Nico Huysamen
Founder & Director, Tora Technologies
Cape Town, South Africa
Nico Huysamen is the Founder & Director of Tora Technologies, the independent South African software company that builds and operates Booklink and Rebill. He has almost two decades of experience building SaaS products across payments, identity, and fintech, and started Booklink to give South African hair salons, barbers, beauty therapists, and independent service providers a booking tool that genuinely fits the local market: Yoco and Paystack-ready, WhatsApp-first, POPIA-aware, and priced for a small business budget.
Nico writes the code, talks to the customers, and pays SARS from the same country you do. If you have a question about a Booklink post or want to flag something that is wrong, email him directly at [email protected].
Areas of expertise
- SaaS product engineering
- Online booking and appointment scheduling
- South African payment integrations (Yoco, Paystack, PayFast, iKhokha)
- Google Calendar sync and calendar APIs
- WhatsApp Business API and booking reminders
- POPIA compliance for small businesses
- Service business operations and no-show reduction
Articles by Nico Huysamen
Add a Book Online Button on Google Business Profile
Put a Book online button on your Google Business Profile so clients book from Search and Maps. The steps, the right link to use, and why it may not show yet.
PaymentsHow to Take Deposits for Appointments in South Africa
Why deposits stop no-shows, what the Consumer Protection Act allows, how much to ask, a policy template you can copy, and how to collect deposits online.
OperationsSalon Commission Structures in South Africa
Percentage, fixed amount per service or chair rental: how the three common salon commission models work, what to base them on, and how to track payouts.
FundamentalsBooking System vs Spreadsheet: Task-by-Task Comparison
Side-by-side timing: how long each common booking task takes in Google Sheets vs a proper booking system. When to stay on sheets, when to switch.
FundamentalsDo I Need a Booking System? Honest Answer for SA
When WhatsApp plus a spreadsheet is genuinely fine for a SA service business, and the specific inflection points where it stops working.
Buyer GuideFree vs Paid Booking Systems: Worth It? (2026)
An honest comparison of Booklink Free, Calendly Free, Fresha, and Google Appointments. What each includes, hidden costs, and when upgrading pays for itself.
SalonsSet Up Online Booking for Your Salon (SA, 2026)
A salon-specific setup guide: realistic ZAR service menu, three-stylist availability, deposits for colour, and marketing moves to fill the first 20 slots.
WhatsAppHow to Send WhatsApp Booking Reminders in South Africa
A practical guide for SA service businesses: how WhatsApp appointment reminders work, what they cost, when to send them, and how they cut no-shows.
PaymentsAccept Online Payments in South Africa
Compare Yoco, Paystack, and PayFast fees, settlement, refunds, and chargebacks for SA service businesses. Updated for 2026 with corrected rates.
OperationsHow to Stop No-Shows in South Africa (2026)
Reduce appointment no-shows with deposits, WhatsApp reminders, and clear cancellation policies. A practical playbook with real ZAR numbers for SA.
Getting StartedHow to Take Bookings Online in South Africa (2026)
Beginner's guide to online bookings for SA service businesses: choose a system, add services, connect a payment gateway, and share your booking link.