Microsoft Bookings: free scheduling for your business

Efficient scheduling and seamless customer interactions are paramount for any successful business. Microsoft Bookings, a powerful scheduling and appointment management tool included with Microsoft Business Premium is available to all our customers. It offers a comprehensive solution to enhance customer engagement and streamline administrative tasks. In this blog, we will explore the various benefits of Microsoft Bookings and provide a quick guide on how to leverage its capabilities to allow customers to easily book meetings with you.

1. Simplified Scheduling and Appointment Management

One of the primary advantages of Microsoft Bookings is its ability to simplify scheduling and appointment management. With Bookings, businesses can create customisable calendars that display available time slots, enabling customers to book appointments at their convenience. The tool automatically updates the calendar in real time, eliminating scheduling conflicts and the need for manual coordination.

2. Improved Customer Experience

Microsoft Bookings puts the power of scheduling directly into the hands of customers, improving their experience and satisfaction. By offering a self-service booking system, businesses can empower customers to schedule appointments online, eliminating the historic back-and-forth associated with scheduling. With Bookings, customers can easily find available time slots, select their preferred services, and receive automated confirmations and reminders, ensuring a seamless experience from start to finish.

3. Flexible Service Customisation

Bookings allows businesses to offer various services based on staff availability. Whether it’s consultations, meetings, or services like haircuts or spa treatments, you can create a comprehensive list of offerings and tailor the duration and availability of each service. This flexibility ensures that customers can find the right services and book appointments that fit their specific needs.

4. Seamless Integration with Microsoft Ecosystem

As part of the Microsoft suite of applications, Bookings seamlessly integrates with other tools such as Outlook, Teams, and SharePoint. Teams meetings and links can be automatically created and sent out to your customers and your staff which automatically appear in Outlook diaries. This integration allows for a cohesive workflow, ensuring that appointments are synchronised across platforms and reducing the chances of double bookings or missed meetings. By leveraging the power of the Microsoft ecosystem, businesses can create a unified experience for both staff and customers.

If you need to gather information from a customer prior to the meeting you can create custom fields or even send them a link to a Microsoft Form as part of the booking confirmation and reminder process.

5. Automated Reminders and Notifications

Microsoft Bookings enables businesses to automate appointment reminders and notifications, saving time and reducing no-shows. Through email notifications, customers receive reminders about their upcoming appointments, reducing the chances of missed meetings. Additionally, businesses can customise these notifications to include important details, such as location information or pre-appointment requirements, ensuring a smooth and well-prepared experience for both parties.

Quick Guide: How to Let Customers Book a Meeting Using Microsoft Bookings

To enable customers to book meetings effortlessly, follow these steps:

Step 1: Sign in to your Microsoft 365 account and access the Bookings app. (or go to https://outlook.office.com/bookings/ )

Step 2: Create a new calendar and define the services you offer.

Step 3: Customise the availability and duration of each service according to your preferences.

Step 4: Publish your booking page, which generates a unique URL for customers to access.

Step 5: Share the URL on your website, social media platforms, or via email to promote your booking system.

Step 6: Customers can visit the booking page, select the desired service, and choose an available time slot.

Step 7: Once a customer selects a time, they provide their contact information and confirm the booking.

Step 8: Bookings will automatically update your calendar, and both you and the customer will receive confirmation emails with appointment details.

Microsoft Bookings revolutionises scheduling and appointment management, providing businesses with an efficient and customer-centric solution that doesn’t cost the earth. In fact, if you have Microsoft Business Premium licences then it doesn’t cost you a thing!

If you’d like to know more about Microsoft Bookings or get help configuring it for your business then get in touch today.