How To Use Microsoft Bookings to Manage Returning to the Workplace Safely

Microsoft Bookings, an app included in Microsoft 365, is a scheduling tool that allows customers to easily book appointments with a company. The app incorporates a web-based calendar that integrates with Outlook, ensuring availability always stays up-to-date. Customers can easily schedule appointments during available time slots with the team member of their choice, cancel and reschedule bookings, and enjoy auto-generated emails to keep all parties notified.

The following Microsoft licenses include Bookings:

• Microsoft 365 Business Standard
• Microsoft 365 A3
• Microsoft A5 subscriptions
• Office 365 E3 and E5 subscriptions

Components of Microsoft Bookings

Business Information

All details about your business are configured in the Business Information section. These details, such as your business name, address, phone number, logo, and hours of operations, are visible to your customers.

Services

Business offerings are configured in the Services section. You can specify details such as:

• Service location (virtual or physical)
• Service description
• Pricing
• Staff member assignments
• Maximum number of attendees per service

Staff

The Staff section is where you can specify all items relating to the members of your team relating to the services they provide. This can include:

• Assign to specific services
• Services the business provides
• Hours of availability for each staff member

Customers

When users schedule an appointment or book a service, they are automatically added as a customer in your Bookings app. 

Customers can be added manually or imported from a .csv file.

Bookings Page

The Bookings Page is where major app details are configured and where the app is published. These details include:

• Selecting a color scheme/theme of the Bookings app
• Setting the time zone
• Setting email notifications
• Requiring customers to have an Office 365 account to use the app

Calendar

The Calendar is for internal use only — it is only accessible by staff members. All Bookings made by customers will populate in the Calendar. The Calendar view can be switched around to display bookings by Day, Work Week, Week, Month, or Today. Clicking on each booking will display all the information regarding that specific booking.