Getting Started with Abby for Cliniko

Setting up Abby takes less than five minutes. Here’s how to get her up and running:

Step 1: Go to the Abby website and click Sign Up.

Step 2: Create your Abby account.

Step 3: Once logged in, head to Cliniko. In the bottom left-hand corner, click My Info.

Step 4: Select Manage API Keys.

Step 5: Click Add an API Key.

Step 6: Name the key “Abby”, click Create, then copy the API key to your clipboard.

Step 7: Go back to Abby and paste the API key. Wait a moment for it to connect, then hit Next.

Step 8: Check your email — we’ll send you a link to download the Abby Chrome Extension.

Step 9: Download and install the extension, then click the puzzle icon in the top-right corner of your browser and pin Abby so it’s always handy.

What Happens Next?

Once installed, Abby will start reading the appointment IDs of any SMS messages sent from Cliniko. As patients reply, Abby will pick up the changes and reflect them in your dashboard.

💡 Important Notes:
  • Abby only works after activation, so it’s best to wait 1–2 working days before expecting everything to sync.

  • Timing depends on your SMS schedule—how far ahead you send reminders, for example.

We designed Abby to be the simplest tool in the entire Cliniko extension library. After seeing so many powerful but time-consuming tools, we built Abby to give you real value without stealing hours from your day.

You’re going to love how effortlessly it fits into your workflow.

First Steps and What to Expect

What to expect from Abby

Once you have successfully downloaded the Chrome extension, navigate to your calendar view. Open the chrome extension and select Display. When you do Abby will;

  1. Change the background for appointments that have had an SMS response; or 
  2. Not change the colour for those appointments that have not had a response;


Where a response has been received, Abby will change the colour in two ways based on the intent, or meaning, of the response;

  1. For appointments where Abby has interpreted the response as “Confirmed” - Grey
  1. For appointments where there is a response but the response is interpreted as a “Cancellation”, a “Reschedule” or Abby cant determine the intent with enough confidence - Red with an underline

If you would like to manually confirm an appointment, say after contacting the patient and confirming via the phone, you can use our manual confirmation feature.If you would like to add a note to the appointment manually, you can use the manual note feature. One of the great features of Abby is that every SMS received, and the intent, is posted directly to your Cliniko appointment meaning your team can always know the status of appointment confirmation whether at the calendar view using the extension or in the appointment item itself.

Downloading and Setting Up the Chrome Extension

Step 1: Download the Abby Chrome Extension

1. Open Google Chrome on your computer.

2. Visit the official Abby Chrome Extension page.

3. Click on the blue Add to Chrome button.

4. A pop-up will appear asking for confirmation. Select Add Extension.

Step 2: Install the Extension

Once the download is complete, Chrome will automatically install the extension. You’ll see a notification in the top-right corner of your browser indicating that Abby has been added.

Step 3: Pin the Abby Extension

To make the most of Abby, it’s important to pin the extension to your toolbar. Here’s how:

1. In Chrome, locate the puzzle piece icon  in the top-right corner of your browser – this is the Extensions menu.

2. Click the icon to open the list of your installed extensions.

3. Find Abby in the list.

4. Click the Pin icon  next to Abby. It will turn blue, and Abby’s icon will now appear in your toolbar for quick access.

That’s It! You’re Ready to Go

With the Abby extension pinned, you’ll have instant access to all the tools and features you need. If you have any questions or run into issues, feel free to reach out to our friendly support team.

Please note that your confirmation sms need to be sent and received after you've signed up for Abby. In most cases give it a couple of working days before Abby is fully functional to start using it.

Product

After I login in what do I do?

After you have logged into Abby you can simply close the Abby tab. Head back to Cliniko, open the extension and away you go. You don't have to login to Abby everytime and if you do the extension will point in the right direction.

What do the colours mean?

Abby highlights appointments needing your team’s attention. Confirmed appointments turn light grey, indicating no further action is required. Red and underlined appointments signify that the patient cannot attend (requesting to cancel or reschedule) or may need a response from your team. Appointments that do not change colour are those without an SMS response and need follow-up to confirm.

Why do the colours revert when I click on the appointment itself?

Our Chrome extension manipulates values displayed in your browser. When you click on an appointment, it refreshes your screen in the background, reverting the colours. Simply click the extension again to update the view.

How do I manually confirm an appointment that was not automatically confirmed via SMS?

To manually confirm an appointment that was not automatically confirmed via SMS, follow these steps:

  1. Click on the appointment in your Cliniko calendar.
  2. Reopen the Abby extension.
  3. In the extension, use the multiline input field to add any relevant notes.
  4. Click the "Confirm" button to add the note and confirm the appointment.

This process ensures that the appointment status is updated to confirmed in your Cliniko calendar.

Top Things to Know About Abby

  • Abby doesn’t send or receive SMS messages.

  • It reads and interprets your patients’ SMS replies through Cliniko’s system and updates your appointment book accordingly.

  • Abby changes the colour of your appointments.

  • Using a Chrome extension, Abby overlays your Cliniko calendar to visually show which appointments are confirmed.

  • Abby is proudly New Zealand-made.

  • Abby was developed by Ben and Gav, owners of Yoonet, after more than a decade of experience helping businesses streamline their administration.

  • Abby only works with Cliniko.

  • If you use a different software platform for your outbound SMS communications, Abby won’t be compatible.

  • Abby doesn’t support email confirmations.

  • It’s designed specifically around SMS-based appointment workflows within Cliniko.

  • Abby is built for standard appointment confirmations.

  • It does not currently handle one-off appointment communication outside the regular Cliniko confirmation process.

Free Up Your Admin Team Today!

Ready to make your Cliniko confirmations easier?

Ready to make your Cliniko confirmations easier?