Overview

Microsoft Bookings makes scheduling and managing appointments a breeze. Bookings includes a web-based booking calendar and integrates with Outlook to optimize your staff’s calendar and give your customers the flexibility to book a time that works best for them.


Extra functionality is available in the Bookings web app

While the Bookings app in Teams provides a streamlined workflow for scheduling and conducting virtual appointments, the Bookings web app lets you take additional actions, such as:

  • Publish a self-service scheduling page

  • Set a logo for your business

  • Set business hours

To use these additional features, select (...) More options in the upper right of your screen, then Open Bookings web app.

We highly recommend using the Bookings web app to sign in. Follow the steps below.


Create New Calendar


 1.Log into https://signon.stjohns.edu

 2. Go to Office 365 Portal > Click the App Launcher  > All Apps > Bookings

 3. Click Create New Calendar button

   4. Click + Create from Scratch       

  5. Name your Calendar and choose Business type and click Next

 (Note:  The business name you enter here will be used to create the email address for sending booking invites)

 

You can also add a logo here by clicking +Add a logo

 


6. Invite staff to make changes to the calendar. You can select from Administrator, Team

Member, Scheduler, Viewer, or Guest.


7. Set up a Service and click Next. Change the Office hours if necessary.



 8. Choose No Self Service and then click Create Calendar button.



Services

Add New Service

 Once your Calendar is created, click on the Calendar to open it. Go to Services and click +Add new service.


Basic Details

Enter the Service name and set the duration time.

Add online meeting: This setting enables or disables online meetings for each meeting via Teams.

Maximum attendees per event: This setting allows you to create services enabling multiple people to book the same appointment time with the same staff (such as a workshop).

Increase the maximum number of attendees here for your service.       


Availability Options

Toggle Off Default scheduling policy and change the time increments to your desired time.

There are 3 types of General availability: Bookable when staff are free, Not bookable, and Custom hours (recurring weekly).

Change General availability to Not Bookable.

Click + Set different availability for a date range and choose the date range you want.

Then select from the drop-down list Custom Hours (recurring weekly).

To add more appointment times on the same day, click the + button on the right. Then Save changes.


Assign Staff

 Toggle off Allow customers to choose a particular staff for booking

  • Team member - can manage bookings on their own calendar and their availability in the booking mailbox.
  • Scheduler - can manage bookings on the calendar and customer details. They have read-only access to settings, staff, and services.
  • Viewer - can see all the bookings on the calendar, but they can’t modify or delete them. They have read-only access to settings.
  •  Guest - can be assigned to bookings, but they can’t open the booking mailbox.

Edit Staff

Go to Staff and select a staff member and click Edit Staff to uncheck Events on Office calendar affect availability. Do this for all staff.


Custom Fields

Custom fields can be useful when collecting information that is needed every time a specific workshop is booked. Examples include major of study for academic advising or Student ID.

Un-select phone number, customer address, and customer notes if you do not want to collect this information.

To add a custom field such as an X number, click + Add a custom field.

Select the Text question and input the question into the field.


Notifications

Email reminders can be sent automatically for upcoming appointments.

To add another email reminder, click + Add an email reminder. Click the Edit icon to change the default timing and message.

 


Calendar

 

In the Calendar, you can schedule business closures or time off for specific staff.

In the top navigation pane, select Add time off.



Schedule Time Off

 Select all staff members or select staff who are taking time off. Choose start and end dates and click Create time off.


Export

There is also an option to export the scheduled appointments.

Go to your calendar, open the top navigation pane and click the Export button in the upper right corner. This will export to a text file.


Booking Page

To enable the booking link, go to Configure booking page and change the option to Available to people in your organization. You can also manage other booking page options such as time zone settings.

Click the Email button on the Configure Booking Page to send an email with the appointment link.


Business Information

You can edit the Basic details, add a Business logo and adjust Business hours here.


Booking Link

 The workshop link can also be found in Services > Overview or Service details tab

 

When the customer opens the link, they will see the calendar to book the workshop.