&q=85&s=903b7b8d32aca7eadb238f5ef4cd9863" alt="AI Assistant conversation showing vehicles linked to a customer lookup" width="1440" height="900" data-path="images/ai-assistant/ai-assistant-record-search-result.webp" />
</Frame>

*Record lookups show names and vehicle details so you can confirm you found the right person before opening their page.*

**Expected result:** You see the correct customer and their vehicles. If the wrong person appears, reply with more detail or search in [Contacts](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/contacts) directly.

### Vehicle-only lookup

You can start with the car instead of the owner. Examples that work well when your records use demo-style data:

* Look up VIN ZHWUR2ZF4HLA07743.
* Find the car with plate NORTH1.
* Show me the 2017 Lamborghini Huracan.
* Where is the 1995 Porsche 911 parked?

**Expected result:** The assistant shows the vehicle and may offer to open the [Cars](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/cars) record.

## Look up invoices or open Inbox threads (when you have access)

If your staff role includes [Payments](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/payments) or [Inbox](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/inbox), you can ask short lookup questions there too.

For step-by-step examples and verification habits, read [Ask about billing, contracts, and alerts](/docs/ai-assistant/ask-about-billing-contracts-and-alerts).

* **Invoices:** “Does Alex Morgan have any open invoices?” or “Find invoice for the Huracan.”
* **Inbox:** “Show recent messages from Alex Morgan.”

<Warning>
  **Money and messages need extra care**

  Treat invoice totals and customer messages as **draft answers**. Open [Payments > Invoices](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/payments/invoices) or [Inbox](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/inbox) to confirm before you quote an amount or reply to a customer.
</Warning>

## When the assistant offers to open a page

Sometimes the assistant finishes a lookup and offers to take you to a dashboard page. A bar may appear at the bottom with a short countdown and buttons **Go now** and **Cancel**.

<Tip>
  **Navigation is always your choice**

  If you only needed a quick answer for a phone call, tap **Cancel** and stay in the chat. If the assistant opens a page without asking, use your browser **Back** button or return to [AI Assistant](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/agent) from the sidebar.
</Tip>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Watch for the navigation bar">
    A bar may appear at the bottom with a short countdown and buttons **Go now** and **Cancel**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose what to do">
    * **Go now** — open the page immediately.
    * **Cancel** — stay in the chat if you are not ready to leave.

    If you do nothing, the countdown may open the page automatically when it reaches **0**. Use **Cancel** when you only needed the answer for a phone call.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/JR8mbbyqpigpoy1I/images/ai-assistant/ai-assistant-navigation-offer.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=JR8mbbyqpigpoy1I&q=85&s=ea1506569e23e9a1cd74bbd9f4413b8e" alt="Navigation bar at the bottom of AI Assistant with Go now and Cancel" width="1440" height="900" data-path="images/ai-assistant/ai-assistant-navigation-offer.webp" />
</Frame>

*Navigation is optional. Stay in the chat when you only needed a quick answer for a phone call.*

**Expected result:** The assistant lands on the right page—such as [Cars](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/cars), [Contacts](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/contacts), or [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule)—when you choose to go.

## Phone-friendly questions you can copy

When a customer is on the phone, these short questions work well. Replace the names with your real customer and vehicle records from [Contacts](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/contacts).

* **What's on the schedule today?** — see today's appointments without opening the calendar filters.
* **Look up Alex Morgan's cars.** — list vehicles tied to one customer.
* **Where is the 2017 Lamborghini Huracan parked?** — find a spot when the customer asks where their car is.
* **How many parking spots are available?** — quick capacity check before you promise a new arrival.
* **What appointments does Alex Morgan have this week?** — one customer's upcoming visits.

<Warning>
  **Always verify before you promise**

  The assistant reads the same records your team maintains. If [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule) or [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots) is out of date, the answer will be too. For important promises ("Yes, you are booked at 2pm"), confirm on the calendar or car record before you hang up.
</Warning>

## Troubleshooting

### The assistant says it does not have permission

Your staff role may not include that part of the dashboard. Ask a team admin to review permissions in [Settings > Team](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/team).

### The assistant says it cannot find a customer

Try the customer's **full name** as it appears in [Contacts](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/contacts). Add an email address or phone number if several people share a last name. You can also search manually on [Contacts](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/contacts) or [Cars](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/cars).

### The answer mentions the wrong customer

Do not use that answer for customer messages or billing. Ask again with the full name, email, or VIN, or look up the record manually.

### Nothing is scheduled but you expected appointments

Open [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule) and compare. The assistant reads the same calendar your team maintains. If the calendar shows work but the assistant does not, refresh the chat and ask again—or use **Schedule** directly on event day.

<Tip>
  **Double-check on the calendar**

  For important promises on the phone ("Yes, you are booked at 2pm"), always confirm on [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule) or the customer's record before you hang up.
</Tip>

Confirm your facility time zone in [Settings > General](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/general) if times look wrong.

### Parking shows open but the spot has a car

The map may be out of date. Walk the lot and update [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots), then ask again.

<Note>
  **Also available on iMessage**

  Some facilities connect a team group chat so staff can ask the same kinds of lookup questions from their phones. Setup is in [Use the AI Assistant from iMessage](/docs/ai-assistant/use-the-ai-assistant-from-imessage). Creating new records still happens in the dashboard with proposal cards.
</Note>

## What to do next

* [Prepare work with the AI Assistant](/docs/ai-assistant/prepare-work-with-the-ai-assistant) when you want the assistant to draft new customers, cars, or appointments.
* [Use the AI Assistant](/docs/ai-assistant/use-the-ai-assistant) for voice input, follow-up questions, and message drafts.
* [Schedule overview](/docs/schedule/overview) to manage the calendar directly.
* [Parking Spots overview](/docs/parking-spots/overview) to keep the floor plan accurate.


## Related topics

- [Ask about billing, contracts, and alerts](/docs/ai-assistant/ask-about-billing-contracts-and-alerts.md)
- [AI Assistant overview](/docs/ai-assistant/overview.md)
- [Use the AI Assistant in iMessage](/docs/ai-assistant/use-the-ai-assistant-in-imessage.md)
- [Review AI proposals](/docs/ai-assistant/review-ai-proposals.md)
- [Use the AI Assistant from iMessage](/docs/ai-assistant/use-the-ai-assistant-from-imessage.md)


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